Bihar Director General of Police Vinay Kumar addresses a press conference at Sardar Patel Bhawan, in Patna on January 9, 2026.
| Photo Credit: ANI

A chopper landed and a man got down to go home but it’s not a scene from Karan Johar’s hit film ‘Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham’ but from Bihar where a newlywed couple took a helicopter to come home in Vaishali.

The grand welcome was organised by the man’s brother-in-law who wanted his sister and her husband to come to his house, for the first time after marriage, in a helicopter.

The couple flew from Patna for Vaishal, covering over 30 kilometres in a few minutes. People had gathered to welcome the woman and her husband, Dheeraj, who was coming to his wife, Supriya’s, house for the first time after getting married. Necessary permission was taken and police and the fire brigade were deployed near the helipad.

The people of the Sarasai Village of Vaishali were excited to see a helicopter land in their area. A huge crowd had gathered to welcome their son-in-law and the family members garlanded Dheeraj and welcome him home.

The couple had come to Vaishali to attend a function at his wife’s house. “I am very happy. I’ve witnessed the culture of Mithila. My in-laws wanted me to come home in a helicopter and we are very happy,” Dheeraj said.

“I am very happy. My brother, Krishna, thought about this and I feel very grateful. After I got married, he wanted us to come home in a chopper. He made the impossible possible for us and it was a grand entry for us and I am very happy,” Supriya said.

Supriya Rani

Dheeraj works in the Revenue Department in Madhya Pradesh’s Balaghat district.

The chopper flew back to Patna after dropping the couple.

Patna:

Former Rajya Sabha MP Subhash Yadav, an estranged brother-in-law of Lalu Prasad, alleged on Thursday that the RJD president had links with gangs involved in kidnappings for ransom while the party ruled Bihar.

Yadav, a younger brother of Rabri Devi, the wife of Prasad who succeeded the RJD supremo as the Bihar CM, made the allegation in conversation with a number of media outlets here.

“They accuse me of being behind the kidnappings. It is they who used to get people abducted and order their release,” said Yadav, who has since burnt bridges with his sister and brother-in-law.

“Had there been any evidence against me, I would have been in jail, just like Lalu ji, against whom there was proof of involvement in fodder scam,” he said.

However, Sadhu Yadav, another estranged brother of Rabri Devi, rubbished the allegation and said, “Subhash is speaking nonsense. He seems to have received crumbs from some political party to say such things.” “It is Subhash, who used to be involved in all types of dubious activities. I suspect he must be having links with kidnappers himself. People often used to mix us up. Sadhu-Subhash became a hyphenated expression. He indulged in all mischief and I ended up sharing the blame for no reason,” alleged Sadhu Yadav.

Incidentally, one of the things the brother duo has often been accused of by the BJP-led NDA is loot of vehicles from a car showroom in Patna, which were “returned” after the marriage ceremony of Misa Bharti, the eldest daughter of Prasad who is also the sitting MP from the Pataliputra Lok Sabha seat.

Subhash Yadav admitted that the vehicles were looted in 1999, but claimed involvement of two other RJD leaders, whom he accused of having acted at the instance of Prasad.

“In fact, I was the one who tried to dissuade my brother-in-law from acting in such manner. But in those days, he was drunk on power and listened to nobody,” he alleged.

The estranged former aide also said that the RJD “would have been split many times, but for the anti-defection law, which were made more stringent by the late prime minister Atal (Bihari Vajpayee) ji”.

He also dismissed his nephew Tejashwi Yadav as a “seasonal” politician, and predicted a landslide win for the NDA in the assembly polls due later this year, claiming that it would bag “more than 200 seats” in the 243-strong House.

RJD spokesman Shakti Yadav reacted to the remarks, saying “nobody will believe the diatribe coming from a person who brought disrepute to our party president, and who now seems to be playing into the hands of the ruling dispensation”.

The RJD spokesman also referred to Prasad’s combative statement earlier in the day when the septuagenarian asserted that BJP’s recent victory in Delhi will have no impact in Bihar, and the saffron party “cannot win here as long as we are around”.

“Our supremo’s statement has sent the ruling coalition into a tizzy. So, baseless allegations are being made. But, our leader is an institution in himself. Many of his detractors as well as allies have learnt their ropes from him. His is too great to be diminished by such slander,” asserted Shakti Yadav. 

