Latest news with #Abhijit
Time of India
4 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
HC pulls up CBI over Abhijit Sarkar case
1 2 3 Kolkata: Calcutta High Court on Friday reprimanded CBI sleuths working on the 2021 Abhijit Sarkar murder case, saying: "Your investigating officer is not investigating properly. " The court, which was hearing the bail plea of three accused, questioned whether the agency had confirmed whether TMC MLA Paresh Paul's cellphone tower location put him at the scene of the crime. Justice Jay Sengupta said if proper evidence was not placed before the court, the bench would have to consider granting bail. The judge also asked CBI whether a video, purportedly showing Paul making a threatening speech, was converted from Bengali to English, and asked the agency to gather other information on the MLA. Abhijit's mother Madhabi Sarkar had filed a complaint alleging that her son, a BJP worker, was assaulted by unknown miscreants on May 2, 2021, leading to his death. HC transferred the case to CBI on Aug 19, 2021. You Can Also Check: Kolkata AQI | Weather in Kolkata | Bank Holidays in Kolkata | Public Holidays in Kolkata CBI named Beliaghata MLA Paul, ward number 56 councillor Swapan Samaddar and ward number 30 councillor Papiya Ghosh in a supplementary charge sheet. The agency said during the assembly election campaign, Paul delivered a provocative speech in which he named Abhijit as a troublemaker. The BJP worker was attacked 12 days later. Paul, Samaddar and Ghosh approached HC, claiming to be "victims" of CBI's atrocities. "The central agency is using their unethical force, violating the fundamental human rights, including the right to life, liberty, security, and freedom of the petitioners herein. The brutality of the central agency led to serious mental injuries and psychological trauma of the petitioners. Such excessive and unwarranted use of force by the central agency causes severe human rights violations of the petitioners," the bail application stated.
The Hindu
5 days ago
- Sport
- The Hindu
Rural grounds light up, signify a bright and new era
Indian sports is aspiring to take wings and reach higher levels of excellence in the global arena. The government understands the enormous power of sports, as it aims to project the country's might by hosting the Olympics, an event that unites the whole world. The new Sports Governance Bill, tabled in Parliament on Wednesday, attempts to cut though the complicated web that has been clutching and holding back Indian sports from realising its full potential. The objective is to ease the path of the young athletes and help them reach global glory. The power of sports is often noticed and understood through the influence of sports stars who can engage the world and drive any campaign to great success. Of course, it is a long journey for a young athlete to grow into a star. That hard path with many hurdles is less known to the world, as it is often unlit. It calls for real commitment in the glamour-driven world, where every investment seeks multiple levels of returns, to do the hard work at the grass roots level and drive the youth to higher standards and lead them towards the best stages in sports. A global leader in lighting, Signify has been doing that quietly for some years now, lending a new dimension to the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative, by lighting up nearly 200 play grounds so far and sowing seeds for a sports culture in society in a significant way. What stands out is the way the company joined hands with the Brahmaputra Volleyball League (BVL) in Assam, founded and managed by the former national volleyball captain, Abhijit Bhattacharya, driving the vision to its fulfilment. The BVL was launched in 2020 with the idea of building a strong sporting culture in rural Assam, and offer a platform for the children, passionate about playing volleyball. It started with 50 teams and 400 children. Thanks to Signify jumping in and joining the movement, installing lights in 20 grounds at first, and then stepping it up to 120 grounds, after seeing the transformative power of sport under lights in rural environment, the BVL became a roaring success. Abhijit recalls how the league used to take five months to complete about 780 matches. 'The children return from school around 3.30 p.m. They got to play only for an hour or so before darkness,' he said. With its Khel Jyoti scheme, Signify ensured extended hours of play for the children. 'Now we could complete 783 matches in three months. With increased practice time and better preparation, there is a 100% representation of BVL players in the under-17 and under-14 teams of Assam,' said Abhijit. 'We carried out the installation of lights in two phases with a strong focus on impact and long-term sustainability. In the first phase, 20 rural volleyball centres were illuminated with permanent 10-metre high masts and high quality floodlights. These centres were selected on the basis of regular participation of young athletes, presence of coaches, equal participation of girls, a dedicated registered local club to take care of the installed lighting system, and the overall performance in the earlier seasons of BVL,' said Nikhil Gupta, the Marketing and CSR head of Signify. The encouraging results after a careful study of the impact of the lights helped Signify get into the BVL in a big way. 