Mumbai, Sep 19: Shiv Sena (UBT) Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut on Saturday mounted a strong defence of the Thackeray family, alleging that renewed efforts to link them to the Disha Salian case were politically motivated and timed to coincide with the party’s resurgence in Maharashtra politics.

Addressing the media, Raut strongly rejected the renewed allegations surrounding the death of Disha Salian following a Rs 500-crore defamation lawsuit filed by her father, Satish Salian, against former ministers Aaditya Thackeray and Anil Deshmukh.

Satish Salian is expected to personally hand over the defamation notice by visiting Matoshree, the official residence of the Thackeray family at Bandra.

Raut questioned the selective claims of self-respect by complainants, labelling the fresh legal actions as a politically motivated smear campaign controlled by “outside forces.”

Calling Disha Salian’s 2020 death a tragedy that had already been acknowledged as an accident by her father in previous statements, Raut accused political opponents of unearthing resolved matters whenever the Thackeray family gains political momentum.

Moving beyond state politics, Raut levelled high-profile allegations directly targeting the Prime Minister and federal institutions. He alleged taxpayer money collected via UPI is being routed to the U.S. as extortion money to delay the public release of the international Epstein files, warning its fallout would trigger an earthquake in Indian politics.

Referencing RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s statement about the inevitable setting of the sun, Raut claimed it signals the political decline of Prime Minister Narendra Modi before 2029. He dismissed divine comparisons made by supporters, emphasising that the Prime Minister is a human being prone to errors, exhaustion, and false statements.

Raut accused the ECI of operating as a biased tool under Union Home Minister Amit Shah, citing recent arrests of opposition leaders and party symbol decisions as direct blows to democracy. He criticised recent actions, such as the arrest of a Congress candidate in West Bengal over an old protest and decisions regarding party symbols, characterising them as blows to Indian democracy.

Raichur (Karnataka), Sep 19: Two boys were killed, and another sustained serious injuries after they fell from a tractor during a Ganesh immersion procession in Raichur city on Saturday, officials said.

The incident occurred at M. Eranna Circle when the tractor carrying the boys was moving along the road during the procession.

According to police, the vehicle became unbalanced while crossing a road hump, causing two boys to fall from the tractor. They came under the wheels of the vehicle and sustained severe injuries.

The deceased have been identified as 16-year-old Suchit Kumar and 14-year-old Charan Kumar. Another boy, Vijaykumar, sustained serious injuries in the incident and is undergoing treatment at the Raichur Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS).

The bodies of the deceased have been shifted to the RIMS hospital mortuary.

Raichur Superintendent of Police Arunangshu Giri said the incident occurred when the Ganesh immersion procession was underway, and the tractor became unbalanced near the road hump.

“Suchit Kumar and Charan Kumar fell from the vehicle and suffered severe head injuries. We shifted them to the hospital and medical treatment was administered, but they succumbed to their injuries,” the SP said.

A case has been registered at the Raichur City Traffic Police Station, and further investigation is underway, the SP said.

Police are investigating the circumstances leading to the accident, including how the tractor became unbalanced and the circumstances under which the boys fell from the vehicle.

The incident has cast a shadow over the Ganesh immersion procession in the city. The injured boy continues to receive treatment at RIMS, while the bodies of the two deceased boys have been kept at the hospital mortuary.

New Delhi, Sep 19: Continuing with its humanitarian assistance to Nepal, India on Saturday sent another 11 tonnes of relief supplies to support the Himalayan nation’s recovery from the devastating flash floods.

“Dispatched another 11 tonnes of relief material to Nepal, including medicines, forensic supplies, tents, hygiene kits, sleeping bags and other essential supplies. India continues to support Nepal’s recovery. Neighbourhood First,” External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar posted on X.

According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), this was the 9th Indian Air Force (IAF) plane carrying relief material as Nepal struggles to recover from the deadly flash floods of August 26, which have caused widespread destruction, left over 1300 people dead, and thousands still missing.

On Friday, Nepal’s Finance Minister, Swarnim Wagle, thanked the Government of India for its support in rescue and relief efforts following the recent flash flood in Rasuwa, the Embassy of Nepal in India stated.

“Dr. Swarnim Wagle, Finance Minister of Nepal, met Dr. S Jaishankar, External Affairs Minister of India, in New Delhi. Minister Wagle thanked the Government of India for its support in rescue and relief efforts following the recent flash flood in Rasuwa,” the Embassy wrote on X.

“The two Ministers discussed ways to deepen the longstanding Nepal-India friendship and strengthen bilateral cooperation, particularly in investment, energy and connectivity,” it added.

Last week, relief and rescue items, including materials for tunnel rescue and forensic supplies, sent by India were handed over to Mahabir Pun, Nepal’s Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation.

“The 8th Indian flight with relief and rescue items, including materials for tunnel rescue and forensic supplies, reached Kathmandu and were handed over to Nepal’s Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation, Mahabir Pun,” Ambassador of India to Nepal, Naveen Srivastava, said on X.

India expedited the delivery of relief supplies, equipment and expert personnel to Nepal through nine special flights since August 26 in the wake of the devastating flash floods.