New Delhi: Bollywood filmmaker Vikram Bhatt has been arrested in a joint operation by Rajasthan and Mumbai Police. The arrest follows a complaint by Dr. Ajay Murdia, founder of Indira IVF Hospital, who alleged that Bhatt had promised to produce a film based on the life of his late wife and, under that pretext, defrauded him of ₹30 crore. Police launched an investigation into the alleged deception, which eventually led to Bhatt’s arrest.
Crime Branch Forms New Team to Trace Absconding MLA Rahul Mankoottil
Thiruvananthapuram: The Crime Branch has set up a new investigation team to trace Palakkad MLA Rahul Mankoottil, who has been on the run after being named an accused in a sexual assault case. Authorities suspect that information from the initial team may have been leaked, prompting the formation of a new unit.
The survivor’s statement in the second case will now be recorded afresh. Although the court has not stayed Rahul’s arrest in the second complaint—filed by a 23-year-old woman—a previous stay in another case had forced investigators to withdraw from Karnataka. Rahul has been missing for ten days, ever since the first complainant submitted a petition to the Chief Minister’s office on November 27.
Use of WhatsApp and Similar Apps Restricted Without Active SIM
New Delhi: The central government has introduced new regulations aimed at curbing cybercrime, under which messaging applications such as WhatsApp, Telegram, Signal, Snapchat, ShareChat, JioChat, Arattai and Josh will no longer function on devices that do not contain an active SIM card. The rules mandate that these apps operate only when a valid, active SIM is present in the device.
The Telecom Ministry has also imposed restrictions on web-based logins. Users who access these apps through browsers will be required to log out and log back in every six hours, failing which they will be automatically logged out. The directive, issued on November 28, 2025, came into immediate effect.
Rahul Gandhi Defamation Case Adjourned to December 20
Mumbai: The Bhiwandi court has adjourned to December 20 the hearing in the criminal defamation case filed against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi by an RSS worker. The adjournment came after witnesses failed to appear, including Deputy Superintendent of Police Ashok Saykar, who could not attend due to personal reasons.
The case stems from comments Gandhi made during an election rally near Bhiwandi on March 6, 2014, prompting the complainant, Rajesh, an RSS member, to file the case.
Weekly Special Trains Announced Between Mumbai and Thiruvananthapuram
To ease the heavy Christmas holiday rush, the Railways has announced weekly special services from Mumbai to Mangaluru and Thiruvananthapuram. The Lokmanya Tilak Terminus–Mangaluru Junction train (01185) will operate every Tuesday, departing from Mumbai at 4 p.m. and reaching Mangaluru the following morning. The return service will leave Mangaluru at 1 p.m. and arrive in Mumbai early Thursday morning.
Similarly, a special train from Mumbai to Thiruvananthapuram will run every Thursday from December 18, leaving LTT at 4 p.m. and reaching Thiruvananthapuram North at 11.30 p.m. the next day. These services will continue until January 8 to accommodate the increased festive-season travel demand.
IndiGo CEO Admits Lapses; DGCA Issues Second Show-Cause Notice
New Delhi: IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers has acknowledged operational lapses during a meeting with the Union Aviation Ministry and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). The meeting, chaired by Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu in Delhi on Saturday evening, focused on the airline’s failure to comply with the revised Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL).
The DGCA criticised IndiGo for not restructuring flight schedules and for failing to adjust duty hours of pilots and cabin crew under the new guidelines. Elbers admitted that miscalculations in crew planning and the decision to expand services without hiring sufficient staff worsened the situation. Following this admission, the DGCA issued IndiGo a second show-cause notice and instructed the airline to respond by Sunday night.
Christmas Travel Made Easier: KSRTC Begins Booking for Special Holiday Services
To ease travel during the Christmas and New Year holidays, KSRTC has launched bookings for special additional services. With train tickets sold out and private bus fares soaring, the special services aim to help passengers returning home.
From December 19, 2025 to January 5, 2026, KSRTC will operate additional services between major Kerala cities and Bengaluru, Mysuru, and Chennai, in addition to existing schedules
Tickets can be booked online via:
www.onlineksrtcswift.com
or the mobile app ente ksrtc neo oprs.
Saudi Driving License Conversion: Test Waived for 48 Countries; Indians Must Take Assessment
Planning to drive in Saudi Arabia? Here’s what you need to know:
Anyone arriving in Saudi Arabia with a valid international or foreign driving licence can drive for up to one year or until the licence expires, whichever is earlier. After becoming a resident, obtaining a Saudi licence becomes mandatory.
The Saudi General Directorate of Traffic has allowed citizens of 48 countries to convert their valid foreign licences to a Saudi licence without a driving test. Applicants must book an appointment on the Absher platform and submit their licence (in Arabic/English or translated) along with the required fee.
However, countries not on this list — including India, Pakistan, and the Philippines — must undergo a driving assessment. Applicants can book a test at training institutes such as Dallah Driving School.
If they pass, they receive the licence. If they fail or are beginners, they must complete mandatory training hours before retaking the test.
Kerala’s Intensive Voter List Revision Deadline Extended
The Election Commission has extended the deadline for submitting enumeration forms as part of Kerala’s intensive voter list revision. The new deadline is December 18, and the draft voters list will be published on December 23. The final list will be released on February 21.
Political parties and the state government had raised concerns that conducting the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) amid upcoming local body elections would be challenging. Kerala had also approached the Supreme Court regarding the issue.
Enumerators (BLOs) had also reported difficulties in collecting data and uploading details. Some BLOs across the country had even taken their own lives due to work pressure.
The intensive revision requires BLOs to visit each household and verify voter information. Voters listed in the 2002 electoral roll are not required to submit new ID documents; providing an enumeration form is sufficient.
Sabarimala to Serve Meals on Alternate Days: Devaswom Board Confirms No Legal Hurdles
Pathanamthitta: Devaswom Board president K. Jayakumar announced that meals (sadhya) will be served on alternate days at Sabarimala. Pulav will be served one day and full sadhya the next.
The Devaswom Commissioner has been tasked with organising the new system. Since food items will be procured under the existing tender, no legal complications are expected, Jayakumar said.
Though the plan was initially set to begin on December 2, it was postponed due to incomplete arrangements. A committee had been appointed to study legal concerns before final approval in Friday’s meeting.
