Name: Blue whale washes up dead on Andhra Pradesh beach
Uploaded: 2023-07-28T18:24:43.000+05:30
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Description: A baby blue whale washed up on Andhra Pradesh shores on July 28

Kerala BJP president Rajeev Chandrasekhar has criticised reports of an “Islam-friendly gym” in Palakkad, urging the state government to prevent appeasement of radical groups.

Kerala BJP chief flags ‘Islam-friendly gym’ in Palakkad; urges CM Satheesan to act

Kerala BJP president Rajeev Chandrasekhar has criticised reports of an &ldquo;Islam-friendly gym&rdquo; in Palakkad, urging the state government to prevent appeasement of radical groups.

Kerala BJP president and MLA Rajeev Chandrasekhar on Thursday urged Chief Minister V D Satheesan to ensure there was no appeasement of radical groups after reports emerged of an "Islam-friendly gym" being launched in the northern district of Palakkad.
In a post on X, Chandrasekhar, who represents the Nemom Assembly constituency, directly addressed the chief minister and wrote: "We will not allow this creeping subterfuge in our state, CM Shri @vdsatheesan. You have made claims that there will be no appeasement. Please live up to it before things boil over."
The BJP leader was responding to a social media post claiming that a gym in Palakkad had been converted to operate under Islamic guidelines.
According to the post, the gym would not play music, would have separate workout timings for men and women, and female members would be expected to follow Islamic dress requirements, including wearing a hijab. It also claimed that people from other faiths could join if they agreed to comply with the rules.
Criticising the development, Chandrasekhar said: "The BJP-NDA predicted this dangerous politics. #ApakadamPolitics."
"A Cong/IUML/Jamaat-e-Islami government would talibanise parts of Kerala, creating pockets of radical Islam contrary to the Constitution of India and every law of this land," he claimed.
"Reality is that when a government is built on appeasement as a political policy, radical groups use that to push their agenda because they do not fear the law," the BJP MLA added.
There was no immediate response from the Chief Minister's Office to Chandrasekhar's remarks.
Earlier, media reports claimed that a gymnasium in Puthunagaram, Palakkad, was preparing to begin operations based on Islamic principles.
The gym, which has reportedly been functioning for the past 15 years, was recently renovated. Following the renovation, its owner announced on Instagram that the facility would undergo a major transformation to become fully "Islam-friendly."
The owner reportedly clarified that the decision was not driven solely by profit or the goal of increasing revenue.
According to reports, the gym would continue to admit people from all faiths, provided they were willing to adhere to the prescribed rules.
Under the proposed guidelines, no music would be played inside the facility. Men and women would work out separately, with dedicated timings allocated for each group.
Another requirement is that 'awrah' must be fully covered while exercising. In Islamic law, 'awrah' refers to parts of the body that are required to be concealed.

An 18-year-old NEET aspirant from Madhya Pradesh, who died by suicide in Nagpur after the NEET-UG 2026 exam was cancelled, left behind a note expressing fear and anxiety over appearing for the retest.

'Don't have courage for retest, sorry Mummy, Papa': NEET aspirant's note found days after suicide

An 18-year-old NEET aspirant from Madhya Pradesh, who died by suicide in Nagpur after the NEET-UG 2026 exam was cancelled, left behind a note expressing fear and anxiety over appearing for the retest.

Days after an 18-year-old NEET aspirant from Madhya Pradesh allegedly died by suicide in Maharashtra's Nagpur, her family discovered a handwritten note in which she apologised to her parents and expressed fear about appearing for the re-examination of the medical entrance test.
Akanksha Chaturvedi, a native of Mauganj district in Madhya Pradesh, had appeared for the NEET-UG examination on May 3 and was reportedly confident of securing a high score. However, the cancellation of the exam following allegations of a paper leak left her distressed, according to her family.
The National Testing Agency (NTA) cancelled the May 3 NEET-UG 2026 examination on May 12 after allegations of a paper leak surfaced. A re-examination was subsequently scheduled for June 21. Around 23 lakh candidates had registered for the test.
Akanksha was preparing for NEET at a coaching institute in Nagpur, where her family was also residing.
According to police, on May 20, Akanksha told her family during lunch that she was not hungry and would eat later before going to her room. Around 3 pm, family members found her hanging inside the room. No suicide note was recovered at the time.
Several days later, while sorting through her books and study material, the family found a handwritten note, which was submitted to the Ambazari police on June 1.
In the note, Akanksha wrote, "Mummy, Papa...you had trust in me that I would study and become a doctor. But I do not have the courage to appear for a retest. In the first test, I was about to score good marks. But there is no guarantee that I will score good marks again. Sorry, Mummy, Papa, I have ruined everything for both of you."
Deputy Commissioner of Police Nityanand Jha said the note has been made part of the investigation.
"The girl ended her life in Nagpur, where the entire family was residing. The note surfaced when the family members were rummaging through her books. It has been submitted to the police, and investigation is now underway to ascertain all circumstances related to the case," Jha said.
According to police, the note indicates that Akanksha was anxious about taking the examination again. Investigators said she apologised to her parents and expressed uncertainty about repeating the process despite expecting a strong performance in the original examination.
Her father, Krishna Kumar Chaturvedi, a small farmer who also worked as a cook in Nagpur to support the family, told police that his daughter had returned from the May 3 examination feeling optimistic and believed she would score more than 650 marks.
However, family members later observed a significant change in her behaviour as she became increasingly disturbed after reports of the paper leak and the announcement of a retest.
An official from Ambazari police station said statements of family members have been recorded and further investigation is underway.
"All aspects mentioned in the note are being examined," the official said.

A Delhi court has granted four days of police custody to hotel owner Lavkesh Bajaj in connection with the Malviya Nagar fire that killed 21 people. Investigators say custodial interrogation is needed to uncover safety lapses.

Malviya Nagar blaze: Delhi court permits police to quiz hotel owner in custody for four days

A Delhi court has granted four days of police custody to hotel owner Lavkesh Bajaj in connection with the Malviya Nagar fire that killed 21 people. Investigators say custodial interrogation is needed to uncover safety lapses.

