India

Hyderabad, April 10 (IANS) Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leader and former MLA Shakeel Aamir was briefly detained by the police at Hyderabad Airport soon after his arrival from Dubai.

Airport police detained him in connection with an accident case involving his son. A lookout notice for the former MLA was issued in February last year.

Shakeel Aamir arrived in Hyderabad to attend the funeral of his mother, who passed away due to illness.

The police permitted the former MLA from Bodhan to attend the funeral. He is likely to be questioned later.

A lookout notice was issued against Shakeel Aamir for allegedly helping his son Raheel Aamir alias Sahel to escape to Dubai after the accident on December 24, 2023.

According to police, the former MLA allegedly helped his son to come out of police custody and implicated an unrelated person in the case.

Sahel was driving the BMW car, which rammed into the barricades in front of Praja Bhavan, the official residence of the Telangana Deputy Chief Minister. No one was injured, but the barricade and front portion of the car were damaged in the incident.

The person driving the car and three others travelling with him escaped, leaving behind the vehicle.

Later, a person came to the spot to claim the abandoned car. A case of rash driving was registered against him.

However, subsequent investigation revealed that Sahel, son of the former MLA from Bodhan, was driving the car. The police officers allegedly let off Sahel and booked a person who works as a driver at the former MLA’s house.

A total of 16 people were booked, including inspectors of Panjagutta and Bodhan police stations who helped the accused.

Sahel was arrested on March 8, 2024, soon after he arrived from Dubai. He was later booked for his alleged involvement in another road accident that occurred in February 17, 2022.

In that accident, Sahel's car hit a woman who was crossing the road carrying her two-month-old toddler. The infant died in the accident, and three people were injured.

After the accident, three occupants of the vehicle left it and escaped. Later, the police arrested Syed Afnan Ahmed, after he surrendered to the police and confessed that he was driving the car.

He told police that Sahel and another friend, Mohammed Maaz, were seated in the car.

However, after the 2023 accident, the police reopened the earlier case and took up the investigation.

--IANS

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New Delhi, April 10 (IANS) Power demand in India surged in March as the temperature rose and the demand from industrial and commercial consumers soared, according to a Crisil Intelligence report released on Thursday.

The mean monthly temperature was 25.5 degrees Celsius, above the 30-year (1991-2020) normal of 24.71 degrees Celsius.

Western and eastern central India witnessed 1-5 heatwave days during the month. As a result, power demand rose 6.9 per cent, around 50 per cent higher than the full-year average of 4.3 per cent. In the western region, power demand grew 10 per cent over last year as several regions in Gujarat witnessed six days of heatwaves.

The report highlights that seasonally adjusted India PMI, a proxy to estimate the country’s industrial activity, grew from 56.3 in February to 58.1 in March, the highest in eight months. The latest reading showed a substantial improvement in the health of the manufacturing sector that was above its long-run average.

With nearly half of India’s power demand emanating from industrial and commercial consumers, expansion of relevant activities is crucial for power demand to continue growing, the report points out.

Higher cooling requirements pushed peak power demand to 235 GW, an addition of 14 GW from the previous fiscal. The effects of this surge percolated to the short-term power market as well.

The real-time market (RTM) volume surged 34 per cent year on year to 3,727 million units (MU). The share of RTM in total electricity volume traded on the IEX rose to a high of 33 per cent, compared with the average of 24 per cent recorded since its inception in June 2020 to March 2025. Despite the surge in volume, the average market-clearing price for March 2025 remained stable at Rs 3.93/unit vis-a-vis Rs 3.91/unit due to an increase in power supply.

Power generation jumped 8 per cent year-on-year to 161 billion units (BU) in March, in line with the power demand. However, compared to the previous month of February, the growth was higher at 13 per cent.

Fuels across the board grew more than 5 per cent in March. Coal-based power generation rose 6.7 per cent in March this year on a high base of 9.4 per cent in March 2024, reaching 120 BU. The fuel accounted for 75 per cent of the total power output, highlighting India’s continued reliance on coal during times of upswing in power demand.

This was followed by renewable energy (RE), which increased 15.4 per cent on-year on a high base of 11.4 per cent in the previous fiscal. RE’s share in the fuel mix for the month also increased to 14 per cent from 12.7 per cent in March 2024, underscoring the country’s efforts to reach its COP26 targets.

Generation of hydro and nuclear energy rose 33 per cent and 17 per cent on-year, with the fuels contributing 6 per cent and 3 per cent, respectively.

Dispatches of coal – the primary feedstock used to generate electricity in India – to power plants surged 6.25 per cent in March and 6 per cent on-year in fiscal 2025, improving inventories.

