Seventeen Indian wrestlers led by Vinesh Phogat and Aman Sehrawat will be on the hunt for quotas at the Asian Wrestling Olympic Qualifiers for Paris which starts in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan from Friday.

The continental qualifier, which concludes on April 21, will be the penultimate opportunity for Indian wrestlers to secure a quota for the upcoming Summer Games.

The World Qualification Tournament in Turkey, scheduled in May, will be the final wrestling qualifier for Paris .

There will be a total of 36 Paris quotas on offer in 18 weight divisions across Greco-Roman, men’s freestyle and women’s freestyle categories in Bishkek.

The tournament will follow a bracket system and two semi-finalists from each weight division obtain quotas for their respective country. There will be no gold medal bouts or repechage.

India will be fielding wrestlers in 17 of the 18 categories with the only exception being the women’s 53kg.

Antim Panghal has already secured a Paris quota in the division by virtue of winning a bronze medal at the World Wrestling Championships in Belgrade last year.

Two-time world championships bronze medal winner Vinesh Phogat usually competes in the women’s 53kg but has dropped down to the 50kg category since Antim has already secured a quota in the division.

The 50kg, however, isn’t new to Vinesh, who won the gold medal at the 2018 Asian and Commonwealth Games in the same category.

Meanwhile, Aman Sehrawat, a former Asian and U23 world champion, will represent India in the men’s 57kg.

The 20-year-old earned his place in the Indian contingent for the continental qualifiers after beating Tokyo silver medallist Ravi Dahiya in the national trials. Sehrawat also won a gold at the Zagreb Open earlier this year.

Olympian Deepak Punia will be in action in the 86kg division while Sujeet will challenge the 65kg after Tokyo bronze medallist Bajrang Punia failed to make the cut.

India will also have a strong contender in the women’s 57kg with Anshu Malik, a former Asian champion and world championships silver medal winner, set to compete. U-23 world champion Reetika Hooda will be another Indian wrestler to watch out for in the women’s 76kg.

Indian wrestlers at Asian Wrestling Olympic Qualifiers :

Men’s Greco-Roman: Sumit (60kg), Ashu (67kg), Vikas (77kg), Sunil (87kg), Nitesh (97kg), Naveen (130kg)

Women’s freestyle: Vinesh Phogat (50kg), Anshu Malik (57kg), Mansi (62kg), Nisha (68kg), Reetika Hooda (76kg)

Men’s freestyle: Aman Sehrawat (57kg), Sujeet (65kg), Jaideep (74kg), Deepak Punia (86kg), Deepak (97kg), Sumit (125kg)

The benchmark indices failed to hold on to opening gains and ended lower for the fourth straight day on Thursday in a highly volatile session.

Sensex closed with a loss of 455 points, or 0.62%, at 72,488.99 while the Nifty 50 ended the day at 21,995.85, down 152 points, or 0.69%.

Only four stocks — Bharti Airtel, Power Grid, Infosys, and Larsen and Toubro — were in the green at Sensex while at Nifty, 36 stocks were losing and the remaining 14 ended higher.

Notably, losses in shares of select banking heavyweights, including HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank and Axis Bank, dragged the indices most.

The biggest losers on the Nifty included Apollo Hospitals, Nestle India, ONGC, Adani Enterprises, and Titan Company, while gainers were Bharti Airtel, Power Grid Corporation, Hindalco Industries, Bajaj Auto, and LTIMindtree.

A long build-up was seen in Multi Commodity Exchange of India, Bharti Airtel, and ICICI Lombard General Insurance Company, while a short build-up was seen in Indraprastha Gas, Apollo Hospitals, and Mahanagar Gas.

Among the sectors, all sectoral indices ended lower except for Nifty Media (up 0.77%).

On the losing side were Nifty Healthcare (1.75%), Oil & Gas (1.10%) and FMCG (1.08%). The Nifty Bank index ended with a loss of 0.87%.

