West Bengal man linked to recruitment scam arrested in Noida for running fake police station
Delhi Police in Noida have arrested a man from West Bengal previously questioned in a recruitment corruption case for allegedly running a fake police station to extort money, officials said on Sunday. Bibhas Adhikari, a former local leader in Birbhum district with past links to the ruling Trinamul Congress party, was detained along with his son, Arghya, and four associates in a raid late on Saturday in Sector 70, police said. Officers seized three mobile phones, multiple bank cheque books, 16 rubber stamps, nine identity cards, visiting cards, official letterheads, several ATM cards and Rs 42,300 in cash. They also recovered forged documents allegedly bearing the names of central government ministries, as well as claims of links to Interpol and the International Human Rights Commission. Police allege the group set up an office under the name “International Police and Crime Investigation” and put up a board resembling that of a police station about 10 days ago. The suspects posed as government officials and used fake IDs to threaten and defraud people, said Noida Deputy Commissioner of Police Shakti Mohan Avasthy. Adhikari, once close to jailed Trinamul strongman Anubrata Mondal, had been questioned multiple times by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with a teachers’ recruitment scam that led to the arrest of former state education minister Partha Chatterjee and former primary education board chairman Manik Bhattacharya. The other arrested men were identified as Babulu Chandra Mondal, Pintu Pal, Samapad Mal and Ashish Kumar, all from West Bengal. The suspects have been remanded in judicial custody and face charges under the Indian Penal Code and the Information Technology Act.
Air India Express launches ‘Freedom Sale’ with 5 million discounted seats
Air India Express has announced a major discount campaign to mark India’s 79th Independence Day, offering five million seats at reduced fares across its domestic and international network. The airline – which has been expanding rapidly in the wake of a previous Air India accident – says fares start from ₹1,279 ($15) for domestic routes and ₹4,279 ($51) for international flights. Tickets will be on sale on the airline’s website and mobile app from 10 August, and across other booking channels between 11 and 15 August. Travel under the offer will be valid from 19 August 2025 to 31 March 2026, covering India’s festive season including Onam, Durga Puja, Diwali and Christmas. Air India Express says it aims to “redefine affordable air travel” through a range of fare types. Its zero check-in baggage “Xpress Lite” option is priced from ₹1,279 domestically, while the standard “Xpress Value” fare with baggage starts from ₹1,379. Business class-style “Xpress Biz” seats – with up to 58 inches of legroom – are now available on over 40 new aircraft added as part of the airline’s expansion. Loyalty programme members will get extra benefits including 25% off Xpress Biz fares, 20% off additional baggage, discounted hot meals, seat selection, and priority services. Special fares remain in place for students, senior citizens, armed forces personnel and their dependents. With a fleet of 116 aircraft operating more than 500 flights daily, the carrier serves 38 domestic and 17 international destinations, with a strong focus on routes linking India and the Middle East. The airline’s “Tales of India” campaign sees each aircraft tail painted with indigenous textile patterns such as Bandhani, Ajrakh, Patola and Warli, which it says reflects both India’s traditions and its “vibrant modern spirit”.
Mother of RG Kar rape victim discharged from hospital after alleged police assault
The mother of a doctor raped and murdered last year in Kolkata was discharged from a private hospital on Sunday, a day after she was injured during a protest demanding justice for her daughter, sparking political uproar over allegations of police assault. The woman left the hospital around 3 p.m. in an ambulance accompanied by her husband and other family members. Hospital officials said her condition was stable, swelling on her forehead had reduced, and she had been given antibiotic injections. She was advised to consult neurologists later. A hospital statement said she had slept well overnight, had no headache, and was able to walk under medical supervision in the morning. However, her husband expressed anger that the medical report did not mention any assault by police. The incident occurred during a march to the West Bengal state secretariat, Nabanna, on Saturday, marking one year since the killing of the RG Kar Medical College doctor. The victim’s parents joined Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders and workers in the protest, during which police allegedly manhandled the woman and pushed her husband. Opposition leader Suvendu Adhikari accused police of beating the woman and shoving her husband. She was taken to a hospital shortly after the protest. Her husband alleged on Sunday morning that hospital authorities had initially been reluctant to admit her due to pressure from the state government, a claim the hospital has not responded to. Kolkata Police Commissioner Manoj Verma, after visiting injured police personnel at SSKM Hospital, told reporters that an investigation had begun into the allegations. “Whether the claim that she was assaulted is true or false will be examined,” he said, adding that police would proceed even without a formal complaint from the woman. The case has drawn renewed political attention to the murder, which remains under investigation a year after the incident triggered widespread outrage in West Bengal.
