India news Live Updates, 22 October 2026: CJP’s Saurav Das, Ashutosh Ranka skip Delhi Crime Branch questioning

Delhi Police Crime Branch summons CJP leaders Saurav Das, Ashutosh Ranka, and Ajinkya Shinde today following the takeover of Jantar Mantar trespass cases.

Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) activists Saurabh Das, Ashutosh Ranka, and Ajinkya Shinde failed to appear before the Delhi Police Crime Branch on Thursday after being summoned for questioning regarding an unauthorised October 13 protest at Jantar Mantar. The three leaders requested additional time to join the probe.

If you are just joining us, this is The Indian Express Realtime breaking news blog – where we bring you the latest news updates of the day in real time. Scan the top headlines of the day here, or keep scrolling to see the latest updates stream in.

Dry for a decade, Bihar hit by a new lethal high: Narcotics surge under prohibition

A decade after Bihar enforced strict liquor prohibition, an investigation by The Indian Express reveals an alarming surge in illicit narcotics and synthetic drug abuse across the state. NDPS cases have risen four-fold in six years, while synthetic pill seizures have jumped 30-fold in four years, severely straining security, law enforcement, and medical rehabilitation infrastructure.

Story continues below this ad

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk meets PM Modi today; defence collaboration on agenda

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk is meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi today in New Delhi to discuss deepening bilateral trade, technology, and strategic ties. With Poland expanding its military capabilities amid regional security pressures in Eastern Europe, Warsaw’s defence industry is actively looking to partner with India under domestic manufacturing initiatives.

Mumbai smog surpassing Delhi an ‘emergency’, HC asks how officials can sleep

The Bombay High Court pulled up city authorities over deteriorating air quality levels after Mumbai’s smog briefly surpassed Delhi’s pollution indicators. Expressing deep concern, the court labeled the environmental crisis an emergency and demanded a clear action plan from municipal authorities regarding dust mitigation and industrial emissions controls.

Tiger Shroff shooting case: Suspects conducted recce at homes of Ranveer, Aamir and Salman, say police

In a major revelation following the firing incident near actor Tiger Shroff’s residence, Mumbai Police reported that the arrested shooters had conducted preliminary surveillance at the residences of actors Ranveer Singh, Aamir Khan, and Salman Khan. Police have expanded security protocols for prominent Bollywood personalities while the interrogation continues.

Live Updates
Oct 22, 2026 02:25 PM IST
Delhi Police denies clearance for Diljit Dosanjh's concert at JLN Stadium

Delhi Police has refused permission for Punjabi singer Diljit Dosanjh's concert scheduled at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on October 30. Officials cited security concerns and the ongoing festive season as reasons for withholding clearance for the high-profile event, which was expected to draw massive crowds. The performance was intended to kick off the Indian leg of Dosanjh's 'Aura World Tour', following shows across North America, Europe, and Australia. The India tour is slated to cover six other cities, including Indore, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Lucknow, and Chandigarh.

Oct 22, 2026 02:16 PM IST
Akhilesh Yadav accuses BJP of conspiring to rig UP Legislative Council elections

Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav accused the ruling BJP of plotting to win the upcoming teachers' and graduates' constituency elections of the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council through illicit means. In a post on X, Yadav alleged that the BJP is pressuring government officials alongside school and college management bodies to violate the model code of conduct and swing the elections in its favour. Warning that those involved in electoral malpractice will face legal action, FIRs, and potential imprisonment, he urged party workers to record instances of malpractice and concluded his statement with the slogans "Jai Samvidhan, Jai Hindustan."

https://platform.x.com/widgets.js

Oct 22, 2026 02:10 PM IST
CJP leaders skip Crime Branch questioning in Jantar Mantar protest probe

Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) activists Saurabh Das, Ashutosh Ranka, and Ajinkya Shinde failed to appear before the Delhi Police Crime Branch on Thursday after being summoned for questioning regarding an unauthorised October 13 protest at Jantar Mantar. The three leaders requested additional time to join the probe, prompting police to prepare fresh notices. The summonses come a day after a Special Executive Magistrate court ordered the release of Das and Ranka from judicial custody upon accepting Rs 50,000 personal and surety bonds, alongside written undertakings promising to maintain peace and abstain from organising protests at Jantar Mantar while it remains denotified. The court has directed the leaders to present themselves for the next enquiry hearing on October 23.