Further, the BSE Midcap index also ended lower by 0.39% but the BSE Smallcap index ended with a nominal gain of 0.06%.

The overall market capitalisation of the firms listed on the BSE dropped to nearly Rs 393.2 lakh crore, making investors poorer by about Rs 9 lakh crore in four sessions.

Amid a report by Public Eye calling out Nestle for adding sugar and honey to its popular infant milk and cereal products, Cerelac, the shares of Nestle India tumbled nearly 4%, registering its worst fall in three years.

Eyes are on the HDFC Bank which is scheduled to release its quarterly earnings on April 20. Expectations are that the earnings will match the strong operational update for the March quarter.

Experts believe that HDFC Bank is currently trading around the strong support area of 1470-1500 on the daily charts and is expected to maintain this level in the upcoming sessions.

HDFC Life Insurance on Thursday reported a net profit of Rs 411 crore for the January-March quarter of FY24, up by 14.8% from Rs 358 crore recorded in the year-ago period.

Following the earnings, shares of HDFC Life were trading nearly 0.95% up at Rs 610.20 apiece on BSE.

Simmering tension between Israel and Iran remains a key concern for the markets across the globe.

Major European markets, including the UK’s FTSE, France’s CAC 40, and Germany’s DAX, traded in the green when the Sensex ended.

The stage is set for polling for the first phase Lok Sabha elections on Friday in 102 constituencies spread over 21 states and Union territories will cast their votes.

The first phase polls are expected to be a straight contest between the BJP-led ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the Opposition INDIA bloc.

The voting is scheduled to commence at 7 am across 1.87 lakh polling stations, manned by more than 18 lakh polling officials, amid tight security to avert any untoward incident and culminate at 6 pm.

More than 16.63 crore voters will decide the fate of 1,625 candidates, including 134 women candidates. The eligible voters include 8.4 crore men, 8.23 crore women, and 11,371 third-gender electors. The number of first-time voters is 35.67 lakh.

Of the 102 Lok Sabha seats going to polls in the first phase, 39 are from Tamil Nadu, 12 from Rajasthan, eight from Uttar Pradesh, six are from Madhya Pradesh, and four from Bihar.

The northeastern states that will go to polls in the first phase include Assam with five seats, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, and Meghalaya with two seats each, and Tripura, Mizoram, Sikkim, and Nagaland with one each.

The prominent BJP candidates in the fray include Union ministers, Nitin Gadkari, Sarbananda Sonowal, Kiren Rijiu, Jitendra Singh, and K Annamalai, UP Minister Jitin Prasada and the president of Tamil Nadu BJP. Gadkari is contesting from Maharashtra’s Nagpur, Sonowal from Assam’s Dibrugarh, Rijiju from Arunachal Pradesh’s West, Singh from Jammu and Kashmir’s Udhampur, Prasada from Pilibhit and Annamalai from Coimbatore seats.

The heavyweights from Congress who are contesting the polls include its deputy leader in the Lok Sabha Gaurav Gogoi, and Nakul Nath, son of former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Kamal Nath. The party fielded Gogoi from the Jorhat parliamentary seat in Assam and Nakul from Chhindwara in Madhya Pradesh.

Among other prominent candidates in the poll fray include former Bihar chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi. He is contesting as a Hindustani Awam Morcha-Secular (HAM-S) candidate from Bihar’s Gaya.

Meanwhile, the Election Commission of India (ECI) said it has taken a slew of decisive measures for peaceful and smooth conduct of the elections. “Central forces have been deployed adequately at polling stations to secure the polling process. Webcasting will be done in more than 50 per cent of the polling stations along with deployment of micro observers in all polling stations,” it said.

The poll panel informed that 361 observers (127 general observers, 67 police observers, 167 expenditure observers) have already reached their respective constituencies days before the polls. Additionally, Special observers have been deployed in certain states.

A total of 4,627 flying squads, 5,208 statistics surveillance teams, 2,028 video surveillance teams, and 1,255 video viewing teams are keeping round-the-clock surveillance to deal with any form of inducement of voters strictly and swiftly, it added.

