The United States has deployed six B-2 Spirit stealth bombers, also known as the ‘Ghost of the Sky’, to the strategic island base of Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean. The location is barely 2,400 miles from Iran’s coast. This marks one of the most assertive military postures in recent years and has prompted renewed concerns over rising tensions across the already volatile Middle East.
Deployment timed with airstrikes on Houthis
The move came days after US President Donald Trump shared a video of a military strike that reportedly killed dozens of Houthi rebels in Yemen. These strikes are part of a broader campaign targeting Iran-backed groups accused of attacking commercial vessels in the Red Sea. Trump has vowed to continue operations against such groups until the attacks cease.
These Houthis gathered for instructions on an attack. Oops, there will be no attack by these Houthis!
According to satellite image analysis done by Planet Labs PBC, six B-2 stealth bombers are currently stationed at Diego Garcia, which is jointly managed by the US and UK militaries. Experts believe that the actual number of these bombers could be higher, as some of the aircraft might be hidden within hangars. The deployment accounts for nearly 30% of the US’s active B-2 fleet.
Why B-2 stealth bombers matter
Each B-2 bomber is worth approximately USD 2 billion. It is among the most advanced combat aircraft in the world. These bombers are capable of evading radar and air defence systems. The B-2 is known for delivering precise strikes deep into enemy territory and returning safely to base. It is designed for long missions, with in-flight refuelling capabilities and onboard amenities for crew members that include food storage, heating, and lavatories.
The US has used B-2s against Houthis, and to date, no B-2 has been lost in combat. Its deployment signals not just operational readiness but also a deliberate flex of strategic muscle.
A message to Iran
While the immediate justification for deploying B-2s revolves around attacks on US naval assets and commercial shipping routes, experts believe that it is sending a broader message to Tehran. Trump had recently sent a letter to the Supreme Leader of Iran, Ayatollah Khamenei, offering a two-month window to renegotiate the nuclear deal. The offer also contained hints of a threat of consequences.
Speaking to Fox News, Trump said he prefers diplomacy over conflict but warned that military options remain firmly on the table. He said, “There are two ways to deal with Iran—military or negotiation. I prefer negotiation. I don’t want to harm Iran, but they must choose.”
On the other hand, Iran has denied any intent to pursue a military nuclear programme and has refused direct talks. However, international assessments suggest Iran has made considerable achievements in such capabilities.
Diego Garcia as a strategic launch pad
Diego Garcia offers a secure and logistically feasible launch point for missions into the Middle East. With the increasing threat of the Houthis in Red Sea shipping routes, such deployments can help in surgical strikes to full-scale engagements.
Earlier this week, Trump said, “Stop firing on American ships and we’ll stop firing back… We’ve only just begun. The real pain for the Houthis and their backers in Iran is yet to come.”
The deployment is being interpreted not just as an operational manoeuvre but also as a political statement containing a clear warning for Iran that under Trump, Washington aims to continue influencing the region and is prepared to go far beyond rhetoric if provoked.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister welcomed the Waqf Amendment Bill, 2025, passed by the Parliament on 4th April, and thanked Prime Minister Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah for introducing the legislation. CM Yogi said that now no one will be able to encroach on public property in the name of the Waqf Board.
Speaking at the inauguration and foundation stone laying of various state government projects worth ₹654 crore in Ratanpur, Maharajgaj district on Saturday (5th April), CM Yogi said that the Waqf Board acted as a tool in the hands of corrupt people to rob public lands and exploit the revenue. Lashing out at the previous governments and the Chief Minister accused them of misusing public money for personal gains. “Now, no one can rob lands in the name of the Waqf Board… Public property and revenue lands will now be used to build schools, colleges, hospitals, or housing for the poor,” he said.
#WATCH | Maharajganj, UP | On the Waqf Amendment Bill passed in Parliament, UP CM Yogi Adityanath says, "… Now, no one can rob lands in the name of the Waqf Board… Public property and revenue lands will now be used to build schools, colleges, hospitals, or housing for the… pic.twitter.com/8CLNMS4bZV
CM Yogi said that previous governments in Uttar Pradesh allowed huge amounts of land to be grabbed in the name of the Waqf Board. “I thank Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah for this because, in Uttar Pradesh, too, lakhs of acres of land had been illegally occupied in the name of the Waqf Board. It had become a means of loot for some people. Now, this looting will be curbed…” said the CM.
