National News
Setback for AAP as former MLA Sukhbir Dalal joins BJP

New Delhi, Dec 21: In a significant political development, former MLA and long-time Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) member Sukhbir Dalal joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday.
The move was announced in the presence of Union Minister Harsh Malhotra, BJP state president Virendra Sachdeva, and other senior leaders at a press conference at the Delhi BJP headquarters.
Joining Dalal was Balbir Singh, an executive member of the Delhi Gurdwara Management Committee from Vivek Vihar.
Dalal, who represented Mundka as an AAP MLA, clarified that his decision to switch allegiance was not due to being denied a ticket but stemmed from his confidence in the BJP’s policies.
“Ever since Arvind Kejriwal’s ‘Sheesh Mahal’ was built, corruption within AAP crossed all limits,” Dalal remarked.
He accused the AAP government of prioritising corruption over development and ignoring the needs of rural areas in Delhi.
Dalal also credited the BJP for supporting his efforts to execute developmental projects in rural Delhi.
Expressing his gratitude after joining the party, he pledged his commitment to contributing to the nation’s progress under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership.
This follows a series of switches by the AAP leaders to the BJP ahead of the Assembly elections.
Recently, Delhi Ministers Kailash Gahlot and Harsharan Singh Balli joined the BJP. Along with this, many others also switched to the BJP ahead of polls.
Balbir Singh, too, cited his admiration for PM Modi’s policies as a motivating factor. “The Prime Minister has worked extensively for the Sikh community, which inspired me to join the BJP,” he said.
Singh highlighted his electoral success as a member of the Delhi Gurdwara Management Committee and noted that his appeal transcended religious boundaries.
He further praised the BJP and the Delhi Lieutenant Governor for their recent contributions to the Sikh community. Singh contrasted this with the lack of action by other parties, stating, “Everyone talks about 1984, but they never provided jobs or opportunities. The BJP has offered both support and work.”
With the Delhi Assembly elections scheduled for February 2025, the AAP faces increasing challenges as it aims for a third consecutive term. In the 2020 elections, the party won an overwhelming majority, securing 62 out of 70 seats.
This political realignment adds to the mounting pressures on AAP as it prepares to defend its stronghold in the upcoming elections.
National News
Thane, South Mumbai & Eastern Suburbs To Face 10% Water Cut From October 7 To 9 | Check If Your Area Is Affected

Mumbai, Thane: Residents across Thane and several parts of Mumbai are set to experience a 10 per cent reduction in water supply as the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) undertakes the upgradation of electricity meters at the Pise and Panjrapur power stations. The Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) confirmed that the cut will be in effect from Tuesday, 7 October to Thursday, 9 October 2025.
Out of Thane’s total water supply, 85 million litres per day (MLD) comes from BMC’s sources. The ongoing electrical work is expected to impact multiple areas across Thane and Mumbai during the three-day maintenance period.
According to the Thane Municipal Corporation, the areas that will face reduced water supply include Kopri Dhobighat, Kopri Kanhaiya Nagar, Gandhi Nagar, Anand Nagar, Indiranagar, Bhatwadi, Tekdi Bangla Water Tank, Gavdevi (Luiswadi) Water Tank, Balkum Pada No.1, Ambedkar Nagar, Laxmi Nagar, Kajuwadi, Jijamata Nagar, Jai Bhavani Nagar, Dnyaneshwar Nagar, Ambika Nagar, Karwalo Nagar, Shivshakti Nagar, Janata Slum, Padval Nagar, Shivaji Nagar, Kisan Nagar No.1, Kisan Nagar No.2, Ramchandra Nagar 1, Sainath Nagar, Namdev Wadi, Raghunath Nagar, Luiswadi, Hajuri, Pachpakhadi, and Naupada.
The civic body has appealed to residents to store enough water beforehand and use it judiciously throughout the period to avoid inconvenience. Authorities have also urged the public to cooperate while the upgrade work is completed.
The BMC announced that parts of South Mumbai and the eastern suburbs will also experience a 10 per cent water cut between October 7 and 9. The work includes upgrading 100 kilowatt (KW) electrical meters at the Pise and Panjrapur water treatment facilities in Thane. Maintenance activity will take place daily from 12.30 pm to 3 pm, which is expected to affect supply in several zones temporarily.
A Ward: Fort, Colaba, Marine Drive, Nariman Point
B Ward: Masjid Bunder, Mohd. Ali Road, Dongri, Bhendi Bazar
E Ward: Byculla, Agripada, Nagpada, Dockyard Road, Reay Road
F-South Ward: Parel, Lalbaug, Hindmata, Lower Parel
F-North Ward: Matunga, Sion
M-East Ward: Chembur East, Govandi, Mankhurd, Trombay, Cheeta Camp, Deonar Municipal Colony, Anushakti Nagar
M-West Ward: Chembur West
L Ward: Kurla East
N Ward: Vikhroli, Ghatkopar
S Ward: Bhandup, Nahur, Kanjurmarg, Vikhroli East
T Ward: Mulund
Both civic bodies have requested residents to plan their water usage carefully and avoid wastage during the maintenance period. Supply is expected to return to normal from Friday, 10 October 2025.
Business
PM Modi to inaugurate India Mobile Congress 2025 on October 8