Assembly elections will be held simultaneously in Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim on Friday.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has made elaborate security arrangements to ensure free and fair polls in the inaugural phase of polling in the 8 Lok Sabha constituencies on Friday.

The first phase of Lok Sabha elections will be held on eight seats from 7 am to 6 pm. Over 2 lakh security personnel will be deployed in the first phase of polls. Every booth would be manned by personnel from the Central forces.

The 8 seats where polling would be held in the first phase include Saharanpur, Bijnor, Kairana, Muzaffarnagar, Nagina, Moradabad, Rampur, and Pilibhit.

Altogether 80 candidates, including 7 women, are in the fray in the first phase polls. The fate of prominent figures like Union Minister of State Sanjeev Balyan, PWD Minister in the Yogi government Jitin Prasad, BJP MP from Kairana Pradeep Choudhary, RLD MLA from Meerapur Chandan Chauhan, who is contesting the Bijnor seat in alliance with the NDA, and Nehtaur MLA Om Kumar, BJP’s Nagina candidate, will be determined in the inaugural phase of the Lok Sabha elections.

State DGP Prashant Kumar said on Thursday that security forces have been deployed at their designated booths and other locations to maintain law and order.

According to sources, 6,018 inspectors/sub-inspectors, 35,760 constables, 24,992 Home Guards, 70 companies of PAC and 220 companies of Central forces will be deployed in the first phase of polls.

Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Navdeep Rinwa said that polling parties were despatched to their respective booths on Thursday morning.

He said that 1,824 flying squads and 1,478 static surveillance teams would be pressed into service in the polling areas to ensure free and fair polls.

The CEO said altogether 1.43 crore voters, including 76.23 lakh men, 67.14 lakh women, and 824 from the third gender, would exercise their mandate in the first phase polls.

In the first phase, there are a total of 7,693 polling stations and 14,842 polling booths.

BSP supremo Mayawati on Thursday appealed to people to exercise their universal franchise without any fear and elect a government which works for the downtrodden.

Voting for the first phase of the general election will begin on Friday across 21 states and Union territories.

“The first phase of voting begins tomorrow in the seven-phase general election for the 18th Lok Sabha in the country. Voters should use their constitutional rights fearlessly to elect a government of the poor and deprived,” she said in a series of posts on ‘X’.

“The right to vote, without any discrimination, under the Constitution given to us by the respected Babasaheb Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar, is a crucial democratic power through which the poor, weak and the neglected, can acquire the master key of power and become capable of liberating themselves to end their lives of poverty and helplessness,” she said.

“The right to vote has to be protected at all costs… be careful of elements scheming to buy your votes. No one should be left out of voting and your vote should not be misused in the name of money, power, temple-mosque etc. This is the biggest duty and tribute to Baba Saheb,” Mayawati added.

She said the Election Commission has assured the country of its preparedness to conduct this Lok Sabha election in a “free, fair, accessible, inclusive, transparent and peaceful manner”. “They should live up to their promise and prevent the misuse of government machinery and the code of conduct by the ruling party,” she said.

The CPI-M –led LDF and Congress-led UDF have alleged that at least four electronic voting machines (EVM) erroneously registered votes in favour of BJP’s lotus during mock polling in Kerala’s Kasaragod on Wednesday.

Kasaragod Lok Sabha constituency’ LDF candidate and CPI-M leader M V Balakrishnan filed a complaint with the District Collector, designated as the District Election Officer, to look into the errors. UDF candidate Rajmohan Unnithan’s agent Muhammed Nasar Cherkalam said BJP’s lotus was getting extra votes during the mock polling for the polling stations in Kasaragod Assembly Constituency. He also pointed out that the Congress’s ‘hand’ symbol was smaller than other symbols on the voting machine.

