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Change certain in Bengal, will perform brilliantly in other states: NDA leaders on exit polls

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New Delhi, April 30: As multiple exit polls projected notable gains for the BJP in West Bengal and Assam, leaders of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) on Thursday voiced confidence that “double-engine governments” would be formed in both states, while also expressing optimism about the party’s performance in Tamil Nadu and Kerala.

According to Matrize exit poll findings, the BJP is likely to register a strong showing in the West Bengal Assembly elections, with projections placing the party in the range of 146–161 seats and a vote share of around 42.5 per cent.

The same survey indicates that in Tamil Nadu, which has a 234-seat Assembly, the DMK-led alliance is expected to retain power. In Kerala’s 140-seat Assembly, a close contest is anticipated between the two main fronts. Matrize projects the Congress-led UDF to secure 70–75 seats, slightly ahead of the Left Democratic Front (LDF), which is estimated to win 60–65 seats.

The reuslts will be announced on May 4.

Reacting to the projections, Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said, “This time in Bengal, the people of Bengal have made up their mind for change. Change is definitely going to happen.”

Bihar BJP President Sanjay Saraogi struck a cautious note while referring to the exit polls, and told media, “According to exit polls, the Bharatiya Janata Party appears to be leading. However, the final results will only be known on counting day… For the first time, many people who were previously deprived of voting rights were able to cast their votes.”

He further added that based on exit poll results, “it appears that the Bharatiya Janata Party will come to power in West Bengal.”

“For the first time, voters in Bengal have been able to cast their votes in a peaceful and fear-free environment. In past elections, there have been allegations of violence and booth capturing, but this time, voters were able to exercise their right freely and in large numbers,” he said.

JD(U) Rajya Sabha MP, Sanjay Kumar Jha, also stated that the BJP will win in Bengal. Speaking to the reporters, Jha said, “Many exit polls from Bengal indicate that the NDA is ahead. The results will come on the 4th, but based on the feedback from journalists and political people who went, and since it is a neighbouring state, an NDA government is coming to Bengal.”

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said the trend was expected, remarking, “This was bound to happen. The people have given their full blessings… The change in Bengal is certain, which will be visible to us on the 4th in the form of results.”

Delhi Minister Kapil Mishra added a lighter tone to the political anticipation, saying, “May 4 is about to come, and saffron is visible everywhere. The mood of the public is now understandable. I think we should wait for the evening of the 4th, everyone will eat jhalmuri, everyone will eat jalebi.”

Speaking to the reporters, Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak said, “In West Bengal, the BJP is seen coming with a strong majority in the exit polls. After voting, we should wait for the counting of votes.”

JD(U) national spokesperson Rajeev Ranjan Prasad said, “Undoubtedly, the exit poll trends and almost all surveys indicate that a massive mandate is going to be received by the Bharatiya Janata Party in Assam.”

BJP National Spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain, speaking to media, also expressed strong confidence in the party’s prospects, stating, “The exit poll results indicate that in Assam and West Bengal, our government is going to be formed with a huge majority. We will also perform well in Tamil Nadu, and in Keralam, we are expected to deliver a surprise result. In West Bengal, just as the sunrise is certain, the formation of the Bharatiya Janata Party government is also certain.”

Crime

CBI arrests proclaimed offender in Bengal gold trader’s murder in 2007

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New Delhi, July 14: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Tuesday arrested proclaimed offender Shibu Kumar Singh, one of the accused in the 2007 Sukanta Ghosh murder case, an official said.

He was arrested from his hideout at Raiganj Road in Gorakhpur’s South Gandhi Ashram, where he was living under the assumed name Akhilesh Kumar Shahi, the CBI official said in a statement.

The case was registered on the order of Calcutta High Court delivered on August 27, 2009.

After investigation, the CBI filed charge sheet and supplementary charge sheet on December 31, 2010, and November 14,2011, respectively, against Shibu Kumar Singh and three others, the statement said.

Absconding for several years, Shibu Kumar Singh was declared a proclaimed offender on September 15, 2016.

The accused was apprehended using human intelligence and technical inputs, the CBI said.

After obtaining a transit warrant, the accused will be taken to Kolkata for production before the competent court on Wednesday, the CBI added.

Barrackpore-based gold merchant Sukanta Ghosh was murdered on July 6, 2007.

The police found his body lying in a pool of blood with 18 stab wounds in Jawahar Kunja of Latbagan.

The police, after initial investigation, found that there was suspicion of the involvement of some goons allegedly working under the patronage of a Left legislator and his brothers.

The investigators found that the victim was murdered for refusing to pay protection or extortion money to the local mafia linked to the MLA.

During the investigation, the High Court had even directed the CBI to constitute a special investigation team (SIT) to probe the murder.

Justice Samapti Chatterjee had instructed the CBI to frame the SIT to reinvestigate the case that had initially been probed by the state police.

