A special court in Punjab’s Bathinda district has rejected a request by BJP MP and actor Kangana Ranaut to be exempted from personal appearance in a defamation case filed against her, directing her to be present in court on January 15. The court warned that failure to appear on the scheduled date could result in the cancellation of her bail and the issuance of arrest warrants. The matter is being heard by a special court dealing with cases related to public representatives. The defamation case dates back to 2021 and was filed by Mahinder Kaur, a 70-year-old resident of Bahadurgarh Jandian vi

The Punjab government has once again extended winter holidays for schools across the state, citing intense cold weather and persistent fog conditions. Under the revised order, all government and private schools in Punjab will now remain closed until January 13 and reopen on January 14, following the Lohri festival. Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains said the decision was taken in response to the ongoing cold wave, which has led to a sharp drop in temperatures and reduced visibility in many districts. He said student safety remains the government’s top priority during the peak winter perio

A rift has surfaced within Punjab’s farmers’ union Bharatiya Kisan Union Sidhupur, with several senior leaders and district presidents openly rebelling against union president Jagjit Singh Dallewal. The dissenting leaders have levelled serious allegations related to financial transparency and internal governance of the organisation. According to the rebel group, funds collected by the union during various protests and organisational activities were never properly accounted for. They claim that despite repeated requests, the leadership failed to provide clear financial statements or explana

A CBI special court in Chandigarh has granted default bail to suspended Punjab Police Deputy Inspector General Harcharan Singh Bhullar in a disproportionate assets case after the investigating agency failed to file a chargesheet within the stipulated legal timeframe. The court ruled that the Central Bureau of Investigation did not complete the procedural requirement within the period prescribed under law, entitling the accused to default bail. However, the court clarified that Bhullar will not be released from custody as he remains jailed in connection with other corruption related cases. Duri

Former Punjab Police Deputy Inspector General Harcharan Singh Bhullar has suffered a legal setback after a CBI special court in Chandigarh rejected his bail application. The order was passed on Friday following a detailed hearing in the case. During the proceedings, the court heard arguments from both the prosecution and the defence. The hearing took place after the court had earlier directed both sides to submit their replies and present their positions on the bail plea. Bhullar had also approached the Supreme Court seeking interim bail and a stay on the ongoing CBI proceedings. However, the

The Punjab government has extended winter holidays for schools across the state as severe cold conditions and dense fog continue to affect daily life. The decision applies to all government, aided, recognised and private schools in Punjab. Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains said the move was taken on the directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, with the health and safety of students and school staff being given top priority. Schools will now remain closed until January 7 and will reopen as usual from January 8.In a post shared on social media platform X, Bains said prolonged cold w

The Punjab Congress has announced a statewide protest campaign opposing the Centre’s proposed changes to the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), including a reported move to rename the scheme and alter its funding structure. Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring said on Monday that the party will launch its agitation from January 8, beginning with a protest march from Gurdaspur that will conclude in Guru Har Sahai. He said the campaign is aimed at safeguarding the original intent of MGNREGA, which he described as a lifeline for rural households

Several schools in Patiala district and the Patiala railway station were placed under heightened security on Tuesday after authorities received bomb threats through email, Punjab Police said. The threat follows similar warnings reported earlier in Amritsar and Jalandhar, raising concerns among parents and local residents. Police teams were immediately deployed to the affected schools and public locations, where thorough search operations were carried out as a precautionary measure. According to officials, the email claimed that explosive devices could detonate between 1:11 pm and 9:11 pm. As a

The Supreme Court of India has declined to grant interim bail to senior Shiromani Akali Dal leader Bikram Singh Majithia in a disproportionate assets case, while issuing a notice to the Punjab government seeking its response to his bail plea. A bench of the top court directed the state government to file its reply within four weeks. The matter has been listed for further hearing on January 19, after the state submits its response. Majithia is facing charges under the Prevention of Corruption Act, with investigators alleging he amassed assets worth more than Rs. 540 crore beyond his known sourc