A special MP-MLA court in Sultanpur, Uttar Pradesh, on Monday acquitted Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in a defamation case over alleged objectionable remarks against Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who was the BJP president at the time.

Rahul Gandhi was present before the court at the time of the pronouncement of the verdict. The court said Rahul Gandhi’s remarks are not defamatory.

The defamation case was filed by local BJP leader Vijay Mishra, a former chairman of the Sultanpur District Cooperative Bank. Rahul Gandhi made the alleged remark during a campaign rally in Bengaluru ahead of the 2018 Karnataka Assembly elections.

Mishra had alleged that Gandhi made derogatory remarks about Shah, citing his statement that while the BJP professed a commitment to honest and clean politics, it was led by a “party president who is an accused in a murder case”.

Gandhi appeared before the court for the final proceedings in the case on Monday. He travelled to Sultanpur via Lucknow.

After the court verdict, Congress leaders and supporters were seen celebrating outside the court with drums and slogans.

Speaking to reporters outside the court, Rahul Gandhi’s counsel, Kashi Prasad Shukla, said, “We respectfully accept the court’s decision, and the truth has ultimately prevailed. Rahul Gandhi had to face many hardships during this period…”

The complaint was filed in 2018, and the matter was subsequently heard by the special MP-MLA court in Sultanpur.

In February 2024, Gandhi appeared before the court and was granted bail on personal bonds. The proceedings continued thereafter.

Earlier this year, Gandhi travelled from Lucknow to the Sultanpur District Court amid heavy security to record his statement. He missed an earlier hearing scheduled for January 19, following which the court fixed February 20 as the next date.

After arguments from both sides concluded, the court delivered its verdict on Monday, acquitting Gandhi in the defamation case.

Earlier in the day, Vijay Mishra’s counsel, Santosh Kumar Pandey, said, “If he is convicted, arguments will be heard on that point. After that, the court will deliver its verdict immediately. The possible outcomes are that he may either be acquitted or sentenced by the court. The maximum punishment prescribed is up to two years of imprisonment. There is also a provision for a fine. The court may impose both imprisonment and a fine, or either one of them.”

Varanasi witnessed the mega air show ‘Wings Over Ganges’ organised by the Indian Air Force (IAF) over the Ganga River here on Sunday to mark its 94th anniversary, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi among the audience at the Namo Ghat here.

The spectacular aerial display saw various aircraft showcase their capabilities.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel, and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath were also present at the event.

The event gave spectators an opportunity to witness a wide variety of aircraft and aerial manoeuvres, showcasing the Indian Air Force’s capabilities across different operational roles, from fighter operations and helicopter formations to transport and coordinated flying.

The air show was organised to commemorate the 94th anniversary of the Indian Air Force, bringing together a range of aircraft for an aerial display highlighting the force’s operational capabilities, precision flying and coordination.

The event featured aircraft such as the Tejas, Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) Prachand, Su-30MKI and Rafale, along with several transport and other military aircraft.

The second phase of the programme began with three Mi-17 V-5 helicopters carrying the national flag and the Indian Air Force flag in an ‘Omkar’ formation.

The formation was led by Group Captain Anuj Gupta, marking the beginning of another series of aerial manoeuvres during the event.

The air show also featured the ‘Bhagirathi’ diamond formation, comprising LCH and Apache helicopters, followed by the Tridev formation.

The latter brought together the Indian Navy’s Kamov 31 helicopter and Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) Mark 3 helicopters from the Indian Air Force and the Indian Army, showcasing coordination among the three services.

As part of the programme, flowers were showered from the sky, adding a ceremonial element to the display. This was followed by a performance by Rudra aircraft led by Wing Commander S. Bhargava, which carried out a spectacular flare display while soaring across the sky.

The Surya Kiran Aerobatic Team (SKAT) also performed a precision aerial display over the River Ganga, drawing attention with its coordinated manoeuvres and tight formations. The team operates nine red-and-white Hawk Mk 132 aircraft, which painted the skies with a series of signature formations and aerobatic routines during the performance.

The aerial display further showcased the Indian Air Force’s airlift and formation-flying capabilities, with aircraft including the Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) system, MiG-29, P-8I, IL-78, Mirage-2000 and Su-30MKI participating in different formations. The formations were named Freelocean, Nataraj, Mahadev, and Vishwanath, adding to the significance of the display held in Varanasi.