As on March 31, thermal power plants had 58 million tonnes (MT) of coal stock, compared with 51 MT a year ago. Coal inventory improved to 20 days as on March 31, compared with 18 days in March 2024 and 19 days in February 2025.

Overall, power demand grew 4.3 per cent on-year in fiscal 2025 to 1,695, following three consecutive high-growth years with a CAGR of 7.1 per cent between fiscals 2022 and 2024.

For Q1 (April-June) of fiscal 2026, Crisil Intelligence estimates power demand to rise 6.5-7.5 per cent over the same period of the previous year, vis-a-vis 11 per cent in the previous fiscal. With the India Meteorological Department forecasting a more than 50 per cent probability of above-normal temperatures during the summer months of April, May and June, cooling demand is expected to increase.

--IANS

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New Delhi, April 10 (IANS) While global office rental markets continue to face headwinds, India’s office sector is bucking the trend with sustained growth in office leasing and rentals, according to a report by real estate firm Vestian released on Thursday.

According to the report, India reported the highest ever leasing of 70.7 Mn sq ft in 2024, registering an annual increase of 16 per cent. Sub-dollar rentals across India’s top seven cities fuelled this momentum, making the country a key outlier in an otherwise subdued global landscape.

In stark contrast to major global cities like New York, Seattle, Boston, Hong Kong, and Shanghai, which have witnessed rental declines over the last five years, India witnessed a steady upward movement.

Notably, while some Western markets such as London and Miami posted increases of 31 per cent and 53 per cent respectively, the broader global sentiment reflects a slowdown due to rising vacancy rates and rapidly changing workplace strategies, the report states.

India’s office market is expected to maintain this growth pattern in the future, majorly driven by strong leasing momentum, favourable demographics, and strategic infrastructure development, it added.

Shrinivas Rao, CEO of Vestian, said that the decline in office space rents in the global market is influenced by the emergence of technologies like generative AI, as well as changes in office space utilisation strategies.

These factors contribute to the uncertainties faced by the office sector.

The combination of reduced demand, along with businesses downsizing or relocating, has led to higher vacancy rates globally, which in turn puts downward pressure on rents.

Furthermore, in 2024 alone, rental rates in Indian cities surged between 3.8 per cent and 8.2 per cent, compared to the previous year.

India remains resilient, driven by strong demand from the IT sector and Global Capability Centres (GCCs). While global cities continue to see demand for premium office spaces, India’s affordability and expansion-driven leasing set it apart. As a cost-effective hub, India is poised for steady growth.

Rao said that the influx of new businesses and company expansions has led to significant demand for office spaces in India.

Global firms are aggressively seeking office space in the country due to robust economic growth compared to other major economies of the world, rich demographic dividend, large consumer base, rapid urbanisation, and the easy availability of skilled workforce at competitive rates, particularly in technology and finance. This demand is driving the need for high-quality office spaces.

Prime commercial hubs like Mumbai's BKC and Delhi's Central Business District i.e. Connaught Place and adjoining areas, command high rentals, with average rent reaching $3-4 per sq ft a month.

Strong economic activities, upcoming mega infrastructure projects, and the expansion of GCCs continue to drive rental appreciation across the major cities of India, the Vestian report added.

--IANS

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Chennai, April 10 (IANS) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin will launch the Kalaignar Kaivinai Thittam (KKT) -- Kalaignar Artisans Development Scheme -- on April 18 in Kancheepuram district's Kundrathur.

This state government initiative aims to uplift artisans and craftspeople by offering financial assistance, skill development, and entrepreneurship training, thereby enhancing their livelihoods and enabling them to become self-reliant entrepreneurs.

The scheme covers over 25 traditional trades, including brick kiln work, pottery, alloy making, carpentry, jewellery making, sculpture creation, glasswork, construction, boat building, rope and mat making, musical instrument crafting, weaving, and painting. To be eligible, applicants must be at least 35 years old and have a minimum of five years’ experience in any of the listed trades.

State Minister for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises T.M. Anbarasan highlighted the distinct features of the Kalaignar Kaivinai Scheme, especially when compared with the Union government’s PM Vishwakarma Scheme.

He said that Tamil Nadu’s initiative provides more comprehensive and accessible support. “The Vishwakarma Scheme encourages caste-based professions and may discourage students from pursuing higher education by binding them to their family trades,” Anbarasan said.

In contrast, he explained, the state scheme is inclusive and forward-looking, allowing artisans to choose their preferred trade rather than being restricted to traditional, family-based professions.

