Seema Haider adopted the alias 'Preeti' while boarding a bus from Pokhara in Nepal to unlawfully enter India with her four children. Her motive was to reunite with her lover, Sachin Meena, who resides in Greater Noida near Delhi.
When asked to show identification during the bus journey, Seema confidently presented herself as an Indian national and even produced an Aadhaar card, as revealed by the bus service manager.
Seema and Sachin had previously concealed their true identities while staying at a hotel in Kathmandu back in March. According to Prasanna Gautam, the manager of Shrishti Bus Service, Seema Haider had purchased four tickets but faced a shortage of Nepalese currency to cover the costs.
In a bid to resolve the payment issue, she contacted a friend in India, presumably Sachin, who facilitated a transfer of the remaining 6,000 Nepalese Rupees (approximately Rs 3,750 in Indian currency) through UPI.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who inaugurated the International Kite Festival 2026 at the Sabarmati Riverfront in Ahmedabad, flew kites, a gesture symbolising the strong ties between India and Germany.
Three months after the tragic Karur stampede, actor-turned-politician and TVK chief Vijay was questioned for over seven hours by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in New Delhi. The probe, initiated after a Supreme Court order, focuses on lapses at the rally that led to 41 deaths. The CBI questioned Vijay on why he continued his speech despite the chaos and his delayed arrival at the venue. According to sources, Vijay told investigators that 'neither he nor TVK was responsible for the stampede'. He reportedly maintained that he left the venue fearing his presence could worsen the situation. While the DMK has accused the central agency of misusing its power, the CBI will now analyse Vijay's statement against police testimonies. Vijay has not been summoned again but may be called for further questioning after Pongal.
A news bulletin reports a setback for the Mahayuti government in Maharashtra as the State Election Commission (SEC) has stalled advance payments for the 'Ladki Bahin Yojana'. The government had planned to release a combined payment of ₹3,000 to beneficiaries on January 14, ahead of BMC polls. Following complaints from the Congress and other opposition parties, the SEC intervened, citing the Model Code of Conduct. According to the commission's directive, while existing schemes can continue, 'advance payments of the existing schemes cannot be made'. This decision blocks the two-month lump sum payment, permitting only a single month's disbursement. The scheme is noted as having played a significant role in the previous assembly elections for the Mahayuti government.
A major security alert has been triggered in Jammu and Kashmir after multiple Pakistani drones were sighted south of Pir Panjal, crossing both the International Border and the Line of Control. The drones hovered over sensitive locations in the Samba, Poonch, and Rajouri sectors before retreating after the Indian Army responded with machine gun fire and activated anti-drone systems. According to security agencies, this is a renewed effort by Pakistan to destabilise the region, with one official stating, 'Rawalpindi is once again trying to revive terror south of Pir Panjal.' Following the incident, search operations were launched to check for dropped payloads, leading to the recovery of weapons including Chinese grenades and Turkish-made pistols in a forested area. This spike in drone activity highlights Pakistan's evolving strategy of using unmanned systems to smuggle arms and fuel terror in the region.