A Delhi court on Thursday granted four days of police custody to Lavkesh Bajaj, owner of the Flourish Stay B&amp;B in Malviya Nagar, in connection with the devastating fire that killed 21 people and injured several others.
Judicial Magistrate Bhanu Pratap Singh observed that Bajaj's arrest was "lawful and justified" and allowed Delhi Police to interrogate him in custody as part of the ongoing investigation into the blaze that broke out on Wednesday.
The fire at the hotel, which was allegedly operating without a fire No Objection Certificate (NOC) in a congested lane, claimed the lives of nine Indian nationals and 12 foreign nationals. Relatives of several victims are undergoing treatment at nearby hospitals.
Rejecting arguments challenging the validity of the arrest, the court said, &ldquo;...Considering the serious allegations against the accused of committing an offence punishable with imprisonment for life, this court is of the view that the arrest of accused Lavkesh Bajaj is lawful and justified.&rdquo;
During the hearing, the prosecution argued that custodial interrogation was necessary to verify the identities and roles of workers, employees and other individuals involved in operating the hotel. Police also informed the court that they needed to trace and apprehend accountant Jay Mishra and hotel manager Rakesh, whose roles have come under scrutiny during the preliminary investigation.
The prosecution further submitted that investigators needed to recover and examine documents related to the ownership and functioning of the hotel, including electricity bills, guest registers, booking records, online reservation details, financial records and bank account information. Police also said Bajaj would need to be confronted with witnesses as well as documentary and electronic evidence collected during the probe.
According to the prosecution, investigators must also verify information disclosed by the accused and identify other persons involved in the construction, management and operation of the premises.
Bajaj&rsquo;s lawyers, Nitin Ahlawat and Preeti Yadav, opposed the request for police custody, arguing that no recovery was required from the accused and that investigators already possessed the necessary information.
However, the magistrate observed that the investigation was still at an early stage and said custodial interrogation was necessary to uncover relevant facts and examine possible violations of mandatory safety regulations.
&ldquo;Considering that the investigation is at an initial stage, this court is of the view that custodial interrogation of the accused is necessary for the discovery of relevant facts leading to the incident and to verify the alleged lapses in compliance with mandatory laws,&rdquo; the order stated.
The court also noted that police custody was required to trace individuals whose involvement had emerged during the investigation and to recover documents, electronic devices and digital evidence linked to the case.
While allowing the police custody plea, the court permitted Bajaj&rsquo;s lawyers to meet him daily between 5 pm and 6 pm at the police station.
Delhi Police have registered a case under Sections 105 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 326(g) (mischief by fire), 324(5) (wrongful damage to property), 125(a) (negligent act endangering human life), 125(b) (grievous hurt by negligence) and 287 (negligent conduct with respect to fire) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
In the grounds of arrest, police stated that preliminary findings suggest negligence and a failure to ensure adequate safety measures for occupants of the premises. Investigators said Bajaj&rsquo;s custodial interrogation was necessary for recovering and verifying documents, identifying other responsible individuals and establishing the full circumstances surrounding the incident.
Police also cited concerns that, if released, the accused could potentially tamper with evidence or influence witnesses connected to the case, making his arrest necessary for a fair and effective investigation.

Following the Malviya Nagar fire that killed 21 people, experts have raised concerns over loopholes in Delhi's Bed and Breakfast policy, including the absence of mandatory fire safety measures and relaxed registration norms.

Malviya Nagar tragedy puts spotlight on Delhi govt's B&B policy rules

Following the Malviya Nagar fire that killed 21 people, experts have raised concerns over loopholes in Delhi's Bed and Breakfast policy, including the absence of mandatory fire safety measures and relaxed registration norms.

A day after the fatal fire in Malviya Nagar claimed 21 lives, including 12 foreigners, the Delhi government's bed and breakfast B&amp;B policy is under scrutiny.
According to experts, the policy, officially known as 'National Capital Territory of Delhi (Incredible India) Bed and Breakfast Establishment (Registration and Regulation) Act, 2007'-- which started during the Commonwealth Games held in Delhi in 2010 -- has serious loopholes regarding safety norms.
"When the B&amp;B scheme was started in Delhi during the Commonwealth Games, there was a provision that in the residential building, the owner had to live in the building, which was later removed from the scheme. In this accident, we see that the owner was not living with them," Rajesh Pawar, former Delhi chief fire officer, told PTI videos.
Panwar said in the policy, there was no provision for fire extinguishers or fire safety.
"There was only one point that heat and smoke detectors should be desirable rather than mandatory, making installation entirely at the owner's discretion. I think heat and smoke detectors should be mandatory in the policy."
He said the initial phase of the scheme included a provision to attach an approved building plan from the local authorities.
"But after almost six months, the provision was removed. If this provision had remained, this establishment would never have been able to open in such a congested area. And even at that time, it was limited to six rooms and 18 occupancies for 18 people," he said.
Former fire chief Panwar said, "Delhi Fire Service has very good experience in firefighting; they fulfil their responsibilities very well. In firefighting, I do not consider anyone ahead of DFS. I have worked here and seen my personnel and officers."
The Delhi government said the existing policy is being withdrawn and a new policy is being formulated for which a draft has been put in the public domain.
"When we were commercialising this scheme then, the provision of fire NOC should have been made mandatory," he said.

The Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) has announced a protest in Delhi on June 6 demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET and CBSE controversy.

Open to dialogue with govt, opposition; CBSE transfers 'eyewash': CJP

The Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) has announced a protest in Delhi on June 6 demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET and CBSE controversy.

The Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) on Wednesday said it was ready for a dialogue with both the government and the Opposition over its demands, even as it prepared for a protest in the national capital later this week demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET and CBSE fiasco.
Addressing the party's first press conference at the Constitution Club of India here, CJP spokesperson Saurav Das, an independent journalist, dismissed the government's transfer of CBSE chairperson Rahul Singh and secretary Himanshu Gupta on Tuesday as an "eyewash".
The party appealed to young people from across the country to participate in the proposed protest.
"We have given an open call. Anybody can join us without a party banner. We are ready to have a dialogue with everybody, be it those in power or the Opposition," Das said, referring to CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke's call for a protest on June 6.
"We are demanding accountability in the system. We have been demanding the resignation of the education minister, but no action has been taken against him till date. The transfers are being projected as action. It's not. There's a rot in the system," Das added.
On May 22, the Delhi High Court issued Das a notice alongside AAP leader Gopal Rai on a plea seeking contempt proceedings against them over an alleged "orchestrated social media campaign" against Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma, who recently withdrew from hearing the Delhi excise case.
Das said upon landing in Delhi at 8 AM on June 6, Dipke, who is pursuing higher education in the US, will head to Delhi's Parliament Street Police Station to seek permission for the proposed demonstration at Jantar Mantar.
Dipke, who served as a core member of AAP's social media team in the past, has announced that climate activist Sonam Wangchuk will also join him at the protest.
Referring to the possibility of police action against Dipke upon his return, another CJP spokesperson Vijeta Dahiya, described by the party as a political researcher, author and filmmaker, said, "If Sonam Wangchuk could be arrested, Dipke could be arrested as well. If he's arrested, more people will rally behind us."
Responding to questions about CJP's alleged links with the AAP, CJP functionary Ashutosh Ranka said, "Our past affiliations are not important. This fight is bigger than that. CJP is bigger than an individual or any organisation."
Ranka, an alumnus of IIT Kanpur and the London School of Economics, previously worked with global consulting firm McKinsey &amp; Company in London. He has also been appointed a spokesperson for the CJP.
Dahiya said the movement reflected growing dissatisfaction among young people with the political system.
"The way this movement has captured the imagination shows that an entire generation is dissatisfied with the state of affairs," he said.
Responding to questions on the venue for the proposed protest, Ranka said the organisers were hopeful of receiving permission from the authorities.
"Jantar Mantar has historically been a site for peaceful dissent. We are confident that police will give us permission," he said.
Asked what would happen if Pradhan stepped down, fulfilling one of the movement's principal demands, Ranka said, "This is a fast-evolving situation. If Pradhan resigns in the next two days, we will update you about our position."

India has condemned the attack on Kuwait International Airport that killed one Indian national and injured several others. New Delhi reiterated its call for protecting civilians and civilian infrastructure amid escalating tensions in West Asia.

India condemns Kuwait airport attack that killed Indian national

India has condemned the attack on Kuwait International Airport that killed one Indian national and injured several others. New Delhi reiterated its call for protecting civilians and civilian infrastructure amid escalating tensions in West Asia.

India on Wednesday condemned an attack on Kuwait International Airport that left one Indian national dead and several others injured, while renewing calls for an end to such violence.
New Delhi also strongly urged that civilian population and civilian infrastructure must not be targeted.
"We condemn the attack on the Kuwait International Airport today in which an Indian national has died and several of our nationals are injured," the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said.
"Since the onset of the conflict in West Asia, we have strongly urged that civilian population and civilian infrastructure must not be targeted. We again call upon parties to cease such attacks," it said in a statement.
The identity of the deceased Indian is not immediately known.
The MEA said the Indian mission in Kuwait is extending all possible assistance to those injured.
"We offer our deepest condolences to the bereaved family. Our Embassy is extending all possible assistance to those injured. We remain in close contact with local authorities for the welfare of Indian nationals," the MEA said.
It said the Indian missions and posts across the region are on alert and continue to proactively support our community.
Kuwait expressed its "deepest condolences at the tragic demise of an Indian national due to an attack on the airport in Kuwait today".
The Indian embassy in Kuwait said it is "closely coordinating" with the Kuwaiti authorities to render all possible support and assistance to the bereaved family as well as those injured in the incident.
Kuwait suspended air traffic on Wednesday after the Iranian strikes hit Terminal One of the airport.
The attack caused casualties and damage to the airport, Directorate General of Civil Aviation's spokesperson Abdullah Al-Rajhi said.

In an unprecedented development, 58 rebel TMC MLAs have taken control of the party's legislature wing, elected Ritabrata Banerjee as leader, and secured recognition from the West Bengal Assembly Speaker, deepening the crisis within the TMC.

58 rebel MLAs elect Ritabrata as LoP; Speaker accepts claim, formalising split in TMC

In an unprecedented development, 58 rebel TMC MLAs have taken control of the party's legislature wing, elected Ritabrata Banerjee as leader, and secured recognition from the West Bengal Assembly Speaker, deepening the crisis within the TMC.

