India's political landscape is ablaze with activity! From the ongoing debates surrounding the new farm bills and their impact on rural India, to the upcoming state elections shaping the national narrative, the stakes couldn't be higher. Key political figures are maneuvering strategically, with alliances shifting and power dynamics constantly in flux. The opposition's challenge to the ruling party is intensifying, sparking vigorous debates on crucial policy matters including economic reforms and social justice initiatives. Parliamentary proceedings are filled with heated exchanges, reflecting the deep divisions within the nation. This evolving political climate directly impacts the lives of every Indian citizen, influencing everything from economic opportunities to social welfare programs. Stay informed about the latest developments in Indian politics, from crucial legislative decisions to grassroots movements, by exploring Abtak.com for in-depth analysis and breaking news updates. Understanding the intricacies of our political system is crucial; stay engaged, stay informed, and stay ahead.
New Delhi: Fifteen years before the arrest of YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra for alleged espionage, India witnessed a shocking betrayal from within its diplomatic ranks. In 2010, Madhuri Gupta, a mid-level diplomat posted at the Indian High Commission in Islamabad, was arrested for leaking classified defence information to Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), in one of the most high-profile honeytrap espionage cases of the decade. A mole in the mission The alarm was first raised in early 2010, less than two years after the 26/11 Mumbai attacks. Internal alerts pointed to Gupta, an Indian Foreign Service (Grade B) officer serving as Second Secretary (Press & Information). Though known for her scholarship in Urdu and her passion for Sufi poetry, intelligence signals revealed a far more dangerous double life. Upon receiving initial reports, then-IB chief Rajiv Mathur alerted R&AW chief KC Verma and Home Secretary GK Pillai. Surveillance was extended for two weeks, during which Gupta was deliberately fed false information. When this data surfaced externally, it confirmed her as the leak. The arrest and fallout Gupta was summoned to Delhi under the pretext of SAARC Summit media preparations. She arrived on April 21, 2010, and was arrested the next morning at South Block by Delhi Police's Special Cell. She was booked under the Official Secrets Act for espionage and leaking sensitive defence details. The fallout was immediate. The name of RK Sharma, R&AW's Islamabad station chief, was leaked to the press, effectively blowing his cover and severely compromising Indian intelligence operations in Pakistan. A honeytrap operation Investigations revealed Gupta had fallen victim to a classic honeytrap. She was seduced by Jamshed alias Jim, a Pakistani operative half her age, who maintained regular contact with her along with handler Mudassar Raza Rana -- allegedly a batchmate of then Interior Minister Rehman Malik. They first gained her trust by sourcing a rare book by Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Maulana Masood Azhar. Using a Blackberry phone and a personal computer in her residence, Gupta exchanged over 70 emails via accounts allegedly created for her by ISI agents. She expressed her desire to convert to Islam, marry Jamshed, and move to Istanbul. Her Sufi interests and emotional vulnerability were exploited to extract classified information. Scope of the breach Gupta reportedly compromised the identities of Indian intelligence officials posted in Pakistan, detailed High Commission staff profiles, and even hinted at "secret routes to India." She had also travelled to Jammu and Kashmir under instructions from her handlers, attempting to access state reports and a hydroelectric project plan. Aftermath and conviction Initially arrested in 2010, Gupta spent 21 months in Tihar Jail before securing bail. She was formally charged in 2012 under Sections 3 and 5 of the Official Secrets Act. In 2018, she was convicted of spying for Pakistan. At the time of her death in October 2021, she was 64 and living in Bhiwadi, Rajasthan. Her appeal was still pending in the Delhi High Court.