Parliament passes Waqf Bill, Congress, AIMIM move the Supreme Court
Amid the uproar of the opposition parties, the Parliament passed the Waqf Amendment Bill, 2025, yesterday. The Bill now awaits the assent of President Draupadi Murmu. The Bill was passed after following the democratic process. The Bill was first referred to the Joint Parliamentary Committee, followed by a discussion in the Parliament. However, Congress and the AIMIM have moved the Supreme Court against the Bill, calling it a violation of the rights of Muslims.
Days after controversial Pastor Bajinder Singh was sentenced to life imprisonment for the rape of a minor girl, more such allegations against other pastors have started to surface in Punjab. Pastor Jashan Gill, who is based in Dina Nagar, Gurdaspur, and linked to a church branch in Jammu, has been accused of raping a 22-year-old BCA student. She was later forced to undergo a botched abortion, allegedly leading to her death.
The incident took place in 2023. OpIndia has accessed Sessions Court documents in the matter, as the father has accused the police of not cooperating with the victim’s family. The father has approached the Punjab and Haryana High Court, seeking an investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation.
According to the victim’s father’s statement given during a press conference, the family used to visit a church in Abul Khair village where Pastor Gill allegedly lured and raped his daughter. Upon learning about the pregnancy, he reportedly arranged an abortion through a nurse named Satinder Kaur. The procedure was allegedly conducted in an unsafe and negligent manner, causing an infection that led to the victim’s death in May 2023.
The grieving father accused Punjab Police of shielding the accused and delaying the FIR by over two months, and alleged that key individuals, including the nurse, were not named in the FIR. The post-mortem report was allegedly withheld for months, and the case was diluted under lesser IPC sections.
Frustrated with police inaction, the father approached the High Court, seeking a CBI inquiry into the matter, which he has termed a cover-up involving police officials, medical staff, and church figures.
Background of the case
The FIR was registered at Dina Nagar Police Station on the complaint of the deceased’s father under Sections 304(A) and 376 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Later, offences under Sections 313 and 314 IPC were added.
According to the complaint filed by the deceased’s father, the victim complained of stomach pain on 18th May 2023, after which she was taken to Civil Hospital, Babri. The doctors advised an ultrasound examination, which revealed she had undergone an abortion and was suffering from an infection. The doctor informed the victim’s family that the abortion had been conducted in a very negligent manner and the veins of his daughter were damaged. She was referred to Guru Nanak Dev Hospital, Amritsar. While en route to Amritsar, the deceased’s mother asked the victim about the matter.
She revealed that the abortion had been conducted by Satinder Kaur, co-accused in the case, who was working as a nurse in village Ghot Pokhar. She further told her mother that the accused, Pastor Gill, had committed sexual intercourse with her against her wishes by alluring her.
During the treatment at Guru Nanak Dev Hospital, the victim passed away. The court noted that according to the FIR, certain call detail records between the victim and the accused were also found during the inquiry, and the sister of the deceased stated that she was aware of the fact that the accused had raped her sister, leading to pregnancy and later abortion. In fact, the accused had referred her to Nurse Satinder Kaur for the abortion.
The court noted that there was a likelihood that the accused might hamper or interfere in the investigation if granted bail, and may not cooperate in the same, because a person under pre-arrest bail may not disclose all the relevant facts during questioning due to the safeguard provided to him while granting anticipatory bail.
The court said, “Therefore, considering the seriousness and gravity of the offence which requires thorough investigation, which may not be possible without the custodial interrogation of the accused/applicant, this court is of the opinion that the accused/applicant is not entitled to concession of pre-arrest bail,” and dismissed the bail plea. However, the court noted that the observations made should not affect the merits of the main case.
Pastor Gill’s bail rejected by the court
In June 2024, Gurdaspur Sessions Court rejected Jashan Gill’s bail plea, where Advocate Krishan Kumar Malhi represented the accused. In his argument, Advocate Malhi claimed that his client never raped the deceased and never got her aborted, as alleged in the complaint. He further argued that there was an inordinate delay of 47 days in registering the FIR. The accused’s counsel also claimed that while the deceased was alive, she never made any complaint against Pastor Gill. Furthermore, he claimed that the accused was in fact helping the deceased’s mother with prayers for her illness. Above all, he argued, while placing a medical examination on record, that his sperm count was far below normal to get the victim pregnant.