The TMC on Wednesday suffered its first split in its 28-year history as 58 rebel MLAs elected expelled leader Ritabrata Banerjee as Leader of Opposition, wresting control of its legislature party, and secured recognition from the Assembly Speaker, plunging Mamata Banerjee's outfit into its gravest internal crisis since its inception.
Within hours, a rattled TMC leadership dissolved all party committees and frontal organisations across West Bengal in what appeared to be an attempt to regain political control amid a fast-escalating power struggle.
The dramatic rebellion, unfolding within two months of the party's crushing defeat in the assembly elections, exposed a deep rupture between the organisation and its elected legislators, raising questions over leadership, succession and the future direction of the party that has dominated Bengal politics for more than a decade.
The rebel camp, led by Ritabrata Banerjee and fellow expelled MLA Sandipan Saha, submitted letters of support from 58 legislators before Speaker Rathindra Bose, comfortably crossing the two-thirds threshold required under the anti-defection law for recognition as a separate bloc.
"Our claim has been accepted by the Speaker," Ritabrata Banerjee told reporters after meeting the Speaker.
Claiming legitimacy through numbers, he asserted that the dissidents now represented the real Trinamool Congress in the Assembly.
"The TMC legislative party is a team of 58 MLAs who won on the TMC symbol. We are the real TMC now in the Assembly," he said.
The Speaker's acceptance effectively formalised the first organisational rupture in a party founded by Mamata Banerjee in 1998 after her break from the Congress.
The dissident camp unveiled a new leadership structure, naming Ritabrata Banerjee as LoP and Akhruzzaman as chief whip.
Senior legislators and party old-timers Javed Ahmed Khan, Sandipan Saha, Sabina Yasmin and Shiuli Saha were appointed deputy leaders.
Several veteran TMC legislators joined the rebellion, including Samar Mukhopadhyay, Arup Roy, Rathin Ghosh, Javed Khan and Prasun Banerjee.
Yet, significantly, the rebels stopped short of directly challenging Mamata Banerjee's primacy.
In their communication to the Speaker, they continued to recognise her as chairperson of the Trinamool Congress while making it equally clear that they no longer accepted the authority of her nephew and party national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee in the functioning of the legislature party.
"We accept Mamata Banerjee as our leader but do not accept Abhishek Banerjee," a leader associated with the dissident camp said.
Seeking to soften the optics of the revolt, Ritabrata Banerjee even appealed to the former chief minister to guide the legislature party.
"We would request Mamata Banerjee to play the role of chief adviser to the legislative party," he said.
However, the Mamata Banerjee camp questioned the validity of the rebels' move, claiming that the communication to the Speaker was submitted on plain paper rather than the party's official letterhead.
It maintained that only the party chairperson and national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee were empowered to convey such decisions to the Assembly.
Unfazed by the challenge, Ritabrata Banerjee asserted that every step had been taken in conformity with parliamentary conventions and legislative rules.
The rebellion traces its immediate origins to the controversy surrounding the selection of the Leader of Opposition after the elections.
The dispute erupted when a proposal sent to the Speaker seeking recognition of senior TMC MLA Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay allegedly contained forged signatures of several legislators. The allegations led to an FIR and a CID probe.
What began as a procedural dispute soon snowballed into a battle for control of the legislature party and eventually into the biggest challenge to Mamata Banerjee's authority since she founded the party.
Recognising the seriousness of the threat, the Mamata Banerjee-led faction moved swiftly on the organisational front, announcing a comprehensive review of its structure and functioning before reconstituting all organisational units.
"After careful consideration, it has been decided that all committees of the All India Trinamool Congress in West Bengal, as well as all its frontal organisations, shall stand dissolved with immediate effect," the party said in a statement.
Significantly, Ritabrata Banerjee was state president of the TMC&rsquo;s trade union, whereas Abhishek Banerjee was the TMC national general secretary.
Political observers viewed the move as an acknowledgement that the crisis had gone beyond routine factionalism and entered the realm of a struggle for control of the party itself.
For many, the unfolding events carried unmistakable echoes of Maharashtra.
Like the Shiv Sena split engineered by Eknath Shinde in 2022 and the Nationalist Congress Party split led by Ajit Pawar in 2023, the Bengal rebellion has been built around numerical strength within the legislature party rather than control of the parent organisation.
But there remains one critical difference.
Unlike Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray, who was no longer alive when the Maharashtra split unfolded, Mamata Banerjee remains an active political force.
That perhaps explains why even her rebels continue to publicly acknowledge her leadership while simultaneously dismantling her authority within the legislature party.
The parallels nevertheless remain striking.
The architect of the rebellion is Ritabrata Banerjee, a former CPI(M) leader and Rajya Sabha member who once rose rapidly within the TMC after being expelled by the CPI(M).
The political beneficiary, many observers argue, is Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, himself once one of Mamata Banerjee's closest lieutenants before crossing over to the BJP and emerging as her fiercest rival.
The crisis also carries a layer of political irony that has not gone unnoticed by the opposition.
Both the CPI(M) and Congress said the TMC was now experiencing the same politics of defections that it had perfected after coming to power in 2011.
According to CPI(M) and Congress leaders, between 2011 and 2021, during the 16th and 17th Assemblies, at least 65 legislators from the Left and Congress camps crossed over to the Trinamool without any of them facing disqualification under the anti-defection law.
"History has come full circle," CPI(M) leader Sujan Chakraborty remarked.
Senior TMC leader Kunal Ghosh, however, accused the dissidents of betraying the party at a difficult moment.
"These differences could have been resolved within the party. This is backstabbing," he said.
The BJP wasted little time in exploiting the turmoil.
"Mamata Banerjee has lost control of her legislative party. This is only the beginning," BJP IT department head Amit Malviya said in a social media post.
For Mamata Banerjee, the challenge now extends far beyond retaining organisational control.
The rebellion threatens to create two competing centres of authority within the TMC - one controlling the party apparatus including symbol and funds and another claiming legitimacy through legislative numbers.
The battle ahead is likely to be fought not merely over posts and positions but over the ownership of the TMC's political legacy itself.
For a party that once appeared inseparable from the personality and authority of its founder, Wednesday's developments marked a historic rupture.
The first split in the TMC since its inception has arrived not from outside but from within, opening a new and uncertain chapter in Bengal politics and raising existential questions about the future of one of India's most formidable regional parties.

D K Shivakumar was sworn in as Karnataka Chief Minister along with 13 ministers in Bengaluru. Senior Congress leaders, including Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge, attended the ceremony at Lok Bhavan.

D K Shivakumar takes oath as Karnataka Chief Minister

D K Shivakumar was sworn in as Karnataka Chief Minister along with 13 ministers in Bengaluru. Senior Congress leaders, including Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge, attended the ceremony at Lok Bhavan.

State Congress President D K Shivakumar took oath as Karnataka Chief Minister on Wednesday and 13 other legislators, including senior leader G Parameshwara, were sworn in as ministers in his Cabinet.
In the presence of AICC chief Mallikarjun Kharge, top Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and outgoing CM Siddaramaiah, Shivakumar took oath in the name of seer "Gangadhar Ajja", while holding a copy of the Constitution.
Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot administered the oath of office and secrecy to Shivakumar, Parameshwara and others at Lok Bhavan here.
Parameshwara, who is set to be designated as Deputy CM, took oath in the name of Dr B R Ambedkar.
Along with Shivakumar and Parameshwara, the legislators, who took oath as ministers were -- K H Muniyappa, K J George, M B Patil, Ramalinga Reddy, Satish Jarkiholi, Krishna Byregowda, Priyank Kharge, U T Khader, Eshwar Khandre, Yathindra Siddaramaiah, Byrathi Suresh, and Sharan Prakash Patil.
Barring Khader and Yathindra, all the others were ministers in the previous Siddaramaiah government.
Khader had been the Speaker of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly and Yathindra, a member of the legislative council, is Siddaramaiah's son.
Shivakumar, a 64-year-old Vokkaliga strongman, was elected leader of the Congress Legislature Party on May 30, following Siddaramaiah's resignation as chief minister on May 28.
Shivakumar had served as Deputy Chief Minister under Siddaramaiah.
AICC general secretaries K C Venugopal and Randeep Singh Surjewala, CMs of Congress ruled states, several top Congress leaders, dignitaries, and invitees were present at the swearing-in.
Religious leaders from all major communities, including heads of various maths, were also present.
According to officials, the invitees included students from a government school in Doddaalahalli in Kanakapura, which is Shivakumar's native village.
Representatives from various sections of society, including labourers, civic workers, farmer leaders, women self-help groups, and pro-Kannada organisations took part.

At least 21 people, including 11 foreign nationals, were killed after a massive fire engulfed an illegally expanded hotel in Delhi's Malviya Nagar. Police have filed a culpable homicide case as investigators probe safety violations.

