Amid buzz over his joining BJP, the former Jharkhand Chief Minister and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader Champai Soren arrived in Delhi on Sunday.

His visit to the national capital has sparked a flurry of political activity. Rumors are swirling about his potential defection ahead of the Jharkhand Assembly elections scheduled for this year.

Speaking to reporters after arriving at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport, Soren dismissed the speculations and said he had come to Delhi for some personal work. He added in Hindi: “Abhi hum jahan par hain vahi par hain” (I am where I am).

This morning, amidst speculations, the senior JMM leader and former Chief Minister of Jharkhand headed to Delhi, sparking rumors of a potential switch of his allegiance to the BJP with six-party MLAs in tow.

The JMM swiftly dismissed the reports of Champai Soren considering a switch to the BJP as mere hearsay. JMM spokesperson Manoj Pandey criticised the BJP as a “sinking ship” and asserted that Soren had no intention of joining the party.

Reports suggest that the former Chief Minister of Jharkhand held discussions with BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari in Kolkata the previous day.

Soren assumed the role of Chief Minister of Jharkhand in February this year after Hemant Soren’s arrest by the Enforcement Directorate in a high-profile money laundering case. However, his tenure was short-lived as he resigned in July, allowing current Chief Minister Hemant Soren to reclaim his position.

The timing of Soren’s visit to Delhi has stirred speculation, particularly his scheduled meetings with BJP officials. This development follows his recent encounter with former JMM legislator Lobin Hembrom, who is also reportedly engaging with BJP representatives.

Despite this, Soren played down the significance of the meeting, dismissing it as a routine exchange. It’s worth noting that Hembrom was recently disqualified as a JMM MLA under the anti-defection law.

The Kolkata Police has summoned two well-known doctors and a senior BJP leader Locket Chatterjee for allegedly spreading false information and revealing the identity of the trainee doctor who was raped and murdered at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.

Dr. Kunal Sarkar, Dr. Subarna Goswami, and former MP Chatterjee have received notices to appear at the police headquarters at Lalbazar by 3 pm today. The police have alleged that Sarkar and Goswami disseminated misinformation regarding the investigation and post-mortem report of the case.

It was claimed that Goswami gave interviews to media outlets, asserting that he had access to the post-mortem report containing shocking details, including the presence of 150 mg of semen and a fractured pelvic bone, suggesting gang rape.

The Kolkata Police has denied these claims, labeling them as baseless and harmful rumors. Meanwhile, Locket Chatterjee has been summoned for allegedly disclosing the victim’s identity.

According to reports, along with the misinformation suggesting gang rape, has complicated the investigation. The Kolkata Police has filed two separate cases – one for spreading misleading information and another for the unauthorised disclosure of the victim’s identity.

On August 17, the Union Health Ministry announced that it will form a committee to suggest measures for ensuring the safety of healthcare workers in the country.

The Union Health Ministry also stated that the representatives of all stakeholders including the State governments will be invited to share their suggestions with the Committee.

Doctors nationwide have been protesting following the horrific rape and murder of a female doctor at the R G Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata a few days ago. Their main demand is the enactment of a central law to guarantee severe penalties for individuals who assault healthcare professionals while they are on duty.

The Ministry also requested the agitating doctors to resume their duties in the larger public interest given the rising cases of Dengue and Malaria.

Responding to the report that an Air India female crew member was allegedly assaulted by an intruder inside her room at Radisson Red Hotel in London last week, the airline confirmed the news and said it is deeply anguished by an unlawful incident in a statement on Sunday.

Air India Spokesperson said in an official statement that the airline is providing all possible support to all the colleague and their broader team, including professional counselling.

Air India is also working with the local police to pursue the matter to the fullest extent of the law, and with the hotel management to ensure such incidents are not repeated, the Indian airline added in a statement.

The airline prioritises the safety and well-being of its crew and staff members and requests the privacy of those involved in the incident, it said.

According to reports, the attacker was nabbed and handed over to the police. The report also suggested that the crew member was taken to a hospital and is now on her way back to Mumbai.

The incident took place shortly after midnight while the crew members of multiple Air India flights were staying at the property.

A crew member was sleeping when an intruder attacked her in her room around 1:30 am. Startled, she woke up and screamed for help. The intruder attacked her with a clothes hanger and dragged her along the floor as she tried to escape towards the door, according to reports.

“She was badly bruised, and the intruder tried to escape. The police were called in, and she was taken to a hospital. She could not return to duty and a friend from the crew stayed back with her,” the reports further suggested.

The airline’s crew had repeatedly complained of inadequate safety, dark corridors, unmanned reception, and miscreants knocking on the doors of the hotel, according to the newspaper.

The current law and order situation in certain parts of Britain, including London, requires everyone to remain vigilant, a pilot said. “We avoid going out alone after late evening in London. It is important to choose hotels with reliable security systems for the stay of crew members, especially when these properties are located in outer London and not in central areas,” the pilot added.

Earlier in the day, Congress leader Pawan Khera reacted to the incident that occurred last week with an employee of Air India airline. In a post on X, he said, “This is very serious.”