However, the Assistant Public Prosecutor appearing for the State pointed out that the allegations against the accused were serious in nature, requiring thorough investigation to find out under what circumstances he allured and raped the victim and later forced her to get the pregnancy aborted.
In July 2023, the bail application of nurse Satinder Kaur was also rejected. In her defence, the counsel representing Satinder Kaur claimed that she was being falsely implicated in the case and had no connection whatsoever with the alleged crime. She also claimed that she was not a nurse but a housewife. As she had never served in a clinic or a hospital, there was no question of an abortion being conducted. The counsel claimed that her name was added merely on suspicion and her address and phone number were wrongly mentioned in the FIR.
While rejecting the bail, the court noted, “Serious allegations of conducting the abortion of the deceased/prosecutrix in a negligent manner without having any qualification have been levelled against the present accused-applicant. The perusal of record reveals that investigation is still pending and the accused-applicants have not yet joined the investigation. Thus, the chance of their escaping the procedure of law, tampering with the evidence or threatening the complainant exists. In my view, since the case is at the threshold and the investigation is underway, it will be practically scuttling the investigation in case anticipatory bail is granted to the accused-applicants, which will create hurdles in arriving at the truth.”
Accused declared Proclaimed Offender
In June 2024, the Judicial Magistrate of the First Class issued non-bailable warrants against both accused. For two months, police attempted to trace and arrest the accused but failed. Finally, in August 2024, the court issued directions to declare both Pastor Jashan Gill and Satinder Kaur as Proclaimed Offenders.
The court noted, “The perusal of record would show that time and again non-bailable warrants of arrest of the accused were issued but his presence could not be procured. This Court is satisfied that the accused is well aware about the pendency of the present FIR but the accused is not deliberately appearing in the Court. As such, the more coercive method is required to be adopted.” The court rejected the plea without getting into the merits of the case.
However, Satinder Kaur moved an application to stop PO proceedings against her, owing to the fact that police found her innocent. The court dropped the case against her. However, Pastor Gill was declared a Proclaimed Offender in September 2024.
While the case is still underway in the Judicial Magistrate court, the victim’s father has approached the Punjab and Haryana High Court seeking a CBI inquiry.
This report is based on multiple court documents and the statement of the victim’s father.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday said that Naxalism will be completely eradicated from the country by next year. He said that Naxalism is on the verge of ending in Bastar and that the BJP government is committed to freeing India from the grip of “Laal Aatank” by March 2026.
“In the last three months, 521 Naxals have surrendered. A total of 881 Naxals surrendered in 2024. I assure you that those who surrender will be inducted into the mainstream. But those who continue to bear arms will be dealt with by security forces. Bastar is no longer a symbol of fear but of a future,” Shah said while addressing a gathering at the Bastar Pandum programme.
“Agle March tak, hum poore desh ko is laal atank se mukt karne ka kaam Bharatiya Janata Party ki sarkar karegi (By next March, the BJP government will work to free the entire country from Naxalism),” he added.
Shah also recalled how political leaders were earlier discouraged from visiting the region.
“Leaders used to be stopped from giving speeches here. The Chief Minister would say, ‘Don’t go.’ But now, we are celebrating Ram Navami and Ashtami with 50,000 Adivasi brothers and sisters,” he added.
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai and Deputy CM Vijay Sharma shared the stage with Shah. Cabinet Ministers Kedar Kashyaand Ramvichar Netam and BJP State President Kiran Singh Dev were also present at the event.
During the Bastar Pandum celebration, Shah honoured local artists and praised their contributions to preserving tribal culture.
Earlier in the day, Shah offered prayers at the Maa Danteshwari Temple in Dantewada.
Meanwhile, surrendered Naxalites and people affected by Naxal violence in Chhattisgarh’s Balrampur district are receiving benefits under a special project of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) for the first time.
Chief Executive Officer of District Panchayat Balrampur, Nayantara Singh Tomar, said on Friday that under the special scheme, PMAY benefits are being extended to those affected by Naxal incidents or those who have surrendered.
“A list of 77 people was received, out of which 30 were found eligible, and 23 have already been approved for housing. After addressing technical issues, the remaining 7 will also be approved,” Tomar said.
(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)
The Gujarat High Court, in a recent judgment, refused to protect a dargah located on the Rajkot-Ahmedabad highway from demolition. The court observed that the dargah was built on a government-owned and such unauthorized construction on the highway cannot be allowed because of security. The dargah trust argued that it was a waqf property, but could not prove ownership. Following the High Court order, the local administration demolished the dargah on Friday (April 4).
