Seema Haider, the Pakistani woman who crossed borders to be with her Indian lover Sachin Meena, has given birth to a baby girl. The child was born at 4 am on Tuesday at Krishna Hospital in Greater Noida. According to her lawyer AP Singh, both mother and newborn are in good health.

“For those who love Seema and Sachin, this is a moment of celebration,” Mr. Singh stated. “Today is a joyful occasion for the entire country and the world. A daughter has been born, and both mother and child are in perfect health. All medical reports are normal, and everything is fine,” he added.

Public invited to name the newborn

The couple has taken an unusual step by inviting the public to suggest a name for their daughter. “We request people from across the country and the world to suggest a name for Seema and Sachin’s daughter. We encourage social media users to send in their name suggestions based on Indian traditions. The name with the most votes will be chosen,” the lawyer said.

Seema Haider’s controversial entry into India

Seema Haider, originally from Sindh, Pakistan, made headlines in 2023 when she illegally entered India via Nepal to be with Sachin Meena, whom she met online while playing PUBG. She left behind her first husband, Ghulam Haider, and brought along her four children to settle in Greater Noida with Sachin.

However, her entry into India led to legal troubles. Both Seema and Sachin were arrested in July 2023 but were later released on bail. Seema converted to Hinduism and married Sachin, after which they began their legal battle for her right to stay in India.

Ghulam Haider’s repeated pleas for her return

Meanwhile, back in Pakistan, Seema’s first husband, Ghulam Haider, has repeatedly appealed for her return, claiming she was misled and taken away from him. He had urged the Indian government to deport her, insisting she remained his legal wife and that their children should be raised in Pakistan.

However, Seema Haider remains firm on her decision. “I would rather die than return or leave Sachin. I request the Indian government to grant me citizenship,” she had previously stated.

For now, Seema Haider remains in the hospital after the birth of her baby, and further updates regarding her discharge will be shared soon.

The Congress on Tuesday strongly criticised Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis over the recent communal clashes in Nagpur, which left over 30 people injured and prompted the imposition of a curfew in several areas. The violence erupted on Monday evening following tensions over a call to relocate the tomb of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb from Maharashtra.

Maharashtra Congress President Harshwardhan Sapkal expressed shock over the unrest in Nagpur, a city known for its communal harmony. Speaking to PTI on Tuesday, Sapkal said, “Nagpur is a nearly 300-year-old city where such riots have never occurred. People here have always lived together peacefully. The fact that violence has broken out now is surprising and reflects the government’s failure. However, this is not the time for politics. The Congress appeals for peace.”

Sapkal also targeted Fadnavis, who holds the home portfolio, for the deteriorating law and order situation. “Nagpur is the CM’s hometown, and as Home Minister, he is responsible for maintaining peace. His ministers are provoking people by raising the Aurangzeb issue because they have failed on all other fronts. I urge them not to compromise law and order for political gains,” he added.

The clashes, which took place in the Mahal area of Nagpur, resulted in over 60 arrests and the torching of around 30 vehicles. In response to the violence, Congress leader Renuka Chowdhury submitted a suspension notice in the Rajya Sabha, calling for a discussion on the “complete breakdown of communal harmony and law and order” in Nagpur.

The notice stated, “This House should suspend zero hour and relevant rules relating to Question Hour and other scheduled business to deliberate on the complete breakdown of communal harmony and law and order in Nagpur, Maharashtra. In its 300 years of dynamic existence, Nagpur has never experienced riots.”

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Priyanka Chaturvedi also criticized the Mahayuti government, accusing it of diverting attention from pressing issues. “The government is instigating violence and creating instability to keep citizens distracted from the state’s financial crisis, rising debt, unemployment, and farmer suicides. Maharashtra is being strategically made unattractive for investment to benefit neighbouring states,” she alleged.

Chaturvedi further claimed, “Under Eknath Shinde’s leadership, businesses were driven to Gujarat at Maharashtra’s expense. Now, under the current CM, the state is being made unviable for investment, forcing businesses to move out. This is shameless.”

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Fadnavis addressed the violence in the Maharashtra Assembly, stating that the protests were organized by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal.

He alleged that rumours about religious items being burnt had fueled the clashes. “It appears to be a well-planned attack. No one has the right to take the law into their own hands. Attacks on the police will not be tolerated, and strict action will be taken,” Fadnavis assured.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday extended the interim protection from arrest for former Indian Administrative Service (IAS) trainee Puja Khedkar, who is accused of forging documents to gain eligibility for the 2022 Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) exam.

A bench comprising Justices BV Nagarathna and Satish Chandra Sharma directed the Delhi Police to expedite the investigation and set April 15 as the next date for hearing her anticipatory bail plea.

Delhi Police urged to accelerate probe

During the hearing, the bench questioned the delay in completing the investigation, despite Khedkar’s affidavit stating her willingness to cooperate. “You must track up this investigation steadfastly,” Justice Nagarathna told Additional Solicitor General (ASG) SV Raju, who represented Delhi Police.

ASG Raju argued that custodial interrogation was essential to probe a larger scam involving the submission of fake documents by UPSC candidates. He claimed that the investigation aimed to determine whether Khedkar’s case was an isolated incident or part of a broader fraudulent network.

However, the Supreme Court observed that revealing the source of the allegedly forged certificates does not necessarily require Khedkar’s custody.

Khedkar’s defense counters allegations

Khedkar’s counsel refuted the forgery claims, stating that she was diagnosed with a low-vision disability in 2018 and had since attempted the UPSC exam thrice under the disability quota. The bench responded by emphasizing the need for justification regarding her attempts.

Khedkar has challenged a Delhi High Court ruling that rejected her anticipatory bail plea. In January, the Supreme Court had granted her interim protection from arrest and directed her to cooperate with the investigation.

Forgery allegations and High Court’s stance

Khedkar is accused of fraudulently availing reservation benefits meant for Other Backward Classes (OBC) and Persons with Benchmark Disabilities to clear the UPSC exam.

The Delhi High Court had earlier dismissed her anticipatory bail plea, making strong remarks about the case, calling it a “classic example of fraud, not only with a constitutional body but also with society and the nation.” It emphasized that custodial interrogation was necessary to uncover the extent of the conspiracy.

Additionally, the High Court pointed out that Khedkar’s parents held high-ranking positions, raising concerns about possible collusion with influential individuals.

Khedkar faces criminal charges filed by the Delhi Police, including accusations of cheating and unlawfully claiming quota benefits in the civil services examination.