While the Central scheme permits applicants from 18 years of age, the state’s minimum age requirement is 35, ensuring that younger individuals can pursue higher education without pressure to enter the workforce prematurely.

Further distinguishing features include the credit support structure. Unlike the Vishwakarma Scheme -- which offers loans without subsidies and disburses them in two installments -- the Kalaignar Kaivinai Scheme offers a credit support of Rs 3 lakh, a 25 per cent capital subsidy (up to a maximum of Rs 50,000, a 5 per cent interest subsidy and single installment disbursal.

The scheme is expected to benefit at least 10,000 artisans annually, and applications must be submitted online via www.msmeonline.tn.gov.in. Minister Anbarasan added that the scheme has been named in honor of late DMK patriarch and former Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi, acknowledging his enduring contributions to social justice and inclusive development.

“The scheme is not based on traditional, caste-linked trades. It offers subsidy-linked credit, entrepreneurship development, and skills training to help artisans expand existing trades or launch new ones,” the minister said.

It may be recalled that on November 27, 2024, Chief Minister Stalin wrote to Union MSME Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi, informing him that Tamil Nadu would not implement the PM Vishwakarma Scheme in its present form.

In his letter, CM Stalin said that the state government was formulating a more inclusive and socially just alternative that did not discriminate based on caste.

The PM Vishwakarma Yojana, approved by the Union Cabinet on August 16, 2023, and launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on September 17, 2023, aims to offer end-to-end support to traditional artisans and craftspeople known as Vishwakarmas. However, the Tamil Nadu government has chosen to pursue its own path with the Kalaignar Kaivinai Scheme -- a targeted, inclusive initiative aimed at empowering artisans across the state.

Minister Anbarasan concluded by urging eligible artisans and craftspeople to take full advantage of the scheme for their personal and professional growth.

--IANS

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Ranchi, April 10 (IANS) The bodies of two young men were recovered from a pit dug for road construction in the Tatisilwai area of Ranchi, officials said on Thursday.

The deceased have been identified as Sandeep Sahu and Gopal Sahu, both residents of Darha village under Sisai police station in Gumla district.

The discovery was made near the stretch between Ara Gate and Sanatorium in the city, within the jurisdiction of the Tatisilwai police station.

Locals alerted the police after spotting the bodies lying in the pit, which was excavated as part of an ongoing road project.

A motorcycle was also found in the pit, alongside a revolver, adding a layer of mystery to the case.

Initial assumptions pointed towards a possible accident -- suggesting the duo might have lost control of the bike and fallen into the pit. However, the recovery of the firearm has complicated the narrative, raising suspicions of foul play.

As news of the incident spread, a large crowd gathered at the site. Police officials arrived promptly and launched a preliminary investigation.

Photographs of the deceased were circulated to police stations in Ranchi and neighbouring districts, leading to the identification of the victims.

Ranchi Headquarters DSP Amar Kumar Pandey said: "We have recovered the bodies of two youths from the pit. A motorcycle and a revolver have also been found at the scene. The matter is being investigated from all possible angles."

Authorities are now working to determine whether the deaths were accidental or the result of a planned crime.

The police have approached their counterparts in the Gumla district to gather background information on the deceased, including any past criminal records.

Family members of the two youths have reached Ranchi and are being questioned by investigators to aid the probe.

Police sources said further clarity will emerge once post-mortem reports are received and forensic analysis of the weapon and other items from the scene is completed.

--IANS

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Bengaluru, April 10 (IANS) Kannada actor Darshan, the second accused in the fan murder case, has landed in fresh controversy after attending a movie premiere while remaining absent from court proceedings, citing health reasons. Adding to the controversy, Darshan was also seen watching the movie alongside actor Chikkanna, who is a witness in the case — a violation of legal provisions.

As per the law, accused persons who are out on bail are not allowed to meet witnesses involved in the case.

The state police are likely to take these violations seriously and initiate action.

The Karnataka Police Department has already challenged the bail granted to Darshan in the Supreme Court.

Darshan attended the premiere show of the Kannada movie 'Vamana' on April 9. The lead role in the movie is played by Darshan’s friend, Dhanveer Gowda.

He was seen limping while entering a mall in Bengaluru, where a large number of fans had gathered and were chanting slogans in his praise.

Darshan arrived at the mall around 8 pm on Wednesday and watched the entire movie, which lasted for three hours.

On April 8, a Bengaluru court hearing the sensational fan murder case took serious objection to Darshan’s absence from the proceedings citing severe back pain.

The Civil and Sessions Judge stated that Darshan must appear before the court in all future hearings and that no excuses for his absence would be entertained.