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

Patna:

A village in Bihar is witnessing a massive row after a teacher at a school asked a girl student to become his “girlfriend” as “honorarium”. No police case has been filed despite the girl complaining to the school. The school authorities have complained to the state Education Department, but no action has been taken against the teacher yet.

Vikas Kumar — a teacher of Kisan High School in Kisanganj district — had called up the student of Class 12 and harassed her multiple times. He even proposed that the two of them go to Siliguri, and made vulgar suggestions, the girl has alleged. 

He cited the example of Mahabharat’s archer Ekalavya, who had parted with the thumb of his right hand to please Dronacharya, whom he considered his teacher. Why can’t his student follow this example and become his girlfriend, he had questioned, she has alleged.

Incensed, the girl had informed her teachers and made a formal complaint against him at the school.

Sources said the teacher had even made similar propositions to a woman teacher of the school to whom he is now married.

Now that a complaint was filed, headmaster Shafiq Ahmed informed the District Education Office. But the Education Office took no action other than calling for an explanation from Vikar Kumar. 

The teacher is yet to reply and is serving as an invigilator in the Matriculation examination at a private school in Kishanganj.

Asked about the allegations against him, he refused to respond.

The lack of action infuriated the villagers, who held a dharna outside the school yesterday. The police had to be called in to deal with the situation.

Asked about the matter, the District Magistrate said they are taking the matter seriously. “After investigation, action would be taken,” he said.

New Delhi:

Bihar got a “bonanza” but Andhra Pradesh has been “cruelly ignored” in the Union Budget 2025, Congress spokesperson Jairam Ramesh said Saturday afternoon, shortly after Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s 77-minute budget speech.

In a jab at the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance – of which Bihar’s ruling Janata Dal (United) and the Telugu Desam Party in power in Andhra are key members – Mr Ramesh noted sarcastically that sops for Bihar are “natural since (an Assembly) election is due there later in the year”.

“It is natural since an election is due there later in the year. But why has the other pillar of the NDA, namely Andhra Pradesh, been so cruelly ignored?” Mr Ramesh posted on X.

In a series of further tweets he also criticised various aspects of the budget, noting the economy suffers from four related crises – a), stagnant real wages, b) lack of buoyancy in mass consumption, c) sluggish rates of private investment, and d) a complicated GST (Goods and Services Tax) system

“The Budget does NOTHING to address these illnesses. The only relief has been for income tax payers. What actual impact this will have on the economy remains to be seen…” he said.

Bihar appears to have got a bonanza of announcements. It is natural since elections are due there later in the year. But why is the other pillar of the NDA, namely Andhra Pradesh, been so cruelly ignored?

— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) February 1, 2025

Bihar, where Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is allied (again) with the BJP, received attention from Ms Sitharaman in her address today. This attention included a proposal to set up a makhana (fox nut or lotus nut in English) in the state. Bihar farmers will also get special benefits from the central government’s applicable schemes, the Finance Minister said, to loud cheers from Treasury benches.

Bihar is also set to get greenfield airports as part of a civil aviation push, Ms Sitharaman said.

READ | In Budget 2025, Big Gifts For Bihar Before Assembly Election

She also announced a canal project in the Mithilanchal region of the state and in the education sector, she said the capacity of Patna’s Indian Institute of Technology, or IIT, will be increased.

Focus On Bihar Before Poll?

The big gifts for Bihar come months ahead of a significant election in a state where Nitish Kumar has led his JDU in several flip-flops over the years, jumping from BJP’s camp to the opposition.

In July last year, when Ms Sitharaman presented her seventh consecutive budget (and the first full one of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s third term), both states were in focus. The Finance Minister announced significant financial aid for Andhra and major infrastructure projects in Bihar.

For Andhra, she had said the centre would provide Rs 15,000 crore for the purpose of developing Amaravati, the state’s new capital. Bihar, meanwhile, got Rs 26,000 crore for road projects and promises of new airports and sports infrastructure, as also Rs 11,500 crore for flood mitigation.

Big Income Tax News

Meanwhile, in her speech Ms Sitharaman offered big-ticket announcements for the salaried class, with focus on revising income tax slabs and declaring no tax dues for people earning up to Rs 12 lakh.

READ | Giant Tax Relief For Middle Class: No Income Tax Till Rs 12 Lakh

All of this, Ms Sitharaman said, will “substantially reduce tax burden on middle class and leave more money in their hands”. It will also boost household consumption, savings, and investment, she said.

