Bihar

Patna: In a significant move for public safety, the Bihar government has more than doubled the compensation for deaths caused by snake bites. Previously, the Disaster Management Department provided ₹4 lakh to the families of victims, but the amount has now been increased to ₹10 lakh. The directive was issued by Bihar Legislative Assembly Speaker Dr. Prem Kumar after a detailed review. Legislative Question Triggers ReviewThe issue was raised during the 2026 budget session by BJP MLA from Darbhanga, Jivesh Mishra. He questioned whether snakes are considered wild animals under government policy and highlighted the disparity in compensation for snake bite deaths compared to other wildlife-related fatalities. The matter was discussed with the concerned minister, who struggled to provide a cl...

Patna: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has intensified its probe into the tragic death of a NEET student from Patna. From Patna to Jehanabad, the agency is meticulously collecting evidence. Recently, the CBI even seized the mobile phone of the deceased student’s brother during its investigation in Jehanabad. At the helm of this sensitive case is IPS officer Rajeev Ranjan, who, along with his team, is overseeing every aspect of the inquiry and conducting detailed questioning of the victim’s family. 2005 Batch IPS Officer from BiharRajeev Ranjan is a 2005-batch IPS officer of the Sikkim cadre. He currently serves as the Joint Director (IG) of the CBI for Bihar and Jharkhand, operating from the agency’s Ranchi headquarters. Hailing from Manderi village in the Karghar police stati...

Patna, February 18, 2026: In a heartbreaking incident on the first day of the Bihar Board Matriculation exams, a 22-year-old student from Kharjamba village under Masaurhi police station in Patna district reportedly ended her life after being denied entry to her exam center. The student, identified as Komal Kumari, was unable to appear for her exam due to arriving a few minutes late. Incident DetailsAccording to local police, Komal had gone to the exam center at Barni, Dhanrua, on Tuesday morning but was not allowed inside due to strict adherence to exam timings. Distressed by missing her exam, she returned home visibly stressed, changed her clothes, and left the house without informing anyone. Later, her body was found on the railway tracks near Maharajchak village on the Patna-Gaya rai...

Patna, February 18, 2026: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has intensified its probe into the suspicious death of a NEET student at Shambhu Girls Hostel in Patna. The investigation has now extended to the student’s ancestral home in Jehanabad, where her family was questioned for several hours. During the process, the CBI also seized the student’s brother’s mobile phone for further scrutiny. The family of the deceased student had earlier demanded a judicial inquiry, prompting the state government to recommend a CBI investigation. Acting on this, the CBI team first inspected the Shambhu Girls Hostel in Patna on Tuesday before visiting the student’s home in Jehanabad. The student’s brother was taken to Patna for questioning. At the family home, CBI officers interviewed family memb...

Patna/Delhi, February 17, 2026: Former Bihar Chief Minister and RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav received temporary relief as the Supreme Court deferred hearing on the CBI’s appeal challenging his bail in connection with the Deoghar Treasury scam. The hearing has now been rescheduled for April 22, 2026. The two-judge bench, comprising Justice M.M. Sundresh and Justice N. Kotishwar Singh, observed that arguments were incomplete and some parties involved had passed away, prompting the adjournment. Lalu, who has been granted bail on health grounds, can now celebrate Holi without immediate legal uncertainty. CBI Challenges Bail Granted by Jharkhand High CourtThe Central Bureau of Investigation had filed the petition in the Supreme Court seeking suspension of the sentence granted by the Jharkh...

Patna, Bihar: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has intensified its probe into the suspicious death of a NEET student at a Patna hostel. As part of the investigation, the CBI summoned Sub-Inspector (SI) Reena Kumari of Chitragupt Nagar Police Station for nearly three hours of questioning. Several other police officers may also be called for interrogation in the coming days. Who is SI Reena Kumari?Reena Kumari was serving as the second-in-command (Second SHO) at Chitragupt Nagar Police Station. After the then Station In-Charge Roshni Kumari was suspended for alleged lapses, SI Reena Kumari took over the investigation of the NEET student’s death. She examined the case files, reviewed evidence, and coordinated with the Special Investigation Team (SIT) at the station level. Given...

Patna: Sushil Kumar Modi, former Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar, has long been recognized not only as a politician but also as a whistleblower who has actively exposed corruption. His efforts have been instrumental in bringing the Lalu Prasad Yadav family’s alleged illegal dealings, including the high-profile Land-for-Job scam, to the courtroom. Early Allegations and Motivation On 4 April 2017, Sushil Modi held his first press conference accusing Tej Pratap Yadav of irregularities in a ‘soil scam.’ At the time, the Bihar government issued a clean chit, but this marked the beginning of Modi’s detailed investigation into the alleged illegal assets of the Lalu family. A veteran in both politics and anti-corruption activism, Modi had previously played a key role in exposing the fodder sc...

Sitamarhi: With the Holi festival approaching, Indian Railways has announced special trains to ease travel for passengers traveling to Bihar from Delhi and Howrah (Kolkata). The Samastipur Railway Division has issued an official e-release regarding the service, which will operate via Sitamarhi Junction. Holi, celebrated across India, is observed with a unique fervor in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. Large numbers of people return to their hometowns to celebrate the festival, often traveling from distant cities like Delhi, Mumbai, and Kolkata. To manage the heavy passenger traffic and ensure a comfortable journey, Railways has introduced special Holi trains connecting Sitamarhi with major cities. Schedule of Holi Special Trains 1. Howrah – Raxaul Special via Sitamarhi: Train No. 0304...

Patna: In a rare display of judicial sensitivity, a 90-year-old defendant had his case heard by CBI Special Judge Avinash Kumar outside the courtroom in Patna. The elderly accused, Jay Narayan Singh of Jamui, was physically unable to walk into the court for his 15-year-old tractor loan fraud case. To ensure justice, the judge personally came out to Singh’s car, and the hearing continued there for 35 minutes. Court Proceedings Outside the Courtroom Jay Narayan Singh, accused of defrauding UCO Bank in 2011 using forged documents to secure a tractor loan of ₹4–5 lakh, could not physically enter the courtroom due to age and infirmity. Recognizing the defendant’s limitations, Judge Avinash Kumar overrode protocol and conducted the hearing at Singh’s vehicle. During the proceedings, the ju...

Bhiwadi/Motihari: A tragic factory explosion in Bhiwadi, Rajasthan, has claimed the lives of seven laborers from Bihar’s East Champaran district, plunging seven families into grief. The blast occurred at an illegal firecracker factory, leaving relatives in shock and disbelief, unable to accept that their sons are no more. One of the most heartrending stories comes from Sikandar Paswan of Jharokhar town. Sikandar’s 17-year-old son, Mintu, was working in the factory at the time of the explosion. As news of the blast reached him, he ran frantically to the factory, witnessing the raging fire, repeatedly asking anyone passing by: “My son was here—has anyone seen him?” It was only late in the evening, after authorities confirmed Mintu’s death among the victims, that Sikandar and other pare...