Kolkata, May 14: Former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday made a forceful argument at a division bench of the Calcutta High Court seeking the court’s intervention in preventing post-poll violence, especially against women and the people from the minority community, since the results of the recently-concluded West Bengal Assembly polls were declared on May 4.

“The post-poll violence in the state has reached an alarming stage. No one, especially the people from the minority community and even the women and children, is spared. Married women are being threatened with rape. All such events are surfacing from different pockets in the state. Houses are being looted and burnt. The police are not taking any action. If the court allows, I will mention these allegations in an additional affidavit. Save the people of the state. This is not a ‘bulldozer’ state. This is West Bengal. Please save the people of the state,” the former Chief Minister argued before the division bench of the Calcutta High Court’s Chief Justice Sujoy Paul and Justice Partha Sarathi Sen in a public interest litigation (PIL) filed on the issue of post-poll violence.

While presenting her argument, she also reminded that this was the first time she had been arguing as a counsel at the Calcutta High Court. “My name was enrolled as a counsel in 1995. I have regularly renewed that membership,” the former Chief Minister said.

In his counterargument, the state government counsel, Dhiraj Trivedi, described Mamata Banerjee’s allegations as baseless. “No specific instances of post-poll violence have been cited in the petition. The petitioner is claiming that over 2,000 complaints of post-poll violence have surfaced. But no instance has been cited. The details of the complainants have also not been mentioned. The case relating to the post-poll violence in 2021 was heard by a five-judge bench. Hence, it will not be desirable for the court to pass an interim order unless specific instances of post-poll violence are presented before the court,” Trivedi argued.

Meanwhile, Trinamool Congress has issued a social media statement glorifying Mamata Banerjee’s appearance at the Calcutta High Court, arguing the matter as counsel.

“Our Hon’ble Chairperson Smt @MamataOfficial personally reached the Calcutta High Court today to argue in a matter concerning the widespread post-poll violence unleashed across Bengal by @BJP4Bengal. Once again, she has shown what truly sets her apart. She NEVER abandons the people of Bengal in their hour of need. She NEVER stops fighting for truth, justice, and constitutional values. And time and again, she rises above the politics of hatred with unmatched COMPASSION, COURAGE and CONVICTION. Whether confronting the injustice of SIR or standing firm against the unruly conduct of @BJP4 India, she continues to prove that there is truly NO LEADER LIKE HER in the country today,” the social media statement read.

New Delhi, May 14: A Delhi court is scheduled to hear on June 4 the National Investigation Agency’s (NIA) voluminous chargesheet filed in connection with the deadly Red Fort blast case that claimed 11 lives and left several others injured.

The chargesheet, running into around 7,500 pages, was filed earlier on Thursday by the anti-terror agency before the Patiala House Court against 10 accused under various provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Explosive Substances Act, Arms Act, and Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act.

The high-intensity Vehicle-Borne Improvised Explosive Device (VBIED) explosion had taken place near the Red Fort area on November 10, 2025, triggering a nationwide security alert and causing extensive damage to surrounding property.

According to the NIA, all the accused named in the prosecution complaint were allegedly associated with Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind (AGuH), an outfit considered an offshoot of Al-Qaida in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS).

Among those named in the chargesheet is the alleged mastermind, Dr Umer Un Nabi, a Pulwama-based former Assistant Professor of Medicine at Al-Falah University in Haryana’s Faridabad, who was killed in the blast. The agency has proposed the abatement of charges against him.

The other accused arrayed in the chargesheet include Aamir Rashid Mir, Jasir Bilal Wani, Dr Muzamil Shakeel, Dr Adeel Ahmed Rather, Dr Shaheen Saeed, Mufti Irfan Ahmad Wagay, Soyab, Dr Bilal Naseer Malla and Yasir Ahmad Dar.

The anti-terror agency said its investigation was spread across Jammu and Kashmir, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat and the Delhi-NCR region, and included examination of 588 witnesses, over 395 documentary records and more than 200 seized exhibits and material objects.

Earlier in March, the Patiala House Court had granted the NIA an additional 45 days to complete its probe in the case after the probe agency submitted that crucial new leads had emerged and a large volume of digital evidence was under examination.

New Delhi, May 12: The National Testing Agency (NTA) on Tuesday cancelled the NEET-UG 2026 examination conducted on May 3 and announced that the exam would be re-conducted on dates to be notified separately.

The NTA issued an official statement on the social media platform X, stating that the decision was taken after examining inputs received from Central agencies and law enforcement authorities regarding alleged irregularities in the examination process.

“In continuation of its press release dated 10 May 2026, the National Testing Agency wishes to inform candidates, parents, and members of the public of the following decisions taken in respect of NEET (UG) 2026. NTA had, on 8 May 2026, referred the matters then under consideration to the central agencies for independent verification and necessary action, consistent with its standing commitment to the fair, secure, and credible conduct of the national examinations entrusted to it,” the agency said.

The NTA further stated that, based on the findings shared by investigative agencies and after coordination with Central authorities, the examination process could not be allowed to stand.

“On the basis of the inputs subsequently examined by NTA in coordination with the central agencies, and the investigative findings shared by the law enforcement agencies and in order to ensure that there is transparency in the system, the National Testing Agency, with the approval of the Government of India, has decided to cancel the NEET (UG) 2026 examination conducted on 3 May 2026, and to re-conduct the examination on dates that will be notified separately,” the statement added.

The agency also announced that the Government of India has decided to hand over the matter to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for a comprehensive inquiry into the allegations surrounding the examination.

“The Government of India has further decided to refer the matter to the Central Bureau of Investigation for a comprehensive inquiry into the allegations therein. NTA will extend full cooperation to the Bureau and will provide all materials, records, and assistance the inquiry requires,” NTA added.

“The inputs received by NTA, taken together with the findings shared by the law enforcement agencies, established that the present examination process could not be allowed to stand. The re-conducted examination dates, along with the re-issued admit-card schedule, will be communicated through the official channels of the Agency in the coming days,” the statement said.

The examination body acknowledged the inconvenience caused to students and parents due to the cancellation and re-examination process but maintained that the decision was necessary to protect the integrity of the national examination system.

“This decision has been taken in the interest of students and in recognition of the trust on which the national examination system rests. The Agency is conscious that the re-conduct will cause real and significant inconvenience to candidates and their families. However, the alternative would have caused greater and more lasting damage to that trust,” the NTA said.

The agency clarified that the registration data, candidature and examination centres opted for during the May 2026 cycle would remain valid for the re-conducted examination. No fresh registration process will be required, and no additional examination fee will be charged.

The NTA also stated that the examination fee already paid by candidates would be refunded, while the re-examination would be conducted using the agency’s internal resources.

Further details regarding the revised examination schedule and reissued admit cards will be announced through the official channels of the agency.

“Further communications, including the re-conducted examination dates and the re-issued admit-card schedule, will be issued through the official channels of the Agency. Candidates and parents are requested to rely only on these official channels and to disregard unverified reports circulating on social media,” the NTA said.

Meanwhile, reports of a possible paper leak had surfaced from Rajasthan after the NEET-UG 2026 examination held on May 3. The Rajasthan Special Operations Group (SOG) launched an investigation into the allegations.

According to reports, investigators recovered a handwritten suggestion paper in which nearly 120 questions allegedly matched the actual NEET question paper, including around 90 Biology questions and 30 Chemistry questions.