The case is related to Hazrat Jalal Shah Pir Dargah, which was located in Anandpar village on the Rajkot-Ahmedabad National Highway. In January 2025, a notice was issued to the dargah as it was constructed on government-owned land near the highway. The dargah trust approached the High Court, but the court refused to grant relief. Subsequently, a special civil application was filed by the trust seeking quashing of the High Court order.
The Dargah Trust argued that the Dargah is a part of the graveyard of Anandpar and some surrounding villages and has been under construction and maintenance from time to time. Many people visit this dargah, and ‘Urs’ is also celebrated. It was argued that the Dargah was registered as a ‘Wakf Estate’ in March 1963 and is also registered in the Wakf Register. It was also argued that the Dargah has ‘historical importance’.
The petition argued that the dargah is separated from the highway by a service road and is located about fifteen feet away from the highway. The argument put forward for the renovation of the dargah was that due to the construction of the National Highway and its surroundings, the area had become elevated and during the monsoon, water from the road used to enter the dargah. Therefore, the trust decided to renovate the dargah, for which permission was also taken from the Gram Panchayat. But in January, a notice was issued to remove it.
The trust’s lawyer claimed before the court that the dargah has also been inspected by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). Besides, it has also been recognized by the taluka and district panchayats, besides tax is collected and permission is given for Urs. It also has an electricity connection, and bills are also paid.
The lawyer termed the Dargah as a ‘Wakf property’ and said that as per the rules, a notice for demolition cannot be given to it because the Highway Authority has no ownership over the land on which the Dargah is situated. The dargah trust alleged discrimination by pointing out that a temple is located along the highway at one kilometre from this Dargah, but no notice has been given to remove it.
What did the state government say in court?
Responding to the trust’s claims, the state government clarified that the land in question is government-owned waste land, which was acquired for the construction of a highway under the provisions of the National Highways Act, 1956, as per the rules and after following due legal procedures.
While countering the argument regarding Waqf, the government lawyer stated that the April 2024 report of Waqf showed that the land has one house and two rooms, having an area of zero square yards. The trust was expanding the dargah through construction, and due to this, the highway land was being encroached. This would have led to permanent obstruction of traffic. Besides, the ASI also informed the trust in April 2005 that the dargah had no archaeological importance, as it was not found to be an ancient site.
The government lawyer further argued that construction in the dargah was being done in violation of the rules, and requested the court to declare the writ petition filed to protect illegal construction and encroachment on the National Highway as null and void.
A representation was made to declare the land as Waqf property, but the matter is still under consideration: Court
After hearing the arguments of both sides, the court ruled that the trust is registered in the Waqf Board, but the land in question is not. The Waqf Board has made applications to the government to declare the land in dispute as a waqf property, which are currently under consideration. It added that the land where the cemetery was located is government waste land. The petitioners have given some details in support of their arguments, but the fact remains that the land is government waste land and was acquired for the construction of the Rajkot-Ahmedabad Highway under the National Highways Act.
The court clarified that the land is neither owned by the trust nor has it been declared as a waqf property yet. The trust has also admitted before the court that it has filed applications at several places to declare the land as a cemetery or to declare the cemetery as a waqf property. The court also said that the property is neither of archaeological importance nor has it been declared as a waqf property. Merely because it has been used as a cemetery for a long time and representations have been made by the trust to declare it a cemetery earlier, it does not become a cemetery.
Regarding the trust’s arguments about the permission of the Gram Panchayat, the court noted that the land comes under the Rajkot Urban Development Authority, and no documents have been presented to show that any permission was taken from the authority.
Only talk about temples not being given notice, no supporting evidence presented
The court also rejected the dargah trust’s allegation of discrimination and said that unless some concrete evidence or facts are presented in this regard, it cannot be taken into consideration. Besides, the trust did not bring anything on record to oppose the fact that the land belongs to the Highway Authority, and the construction has been done in a way that obstructs the ‘right of way’ as per the construction rules. The court further said that despite being given sufficient time and opportunity, the petitioners have not been able to prove the ownership of the land.
