Four-time Trinamool Congress MP Kalyan Banerjee has reportedly lostRs55 lakh in a cyber fraud case in West Bengal. The amount was allegedly siphoned off through a dormant State Bank of India (SBI) account linked to the leader.

Fraudulent transfer through dormant account

According to reports, Banerjee held an SBI account that had been inactive for years — it was used during his tenure as a member of the West Bengal Assembly between 2001 and 2006, when he represented Asansol (Dakshin). Recently, it came to light thatRs55 lakh was first transferred from his active personal SBI account at Kalighat branch to the dormant one, and then withdrawn entirely.

Following this, Banerjee contacted the bank authorities. SBI officials had already lodged a formal complaint with the cybercrime division of Kolkata Police, which has since launched an investigation into the matter.

Police and bank investigation on

A senior city police officer confirmed that a probe is underway, saying, “The matter is being investigated thoroughly. Bank officials are being contacted, and efforts are being made to track down the fraudsters. The bank is also examining whether any lapse occurred at its end.”

Sources also revealed that the fraudsters allegedly used the MP’s photo and mobile number to execute the scam. While Banerjee has avoided making public statements, a Trinamool Congress leader close to him said that he is hopeful of recovering the stolen money soon.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday flagged off four new Vande Bharat Express trains from Varanasi, his parliamentary constituency in Uttar Pradesh, marking another milestone in India’s railway modernisation drive.

New routes to boost connectivity

The newly launched trains will operate on the Banaras-Khajuraho, Lucknow-Saharanpur, Firozpur-Delhi, and Ernakulam-Bengaluru routes. Addressing a gathering after the inauguration, PM Modi said these services would “enhance connectivity and provide greater comfort” to citizens, adding that trains like Vande Bharat, Namo Bharat, and Amrit Bharat represent the “new generation of Indian Railways.”

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath were also present at the ceremony.

Focus on infrastructure-led growth

Highlighting the importance of infrastructure in national development, PM Modi said, “Infrastructure is not just about big bridges and highways. Whenever such systems are developed anywhere, it sparks the overall development of that region.” He emphasised that infrastructure has been a major factor in the economic growth of developed countries, and India too is moving fast on this path.

Route details

Banaras–Khajuraho Vande Bharat

This train will provide direct connectivity between key cultural and religious destinations, including Varanasi, Prayagraj, Chitrakoot, and Khajuraho. The journey will save about two hours and forty minutes compared to existing services, boosting religious and cultural tourism.

Lucknow–Saharanpur Vande Bharat

The Lucknow-Saharanpur route will cover its journey in approximately seven hours and forty-five minutes, cutting travel time by about an hour. The train will benefit passengers from cities such as Sitapur, Bareilly, and Moradabad, while improving access to Haridwar via Roorkee.

Firozpur–Delhi Vande Bharat

This will be the fastest train between Delhi and Punjab’s Firozpur, completing the journey in six hours and forty minutes. The route is expected to enhance connectivity with Bathinda and Patiala, fostering trade and employment opportunities.

Ernakulam–Bengaluru Vande Bharat

Reducing travel time by over two hours, the Ernakulam-Bengaluru service will complete its journey in eight hours and forty minutes. It will strengthen links between Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka, promoting tourism and business across southern India.

The Supreme Court on Friday told the father of Air India’s late pilot-in-command, Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, that his son could not be held responsible for the tragic Ahmedabad Dreamliner crash that killed 260 people in June. The court issued notices to the Centre, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), and the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), seeking a detailed explanation on the causes of the disaster.

Justice Surya Kant, hearing the petition filed by 91-year-old Pushkaraj Sabharwal, said, “This crash was extremely unfortunate, but you should not carry this burden that your son is being blamed.”

Theories point to electrical malfunction

The AAIB’s preliminary report in July stated that fuel supply to both engines was cut off shortly after takeoff when the two fuel control switches were moved to “cutoff” position one after another. Though they were turned back on about ten seconds later, both engines had already flamed out, leading to the crash.

Aviation experts have since suggested that an electrical short circuit caused by water ingress might have triggered an automated system shutdown of the fuel supply, which left the aircraft with no time or altitude to recover once the engines restarted.

Multiple theories under scrutiny

One theory suggests possible manual action by a pilot, as the cockpit voice recorder captured one pilot asking the other, “Why did you cut off?” and the reply, “I did not do so.” However, the US Federal Aviation Administration ruled out mechanical faults with Boeing’s fuel control units.

Another analysis by aviation expert Richard Godfrey indicated that “water ingress to the Aft E/E Bay” disrupted the digital link between the aircraft’s main computer and the engine controls, prompting an automatic idle shutdown as a protective measure.

The Federation of Indian Pilots has urged the government to inspect all Boeing 787 aircraft in India for potential electrical issues.

Call for transparency

With several international agencies involved in the investigation, experts emphasize the need for the AAIB to release a comprehensive and transparent final report soon. The Supreme Court’s remarks have reignited demands for an independent judicial inquiry into the cause of one of India’s most tragic aviation disasters.