Union min’s close aide arrested in extortion case
Ludhiana, Feb 10: A close associate of Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu has been arrested in an extortion case, police said on Monday. Rajiv Raja, a former district president of the Youth Congress, is accused of attempting to extort Rs 30 lakh from a local industrialist, they said. Reacting to Raja’s arrest, Bittu alleged that the ruling AAP in Punjab was indulging in “vendetta and revenge politics” following the BJP’s decisive victory against AAP in the Delhi Assembly elections, which marked its return to power in the national capital after 27 years. (PTI)
Woman collapses, dies while dancing
Vidisha, Feb 10: A 23-year-old woman collapsed and died while dancing on stage at a wedding in Madhya Pradesh’s Vidisha district. According to eye-witnesses, the woman, Parnita Jain, was dancing at her cousin’s ‘sangeet’ ceremony at a resort on Vidisha bypass road on Saturday night when she collapsed in the middle of the performance. Indore resident Parnita died, possibly due to cardiac arrest, Sachin Jain, a local Jain community leader, told PTI. A video of the incident has surfaced on social media, in which the woman can be seen putting up a well-rehearsed performance and suddenly falling on the stage. (PTI)
16 illegal foreign natls deported
New Delhi, Feb 10: Delhi Police has deported 16 foreign nationals for allegedly overstaying without valid visas in Delhi’s Dwarka, an official said on Monday. The detained foreigners — hailing from Bangladesh (5), Nigeria (9), Guinea (1), and Uzbekistan (1) — were sent to a detention centre before deportation. Among those deported were a Bangladeshi family, including two children, he added. (PTI)
Mamta Kulkarni resigns from Kinnar Akhara post
Mahakumbh Nagar, Feb 10: Actor Mamta Kulkarni, who renounced the worldly life at the Maha Kumbh and was consecrated as ‘mahamandaleshwar’ a few weeks ago resigned from her post on Monday. Speaking to PTI, Kinnar Akhara’s Mahamandaleshwar Kaushalya Nand Giri confirmed the development. In a video message, Kulkarni said, “I, Mahamandaleshwar Yamai Mamta Nand Giri resign from my post. There was a problem between the Kinnar Akhara and other saints about me being made Mahamandaleshwar.” She also alleged that Rs 2 lakh was demanded from her for the Mahamandaleshwar post.
Claiming that she got the honour after 25 years of penance, Kulkarni said, “I saw that many people objected to me being given the post of Mahamandaleshwar. (PTI)