New Delhi, Aug 28: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday celebrated Raksha Bandhan with children at his residence at 7, Lok Kalyan Marg, sharing moments of smiles, high-fives and interaction with schoolchildren.

PM Modi shared a reel on his Instagram account and said, “Hi5, smiles and more during today’s Raksha Bandhan celebrations at 7, LKM.”

In the video, the Prime Minister can be seen interacting with schoolchildren and exchanging warm greetings with them. During the interaction, a child asked PM Modi about his childhood dream.

Responding to the question, the Prime Minister said, “Aap logon se milne ka (to meet all of you)”.

PM Modi was also seen shaking hands and exchanging high-fives with the children, who could be heard laughing and giggling during the interaction. He also blessed the children and spent time engaging with them during the Raksha Bandhan celebrations.

Earlier in the day, PM Modi also extended greetings to the people on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan and wished that the bond of love, affection and mutual trust would remain forever unbreakable.

PM Modi took to social media ‘X’ and said, “Heartfelt wishes on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan. May this sacred festival bring happiness, prosperity, and success into all your lives. May the bond of love, affection, and mutual trust remain forever unbreakable—that is my heartfelt wish.”

Raksha Bandhan celebrates the bond of love, affection and protection between brothers and sisters. Traditionally, sisters tie colourful rakhis around their brothers’ wrists and pray for their health, happiness and prosperity. Brothers, in turn, express their affection by offering gifts and pledging to stand by their sisters through life’s challenges.

The festival is observed on Purnima, the full moon day, of the Hindu month of Shravana. This year, Raksha Bandhan is being celebrated on Friday.

As part of the traditional celebrations, sisters apply a tilak on their brothers’ foreheads before tying the rakhi, while families exchange sweets and gifts.

Raksha Bandhan is primarily celebrated in India and Nepal and is observed during the Hindu lunar calendar month of Shravana, which generally falls in August according to the Gregorian calendar.

Jalna, Aug 28: On the eve of his proposed indefinite hunger strike starting Monday, Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange Patil on Friday launched a scathing attack on the Maharashtra state government, warning that six crore Marathas could march to Mumbai in five phases if their key demands regarding Kunbi caste certificates are not met.

Speaking to the media in Antarwali Sarati on the final day of his ultimatum to the government, Jarange Patil targeted Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy CM Eknath Shinde and Cabinet Sub-Committee Chairman Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil. Jarange Patil urged the Maratha community to “shake off their lethargy and passivity” and assemble in large numbers at Antarwali Sarati.

He specifically asked individuals whose Kunbi record entries were identified but who were denied certificates, those whose applications were rejected, and candidates awaiting job appointments despite selection to gather with their documents.

Clarifying the roadmap of the protest, Jarange Patil stated that while the agitation will start in Antarwali Sarati on August 29, it will shift directly to Mumbai – specifically targeting the Chief Minister’s official residence, Varsha – if the administration fails to act. Reaffirming his commitment, he declared that his fast unto death would continue unconditionally until concrete implementation occurs, urging the community to refrain from suicides and stand united behind the movement.

Addressing the sub-committee and government ministers, Jarange Patil levelled severe allegations regarding the handling of Maratha quota records. “Do not play with the lives of Maratha youth. While Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis provided benefits initially, they are now responsible for undermining the progress of the community. Officials are actively attempting to diminish the verified 58 lakh Kunbi records that were previously made public.”

He further criticised Sub-Committee Chairman Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, alleging a lack of administrative awareness regarding the ground reality of verification procedures, and warned ministers including Uday Samant, Shambhuraj Desai, and Chandrashekhar Bawankule against misleading the community.

Jarange Patil presented a clear set of charter demands to the Maharashtra government, insisting that senior administrative officers visit Antarwali Sarati to explain the explicit framework for certificate distribution.

He demanded the immediate issuance of valid Kunbi caste certificates to all 58 lakh identified record holders, with clear official protocols, release of Government Resolutions (GRs) incorporating the Satara, Kolhapur, Aundh, and Pune gazettes, immediate job appointments for families of individuals who lost their lives during the Maratha reservation agitation, establishment of an independent Maratha-Kunbi Ministry and immediate restoration and resumption of halted schemes under SARTHI (Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj Research, Training and Human Development Institute).

He also demanded the release of pending interest reimbursements under the Annasaheb Patil Arthik Vikas Mahamandal and reinstatement and validation of four revoked caste certificates in the Marathwada region.

New Delhi, Aug 28: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has confirmed the arrest of wanted accused Sagar Mehta in connection with the Rs 177 crore money laundering case linked to the alleged Torres Jewellers Ponzi scheme in Dubai.

Mehta’s lawyer approached the court seeking withdrawal of the proclamation proceedings initiated against him at the ED’s request. The court was informed that Mehta had been arrested on Thursday by Dubai authorities following the execution of a Red Corner Notice issued at the request of the Indian agency.

Mehta is a key accused in the case and is alleged to have played a role in collecting and transferring the proceeds of the alleged fraud. The ED informed the special PMLA court that he had been arrested after remaining on the run for several months.

The court had earlier issued non-bailable warrants against Mehta and three Ukrainian nationals — Olena Stoian, Oleksandr Zapichenko and Viktoria Kovalenko. According to investigators, Zapichenko and Stoian allegedly helped design the financial structure and money-laundering mechanisms of the scheme. They are also accused of arranging initial funds through illicit channels and facilitating the conversion of unaccounted money into apparently legitimate investments.

The Torres Jewellers case relates to allegations that the company operated a fraudulent investment scheme by marketing synthetic moissanite as precious gemstones and promising investors unusually high returns.

According to the prosecution, Platinum Hern Pvt Ltd (PHPL), which operated Torres Jewellers, allegedly attracted investors by offering lucrative returns and rewards. The company reportedly promised weekly returns of between 2 per cent and 9 per cent on investments in gold, silver, diamond jewellery and precious gemstones.

The ED has further alleged that investors were offered a 20 per cent “investment bonus” for bringing new participants into the scheme, creating a referral-based structure.

Investigators have alleged that the operation relied on misleading advertisements, attractive bonuses and unrealistic return promises to draw investors, characteristics commonly associated with Ponzi schemes.

The prosecution has alleged that Mehta was involved in the fraudulent operation but fled India on December 24, 2024. His arrest in Dubai is expected to be significant for the ongoing investigation into the alleged money-laundering network and the movement of funds linked to the case.