India News Highlights, 14 September 2026: Kerala filmmaker starts indefinite hunger strike, seeks Hema panel report

The average price stood at Rs 59.57 per kg, marginally up from Rs 58.99 per kg on Sunday, according to Consumer Affairs Ministry data.

In a Facebook post, Sasidharan said he took the step as the Kerala government was not ready to order the “fair investigations” he had sought into various matters. (Photo: X/@sanalsasidharan)In a Facebook post, Sasidharan said he took the step as the Kerala government was not ready to order the “fair investigations” he had sought into various matters. (Photo: X/@sanalsasidharan)

Kerala-based filmmaker Sanal Kumar Sasidharan began an indefinite hunger strike outside the state Secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram on Monday, demanding the release of the Hema Committee report and a high-level probe into the irregularities it flagged.

In a Facebook post, Sasidharan said he took the step as the Kerala government was not ready to order the “fair investigations” he had sought into various matters, including an alleged conspiracy behind two cases registered against him based on complaints by a prominent Malayalam film actress. He said he had sought the investigations from the previous LDF government and later wrote to Chief Minister V D Satheesan and Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala in May, but no action had been taken.

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CJP to join Maharashtra jobs stir, protesters visit Abhijit Dipke

The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) on Sunday said its founder Abhijeet Dipke and party members would join protests by Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) aspirants over alleged paper leaks and irregularities in online examinations. The announcement came after a group of MPSC aspirants met Dipke at his home in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar.

The CJP said the agitation demanding the resignation of the MPSC chairman and secretary would continue, and threatened a statewide tour to meet aspirants if the officials did not step down by September 24. Dipke said the party would stand with the protesters until their demands were met.

Rajnath Singh hails conclusion of BRICS Summit, says India’s leadership put Global South at centre

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday hailed the conclusion of the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi, describing India’s chairship of the grouping as a landmark diplomatic achievement. The two-day summit, held on September 12-13, concluded with the adoption of the New Delhi Declaration 2026, with India placing resilience, innovation, cooperation and sustainability among its key priorities.

The summit also saw Prime Minister Narendra Modi hold 15 bilateral meetings with world leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. The New Delhi Declaration expressed concern over conflicts in West Asia, called for the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure, and urged dialogue and diplomacy to promote lasting peace and stability.

DMK Raja’s remark against Nirmal Kumar draws condemnation

DMK deputy general secretary A Raja’s personal remarks against Tamil Nadu Law Minister R Nirmal Kumar during a party protest have drawn criticism from political leaders, including allies of the opposition party. Raja later expressed regret over the comment and said he had no hesitation in withdrawing his words. The controversy erupted amid a political row over Kumar’s remarks questioning DMK president M K Stalin’s claim that he was detained under MISA during the Emergency. CPI(M) state secretary P Shanmugam condemned Raja’s remarks, while VCK chief Thol Thirumavalavan said such comments were against political decency and could hurt the DMK itself.

Duplicate liquor manufacturing unit busted in Gujarat’s Bhavnagar; 3 held

A unit allegedly involved in manufacturing duplicate foreign liquor was busted in Gujarat’s Bhavnagar district, with three people, including a railway employee, arrested in connection with the case, police said on Sunday. The Local Crime Branch raided the unit in the Railway Colony area under Bor Talav police station limits following a tip-off. Police recovered 17 quarters of foreign liquor, stickers meant to be affixed to bottles of duplicate liquor and machines used for fitting bottle caps. Samples of the suspected duplicate liquor have been sent to Gandhinagar for testing, while police are investigating the involvement of other people in the operation. The action comes weeks after 13 people died after allegedly consuming spurious liquor in Bhavnagar district

Live Updates
Sep 14, 2026 07:59 PM IST
Kerala filmmaker Sanal Kumar Sasidharan begins hunger strike over Hema report

Kerala-based filmmaker Sanal Kumar Sasidharan began an indefinite hunger strike outside the state Secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram on Monday, demanding the release of the Hema Committee report and a high-level probe into the irregularities it flagged.

In a Facebook post, Sasidharan said he took the step as the Kerala government was not ready to order the “fair investigations” he had sought into various matters, including an alleged conspiracy behind two cases registered against him based on complaints by a prominent Malayalam film actress. He said he had sought the investigations from the previous LDF government and later wrote to Chief Minister V D Satheesan and Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala in May, but no action had been taken.

- With PTI Inputs

Sep 14, 2026 06:49 PM IST
Sugar retail price below Rs 60/kg for fourth day, festive demand pushes rates up

The average all-India retail price of sugar remained below Rs 60 per kg for the fourth straight day on Monday following a series of government measures, even as festive demand put upward pressure on prices in some regions. The average price stood at Rs 59.57 per kg, marginally up from Rs 58.99 per kg on Sunday, according to Consumer Affairs Ministry data.

