Politics
CBI questions Congress MP Hibi Eden in alleged sexual abuse case filed by Solar scam accused
A team of CBI officials on Friday questioned Congress MP from Ernakulam Hibi Eden, in a sexual abuse allegation filed by the solar scam accused.
Last month, the CBI team along with the complainant — who is the prime accused in the infamous solar scam — arrived at the high security Kerala Legislative quarters to collect evidence provided by the accused, who had made sexual abuse allegations against the then Congress legislator and present Ernakulam Lok Sabha member Hibi Eden.
The CBI team on that day arrived with the ‘victim’ and went around the Flat 34 at the Legislative quarters as according to the complainant, she was sexually abused by Eden here which was his flat when he was a legislator in 2013.
In August last year, the CBI registered cases against two-time former Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, Congress General Secretary K.C. Venugopal and Congress Lok Sabha members — Hibi Eden, Adoor Prakash, Congress legislator A.P. Anilkumar and BJP national vice president A.P. Abdulla Kutty.
The cases were registered on a complaint filed by Solar scam accused saying that she was sexually exploited by these leaders.
She had raised a complaint with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who handed it over to the CBI, just before the April 2021 assembly elections.
She made the complaint after her displeasure with the Kerala Police probe which after several years failed to come to any conclusion.
The CBI has filed three cases at the Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) court, here and one case at the CJM Kochi court.
According to her complaint, she was sexually harassed by Chandy (when he was the Chief Minister) at his official residence- Cliff House Aon August 19, 2012.
However, the Kerala Police probe had earlier found out that there was nothing to prove that and Chandy all along have said he has done no wrong and does not fear anything and will fully cooperate with the probe.
Incidentally, a team of CBI officials on May 3, arrived at the official residence of Chief Minister as part of the investigation in the case against Chandy.
At that time, the present resident Pinarayi Vijayan was away in the US undergoing medical treatment.
Eden has always maintained that this was a politically motivated case.
Incidentally, the ‘victim’ was the reason that mainly led to the bringing down of the Oommen Chandy government as scams involving her and a few members of the Chandy’s office got exposed, which the Left used widely in their election campaign in 2016.
She and her then live-in partner went around selling solar schemes and collected money from several people and cheated them. Her links with a few office staff of Chandy surfaced which became the biggest campaign issue for the Left.
This was one reason why the Congress-led UDF government, which was aiming for a second term in 2016, suffered a rout.
International News
EAM Jaishankar and US counterpart Rubio discuss advancing ties, regional developments

External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar held a meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Mumbai on Tuesday, with discussions focusing on further advancing bilateral ties.
During the meeting, the two ministers exchanged views on regional developments. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor and other officials were also present at the meeting.
“Pleased to meet US Marco Rubio in Mumbai today. We shared views on further advancement of our ties, focusing on trade, energy, technology, defence and people-to-people ties. Also exchanged views on regional developments,” EAM Jaishankar stated on X after the meting.
Rubio said that he and EAM Jaishankar discussed energy security and defence cooperation.
“In Mumbai, Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and I discussed energy security and defense cooperation while reaffirming the importance of advancing the U.S.-India strategic partnership,” the US Secretary of State posted on X.
Earlier, EAM Jaishankar, Marco Rubio and UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan held a meeting in Mumbai, with discussions held on regional energy security and advancing shared economic priorities.
“It was great to meet with Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan to discuss regional energy security and advance our shared economic priorities,” Rubio stated on X after the meeting.
Following the meeting, Ambassador Gor also took to X and wrote: “The US, India, and UAE have real opportunities to advance cooperation on energy, trade, technology, and regional connectivity. Marco Rubio, S Jaishankar, and UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Mumbai for a discussion on turning our close ties into concrete results!”
Earlier in the day, Marco Rubio arrived in Mumbai for an official visit to India. For his visit to Mumbai, Rubio is accompanied by his wife, Jeanette Rubio and US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) extended a warm welcome to Rubio as he arrived in Mumbai for his second visit to India, noting that it provides an opportunity to further advance cooperation across various pillars of the India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership.
“Welcome to Mumbai, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, on your second visit to India! He was received by Shri Ashish Shelar, Minister of Culture, Electronics, IT and AI, Government of Maharashtra at the airport. The visit provides an opportunity to further advance cooperation across the various pillars of the India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership,” the MEA posted on X.
After concluding his engagements in Mumbai, Rubio will travel to Gujarat’s Jamnagar for talks that will include “enhanced energy cooperation”, the US State Department said.
Crime
Maha: Woman beaten to death with hammer over minor dispute in Palghar; two arrested