The court held that such unauthorized constructions on the National Highway land create an obstruction to traffic and need to be removed in the public interest. It added that merely using the land for a specific purpose does not mean that permission is given to have its permanent ownership. Even if the trust is registered as a public trust and has a PAN number, it remains the case that the trust does not have any legal right over the land. The trust also must ensure that no obstruction is created on the National Highway and that traffic is not obstructed by unauthorized constructions.
Following these observations, the court dismissed the special civil application and upheld the previous order of January 2025.
Buldozer action continues in Gujarat : Illegally Dargah built on Rajkot – Ahemdabad Highway demolished by Gujarat govt…. pic.twitter.com/U2YU6OKDvJ
After the court gave this order on April 2, the local administration removed the unauthorized construction on the highway on April 4. In the presence of tight police security and high-ranking officials, the construction was removed and the road was paved.
In Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, two women named Shehnaz and Khushnuma tried to convert a 16-year-old Hindu minor girl by luring her. They had deceived the minor that she will become rich by keeping Roza. After this, the minor girl also kept Roza for 2-3 days. Now, the leftist propaganda news portal ‘The Wire’ has tried to give a different angle to this case by calling it a financial matter citing the bail plea of the accused.
Actually, this case is related to the Bhanderi Gate Bahar Mohalla of Kotwali police station area of Jhansi. A person had accused his neighbor 40-year-old Shehnaz alias Sana and Khusnuma, that both of them tried to convert his 16-year-old minor daughter to Islam. Both of them lured his daughter and instigated her to keep Roza during Ramzaan and read Namaaz.
The father of the targeted girl said that both the Muslim women deceived his daughter that if she keeps fast and prays in the holy month of Muslims, her family will prosper and she will become rich. Since both of them are neighbours, the minor believed Shehnaz’s words. The minor girl started keeping fast and praying in the house. She did this for three-four days.
One day her family members saw her observing Islamic rituals. They tried to make the minor girl understand. When Shehnaz came to know that the minor’s family members opposed her, she reached their house. Shehnaz entered the room of the minor girl’s uncle and after closing the door, started threatening to commit suicide and implicate the family. Scared by this, the victim’s uncle called the police.
Shehnaz fled from there after that threatening to implicate the family in a false case. When Hindu organizations came to know about the incident, they protested calling it an issue of conversion. The minor girl’s father went to the Kotwali police station on March 13 and lodged a complaint. On this basis, the police registered a case under sections 3 and 5 (1) of the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act, 2021.
CO City Sneha Tiwari said that a case has been registered against Shehnaz for inciting the minor girl to convert. Later the police arrested both the women. After this, both the women were produced in the court and sent to jail. The police added sections like disturbing the peace, threatening to kill or cause grievous hurt and destroying property, criminal intimidation.
After this, both the women applied to the court for bail. The court heard it on March 26. Additional Sessions Judge of Jhansi Vijay Kumar Verma refused to grant bail to Shehnaz. Judge Vijay Kumar Verma said that Shehnaz can influence witnesses or evidence during the investigation, as she lives next to the victim. On this basis, Shehnaz’s bail plea was rejected.
Leftist propaganda portal Wire gave a new angle to the conversion attempt
The leftist propaganda web portal ‘The Wire’ run by Siddharth Varadarajan has tried to give a different angle to this news based on Shehnaz’s bail plea. The Wire did not even give detailed space to this news of attempted conversion before the bail plea was filed. Now on this portal, Umar Rashid has tried to show this conversion as a financial dispute.
Umar Rashid has based his report titled ‘Roza or Economic Dispute: Why was a Muslim woman arrested for ‘conversion’ during Ramzan in UP?’ on the claims of the accused. Obviously, no criminal says that he has committed a crime. They often say that the other person has implicated them in a false case and the matter is something else.
In this case too, Rashid tried to turn the allegations of attempted conversion into a financial dispute by quoting the accused Shehnaz and cleverly tried to dispute the conversion angle that surfaced in the media. He quoted the accused Shehnaz in the report saying that in an attempt to avoid paying the loan, a false story has been created to implicate her in a conversion case. Shehnaz says that the complainant Hindu man had fallen ill some time ago and his wife had borrowed Rs 50,000 from her.
The report claims that the complainant’s wife had promised Shehnaz to return the money in 10 days. When she did not return the money, she started going to her house to ask for it, but the complainant’s wife kept avoiding her on one pretext or the other. On the day of the incident, she had gone to the complainant’s house to ask for the money, but the complainant’s brother locked her in the house.