21 killed in south Delhi hotel fire; sealed windows, single exit-entry trap scores of people

At least 21 people, including 11 foreign nationals, were killed after a massive fire engulfed an illegally expanded hotel in Delhi's Malviya Nagar. Police have filed a culpable homicide case as investigators probe safety violations.

A devastating blaze tore through a hotel operating without a fire NOC in a congested bylane in south Delhi&rsquo;s Malviya Nagar area on Wednesday, killing at least 21 people, including 11 foreigners whose relatives were being treated in hospitals nearby.
The fire at the Flourish Stay B&amp;B in Hauz Rani in Malviya Nagar started around 8.30 am and quickly spread through the five-floor narrow building that had only one entry-exit point, permanently sealed windows and a sensor-operated main door, officials said. Factors which combined to turn the building into a virtual death trap.
As the flames raged, catching everybody unawares and some in their sleep, rescue workers, including many locals, rushed to pull out those trapped inside.
At least 58 people were rescued and rushed to hospitals where 21 were declared brought dead, officials said. The dead include 10 Indians.
The death toll in the fire -- amongst the worst in the city in recent years -- could rise with several of the injured in a critical condition, officials said.
Many of the casualties are from Central Asian and African countries. They were staying in the hotel in to attend to their kin admitted in Max Hospital minutes away.
In a tragedy that was perhaps waiting to happen, the hotel had permission for only six rooms, granted under the Delhi government's bed and breakfast policy, but was operating 25, police officials said. Rooms had also come up in the basement.
The structure housed a restaurant on the ground floor while the basement and the upper floors were being used as the hotel.
Officials said the building was only ground floor plus one till six-seven years ago. The additional floors came up later without informing the authorities. Besides, a complete building plan was not submitted.
The building, they said, was reportedly above 15 metres in height, making fire safety clearance mandatory.
"As far as a fire NOC is concerned, we had not received any reference from either the building authorities or the licensing agency," Deputy Chief Fire Officer A K Malik told PTI.
The design of the building made escape almost impossible, he said.
&ldquo;Buildings of this nature act like a shaft, where heat and smoke generated by a fire can engulf the entire structure within seconds, making evacuation even more challenging," he said.
The hotel was being operated by three partners, who are also believed to own other hotels and guesthouses across Delhi, police sources said.
Delhi Police has filed an FIR under charges of culpable homicide among other relevant sections of BNS.
The building owner has been identified as LavKesh, the license was issued in the name of Jai Mishra and the owner of the hotel has been identified as Lokesh Bajaj, the sources added.
No one has been arrested as yet. Alerts have been issued to railway and airport authorities to prevent the suspects from fleeing.
Raids were conducted at multiple locations, including the residences of the building owner and the licence holder registered with the tourism department.
The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained.
Visuals from the area -- with narrow lanes, overhanging wires and cramped buildings haphazardly sharing space -- showed high flames rising in the air and wires twisted out of shape in the heat hanging precariously.
Shattered glass and mangled metal lay scattered around the smoke charred building.
Teams from the Delhi Fire Services, police and disaster response units searched through the smoke-blackened structure for survivors. Victims were seen being pulled out of the basement and rushed to hospitals in ambulances.
The urban village of Hauz Rani is minutes away from swanky malls, upscale hospitals and the Saket court complex as well as the residential localities of Malviya Nagar and Saket.
Officials said the fire started at Lemon Green Restaurant, but police later clarified that it was a hotel building.
According to one eyewitness and a first responder, the basement was locked and he helped the fire team to help open it.
"It took more than 20 minutes to open the basement area," he alleged.
Horrific scenes played out all over.
As thick smoke engulfed the building and flames spread rapidly, several people were seen breaking window panes and calling for help.
"A woman holding a young child jumped from the third floor after local residents spread mattresses on the ground below in an attempt to save those trapped inside," an eyewitness said.
A foreigner couple could be seen trapped on the fourth floor. They broke the window glass, smashed the aluminum mesh and climbed down using a pipe to escape the inferno.
Arman, who owns a blanket and cotton shop opposite the hotel, spread as many quilts and mattresses as he could to cushion the fall of people while others administered CPR to the injured.
&ldquo;At that time, we did not think about anything else. We provided as many quilts as were needed,&rdquo; Armaan told PTI.
At the Max Hospital across the road, stunned relatives crowded the waiting area searching for their loved ones, scanning lists and making frantic phone calls as the injured and the dead were brought in.
"We can't recognise them by looking at pictures. Everyone is severely burnt," said one man sobbing uncontrollably.
Also searching desperately was Namit Goel, who said six of his relatives were among those caught in the fire.
"Four bodies are in Max Saket mortuary and two bodies are in another hospital. We are trying to locate them," he said.
Max Hospital said in a statement that 39 patients were received at the emergency department.
Of these 18 were brought dead, while 15 were admitted to the ICU, including eight who are on ventilator support and critical.
The patients suffered from asphyxiation, minor burn injuries and fractures, it said.
Five patients with minor injuries were treated and discharged after primary medical care, while one patient was shifted to Safdarjung Hospital due to extensive burn injuries, it added.
The All India Institute of Medical Sciences received 13 patients -- three of them sustained injuries from fall and 10 were those who got hurt while rescuing those trapped in the burning building.
President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi were among those who expressed their condolences.
"The news of the loss of lives in the fire incident in Malviya Nagar, Delhi is extremely heartbreaking&hellip;," Murmu said in a post on X in Hindi.
The prime minister announced ex-gratia payment of Rs 2 lakh from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund for the next of kin of each deceased and Rs 50,000 for those injured.
Describing the loss of lives as tragic, he said on X, "My condolences to those who have lost their loved ones."
Congress leaders, including party president Mallikarjun Kharge and leader Rahul Gandhi, expressed their grief and urged party workers to extend all possible help.
State government authorities should provide adequate and timely compensation, including prompt medical care to the victims, Kharge said.
The worst fire in Delhi remains the 1997 Uphaar Cinema fire in which 59 people died.

Delhi Police have registered an FIR for culpable homicide after a devastating fire at a Malviya Nagar hotel claimed at least 21 lives. The hotel owner is absconding as investigators probe possible safety lapses.

Delhi Police files culpable homicide FIR in Malviya Nagar hotel blaze

Delhi Police have registered an FIR for culpable homicide after a devastating fire at a Malviya Nagar hotel claimed at least 21 lives. The hotel owner is absconding as investigators probe possible safety lapses.

