Former Bollywood actress Zaira Wasim has demanded an unconditional apology from Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar after a video went viral showing him pulling down the hijab of a newly appointed AYUSH doctor during a public event in Patna. Wasim, known for her roles in Dangal and Secret Superstar, called the act a violation of a woman’s dignity and modesty, saying power should not be used to “violate boundaries.” The incident has sparked widespread criticism online and from political parties, with many condemning the gesture as disrespectful and insensitive to personal and religious rights. (PC: X)

West Bengal's Special Intensive Revision has deleted 58.2 lakh voter names from draft electoral rolls, with over one crore more under scrutiny. Deletions include 24.16 lakh deceased voters, 32.65 lakh shifted/absent voters, and 1.38 lakh duplicate enrollments. North Kolkata recorded the highest deletion rate at 25%, while Chowringhee constituency saw over 74,000 names removed. Jorasanko experienced 36% deletions marking the highest percentage. Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Agarwal assured no valid voters would be deleted, with hearings scheduled for disputed cases. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee directed party workers to verify deletions thoroughly in her Bhabanipur constituency, where 44,000 names were reportedly removed, instructing door-to-door assistance for affected voters. (PC: The Indian Express & National Herald)

Gaurav and Saurabh Luthra, owners of the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub in Goa’s Arpora village where a blaze killed 25 people, have been deported from Thailand and brought back to India after a 10-day international search. Arrested at Delhi airport, the duo was granted a two-day transit remand by a Delhi court to facilitate their transfer to Goa for legal proceedings. They will be produced before the Mapusa court as part of the ongoing investigation into alleged safety violations and culpable homicide in the tragic fire. (PC: X)

A farmer from Maharashtra’s Chandrapur district sold his kidney after a small loan turned into huge debt. Roshan Sadashiv Kude had borrowed Rs 1 lakh from local moneylenders to start a dairy business. The plan failed after his cows died and crops were ruined. High daily interest caused the loan to rise to Rs 74 lakh. Kude sold his land, tractor and valuables, but the debt remained. He was later advised to sell his kidney and travelled to Cambodia for the surgery. He claims police did not act on his complaint. Kude has warned of self-harm if he does not get justice. (PC: NDTV)

Delhi environment minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa on Tuesday apologised to residents for rising air pollution. He said it was impossible for any government to fix AQI levels in nine to ten months. Sirsa blamed the previous AAP government for the crisis and said the current administration inherited a “disease of pollution.” Delhi’s AQI stood at 354 on Tuesday afternoon, slightly better than Monday’s severe level. Sirsa announced strict steps, including a ban on fuel for vehicles without valid PUC certificates. He said daily action is being taken to control pollution and improve air quality. (PC: HT)

The Luthra brothers were arrested at the Delhi airport on Tuesday after being deported from Thailand. Gaurav and Saurabh Luthra own the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub in Goa, where 25 people died in a fire on December 6. Police said the brothers left India for Phuket just hours after the blaze. Thai officials detained them last week after a request from Indian authorities. A Goa Police team took them into custody at the airport. They will be produced before a Delhi court for transit remand. The probe into fire safety lapses is ongoing. (PC: HT)

Punjab Police are investigating a viral Instagram post claiming responsibility for the murder of kabaddi player Rana Balachauria in Mohali. The post described the killing as “revenge” for singer Sidhu Moosewala’s murder in 2022. It alleged that Balachauria had links with rival gangster groups. Police said the post is under verification and forms part of the probe. Balachauria was shot dead on Monday evening during a kabaddi tournament in Mohali’s Sohana area. The attack caused panic among spectators. The injured player was rushed to hospital but was declared dead. Police said unidentified assailants carried out the shooting and a detailed investigation is underway. (PC: PTI)

The Election Commission has removed over 58 lakh names from West Bengal’s draft voter list after a Special Intensive Revision. Officials said the move was done to remove errors and duplication. Of the deleted names, 24 lakh were marked as dead, 19 lakh as relocated, 12 lakh as missing, and 1.3 lakh as duplicate. The draft list marks the end of the first phase of the revision. Voters can now file objections and seek corrections. The final voter list will be published in February next year, ahead of the Bengal Assembly elections. The move has triggered political reactions, with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee opposing the exercise and the BJP defending it.

The Luthra brothers, owners of a Goa nightclub where 25 people died in a fire, were deported to India from Thailand on Tuesday. Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra were sent back from Bangkok for allegedly running the club without proper safety permits. They will be produced before the Patiala House Court in Delhi, after which Goa Police will take them on transit remand. The fire broke out on December 6 at the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub in North Goa during a fire show. Police say safety rules were ignored. The Goa government has formed a special legal team to investigate the case. (PC: PTI)

A section of the crowd booed Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Monday as she arrived to welcome football star Lionel Messi. Some spectators chanted “AQI, AQI” to highlight Delhi’s severe air pollution. The incident took place on a day when the city recorded hazardous air quality, with the AQI touching 498 earlier. Thick smog reduced visibility across Delhi. Opposition leaders shared videos of the chants on social media and criticised the government. Gupta said her government is taking steps to control pollution and blamed earlier administrations. The event continued despite the protest, and Messi briefly thanked fans before leaving the stage. (PC: PTI)