Waqf law: SC to hear pleas against Waqf Amendment Act on Apr 16; petitions seek probe into violence in Bengal
Two separate petitions have been filed in the Supreme Court variously seeking the setting up of a Special Investigation Team and a court-monitored probe into the violence in West Bengal over the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025. One of the pleas sought a direction to the State government to file a report in the top court on steps taken to contain the violence and protect public property and lives. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court would likely hear a batch of petitions, including the one of AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi, against the constitutional validity of the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025.
Trump vs Harvard: U.S. President ramps up conflict against defiant University, demands apology
U.S. President Donald Trump escalated his war against elite U.S. universities Tuesday with a threat to strip Harvard’s tax-exempt status if the country’s most famous educational establishment refuses to submit to wide-ranging government oversight. The threat of a major tax bill comes after Harvard saw $2.2 billion in federal funding frozen on Monday.
Murshidabad remains calm, arrests climb to 221 in West Bengal
An uneasy calm prevailed in the violence-hit areas of Dhulian and Shamsherganj in West Bengal’s Murshidabad district, with no fresh incidents reported for the past three days. While some shops opened on the occasion of Poila Baisakh (Bengali New Year), public activity remained subdued. Many residents who fled their homes and took shelter across the river in adjoining Malda district have reportedly not yet returned, despite assurances from the police administration.
Retail inflation eases to a 5.5 year low of 3.34% in March 2025 as food gets cheaper
Retail inflation eased to a five-and-a-half-year low of 3.34% in March, from 3.61% in the previous month, mostly due to lower food prices, according to data from the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation. Vegetables, eggs, and pulses were significantly cheaper, though edible oils and fruits continued to see high inflation. The slowing prices come on the heels of two consecutive repo rate cuts, each by 25 basis points or 0.25%, by the Reserve Bank of India.
Shibu Soren appoints son and Jharkhand CM Hemant JMM chief; BJP criticises family politics
Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren was appointed the central president of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) by his father and party founder Shibu Soren. Mr. Shibu Soren, who held the post for 38 years, will now be the founder-patron of the party. The formal announcement was made on the concluding day of 13th Central Convention of the JMM at Khelgaon in Ranchi. Mr. Hemant’s wife and Gandey MLA Kalpana Soren was among those present.
ED records Robert Vadra’s statement in 2008 Haryana land deal case
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) recorded the statement of Robert Vadra, businessman and husband of senior Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, in connection with a 2008 Haryana land deal case. Accompanied by his supporters, Mr. Vadra walked the two kilometres from his residence to the ED’s headquarters at about 11 a.m. He described the summons as “political vendetta”, and alleged that whenever he talked about the rights of minorities, attempts were made to silence him.
Beware of child traffickers, SC cautions parents
The Supreme Court, in a judgment, warned parents to be “extremely vigilant” about their children against gangs trafficking children for sexual exploitation, forced labour, begging and petty crimes, armed conflict, child marriage and even camouflaging sale of infants as inter-country adoption.
Operation Chakra-V: CBI nabs four ‘kingpins’ in ‘Digital Arrests’ case
The CBI has arrested four people, two each from Mumbai and Moradabad (Uttar Pradesh), for their alleged involvement in ‘Digital Arrests’ fraud. The arrests, made as part of ‘Operation Chakra V’, followed searches at 12 locations. The CBI has registered multiple cases of ‘Digital Arrests’. The agency took over the instant case on the Rajasthan government’s request. It was earlier registered by the cyber police (Jhunjhunu).
My father will become Bihar CM as promised by Amit uncle, says Nitish Kumar’s son Nishant
Nishant Kumar, son of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar expressed his faith in the assurance given by senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader and Union Home Minister Amit Shah that his father will be the Chief Minister after the election. His statement is considered to counter the cryptic remark made by Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini allegedly indicating that the Bihar Assembly election would be contested under the leadership of Samrat Choudhary.
Fresh encounter breaks in J&K’s Poonch, forces launch operation
A major anti-militancy operation was launched in the Pir Panjal valley’s Poonch after militants and security forces exchanged fire on Sunday (April 13, 2025) evening. An Army spokesman said the security forces established a contact with terrorists during a joint operation launched along with the J&K Police at Lasana, Surankote last night.
Fee hike issue: Delhi CM says notices issued to schools after complaints, warns of strict action
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said that notices have been issued to schools over complaints of arbitrary fee hikes and asserted that her government is committed to transparency and protection of children’s rights in education. These schools have been asked to respond, failing which strict action will be taken against them, the Chief Minister told PTI and asserted that “no school has the right to harass parents over fees or remove students unfairly”.
Ahead of Mahagathbandhan meeting, the Congress and RJD leadership confer in Delhi
Ahead of a meeting of the constituents of the Mahagathbandhan (grand alliance) on April 17 in Patna, the Leader of the Opposition in the Bihar Assembly Tejashwi Yadav, along with senior Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leaders, met Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, and other Congress party leaders, in New Delhi on Tuesday. The meeting was also attended by Congress general secretary (organisation) K.C. Venugopal, the party’s newly appointed Bihar in-charge Krishna Allavaru, and RJD Rajya Sabha MPs Sanjay Jha and Manoj K. Jha.
Mehul Choksi owes around ₹63 lakh maintenance due for Mumbai flat
Fugitive Indian businessman Mehul Choksi’s flat maintenance at Gokul Apartments in Malabar Hill in Mumbai has dues around ₹63 lakh, a society member said. “He has seven years of maintenance due. He has three units- 9th, 10th and 11th floors. The 11th floor is a terrace, he has illegally occupied it. There are maintenance dues of around ₹63 lakh without interest. In 2020, our condominium had renovation work done; the cost per unit came to ₹30-35 lakh, so if you add the cost of three units, it will be around ₹95 lakh,” a society member told ANI.
Wholesale inflation eases to 2.05% in March on cheaper food items
Wholesale price inflation eased to 2.05% in March, as against 2.38% in February, government data showed on Tuesday (April 15, 2025). The wholesale price index (WPI) based inflation, however, rose year-on-year. It was 0.26% in March 2024. Inflation in manufactured products, however, saw a spike at 3.07% in March, compared to 2.86% in February.
SC extends protection from arrest to former IAS probationer Puja Khedkar in cheating case
The Supreme Court extended till April 21 the protection from arrest granted to former IAS probationer Puja Khedkar, accused of cheating and wrongly availing OBC and disability quota benefits in the civil services examination. On March 18, the top court orally told Ms. Khedkar that she cannot avail separate attempts to clear the test as an “able candidate” and a “disabled candidate”.
Assamese to be official language for all Govt. communications in Assam
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced that Assamese would be the compulsory official language for all government notifications, orders and acts in the State. The order signed by the Governor comes into effect on Tuesday to mark the Assamese New Year. The government notification shared by the Chief Minister noted that issuance of all Government notifications, office memoranda, acts, rules, regulations, scheme guidelines, transfer and posting orders would be both in English and Assamese.
Published – April 16, 2025 06:43 am IST
