THE CLIFF NEWS

A Bangladesh court on Thursday rejected the bail plea of Chinmoy Krishna Das, a Hindu monk and spokesperson of the Bangladesh Sammilit Sanatan Jagran Jote, who has been arrested and jailed by the local authorities on charges of sedition. Chattogram Metropolitan Sessions Judge Md Saiful Islam refused to grant bail to Das, the former International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) monk, following a 30-minute hearing, held with heightened security, A team of 11 lawyers participated in his bail hearing, according to the Bangladeshi publication The Daily Star. His bail petition stated that Das – a monk who is suffering from various diseases including diabetes and respiratory problems – has been arrested in a false and fabricated case. Calling the development “sad”, Radha Raman Das, Vice President of the ISCKON Kolkata urged the Bangladesh government to ensure that the Hindu monk gets justice. “It’s very sad news. We know that the entire world was keeping an eye on this. Everyone was expecting Chinmoy Prabhu will get freedom in the new year – but even after 42 days, his bail was rejected in a hearing today… Bangladesh government should ensure that he gets justice,” he said while speaking to news agency ANI. The former ISKCON priest was arrested from the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport area of Dhaka in connection with a sedition case, among other charges, filed in Chattogram on November 25. Earlier, his bail plea hearings had to be postponed as lawyers appearing for Chinmoy Krishna Das were threatened. On December 11, a Chattogram court denied him bail citing that the plea was rejected because Das did not have a lawyer’s letter of attorney on his behalf. The unrest in Bangladesh stems from the sedition charges filed against Chinmoy Krishna Das for allegedly raising a saffron flag above Bangladesh’s national flag in Chittagong on October 25.

The tragic incident of a 3-year-old girl, Chetna Chaudhary, who fell into a 700-foot-deep borewell in Kotputli, Rajasthan, concluded on Wednesday with the recovery of her lifeless body. The accident occurred in Badiyali Ki Dhani, Kiratpura, last month, sparking a massive 10-day rescue operation involving the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and local authorities. Chetna had fallen into the borewell on the evening of December 23. Rescue teams worked tirelessly, but no signs of movement were observed from the child over the last eight days of the operation. She was retrieved from the borewell at 6:25 PM and transported to Kotputli’s BDM Hospital, where doctors confirmed she was deceased upon arrival. Despite over five attempts to rescue the child, the efforts were unsuccessful, drawing significant criticism toward the administration. The incident prompted Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma to issue a directive requiring all open borewells in the state to be covered within two weeks. On the morning of the final recovery, rescue personnel used phenyl and burnt camphor near the site to mitigate any odours, preparing for an anticipated grim outcome. Mahaveer Jat, an NDRF rescuer, retrieved Chetna’s body, wrapping it in a white cloth before transferring her to the hospital. Rajasthan NDRF chief Yogesh Meena stated that the girl was found in an unresponsive state with no vital signs. Rescuers reported that her body had been trapped between layers of soil, which required manual clearing to reach her. Kotputli District Magistrate Kalpana Agrawal confirmed that Chetna’s body would be handed over to her family after completing the post-mortem formalities.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to inaugurate a range of significant development projects in Delhi on January 3, 2024. These initiatives aim to enhance urban living, provide affordable housing, and promote sustainable infrastructure development. 1,675 Flats for JJ Cluster Residents PM Modi will inaugurate 1,675 newly constructed flats under the Swabhiman Apartments in Ashok Vihar, designed for residents of Jhuggi Jhopri (JJ) clusters. These flats, built as part of the In-Situ Slum Rehabilitation Project by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA), feature modern amenities for improved living standards. Eligible beneficiaries will receive keys during the event. Notably, while the construction cost is approximately ₹25 lakh per flat, beneficiaries contribute only ₹1.42 lakh, along with a ₹30,000 maintenance fee for five years. Urban Redevelopment Projects The Prime Minister will also unveil two urban renewal projects: New CBSE Office Complex at Dwarka PM Modi will inaugurate the state-of-the-art Integrated Office Complex for the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) in Dwarka. Built at a cost of approximately ₹300 crore, the complex includes offices, an auditorium, an advanced data center, and efficient water management systems. The eco-friendly structure adheres to Platinum Rating standards set by the Indian Green Building Council (IGBC). These projects are part of the government’s broader commitment to fostering sustainable urban development and improving the quality of life for residents in the capital.

Sandalwood star Yash is currently busy shooting for his keenly anticipated pan-India biggie, Toxic: A Fairytale for Grownups. Touted as a high-voltage gangster drama, the film is being directed by the National Award-winning Malayalam director Geethu Mohandas. As per the latest reports, Yash and Toxic’s producer, Venkat K. Narayana of KVN Productions, are holding talks with the legendary Hollywood production and distribution house, 20th Century Fox, for the film’s international release. Apparently, Yash and Toxic’s team strongly believe that the film has all it takes to be a global pathbreaker and are leaving no stone unturned to get a wide release across the world. More details about this massive collaboration will be out by this summer. Toxic also features popular Bollywood actress Kiara Advani in a lead role. The makers are planning to release the movie in December 2025 in Kannada, Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, and Malayalam and other foreign languages.

