The Rouse Avenue Court acquitted former Congress MP Sajjan Kumar in cases related to the 1984 anti-Sikh riots connected to the Janakpuri and Vikas Puri police stations. The Janakpuri case involved the killings of Sohan Singh and his son-in-law Avtar Singh on November 1, 1984, while the Vikas Puri case concerned the burning of Gurcharan Singh on November 2, 1984.
Special Judge Dig Vinay Singh delivered the acquittal after hearing the case, which was investigated by the SIT set up by the central government. The detailed judgment will be uploaded by the court. The court had reserved its verdict on January 22. Sajjan Kumar had already been discharged from murder charges in 2023.
Additional Public Prosecutor Manish Rawat represented the prosecution, while advocates Anil Kumar Sharma, Apoorv Sharma, and SA Hashmi represented Sajjan Kumar. During his statement on July 7, Sajjan Kumar denied all allegations, claiming he was not present at the riot sites and had been falsely implicated.
The court had previously framed charges against him under several sections of the IPC, including 147 (rioting), 148 (rioting with deadly weapons), 149 (unlawful assembly), 153A (promoting enmity), 295 (injuring religious places), 307 and 308 (attempted murder and culpable homicide), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 395 (dacoity), and 426 (mischief). The court noted that a large mob armed with weapons had gathered near the Gulab Bagh Gurudwara on November 1, 1984, and that Sajjan Kumar was allegedly part of this mob, whose intent was to set the Gurudwara on fire, destroy Sikh homes, loot property, and target Sikhs in retaliation for Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s assassination.
Charges were also framed against him for abetment under Sections 107, 109, and 114 IPC, as he was considered a principal abettor present at the scene. However, regarding the November 2, 1984 incident near the Congress party office in Uttam Nagar, which involved the murder of Sohan Singh and Avtar Singh and injuries to Harvinder Singh, the court discharged Sajjan Kumar from the relevant IPC sections 302 and 325, citing reasons discussed in the order.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from ANI.
Canada’s federal court on wednesday (Jan 21), overturned a government order that would have shut down TikTok’s operations in the country, allowing the short-video platform to continue functioning for now, and directed Ottawa to review the case. In November 2024, Canada’s industry ministry had ordered TikTok’s business to be dissolved, citing national security concerns, though it did not block access to the app or prevent users from creating content. TikTok, which reports over 14 million monthly users in Canada, appealed the decision.
Federal court Judge Russel Zinn, in a brief ruling, set aside the order and referred the matter back to Industry Minister Melanie Joly for review, without providing any explanation. The industry ministry stated that Joly “will now proceed with a new national security review” but could not provide further comments due to legal confidentiality rules. TikTok welcomed the court’s decision and said it looked forward to cooperating with Joly.
Prime Minister Mark Carney has been pursuing closer ties with China to mitigate the impact of US tariffs on the Canadian economy. Concerns over TikTok’s ownership by Chinese company ByteDance have drawn scrutiny from Canada and other countries, with fears that China could use the app to collect user data or advance its interests. Last September, TikTok agreed to strengthen its safeguards to prevent children from accessing its Canadian platform after an investigation found its previous measures to protect minors and personal data were insufficient.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Reuters.
An Indian Air Force (IAF) microlite aircraft experienced a technical malfunction during a routine training flight from Air Force Station Bamrauli near Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh on 21 january 2026, . The two-seater aircraft, used for pilot training, reconnaissance, and survey missions, had to make an emergency landing around 12:15 hours.
While flying over the Phaphamau and Sangam areas, the engine reportedly failed, prompting the pilots to activate the recovery system and guide the microlite to a controlled landing in an uninhabited pond near K P College in the George Town police area. Both pilots were unharmed, and no damage to civilian life or property was reported. Deputy Commissioner of Police (City) Manish Shandilya credited the pilots’ swift action for preventing a potential disaster.
Local police, fire personnel, and residents quickly assisted in the rescue, with divers ensuring the pilots were safely retrieved. Authorities have cordoned off the area for recovery and investigation. The IAF confirmed the incident on X (formerly Twitter), stating that the aircraft experienced a technical malfunction during a routine sortie and was safely force-landed without harm to civilians or property. A Court of Inquiry has been initiated to determine the cause of the malfunction, examining flight data, maintenance logs, and technical records.
Microlite aircraft are lightweight, versatile planes used to train novice pilots in low-risk environments, including simulations of emergencies like engine failures. This incident highlights the risks inherent in military aviation training and the importance of rigorous pilot training, which enabled a precise water landing under challenging conditions.