Darshan’s counsel had submitted a petition seeking exemption from appearance, claiming the actor was suffering from back pain and unable to attend court.

The court, however, expressed its displeasure over the plea and warned that Darshan must be present going forward.

Of the 17 accused in the case, 16 — including the prime accused and Darshan’s paramour, Pavithra Gowda — appeared before the court on April 8.

Darshan has resumed shooting for his upcoming film ‘Devil’. Since his release from prison on October 30, 2024, after spending 131 days in custody, he has been participating in shoots in Mysuru and Rajasthan, and is also scheduled to travel to Hyderabad for further filming, sources said.

They added that his hectic schedule has aggravated his back pain.

In a major relief to Darshan earlier, the Karnataka High Court on February 28 allowed him to travel across the country. Previously, he had been restricted to Bengaluru and the jurisdiction of the sessions court.

Darshan, Pavithra, and 15 others were arrested on June 11, 2024, on charges of kidnapping and brutally murdering Renukaswamy, a fan from Chitradurga.

Renukaswamy had allegedly sent derogatory and obscene messages to Pavithra, angry over Darshan’s continued relationship with her despite being married.

Sources close to Darshan revealed that Pavithra competed with Darshan’s wife, Vijayalakshmi, over jewellery and luxury cars.

She allegedly pressured Darshan to make public appearances with her after he had been seen with his wife.

Pavithra and Vijayalakshmi also had public spats through social media, leading Darshan’s fan base to split into factions.

Renukaswamy, who supported Vijayalakshmi, had criticised Pavithra — a move that ultimately led to his brutal murder, according to police findings.

The Karnataka Police have challenged the bail granted to Darshan and others in the Supreme Court. On January 24, the apex court issued notices to Darshan, Pavithra, and five others in connection with the appeal filed by the state government.

While granting bail, the court directed Darshan and the other accused to appear before it every month.

--IANS

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New Delhi, April 10 (IANS) In an effort to strengthen the PM POSHAN Scheme, the Ministry of Education has enhanced the ‘Material Cost’ by 9.50 per cent and new rates will be applicable across all the states/UTs from May 1, it was announced on Thursday.

The Central government will bear the additional cost of approximately Rs 954 crore in FY26 due to this enhancement.

In addition to the ‘Material Cost’, the government provides about 26 lakh MT foodgrains through the Food Corporation of India.

The government bears 100 per cent cost of foodgrains including subsidy of about Rs 9,000 crore per annum and 100 per cent transportation cost of foodgrains from FCI depot to schools.

The per meal cost after adding all components including foodgrains cost under the scheme comes to nearly Rs 12.13 for Bal Vatika and Primary classes and Rs 17.62 for upper primary classes.

The rise in ‘Material Cost’ was announced on the basis of inflation index provided by the Labour Bureau, according to the Ministry of Education.

The PM POSHAN Scheme is a centrally-sponsored scheme under which one hot cooked meal is served to 11.20 crore students studying in Balvatika and classes I to VIII, in 10.36 lakh government and government-aided schools on all school-days.

The scheme aims at providing nutritional support and enhancing school participation of students. Under the PM POSHAN Scheme, ‘Material Cost’ is provided for procurement of several ingredients required for cooking the meals.

The Labour Bureau provides data on inflation for items under the PM POSHAN basket on the basis of Consumer Price Index–Rural Labourers (CPI-RL), in consonance with CPI index for PM POSHAN and accordingly, CPI index for PM POSHAN basket has been worked out.

The CPI-RL is constructed by Labour Bureau, Chandigarh on the basis of collecting continuous monthly prices from the sample of 600 villages spread over 20 States of the country.

“These rates of 'Material Cost' are the minimum mandatory rates, however, States/UTs are free to contribute more than their prescribed share, as some States/UTs have been contributing more than their minimum mandatory share from their own resources for providing meals with augmented nutrition under the PM POSHAN Scheme,” said the ministry.

--IANS

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Kolkata, April 10 (IANS) The Kolkata Police have registered two cases against the teaching and non-teaching staff, who lost jobs after the Supreme Court order, for staging protests.

The teachers were severely beaten up by the cops on Wednesday after they protested against the job loss in front of the office of the district inspector of schools at Kasba in South Kolkata.

Of the two cases, one has been registered suo motu by the city police. The second case was registered on the basis of a complaint filed by the office of the district inspector of schools.

The job losers, all reportedly “genuine” ones, protested in front of the district inspector of schools at Kasba in South Kolkata, demanding immediate action by the state government and WBSSC in segregating the “genuine” candidates from the “tainted” ones. The tainted ones got the jobs against payment of money.