'The impact assessment was very encouraging. Children, especially girls, were now able to practice for three to four extra hours in the evening. Many girls started attending evening coaching sessions, and the community began actively participating by coming out to watch the matches. The lighting infrastructure also served other purposes, such as hosting community celebrations like Bihu. That made us support 100 more volleyball grounds with more than 1200 high quality sports floodlights, bringing a wider reach and greater impact across rural Assam,' said Nikhil. 'The BVL now has 401 teams and we have seen more than 10,000 children play the game in Assam in the last few years,' said Abhijit with pride. Care had to be taken to ensure the sustainability of the lit up project. 'A proper service chain was created and the responsible teams were briefed about the methods and procedures. The local volleyball clubs or committees now take care of the electricity bills and maintenance of the lighting systems, promoting local ownership and long-term use of the infrastructure,' said Nikhil. If volleyball in the remote parts of Assam became an inspiring story, Signify turned its focus on many other games, especially athletics, to light up the track of many promising talent. It was Mundgod, a small town in Karnataka, home of the Siddi tribe, a African-origin community with natural talent and exceptional athletic abilities, that benefited from the lighting up drive. Young athletes from this part faced challenges due to limited access to proper training facilities. Training Bridges of Sports (BoS), an NGO founded by Nitish Chiniwar, chose to take up the task of training about 50 young athletes from the community in various track and field events. The community ground lacked lighting and that hurdle was crossed with the help of Khel Jyoti. Nayana Kokare is a shining example for the Siddi community, with her inspiring journey, as she has already won a relay medal for the country in the Asian under-20 athletics championships. Nitish throws more light on her path. 'Nayana is from a Gowli tribal family. Her father is a farmer and mother is a homemaker. Nayana stood out for her dedication and determination, by becoming the first girl from her village to complete 12th grade, a big milestone for her and the community. She was 14 when we identified her talent and took her into our athlete development program. She has been given full support for training, education and life skills. Over the years, her progress has been remarkable, from the State, Zonal, to national and international levels. She was fourth in 200 metres in Asia, and had won a 4 x 100 metre relay medal in the Asian under-20 championship in Korea,' said Nitish. There is more to the success story, and Nayana is not alone. 'Today, Nayana is part of our Performance Program in the United Kingdom, training under some of the best coaches, physiotherapists, psychologists, and nutritionists professionals who have helped athletes reach the Olympics and other international events. She is pursuing a course in Sports Management, which will lead her to a brighter future,' Nitish said. 'Through our grass-roots mode, we now engage with over 70% of Siddi athletes across many villages, providing them professional coaching, educational pathways and mentorship. The transformation is visible, not just in medals and achievements, but in confidence, discipline and aspiration. One of the best examples is Nimeksha Siddi, who is also now part of our programme in the UK, along with Nayana. She is receiving elite training and pursuing higher education. Both girls are training hard to qualify for international competitions, including the Olympics, hungry to show the world what is possible, when opportunity meets belief,' said Nitish, who states with contentment, 'we help young leaders own their future'. Nitish does acknowledge the role of the lights, in lending a better pathway for the young aspirants. 'One of the biggest improvements in our training infrastructure has been the installation of floodlights through the Khel Jyoti initiative. These high-quality lights have made a real difference in how and when our athletes train. In a place like Mundgod, where it is dark early in the morning or after sunset, having access to lighted tracks means athletes don't have to depend on day light. They can train before school, or late in the evening, helping them stay consistent and focused. The impact of the lights goes beyond the athletes. These lights help host local tournaments, night-time training, and village sports events, encouraging more community participation,' said Nitish. It is not just the rural parts that get support from Khel Jyoti. If the criteria are fulfilled, any scheme can get support in any part of the country. Sudeva, which scouts football talent across the country and trains them in Civil Lines, Delhi, has got the lighting support. Rani Laxmibai Sports Academy, in Siwan, Bihar, a football and handball centre, run by Sanjay Pathak, a government school teacher, has got lighting support. Over 40 girls from the academy have competed at the national and international levels. Likewise, Neelam Sahu who has been coaching girls in kabaddi, and helping them reach national and international levels for more than two decades, got the lighting support for her centre at Sarvodaya Kanya Vidyalaya in Dwarka, Delhi. The Har Sahay Inter College in Kanpur, that trains boys and girls in kho-kho got the support. The players from this centre have competed in the Ultimate Kho-Kho league, and also the World Cup held this year. New initiatives Signify continues to expand the Khel Jyoti programme with new initiatives. There is a focus on improving sports facilities in Punjab's Schools of Eminence. In a partnership with Hoshiarpur District administration, there is a drive to light up 17 playgrounds that have strong sports training program. 