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Monday,26-October-2026
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BJP, Sena leaders take potshots at Rahul Gandhi over wading into Rakhi ad row; Cong defends

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New Delhi, Aug 26: The controversy surrounding Bollywood actor Kriti Sanon’s outfit in a Raksha Bandhan advertisement intensified on Wednesday, with Opposition and ruling party leaders getting into sharp exchange after the Leader of Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi came out in support of the former and supported her in deciding her clothing choices.

Gandhi shared Sanon’s response to the controversy on his Instagram Story and wrote: “What a woman wears, what she does and where she goes – is her choice.” He also urged people to “Stop trolling women for exercising their freedom”, adding the hashtag “smash the patriarchy”.

Reacting to Gandhi’s intervention, Shiv Sena spokesperson Shaina NC told media that the Congress leader has made it a habit to interfere in every issue.

“It has become Rahul Gandhi’s habit to interfere in everything and everywhere. Regarding students too, he projects himself as if he is a messiah. When an issue concerning women comes up, about women’s respect or women’s attire, he jumps into that as well,” she said.

“Perhaps this culture is acceptable to him, where one can wear a bikini and celebrate Raksha Bandhan. But in our Indian culture and civilisation, this will never be accepted,” Shaina NC added.

Haryana Minister Anil Vij also weighed in on the issue, saying that while individuals had freedom, religious traditions and sentiments should also be respected.

“It is freedom. But we also respect our religion and traditions. Rakhi is a sacred festival. It is a festival of love between brothers and sisters. What should be worn at that time, all the sisters of our country know,” he said.

JD(U) National General Secretary Shyam Rajak, however, struck a more balanced note, saying people should not judge or make allegations against an individual solely on the basis of their clothing.

“Regarding clothing, yes, it is part of Indian culture to present oneself in a manner that is pleasing to others. However, you cannot cast aspersions on an individual simply because of the kind of clothes they choose to wear,” Rajak told media.

Congress leaders defended Sanon and criticised BJP MP Kangana Ranaut over her remarks.

Congress leader Udit Raj said Ranaut should look at her own old photographs before commenting on others.

“Kangana Ranaut should look back at her own old pictures. After that, if she has even an ounce of sense, decency or honesty left, she should apologise to Kriti Sanon and to everyone,” he said.

Congress spokesperson Surendra Rajput said Sanon had done nothing wrong and that Gandhi had consistently supported women’s rights and equality.

“What a woman wears or chooses to drape is her personal matter, a strictly personal matter. Foolish and frivolous people like Kangana Ranaut create discord in society by making such remarks,” he said.

Congress MP Pawan Khera added that Gandhi’s politics had always focused on ensuring justice and preventing discrimination.

The controversy erupted after Sanon faced criticism for wearing an Indo-Western outfit featuring a bralette and skirt in the Raksha Bandhan advertisement. The video showed the actor tying a Rakhi to her brother and her pet dog, triggering a wider debate on social media over women’s clothing, individual freedom and the portrayal of Indian traditions.

Meanwhile, jewellery brand GIVA removed the advertisement featuring Sanon, a day after the actor hit back at critics who questioned her choice of attire in the commercial.

Crime

72-year-old woman steals foreigner’s bag in Delhi Paharganj; arrested

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Delhi Police have arrested a 72-year-old woman in connection with the theft of a foreign national’s bag from a shop in Paharganj and recovered Rs 1,85,500 in Indian currency and $2,600 from her possession, officials said on Monday.

According to the police, the accused, identified as Savita Gandhi, alias Saroj Gandhi, was arrested on October 24 from Uttam Nagar in West Delhi. She allegedly stole the bag while the foreign national was shopping in Paharganj.

The incident came to light on October 21, when the foreign national lodged an online complaint regarding the theft.

The stolen bag contained a passport, visa documents, $2,600, Rs 2.5 lakh in Indian currency, three credit cards and a Samsung mobile phone.

Following the complaint, the staff of Police Post Sangatrashan, under Paharganj police station, launched an investigation to identify the accused and recover the stolen belongings.

A dedicated police team comprising SI Sahil, W/SI Khaiko Asune, HC Bhageerath, HC Niranjan, W/Ct Mohini Bharti and Ct Lalit was constituted under the leadership of SI S.N. Ojha, in-charge of Police Post Sangatrashan. The team worked under the supervision of the Station House Officer (SHO), Paharganj, and the overall supervision of the ACP, Paharganj.

During the investigation, police analysed footage from more than 100 CCTV cameras installed in and around the area. Human intelligence and information developed through local sources also helped investigators identify the suspect.

After establishing her identity, the team gathered information about her whereabouts with the assistance of informers and by coordinating with investigating officers who had arrested her in previous cases.