The Supreme Court on Thursday directed the Election Commission of India(ECI) to examine and probe the allegations about four EVMs having erroneously logged in votes in favour of BJP during mock polls held in Kasaragod.

The apex court gave the direction while considering the plea seeking complete counting of VVPAT slips. The matter was brought to the attention of the Supreme Court by the petitioner, Prashant Bhushan. Bhushan said the four EVMs had reportedly malfunctioned in the mock polls held at Kasaragod district in Kerala on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the Election Commission on Thursday informed the Supreme Court that allegations of EVM showing one extra vote in favour of BJP during a mock poll in Kerala’s Kasaragod were false.

“These news reports are false. We have verified the allegation from the district collector and it appears that they are false. We will submit a detailed report to the court,” Nitesh Kumar Vyas , deputy election commissioner told a bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta. Vyas was present in the courtroom to apprise the bench about the functioning of EVMs.

Prince Harry has officially declared the United States as his primary residence, signaling a significant shift away from his ties to the British royal family. Documents obtained by Page Six reveal that the Duke of Sussex listed the US as his “new country/state usually resident,” marking a notable departure from his previous connection to the UK.

This declaration, filed by Companies House for Harry’s eco-travel venture, Travalyst, indicates that the transition occurred on June 29, 2023, just after Harry and Meghan Markle departed their UK home, Frogmore Cottage.

Amid ongoing discussions about their royal status and future plans, the decision to renounce British residency adds another layer of complexity. While the implications for Harry’s royal titles remain uncertain, speculation swirls about potential clarifications during an upcoming visit to London.

Harry’s sentiments about his ties to the UK have been nuanced. He has described it as his “home” while also expressing safety concerns that influenced their move to the US. In December 2023, he emphasized the importance of his children’s heritage and safety during visits to the UK, despite their primary residence in the US.

While Prince Harry has shown interest in obtaining American citizenship, it currently ranks as a secondary priority. However, revelations about his past drug use, as detailed in his memoir ‘Spare,’ raise questions about the immigration process.

Legal experts suggest that unless Harry encounters further legal issues, his residency change may have minimal impact. However, concerns persist regarding potential repercussions, such as the need to renounce royal titles to meet US citizenship requirements, according to reports.

As Harry and Meghan continue to navigate their post-royal lives, each decision carries weight, shaping their identity and future path. Renouncing British residency marks another chapter in their journey toward independence and forging a new life across the Atlantic.

The stage is all set for the first phase of Lok Sabha polls on 19 April at six of the 29 Lok Sabha seats in Madhya Pradesh.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Anupam Rajan informed mediapersons on Thursday that 13,588 polling booths have been set up in the six constituencies. “Of these, 1,118 booths would be operated by women and 33 by specially abled officials,” the CEO said.

He stated that all preparations are in place to ensure free and fair voting from 7 am to 6 pm on Friday.

Polls in the three assembly constituencies – Baihar, Lanji and Paraswada, part of naxalite-hit Balaghat parliamentary constituency – would take place between 7 am and 4 pm due to security reasons.

Mr Rajan said that 88 candidates including 81 men and seven women are in the fray in the first phase.

The CEO said that in the first phase, Chhindwara, Jabalpur, Balaghat, Sidhi and Shahdol and Mandla – both reserved for Scheduled Tribes – would go to polls.

The highest number of candidates is in Jabalpur at 19 and the lowest number of 10 candidates are in the fray at Shahdol.

He said that the total number of voters in the six constituencies was 1,13,09, 636. Of them, 57,20,780 were male, 55,88,669 female and 187 were third gender.

Rajan said that the six LS seats are stretched across 27 assembly constituencies and 13 districts of the state.

All preparations for shelters from heat, drinking water and Oral Rehydration Solutions (ORS) availability, toilets, security and other necessities have been made at the polling booths.

He said that a helicopter at the naxal hit Balaghat district and an air ambulance had been stationed at Jabalpur to meet any eventuality.

The CEO said that 192 flying squad teams (FSTs), 233 Static Surveillance Teams (SSTs) are going to keep a close watch in the six constituencies.

