Jailed activist and scientist Sonam Wangchuk was taken to AIIMS Jodhpur early Saturday after complaining of stomach pain, officials said. Wangchuk, lodged in Jodhpur Central Jail since September 2025, spent about ninety minutes in the gastroenterology department before returning to prison. Hospital sources said he has been facing stomach-related issues and had visited the facility a day earlier for tests. The Supreme Court of India, hearing a petition filed by his wife, has sought his medical report by February 2. The court earlier directed jail authorities to ensure examination by a “specialist doctor” at a government hospital.

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar died Wednesday in a Learjet 45 crash near Baramati, killing all five aboard including pilot Sumit Kapoor and PSO Vidhit Jadhav. The state CID has launched a probe alongside the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau. New CCTV footage shows the aircraft's left wing dropping suddenly before a fiery impact. Experts propose three theories: aerodynamic stall, engine failure causing asymmetric thrust, or excessive banking too close to ground. The black box has been recovered for analysis. According to DGCA officials, the crew's last recorded words were "oh s***," with no pre-impact flames observed. The crash triggers political upheaval as NCP searches for Pawar's replacement. 

The Maharashtra Crime Investigation Department (CID) has begun probing the Baramati plane crash that killed Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and four others, after an accidental death case was registered by local police and transferred to CID investigators. The crash of a Learjet 45 occurred near the tabletop Baramati airstrip shortly after Pawar’s flight from Mumbai on January 28, killing him, the pilot, co-pilot, personal security officer and a flight attendant. The CID team will collect evidence and visit the site as part of the inquiry, which aims to rule out sabotage. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) under the Civil Aviation Ministry is also investigating technical causes of the crash. (PC: ANI)

After Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar’s sudden death in a plane crash, political activity has intensified around the future of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). Senior NCP leaders met Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to stake claim over Pawar’s portfolios and ensure the party retains key ministries in the state government. Close aides say Ajit Pawar had been quietly working on a plan to merge the two rival NCP factions—his and the one led by Sharad Pawar—after upcoming local elections, calling reunion his last wish. This talk of unification has gained momentum following meetings with Pawar’s family and party leaders, even as there’s active push to position his wife, Sunetra Pawar, in leadership roles amid the ongoing transition. 

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday claimed that Assam’s population pattern changed during 20 years of Congress rule. He said seven districts are now “dominated by 64 lakh infiltrators.” Addressing a rally in Dhemaji, Shah said only the Bharatiya Janata Party can stop infiltration. “If you want to stop infiltrators, vote for the BJP again,” he told the crowd. Shah said the BJP government has removed illegal encroachments from over 1.26 lakh acres of land. He also praised the Mising community for resisting illegal settlement. Assam is set to vote in Assembly elections later this year.

A probe has been ordered into the plane crash that killed Maharashtra deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar and four others. The Maharashtra government has asked the Criminal Investigation Department to investigate the crash in Baramati. The aircraft went down while landing. A new CCTV video has surfaced, showing the jet turning sideways before impact. Experts have suggested three possible causes. These include engine failure, an aerodynamic stall, or a sharp turn close to the ground. The Ministry of Civil Aviation said the black box has been recovered. Officials said the final cause will be known only after a full investigation. (PC: Bhushan Koyande/HT Photo/ ANI)

The brother of Delhi SWAT commando Kajal Chaudhary has described the last phone call he had with her before her death. Nikhil, a Delhi Police constable, said Kajal’s husband, Ankur Chaudhary, first called him and asked him to “make his sister understand.” Nikhil then called Kajal. During the call, Ankur allegedly took the phone and said, “Put the call on recording. I am killing your sister.” Nikhil said he heard Kajal screaming before the call ended. Minutes later, Ankur called again and said she was dead. Kajal was four months pregnant. Ankur was arrested and booked for murder by Delhi Police. (PC: News18)

The Indian Air Force (IAF) deployed Mi-17V5 helicopters to fight intense forest fires in Arunachal Pradesh’s Lohit Valley, dropping over 12,000 litres of water at around 9,500 feet altitude in challenging Himalayan terrain to contain raging flames that threatened forests and nearby areas. High-altitude conditions made aerial firefighting difficult, showcasing the IAF’s precision and commitment to protecting fragile ecosystems. Ground teams and local agencies were also engaged in firefighting efforts. The operation reflects coordinated efforts to manage seasonal forest fires in remote regions of India. (PC: ANI)

New CCTV footage of the Baramati Learjet crash that killed Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar shows the aircraft’s left wing dropping suddenly moments before impact, prompting three main theories on the cause. Experts suggest an aerodynamic stall during low-speed approach, an engine failure causing asymmetrical thrust, or a late visual of the runway leading to a sharp bank too close to the ground. The Learjet 45 had earlier attempted a go-around before crashing about 200 m from the tabletop runway. Definitive causes await black box analysis. 

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar died when the chartered Learjet 45 he was aboard crashed near Baramati during its second landing attempt amid poor visibility, killing all five people onboard. The victims included Pawar, two pilots — Captain Sumit Kapoor and Shambhavi Pathak — a flight attendant and Pawar’s security guard. Friends say Captain Kapoor had filled in at short notice, as another pilot was delayed by traffic. Preliminary probes suggest possible pilot misjudgement and challenging weather conditions, with technical issues also under investigation. The tragedy shocks Maharashtra’s political landscape ahead of local elections and prompts detailed aviation inquiries. (PC: NDTV)