Two properties worth crores of rupees belonging to a Ranger in Forest Department, Khandwa, Madhya Pradesh, were confiscated by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), Bhopal in a money laundering case, an official said on Friday.

The confiscated properties of Harishankar Gurjar are in the form of two independent houses situated at Minal Residency, Bhopal.

The ED initiated a money laundering investigation based on an FIR registered by the Lokayukta Police, Bhopal under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 and IPC, 1860 against Harishankar and his wife Seema on the grounds that they have amassed assets disproportionate to their known sources of income, said a statement.

In a special operation, police have destroyed opium cultivation worth approximately Rs 125 crore in four districts of Jharkhand -- Ranchi, Khunti, Saraikela-Kharsawan and Chaibasa.

The operation, which began on February 5, has led to the arrest of 86 people involved in the illegal business. According to official police data, opium cultivation across a total area of 9,871 acres in these districts has been identified and eradicated using tractors and grass cutter machines.

It is estimated that three to four kilograms of opium is produced per acre of poppy cultivation, with one kilogram valued between Rs four to five lakh in the market. This action has effectively prevented opium worth around Rs 125 crore from reaching the market.

The Director General of Police has ordered a special drive against opium cultivation under the 'Zero Tolerance Policy'.

Ahead of the local body elections, the police on Friday seized a vehicle carrying Rs 1.38 crore in cash and 108 kilograms of silver in Gujarat's Dahod, said officials here.

Gujarat is set to conduct its local body elections on February 16, encompassing various municipal corporations, municipalities, and panchayats.

In view of the elections, the vigil has been enhanced. The Dahod police intercepted the courier vehicle transporting cash and silver.

The Child Welfare Committee (CWC) of Delhi's South District on Thursday ordered an interim order in the favour of students whose admit cards were withheld by a school in the national capital over fee payment dispute.

After the CWC received a complaint from the parents of six children studying in class 10th at Saket's Apeejay School, it directed the Principal to issue “admit cards to all the six students with immediate effect”, opining that the fee issue may be settled afterward.

It ordered the authorities in the Directorate of Education (DOE) to look into the matter and facilitate parents and children.

In its order, the CWC noted that the matter is also sub-judiced before the Delhi High Court but issued “immediate action-intervention to protect and save student's whole academic year” and to safeguard them from a traumatic mental situation.

A Special CBI court in Gujarat on Thursday sentenced a doctor employed in Air India to three year’s rigorous imprisonment, along with a fine of Rs 1 lakh, for demanding a bribe of Rs 25,000 to give a favourable medical report to a new joinee.

In two separate cases, the CBI booked a hotel owner in Uttarakhand for duping a bank of Rs 11 crore and an iron casting company in Rajasthan of Rs 9.62 crore for cheating after taking a loan from a bank, an official said on Thursday.

While hearing the Air India doctor's case, the Special CBI court in Ahmedabad held Suresh Marotrao Bhagatkar, then engaged with the airline, Mumbai, guilty of indulging in corruption under the Prevention of Corruption Act.

During the trial, the court examined 27 prosecution witnesses and 49 documents/exhibits in support of the charges against the convict.

Ten children were injured after roof tiles from the lobby ceiling collapsed onto them during their morning prayer session in Una in Gujarat's Gir Somnath district.

The incident occurred at the primary school in Vashoj village, Una, on Thursday. Ten children sustained injuries ranging from minor to serious and were promptly transported to the Una Government Hospital via 108 emergency services for treatment.

Among the injured, students from Classes four and five suffered the most severe injuries, particularly to their heads. Four to five children were reported to be in critical condition and are currently receiving medical attention.

Preliminary reports suggest that the collapse may have been triggered by vibrations from loud music played at a nearby wedding ceremony.

More details were awaited as the probe was on.

At least three people were killed and two others seriously injured when the bus they were travelling in crashed into a parked truck on the Delhi-Mumbai eight-lane expressway in Rajasthan. The bus was carrying devotees from Maha Kumbh in Uttar Pradesh's Prayagraj.

The injured have been admitted to Kota's MBS Hospital for treatment.

The devotees were returning to Mandsaur in Madhya Pradesh after visiting Maha Kumbh for a holy dip. The accident occurred near Karodia in Simliya (Kota) in the morning.

According to Simliya police station ASI Hariraj Singh, the accident took place around 6.30 a.m.

At least 13 people have been arrested in the Mysuru city police station attack case, said officials as Karnataka Home Minister G. Parameshwara on Thursday reiterated that ruthless action would be initiated against rioters in the case and more arrests would be made.

Speaking to the media in Bengaluru on Thursday, Parameshwara stated, “Ruthless action will be initiated as I had stated earlier. Already more than 10 persons have been arrested. More persons are identified through CCTV footage even they will also be arrested and legal action is going to be initiated.”

Meanwhile, police sources confirmed that 13 persons have been arrested and the numbers are going to increase as the rioters’ identities have been tracked.

The FIR registered in connection with the case mentions that there were all probabilities of police personnel getting killed during the incident of rioting and stone pelting on February 9, the source said.

Manipur Police launched extensive raids in various places of Imphal East and Imphal West districts in connection with the selling of activated SIM cards on fake documents, suspected to be used by the underground militants and anti-social elements, officials said here on Thursday.

A police official said the selling of activated SIM cards came to light during an investigation of some cases relating to abduction, intimidation and forceful collection of ransom from traders, businessmen, government employees, contractors and selective common people.

The official said an FIR was registered at Porompat police station in Imphal East district on Wednesday for selling activated SIM cards on fake identity papers by impersonating someone else. “Such SIM cards are suspected to be used by underground militants, anti-socials and criminals for the purpose of extortion and intimidation to people of different walks of life. During the investigation of a recent criminal case, this facet came to light wherein the subscriber, on whose name the SIM card was issued, was not aware of it,” the official said.

The house of a person in Jammu and Kashmir's Kulgam district was seized by police for providing shelter to terrorists, officials said here on Thursday.

A police statement said the residential house of Safdar Ali Dar in Modergam village of Kulgam district was seized for allegedly providing shelter to terrorists.

“The house was completely damaged during an encounter on July 6, 2024, in which a para commando and two terrorists were killed. Notably, a joint security operation was carried out last year in Modergam village, leading to an intense gunfight that resulted in the killing of Para Commando Lance Naik Pradeep Nain, as well as terrorists Adil Hussain Wani of Kutipora, Shopian and Faisal Bashir Lone of Kanipora, Shopian. Both terrorists were hiding in the said house when the encounter broke out," the statement mentioned.