The Delhi Police has filed an FIR under charges of culpable homicide in the hotel fire tragedy in south Delhi's Malviya Nagar that killed at least 21 people on Wednesday, officials said.&nbsp;
A massive fire tore through a bed-and-breakfast being operated in a five-storey building in the south Delhi locality early Wednesday.
A police source said that a team was immediately dispatched to the house of the hotel owner who is absconding. "Teams have visited the house of the hotel owner. An FIR has been registered against the owner. Teams are trying to arrest him. Multiple teams are searching for him," said the police source.
Many of the deceased were foreign nationals, mainly from Central Asian and African countries. Several injured were rushed to hospitals. Those rescued include the relatives of the patients who are being treated at a nearby private hospital.
The blaze erupted at the Flourish Stay B&amp;B in Hauz Rani, a congested locality in Malviya Nagar. According to police sources, it was early morning when the chef arrived at the ground floor eatery and switched on the setup before starting his work.
Shortly after, a blast-like sound was heard, and within minutes the entire building was swept in flames, trapping several guests on the upper floors. A police source said the building had 26 rooms, though the exact number is still being verified.
A foreign couple trapped on the fourth floor broke a windowpane and an aluminium grill and tried to climb down using a pipe. Both fell. Overhead wires broke the woman's fall, even though she landed headfirst to the ground. The two were rushed to a hospital in a critical state. It was not yet known whether they survived.
The building has a basement, ground floor and five upper floors, according to fire officers. The restaurant was being operated on the ground floor, while the rest of the building was being used as a hotel.
According to police sources, the hotel had only one entry-exit. The fire NOC is under scanner, they said.

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A baby blue whale washed up on Andhra Pradesh shores on July 28

Blue whale washes up dead on Andhra Pradesh beach

A dead blue whale washed up on a beach in Andhra Pradesh Srikakulam on July 28. 

A baby blue whale washed up on Andhra Pradesh shores on July 28

A dead blue whale washed up on a beach in Andhra Pradesh Srikakulam on July 28. According to reports, the baby whale is about 25 feet long and weighs 5 tons.&nbsp;
According to local fishermen, it is rare for such whales to be stranded on Andhra shores and this one may have died in shallow waters.&nbsp;
Videos and photographs of the whale are going viral some of which show people standing on the whale in order to take selfies.&nbsp;

Trinamool Congress faces its biggest internal crisis as 20 Lok Sabha MPs reportedly back the NDA, days after a revolt by MLAs in the West Bengal Assembly, raising questions over the party's future unity.

20 TMC MPs write to Speaker backing NDA, triggering split in party's Lok Sabha unit

Trinamool Congress faces its biggest internal crisis as 20 Lok Sabha MPs reportedly back the NDA, days after a revolt by MLAs in the West Bengal Assembly, raising questions over the party's future unity.

The TMC imploded on Monday as 20 Lok Sabha MPs, led by Chief Whip Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, claimed to have written to Speaker Om Birla expressing support for the BJP-led NDA, triggering a split in the party's parliamentary ranks just as it was reeling from a rupture in its legislative party in the West Bengal Assembly.
The twin revolts in the Assembly and Parliament have plunged Mamata Banerjee's outfit into its gravest crisis since its inception in 1998, with 58 of the TMC's 80 MLAs having only days ago defied the party high command and backed expelled MLA Ritabrata Banerjee as Leader of the Opposition instead of its nominee, Sovandeb Chattopadhyay.
The political turbulence spilled into Parliament even as Banerjee was in Delhi attending an INDIA bloc conclave to forge opposition unity against the BJP, underscoring the scale of the challenge confronting the TMC leadership.
The dramatic development marks the first major split in the party's parliamentary wing since the TMC was founded and raises the prospect of a broader realignment within one of the country's largest opposition parties.
Speaking to PTI over phone, Ghosh Dastidar said 20 MPs had decided to support the NDA.
"Nearly twenty TMC MPs, including me, have decided to support the NDA for Bengal's development. We have decided to write to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and formally support the NDA," said the four-term MP, who resigned from all party posts last week.
Later, speaking to a news channel, she claimed that a letter bearing the signatures of 20 MPs had already been sent to the Speaker.
&ldquo;The letter has already reached the Speaker,&rdquo; she said.
Sources said the dissident MPs intend to argue before the Speaker that Ghosh Dastidar continues to be the valid chief whip of the party in the Lok Sabha and that subsequent changes announced by the party leadership were not completed through the required parliamentary procedure.
The TMC, however, released a May 20 letter from Mamata Banerjee to Speaker Om Birla informing him of Kalyan Banerjee's appointment as chief whip. It also shared a letter in which Ghosh Dastidar had resigned from all party posts last week.
According to sources in the dissident camp, the MPs have chosen not to immediately resign from the TMC or join the BJP. Instead, they intend to function as a separate parliamentary bloc while supporting the NDA, a strategy aimed at securing protection under the anti-defection law.
The TMC currently has 28 Lok Sabha MPs, with one vacancy following the death of Basirhat MP Haji Nurul Islam. The support of 20 MPs would comfortably cross the two-thirds threshold required for protection under the anti-defection law, making it difficult for the party leadership to seek disqualification of the dissidents.
The development came a day after dissident MPs held a closed-door meeting in New Delhi, a gathering that, according to sources, was attended by senior Rajya Sabha MP Sukhendu Sekhar Roy.
Roy resigned from both the Rajya Sabha and the TMC earlier in the day.
In a strongly worded resignation statement, Roy said the people of West Bengal had delivered a historic verdict in favour of the BJP to end what he described as the TMC's "anarchical rule" marked by corruption, atrocities against women and failures in governance.
"In respectful acceptance of this historic verdict of the people, I have resigned today from the Rajya Sabha as a member and also from the primary membership of the All India Trinamool Congress," he said.
Roy's resignation is likely to fuel concerns within the party that the unrest may not remain confined to the Lok Sabha unit. After his exit, the TMC has 12 members in the Upper House of Parliament.
Party MP Mahua Moitra launched a blistering attack on the rebels, accusing them of betraying the mandate on which they were elected.
"MPs won in 2024 on TMC ticket. Mandate was NOT for NDA. All the greedy self-serving traitors can please join BJP now, resign your seats and contest on BJP ticket. Let's see what big heroes you are," she posted on X.
What began as a revolt in the Assembly has now spilled into Parliament, leaving Mamata Banerjee battling the gravest internal crisis of her political career even as she seeks to rally the opposition against the BJP at the national level.
Whether the split remains confined to a bloc of Lok Sabha MPs or expands into the Rajya Sabha may determine the next phase of the crisis, opening a new and uncertain chapter in Bengal politics and testing the resilience of a party that has dominated the state's political landscape for nearly three decades.