The ‘Neelkanth’ formation, featuring three Rafale aircraft flying in a ‘V’ formation, was led by Squadron Leader Kaustubh Nalawade. An indigenous Tejas fighter aircraft brought its aerial display over Varanasi to a close with a distinctive Spider-Man farewell, providing a memorable conclusion to the performance.

Large crowds gathered at Namo Ghat and nearby ghats to watch the Indian Air Force aircraft perform their aerial manoeuvres. Spectators also assembled at Bhosale Ghat and along the opposite bank of the Ganga, towards Ramnagar, to catch a glimpse of the spectacular display.

Extensive security arrangements were put in place at the ghats to ensure the smooth conduct of the event. Personnel from the Water Police, the Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC), the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), along with divers, were deployed at Namo Ghat and surrounding areas.

Prime Minister Modi’s presence at the event generated considerable enthusiasm among residents, with large numbers of people gathering along the route from the police lines to Namo Ghat to welcome him. The atmosphere remained lively as people assembled at designated points to catch a glimpse of the Prime Minister.

BJP workers and local residents greeted PM Modi with rose petals, traditional musical performances and cultural programmes organised at various points along the route. People raised slogans of “Har Har Mahadev” and “Jai Shri Ram” as the Prime Minister stood on the footboard of his vehicle and acknowledged the crowds gathered to welcome him.

Earlier in the day, PM Modi inaugurated a new garment manufacturing unit of Arvind Ltd in the Mirzamurad area of Varanasi. Officials said the facility is aimed at promoting industrial development in the region and strengthening India’s textile and garment manufacturing sector.

During his visit to the facility, the Prime Minister also interacted with around 300 women. Officials said the new unit is expected to create employment opportunities, particularly for women, while giving a boost to local economic activity and supporting industrial growth in the region.

The initiative is also expected to connect garments manufactured in Varanasi with international customers by facilitating access to global markets, thereby providing fresh opportunities for the region’s textile and garment industry.

Delhi Police have busted an alleged cyber fraud syndicate operating from Jharkhand and arrested two men, including a B.Tech graduate, for allegedly cheating more than 50 people through fraudulent credit card transactions while impersonating as bank officials, officials said on Sunday.

The accused were identified as Aftab Ansari, age 24, and Abdul Majid, age 23. The Cyber Police Station of Shahdara district arrested the two in Jharkhand’s Dhanbad district after a four-day operation. They recovered three mobile phones allegedly containing WhatsApp chats and other digital evidence linked to fraud.

According to police, the investigation began after a complaint by Tarnjeet Singh, who alleged that unidentified persons posing as HDFC Bank officials contacted him over the phone and WhatsApp, claiming they could help him update his credit card Know Your Customer (KYC) details. The complainant subsequently discovered unauthorized transactions on his credit cards

The police traced a Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra worth Rs 1,39,999, purchased using the disputed credit card transactions on JioMart, to a delivery address in the Jharia area of Dhanbad district.

After conducting surveillance and field verification for four days, the team devised a trap with the assistance of a delivery agent. Police arranged a decoy mobile phone delivery at a location allegedly used by the suspects. The two accused arrived to receive the purported delivery and were apprehended, officials said.

During the operation, two mobile phones were recovered from Ansari and one from Majid. The devices reportedly contained WhatsApp conversations and other digital material relevant to the investigation.

According to the police, the accused and their associates used social media platforms, including Facebook, to advertise assistance with credit card KYC updates to lure victims. Interested people were directed to online forms through which their personal and contact details were collected.

Mostly, unsuspecting individuals above 50 years of age were targeted by the fraudsters, who posed as bank officials and offered supposed assistance with KYC verification through video calls.

In these video calls, victims were asked to display their credit card details, including card numbers and CVV, on camera and share their mobile phone screens under the pretext of completing electronic verification. Police suspect that this enabled the accused to access the one-time passwords received on the victims’ devices and carry out unauthorised online transactions.

The fraudsters allegedly used compromised credit card details to purchase expensive mobile phones through online shopping platforms. The devices were delivered to locations in Jharkhand and West Bengal, away from the accused’s home district, to avoid detection.

Police said the phones were subsequently sold in local markets at comparatively lower prices. Since the devices were sealed and accompanied by a purchase invoice, they appeared legitimate.

Preliminary investigation suggests that almost 50 people were deceived like that. Police are still verifying the number of victims and the total number of people involved in the crime, presuming that it could be a whole network of other members.

Delhi police have advised the public not to share credit card details, CVVs, OTP or PINs over phone or video calls, or share mobile screens with unknown people.