PUNJAB AND HARYANA

Chandigarh/Bathinda: Bollywood actress and BJP MP Kangana Ranaut is facing intensified legal challenges in a defamation case filed by an elderly Punjab farmer, Mohinder Kaur. Despite offering an apology during a previous court appearance, the court on Monday formally framed charges against her, marking the beginning of the legal arguments in the case. The next hearing has been scheduled for 4 December 2025. Case BackgroundThe case stems from a controversial retweet by Kangana in December 2020, during the farmers’ protests against the three central agricultural laws. In the tweet, she compared Mohinder Kaur, a senior farmer from Bahadurgarh Jandiyan village in Bathinda district, to Bilkis Bano of the Shaheen Bagh protests. Kangana also alleged that women participating in such movements w...

Kurukshetra, Haryana: A peculiar incident unfolded in Kurukshetra on Monday when Haryana Transport Minister Anil Vij found himself stranded on the road while attempting to catch a ride with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s convoy. Despite waving repeatedly, no vehicle stopped to give him a lift, leaving the minister momentarily stranded. What Happened?Both leaders were attending an event at Brahma Sarovar, where Rajnath Singh performed a ceremonial Geeta Yagya and inaugurated the Haryana Pavilion. Afterwards, Singh had to leave for another engagement at Kurukshetra University. Transport Minister Anil Vij, who was also supposed to attend the university event, fell behind. A video circulating on social media shows Vij standing alone on the road, waving at passing vehicles to stop for h...

Chandigarh/Haryana: In a swift and decisive operation, the Haryana Crime Investigation Agency (CIA) arrested five armed robbers traveling in a Haryana Roadways bus on the Chandigarh-Ambala Highway, near Palm Resort. The accused were involved in a daring ₹80 lakh robbery in Karnal earlier that morning. Details of the Karnal HeistThe incident took place in Karnal district, where the gang allegedly raided a house preparing for a wedding. The robbers held the family at gunpoint for around 45 minutes, forcibly taking jewelry and cash kept aside for the wedding. During the robbery, the groom tried to resist, and the assailants shot him. The gang also fired five rounds while fleeing the scene. Caught in a Planned TrapActing on a tip-off, the Haryana CIA laid a trap near Palm Resort. As a Ha...

Chandigarh: Luck smiled on a Ludhiana woman in Punjab after she won ₹3 crore in the Punjab State Lottery Diwali Bumper 2025. In a heartwarming twist, the woman had purchased the tickets for her daughter’s birthday, even pledging her jewelry to afford them. A Life-Changing Win The woman, a resident of Bansi village in Ludhiana, bought four lottery tickets for ₹2,000 each on 10 November. Twelve days later, she received the life-changing news: one of her tickets had hit the bumper prize of ₹3 crore. Overcome with joy and emotion, tears welled up in her eyes as she celebrated her good fortune. From Struggle to Hope Maheshwari Sahni, the lottery winner, works as a domestic helper and has faced personal hardships, including a divorce and the loss of her son. She lives with her daught...

Faridabad: Al Falah University is facing intense scrutiny as authorities investigate its links following the Delhi blast on 10 November, which claimed 15 lives. The National Commission for Minority Educational Institutions (NCMEI) has issued a show-cause notice to the university, questioning why its minority status should not be revoked given the ongoing probe involving two of its doctors. Regulatory and Legal Pressure The move by NCMEI comes amid regulatory concerns, as the university is not accredited by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) and has faced prior questions regarding its funding and administration. Adding to its troubles, the university’s founder, Jawad Ahmed Siddiqui, has been arrested by the Enforcement Directorate. Impact on Students The po...

Chandigarh: In a decisive move to curb the rising influence of gun culture among youth, Haryana Police Chief DGP O.P. Singh has directed authorities to treat singers promoting gangster lifestyles and firearms as criminal offenders rather than artists. Crackdown on Controversial Haryanvi Songs DGP Singh’s order comes in the wake of increasing popularity of songs glorifying gangsters, violence, and firearms, which are believed to negatively influence young listeners. The Haryana government has already banned around 30 songs by nine singers who have been identified as promoting such content. Notable names include Masoom Sharma, Gajendra Phogat, Amit Saini, Sumit Parta, Harsh Sandhu, Ankit Balayan, and Kulbir Danoda. Government Measures To discourage the promotion of gangster lifes...

Chandigarh: Tensions are rising in Punjab politics as preparations are underway to introduce a Constitutional Amendment Bill regarding Chandigarh in the upcoming Winter Session of Parliament. Punjab’s political parties are portraying the proposed bill as an attack on the state’s rights, while BJP leaders have dismissed the opposition’s claims as baseless. Why the Bill Matters Chandigarh’s status is deeply tied to Punjab’s regional identity, making it a sensitive political issue ahead of the 2027 state assembly elections. The BJP, which won only two seats in Punjab in 2022 with a vote share of around 6%, could face political backlash if opposition parties frame the bill as undermining Punjab’s rights. The Controversy The bill seeks to include Chandigarh under Article 240 of the ...

Sonipat, Haryana: In a significant breakthrough, Haryana police killed notorious gangster Shubham in an encounter in Gopalpur village, Sonipat. The gangster was involved in multiple heinous crimes, including the recent murder of a father-son duo. Police are currently examining the weapons recovered from the site. Background of the Crime On 24 October 2025, Dharmveer and his son Mohit from Gopalpur village were shot dead over a local feud. The case triggered intense investigation by multiple Crime Branch units of Sonipat Police. Shubham, a sharp shooter from Chapra village in Karnal, along with his accomplices, was identified as the main perpetrator. Encounter Details Acting on a tip-off, a joint operation was conducted by Sonipat Anti-Gangster Unit Sector 7 and CIA-1 teams. Shu...

Chandigarh: Former Punjab Police DIG Harcharan Singh Bhullar, arrested by the CBI on charges of bribery and disproportionate assets, has approached the Punjab and Haryana High Court challenging his arrest. Bhullar claims that the CBI acted beyond its jurisdiction and without prior permission from the Punjab government, making the arrest illegal. Four Key Arguments Presented by Bhullar Jurisdictional Challenge: Bhullar argued that he was posted in Punjab, and the alleged offense also occurred within Punjab. According to Section 6 of the Delhi Special Police Establishment (DSPE) Act, 1946, the CBI must obtain prior consent from the Punjab government to register a case or arrest an official within the state. The DIG contended that CBI failed to do so. Invalid FIR: Bhullar claimed th...