Rajasthan

Sikar, Rajasthan: The renowned Lakhhi Falgun Mela at Khatu Shyam Ji Temple began today, Saturday, marking the start of eight days of religious fervor. Millions of devotees from Jaipur and other cities are expected to participate in the festival, which runs from February 21 to 28. The roads from Reengas to Khatu are already resonating with devotional songs, colorful flags, and chants of “Jai Shri Shyam.” Massive Footfall Expected This year, officials anticipate around 2.8 million devotees to attend the mela, with some estimates suggesting the number could rise to 3.5 million. Pilgrims are required to walk the last 5–8 kilometers to reach the temple, making the journey an act of devotion for children, youth, and the elderly alike. Special Arrangements for Darshan To manage the la...

Jodhpur, Rajasthan: In a daring case of impersonation and extortion, Rajasthan police have arrested a man for threatening a local businessman in the name of notorious gangster Lawrence Bishnoi. The accused has been identified as Laduram, also known as Laden. The revelation about his identity surprised authorities, as he is not a real gangster. The incident occurred in Jodhpur’s Sardarpura police station area. Laduram allegedly threatened the businessman with death and demanded a ransom of ₹5 lakh, claiming to act on behalf of Lawrence Bishnoi. The Sardarpura police swiftly launched an investigation and managed to apprehend the fake ‘gangster’. How Laduram Was Caught According to Jodhpur Police Deputy Commissioner Vineet Bansal, the businessman filed a complaint after receiving the...

Jaipur: The Congress student wing, National Students’ Union of India (NSUI), has appointed Vinod Jakhar as its new National President. Hailing from Rajasthan, Jakhar will succeed outgoing NSUI chief Varun Chaudhary. The Congress party has officially announced his appointment, sparking interest in Jakhar’s political background and leadership style. Who is Vinod Jakhar? Vinod Jakhar is recognized as a young Congress leader from Rajasthan. He has been associated with the Congress party since his student days. While studying at Rajasthan University, he contested as an independent candidate and was elected as the President of the University Student Union, which brought him into the spotlight of local Congress leaders. Opposition to RSS Ideology Jakhar is well-known in Rajasthan’s po...

Jaipur: Rajasthan Agriculture Minister Kirodi Lal Meena, popularly known as ‘Baba,’ launched a scathing attack on the previous Congress government in the Rajasthan Assembly during discussions on agricultural grant demands. He alleged serious irregularities in the state’s warehouse tender process, highlighting a direct connection with former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot. Alleged Warehouse Tender Scam Meena claimed that Mumbai-based businessman Maftalal Mohnot, originally from Jodhpur and reportedly a business partner of Ashok Gehlot, along with his companies including Shubham Logistics Ltd, received undue advantages through manipulated tender procedures. According to Meena, tender conditions were reportedly altered two to three times, and attempts were made to obtain relief from the Su...

Jhalawar, February 21, 2026: Four young men tragically lost their lives in a road accident in Jhalawar district, Rajasthan, on Friday evening. The accident occurred when a Bolero vehicle collided head-on with a motorbike carrying all four victims. The youths were traveling from Rajasthan to Mandsaur, Madhya Pradesh, at the time of the crash. The incident took place near Karanpura village on the Dag-Choumhala road around 7:30 PM in the Gangdhar police station area. Local villagers reported that the impact was severe, leaving both vehicles heavily damaged. Emergency services were informed immediately, and the victims’ bodies were sent to Choumhala Hospital for post-mortem. Identification of Victims During the investigation, three of the four victims were identified through documents...

Rajsamand, Rajasthan: A gruesome case has come to light in Rajsamand district, where a pregnant woman and her two-year-old son were brutally murdered. The woman’s body was recovered from a pond, while the search for the child’s body continues in nearby forested areas. Police have revealed key details following the arrest of a suspect. Mother and Son Missing for Seven DaysAccording to police, Priyanka Rawat (22) and her son Aryan (2) went missing on February 11. Their family filed a missing person report on February 12, prompting authorities to begin an investigation. During the probe, call records led police to a suspect named Govind Singh, who was taken into custody on Wednesday night. During interrogation, he allegedly confessed to the murders. Sequence of the CrimePolice stated th...

Jaipur: Jaipur police have apprehended a fugitive suspect involved in an inter-state bride trafficking racket, marking a major breakthrough in a case that spans multiple states. The Crime Branch of Rajasthan Police arrested Bhanwarlal Sharma on Wednesday. He is accused of running a network that trafficked women and girls from West Bengal, Assam, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Jharkhand to Rajasthan for forced marriages and extortion. Targeting Vulnerable FamiliesInvestigation revealed that Sharma and his associates targeted girls from economically weaker families under the pretext of offering jobs or better marriage prospects. These girls were brought to Rajasthan, where they were forcibly married to unmarried men in border districts for large sums of money. Extortion After MarriageAccord...

Jaipur: Rajasthan is witnessing a massive surge in religious tourism, with several major temples recording a significant rise in footfall. Among them, the Khatu Shyam Temple in Sikar district has emerged as the state’s most visited religious destination, surpassing even some of India’s biggest pilgrimage centres such as Vaishno Devi and Shirdi Sai Baba Temple in popularity. According to tourism department statistics, nearly 11 crore devotees visited Rajasthan’s top 10 temples in 2025, marking an overall increase of around 10 percent compared to 2024. The remarkable rise highlights the growing importance of Rajasthan as a major spiritual and pilgrimage hub in India. Khatu Shyam Retains Top Position The Khatu Shyam Temple remained the number one destination in the state with approxi...

Jaipur: In a major development in the alleged ₹900 crore Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) scam, investigating agencies have tightened the noose around former IAS officer Subodh Agrawal. A Lookout Notice has been issued against him amid fears that he may attempt to flee abroad. According to official sources, Agrawal’s name surfaced during the ongoing investigation into large-scale financial irregularities and fraudulent billing linked to the Jal Jeevan Mission projects. The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) is reportedly intensifying its probe, as the case is believed to involve a wide network of officials and contractors. ACB Conducted Search, Former IAS Officer Missing On February 17, the ACB conducted a search operation at Subodh Agrawal’s residence. However, officials were unable to locate ...