Oct 22, 2026 01:46 PM IST
Union Home Minister Amit Shah launches Rs 8,941 crore water and sewage projects for Yamuna cleaning

Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched 43 water and sewage projects worth Rs 8,941 crore aimed at cleaning and rejuvenating the Yamuna River. Executed by the Delhi Jal Board, the comprehensive package includes constructing modern sewage treatment plants, expanding the sewerage network into outer Delhi, and upgrading water treatment infrastructure. Officials stated the initiative aims to stop untreated industrial and domestic wastewater from flowing into the river, providing a long-term solution to pollution in the capital.

Oct 22, 2026 12:37 PM IST
Jodhpur–Hyderabad train halted for two hours in Maharashtra following passenger assault claims

Passengers staged a protest at Hingoli railway station on Thursday, blocking the Bhagat Ki Kothi–Kacheguda Express for over two hours after alleging that Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel assaulted a teenager and misbehaved with accompanying women travellers. The group, returning from a Dussehra event in Nagpur, claimed the dispute began when the youth mistakenly entered a reserved coach. The RPF denied all charges of assault, stating officers were clearing a crowded coach and only objected to ticketless passengers filming videos. Local police intervened, assuring protesters of a thorough investigation and convincing them to clear the tracks so the train could resume its journey.

Oct 22, 2026 12:33 PM IST
India has room to expand processed food exports to UK, says industry body TPCI

India has significant scope to expand its processed food exports to the UK, where it currently accounts for just 0.6% of the country’s annual imports worth USD 50.68 billion, industry body Trade Promotion Council of India (TPCI) said on Thursday. India and the UK implemented their Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) on July 15 to boost trade and investment ties. The pact removes tariffs on processed foods, shrimp and instant coffee. To promote trade in food processing, TPCI has signed a memorandum of understanding with the UK-India Business Council (UKIBC). The agreement will facilitate business connections, trade missions, market intelligence sharing and growth opportunities for small and medium enterprises in both countries. TPCI Chairman Mohit Singla said India’s processed food exports to the UK stood at USD 309.5 million, highlighting the potential for expansion under the new trade framework.

Oct 22, 2026 12:15 PM IST
BJP supporter shot dead in West Bengal's Malda as political clashes leave six injured

A 35-year-old BJP supporter, Samir Ghosh, was attacked with sharp weapons and shot dead by unidentified assailants on Wednesday evening in the Ramkeli area of Malda district, West Bengal. Locals alleged that supporters of a rival political party were behind the killing. The incident triggered violent clashes between two groups in the area, leaving at least six people injured and requiring hospitalisation at Malda Medical College and Hospital. Police forces have been deployed in large numbers to restore order and bring the situation under control, though no arrests have been made so far.

Oct 22, 2026 12:12 PM IST
Priyanka Gandhi criticises government following removal of photos at son's exhibition

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra took a veiled dig at the Modi government after the Bikaner House administration removed around 74 protest-related photographs ahead of her son Raihan Vadra's solo exhibition. Raihan Vadra, an artist and photographer, stated that management threatened to cancel his exhibition, 'No Idea is Final', unless images documenting recent protests and the Indian flag were taken down. Supporting her son, Priyanka Gandhi condemned the action as a "muzzling" of young artists' voices, remarking that when those in power fear self-expression, they have already lost the power they seek to protect.

https://platform.x.com/widgets.js

Oct 22, 2026 12:11 PM IST
Vandalur Zoo in Chennai closes for two days following H5N1 Avian Influenza confirmation

The Arignar Anna Zoological Park in Chennai, known as Vandalur Zoo, has asked the public to refrain from visiting on October 22 and 23 following confirmation of H5N1 Avian Influenza in water birds by the Bhopal-based National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases (NIHSAD). The temporary closure follows the deaths of seven water birds in the zoo's Vedanthangal enclosure between October 3 and October 9. Zoo authorities have cordoned off the area, implemented biosecurity protocols, and initiated intensive sanitisation, noting that no further bird deaths or illnesses have been reported since October 9.

Oct 22, 2026 11:50 AM IST
Drugs worth over Rs 25 crore seized near Ahmedabad toll plaza; three arrested

Police authorities seized illicit drugs valued at over Rs 25 crore near the CTM toll plaza on the expressway in Ahmedabad. In a joint operation conducted by the Ahmedabad and Surat Crime Branches based on specific intelligence, officers intercepted three interstate peddlers and recovered significant quantities of mephedrone (MD) and heroin. All three suspects have been arrested as law enforcement agencies continue investigating the wider supply network.