He informed that 61.57 per cent voting was recorded in Madhya Pradesh in the 2014 general elections and 71.16 per cent in 2019.

The CEO said that the aim this year was to achieve at least 77.82 per cent voting in the Lok Sabha polls, which was the percentage recorded in the November 2023 MP assembly polls.

The second, third and fourth phase of elections in MP will take place on April 26, May 7 and May 13.

In 2019, the BJP won 28 Lok Sabha seats out of 29 in MP, with the Congress winning the sole seat of Chhindwara, where Nakul Nath, son of former MP CM Kamal Nath, had won.

Taylor Swift aficionados are swirling in excitement and concern as alleged leaks from her forthcoming album, ‘The Tortured Poets Department,’ surface online ahead of its scheduled Friday debut.

Reportedly, snippets of the album’s tracks emerged online through a Google Drive link containing a purported 17 songs. This development has triggered a rift among fans, with some doubting their authenticity and speculating whether they might be the product of artificial intelligence. While some fans are advising against listening to the leaks and advocating for their reporting, others are expressing frustration, labeling those who spread the leaks as “fake Swifties.”

Also Read: Sydney Sweeney condemns producer’s critique

“In the midst of this, let’s turn our devices’ volume COMPLETELY OFF on Twitter for the NEXT 24 HRS and REPORT EVERY POST spamming about album leaks! We got this!” urged one dedicated fan on X.

Amidst the fervor surrounding the album’s imminent release, Swift teamed up with Spotify for a unique “library installation” at The Grove in Los Angeles. The event teased fans with Easter eggs related to the upcoming album, featuring intriguing lyrics like ‘One less temptress. One less dagger to sharpen,’ and ‘Even statues crumble if they’re made to wait.’

The title of the album, ‘The Tortured Poets Department,’ was unveiled by Swift herself during the 2024 Grammy Awards ceremony. Fans speculate that the title could subtly reference a group chat involving Swift’s ex, Joe Alwyn, and his friends, Paul Mescal and Andrew Scott, known as ‘The Tortured Man Club.’

As anticipation reaches a fever pitch for the album’s release, fans are meticulously analyzing every detail, especially the lyrics, which some interpret as veiled nods to Swift’s past relationship with Alwyn.

Despite the pre-release commotion, Swifties eagerly await the complete musical experience promised by the album’s impending release.

Actress Sydney Sweeney, widely known for her role in ‘Euphoria’, has taken a stand against disparaging comments made by seasoned producer Carol Baum regarding her talent and appearance.

Baum, recognized for her contributions to films like ‘Fly Away Home’ and ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’, reportedly criticized Sweeney during a public discussion, questioning her abilities and looks, as reported by E! News.

Expressing her disappointment, Sydney Sweeney remarked, “It’s disheartening to see a woman with such experience choose to tear down another woman instead of sharing wisdom and insight.”

Sweeney’s representative echoed her sentiments to E! News, underscoring the negative impact of Baum’s words on the industry’s ethos.

Baum’s comments were made during a post-screening conversation about her 1988 film ‘Dead Ringers’, where she questioned the hype surrounding Sweeney, labeling her as “unattractive” and suggesting she lacks acting prowess.

Even citing Sweeney’s recent romcom ‘Anyone But You’ as “unwatchable”, Baum’s remarks have sparked widespread backlash, despite attempts to clarify them, including by New York Times film critic Janet Maslin, who moderated the discussion.

Industry peers, such as producer Teddy Schwarzman, have rallied to Sweeney’s defense, lauding her talent and character.

In an earlier interview, Sweeney acknowledged the difficulties of facing such criticism but emphasized the importance of staying authentic amidst the demands of fame.

Celebrating a decade of love and nostalgia, actor Arjun Kapoor took a heartfelt trip down memory lane as the beloved film ‘2 States’ marked its 10th anniversary. Sharing a captivating behind-the-scenes video on Instagram, Arjun encapsulated the essence of the film’s journey, captioning it with just the right words: “10 years, countless emotions.”