New Delhi [India], February 7 (ANI): The Delhi High Court on Friday reserved the order on an application moved by Baramulla MP Engineer Rashid seeking custody parole to attend ongoing parliament session amidst jurisdictional row. However, the National Investigation Agency (NIA), while opposing the custody parole, stated that Rashid Engineer does not need to respond to any questions. They emphasized that this request is generic and pointed out that Engineer has no speech to deliver. Senior Advocate Sidharth Luthra appeared for NIA also argued that taking an oath and campaigning are separate m ...Read More >
New Delhi, May 26 (SocialNews.XYZ) The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested a CRPF trooper from Delhi for sharing sensitive information with Pakistani Intelligence officers, an official said on Monday. Moti Ram Jat was actively involved in espionage and had been sharing classified information related to national security with Pakistanis since 2023, said the anti-terror agency. The agency has also managed to detect the trail of money he used to receive from Pakistani officers through various conduits, the NIA said. Soon after Moti Ram Jat's arrest, the NIA produced him before a S ...Read More >
Srinagar: The Centre on Tuesday announced new reservation and domicile policies for Ladakh, reserving 85% jobs for locals and one-third of the total number of seats in the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils for women. Both Kargil Democratic Alliance (KBL) and Apex Body Leh (ABL), which are fighting for implementation of the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution in the Union Territory (UT), statehood, a separate public service commission and two Lok Sabha seats for Ladakh, welcomed the noti ...Read More >
Ahmedabad, June 8 (SocialNews.XYZ) The MSC IRINA, recognised as the world's largest container ship by TEU (Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit) capacity, is set to dock at the Adani Group's Vizhinjam International Seaport on Monday and will be berthed till Tuesday. The monumental arrival marks a significant milestone for the seaport, which was dedicated to the nation by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 2. The MSC IRINA boasts an impressive capacity of 24,346 TEUs, making it a formidable player in global shipping. With a length of 399.9 metres and a width of 61.3 metres, the vessel is approximate ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: A meeting of the Parliamentary standing committee on External Affairs on Friday saw discussion on Bangladesh's growing proximity with Pakistan and China, and implications of India's strained ties with its eastern neighbour amid suggestions by some experts on engagement with the country, according to sources. Former foreign secretary and ex-National Security Advisor Shivshankar Menon, Lt Gen Syed Ata Hasnain, former High Commissioner of India to Bangladesh Riva Ganguly Das and academician Amitabh Mattoo attended the meeting. The committee recorded evidence of the experts/non-offici ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jun 28 (PTI) Senior IPS officer Parag Jain, widely known for his expertise in intelligence gathering and affairs related to India's neighbourhood, has been appointed as the new head of the country's external intelligence agency, the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), officials said on Saturday. Jain is currently the second senior-most officer in the RAW, after outgoing chief Ravi Sinha. He will serve a two-year tenure after taking over from Sinha, who retires on June 30, the officials said. Jain currently heads RAW's Aviation Research Centre (ARC), which deals with aerial surveill ...Read More >
New Delhi: Investigators probing the recent cases of espionage have identified a Lahore-based woman with ties to the Pakistani Army and intelligence agency ISI. She used to trap visa seekers and get them to work for ISI, sources claimed. Naushaba Masood, who runs a travel agency in Pakistan, facilitated visas for those who 'cooperated' and supplied them with SIM cards to begin with.The return favours included a range of tasks, beginning with shooting pro-Pakistan videos and uploading them on YouTube to create a favourable narrative. This was a calculated move by ISI to expand its influence thr ...Read More >
Hyderabad: In a significant boost for 'Make in India' and 'Atmanirbharta' in the aerospace and defence sector, and Hyderabad's growing stature as a global aerospace hub, the complete fuselage of the Rafale fighter jet will now be made in India at Hyderabad. This move marks the first time that these Rafale components will be manufactured outside France for the Indian as well as global markets.French aerospace major Dassault Aviation has signed four production transfer agreements with Tata Advanced Systems Ltd (TASL) for manufacturing key sections of the Rafale fighter jet, including the lateral ...Read More >
Jaisalmer: Rajasthan Intelligence Bureau (IB) and security agencies have escorted Rajasthan state government employee, Shakur Khan, who was arrested on charges of sharing confidential information with Pakistan's ISI agents, from Jaipur to Jaisalmer after preliminary interrogation. Now, Shakur's activities at various places are being probed and he is being constantly grilled. The focus is on Shakur's contacts, previous movements, bank transactions, departmental promotions and foreign trips. Inspector General of Police (CID Security) Vishnu Kant Gupta said a convoy of two vehicles of Rajasthan ...Read More >
Itanagar, Jun 7 (PTI) The flood situation in Arunachal Pradesh improved on Saturday with water levels of most rivers receding, even as 33,000 people in 24 districts remained affected, officials said. Twelve people lost their lives and one person went missing in rain-related incidents, including landslides, after the monsoon set in, they said. In its daily report, the State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC) said 33,200 people in 215 villages remained affected due to floods and landslides in the state. The water levels of most major rivers and their tributaries were showing a receding trend o ...Read More >