New Delhi, Oct 6: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2025, Asia’s premier telecom and technology event, on October 8 in the national capital, Ministry of Communications said on Monday.
The four-day mega event, themed “Innovate to Transform,” will run till October 11 and is expected to showcase India’s growing leadership in the global digital and telecom space.
Union Minister for Communications Jyotiraditya M. Scindia visited the IMC 2025 venue to review the final preparations ahead of the Prime Minister’s inauguration.
Scindia also travelled to the venue and back via the Airport Metro, symbolising India’s push for modern and sustainable urban transport.
During his visit, the minister toured the exhibition area, interacted with participating startups and exhibitors, and chaired review meetings with senior officials from the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), and other partner agencies.
Speaking to the media, Scindia said that IMC 2025 would mark a new era in global connectivity, where technologies like 5G, 6G, artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), the Internet of Things (IoT), and satellite communications would come together to shape the future.
He emphasised that the event reflects Prime Minister Modi’s vision of a self-reliant and innovative India that connects not only within but also with the world.
IMC 2025 is expected to attract more than 1.5 lakh visitors, 7,000 delegates from over 150 countries, and 400 exhibitors spread across 4.5 lakh square feet.
The event will also feature over 1,600 technology demonstrations and 100 sessions with more than 800 speakers discussing the latest developments in telecom and digital innovation.
Highlighting the scale of the event, Scindia said that IMC has grown from being a national platform to becoming a global technology congress that represents India’s digital leadership.
He added that the 2025 edition will include six major global summits — covering 6G research, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, satellite communications, startups, and the Global Startup World Cup — India Edition.
The minister also underlined India’s achievements in the telecom sector, noting that the country now ranks among the world’s top three digital economies with 1.2 billion mobile subscribers, 970 million internet users, and the fastest-ever 5G rollout completed in just 22 months.
Crime
Mumbai Crime: 51-Year-Old Advocate Loses ₹2 Crore In Sextortion; FIR Filed

Mumbai: A 51-year-old advocate from Goregaon West was allegedly defrauded of Rs 2 crore by a 28-year-old woman from Himachal Pradesh who allegedly threatened to file a false rape case against him. The Goregaon police have registered a case against the woman Parul Rana, her parents, sister, and a friend for extortion and defamation.
The advocate Rajeev Ranjan, who filed the complaint on October 3, has represented India as an ambassador at the United Nations, World Trade Organization, G7, BRICS, UNICEF, the Commonwealth, and several other prominent international organisations and summits.
According to the FIR, Ranjan met Rana in May 2024 at his residence through mutual friends, after which they exchanged contact details and social media IDs. In June 2024, while Ranjan was in Geneva for a conference, Rana called him late at night, claiming her relative was unwell and asked for Rs 50 lakh. He transferred Rs 2.5 lakh from his SBI account. Later, when he returned to India, she again sought money under various pretexts, including modelling expenses, and he gave her Rs 2.5 lakh in person.
Ranjan stated in the FIR that despite informing her that he was married with a daughter, Rana pursued a physical relationship with him. Afterwards, she demanded Rs 10 lakh, of which he paid Rs 5 lakh through a friend’s company account. She later sought more money, including Rs 3 lakh at Mumbai airport and Rs 10 lakh during a stay at his residence with her sister, Nidhi Rana. In July, Ranjan and Rana travelled to Bali, a trip he fully funded.
During the visit, she repeatedly demanded more money, including Rs 20 lakh for unspecified reasons. When he refused, she began threatening him using their private photos, warning that she would file a false rape case if he didn’t comply. Ranjan alleged that Rana’s parents – Harvinder and Meena Rana – her sister Nidhi, and a friend, Konika Verma, joined in the threats, calling him and demanding money. Out of fear, he continued sending money until the total reached Rs 2 crore, most of it in cash.
Later, Rana and her family allegedly contacted Ranjan’s wife, revealing the affair and demanding more money, again threatening legal action if he did not pay. Ranjan later approached the police, who registered a case for extortion, cheating, defamation and criminal conspiracy.
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