Opposition INDIA bloc leaders resolved to seek Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation over the NEET-CBSE controversy and write to the Chief Justice on electoral roll revision and alleged vote irregularities.

INDIA bloc meeting: Oppn leaders vow unity, seek Pradhan's resignation, to write to CJI on SIR

Opposition INDIA bloc leaders resolved to seek Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation over the NEET-CBSE controversy and write to the Chief Justice on electoral roll revision and alleged vote irregularities.

Stressing unity against the BJP, the opposition INDIA bloc members on Monday unanimously decided to demand Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's immediate resignation over the NEET-CBSE row and write to the chief justice of India on the SIR exercise and &ldquo;vote loot&rdquo;.
At the meeting, top leaders of several opposition parties called for the need to safeguard democratic values and address people-centric issues such as unemployment, price rise, &ldquo;atrocities&rdquo; against oppressed sections, and sought an all-party meeting to discuss them along with the &ldquo;precarious&rdquo; economic situation in the country.
They also decided to meet after every two months to ensure opposition unity, with the next meeting scheduled in Hyderabad for August, while continuing with Parliament coordination during the upcoming Monsoon Session.
The BJP has called the INDIA bloc &ldquo;a figment of imagination&rdquo; that lacked conviction on the ground, claiming that there was an implosion within the opposition alliance with disagreements involving the Congress, DMK, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and the Left parties.
Leaders of 22 opposition parties and Independent MP Kapil Sibal were part of the deliberations that lasted for more than two-and-a-half hours at the Constitution Club, amid a BJP surge in the run-up to the next Assembly elections cycle and the 2029 Lok Sabha polls.
Earlier, Kharge had said that leaders of 25 opposition parties met on Monday.
The DMK, a key INDIA bloc constituent, did not attend the meeting, while the AAP had already distanced itself from the grouping.
Despite speculation, Tamil Nadu&rsquo;s ruling party TVK did not attend the opposition meeting.
The meeting was held in the backdrop of differences emerging among some of the INDIA bloc partners, including the Left and the Congress over the charge made during the recent Kerala polls that the Left had a political understanding with the BJP.
John Brittas of the CPI-M and D Raja of the CPI raised the issue with the Congress during the meeting.
Trinamool Congress&rsquo; Mamata Banerjee raised the issue of alleged "political retribution" during and after the recent West Bengal polls.
The deliberations began with a call to forge unity and rework the opposition strategy to take on the BJP, while ironing out the differences within after the defeat of regional outfits Trinamool Congress and DMK in the recent Assembly polls in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu, respectively.
The meeting also came at a time when the Narendra Modi government completed 12 years in office in its third consecutive term.
Addressing a press conference after the meeting, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge said, &ldquo;We have agreed on five issues. A letter would be sent to the chief justice of India (CJI) soon on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, &lsquo;vote loot&rsquo; and &lsquo;stealing of elections&rsquo;.
&ldquo;It was also unanimously agreed to demand the immediate resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan because he presided over the betrayal of lakhs of youth who appeared in NEET and CBSE," he said.
Flanked by Rahul Gandhi, Akhilesh Yadav, Mamata Banerjee and other senior leaders of the grouping, Kharge said, &ldquo;We are going to raise many people-centric issues, which all the parties have unanimously agreed to.&rdquo;
&ldquo;The opposition leaders also decided to continue coordination during the upcoming Monsoon Session of Parliament, with daily morning meetings at the office of the leader of opposition,&rdquo; he added.
The Congress veteran also said that all the opposition leaders aired their views freely at the meeting, which Shiv Sena-UBT's Uddhav Thackeray and JMM's Hemant Soren joined virtually.
Among those who attended the meeting were Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Kharge from the Congress, Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee from the Trinamool Congress, Akhilesh Yadav from the Samajwadi Party, Tejashwi Yadav from the RJD, Omar Abdullah from the National Conference and Mehbooba Mufti from the PDP, along with Left leaders.
NCP(SP) leader Supriya Sule, CPI(M)'s Brittas, CPI's Raja and leaders of some smaller parties were also part of the deliberations.
Kharge urged the opposition leaders to strengthen unity to confront the political, economic, social and foreign policy challenges facing the country due to the Modi government's "misgovernance".
He claimed that the assault on the Constitution continued while the probe agencies were persistently being used as tools to &ldquo;harass&rdquo;, &ldquo;intimidate&rdquo;, and &ldquo;bully&rdquo; political opponents.
He also pointed to the "complete mismanagement" of the examination system, dashing the hopes and aspirations of lakhs of youth.
According to sources, Rahul Gandhi told the meeting that he was 100 per cent sure that elections are &ldquo;robbed&rdquo; in the country.
The ex-Congress chief also stressed unity, and said one must bring everyone together with love and affection.
The issue of aligning with the youth-led political movement Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) also cropped up during the discussions, with Akhilesh Yadav and Omar Abdullah calling for associating with the outfit, and Mamata Banerjee speaking about supporting civil society movements.
Akhilesh Yadav, who spoke about "vote chori" and said the Bengal polls were "robbed", appealed to the Congress to show a big heart and back the strongest regional parties.
Uddhav Thackeray also lauded Banerjee for having fought the polls like a "lioness".
RJD&rsquo; Tejashwi Yadav said the bloc's strategy must focus on the 2029 Lok Sabha polls and urged everyone to hit the streets.
Omar Abdullah urged all the opposition parties to look ahead at the 2029 general elections, stressing that the Congress is the glue that holds the INDIA bloc together.
The last official meeting of the INDIA bloc was held in Delhi on June 1, 2024, after the Lok Sabha polls. The bloc originally comprised more than 25 parties.

India has advised its citizens to avoid travel to Iran and leave the country through available transport options as regional tensions intensify following fresh Israeli airstrikes.

India issues fresh Iran travel warning, urges citizens to leave

India has advised its citizens to avoid travel to Iran and leave the country through available transport options as regional tensions intensify following fresh Israeli airstrikes.