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has charged five individuals, including goldy Brar, in relation to the 2024 Gurugram club bombing plot, as revealed in a recently filed chargesheet. This case involves a conspiracy to bomb two clubs, aiming to disrupt communal harmony in Haryana, with the banned terrorist group Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) implicated. The NIA's investigation highlights the severity of the plot. Those charged include satinderjit Singh (Goldy Brar), Sachin Talian, Ankit, Bhavish, and Randeep Singh. News Directory 3 provides crucial updates on sensitive cases such ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], May 23 (ANI): Criticising the BJP-led NDA government, Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha (LoP) Rahul Gandhi on Friday said that India's foreign policy has collapsed. In a post on X, Gandhi raised three questions to the central government. "Will JJ explain, Why India has been hyphenated with Pakistan? Why didn't a single country back us in condemning Pakistan? Who asked Trump to "mediate" between India & Pakistan?" the LoP said. Reposting a video of S Jaishankar's interview with a media outlet, he said, "India's foreign policy has collapsed," he added. Earlier, Gandhi q ...Read More >
SRINAGAR: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Thursday raided and subsequently searched 32 locations across Kashmir Valley as part of its "continuing investigations against terror conspiracy by Pakistan backed proscribed terrorist organisations and their offshoots to destabilise Jammu and Kashmir". The locations, it claimed, were residential premises of hybrid terrorists and overground workers associated with The Resistance Front (TRF), United Liberation Front Jammu & Kashmir (ULFJ&K), Mujahideen Gazwat-ul-Hind (MGH), Jammu & Kashmir Freedom Fighters (JKFF), Kashmir Tigers, PAAF and ot ...Read More >
New Delhi: Three Indian citizens vanished mysteriously in Tehran. Darkness closed in as hope seemed lost. A ruthless Pakistani gang with potential links to ISI snatched them away, casting a shadow of fear. But relentless Indian diplomats refused to back down. Against all odds, a daring rescue mission ignited. Now, the captives are free, and a chilling game of espionage comes to light. The Punjab-based trio - Amritpal Singh from Hoshiarpur, Jaspal Singh from SBS Nagar and Hushnapreet Singh from Sangrur - had landed in Iran on May 1. Promised a clandestine route to Australia via Dubai and Tehra ...Read More >
Srinagar: Before towering cranes and cutting-edge engineering transformed the Himalayan landscape, the monumental dream of connecting "Kashmir to Kanyakumari" by rail began with the plodding footsteps of humble mules. This extraordinary backstory underpins the official realization of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL), inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on June 6, 2025, a project crowned by the awe-inspiring Chenab Bridge. According to Afcons Infrastructure Limited, the company behind the Chenab Bridge, the earliest and most formidable hurdle wasn't just the design of ...Read More >
The United States recently updated its travel advisory for India. The Ministry of External Affairs acknowledged the update. The US advises its citizens to exercise caution due to crime and terrorism. Certain areas are marked as high-risk. The advisory level for India remains unchanged. It has been at level 2 for several years.Travel advisories are periodically issued by countries based on their "assessment of various factors", and "we have noted" that the US has updated the travel advisory for In ...Read More >
JAMMU: A search operation by a joint team of security forces is underway to track down three Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) terrorists in a forested area of Udhampur district in Jammu and Kashmir on Friday, officials said on Friday. A Pakistan-based JeM terrorist was killed in an encounter with security forces on Thursday, and three of his associates remain trapped in the forested area of the Basantgarh belt. Backed by drones and sniffer dogs, the operation resumed afresh this morning, with the cordon further strengthened with additional reinforcements to eliminate the remaining terro ...Read More >
New Delhi: The Border Security Force (BSF) has completed the deployment of two fresh battalions, comprising more than 2,000 personnel, in the Jammu region to better plug infiltration from across the Pakistan front and check the recent spurt of terrorist activities in the area. Officials in the security establishment told PTI that the new troops of these units have been deployed "in depth areas" as the "second line of defence" just behind the BSF border deployment along the international border (IB) with Pakistan. These two BSF battalions were recently withdrawn from the anti-Naxal operations ...Read More >
Nagpur: Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday claimed the Centre's move to introduce a bill on simultaneous polls in the Lok Sabha was an attempt to divert attention from issues plaguing the country. Addressing reporters in Maharashtra's Nagpur city, Thackeray demanded a transparent election process before implementation of the 'One Nation One Election' proposal. Even the election commissioners should be elected through polls, the former state chief minister said but did not elaborate on how to go about it. Thackeray also said that the Devendra Fadnavis-led Maharashtra government ...Read More >
CHANDIGARH: Gurdaspur police arrested two persons for allegedly supplying sensitive information related to Operation Sindoor to Pakistan's ISI.Director general of police (DGP), Gaurav Yadav, posted on X on Monday that Gurdaspur Police thwarted an attempt to compromise national security by apprehending two persons involved in leaking sensitive military information.He said that on May 15, credible intelligence inputs indicated that Sukhpreet Singh and Karanbir Singh were allegedly engaged in sharing classified details related to Operation Sindoor, including troop movements and key strategic loca ...Read More >