Sugar prices fell below Rs 60 per kg on Friday and had eased over the following three days. The maximum retail price remained at Rs 85 per kg and the minimum at Rs 40 per kg on Monday. Prices rose in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, while major sugar-producing states such as Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh saw a decline. The government had allowed sugar imports and tightened stockholding norms on August 21 to contain prices.

- With PTI Inputs

Sep 14, 2026 05:43 PM IST
Delhi hospital services hit as resident doctors begin indefinite strike

Emergency and OPD services at Maharshi Valmiki Hospital in Delhi were hit on Monday as resident doctors began an indefinite strike over an alleged assault on medical staff following a patient's death two days ago. The Resident Doctors’ Association (RDA) said the strike, which began at 8 am, would continue until the alleged attackers are arrested and an FIR is registered.

The RDA alleged that a mob attacked doctors with sticks and stones after the patient, who had suffered a stab wound to his right thigh, died while being treated. It said doctors and staff, including female staff, had to flee to the staff quarters and were chased and threatened. The association has sought an impartial judicial inquiry, immediate arrests and registration of an FIR, while resident doctors at Maulana Azad Medical College and its associated hospitals have also backed the strike.

- With PTI Inputs

Sep 14, 2026 04:51 PM IST
‘How can we release water?’: Karnataka Dy CM urges CWMA to rethink TN release

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara on Monday urged the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) to reconsider its directions to release water to Tamil Nadu, saying the state’s reservoirs were facing low storage amid a severe drought and drinking water needs had been prioritised.

Parameshwara said Karnataka had never refused to release water to Tamil Nadu when there was sufficient availability, but questioned how it could release water for agriculture when its own reservoirs were depleted and farmers had been advised against raising crops. He said storage in Kabini was below 50 per cent, Harangi was around half its capacity and Krishnaraja Sagar was around 55-60 per cent.

- With PTI Inputs

Sep 14, 2026 04:08 PM IST
Pune’s 11-day Ganesh festival begins with traditional fervour

The 11-day Ganesh festival began in Pune on Monday with devotees welcoming idols of Lord Ganesha into homes, housing societies and public pandals amid traditional fervour. The ‘pran pratishtha’ ceremonies of the city’s five Manache Ganpatis — Kasba Ganpati, Tambdi Jogeshwari Ganpati, Guruji Talim, Tulshibaug Ganpati and Kesari Wada Ganpati — were performed as devotees chanted ‘Ganpati Bappa Morya’.

Festivities across the city featured decorated idols, dhol-tasha performances and traditional music. At the Shrimant Dagdusheth Halwai Ganpati temple, the mandap was inspired by Prem Mandir in Vrindavan, while the Shrimant Bhausaheb Rangari Ganpati Mandal’s ‘pran pratishtha’ was performed by flautist Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia. Police and civic authorities have made arrangements for traffic management, crowd control, civic amenities and public safety during the festival.

- With PTI Inputs

Sep 14, 2026 03:27 PM IST
Meta restricts access in India to viral AI video of Kerala CM dancing

Meta has restricted access in India to a viral AI-generated video showing Kerala Chief Minister V D Satheesan dancing with Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) officials over the recent power cut issue, the video’s creators said on Monday.

The video, posted on Instagram page ‘aikavala’ on Thursday, had garnered 1.78 crore views by Sunday, according to the page’s operator.

Satheesan had recently mentioned the video at an event organised by the Kerala High Court and said he was excited to see it. He also claimed he could dance better than Malayalam actor Mohanlal and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay.

The video, which was created using artificial intelligence, shows Satheesan dancing with KSEB officials.

In a post on Sunday, ‘aikavala’ said access to the video had been restricted in India after Meta complied with a legal request.

A message from Meta shared by the creators said, “We have restricted access to your content in India pursuant to notice from the Government of India.”

Abhijith, who runs the Instagram page, said he did not believe the restriction was due to any objection from the Chief Minister’s side.

“We don't know the reason. But the Chief Minister had appreciated it in a public forum. The video can be viewed from other countries,” he told the media.

Earlier, Meta had removed news videos critical of the state government and Satheesan. The Chief Minister had denied any request from his office to remove the posts, following which the Chief Minister's Office wrote to Meta seeking their reinstatement.

Meta had subsequently cited technical reasons for the removal of those videos.

- With PTI Inputs

Sep 14, 2026 03:25 PM IST
Kerala CM interacts with BRICS content creators, pitches state as investment hub

Kerala Chief Minister V D Satheesan on Monday interacted with 35 content creators and social media influencers from 19 BRICS member and partner nations and highlighted the state’s emergence as a global investment hub.

Sharing photographs of the interaction at Cliff House, his official residence, on X, Satheesan said he presented the “real Keralam Story” and outlined the state’s infrastructure across various sectors.

