Breaking News Live Updates: Rescue operation is underway after the roof of an under-construction warehouse collapsed in Kolkata’s Taratala area, trapping several labourers under the debris and killing 5, injuring 20. A Kolkata Police official said 20 people have so far been rescued. The Army has been deployed to assist in the efforts, while disaster management and Kolkata police teams are also present at the spot.
As many as 25 officials will face action after a fire in a three-story building in Lucknow’s Aliganj killed 15 people on Monday. Strict action has been recommended against 19 engineers and 6 Provincial Civil Service (PCS) officers in connection with the fire incident, said Lucknow Development Authority (LDA) Vice-Chairman Prathmesh Kumar.
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Iran invites PM Modi for Khamenei’s funeral
As Iran prepares for a multi-city state funeral for Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in a joint US-Israeli strike on February 28, President Masoud Pezeshkian has sent a formal invitation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to attend the programme next month. As per sources, the formal invite on behalf of President Pezeshkian was sent to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Tuesday by the Iranian Embassy in New Delhi. They add that the Embassy received the formal note from Tehran two days ago in this regard.
Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee has been directed to provide a voice sample after a Bidhannagar court allowed the CID’s request in connection with its probe into his controversial “DJ” remarks made during the West Bengal Assembly election campaign. The voice sample will be recorded on June 30 in the presence of a magistrate and forensic experts. Banerjee, who has already been questioned by the CID, is facing an investigation over comments allegedly linked to post-election celebrations. In a parallel development, the Calcutta High Court on Wednesday declined an urgent hearing on his plea seeking permission to travel abroad for eye treatment. While granting him protection from coercive action until July 31 in the case related to alleged remarks against Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
Arunachal rain fury
Continuous heavy rainfall caused flash floods in Arunachal Pradesh’s Keyi Panyor district on Wednesday, flooding low-lying areas and damaging 18 houses. Landslides on a national highway also disrupted traffic, leaving several people stranded. Three people have been reported missing amid the weather-related incidents.
CJP’s X handle restoration
Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke is set to appear before the Review Committee of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) at 3 pm on Wednesday to challenge the withholding of the party’s X account, CJP_2029. Dipke said he will personally present his case before the Inter-Ministerial Committee reviewing the blocking of the Cockroach Janata Party’s first X handle in India.
Express Investigation: 2020 audit predicted Ram mandir donation row
An Indian Express investigation reveals that a 2020 audit flagged the absence of standard operating procedures around Rs 3,500 crore in cash donations received by the Ram Mandir trust — six years before the current SIT probe into alleged fund irregularities. The audit firm’s report, submitted in November 2020, had recommended devising an SOP for each level of transaction, data management, staff and other resources to fix responsibility and accountability — a warning that went unheeded until the matter became the subject of a formal investigation.
Thiruvananthapuram councillors to retake oath
The Kerala High Court on Wednesday directed 20 councillors of the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation to retake their oath of office after finding fault with the manner in which they had sworn in. Hearing a petition challenging oaths taken in the names of various deities, martyrs, Justice P V Kunhikrishnan instructed the State Election Commission to make necessary arrangements for the councillors to take the oath again in accordance with the prescribed legal format within four weeks.
Bhagwant Mann bribery case
Gurgaon Police have arrested two men accused of issuing allegedly fabricated forensic reports linked to a controversial video allegedly involving Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday. Investigators said the accused were contract employees with the NIA and Haryana’s Parivar Pehchan Patra programme but were not associated with any recognised forensic laboratory. According to police, the duo issued separate reports concluding that the person seen in the video was not Mann. However, the laboratories they claimed to represent, Cypher Sentinel in Jind, Haryana, and Cyber Yaan in Delhi’s Tilak Nagar, were found to have no official existence in government records. The arrests were made following a complaint by forensic expert Jaspreet Singh, who alleged that he was pressured to obtain favourable opinions and paid Rs 10 lakh for the reports. Police said they have gathered evidence regarding the money trail and are also probing allegations involving two senior Punjab Police officers.