Directed by Abhishek Varman, ‘2 States’ is an adaptation of Chetan Bhagat’s bestselling novel ‘2 States: The Story of My Marriage’. Produced collaboratively by Karan Johar’s Dharma Productions and Sajid Nadiadwala’s Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment, the film struck a chord with audiences across the nation upon its release in 2014.

Arjun Kapoor essayed the role of Krish Malhotra, a spirited Punjabi lad who falls head over heels in love with Ananya Swaminathan, portrayed by the talented Alia Bhatt. Their journey, set against the backdrop of cultural contrasts and familial complexities, resonated deeply with viewers. Krish and Ananya’s quest to win over their families’ hearts before tying the knot formed the heartwarming core of the narrative.

With stellar performances by the ensemble cast, including Ronit Roy and Amrita Singh, ‘2 States’ not only soared at the box office but also garnered acclaim for its music and direction. For Arjun Kapoor, the film marked a significant milestone, emerging as his highest-grossing venture at that time and earning him a nomination for the prestigious Stardust-Best Actor-Male Award.

As fans continue to cherish the memories of ‘2 States’, Arjun Kapoor gears up for his next cinematic venture, where he is slated to portray a villainous role in the much-anticipated multi-starrer ‘Singham Again’. Amidst the anticipation for his upcoming project, Arjun’s nostalgic tribute to ‘2 States’ serves as a poignant reminder of the timeless love story that captured hearts a decade ago.

Hema Malini, the BJP Member of Parliament representing Mathura, recently expressed her deep spiritual connection with Lord Krishna during a press interaction in her constituency. Fondly referring to herself as a ‘gopi’ of Lord Krishna, she articulated her dedication to serving the people of Mathura, echoing the divine love that Krishna holds for the ‘Brijwasis’.

Emphasizing her altruistic motives in politics, Hema Malini highlighted that her foray into the political arena wasn’t driven by personal ambition but rather by a sincere desire to serve her constituents. Drawing parallels with the revered ‘gopis’ of Krishna, Hema underscored her commitment to the well-being of the people of Mathura.

Also Read: Sonu Sood pays tribute to father on birth anniversary

Grateful for the support extended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and BJP president J P Nadda, Hema Malini outlined her vision for the development of Mathura. One of her key initiatives includes the transformation of the Braj 84 Kos Parikrama into a captivating tourist destination, with a substantial allocation of funds sanctioned by Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari for its renovation.

Highlighting the potential of tourism to generate employment opportunities, Hema Malini stressed the importance of preserving the ecological integrity of the region. She pledged to prioritize the rejuvenation of the Yamuna river, acknowledging the pressing need to address pollution concerns that have long plagued its waters.

Drawing attention to her efforts in Parliament regarding river pollution, particularly the Ganga and Yamuna, Hema Malini expressed disappointment over the lack of concerted action by the Delhi government in tackling the pollution of the Yamuna. She emphasized the interconnectedness of river ecosystems, advocating for collaborative efforts between states to ensure the cleanliness of the Yamuna in Mathura.

Expressing gratitude to Chief Minister Adityanath Yogi for designating several sites in the region as pilgrimage destinations, Hema Malini outlined her additional priorities, including infrastructural development, railway connectivity enhancement, and initiatives to improve access to clean water.

In essence, Hema Malini’s vision for Mathura encapsulates a blend of spiritual reverence, community service, and developmental endeavors aimed at uplifting the lives of its residents and preserving its cultural and ecological heritage.

In an increasing worry for Nestle, India’s food safety regulator, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), is reportedly examining the report of sugar content in its famous children’s milk formula.

A report by Public Eye claimed that Swiss multinational company Nestle added sugar to its milk formula brand – Cerelac – intended for infants and children of up to two years.

