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Now self-styled godman Mahant Pratibhanand arrested for BSP leader’s murder

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Now self-styled godman Mahant Pratibhanand arrested for BSP leader’s murder

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Pratibhanand, who carried a bounty of Rs 1 lakh, was on the run since BSP leader Deepak Bhardwaj’s murder in 2013

These are bad times for self-styled godmen. With Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh convicted for raping two of his female followers and Asaram Bapu on trial for rape cases, the latest godman to join the rogue’s gallery is the lesser known Mahant Pratibhanand.

On Friday night, the Ghaziabad police arrested the self-styled godman, also called Baba Pratibhanand by some, for his alleged role in the murder of BSP leader and businessman Deepak Bhardwaj.

“Pratibhanand was arrested from Ghaziabad junction by a police team. A pistol was found in his possession and he has been booked under provisions of the Arms Act. After getting information that he was roaming around Ghaziabad railway junction, we launched a manhunt with several teams and nabbed him,” said Akash Tomar, superintendent of police (city), Ghaziabad. Tomar added that the Delhi police – which had announced a bounty of Rs 1 lakh for information on Pratibhanand’s whereabouts – had been informed of the arrest and could take over his custody over the weekend after due legal processes are completed.

Now self-styled godman Mahant Pratibhanand arrested for BSP leader’s murder

File photo of Deepak Bhardwaj

Bhardwaj, who had shot to fame in 2009 when he contested from the West Delhi Lok Sabha constituency as a BSP candidate and declared assets worth Rs 600 crore – the highest net worth of any candidate in the electoral fray that year – was murdered at his farm house near Vasant Kunj in New Delhi on March 26, 2013.

While the Delhi police, which was investigating the case, had established the motive behind the murder to be a property dispute between Bhardwaj and his younger son – Nitesh, who along with several of his accomplices had been arrested shortly after the incident, Pratibhanand had been absconding for the past four years.

It is learnt that in his confession before the Delhi police, Nitesh had claimed that it was Pratibhanand who had provided him with contacts for Purushottam Rana alias Monu and Sunil Mann, the two shooters who gunned down Bhardwaj at his farm house called Nitesh Kunj.

Police sources said that Pratibhanand, whose real name is Machendra Nath, had demanded Rs 5 crore from Nitesh to arrange the killing of Bhardwaj. A resident of Beed in Maharashtra, Pratibhanand allegedly nursed ambitions of setting up his own ashram in Haridwar in a bid to emphasise his stature as a godman and had hoped to use the money received from Nitesh for this purpose.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

India News

PM Modi marks Operation Sindoor anniversary, calls it India’s firm stand against terrorism

PM Modi said Operation Sindoor showcased India’s firm response against terrorism while paying tribute to the armed forces on the operation’s first anniversary.

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PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said Operation Sindoor demonstrated India’s firm response against terrorism and highlighted the country’s commitment to national security.

Marking one year of the operation, the Prime Minister praised the courage, precision and professionalism of the Indian armed forces. He said the military action was carried out in response to the Pahalgam terror attack that had claimed the lives of 26 civilians in 2025.

Operation Sindoor was launched on May 7, 2025, as a calibrated tri-services operation targeting terror infrastructure linked to cross-border terrorism. Reports said the operation showcased coordinated action by the armed forces and was seen as a major counter-terror response by India.

On the anniversary of the operation, PM Modi also changed the display pictures across his social media platforms, including X, Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp. The image carried the text “Operation Sindoor” along with the Indian tricolour design.

The Indian Air Force also shared visuals and messages recalling the operation and highlighting India’s military response. A video released by the force described the operation as a strong message against terrorism and referred to the precision strikes carried out during the mission.

Operation Sindoor was launched following the Pahalgam terror attack, after which India carried out strikes on terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, according to official statements and reports published at the time.

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India News

Vijay meets Tamil Nadu Governor again as TVK pushes to prove majority

TVK chief Vijay held another meeting with Tamil Nadu Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar as the party intensified efforts to secure majority support after emerging as the single-largest party in the Assembly elections.

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Actor vijay

Actor-turned-politician Vijay met Tamil Nadu Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar again on Thursday as his party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), continued efforts to prove it has enough support to form the next government in the state.

TVK emerged as the single-largest party in the 234-member Tamil Nadu Assembly after winning 108 seats, but it remains short of the majority mark of 118.

The Congress has extended support to TVK, adding five MLAs to Vijay’s side. However, the alliance still needs additional backing from other parties or independents to comfortably cross the halfway mark.

According to reports, the Governor has not yet been fully convinced that TVK currently has the required numbers to form a stable government. This has delayed clarity over the swearing-in ceremony and the formal invitation to form the government.

Political activity intensified after reports emerged that some AIADMK legislators were moved to a resort in Puducherry amid speculation over possible support to TVK. AIADMK leaders, however, publicly denied any internal crisis.

TVK sources have expressed confidence that the party will be able to demonstrate majority support during discussions with the Governor.

The Tamil Nadu election results marked a major political shift in the state, with TVK breaking the long-standing dominance of the DMK and AIADMK in its first Assembly election contest.

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India News

PM Modi changes social media profile pictures to mark Operation Sindoor anniversary

PM Modi changed his social media profile pictures to commemorate one year of Operation Sindoor, with several NDA leaders following the move.

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PM Modi speech

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday updated the display pictures of his social media accounts to mark the first anniversary of Operation Sindoor. The new image was seen across his profiles on X, Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp channels.

The updated profile picture carries the text “Operation Sindoor” on a black background along with elements of the Indian tricolour. One of the letters in the word “Sindoor” has been stylised using vermilion, commonly associated with married Hindu women.

Operation Sindoor was launched a year ago by Indian defence forces and the Border Security Force along the western border. The anniversary was also marked by several Union ministers and NDA leaders, who changed their social media profile pictures in a similar manner.

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and other senior leaders were among those who adopted the commemorative display image on social media platforms, according to reports.

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