Tesla Launches First India Showroom in Mumbai with Model Y SUVs
July 15, 2025: Tesla Inc. has officially entered the Indian market, opening its first showroom in the country on Monday in Mumbai’s upscale Bandra Kurla Complex. The 4,000 sq ft showroom, known as the “Tesla Experience Center,” was inaugurated on Tuesday morning by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. “We welcome Tesla to India,” Fadnavis said at the event. “The company has chosen the right state and the right city to begin its journey. We are fully prepared to collaborate and ensure a mutually beneficial relationship.” Tesla’s entry comes after years of negotiations and speculation regarding the EV maker’s India plans. According to sources, the monthly lease for the Mumbai showroom is pegged at INR 3.5 million (approx. $42,000), underscoring the brand’s high-end positioning. The Mumbai outlet features Tesla’s popular electric SUV, the Model Y, with six units imported from the company’s Shanghai facility ahead of the launch. The available variants include the Long Range Rear-Wheel Drive (RWD) and Long Range All-Wheel Drive (AWD), both in dark grey. Equipped with voice command, wireless charging, and internet connectivity, the cars are being marketed as high-tech and premium. The starting price for the Model Y in India has been set at INR 5.989 million ($71,800). However, high import duties — ranging from 70% to 100% — continue to pose a challenge for Tesla’s pricing strategy in the country. CEO Elon Musk has previously expressed frustration over India’s steep tariffs, calling them a barrier to broader market access. Tesla’s India debut comes amid a broader government push toward electric mobility and follows recent policy changes aimed at encouraging foreign EV manufacturers. More showrooms are expected in New Delhi and Bengaluru later this year.
Fake Gold Scam Uncovered in Rajasthan’s Bharatpur, Kolkata Police Arrest Key Accused
KOLKATA, July 15: Kolkata Police have arrested a key member of a nationwide fake gold racket operating out of Bharatpur in Rajasthan, exposing a wide network of fraudsters who have been producing counterfeit gold jewellery and using it to secure loans across India. According to police officials, the accused, identified as Dharam Singh, was arrested in Bharatpur during a covert operation led by officers from the city’s Parnasree police station. The operation followed the death of a suspected fraudster who was lynched in Kolkata’s Parnasree area after allegedly trying to use fake gold to secure a loan. Another accused was seriously injured in the same incident, prompting a deeper investigation. Dharam Singh, said to be a key figure in the syndicate, was apprehended by officers posing as buyers of fake gold. Several counterfeit ornaments were recovered from him at the time of arrest. The investigation revealed that multiple small-scale factories in Bharatpur are manufacturing fake gold jewellery that closely resembles real gold, both in appearance and weight, making detection difficult without thorough testing. The counterfeit items are often pawned to obtain large sums in loans rather than sold outright. Parnasree police traced the operation to Bharatpur after interrogating Deepak Singh, who was arrested for attempting to secure a ₹1.1 million ($13,000) loan using fake gold. He disclosed information that led the officers to the inter-state racket’s hub. However, Kolkata Police faced resistance while conducting raids in Bharatpur, which lies near the borders of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh. Local law enforcement allegedly discouraged night-time operations, citing safety concerns due to the area’s proximity to the Chambal ravines, a region historically known for criminal hideouts. Upon learning of the impending crackdown, several gang members reportedly fled towards Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. Despite this, Dharam Singh was successfully apprehended and brought to Kolkata for interrogation. Police say further raids may be conducted in Bharatpur to capture additional suspects identified during questioning. Authorities believe the racket has defrauded financial institutions and gold dealers across multiple states and are expanding the investigation in coordination with other state police forces.
Bengal Opposition Leader Calls Parallel Rally on 21 July TMC Martyrs’ Day, Mamata Dismisses It as “Unimportant”
KOLKATA, India, July 15: Political tensions are escalating in West Bengal as opposition leader Suvendu Adhikari of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) announced a counter-rally on July 21, the day the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) holds its annual Martyrs’ Day gathering in central Kolkata. Adhikari has also launched a state-wide campaign titled Kanya Suraksha (Girl Child Protection) in response to a recent gang rape allegation involving a law college student in Kolkata’s Kasba area, intensifying political debate over women’s safety in the state. The BJP has announced marches across various districts and a protest march to Uttarkanya, the state government’s administrative outpost in North Bengal, on the same day as the TMC rally. However, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has dismissed the BJP’s counter-programme, calling it insignificant. “It’s not an important issue. There’s no need to pay attention to them,” she told reporters after a cabinet meeting on Monday. Martyrs’ Day, observed annually on July 21, commemorates the killing of 13 TMC supporters during a protest in 1993. The event remains one of the party’s most significant political shows of strength. Banerjee, addressing preparations for the event, instructed ministers and officials to ensure the safe and smooth transport of party workers from across the state to Kolkata. “Our only focus is to honour the martyrs and ensure a peaceful and successful event,” Banerjee said. She directed police and administrative officials to ensure security, accommodation, and transportation logistics are carefully managed for party workers traveling to the capital. During the cabinet meeting, Banerjee also expressed concern over reports of Bengalis facing harassment in other Indian states for speaking their mother tongue. “It’s unacceptable that someone is attacked just for speaking Bengali,” she said. The Chief Minister asked her ministers to organise protests at the local level and raise awareness on linguistic and cultural respect. “Nearly 15 million people from other states live peacefully in West Bengal, and we have always welcomed them with dignity,” Banerjee said. “But over 2.2 million Bengalis working in other parts of India are facing discrimination. This cannot continue.” Officials believe the government may be preparing a larger campaign to protest these incidents, not just through administrative channels but also via cultural and social platforms aimed at protecting Bengali language and identity.