'The selection of grounds was based on their use for regular training sessions, higher athlete participation and the availability of professional coaches. These schools have a history of producing national and international athletes, making them ideal candidates for the initiative. It will support young talent in Hoshiarpur to reach full potential,' said Nikhil Gupta. Even as it engages with former cricket captain Rahul Dravid through a television campaign, 'Hum raaton mein sooraj ugaate hain', and lights up the prominent cricket grounds in Dharamshala, Ahmedabad and Navi Mumbai that host international matches, Signify is categorical that no region or game is beyond its support. In fact, the athletics field of the Inspire Institute of Sports (IIS) that is professionally run by JSW Sports, also got lighting support to help elite athletes reach Olympic standards. It has been a satisfying journey for Khel Jyoti so far, even as it ventures further to light up many more sporting arenas, helping many athletes build a shining career. 'Investing in programmes focused on sports fosters the holistic development of society and the sporting ecosystem. We strengthen community bonds by encouraging youth participation and instil qualities of discipline and teamwork. The drive builds a healthier society by promoting physical activity. It creates a robust sporting culture in the country, paving the way for future champions and inspiring the next generation,' said Nikhil. Through Khel Jyoti, Signify indeed captures the essence of the mantra, 'Tamasoma jyotir gamaya'. From darkness, lead me to light!
Time of India
30-05-2025
- General
- Time of India
Panchang for Today - 30th May 2025: Aaj Ka Panchang - A spiritually charged Friday calls for inner cleansing and conscious alignment under Ganda Yoga
Welcome to your May 30, 2025, Daily Panchang. This concise Panchang is specially curated to guide you through the day's energies with ease. Venus is the planet in control of the day, and emphasis is naturally drawn toward beauty, harmony, relationships, and prosperity. Meanwhile, the Moon's presence in Gemini adds mental agility, curiosity, and a desire to connect, communicate, and learn. Important Details Live Events Tithi : Shukla Chaturthi Tithi Nakshatra : Punarvasu Nakshatra Yoga : Ganda Yoga Abhijit Muhurat: (11:51 AM - 12:46 PM) is a favorable day to make important decisions. Rahu Kalam: (10:35 AM - 12:19 PM) should be avoided when embarking on new ventures. The above combinations characterize the day, lending a spiritually charged vibration to the day's actions and decisions. With the energies of Venus, bestowing charm, compassion, and a pull toward refinement and comfort fueling this Friday (Shukrawara) and the Moon in Gemini (Mithuna Rashi) dialogue, dual perspectives, and quick thinking, creativity, heart-led action, and expressive clarity are the order of the day. Additional Information Sun Rise 05:24 AM Sun Sign Vrishabha Sun Set 07:14 PM Moon Sign Mithuna Moon Rise 08:16 AM Paksha Shukla Moon Set 10:50 PM Auspicious Time Period Abhijit: 11:51 AM to 12:46 PM Inauspicious Time Period Gulikai Kalam: 07:08 AM to 08:51 AM Yamaganda: 03:46 PM to 05:30 PM Rahu Kalam: 10:35 AM to 12:19 PM Explaining the Panchang What is Tithi? Tithi literally means the day of the Moon, and its location at any given time. It provides indications regarding the mood of the individual and decision-making ability. Tithi specifies certain spiritual influences in particular. All Tithis are significant in one way or another, so to indicate certain times which will be appropriate for significant things or activities is needed. Tithi for today : Chaturthi upto 09:22 PM What is a Nakshatra? Nakshatras refer to moon constellations and a way to discover one's personality and line of life. Each Nakshatra has characteristics that determine the personality, traits, and deficits of an individual. Discovering one's Nakshatra would tell a person a great deal about his nature, emotional realm, spiritual unfolding, and global relationship. Nakshatra for today - Punarvasu upto 09:29 PM What is Yoga? Yog is a celestial alignment that has an effect on the cosmic energy of the day. Every Yog has some qualities to direct the potential for prosperity, success, and spiritual progress. Understanding the 'Yog' at birth aligns an individual with favorable energy for life advancement. Yoga for today : Ganda upto 12:57 PM What is Karana? One Karan depicts half of a Tithi and is impacting