The High Court had directed that the SIT should be led by a CBI officer of the rank of Joint Director who would be responsible for providing updates to facilitate a court-monitored probe.

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National News

NIA chargesheets 6th accused in CPI-Maoist Magadh zone revival, extortion case

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New Delhi, July 14: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has filed its third chargesheet in a major conspiracy case, naming Chandan Kumar as the sixth accused in the revival of the banned CPI (Maoist) outfit’s activities in the Magadh zone of Jharkhand and the systematic extortion of funds from contractors to procure arms and ammunition.

The chargesheet was submitted before the NIA Special Court in Ranchi, Jharkhand, in connection with a case, which the anti-terror agency had registered suo motu in December 2021.

Chandan Kumar, arrested by the NIA from Mumbai in January 2026, is described as a key figure in the operation.

According to the NIA’s investigation, Chandan Kumar played an active role in raising funds for the CPI (Maoist) through extortion from contractors working in the region.

The agency’s probe revealed that these illicit funds were channelled through multiple routes to support the terror outfit’s activities, including the purchase of arms and ammunition.

Further investigations established that Chandan Kumar was also involved in efforts to revive the CPI (Maoist)’s Magadh Zone by mobilising and encouraging former cadres to re-join the organisation.

His alleged objective was to strengthen the group’s presence and propagate its ideology through violent means.

The chargesheet highlights that prominent SAC Member of CPI (Maoist), Pradyuman Sharma, along with other accused persons including Abhinav and Chandan Kumar, were part of the larger conspiracy to resurrect the banned organisation’s operational capabilities in the area.

The NIA’s findings point to a well-planned strategy by the Maoist group to regain influence in the Magadh region through financial extortion and cadre mobilisation.

The agency has gathered substantial evidence linking the accused to these terror-related activities.

This is the third charge-sheet filed by the NIA in the case so far, with six accused now formally charge-sheeted.

The central probe agency is continuing its investigation to uncover the full extent of the conspiracy, identify additional operatives, and trace the complete money trail.

The development underscores the NIA’s ongoing commitment to dismantling the financial and operational networks of Left-Wing Extremist organisations operating in the country. Officials indicated that further arrests and chargesheets may follow as the investigation progresses.

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Crime

Delhi Cyber Police bust mule bank account racket, arrest four in courier scam case

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New Delhi, July 14: The Cyber Police Station of North-East District, Delhi, has busted a mule bank account racket and arrested four persons in connection with a fraud case involving cheating of Rs 2.47 lakh on the pretext of a courier delivery company.

The arrested accused have been identified as Md. Arbaz Daniyal alias Labbu (20), Jimmy Bathla (41), Abdul Wadood (27), and Aniket Verma (25). Police said the accused were allegedly involved in operating and supplying mule bank accounts used to receive and transfer money obtained through cyber fraud.

According to the police, a case vide e-FIR No. 00194/2026 dated 16.06.2026 under Section 318(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) was registered at Cyber Police Station, North-East District, on the complaint of Satender, a resident of Babarpur, North-East Delhi, who works as Deputy General Manager (DGM) at Delhi Transco Limited (DTL).

Police said the complainant received a call from a fraudster impersonating a courier executive regarding the delivery of a parcel. The caller allegedly convinced him to dial a number and activate call and message forwarding on his mobile phone. As a result, incoming calls and SMSs, including banking OTPs, were diverted to numbers controlled by the fraudsters, allowing them to fraudulently withdraw Rs 2.47 lakh from his bank account.

During the investigation, police analysed financial transactions, technical evidence and field intelligence to trace the money trail. Investigators found that Rs 80,000 of the cheated amount had been transferred to a Nainital Bank account belonging to the accused Md. Arbaz Daniyal alias Labbu.

Police said further investigation revealed that the account was allegedly opened and operated as a mule account for receiving proceeds of cyber fraud. A dedicated team conducted raids in Udham Singh Nagar in Uttarakhand and Lucknow, Mirzapur and Sultanpur in Uttar Pradesh, leading to the arrest of all four accused.

“Investigation has exposed a well-organised network engaged in procuring and supplying mule bank accounts to cyber fraudsters for laundering cheated money,” Delhi Police said.

During interrogation, police said Md. Arbaz disclosed that he had opened the bank account on the instructions of Jimmy Bathla in exchange for Rs 50,000. Jimmy allegedly handed over the account to Abdul Wadood for Rs 1 lakh.

Police further said Abdul Wadood allegedly supplied the Nainital Bank account details to Aniket Verma, who then provided the account information to cyber fraudsters operating through Telegram for use in online financial frauds.

Four mobile phones, one from each accused, have been recovered during the investigation. Police said analysis of the seized devices revealed transaction details linked to the alleged cyber fraud network.

The arrests have provided important leads about the larger interstate cyber fraud syndicate, and efforts are underway to identify other members, trace additional fraudulent transactions and recover the remaining proceeds of crime.

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