The report said that Nestle, which is the world’s largest consumer goods company, adds sugar and honey to infant milk and cereal products in several countries, a violation of international guidelines aimed at preventing obesity and chronic diseases.

Nestle in a general statement said that it ”has reduced by 11 per cent the total amount of added sugars in infant cereal portfolio worldwide over the past decade and that it will further reduce the level of added sugars without compromising on quality, safety and taste”.

Findings showed that in India, all 15 Cerelac baby products contain an average of nearly 3 grams of sugar per serving. The same product is being sold with no added sugar in Germany and the UK, while in Ethiopia and Thailand, it contains nearly 6 grams.

“While Nestle prominently highlights the vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients contained in its products using idealizing imagery, it’s not transparent when it comes to added sugar,” the report said.

Notably, in India, the sales of the product surpassed USD 250 million in 2022.

As a repercussion of the report, Nestle India witnessed a significant drop in its stock value on Thursday, with shares plunging nearly 4 per cent. At the close, Nestle India shares ended down nearly 3 per cent lower on the National Stock Exchange.

The Directorate of Enforcement has provisionally attached properties worth Rs 97.79 crore belonging to businessman Raj Kundra under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002, the federal probe agency said on Thursday.

The seized properties include a residential flat situated in Juhu, which is presently in the name of his actor-wife Shilpa Shetty, and another bungalow located in Pune.

The seizures also include equity shares in the name of Kundra, the agency added in a communique.

The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) initiated its probe on the basis of multiple FIRs filed by the Maharashtra Police and the Delhi Police against Variable Tech Pte Ltd, Late Amit Bhardwaj, Ajay Bhardwaj, Vivek Bhardwaj, Simpy Bhardwaj, Mahender Bhardwaj and a number of MLM agents.

According to officials, the ill-fated money is in the form of bitcoins worth Rs 6,600 crore which was extorted from the gullible public on pretext of giving them 10 per cent per month returns in the form of bitcoins.

The collected bitcoins were supposed to be used for bitcoin mining and investors were supposed to get huge returns in the form of crypto assets, they said.

It is further alleged that the promoters cheated the investors and have been concealing the ill-gotten bitcoins in obscure online wallets.

The ED claimed Kundra received 285 bitcoins from the master mind and promoter of Gain Bitcoin Ponzi Scam, Amit Bhardwaj for setting up bitcoin mining farm in Ukraine, adding that the said bitcoins were allegedly sourced out of proceeds of crime collected by Bhardwaj from gullible investors.

It said Kundra still has Rs 150 crore worth 285 bitcoins as the deal did not materialize.

Earlier, multiple searches were carried out in this case and three persons were arrested last year, while the prime accused Ajay Bhardwaj and Mahendra Bhardwaj are still absconding, the ED added.

The probe agency had also attached properties worth Rs 69 crore in this regard, while further investigation is underway, the agency said.

Signaling a positive roadmap for the Indian banks, S&P Global has recently said the Indian banks have been among the best-performing lenders among peers in Asia as three Indian lenders made it to the list of top 50 banks by assets in the Asia-Pacific region in 2023, up from two in 2022.

As per the data, the aggregate assets of the lenders rose sharply by 50.5% y/y to $1.51 trillion in 2023.

In the list, State Bank of India is at the 20th position, HDFC Bank at 33 and ICICI Bank at 48th spot.

A large part of the increase was due to the merger of HDFC Bank Ltd. with its parent Housing Development Finance Corp. Ltd. in July 2022. HDFC Bank’s assets jumped 51.3% to $466.35 billion after the merger, propelling the bank up 13 places to 33 in the top 50 ranking.

In the top four spots on the list were mainland China-headquartered lenders and total six are there in the top 10.

Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Ltd. remained the biggest bank in the region and in the world at the end of 2023, with Agricultural Bank of China Ltd. moving ahead of China Construction Bank Corp. into second spot on the regional list. Bank of China Ltd. rounded out the top four.