Odisha Student Dies After Setting Herself on Fire Over Harassment Complaint; CM Announces Compensation
BHUBANESWAR, July 16: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Tuesday announced a compensation of ₹2 million ($24,000) for the family of a college student who died after setting herself on fire in protest against alleged inaction on her sexual harassment complaint. The 22-year-old second-year B.Ed student from Fakir Mohan Autonomous College in Balasore died at AIIMS-Bhubaneswar on Monday night after battling for her life for three days. She had suffered 95% burns following the self-immolation on campus last Saturday. The student had reportedly accused a professor of sexual harassment and resorted to the extreme step after authorities allegedly failed to take action on her complaint. “The Chief Minister has directed officials to ensure a thorough investigation and strict punishment for all those found guilty,” the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) said in a statement. Odisha Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati also expressed deep sorrow over the incident. “Shattered to learn of the untimely loss of a young student from Fakir Mohan Autonomous College,” he posted on social media platform X. “Her passing is not just a tragedy—it is a stark reminder of the urgent need to safeguard our campuses. The law will take its toughest course.” Police have arrested the principal and the head of the Education Department of the college in connection with the case. The incident has triggered outrage across the state, with students and activists demanding accountability and stronger mechanisms to address harassment complaints in educational institutions.
Trump Says He’s “Disappointed But Not Done” with Putin, Reaffirms Support for NATO
WASHINGTON, July 15: U.S. President Donald Trump said he remains “disappointed but not done” with Russian President Vladimir Putin, in a wide-ranging phone interview with an international news service marking one year since the attempt on Trump’s life at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. Speaking from the Oval Office on Monday, Trump addressed rising tensions with Russia, reiterating his demand for a ceasefire in Ukraine within 50 days and announcing plans to send additional U.S. weapons to Kyiv. The president also warned of “severe tariffs” on Moscow if no peace agreement is reached. Asked whether he trusted the Russian leader, Trump responded bluntly: “I trust almost no one.” Trump said he had believed on four separate occasions that a peace deal with Russia was within reach, only for the efforts to collapse. “I’ll say: ‘That’s good, I think we’re close to getting it done,’ and then he’ll knock down a building in Kyiv,” he said, referring to Putin. “I’m disappointed in him, but I’m not done with him.” The 20-minute call came after discussions about a formal interview to commemorate the anniversary of Trump surviving an assassination attempt during a campaign event. Asked whether the incident had changed him, Trump said he prefers not to dwell on it. “I don’t like to think about if it did change me… Dwelling on it could be life-changing.” In contrast to his previous criticism of NATO as “obsolete,” Trump expressed full support for the alliance after meeting with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte earlier in the day. “I think NATO is now becoming the opposite of that,” he said, noting that member nations are “paying their own bills.” Trump also reaffirmed his belief in NATO’s principle of collective defense, saying it ensures that smaller countries can defend themselves from larger adversaries. On the United Kingdom, Trump called it a “great place” and confirmed he would make an unprecedented second state visit in September. “Have a good time and respect King Charles, because he’s a great gentleman,” Trump said of his goals for the trip. The interview highlighted Trump’s evolving stance on global alliances and foreign adversaries as he looks ahead to the 2026 general election cycle.
Indian Election Commission Flags Foreign Nationals on Bihar Voter List, Sparks Political Uproar
PATNA, July 15: – India’s Election Commission has reportedly identified several names on Bihar’s electoral rolls that belong to nationals of Bangladesh, Nepal, and Myanmar, raising concerns ahead of the state’s legislative assembly elections due later this year. The revelation comes during the Commission’s ongoing “special intensive revision” of voter rolls, which includes door-to-door verification by Booth Level Officers (BLOs). According to commission sources quoted by Indian news agencies, these officers have found foreign nationals in possession of Aadhaar cards, domicile certificates, and ration cards—documents typically required for inclusion on India’s voter rolls. The discovery has triggered a political storm. Tejashwi Yadav, leader of the opposition Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), dismissed the Commission’s claim as baseless. “They say this is based on a ‘source’. This is not a source—this is nonsense,” Yadav said at a press conference in Patna. He further alleged that the revision process itself is flawed and chaotic. “Forms are scattered everywhere. In some places, they’re even being used to sell sweets,” he quipped. Yadav warned that even if 1% of genuine names are wrongly excluded, nearly 800,000 voters could lose their right to vote. The Commission, however, claims that over 80% of forms have already been submitted. Senior advocate and former Union Law Minister Kapil Sibal has also raised constitutional concerns about the process. In a media interview, Sibal called the entire exercise “unconstitutional,” asserting that the Election Commission has no authority to determine an individual’s citizenship status. “This revision exercise is a deliberate move to build a majoritarian government in future elections by targeting the poor, marginalized, and tribal communities,” said Sibal, who is representing one of the petitions in the Supreme Court challenging the voter list revision. The controversy underscores the political sensitivity surrounding voter eligibility in India, particularly in states with high migration and complex demographic profiles. The Supreme Court is currently hearing petitions challenging the legality and fairness of the Commission’s actions.