Acting on the information, the police conducted a raid and apprehended the accused in Uttam Nagar on October 24.

The stolen Indian currency and US dollars were subsequently recovered from her possession. Police said the clothes she wore at the time of the offence were also recovered.

During interrogation, the accused allegedly admitted to her involvement in the theft.

According to the police, she is a habitual offender with 14 previous criminal involvements, including cases registered at several police stations in Delhi. She was also recently released from Tihar Jail.

Police further said that the accused allegedly used her senior-citizen appearance to avoid suspicion while committing thefts. The details regarding the opening of her history sheet and a proposal for her externment are being verified.

A case has been registered under FIR No. 80090378/26 under Section 305 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) at Paharganj police station.

Further legal proceedings are underway.

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National News

Two women killed in car collision in Karnataka Tumakuru

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Two young women were killed and several others injured in a collision involving two cars in Tavarekere village limits of Sira taluk in Karnataka’s Tumakuru district early on Monday.

The deceased have been identified as Nisarga (20) and Roopa (21), who were travelling from Vijayapura in north Karnataka to Bengaluru to attend a job interview. Both had completed their Bachelor of Pharmacy (B.Pharm) degrees.

According to police, the accident occurred around 5 a.m. within the limits of the Tavarekere police station. According to preliminary investigations, the car carrying the women hit a road divider after its driver, Pavan, lost control of the vehicle. The car reportedly spun into the air before falling onto the road and colliding with another car coming from the opposite direction.

Four people, including driver Pavan, were travelling in the first car. Pavan and another woman sustained serious injuries in the accident. Another four people were travelling in the second car, and all of them sustained injuries.

The injured have been shifted to the district hospital in Tumakuru for treatment. Police have taken up further investigation into the incident.

It can be recalled that on October 25, a boy aged about 13 years, who was travelling in a car, died when the vehicle collided with a truck at Goonadka on the Mani-Mysuru National Highway near Sullia in Mangaluru district. Four other occupants of the car were injured in the accident and admitted to a hospital in Sullia for treatment.

A 16-year-old boy driving a car with two minor friends crashed into the rear of a CNG lorry on National Highway 48 near Anagodu, resulting in the driver’s death and serious injuries to his companions in Davanagere district on October 16.

On October 18, a Class 10 student, Hemanth, died after a speeding car entered a one-way road and hit the motorcycle he was riding pillion on.

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Crime

Delhi Police solves robbery case; two arrested, juvenile apprehended

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Delhi Police has solved a robbery case registered at DBG Road police station by arresting two men and apprehending a 15-year-old juvenile. Police also recovered a Vivo Y58 mobile phone allegedly stolen from the complainant during the robbery, an official said on Monday.

The incident took place on October 11 at around 7.30 p.m., when the complainant was returning from Karol Bagh Market to his residence in Manakpura. According to the police, the complainant was near TT Garments on East Park Road, close to Ajmal Khan Park, when three males allegedly followed and intercepted him. Initially, there were no known suspects or clear clues in the case, officials said.

The accused allegedly assaulted the complainant before fleeing with his Vivo Y58 mobile phone and Rs 2,000 in cash. They escaped from the spot following the robbery.

After the incident, police registered a case at DBG Road police station under Sections 309(4) and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and began an investigation to identify and apprehend the accused.

The case was subsequently solved by the crack team of DBG Road police station through an investigation involving the analysis of CCTV footage and technical surveillance. Investigators examined available footage and pursued technical leads to establish the identities of the suspects.

A crucial lead obtained through a Unified Payments Interface (UPI) transaction helped the team identify the accused and trace their whereabouts. Acting on the information gathered during the investigation, the police apprehended all three suspects from their respective residences.

The accused were identified as Rohit alias Sumit, 18, a resident of Motia Khan, Sadar Thana Road, Delhi; Krishna, 19, a resident of Mangol Puri, Delhi; and a 15-year-old juvenile, also residing in Motia Khan, police said.

The two adult accused were arrested and subsequently remanded to judicial custody. The juvenile was dealt with in accordance with the applicable law and sent to an appropriate Child Observation Home.

During interrogation, the accused allegedly disclosed that they had committed the robbery to earn quick money through illegal means, according to the police. One Vivo Y58 mobile phone, allegedly robbed from the complainant, was recovered during the operation.

The operation was carried out by a team comprising ASI Surender, Head Constables Manish and Satish, and Constables Ravi, Arun and Neeraj. The team worked under the close supervision of DBG Road Station House Officer Inspector Randhir Singh and the overall supervision of ACP Paharganj Dharampal. Investigation in the matter is underway.

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