specific actions and energies. Every Karan impacts timing, choice-making, and self-growth. This helps to understand which timings will be more appropriate for initiating new work, self-study, or spiritual practice. Karana for today: Vanija upto 10:14 AM, Vishti upto 09:22 PM Vaar or Day of the week: Vaar refers to days of the week ruled by a planet and the planet thereby ruling the day's energy. Individuals say that your birth Vaar determines your nature, your sensitivity in emotions, and your approach to life. Knowing your birth Vaar helps in harmonizing your behavior according to the nature of planetary influence ruling the specific day. Day of the Week : Friday —---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This daily Panchang has been brought to you by For Feedback, please write to hello@ Also Read: Numerology Horoscope for May 30, 2025 Horoscope Today, 30th May 2025 Tarot Horoscope Today, 30th May 2025
Time of India
29-05-2025
- General
- Time of India
Panchang for Today - 29th May 2025: Aaj Ka Panchang - A spiritually charged Thursday calls for mindful communication and inner alignment under Shula Yoga
Welcome to your May 29, 2025, Daily Panchang. This concise Panchang is specially curated to guide you through the day's energies with ease. Jupiter is the planet in control of the day, and emphasis is on wisdom, teaching, spiritual growth, and benevolent leadership. Meanwhile, the Moon's presence in Gemini adds intellectual and communicative tone, supporting discussions, learning, and thoughtful expression. Play Video Pause Skip Backward Skip Forward Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration 0:00 Loaded : 0% 0:00 Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 1x Playback Rate Chapters Chapters Descriptions descriptions off , selected Captions captions settings , opens captions settings dialog captions off , selected Audio Track default , selected Picture-in-Picture Fullscreen This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Text Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Caption Area Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Drop shadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Kulkas yang belum Terjual dengan Harga Termurah (Lihat harga) Cari Sekarang Undo Important Details Tithi : Shukla Tritiya Tithi Nakshatra : Ardra Nakshatra Yoga : Shula Yoga Live Events Abhijit Muhurat: (11:51 AM - 12:46 PM) is not a favorable day to make important decisions. Rahu Kalam: (02:02 PM - 03:46 PM) should be avoided when embarking on new ventures. The above combinations characterize the day, lending a spiritually charged vibration to the day's actions and decisions. With the energies of Jupiter, spiritual practice fueling this Thursday (Guruwara) and the Moon in Gemini (Mithuna Rashi) mental clarity, disciplined speech, and spiritual discipline are the order of the day. Additional Information Sun Rise 05:24 AM Sun Sign Vrishabha Sun Set 07:13 PM Moon Sign Mithuna Moon Rise 07:08 AM Paksha Shukla Moon Set 09:59 PM Auspicious Time Period Abhijit: 11:51 AM to 12:46 PM Inauspicious Time Period Gulikai Kalam: 08:52 AM to 10:35 AM Yamaganda: 05:24 AM to 07:08 AM Rahu Kalam: 02:02 PM - 03:46 PM Explaining the Panchang What is Tithi? Tithi literally means the day of the Moon, and its location at any given time. It provides indications regarding the mood of the individual and decision-making ability. Tithi specifies certain spiritual influences in particular. All Tithis are significant in one way or another, so to indicate certain times which will be appropriate for significant things or activities is needed. Tithi for today : Tritiya upto 11:18 PM What is a Nakshatra? Nakshatras refer to moon constellations and a way to discover one's personality and line of life. Each Nakshatra has characteristics that determine the personality, traits, and deficits of an individual. Discovering one's Nakshatra would tell a person a great deal about his nature, emotional realm, spiritual unfolding, and global relationship. Nakshatra for today - Ardra upto 10:38 PM What is Yoga? Yog is a celestial alignment that has an effect on the cosmic energy of the day. Every Yog has some qualities to direct the potential for prosperity, success, and spiritual progress. Understanding the 'Yog' at birth aligns an individual with favorable energy for life advancement. Yoga for today : Shula upto 03:47 PM What is Karana? One Karan depicts half of a Tithi and is impacting specific actions and energies. Every Karan impacts timing, choice-making, and self-growth. This helps to understand which timings will be more appropriate for initiating new work, self-study, or spiritual practice. Karana for today: Taitila upto 12:31 PM, Garaja upto 11:18 PM Vaar or Day of the week: Vaar refers to days of the week ruled by a planet and the planet thereby ruling the day's energy. Individuals say that your birth Vaar determines your nature, your sensitivity in emotions, and your approach to life. Knowing your birth Vaar helps in harmonizing your behavior according to the nature of planetary influence ruling the specific day. Day of the Week : Thursday —---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This daily Panchang has been brought to you by For Feedback, please write to hello@ .