Prayagraj, near AF Station Bamrauli, often sees such training operations. Local authorities and residents responded swiftly, reflecting strong civil-military coordination. Preliminary findings suggest an isolated technical fault rather than a systemic issue. Both pilots are undergoing routine medical checks, and training operations are expected to continue with minimal disruption. The incident also underscores the need for enhanced pre-flight checks and redundancy measures, especially when operating microlites near populated or sensitive areas like the Sangam. No further details on the aircraft model or specific malfunction have been released pending the inquiry.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Indian Defence News.
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu received a threat ahead of Republic Day, with an email warning of a possible suicide bomb attack during the flag-hoisting ceremony, officials said. The threatening email was sent to the official email ID of the Deputy Commissioner's office in Shimla, claiming the Chief Minister would be targeted if he attended the event.
Deputy Commissioner Shimla Anupam Kashyap confirmed the email and said it was forwarded to the police for action. A case has been registered against an unknown person at Sadar Police Station under relevant laws. The email came from an anonymous ID. Senior police officials stated that cyber experts are working to trace the source and location of the email, and efforts are ongoing to identify and arrest the sender. Additional security measures have been implemented in response to the threat.
Preliminary investigations indicate the email may have been intended to spread fear and panic through false information. Superintendent of Police Shimla, Sanjeev Kumar Gandhi, noted that similar threatening emails targeting various officials and institutions have been received in the past, and the matter is being taken seriously. Security agencies continue to monitor the situation closely as Republic Day approaches.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from ANI.
IIT Kharagpur registered its highest-ever CTC of Rs 2.44 crore in the 2025–26 placement season. During Phase I of the placements, the institute received 1,501 job offers, including 457 pre-placement offers and 15 international roles. A major highlight of the season was the institute crossing 1,000 placement offers in a single day. The recruitment drive spanned multiple sectors such as technology, core engineering, finance, consulting, analytics, and manufacturing. Leading global recruiters included Apple, Tesla, Google, Microsoft, Nvidia, Airbus, Boeing, Mercedes, Qualcomm, Siemens, Amazon, Walmart, Goldman Sachs, McKinsey, Databricks, JP Morgan Chase, Accenture, American Express, Samsung Korea, Texas Instruments, ExxonMobil, Caterpillar, Schlumberger Limited, L&T Finance, and the Tata Group. Phase I of the placement process was conducted from December 1, 2025, to January 3, 2026, while Phase II commenced on January 16. Commenting on the results, Prof. Sanjay Gupta, Chairperson of the Career Development Centre at IIT Kharagpur, said the impressive outcomes reflect the strength of the institute’s collaborative approach, even amid challenging market conditions.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from NDTV.
President Donald Trump has proposed a US-led “Board of Peace” aimed at resolving international conflicts, with himself as chair and backed by billion-dollar funding. The idea raises questions about whether a leader known for a confrontational foreign policy can credibly recast himself as a global peacemaker. Andrea Heng and Hairianto Diman examine the initiative’s underlying motives, its international legitimacy, and its future beyond Trump’s presidency, with insights from Dr Jessica Genauer, Associate Professor of International Relations at Flinders University.
Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from CNA.
During the daily markets segment on Open For Business, hosts Andrea Heng and Hairianto Diman engage in an in-depth discussion with Rachana Mehta, who serves as the Head of Regional Fixed Income at Maybank Asset Management, exploring the latest trends, insights, and developments in the financial markets and their potential impact on investors and the broader economy.
Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from CNA.
In Destination Anywhere, Melanie Oliveiro explores the food-focused travel journeys of Naomi Ngoo, founder of SALT.Singapore, the award-winning hawker stall known for its Western and Asian offerings. Ngoo shares memories from Rome, where she savored fresh pasta at the popular Pomodorum, sampled fried delights from Taiwan’s famous Devil Chicken, and enjoyed affordable, high-quality steaks at the UK-based Flat Iron chain. She also reveals how these culinary experiences inspired new SALT.Singapore creations, contributing to her win at the Singapore Hawkers’ Celebration and Awards 2025.
Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from CNA.
The Department of Justice launched a criminal investigation into Jerome Powell, the Federal Reserve chair and longtime adversary of Donald Trump. In an unusual turn, central bank leaders and top bankers in the U.S. resisted the Trump administration’s pressure. This week, Jonathan Freedland talks with economist Heather Boushey about why challenging Wall Street could be a battle the president may come to regret.
Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from The Guardian.