To prove this allegation, Umar Rashid has used the bail plea of Shehnaz, who is accused of making a Hindu girl read Namaaz and keep Roza, as the basis of his article on the propaganda website. It is obvious that she will declare herself innocent and why would she accept that she has tried to convert a minor. In this entire case, The Wire journalist has talked about what was the previous case, but he did not know what the victim or the police investigation has to say on the allegations of these financial transactions. The entire report was written on the basis of the bail petition. Even if every side of the story was to be shared, then looking at the report it seems that the victim’s side was not included in the report with the aim of giving a different turn to the case or with the aim of creating confusion in the minds of the readers.
This attitude of The Wire is not new. It is known for presenting such facts in a distorted manner in favor of anti-Hindu people and leftists. The Wire is also quite infamous in the media circle for such one-sided reports. In this case too, the portal has tried to do something similar.
In Manipur, a Muslim youth from the Meitei Pangal community was lynched by a Muslim mob for allegedly burning a copy of the Quran. The incident took place in Yairipok of Thoubal district on Friday night after the victim shared a video on social media showing him desecrating the holy Quran.
The deceased has been identified as Md Imran, son of Late Azaruddin from Yairipok Kekru Loubuk Leikai. He had uploaded a video in which he was seen holding a copy of Quran in his hand and making provocative comments on the Islamic scripture. After that, he was seen setting the book on fire.
While burning the book, Imran said that the Quran contained the story of the creation of the world by the Almighty Creator, and added that time for the Quran has come to an end. He then said that the Creator had commanded it to be burnt and then proceeded to set the holy book on fire.
The video went viral quickly, causing outrage among the Muslims in the area. A large group of Muslims tracked him down and attacked him. The incident took place at around 6:20 PM.
The youth died in the mob attack. At around 9 PM on Friday, the police recovered the body near a river bank at Yairipok Bamon Leikai Mathak after getting information about the incident. Reportedly, his body was found without any clothes.
Police have registered two cases in the matter, for the blasphemy committed by Imran and for the mob lynching of Imran.
Additional police forces have been deployed in the area to maintain law and order. Authorities have urged the public to maintain peace and refrain from spreading inflammatory content on social media.
In a move that’s raised more than a few eyebrows, Justice Yashwant Varma took oath on Saturday as a judge of the Allahabad High Court—even as he remains at the center of a swirling controversy. Just last month, authorities allegedly discovered partially burnt sacks stuffed with cash at his residence, casting a long shadow over his appointment.
While the swearing-in ceremony proceeded, sources within the court confirmed that Justice Varma won’t be assigned any judicial duties for now, hinting at the ongoing turbulence behind the scenes.
His transfer from the Delhi High Court came amid an active internal probe, launched by the Chief Justice of India. The investigation was triggered by what’s been described as the recovery of “four to five semi-burnt sacks” of rupee notes, reportedly found at his home following a fire incident.
Adding to the drama, a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was filed just days earlier by advocate Vikash Chaturvedi before the Lucknow bench, urging the court to stall the oath-taking until the inquiry reached its conclusion.
Meanwhile, the backlash from the legal community has been fierce. The Allahabad High Court Bar Association fired off a sharply worded letter condemning the Collegium’s decision, declaring, “We are not a trash bin,” and voicing deep frustration over what they see as a troubling appointment.
Fire ignites suspicion at the judge’s residence
The fire incident occurred at Justice Varma’s residence on 14th March 2025, in the storeroom located in the official bungalow at 30 Tughlak Crescent, New Delhi. According to the police report included in the press note shared by the Supreme Court, a PCR call was placed at 11:43 PM by Justice Varma’s private secretary from a number registered to the Delhi High Court, alerting the authorities about the fire.
Two fire tenders were rushed to the scene. The fire was reportedly confined to a storeroom adjacent to a guard post manned by CRPF personnel. Initial assessment of the incident pointed towards a short circuit as the cause of the fire. However, the discovery of 4–5 half-burnt sacks containing remnants of Indian currency notes raised serious concerns. The press note confirmed that the discovery has prompted a deeper investigation into the matter.
The initial inquiry and the aftermath
On the next day, i.e., 15th March, Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya, Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court, received a call from the Commissioner of Police, Delhi, Sanjay Arora, at around 4:50 PM. He informed Justice Upadhyaya that a fire had occurred in one of the rooms within the premises of the bungalow occupied by Justice Varma.