The Hindu
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Smash Guys open their first outlet in Bengaluru with smash burgers, shakes and an unmissable Old Monk chocolate mousse
Bengaluru's love affair with burgers goes back a long way. Way back when we had popular burger joints that became city favourites such as Indiana, Ice and Spice (now known as Truffles), The Only Place, Peppa Zing and Cafe Thulp. Post the pandemic there has been a new wave of burger establishments that have refined the dish and are trying to take it from fast food to an elevated experience. Smash Guys started with this aim. The brainchild of brothers Nikhil and Abhijit Gupta, and Adithya Kidambi as chef consultant, the brand began hosting pop-ups. The first one being at the Conservatory in March of 2024. Now they open their first outlet on the swish 12th Main Road of Indiranagar. The interiors of the restaurant are designed like an American-style diner. Chequered floors, marquee signs and wooden furniture. I take a seat at the bar, getting a ringside view of the busy kitchen. It is six in the evening, and they have just opened their doors, but there is already a crowd. Their popularity is based on word of mouth from their pop-ups and a strong social media presence. What is a smash burger? Abhijit researched American burger history for two years to create this menu. 'We started with a simple idea — to bring world-class smash burgers to India. From the traditional Oklahoma onion smash and the OG cheeseburger, to our signature whopper and Elvis Presley's favourite peanut-butter-bacon burger, we are paying homage to burger styles that hold a piece of history,' he says. A smash burger is an American style of burger. It is made by cooking a smashed burger patty on a flattop grill at high heat. It is said that in the 1960s, a cook at a restaurant in Kentucky pressed a ground beef meatball to a thin crispy patty, and the smash burger was born. The flattened patties absorb more flavour and have more texture. These are then topped with onions or cheese. The menu On the menu at Smash Guys are these smash burgers, available in buff and lamb options, veggie and chicken burgers, sides, shakes and desserts. First, the sides. I see the classics — onion rings, fries, corn ribs, Ceasar salad and wedges. I try the corn ribs, the thin slices of corn on the cob are rubbed with a spice mix and served with a garlic sauce. I miss the days when burgers came with a side of fries, so I order them separately. The parmesan fries are decent, but the truffle dip saves them. Now the burgers. The meatballs are cooked on a hot plancha (iron griddle). The edges are crispy, and the insides are juicy. The OG smash burger is made with a double patty, onions, cheese and mustard. Simple and clean, served atop their in-house made sesame buns. The brisket burger has a buff patty that is topped with a slow cooked brisket. 'We sear the brisket and slow-cook it for eight hours to lock in flavours,' says Abhijit. It is topped with the signature smash sauce. The Flintstone is a buff burger served with a torched bone marrow. The smoked butter whopper is cooked in homemade smoked butter, giving it another dimenion. If it is all sounding a bit meat heavy, their veggie options are good too. The Korean fried paneer burger has flavours of gochujang and chimichurri. The magic mushroom burger is made with crisp oyster mushroom, roasted button mushroom, togarashi flakes, pickles, lettuce, truffle oil, truffle mayo. Decadent. I pair my meal with a diner-style strawberry milkshake, mainly for the vibes. The drink is sweet and served in a tall milkshake glass. I end with the highly recommend Old Monk chocolate mousse. The silky mousse is made with dark rum, and the dish is topped with whipped custard and cocoa dust. The hints of flavours from the rum elevate the dish, even for a non-Old Monk lover like me. The menu is balanced with experimental options and classics. The team's love for burgers is evident in the menu. The restaurant is loud and crowded, and the service is fast, but chaotic. Hoping these will settle down in the next few months. Cost for two ₹1,500. At Indiranagar. For more details, call 8762109796