Bhubaneswar: Revenue minister Suresh Pujari on Saturday said Odisha would not be allowed to follow the lawless path in sand operations like it is in Bihar and West Bengal, while responding to the recent assault of an additional tehsildar in Kaptipada block, Mayurbhanj district, by the sand mafia. He promised stringent action against the sand mafia regardless of their connections, while speaking to mediapersons here on Saturday."The Kaptipada incident represents a serious escalation in conflict between law enforcement and the sand mafia. The attack on officers performing their enforcement dutie ...Read More >
SRINAGAR, June 26: Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir, V.K. Birdhi, today said the Jammu and Kashmir Police, along with other security forces, have made elaborate and advanced security arrangements for the upcoming Amarnath Yatra, including the deployment of Facial Recognition Systems (FRS), multi-layered security grids and anti-drone measures. Click here to watch video Speaking to Excelsior in an exclusive interview, Birdhi said that this year's Yatra-set to begin from 3rd July-will see a stronger and more technology-driven security setup compared to previous years. "We have made ela ...Read More >
Indus Waters Treaty: BIG tension for Pakistan as India eyes revival of this project due to... Suspension of the IWT was one of the key decisions made by the centre after the April 22 Pahalgam tragedy which had claimed 26 lives. The Indus Waters Treaty -.. DNA 9 hours ago Who is Pakistani Spy Vishal Yadav? Indian Navy Man Who Leaked Op Sindoor Details To Pak Army Vishal Yadav, a Navy HQ clerk, has been arrested for leaking sensitive military data to Pakistan's ISI, including during Operation Sindoor -- India's retaliatory strike post the Pahalgam terror attack. Yadav was reportedly lured on ...Read More >
New Delhi: Tihar jail authorities on Friday, June 27, issued a statement dismissing reports concerning the critical health of Jammu and Kashmir undertrial political prisoner Shabir Ahmad Shah, saying that he is receiving regular medical attention and his condition remains stable. The statement comes in the backdrop of appeals from Jammu and Kashmir's various political parties and his daughter for proper medical care for Shah, who they claim is suffering from a life-threatening illness. "Some rumours are reportedly being circulated in the social media regarding the critical health condition o ...Read More >
Tihar jail authorities on Friday issued a statement dismissing reports concerning the critical health of Jammu and Kashmir separatist leader Shabir Ahmad Shah, saying that he is receiving regular medical attention and his condition remains stable. The statement comes in the backdrop of appeals from Jammu and Kashmir's various political parties and his daughter for proper medical care for Shah, who they claim is suffering from a life-threatening illness. "Some rumours are reportedly being circul ...Read More >
New Delhi: Investigators probing the recent cases of espionage have identified a former sub-inspector of Pakistan Police as a key handler in the cross-border spy networks. The suspect, identified as Nasir, had been recruited by ISI a few years ago after which he voluntarily retired from service and turned a YouTuber.Nasir and his female accomplice, Naushaba Shehzad aka Madam N, were specifically tasked by ISI to cultivate Indian influencers, sources said. The two had become a bridge between the ISI and Indian YouTubers."After initial onboarding, Nasir would connect Indian YouTubers visiting Pa ...Read More >
Jammu, June 27 (SocialNews.XYZ) Tihar Jail officials, on Friday, dismissed as rumours some media reports and statements by Kashmiri politicians, including two members of Parliament (MPs), about the so-called deteriorating health of jailed separatist leader, Shabir Shah. Shabir Shah was arrested in 2017 for his activities deemed prejudicial to the integrity and the sovereignty of the country. He was also charged with inciting youth to violence and lodged in Delhi's Tihar Jail. Two ruling National Conference (NC) MPs from Jammu and Kashmir -- Gujjar leader Mian Altaf Ahmad and Shia Muslim lea ...Read More >
Kolkata, June 28: A political slugfest has erupted in West Bengal after a woman accused Padma Shree awardee monk Kartik Maharaj, who is posted with the Murshidabad unit of Bharat Sevashram Sangha, of allegedly raping her 12 times for six months in 2013. As per the police complaint lodged by the woman, Kartik Maharaj raped her multiple times 12 years ago promising her a job at a local school. The ruling Trinamool Congress is highlighting the issue in a major way and accusing the BJP of being silent on it since the accused monk had been reportedly close to the saffron party. The woman accusin ...Read More >
Hyderabad: In a major espionage breakthrough amid rising India-Pakistan tensions, the authorities have uncovered a network of Indian netizens allegedly recruited by Pakistan's ISI to leak sensitive information. The key figure in this alleged spy ring is Noshaba Shehzad, codenamed 'Madam N.' Shehzad, a travel agency head from Lahore, is accused of luring Indian net influencers and even government officials into becoming spies for Pakistan. Sources claim that Shehzad facilitated the travel of nearly 3,000 Indian citizens and 1,500 Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) to Pakistan over the last six months ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], June 7 (ANI): Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday asserted that India has demonstrated a successful strategy to defeat terrorism, laying out five key positions on how the global community can uproot such activities, and assured retaliation against Pakistan-sponsored terrorism while showing zero tolerance against this menace. In an article titled 'We've shown how to defeat terror,' published in an English Daily, Singh reflects on India's response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack and India's subsequent response through Operation Sindoor, emphasising the nation's ...Read More >