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Hyderabad CFSL confirms powder found in UP Assembly wasn’t an explosive

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File photo of security drill at UP Assembly

Major embarrassment for Yogi Adityanath government which had hurriedly sought an NIA probe, ordered slew of restrictions on vehicular entry in Assembly premises

In a major embarrassment for the Yogi Adityanath government, the Hyderabad-based Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL) has confirmed that the ‘high-intensity explosive’ powder found in the UP Assembly on July 12 was actually a harmless silicon oxide or silica powder, one of the most commonly used substances in construction and sand-casting!

On July 14, two days after the so-called explosive was found stuck under a seat in the Opposition benches, UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath had informed the state Assembly that there was a “dangerous terror conspiracy” and that tests conducted by the state forensic science laboratory in Lucknow had concluded that the powder was PETN – Pentaery-thritol Tetranitrate – one of the most powerful explosives, colourless and hard to detect in a sealed container.

The chief minister had gone on to announce a slew of new security measures for the Assembly, including deployment of quick-reaction teams inside the Vidhan Sabha premises and a ban on MLAs to enter the assembly with their cell phones or bags. Adityanath had then referred the case for an investigation by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), while claiming: “500 grams of the substance (PETN) is enough to blow up the entire Vidhan Sabha, and this was 150 grams… this can be called nothing less than a direct infiltration and now the NIA must probe it immediately.”

Yogi Adityanath

Yogi Adityanath

However, days after the high drama unfolded in the Vidhan Sabha, chinks began appearing in Adityanath’s story, with several independent forensic experts and some media organisations claiming that the state FSL had no expertise or apparatus to test PETN. The Adityanath government, however, continued to insist that the powder was indeed an explosive while the state’s Anti-Terrorism Squad summoned two Samajwadi Party MLAs for questioning as the powder had been found from under their seat.

Now, with the Hyderabad CFSL conclusively demolishing the PETN, a different narrative is being built by the Adityanath government.On Monday, the Dr SB Upadhyay, director of the UP FSL which had concluded the powder to be PETN, was suspended by the government citing a laundry list of charges.

UP Principal Secretary (Home) Arvind Kumar told The Indian Express, “Upadhyay has been suspended on various charges, including giving unconfirmed, incorrect and incomplete laboratory report on the powder found inside the UP Assembly. He was also misguiding the government.” Sources also said that the kit that was used to test the powder’s contents by the UP FSL on July 12 had actually expired in March while the analysts who conducted these tests too didn’t belong to the lab’s explosives section.

Predictably, no explanation has been given by the UP government yet on why these issues were probed by the state when initial doubts had been raised on the report of the UP FSL.

It may be recalled that within a week of the UP FSL and Adityanath claiming that the powder was PETN, the Agra-based Forensic Science Laboratory – the only lab in UP which is equipped to test explosives – had said that the powder was not an explosive. However, the UP government had then gone in an overdrive to refute the Agra FSL report, claiming that no sample of the powder found in the Assembly premises had been sent to the Agra lab for testing.

The UP government is also claiming that the now-suspended UP FSL chief also faces complaints of financial irregularities during his tenure as acting director of a laboratory in Patna between 2008 and 2012. Arvind Kumar, principal secretary (home), said that the Bihar government had written to the UP government, seeking action against Upadhyay, and that the complaint by the Nitish Kumar government had also been included in the chargesheet filed against the UP FSL chief. However, Kumar failed to answer why Upadhyay was appointed the UP FSL chief in the first place if there were complaints of financial irregularities pending against him when he was selected for the role.

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Mohanlal’s Stephen returns in fearsome form in L2: Empuraan Teaser

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Mohanlal as Stephen Nedumpally in the teaser of L2: Empuraan

The much-anticipated teaser for L2: Empuraan, the second chapter of the planned trilogy directed by Prithviraj Sukumaran, has been unveiled, offering a glimpse of a darker, more brutal narrative. Starring Malayalam cinema legend Mohanlal, the film continues the story of Stephen Nedumpally, also known as Khureshi Ab’raam, a character that mesmerized audiences in Lucifer.

The teaser debuted at a grand event attended by the film’s key players, including Mohanlal, Prithviraj, and Mammootty, who released the teaser in style. Clocking in at 143 seconds, the preview immediately sets a grim tone, beginning in Qaraqosh, a war-torn town in Iraq. The atmosphere is tense, underscored by the chilling phrase, “Death to the Evil.”

