Patna, Nov 12: Grand Alliance chief ministerial candidate Tejashwi Yadav said on Wednesday that the Mahagathbandhan will form the government in Bihar after the November 14 results, and dismissed exit poll projections that favour the NDA.

Addressing a press conference at his official residence-cum-office in Patna, Tejashwi said turnout in this election rose sharply compared with 2020, with more than 72 lakh additional voters exercising their franchise.

“This is a massive number of voters. The polling percentage is almost 10 percentage points higher than the last election, about 72 lakh more voters. That means roughly 29,000 extra votes at every polling booth, and these votes were cast to change the government,” he said.

Tejashwi said ground feedback indicates even better performance than 1995, and predicted a decisive victory for the Grand Alliance.

“The change will happen in Bihar — people have voted for change. The BJP leaders are uneasy because they know they are facing a big defeat. The Grand Alliance is sweeping this election, and we will take the oath on November 18,” he said.

Rejecting exit polls released on Tuesday, Tejashwi questioned their methodology and accused several news channels of bias.

“What is the relevance of these exit polls? What was their sample size? I believe they were instructed by Amit Shah to favour the NDA. Many channels previously gave the NDA over 400 seats in the Lok Sabha and predicted results in West Bengal and Jharkhand that did not materialise,” he said, adding that such polls create pressure on officials.

He warned his team would remain vigilant from strong rooms to counting centres.

“Your tricks will not work in Bihar, the land of democracy. We are alert and will not allow vote rigging,” he said.

Tejashwi also criticised the deployment of central security forces, alleging that the Central government used flag marches to create pressure on officers in Bihar.

“They staged flag marches here — actions they would not take in Delhi after the blast — only to apply pressure on officers here,” he claimed.

Ahmedabad, Nov 12: Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Limited (APSEZ) on Wednesday said it has become India’s first Integrated Transport Utility to embrace the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) framework, setting a new benchmark for nature-positive infrastructure development.

With this, APSEZ joins a select league of global port operators championing biodiversity, reinforcing its commitment to safeguarding marine ecosystems through science-based, transparent environmental disclosures.

As a TNFD adopter, the company said it is committed to implementing TNFD-aligned reporting on nature-related dependencies, impacts, risks and opportunities.

The TNFD is a global, science-based initiative founded by a coalition including the United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and Global Canopy, to guide companies in identifying, assessing, managing, and disclosing nature-related risks and opportunities.

“We firmly believe responsible business practices drive long-term success. Our adoption of the TNFD framework demonstrates support for nature-related corporate reporting at COP30. We see nature-related issues as a strategic risk management priority. The TNFD framework provides robust support for integrating nature into our decision-making processes and enhancing our contribution to biodiversity conservation,” said Ashwani Gupta, Whole-Time Director and CEO of APSEZ.

This step further strengthens APSEZ’s dedication to nature-positive business practices and positions it as a leader in sustainable maritime logistics.

As part of this commitment, Adani Ports will further enhance disclosure standards to ensure alignment with the TNFD recommendations in its corporate reporting, starting FY26.

The company has already institutionalised climate risk assessment and disclosure practices that align with globally recognised frameworks and continues to set standards in environmental stewardship, having afforested over 4,200 hectares of mangroves and actively conserving an additional 3,000 hectares — making it the largest private sector contributor to mangrove ecosystem restoration in India.

The new initiative is a key component of APSEZ’s broader ESG strategy and reflects a proactive approach in assessing and addressing nature-related dependencies, impacts, risks, and opportunities.

The company operates a comprehensive ecosystem of 15 strategically located ports and terminals across India’s west, south, and east coasts, combined with a diversified marine fleet of 127 vessels.

Mumbai, Nov 12: The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has busted a major gold smuggling and melting syndicate in Mumbai under “Operation Bullion Blaze”, an official statement said on Wednesday.

The operation exposed an organised network engaged in smuggling gold into India, melting it in clandestine furnaces, and offloading the refined bullion into the grey market.

Acting on specific intelligence, DRI officers conducted simultaneous searches on November 10 at four discreet premises in Mumbai — two illegal melting units and two unregistered shops.

Both furnaces were found operational, equipped with complete setups to convert smuggled gold concealed in wax and other forms into bars. Officers seized 6.35 kg of gold on the spot and detained those running the units.

Follow-up searches at two shops linked to the mastermind — used for receiving smuggled gold and selling melted bars to local buyers — led to the recovery of an additional 5.53 kg of gold bars.

In total, 11.88 kg of 24-carat gold valued at Rs 15.05 crore and 8.72 kg of silver worth Rs 13.17 lakh were seized under the provisions of the Customs Act, 1962.

Eleven persons, including the mastermind, his father, a manager, four hired melters, an accountant, and three delivery personnel, were arrested. All accused were produced before the court in Mumbai, and remanded to judicial custody, according to the statement.

Preliminary investigations indicate a well-organised conspiracy to smuggle and sell gold illicitly, in clear violation of India’s gold import policy and aimed at evading government revenue.

The DRI reaffirmed its commitment to dismantling organised smuggling networks that undermine revenue, distort markets, and threaten fiscal stability. By intercepting illicit gold flows and disrupting the shadow economy, the DRI continues to safeguard India’s economic interests and uphold a fair and transparent trading environment.

Further investigation is underway.