Palghar Police have solved the murder of a 52-year-old woman, Sajani Vinod Waghari, who was allegedly bludgeoned to death with a hammer following a minor dispute in the Saphale police station area. Two accused have been arrested in connection with the crime, police said on Tuesday.
The accused have been identified as Nilesh Dharamaji Chibhade (35), a resident of Bambar Pada, Jamshar Post, Jawhar taluka, and Ujwala Navsu Khutade (33), a resident of Dabhosa in Jawhar taluka, both in Palghar district.
According to police, Waghari, a resident of Adwan Sawarpada in Palghar taluka, was found injured near an iron bridge at Tepacha Pada on October 15, 2026. She was immediately taken to the Saphale Primary Health Centre, where doctors examined her and declared her dead.
Initially, a case of accidental death (No. 32/2026) was registered at Saphale Police Station under Section 194 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023.
However, during the inquest and subsequent medical examination, doctors found a serious injury behind the woman’s ear, apparently caused by a weapon. The injury had resulted in excessive blood loss, leading to her death.
Following the medical findings, police suspected murder and registered a case (No. 119/2026) under Section 103(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) on October 15.
Considering the seriousness of the crime, Palghar Superintendent of Police Yatish Deshmukh directed the formation of separate teams from the Local Crime Branch and Saphale Police Station to investigate the case.
The teams pursued leads through confidential information and technical analysis, which eventually helped identify the two suspects.
During interrogation, the accused allegedly confessed to attacking Waghari on the head with a hammer following a minor altercation, police said.
Both were subsequently arrested and produced before a court, which remanded them to five days of police custody until October 22.
The murder case was cracked under the guidance of SP Yatish Deshmukh, Additional Superintendent of Police Vinayak Narale and Sub-Divisional Police Officer of Palghar division Umesh Gawali. Further investigation is being conducted by Assistant Police Inspector Datta Shelke of Saphale Police Station.
Maharashtra
Woman arrested for extorting ₹4 crore by blackmailing victims with obscene videos

Mumbai: A woman has been arrested by a team from Crime Branch Unit 7 in connection with an extortion case. The accused allegedly extorted approximately 40 million rupees (4 crore rupees) from a resident of Ghatkopar by threatening to defame her using an obscene video and threatening her with death. She was also demanding further payments.
The complainant works as a manager at a jewelry store. Between December 2024 and January 2025, an acquaintance—a woman—engaged the complainant in an obscene video chat via WhatsApp. The accused then threatened to circulate this footage to the police, the courts, and the CBI, claiming that the complainant would be summoned for investigation. Fearing public disgrace, the complainant paid a total of 40 million rupees to the accused. The woman continued to demand more money and threatened that if further payments were not made, she would break the complainant’s limbs and kill her. Taking into account the gravity of the matter, Crime Branch Unit 7 (Ghatkopar, Mumbai) laid a trap for the woman who had been demanding extortion money. On October 19, she was caught red-handed at RK Restaurant, LBS Road, Ghatkopar West, Mumbai, while accepting a sum of 5 lakh rupees from the complainant. Following the complainant’s report, a case was registered at the Ghatkopar Police Station under Sections 308(2) and 308(7) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The Crime Branch has taken over the investigation, and the woman has been arrested; further inquiries are being conducted by Unit 7, Ghatkopar.
This operation was carried out by a team comprising Mumbai Police Commissioner Deven Bharti, Joint Police Commissioner Anil Kumbhare, Additional Commissioner Krishnakant Upadhyay, and DCP Nanath, along with the personnel of Unit 7.
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