THE CLIFF NEWS

All 33 people from Gujarat, who were among the 104 Indians deported from the US for illegal immigration, were safely transported to their hometowns on Thursday in state vehicles under police supervision, the Gujarat government stated. Following the deportation, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Minister of State for Home Harsh Sanghavi directed officials to ensure security and coordination for the deportees. A flight carrying the 33 Gujarati immigrants, including women and children, arrived at Ahmedabad Airport from Amritsar on Thursday morning. This came a day after a US military aircraft transported 104 deported Indian immigrants to Amritsar. The Gujarat Director General of Police, Vikas Sahay, had deployed a deputy superintendent of police (DySP) at Amritsar airport to oversee security and coordination. Upon arrival at Ahmedabad airport, a police-nominated nodal officer ensured their safe transportation. The deportees were then escorted to their native places in government vehicles under police supervision. Jaishankar Addresses Deportation Concerns in Parliament During the Parliament Budget Session, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar responded to criticism over the treatment of the deportees, clarifying that deportations have been a routine process for years. Since 2009, a total of 15,668 illegal Indian immigrants have been deported from the US, he stated. He emphasized that US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) follows standard procedures, ensuring deportees’ needs are met, and women and children are not restrained. However, some returnees claimed they were shackled throughout the flight and only unrestrained after landing. Among them, 37 were aged between 18-25 years, while another 30 were in their thirties. Some had spent only a few days in the US before detention, while others had been in custody for weeks. Jaishankar reiterated that the US military aircraft used on February 5 followed past deportation procedures and assured that the Indian government continues to engage with US authorities on the matter.

Prayagraj, UP – A fire broke out at the ISKCON camp in Sector 18, Shankaracharya Marg of Maha Kumbh Mela Kshetra on Friday, causing panic among nearby akhadas. Thick smoke engulfed the area as the fire spread to over a dozen nearby camps, leading to significant damage. Chief Fire Officer Pramod Sharma confirmed that fire tenders were dispatched immediately, and the blaze was fully contained. No casualties have been reported. Officials are investigating the cause of the fire and assessing the extent of the damage. This marks the third fire incident in the Kumbh Mela area, following a major fire last month in Sector 19 due to an LPG cylinder blast. Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath had earlier directed authorities to implement stricter safety measures to prevent such occurrences.

Ahead of the theatrical release of Loveyapa, the makers hosted a special screening in Mumbai on Wednesday night, with Bollywood’s biggest stars turning up to support Aamir Khan’s son, Junaid Khan. Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan were among the top names who attended the event, making it a star-studded affair. Shah Rukh Khan, looking dapper in a blue shirt and denims, shared a warm hug with Aamir Khan upon arrival, even planting a kiss on his cheek, a moment that quickly went viral. Aamir kept his look traditional in a kurta and dhoti pants, while Salman Khan opted for a casual green T-shirt and ripped jeans. The screening was also attended by Junaid Khan, Aamir’s daughter Ira Khan, and her husband Nupur Shikhare. Since Monday, special screenings of Loveyapa have been held for Bollywood insiders, with Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, Karan Johar, Dharmendra, and Rekha among those who have already watched the film. Directed by Advait Chandan, Loveyapa is a modern-day romance that follows a couple whose lives take a dramatic turn when they exchange phones before their wedding, uncovering hidden secrets along the way. The film releases in theaters tomorrow.

With just over a year to go before the 2026 West Bengal assembly elections, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s government secured investment commitments worth ₹91,000 crore from industry leaders at the Bengal Global Business Summit in Kolkata. Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani led the announcements, pledging ₹50,000 crore in investments by the decade’s end. “Bengal is the land of renaissance, now experiencing a renaissance in business and economy. Under Mamata Didi, Bengal means business,” Ambani said, highlighting Reliance’s existing ₹50,000 crore investment in the state, which has created over one lakh direct jobs. Other major commitments included ₹10,000 crore from RP-Sanjiv Goenka Group, ₹16,000 crore from JSW Group for two power plants and infrastructure projects, and ₹15,000 crore from Ambuja Neotia Group over the next five years. Facing criticism from the BJP over unemployment and lack of industries, Banerjee used the summit to counter the opposition and shed Bengal’s anti-industry image. She also announced the formation of a new state-level synergy committee to enhance ease of doing business. Calling the summit a “majestic and stupendous success,” Banerjee positioned it as a key step in attracting investment ahead of the 2026 polls.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit the United States next week for an official working trip, where he is set to meet President Donald Trump, the White House has confirmed. Reports suggest Modi will also attend a dinner hosted by Trump during the two-day visit, though exact dates remain unannounced. Modi will be among the first foreign leaders to meet Trump in his second term, following Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu and Japan’s PM Shigeru Ishiba. The two leaders, who shared warm ties during Trump’s first term, recently discussed illegal immigration, security, and trade in a “productive” phone call. The visit comes amid growing US concerns over undocumented Indian immigrants. A US military flight recently deported about 100 Indian nationals to Punjab, and reports indicate that around 18,000 more have been identified for deportation. Trump has emphasized the importance of addressing illegal immigration, stating that he trusts India to “do the right thing.” Trade relations will also be a key topic of discussion. While India has thus far avoided US tariffs, Trump has previously criticized the country’s trade policies, calling it a “tariff king.” However, India’s recent budget reduced duties on several imports, including Harley-Davidson motorcycles, in an effort to address these concerns. India’s Foreign Minister S Jaishankar, who attended Trump’s inauguration and met US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, has expressed confidence in strengthening bilateral ties under Trump’s leadership.

