India News Highlights, 12 September 2026: 7,500 kg of adulterated paneer seized from four dairies in Haryana’s Nuh

Gaganjot Sandhu, son of former Haryana agriculture minister late Jaswinder Singh Sandhu, allegedly died by suicide after shooting himself at his farmhouse in Punjab’s Rupnagar district, police said on Saturday.

The incident took place in Kakot village on Friday. Gaganjot, 48, had come to his farmhouse and allegedly shot himself with his licensed weapon while he was alone, police said.

Officials from the Sadar police station rushed to the spot after receiving information about the incident. Station House Officer Sunny Khanna said the matter was under investigation and further details would emerge after a thorough inquiry.

Gaganjot had earlier served as the sarpanch of Gumthala Garhu village in Haryana’s Kurukshetra. His father, Jaswinder Singh Sandhu, was a four-time MLA from Pehowa and had served as a minister in the OP Chautala government. He died in 2019.

The body was shifted to Rupnagar Civil Hospital for post-mortem examination, police said.

Kerala Leader of Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan on Saturday described the Enforcement Directorate’s latest allegations against him in the CMRL case as “old allegations in a new script” and accused the agency of using the law as a political weapon.

The ED has sought registration of an FIR against Vijayan and his family based on evidence gathered during its probe and searches under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. The agency has alleged that Cochin Minerals and Rutile Limited (CMRL) made fraudulent payments of Rs 2.78 crore to Exalogic Solutions, the now-defunct company of Vijayan’s daughter Veena T, in the guise of IT consultancy services.

Vijayan said the ED’s latest allegation differed from the earlier claim that Exalogic received money without providing services. He said the agency was now alleging that the payments were bribes for alleged favours he extended to CMRL while serving as chief minister.

The CPI(M) leader denied granting any undue favour to CMRL and said no document proving such an action had been produced. He also pointed to earlier proceedings before the Vigilance Court, Kerala High Court and Supreme Court, saying the allegations had already been examined by the courts.

“This is not a new case. It is a new script for old allegations,” Vijayan said, alleging that the ED was trying to give a new political interpretation to allegations that had been raised earlier.

He questioned what specific favour he had allegedly granted CMRL, when it was granted and what documentary evidence existed. Vijayan said he would face the latest action both politically and legally, adding that “proof is required” to make someone an accused.

Five people were killed after a car collided head-on with a truck in Assam’s Sonitpur district on Saturday, police said.

The accident occurred near a petrol pump in the Balipara area under Rangapara police station limits. All five victims were occupants of the car, a senior police officer said.

The deceased were identified as Har Gobinda Hajoari, Nayan Swargiary, Pappu Bora, Pranjal Bania and Sanjay Mech, all residents of Ghoramari Batabari in the district.

The truck driver fled the spot after the collision, police said.

Haryana Police has brought back 27 gangsters from abroad through deportation or extradition, with 21 of them returning since 2025, Director General of Police Ajay Singhal said on Saturday.

Singhal said the Special Task Force (STF) had intensified its crackdown on organised crime and was targeting wanted criminals hiding abroad and their networks. Of the 27 gangsters brought back, seven were deported or extradited in 2025 and 14 so far this year.

STF Inspector General Satish Balan said the agency was using human and technical intelligence, along with fake passport records, identities and biometric data, to trace criminals hiding overseas. Police have also facilitated the detention of 12 gangsters abroad, with their extradition or deportation process underway.

Since August 2023, Haryana Police has issued 144 Look-Out Circulars, 54 Red Corner Notices and 53 Interpol references. It has also revoked 93 passports and sent nine provisional arrest requests and 16 extradition requests.

The STF is also tracking bank transactions and cryptocurrency and USDT channels linked to criminal networks. Haryana Police has established coordination with police forces in Punjab, Rajasthan, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh to track and arrest wanted criminals.

Chennai Police detained 285 people with criminal antecedents, including history-sheeters, during a special drive conducted across the city between the night of September 10 and the evening of September 11.

Of those detained, 152 were remanded to judicial custody following investigations, while the remaining suspects were released with a stern warning against future unlawful activities.

The operation was conducted on the orders of Greater Chennai Police Commissioner A Amalraj, with special teams led by assistant commissioners and inspectors carrying out raids under the supervision of deputy commissioners of police.

Police detained 108 suspects in the north zone, 94 in the south, 45 in the east and 38 in the west zone.