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Patna:

In a tragic incident, a Class 10 girl died after a monkey pushed her off the rooftop of her house in Bihar’s Siwan district.

The mishap occurred in Maghar village under the jurisdiction of the Bhagwanpur police station on Saturday afternoon. Priya Kumar was studying on the rooftop while basking in the sun due to the cold weather.

According to eyewitnesses, a group of monkeys appeared on the rooftop and began harassing her. Fear paralysed Priya, preventing her from escaping. When villagers created a commotion, she mustered the courage to run towards the stairs. However, a monkey reportedly jumped aggressively and pushed her with force, causing her to fall from the rooftop. Priya sustained critical injuries, including severe trauma to the back of her head and other parts of her body. She lost consciousness due to the impact.

In a desperate attempt to save her, Priya’s family rushed her to Siwan Sadar Hospital for treatment. Tragically, doctors at the hospital declared her dead upon arrival, citing multiple injuries as the cause of death.

Sujeet Kumar Chaudhary, the Station House Officer (SHO) of Bhagwanpur police station, confirmed the incident and shared details of the investigation: “When we learned about the incident, we went there for the investigation. The family members admitted the girl to Sadar Hospital, where doctors declared her dead due to multiple injuries. The family members refused to conduct a post-mortem in this case and have not lodged any complaint against anyone,” Chaudhary stated.

Villagers recounted the incident, expressing shock and sorrow. They explained that the monkeys had been creating disturbances in the area for some time, and their aggressive behaviour ultimately led to this fatal accident.

The girl’s family and the local community are mourning the loss of life, while concerns about increasing human-wildlife conflict in the region are growing. Priya Kumari, a Class 10 student, was preparing for her upcoming matriculation exams.

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

Thane:

Police have arrested a 30-year-old man from Khagaria town in Bihar for cheating a Navi Mumbai resident to the tune of more than Rs 14.88 crore in a share trading cyber fraud, an official said on Friday.

The Navi Mumbai police’s Cyber Cell tracked down and nabbed the accused, identified as Sujitkumar Madankumar Singh, who has connections in Cambodia where he worked at call centres and duped Indian citizens in scams, he said.

Senior inspector Gajanan Kadam of the Cyber Police station said an FIR was registered under relevant provisions of the new criminal code BNS and the IT Act on a complaint of the victim.

According to the complainant, between January and August 2024, he was cheated of Rs 14,88,91,665 in an online share trading scam.

Fraudsters lured the Navi Mumbai resident after assuring him of lucrative returns in investment in share trading, the police said.

Police worked on several leads, including technical and intelligence inputs, and zeroed in on the accused who was from Bihar. A police team rushed to the northern state and arrested him from Khagaria town, Kadam said.

During interrogation in police custody, it was revealed that between June 2023 and January 2024 and again February 2024 to June 2024, Singh was in Cambodia, where he worked in call centres and cheated Indians in cyber frauds, he informed.

He used to purchase SIM cards in India and supply them to his associates in Cambodia. Singh was a member in several Telegram groups and was connected to people from the Southeast Asian nation, said the inspector.

Primary probe revealed he was in contact with other associates in India as well, the official said. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Patna:

The troubles for Alok Mehta, a senior RJD MLA and close confidant of Lalu Prasad Yadav, appear to be escalating due to the arrests made in connection with an alleged Vaishali Urban Development Cooperative Bank scam. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has arrested five individuals, including two of Mehta’s relatives – Rambabu Shandilya and Vipin Tiwari – which has intensified speculation about the potential legal and political challenges he might face.

Given his proximity to RJD chief Lalu Yadav and Mehta’s prominence within the party, this development could have broader implications for the political landscape of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD). Discussions are rife that Mehta himself could come under the scanner as the investigation deepens, potentially leading to further action from the authorities.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has intensified its investigation into the Rs 85 crore scam involving the Vaishali Urban Development Co-operative Bank, taking significant action in the case.

The agency conducted raids across multiple cities and made arrests, revealing a web of alleged financial irregularities with connections to prominent figures.

ED arrested Vipin Tiwari, CEO of Vaishali Cooperative Bank, along with his father-in-law Rambabu Shandilya (linked to a Rs 30 crore scam in Purvanchal Cooperative Bank Ghazipur), Nitin Mehra (Delhi), Sandeep Singh (Kolkata), and Pankaj Tiwari (Varanasi).