He highlighted Kerala’s 600-km coastline and the Western Ghats, along with its expanding port and aviation infrastructure and its pool of doctors, engineers and IT professionals.

Satheesan also spoke about the state’s vision to establish Kerala as a global destination for Ayurveda and holistic wellness.

Calling Kerala India’s “first fully literate state”, he said the state was advancing towards complete digital literacy and attracting legacy universities, while emerging as a “beacon of sustainable and inclusive development”.

- PTI Inputs

Sep 14, 2026 02:43 PM IST
Armed assailants open fire at house in Punjab's Phagwara; seven booked

PTI reports from Punjab that armed, bike-borne assailants with muffled faces targeted a house in Punjab's Phagwara in an early-morning attack on Monday, firing shots and attempting to break down the main gate with sharp-edged weapons, though no injuries were reported. According to police, three empty shells and a live cartridge were recovered from the scene, and seven residents have been identified as suspects, with an old rivalry cited as the motive. A case has been registered against the accused under various sections of the BNS, including attempt to murder and the Arms Act, and SP Major Singh confirmed that an investigation is underway.

Sep 14, 2026 02:34 PM IST
Rs 70-crore fake coin racket busted: How inter-state gang flooded UP, Punjab, and Bihar with counterfeit Rs 20 coins

Manish Sahu from Lucknow reports that Saharanpur police have arrested five members of an interstate gang, including alleged kingpin Upkar Luthra, for manufacturing and circulating counterfeit Rs 20 coins. Authorities recovered six coin-making machines, dies, 6,400 fake coins, and other equipment, estimating that the network had circulated counterfeit currency worth over Rs 70 crore since 2001 by distributing the coins through liquor shops, toll plazas, and grocery stores across Punjab, Bihar, and Uttar Pradesh.

Sep 14, 2026 02:10 PM IST
As Congress cedes space, CPM wins Nokha Nagar Palika

Hamza Khan from Jaipur reports that the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPM) is set to form a board in the Nokha Nagar Palika municipality after winning 29 of the 45 wards, outperforming the BJP (13) and Independents (3), largely due to local disillusionment with the BJP and the absence of the Congress party. Across Rajasthan, the CPM fielded 192 candidates with about 40 winning, building on previous momentum from the 2024 Lok Sabha polls where allied CPM candidate Amra Ram won in Sikar.

Sep 14, 2026 01:46 PM IST
Goa nightclub fire: Luthra brothers, 2 others surrender after SC setback

Three accused, including the Luthra brothers, surrender in Goa nightclub fire case after the Supreme Court rejects pleas against bail cancellation.

Sep 14, 2026 01:45 PM IST
Tarun Tejpal surrenders before Goa court, sent to jail after SC setback

Pavneet Singh Chadha from Goa reports that Tehelka founder-editor Tarun Tejpal on Monday surrendered before Goa court after the Supreme Court refused respite in a sexual assault case was sent to jail.

He said, "I just want to say that we are in the Supreme Court, we are sure the justice will come."

Sep 14, 2026 01:17 PM IST
CBI registers FIR in celebrity manager Disha Saliyan's death case

The Central Bureau of Investigation has registered an FIR in the death case of celebrity manager Disha Salian, officials said., according to news agency PTI

Sep 14, 2026 12:48 PM IST
Homes worth crores, worms in water: Noida’s Supernova residents battle crisis

Drishti Jain from Noida reports that residents of Supertech’s Supernova in Noida's Sector 94 are facing a severe water crisis, with over 350 families reporting foul-smelling, yellowish-black tap water infested with worms. The issue stems from unpaid water dues exceeding Rs 72 lakh by the builder, which is currently undergoing insolvency and has caused the suspension of Ganga water supply, leaving residents dependent on an overburdened borewell system. Consequently, families are forced to buy expensive packaged water and frequently replace filters, while experiencing health issues such as skin irritation and hair loss, and expressing regret over their property investments.

Sep 14, 2026 12:27 PM IST
Retired IAF officer suffers head injuries in violent Gurugram parking dispute

Abhimanyu Hazarika from Gurgaon reports that a retired Indian Air Force Group Captain who served in Operation Safed Sagar during the 1999 Kargil War was severely beaten with an iron rod following a parking altercation in Gurgaon on September 10. Amit Kumar Gupta sustained a head injury and a left arm fracture and is currently receiving treatment at a private hospital. The incident occurred at M3M Magnum Business Park in Sector 58 after a dispute with a parking attendant. Police have registered an FIR at the Sector 65 police station, identified the suspect using CCTV footage, and stated that the accused will be arrested soon.

Sep 14, 2026 12:09 PM IST
Eight arrested after teen allegedly gang-raped for three days in Telangana

Eight people have been arrested, and one is absconding in connection with the alleged rape of a teen in Hyderabad, police said, according to news agency ANI. Alwal police said the accused allegedly took the minor with the help of her male friend and sexually assaulted her over a period of three days.