Upon learning about the discovery of the burnt cash pile, Justice Upadhyaya informed CJI Khanna, who gave instructions to trace the origin of the PCR call. The Commissioner confirmed that the call was made by the private secretary, who had been alerted about the incident by a servant at Justice Varma’s residence.
Justice Upadhyaya then sent the Registrar-cum-Secretary to inspect the site. He checked the room, accompanied by Justice Varma, who had just returned from Bhopal, and his private secretary, who had made the PCR call. The Registrar reported, “It was completely dark inside the room and the walls had developed cracks… all the walls had gone black on account of the fire, and some material was hanging from the roof.” Interestingly, there was no currency found at the spot, as claimed by the police. It was later revealed that the burnt cash and other materials had been removed following the incident.
Days later, the Supreme Court of India launched a high-profile inquiry into an alleged cash pile found at the residence of Delhi High Court Judge Yashwant Varma.
The Court also released documents, letters exchanged over the matter, photographs, and videos shared by the Delhi Police Chief on its website. The fire incident occurred on 14th March 2025. However, the report of burnt cash only reached the media on 20th March, when alleged sources revealed the information.
All India Muslim Women Personal Law Board has expressed its support for the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, which has been passed by Parliament, and urged the government to bring transparency in the working of Waqf board and ensure rights to women.
Shaista Amber, President of All India Muslim Women’s Personal Law Board, said earlier governments and religious leaders should have taken the step that the government has taken today.
“Positive work should be done. Those who donate to the Waqf, their intention is that their donation will be used for the poor… But it was not happening. It’s not that all the Waqf lands were misused, but the Waqf board didn’t work honestly and did not do what they should have. We expect and request from the government that if the bill has come, the Waqf lands be used for the poor section with full transparency. None of the govt to date worked for the Muslims, and they just did the politics for votes,” she told ANI.
Shaista Amber said that the enchroached Waqf lands should be freed.
“We request the BJP government to provide the rights of women and bring transparency to the Waqf board. What other parties did till now, were they asleep? I request the current government that whatever happened to date, they should now help free the lands of Waqf, which have been illegally encroached, an investigation must be done, and action must be taken against the culprits,” she said.
She suggested that houses should be built on Waqf property for divorced women from Muslim community.
She met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in August 2017 and had demanded that Waqf properties should be freed from illegal occupation.
Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, was passed by Parliament earlier this week. Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha witnessed marathon debates on the bill. The bill was opposed by parties in the INDIA bloc.
(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)
A political science professor in a college of the Chaudhary Charan Singh University in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, was debarred for life from examination duties after she framed some examination questions linking the Rashtriya Sevak Sangh with the rise of religion and caste-based politics.
As per reports, a question paper for the M.A. political science examination held on 2nd April, in Meerut College had two objectionable questions that insinuated that the RSS was responsible for giving rise to the politics of religion and caste in the country. The political science question paper was set by Dr Seema Panwar, Head of the Department of Political Science in Meerut College. Seeing the questions on the RSS, members of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), the youth wing of the RSS, stage protests on the university campus on Friday (4th April).
There were two multiple-choice questions (MCQs) in the political science question paper on the RSS. In one question, it was asked what led to the rise of the religion and caste-based politics in the country, the correct choice for which was the RSS.
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And, in the other question, the name of the RSS was mentioned along with Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front, Naxalite group and Dal Khalsa in the options for the correct answer. The question was which one among them is not considered a nuclear group.
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The protesting students submitted a memorandum to Registrar Dhirendra Kumar Verma demanding action against the professor. The university administration took cognizance of the matter and set up an internal inquiry and sought a response from Professor Panwar. The inquiry found that the paper was set by Professor Panwar, after which Vice-Chancellor Prof. Sangeeta Shukla permanently barred the professor from examination and evaluation duties.
“The university never reviews the question papers set by selected experts of different fields because it is believed that he or she, being an expert in the subject, has set the question paper as per the established norms. Hence, there should not be any doubt on his or her vested interests,” said Verma. Professor Panwar submitted a written apology to the university administration clarifying that she did not intend to hurt anyone.
ABVP alleged that the question paper misled about the RSS
The City President of the ABVP, Dr. Dharmendra Singh, said that the RSS is engaged in the mission of nation-building by preparing individuals devoted to this mission. He said that the organisation promotes the ideals of maintaining the values of Indian culture and civil society. He asserted that the an examiner must keep the facts in mind and set the question paper without misleading the students.
