Maharashtra Samajwadi Party leader and MLA Abu Asim Azmi has written a letter to the state Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and the Minister of Minority Affairs demanding extension of the application date for scholarship 2025-26 for students pursuing higher education abroad through the Minority Department and Ministry of Minority Affairs. The last date is August 28, 2025. Azmi has demanded an extension till September 1. He said that there is a three-day holiday in Maharashtra in view of Ganpati festival and other festivals, so students will have difficulty in submitting applications. Therefore, keeping in mind the convenience of the students, the date for submission of applications should be extended till September 1 and the government should take a positive decision on this.

Patna: Nine years after the murder of senior journalist Rajdev Ranjan in Bihar’s Siwan, the Special CBI Court in Muzaffarpur on Saturday convicted three accused while acquitting three others.

On May 13, 2016, Rajdev Ranjan, then bureau chief of a leading Hindi daily, was shot dead in Siwan.

He was returning from a hospital visit when assailants opened fire, hitting him with two bullets that proved fatal on the spot.

His wife, Asha Yadav, lodged the FIR at the Siwan Town police station, and suspicion soon pointed towards jailed RJD strongman and former Siwan MP Mohammad Shahabuddin, though charges were later framed against other accused.

The case was later taken over by the CBI, which filed a chargesheet against seven accused, excluding Shahabuddin.

Shahabuddin, considered the main accused, died during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The trial involved six accused – Azharuddin alias Laddan Mian, Rohit Kumar Soni, Vijay Kumar Gupta, Sonu Kumar Gupta, Rajesh Kumar, and Rishu Kumar Jaiswal.

Another accused was declared a juvenile, with his case being heard separately.

After nearly eight years of proceedings, during which the CBI examined 69 witnesses and presented 111 pieces of evidence, District and Additional Sessions Judge-3 Namita Singh delivered the judgment.

As per the judgement, Azharuddin alias Laddan Mian, Rajesh Kumar and Rishu Kumar Jaiswal were acquitted while Vijay Kumar Gupta, Sonu Kumar Gupta and Rohit Kumar Soni were found guilty.

Defence lawyer Sharad Sinha told reporters that the court acquitted three accused due to lack of evidence, while the remaining three were found guilty of the journalist’s murder.

The high-profile case, once linked to Shahabuddin’s political clout in Siwan, was initially heard at the Special Court (MP/MLA cases) in Patna before being shifted to the CBI Court in Muzaffarpur.

The sentencing of the three convicted accused is expected in the coming days.

Mumbai: Union Home Minister Amit Shah visited Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’ official residence ‘Varsha’ in Mumbai on Saturday to seek the blessings of Ganpati Bappa.

In a video shared by CM Devendra Fadnavis, Union Minister Amit Shah can be seen performing the traditional aarti. During the visit, Fadnavis expressed his honour in an X post, stating, “Hon Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amitbhai Shah and family performed aarti at our official residence ‘Varsha’ in Mumbai, today with utmost devotion, and together we prayed for the well-being of all.”

Union Home Minister Amit Shah, accompanied by his family, also visited the Mogareshwar Public Ganeshotsav Mandal in Andheri East on Saturday to seek the divine blessings of Bhagwan Shri Ganesha. The visit was marked by the presence of Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.

After offering greetings at the mandal, Shah, Fadnavis, and Shinde took part in the darshan of Ganpati Bappa, receiving his blessings. On this auspicious occasion, they prayed to Shri Gajanana for the happiness and prosperity of the country and the state.

In a post, CM Devendra Fadnavis shared his honour in welcoming Union Minister Amit Shah, stating, “Honoured to welcome our leader, Hon Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amitbhai and family at my official residence ‘Varsha’ in Mumbai, today for Ganpati Bappa’s divine darshan and blessings!”

Amit Shah also visited Lalbaugcha Raja, Mumbai’s most famous Ganesh pandal, today as part of his two-day tour to participate in the Ganeshotsav 2025 festivities. Shah was accompanied by his family during the visit, where he sought the blessings of Lord Ganesha.

The Ganeshotsav, celebrated with grandeur across Mumbai, attracts thousands of devotees daily. Shah’s engagement at Lalbaugcha Raja is expected to strengthen the party’s connection with voters and reinforce its presence during the ongoing festival season.