Oct 22, 2026 11:33 AM IST
Jaipur leads voter turnout in first phase of Rajasthan panchayat elections

Jaipur recorded the highest turnout at 14.70% among all districts by 10 am during the first phase of Rajasthan's Panchayati Raj elections, as total turnout across the state reached 11.74%. Voting commenced at 7 am across 16 zila parishads and 104 panchayat samitis, with over 85 lakh eligible voters choosing from 6,976 candidates competing for 2,081 seats. The three-phase local body elections cover 41 zila parishads, 457 panchayat samitis, and 14,403 gram panchayats. Polling for the second and third phases of zila parishad and panchayat samiti seats is scheduled for October 28 and November 3, respectively, followed by gram panchayat elections for panches and sarpanches on November 5 and up-sarpanches on November 6.

Oct 22, 2026 10:13 AM IST
Stone-pelting at Durga immersion procession sparks tension in Maharashtra’s Washim

Stone-pelting at a Durga idol immersion procession in Malegaon town of Maharashtra’s Washim district triggered tension on Wednesday night, police said. The incident occurred around 10 pm near Tipu Sultan Chowk after coloured powder thrown during the procession allegedly fell on a house. Some people then hurled stones at the procession, leading to a confrontation between two groups. No injuries were reported. Following police intervention and security arrangements, the immersion rituals were completed around 4 am on Thursday.

Oct 22, 2026 09:57 AM IST
Keralam: Mother arrested nearly 3 years after baby girl’s alleged murder for crying at night

Police in Keralam have arrested a 38-year-old woman nearly three years after her eight-month-old daughter was allegedly killed and her body dumped in a marsh in Pathanamthitta district in August 2023. Manju, the third accused in the case, was arrested by a special investigation team led by Thiruvalla Deputy Superintendent of Police P R Santhosh, officials said on Wednesday. She was produced before a court and remanded to judicial custody. According to police, Manju had left her husband following a dispute and travelled to Alappuzha with her daughter in 2023. She later met a man named Sivan, who offered to look after them. Police alleged that Sivan killed the baby after becoming angry when she cried at night. He and Manju then allegedly called Sivan’s younger brother, Shakthi, and the three dumped the child’s body in a marsh at Valanjavattom on August 12, 2023. The case came to light after Manju returned to her colony in Palakkad without the child and could not explain her whereabouts when questioned by a local colony promoter, who alerted the police.

Oct 22, 2026 09:52 AM IST
J&K CM Omar Abdullah approves doubling of MBBS, BDS interns’ stipend to Rs 25,000

The Jammu and Kashmir government has notified an increase in the monthly stipend of MBBS and BDS interns from Rs 12,300 to Rs 25,000, following an agitation by medical interns across the Union Territory. The Chief Minister’s Office said the decision, effective October 1, 2026, also covers foreign medical graduates and aims to provide financial support to young healthcare professionals. The hike follows protests by MBBS interns seeking an increase in their stipend. Earlier, a protesting student in Jammu said the stipend had remained unchanged since 2019.

https://platform.x.com/widgets.js

Oct 22, 2026 09:48 AM IST
Delhi Police summons CJP leaders Das, Ranka to Crime Branch office

The Delhi Police Crime Branch has summoned Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka to its Rajouri Garden office on Thursday. The summons comes a day after a Special Executive Magistrate’s court ordered their release from judicial custody after they furnished Rs 50,000 bonds each and gave written undertakings to maintain peace and abide by the law.

The two were detained over an October 13 protest at Jantar Mantar, which had been denotified as a designated protest site. The court has barred them from calling for protests there until the site is denotified in accordance with the law. The enquiry will continue, with the next hearing scheduled for October 23.

Oct 22, 2026 09:44 AM IST
Landslide derails locomotive in Keralam, disrupts train services

A landslide near Parassala railway station in Keralam’s Thiruvananthapuram district derailed the locomotive of the Bilaspur-Tirunelveli Express early on Thursday, disrupting train services. The incident occurred at 2.19 am when Train No. 22619 was stopped near Parassala following the landslide. The locomotive was found derailed after the train came to a halt, Southern Railway said. “All passengers and railway staff are safe,” the railway zone said in a statement. A relief locomotive was arranged to move the train, while an accident relief train, along with personnel and equipment, was rushed to the site to carry out restoration work.

Latest Comment
Post Comment
Read Comments