Sep 14, 2026 11:44 AM IST
Gujarat Rs 10 crore extortion case: Godara gang aide held in Delhi

Aditi Raja from Gujarat reports that Vadodara Police, in a joint operation with the Delhi Police Special Cell, arrested Kuldeep Ganeshdas Swami in Delhi's Chandni Chowk for allegedly collecting a Rs 10 lakh hawala extortion payment on behalf of the Rohit Godara gang. The arrest in connection with a Rs 10 crore extortion threat to a Vadodara businessman led authorities to a car parked in Najafgarh, where they seized 2.075 kg of heroin valued at approximately Rs 4 crore. Consequently, the Delhi Police registered a separate case under the NDPS Act as investigations into the narcotics network continue.

Sep 14, 2026 11:10 AM IST
Woman biker chased, rammed by ‘drunk’ men in car on Golf Course Road

Abhimanyu Hazarika from Delhi reports that Sia, a woman motorcyclist in Gurgaon, was injured after a car carrying occupants who appeared intoxicated chased and deliberately rammed into her sports bike on Golf Course Road. Despite a friend's attempt to intercept the vehicle following the crash, the driver fled the scene. Following widespread social media outrage over the dashcam-captured incident, Gurugram Police have urged the victim to file a formal complaint so an investigation can begin.

Sep 14, 2026 10:25 AM IST
Four with criminal history held in Jharkhand over extortion attempt

Four armed men with criminal histories were arrested in Jharkhand’s Deoghar district for allegedly assaulting a man and demanding extortion money while he was watching a movie with his family, police said on Monday.

The incident took place on September 11 when the accused allegedly approached Amar Nath Keshri during the interval, assaulted his son and demanded money. Keshri later filed a complaint at Town police station.

Police arrested the four men on Sunday following a tip-off and recovered two pistols, six cartridges and a sports utility vehicle from them. They are allegedly involved in more than 40 criminal cases.

Police have identified four other alleged accomplices and efforts are underway to arrest them, Deoghar SDPO Kuldeep Kumar said.

Sep 14, 2026 09:52 AM IST
Narcotics worth Rs 14 crore seized in two operations in Assam

Police seized narcotics worth around Rs 14 crore in two separate operations in Assam’s Cachar district on Sunday and apprehended two alleged drug peddlers, officials said.

In the first operation, police intercepted a truck near Sangai Hotel in the Ramnagar Bypass area and recovered 2.2 kg of heroin worth around Rs 13 crore. The heroin was packed in 150 soap cases and concealed in a secret chamber of the vehicle, which was travelling from Mizoram’s Champhai district.

Police arrested Abdul Rahim Laskar, a resident of Lailapur in Cachar, in connection with the seizure. Further investigation is underway to trace the forward and backward linkages.

In the second operation, police recovered 10,000 Yaba tablets weighing around 1.309 kg from 23-year-old Jairul Islam in the Gumrah Bazar area. The tablets, valued at around Rs 1 crore, were found in a red carry bag in his possession.

Sep 14, 2026 09:44 AM IST
Manipur Home Minister says violence will not derail path to peace

Manipur Home Minister Govindas Konthoujam on Monday said violence would not be allowed to derail the state’s path towards peace and normalcy, a day after four people, including two women, were killed in separate attacks in Tamenglong and Noney districts.

In a post on X, Konthoujam said he was “deeply anguished” over the attack at Tollen Kuki village, where Lhingjangai Singsit was killed and her husband Seineih Singsit and infant son were injured. Seineih later succumbed to his injuries while being taken to a hospital in Silchar, Assam.

“Violence against innocent civilians is unacceptable and will be dealt with firmly,” he said, adding that those responsible would be identified and held accountable.

In another incident on Sunday, a woman and a man were shot dead by armed militants at Longpi village under Nungba Police Station limits around 3.30 pm.

Sep 14, 2026 09:10 AM IST
MPSC ‘paper leaks’ protest, CJP to join demanding resignation of key officials

The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) said on Sunday that its founder Abhijeet Dipke and party members will join students protesting over alleged paper leaks and irregularities in various online examinations conducted by the Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC).

The announcement came after a group of MPSC aspirants met Dipke at his home in the Waluj area of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar.

The CJP said the agitation demanding the resignation of the MPSC chairman and secretary would continue. If the demand is not met by September 24, the party plans to undertake a statewide tour to interact with MPSC aspirants.

Following his meeting with the aspirants, Dipke said, “The CJP and I are with MPSC aspirants in this fight. We will stand with the aspirants till the resignations (of top MPSC officials).”

MPSC aspirants have held protests in parts of Maharashtra, demanding greater transparency in the recruitment process and action over alleged paper leaks and other irregularities in the examinations.

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