Last week, the Supreme Court upheld a previous order by a division bench of the Calcutta High Court in April 2024, cancelling the entire panel of 25,753 teaching and non-teaching jobs on the grounds that the state government and the commission failed to segregate the “genuine” candidates from the “tainted” ones.

On Wednesday, the situation turned serious in front of the office of the district inspector of schools at Kasba as the protesters tried to enter the office by removing the police barricades and breaking open the lock at the main gate.

The police resorted to a lathi charge, which resulted in injuries to several protesters. However, state Education Minister Bratya Basu, Chief Secretary, and Kolkata Police Commissioner justified the police action, and the commissioner even went to the extent of claiming that the police were forced to take “mild action” to keep the situation under control and prevent additional damages.

As the information surfaced that two separate cases had been registered against the protesters, the state government came under scathing criticism from the opposition parties.

Leaders from both the BJP and CPI(M) have claimed that the development has exposed the insensitive face of the current state administration. At the time the report was filed, there was no reaction from any Trinamool Congress leader in the matter.

--IANS

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Kochi, April 10 (IANS) Soon after arriving from the special session of the AICC meeting in Gujarat, Leader of Opposition in the Kerala Assembly V. D. Satheesan on Thursday said the Congress-led UDF is fully geared for the upcoming Nilambur Assembly by-election.

The Nilambur seat fell vacant after two-time LDF-backed independent MLA P.V. Anvar resigned in January over CM Pinarayi Vijayan's refusal to probe alleged illegal dealings of top police official M. R. Ajith Kumar and Vijayan's political secretary P. Sasi.

Anvar, who was once a vocal critic of the UDF, has now aligned himself with the Congress-led front.

He even travelled to Kolkata, where he met West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and was subsequently appointed convenor of the Kerala unit of the Trinamool Congress (TMC).

"Nilambur has always been a traditional seat of the Congress, but for the past two terms, it has not been with us. Anvar has by now openly announced his intent, and he is strongly with us. We have also accepted him," said Satheesan.

"With regards to our candidate, it's a shame that the media is just speculating, for which we are not at all answerable. Just as in all the recent by-elections, the moment the date is announced, we, the Congress, will announce our candidate and romp home easily," added Satheesan.

In the 2016 Assembly elections, after Congress leader Aryadan Mohammed retired from politics, Anvar defeated the former's son, Aryadan Shoukath, by over 10,000 votes.

In 2021, Anvar won again, defeating Congress leader V. V. Prakash by just 2,700 votes.

Given the narrow margin of victory in the last election (2,700 votes), political observers will be watching the BJP's strategy closely, especially as both the CPI(M) and UDF have accused each other of having a secret pact with the former.

The Congress is hoping that its star campaigner will be none other than Wayanad Lok Sabha member Priyanka Gandhi, as Nilambur Assembly segment is one of the seven Assembly constituencies that form the Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency.

For Chief Minister Vijayan, this by-election is a test of his sagging image and popularity.

--IANS

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New Delhi, April 10 (IANS) T Koshy, the founding Managing Director and CEO of the government-backed Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC), has stepped down from his role.

An executive committee will now take charge of the e-commerce platform going forward. ONDC confirmed the development in a statement and said that the organisation is currently going through a leadership change.

“ONDC has witnessed remarkable growth in under three years, surpassing 200 million transactions and making strong strides toward its mission of democratising e-commerce in India. As with any dynamic and evolving organisation, a leadership change is currently underway,” it said.

The company added that Koshy had expressed his desire to step down, but he will continue to assist during the transition phase.

He will be available to the Board over the next three months in an advisory capacity. In the meantime, the responsibilities of the Managing Director and CEO have been handed over to the executive committee.

“The roles of MD and CEO have now been handed over to an executive committee, while Koshy will remain available to the Board in an advisory role for the next three months,” the statement added.

It also said that ONDC continues to perform well and is progressing steadily towards achieving its key milestones.

Launched in 2021, ONDC is a government-supported initiative aimed at making digital commerce more inclusive and accessible, especially for smaller players.

It is a not-for-profit organisation (NGO) that provides a standardised platform for sellers, logistics providers, and payment gateway operators to voluntarily join and offer their services.

Meanwhile, the government-backed firm announced last month that it has officially crossed the 200 million transaction mark, further cementing its position as a transformative force in India’s digital commerce space.

According to the company, it took nearly 20 months -- from January 2023 to August 2024 -- to complete the first 100 million transactions.

However, in just the past six months, ONDC has added another 100 million -- a rapid surge in adoption.

--IANS

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