Good evening. Modi-Trump phone call and President Droupadi Murmu’s visit to Sabarimala temple dominated news headlines on Wednesday, October 22. But much more has happened in the worlds of politics, business, technology, sport, and entertainment. Don’t worry, Express Catch-up is here to bring you up to speed.
- 01
Former Punjab DGP, wife booked for son’s murder
The Haryana Police has booked former Punjab DGP Mohammad Mustafa and his wife, Razia Sultana, a former minister, over the death of their son, who was found dead on October 16. The former top cop, who denied any involvement in the suspicious death of his son Aqil Akhtar, said the 35-year-old was a drug addict. According to Mustafa, his son, a lawyer by qualification, died of a drug overdose. Police had initially ruled out foul play in the death, but an FIR was registered, citing a recent video Akhtar posted on social media claiming that his family would frame him in a false case or get him killed. Read more
- 02
Belgian court finds Mehul Choksi’s arguments against extradition ‘irrelevant’
A Belgian court has rejected the challenge by fugitive diamond trader Mehul Choksi, who is wanted in India for the alleged Rs 13,000 crore Punjab National Bank loan fraud case, against his extradition. The court held that Choksi’s arguments, including facing a political trial in India, were irrelevant. Choksi was arrested in Belgium on April 11 based on an extradition request by the CBI and has been lodged in an Antwerp prison ever since. Read more
- 03
Yogi Adityanath warns people against buying Halal-certified products
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister cautioned people to stay away from buying any commodity that has a Halal certification label. According to Adityanath, the profits from the sale of such products were misused for “terrorism, love-jihad and conversion”. He claimed that Rs 25,000 crore is earned through ‘Halal’ certification. Speaking at the Vichar-Parivar Kutumb Sneh Milan and Deepotsav Se Rashtrotsav programmes, organised by Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh’s Gorakhpur division, Adityanath also claimed that the alleged kingpin of a religious conversion racket, who was recently arrested, was getting funds from money collected through Halal certification. Read more
- 04
Delhi HC asks Google to remove misleading deepfake content against Sadguru
The Delhi High Court on Wednesday asked Google to remove misleading and deepfake content infringing the personality rights of Isha Foundation’s Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev. The court said Google “must make an endeavour to ensure that the identical or similar content is removed through its technology so as to obviate the plaintiff’s onus of looking out for such URLs”. The HC also directed Google to file an affidavit if it had any technological limitations or reservations on this direction. Read more
- 05
Russian drone, missile attack on Kyiv kills at least 2
A day after US and Russia confirmed that the proposed meeting between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin is on hold, Ukrainian authorities said a Russian drone and missile attack on Kyiv has killed at least two people. The large-scale overnight aerial attack also targeted other cities in Ukraine, including Zaporizhzhia and the port city of Izmail in the southern Odesa region. On Tuesday, Trump said his plan for a swift meeting with Russian leader Vladimir Putin was on hold because he didn’t want it to be a “waste of time.” Read more