One of the standout moments in the teaser recalls PK Ramdas (Sachin Khedekar) advising Priyadarshini (Manju Warrier) in the first film: “If one day you feel everything is falling apart and I’m not around, the only person you can turn to is Stephen.” This sentiment reverberates through the teaser as it shifts to Stephen’s iconic black Ambassador car, now layered with dust—an ominous sign of his long absence.

The suspense builds as a voice declares, “He leads the most powerful mercenary group in Asia,” introducing audiences to Stephen’s transformation into a figure commanding immense influence and fear. The teaser’s climactic moments highlight Mohanlal’s commanding return as Khureshi Ab’raam, warning of the perils of dealing with the devil.

Star-Studded Cast and Stellar Crew

Joining Mohanlal in this cinematic spectacle are Manju Warrier, Indrajith Sukumaran, Tovino Thomas, and others reprising their roles from Lucifer. The film also features Saniya Iyappan, Saikumar, Baiju Santhosh, Fazil, and Sachin Khedekar in key roles.

The story, penned by Murali Gopy, is brought to life with the expertise of cinematographer Sujith Vaassudev, editor Akhilesh Mohan, and composer Deepak Dev, whose score amplifies the teaser’s intensity.

As the teaser hints at power struggles, deceit, and vengeance, L2: Empuraan sets the stage for an explosive continuation of this gripping saga, leaving fans eagerly awaiting its release.

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MSBTE Result 2025 declared: Maharashtra diploma winter exam results now available online

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MSBTE Result 2025 announcement for Winter Diploma exams

The Maharashtra State Board of Technical Education (MSBTE) has officially announced the results for the Winter 2024 diploma exams. Students who appeared for these exams, held in December 2024, can now access their results on MSBTE’s official website, msbte.org.in.

To check the MSBTE Winter Exam Result 2025, candidates must have their enrollment or seat numbers ready. The results are accessible via a direct link available on the website.

Steps to check MSBTE 2025 results:

  1. Visit the official MSBTE website: msbte.org.in.
  2. Navigate to the “Examination” section and click on “Winter 2024 Exam Result.”
  3. Enter your enrollment number or seat number in the required fields.
  4. Click on the “Show Result” button to view your marksheet.
  5. Download and save the PDF for future reference.

Details mentioned on the MSBTE Winter Diploma results:

The MSBTE Winter Diploma Marksheet 2025 includes the following information:

  • Student’s name
  • Register number
  • Course name
  • Marks obtained in each subject
  • Subject codes and names
  • Total marks
  • Maximum marks
  • Result status (Pass/Fail)

The announcement is crucial for diploma students across Maharashtra as it determines their academic progress and eligibility for future courses or career opportunities.

Students are advised to verify all details on their marksheets and contact the board in case of discrepancies. For further updates, visit the official MSBTE website.

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JPC clears Waqf Amendment Bill with 14 changes, Opposition cries foul

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The Waqf Amendment Bill is poised for a final vote on January 29 in the Joint Parliamentary Committee. The committee had been tasked with reviewing the bill by November 29, which was then extended to February 13, approved 14 changes to the draft. The 44 amendments proposed by the Opposition were rejected by its chairman BJP MP Jagadambika Pal.

The Opposition had accused the BJP of bias in several sittings of the committee leading to the suspension of several MPs, including Kalyan Banerjee of Trinamool Congress and Asaduddin Owaisi of the AIMIM, both vocal critics of the Bill.

The Opposition MPs had also written to Speaker Om Birla against Pal, saying he was rushing the Bill to gain political mileage ahead of the Delhi Assembly election due to be held on February 5.

Earlier, reports had said Banerjee had broken a glass during a verbal altercation while in deliberations with BJP MP and former Calcutta HC judge Abhijit Gangopadhyay.

The Bill aims to reform Waqf Board administration, mandating the inclusion of non-Muslim and women members. The Central Waqf Council’s composition would also change, incorporating a Union minister, MPs, ex-judges, and individuals of national repute, regardless of religious affiliation. Crucially, the Council’s land acquisition powers would be removed. A controversial clause restricts donations to Muslims practicing their faith for at least five years, prompting concerns about religious freedom.

While proponents claim the bill empowers Muslim women and children, critics, including the Congress and the DMK, allege it infringes upon Articles 15 and 30 of the Constitution, which guarantee freedom of religion and the right of minorities to administer educational institutions. The final report is expected by January 31.

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