India on Monday reiterated its warning to its nationals in Iran to avoid any travel to the country and exit the region by available means of transport.
The advisory comes in view of the latest developments in the region.
In the urgent advisory, the Indian Embassy in Iran reiterated its earlier advice to all Indian nationals to avoid travel to Iran.
"In view of the latest developments in the region, the Embassy reiterates its earlier advice to all Indian Nationals to avoid any travel to Iran," the advisory stated on X.
"Indian Nationals presently in Iran are also advised to exit the country by available means of transport," it said.
On Monday, Israel launched airstrikes targeting central and western Iran in response to missile fire from Tehran.
On April 7, India issued the advisory asking its nationals in Iran to stay wherever they are for the next 48 hours.
The advisory was issued after US President Donald Trump had warned that a "whole civilisation will die tonight" if Iran does not meet his 8 pm Eastern Time deadline to end its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.
According to official data, around 9,000 Indians, including students, were in Iran when the conflict began following strikes on Iranian targets by Israel and the US on February 28. Nearly 1,800 Indians have returned to India so far.

Bihar Police have detained two security guards linked to Khan Global Studies after a video allegedly showing aerial firing surfaced online. The action comes a day after vandalism at the coaching institute run by educator Khan Sir.

Bihar: Khan Sir coaching guards detained over firing during vandalism

Bihar Police have detained two security guards linked to Khan Global Studies after a video allegedly showing aerial firing surfaced online. The action comes a day after vandalism at the coaching institute run by educator Khan Sir.

Bihar Police has detained two security guards associated with Khan Global Studies (KGS) in Patna over alleged firing, a day after unidentified miscreants vandalised the coaching institute and pelted stones at its premises, officials said on Thursday.
The action followed the circulation of a purported video on social media that allegedly showed two guards firing shots. PTI, however, could not independently verify the authenticity of the video.
According to police, a group of around 15-20 people allegedly attacked the institute on Tuesday night, damaging property and pelting stones at the premises.
Khan Global Studies is run by educator Faisal Khan, popularly known as Khan Sir.
A case has been registered at Kadamkuan police station and an investigation is underway, according to a statement issued by the City SP (Central) office.
"During investigations, police obtained a purported video showing two individuals carrying out aerial firing. Following verification of the video, two guards linked to KGS have been taken into custody for questioning," the statement said.
Police added that the weapons allegedly used in the firing have been seized and sent for forensic examination.
Following the vandalism incident, Khan Sir had alleged that individuals associated with a rival coaching institute were behind the firing. However, he later said only a police investigation could determine whether any firing had actually taken place.
Police said three people, including the director of a rival coaching institute, have been arrested in connection with the vandalism case.
Meanwhile, representatives of a rival coaching institute held a press conference on Thursday and alleged that Khan Sir had orchestrated the incident himself.
Displaying the purported video of the guards firing shots, a representative identified as Adarsh claimed that Khan Sir had fabricated the firing narrative.
"Police investigation found no evidence of firing while he (Khan sir) had claimed that 7-8 rounds of firing took place in front of him. You can clearly see who is trying to create a false hype around firing. And now a video has surfaced showing his (Khan sir's) guards firing shots," Adarsh told reporters.
He further alleged that Khan Sir had staged the incident to revive his "lagging teaching career", though he did not explain how such an act would benefit the educator.
Police have not publicly commented on the allegations made by the rival coaching institute, and the investigation into both the vandalism and the alleged firing remains ongoing.

Investigators probing the deadly Malviya Nagar hotel fire allege owner Lavkesh Bajaj admitted to illegally expanding the property, citing a belief that “everything works in Delhi.”

'Delhi mein sab chalta hai': Hotel owner's greed behind illegal expansion; drove past blaze site

Investigators probing the deadly Malviya Nagar hotel fire allege owner Lavkesh Bajaj admitted to illegally expanding the property, citing a belief that &ldquo;everything works in Delhi.&rdquo;

The owner of the Malviya Nagar hotel gutted by a fire that killed 21 people allegedly told investigators that "Delhi me sab chalta hai" (everything works in Delhi) when questioned about major violations at the property, police sources said on Thursday.
According to investigators, Lavkesh Bajaj showed little remorse after the blaze at Flourish Stay B&amp;B in south Delhi's Hauz Rani area on Wednesday. Officials alleged that he even drove past the burning building during rescue operations without stopping, despite the commotion.
The fire claimed 21 lives, including 12 foreign nationals, and injured several others, making it one of the deadliest fires in the capital in recent years.
Police said Bajaj has been non-cooperative during interrogation since his arrest. Investigators claim questioning has uncovered a pattern of regulatory violations, illegal expansion and disregard for safety norms.
According to police sources, Bajaj told investigators that once the hotel business became highly profitable, he felt encouraged to expand the property illegally from two-and-a-half storeys to five floors because he believed "everything works in Delhi."
Officials said the establishment was permitted to operate only six rooms under the Delhi government's bed-and-breakfast policy. However, it allegedly expanded to around 25-26 rooms, including some in the basement.
Investigators also found that the premises had permission to run only a tea shop and did not possess a licence to operate a restaurant. Despite this, the property allegedly generated additional income through a ground-floor restaurant.
Police said rooms were rented out for between Rs 3,000 and Rs 15,000 per day.
According to investigators, Bajaj allegedly obtained licences in the name of Jai Mishra, who handled the hotel's accounts and day-to-day operations. Five police teams have been formed to trace Mishra, who remains absconding.
Sources further said the building had previously received a temporary accommodation licence during the 2010 Commonwealth Games under a different owner when Delhi faced a shortage of hotel rooms.
During questioning, Bajaj reportedly told investigators that he owns at least four hotels in the area and rarely visits them. He claimed that after purchasing the property in 2022, he handed over its daily management to Mishra.
Police also alleged that when the fire broke out, Bajaj happened to be near the building and noticed the activity around it. However, instead of stopping, he allegedly left the area and continued moving across different parts of Delhi before being traced and arrested later the same day.
Joint Commissioner of Police Vijay Kumar said investigators have secured four days of police custody for Bajaj.
"We will ask him about the staff members who were present there as all of them are absconding," Kumar said.
He added that the sections invoked in the FIR were appropriate considering the circumstances of the incident and that multiple violations had been identified.
"The premises had permission for only six rooms, but there were 25 rooms. No gas connection was taken in the name of the premises, but four cylinders were present," he said.
The investigation has now expanded beyond determining the immediate cause of the fire. Authorities are examining allegations of illegal construction, fire safety violations, licensing irregularities, ownership records and other factors that may have contributed to the high death toll.

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