The big four Chinese banks expanded their assets 10.2% year on year (yoy) to $21.91 trillion in 2023, with Agricultural Bank showing the biggest growth at 14.3% yoy.

Further, the banks in Japan and South Korea suffered the biggest declines in the annual ranking. The combined assets of Japanese lenders fell 2.5% yoy in 2023 to $10.53 trillion, and South Korean banks had a 0.9% yoy decline to $2.66 trillion.

As per the data, the aggregate assets of three Singaporean banks rose 3.7% yoy to $1.40 trillion. In terms of ranking, DBS Group Holdings Ltd. and United Overseas Bank Ltd. moved up in the list, while Oversea-Chinese Banking Corp. Ltd. fell three places to 37.

Notably, the RBI data has said the credit growth in India, currently the world’s fastest-growing major economy, stood at 15.6% as of Dec. 29, 2023, versus 14.9% a year ago.

The Indian government expected the economy to grow at 7.6% in the financial year that ended March 2024, following an 8.4% GDP growth in the October-to-December quarter.

BJP president J P Nadda on Thursday emphasized Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s dedicated efforts which led to the integration of the northeast region with mainland India.

Speaking at an election rally here, he highlighted Modi’s record-breaking 70 visits to the region over the past decade, resulting in unprecedented development.

Nadda took a dig at the Congress, recalling Kokrajhar’s history of insurgency, which he attributed to the Congress’s role in fostering divisions among communities.

He praised the Bodo peace accord for bringing peace to a region previously plagued by conflict.

Enumerating the prime minister’s eight pillars of development ‘Ashtalakshmi’ for the Northeast, the BJP chief outlined the various development projects undertaken by the NDA government in the region, including Assam.

He emphasized that the people of the Northeast now feel a stronger connection to Delhi due to these initiatives.

In a sharp rebuke to opposition parties, Nadda highlighted the incarceration or bail status of leaders from parties such as the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), and the Congress.

He questioned the audience whether they would support parties with leaders facing legal challenges, urging them to consider their votes carefully.

Amidst the National Conference (NC) asking people not to vote for proxies of BJP on the three Lok Sabha seats of Kashmir valley, senior party leader Mian Altaf filed his nomination papers for the Anantnag seat as the candidate of the INDIA bloc.

Mian Altaf is an influential spiritual Gujjar leader.

NC vice-president Omar Abdullah and Congress general secretary Ghulam Ahmad Mir accompanied Mian Altaf to the Returning Officer’s office for filing the papers.

Abdullah told media-persons that, “We are hopeful that Mian Altaf will emerge victorious”.

Reacting to Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s statement on destruction caused by gun culture in Jammu and Kashmir, Abdullah said the National Conference has been the worst victim of violence.

“We know very well where the gun culture came from. No party has been a bigger victim of this gun culture than the National Conference. We have lost more than 4,000 senior activists, party office bearers and former legislators,” he said.

On former chief minister Ghulam Nabi Azad withdrawing from the contest in Anantnag Lok Sabha seat, Abdullah said he knew about it beforehand. “We knew that he would not contest. He did not contest from his Doda seat, why would he contest from Anantnag. Now his party has fielded a new candidate. How much support they have among the people you will come to know,” he said.

On the BJP not fielding any candidates on the three seats in the valley, the NC leader said, “There are still 24 hours left. Who knows they might just do it!”

He earlier had said that the BJP was busy fielding proxies against them, adding that ”if what BJP is saying is correct then why are they not announcing any candidates for the three seats in the valley”.

“On one hand, the BJP claims that there has been progress, and everyone is happy, construction and development is the order of the day, employment has increased. No one is angry and everyone is happy after 5 August 2019, but then the same BJP does not field its candidates here, but are busy fielding their local proxies and making alliances,” he pointed out.

Abdullah also cautioned the people and said that the BJP was not in the field in the Valley but voting for its proxies here will be like voting for the saffron party.

Mir said that PDP president Mehbooba Mufti contesting the polls from Anantnag was not a setback for the INDIA bloc.