While three of the accused (Nitin Mehra, Rambabu Shandilya, and Pankaj Tiwari) were sent to judicial custody on Saturday, Vipin Tiwari and Sandeep Singh remain under interrogation.

Raids were conducted in Patna, Varanasi, Delhi, Kolkata, and other locations, including hideouts linked to RJD MLA Alok Mehta and his associates.

The bank’s chairman, Sanjeev Kumar, is also under the scanner and remains untraceable despite ongoing ED raids.

The Vaishali Urban Development Co-operative Bank was founded 35 years ago by Tulsidas Mehta, the father of RJD MLA Alok Mehta.

Alok Mehta served as the bank’s chairman from 1995 to 2012. However, in 2015, the RBI halted the bank’s financial operations due to allegations of large-scale embezzlement. In June 2023, the RBI report unveiled a massive scam, leading to the registration of three FIRs in Hajipur and the ED taking over the investigation.

The ties of Alok Mehta to the bank’s history and the involvement of his associates in the ongoing investigations could spell trouble for the RJD MLA. His tenure as the bank’s chairman is under scrutiny, and the ED may extend its probe to his role in past operations.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

In a bizarre incident, a man, who was reported dead 17 years ago, has been found alive in Jhansi. Four men – the missing man’s paternal uncle and brothers – have even served jail terms for the alleged murder. While the uncle is now dead, three brothers are out on bail. The mysterious case of death and life came to light when the Jhansi Police found a person who was registered as “dead” in Bihar Police records.

On January 6, during patrolling, the Jhansi Police came across a man. Upon enquiring, the cops learnt that the man had been living in the village for six months. He was identified as Nathuni Pal, a 50-year-old resident of Deoria in Bihar.

Further investigation revealed that the man lives alone and recently moved back to Jhansi. “My parents died when I was a child, and my wife left me long back. It has been around 16 years since I last visited my home in Bihar,” he said.

The case dates to 2009 or before when Nathuni Pal went missing from the house. Mr Pal’s maternal uncle registered a complaint against another uncle and four brothers, accusing them of taking away Mr Pal’s land and then killing him.

“My youngest sibling, who is in the police, was also named but after pleading with the Deputy Inspector General, his name was removed from the FIR,” said Satendra Pal, one of the brothers accused of alleged murder. “My father, I and two brothers served eight months each in jail. Currently, we are out on bail,” he added.

Satendra Pal broke into tears when he that learnt Mr Pal was alive. “We are finally free of the taint of murder,” he said. The case is still in court.

Mr Pal has been handed over to Bihar Police.

With inputs from Vinod Kumar Gautam

New Delhi:

An earthquake of magnitude 7.1 hit Tibet near the Nepalese border today, the tremors of which were felt in several parts of India, including Bihar, Assam and West Bengal. 

Nepal is nestled in a geologically active region, where the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates collide, forming the Himalayas and making earthquakes a frequent occurrence.

According to the National Centre for Seismology (NCS), the earthquake was recorded at 6:35 am. NCS data reveals that two more earthquakes hit the region shortly after the first one. 

EQ of M: 4.7, On: 07/01/2025 07:02:07 IST, Lat: 28.60 N, Long: 87.68 E, Depth: 10 Km, Location: Xizang.
For more information Download the BhooKamp App https://t.co/5gCOtjdtw0 @DrJitendraSingh @OfficeOfDrJS @Ravi_MoES @Dr_Mishra1966 @ndmaindia pic.twitter.com/3Pt2VY6jRX

— National Center for Seismology (@NCS_Earthquake) January 7, 2025

The second earthquake of magnitude 4.7 was recorded at 7:02 am at a depth of 10 km and the third earthquake of magnitude 4.9 at 7:07 am at a depth of 30 km. 

EQ of M: 4.9, On: 07/01/2025 07:07:23 IST, Lat: 28.68 N, Long: 87.54 E, Depth: 30 Km, Location: Xizang.
For more information Download the BhooKamp App https://t.co/5gCOtjdtw0 @DrJitendraSingh @OfficeOfDrJS @Ravi_MoES @Dr_Mishra1966 @ndmaindia pic.twitter.com/ixbmB92ZNm

— National Center for Seismology (@NCS_Earthquake) January 7, 2025

The tremors were particularly felt in Bihar where people were seen outside their houses and apartments. There have been no reports of any damage to property because of the earthquake.

Details to follow.