Filmmaker Farah Khan is reportedly working on a sequel to the 2004 blockbuster Main Hoon Na, which marked her directorial debut. Nearly two decades after the film’s release, she is said to be developing Main Hoon Na 2 under Shah Rukh and Gauri Khan’s production banner, Red Chillies Entertainment. According to reports, Farah has conceptualized a fresh storyline for the sequel, and Shah Rukh Khan is intrigued by the direction she is taking. The script is currently in development, with Farah’s writing team collaborating with Red Chillies’ in-house writers. However, the superstar remains cautious about moving forward without a strong foundation. A source revealed, “Shah Rukh is clear that he doesn’t want to greenlight a sequel just for nostalgia’s sake. He understands the iconic status of Main Hoon Na and is looking for a script that can surpass the impact of the original.” SRK is expected to review the first draft by mid-2025 before making a final decision. If the project gets the green light, it will mark the fourth collaboration between Shah Rukh and Farah, following their previous hits Main Hoon Na, Om Shanti Om, and Happy New Year. Meanwhile, Shah Rukh is currently filming Siddharth Anand’s King, slated for a 2026 release, and is also preparing for Pathaan 2, the next installment in the YRF Spy Universe.

While Aamir Khan is busy promoting his son Junaid Khan’s debut film Loveyapa, reports suggest that the actor has found love again. Aamir, who announced his divorce from Kiran Rao in 2021, is reportedly in a serious relationship with a woman named Gauri, who hails from Bangalore and has no connection to Bollywood. According to sources, Aamir has already introduced Gauri to his family, and the meeting went well. Though the actor has not confirmed the relationship, he recently hinted at his romantic nature during the Loveyapa trailer launch, saying, “Main bohot romantic aadmi hoon, maa kasam. Bohot funny lagta hai sunne mein, but meri dono biwiyon se puch lo.” (“I’m a very romantic man, I swear. It may sound funny, but ask both my ex-wives.”) With Aamir turning 60 in March, fans are curious to see if the actor will open up about his new romance in the near future.

An FIR has been registered against three suspended police personnel from the accounts section of the Police Headquarters (PHQ) for allegedly withdrawing funds using fake medical bills, officials confirmed on Wednesday. The accused—Accounts Officer ASI Neeraj Ahirwar and clerks Harsh Bhankhede and Harihar Soni—allegedly committed fraud by claiming reimbursements for fabricated medical bills issued in their own names, as well as those of their family members and other police personnel. According to ADG Anil Kumar, the trio had embezzled around ₹75 lakh before being suspended on January 8. The scam was uncovered when the treasury officer noticed unusually large money transfers in three accounts linked to medical bill reimbursements. Upon closer monitoring, PHQ officials discovered the fraudulent transactions. The accused reportedly fabricated medical bills for prolonged illnesses, such as kidney disease, diabetes, and hypertension, to siphon off funds. They also misused medical certificates of other personnel, though such instances were fewer. Following the revelations, Jahangirabad police have registered an FIR against the trio for cheating.

A case has been registered in Maharashtra’s Solapur district against 12 individuals for allegedly assaulting stand-up comedian Pranit More over his jokes about actor Veer Pahariya, grandson of former Maharashtra Chief Minister Sushilkumar Shinde. The incident occurred after More’s performance on Sunday when a group of 10 to 12 people, reportedly upset by his jokes targeting Pahariya, allegedly attacked him. More later shared a statement on Instagram, claiming that he was brutally beaten, punched, and kicked. According to More’s detailed post, the attack was led by Tanveer Shaikh, and the assailants warned him against making future jokes about Pahariya, saying, “Agli baar Veer Pahariya baba pe joke maarke dikha!” Following the viral post, Solapur police summoned More to record his statement, but he failed to appear. Subsequently, the police registered a case based on a complaint filed by the restaurant owner where the incident took place. In response to the controversy, Veer Pahariya issued a statement on Instagram, expressing shock and condemning the attack. He clarified that he had no involvement in the assault and emphasized that he does not support violence in any form.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s party appears set to win the Delhi state elections, ending a 27-year drought for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the capital, according to voter exit polls. A composite “poll of polls” projects the BJP winning 43 seats, with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) trailing at 26 and the Congress securing just one. Some individual polls suggest a tighter contest, and the AAP has dismissed the predictions, citing past instances where exit polls underestimated its support. A defeat for the AAP would be a major blow to its leader, Arvind Kejriwal, who rode an anti-corruption wave to power in 2015. His governance model, focused on public welfare schemes, had cemented AAP’s popularity. However, allegations of corruption and the jailing of Kejriwal and key ministers have rocked his second term. The BJP, which campaigned aggressively in Delhi, sees this potential victory as another boost after securing Maharashtra and Haryana post the May 2024 general elections. Official results will be announced on Saturday.