Bangladesh politics abuzz after BNP chief’s aide alleges graft by eight advisers
Allegations by a top aide to Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Chairperson Khaleda Zia that eight advisers in the interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus have engaged in “rampant corruption” have stirred political debate in Dhaka. ABM Abdus Sattar, Zia’s personal secretary, claimed on Friday that he possesses evidence of the alleged wrongdoing – the first time since the Yunus-led administration took office on Aug. 8 last year that such charges have been levelled against so many advisers at once. The government has dismissed the accusations. In a statement on Saturday, Cabinet Secretary urged Sattar to hand over all evidence to the “appropriate authorities” for investigation. BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir distanced the party from the remarks, saying the statement was “entirely Sattar’s own” and not linked to the BNP. Sattar has not withdrawn his comments. It is unclear whether the government or the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) will act on the allegations, or whether Sattar himself will comply with the request to submit documentation. Transparency International Bangladesh Executive Director Iftekharuzzaman said Sattar, a former government official, should supply the documentary proof he claims to hold. CPD honorary fellow Debapriya Bhattacharya warned that failure to respond to the government’s call could undermine the credibility of future corruption claims. Sattar’s phone has been switched off since Saturday, and Press was unable to reach him or the ACC for comment.
BJP, TMC workers clash at Dum Dum station during AC local train launch
Supporters of the BJP and the Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Sunday clashed at Dum Dum railway station during the launch of a new air-conditioned local train service between Sealdah and Ranaghat, officials said. Union Minister and former state BJP president Sukanta Majumdar, along with BJP MPs Shantanu Thakur and Jagannath Sarkar, was travelling on the train from Sealdah when the incident took place. As the train reached Dum Dum, a group of TMC-affiliated INTTUC supporters entered the station premises holding party flags and shouting “Go back” slogans at Majumdar, accusing him of being “anti-Bengali” and alleging that the BJP was behind attempts to harass Bengalis outside the state. BJP supporters present at the station protested against the slogans, leading to a scuffle between the two sides, the officials said. An INTTUC supporter alleged that BJP workers, led by local leader Tamegnya Ghosh, attacked them. Ghosh denied the charge. Speaking to reporters, Majumdar said, “If Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has the courage, let her remove all non-Bengali MPs and leaders from her party. TMC is so afraid of the SIR that it sent goons to disrupt a government programme at the station.” He also accused TMC workers of misbehaving with BJP women activists and criticised the state Government Railway Police (GRP) for “remaining mute spectators”. A TMC supporter claimed that several non-Bengali railway officers were executing the BJP’s agenda and working against the interests of Bengalis. Large contingents of the Railway Protection Force (RPF) and GRP were deployed at the station to disperse both groups and restore order. No arrests have been reported so far, the officials added.
Villagers in flood-hit Uttarkashi reject ₹5,000 compensation, demand promised ₹500,000
Anger is mounting in disaster-hit villages of Uttarakhand’s Uttarkashi district after the state government handed out ₹5,000 (about $60) in interim compensation to families promised ₹500,000 ($6,000) following last week’s flash floods. Residents of Dharali and Harsil villages, devastated by a cloudburst and sudden flooding on August 5, say the token amount is too little to rebuild homes or livelihoods lost in the disaster. Many refused to accept the cheques, accusing the administration of downplaying the scale of destruction. “This money is nothing. We have lost our homes, our land, everything. How can we survive on ₹5,000?” said one Dharali villager, standing amid piles of debris where his house once stood. Local officials said the payment was an “immediate relief measure” while a full damage assessment is conducted. “We are giving ₹5,000 as an interim step. A complete list of losses will be prepared, and proper compensation will be provided,” Uttarkashi District Magistrate Prashant Arya told reporters. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami had announced ₹500,000 each for families whose homes were destroyed, as well as for the kin of those killed in the disaster. A three-member committee has been formed to assess the damage and submit a report within a week. According to local sources, 35 families in Dharali lost everything in the deluge, which tore through the Harsil Valley, sweeping away houses, farmland, and livestock. Similar devastation was reported in Harsil village. Residents say they have no idea how they will rebuild. The state disaster management authority said 825 people had been rescued from affected areas as of Saturday, though access remains difficult in some locations due to damaged roads and bridges. Relief teams are continuing to distribute food, water, and temporary shelter. For many villagers, the government’s initial payout has deepened frustration rather than providing solace. “We are not begging. We are only asking for what was promised,” said a resident of Harsil, clutching the uncashed cheque. “Our lives have been washed away – not just our houses.”