Netflix has shut down rumors about Hollywood actor Leonardo DiCaprio appearing in “Squid Game 3.” On January 1, OSEN reported that Leonardo DiCaprio had allegedly completed a surprise appearance for “Squid Game 3,” with filming reportedly conducted under strict secrecy last year. According to the report, his role is said to be minor, with all character details kept strictly confidential to avoid spoilers. In response, Netflix has swiftly dismissed the claims. A representative stated, “The rumors are completely false. Reports of Leonardo DiCaprio’s involvement in ‘Squid Game’ Season 3 are entirely unfounded.” Meanwhile, “Squid Game 3” is set to premiere in 2025. On January 1, Netflix announced that “Squid Game 2” had achieved a record-breaking 68 million views in its first week of release, making it the most-watched first week in Netflix history. Alongside this announcement, Netflix also unveiled a special teaser poster for Season 3. The poster features the iconic Young Hee, the unforgettable icon from the “Red Light, Green Light” game, and a new robot character Cheol Su, who made a surprise appearance in the post-credits scene of Season 2’s finale.

Zee Studios and Roy Kapur Films’ highly anticipated project Deva continues to captivate audiences with its intriguing updates, building excitement with every reveal. Taking the anticipation to the next level, the makers are all set to unveil a striking and fiery poster featuring Shahid Kapoor on January 1, 2025. According to an independent industry source, “Roy Kapur Films and Zee Studios are set to kickstart the New Year with a bang, unveiling the first poster of Deva, starring Shahid Kapoor, on January 1. The poster promises a visual treat, and Shahid’s fresh and raw look is one to watch out for! To top it off, there’s a special Amitabh Bachchan connection fans will love.” Directed by acclaimed Malayalam filmmaker Rosshan Andrrews and produced by Zee Studios and Roy Kapur Films, Deva is set to release on January 31, 2025. Stay tuned for this gripping action-packed thriller.

Former Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) Zonal Director Sameer Wankhede recently responded to allegations of a smear campaign against him and denied leaking chats with Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan. The controversies came to light after Khan’s son Aryan Khan was arrested in an alleged international drugs racket case in 2021. Aryan spent 25 days in prison before being granted bail and later cleared of all charges. However, Wankhede’s arrest of Aryan had triggered a media storm. Speaking with MEDIA, Wankhede was asked if he was targeted by the media for Aryan’s arrest. He said, “I won’t say I was targeted but will say that I have been the most fortunate person because I got a lot of love from people from the middle class, those who aren’t that fortunate.” “They felt that no matter how big someone is, everyone should face the same rules.” Further, Wankhede was asked about leaked chats between him and SRK, where the actor allegedly asked him to drop the case against Aryan. While he refrained from commenting directly (due to a court-submitted affidavit), he vehemently denied leaking the chats. He also dismissed allegations of taking ₹25cr bribe for Aryan’s release, saying: “I never released him, I in fact caught him. The case is in court and I have trust in our country’s judiciary system.” Wankhede also spoke about a line in Khan’s recent film Jawan, which some speculated was directed at him. Although he hasn’t seen the film, he objected to the use of the word “baap” in the dialogue, calling it “roadside and third-rate.” He also recalled his respectful relationship with Khan during his tenure as DCP of Mumbai airport.

2024 was a rare year which didn’t have a Salman Khan film released. But the superstar’s fans did get a glimpse of him in his upcoming film Sikandar. The film’s hugely awaited teaser was released on December 28 earlier this week. It was earlier supposed to release on Salman’s birthday on December 27 but was delayed because of the death of India’s former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh. The teaser of Sikandar succeeded in quenching the thirst of Bhai fans not just in India but around the world. The 80-second teaser oozed Salman’s unique style, swag and antics, along with some exciting fight sequences. The exciting response to the teaser is enough for the makers of Sikandar to give a wide release to the movie, which is all set to release on Eid 2025 at the end of March. It is now learnt that the movie is all set to release at least in as many as 5000 screens across India in Hindi alone. If the excitement for the film goes even higher leading up to its release, the screen count could be increased further. Produced by Sajid Nadiadwala under his banner Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment, Sikandar is directed by the celebrated filmmaker AR Murugadoss of Ghajini fame. The movie also stars Rashmika Mandanna, Kajal Aggarwal, Sharman Joshi, Sathyaraj, Prateik Babbar among others.

Director Nag Ashwin recently shared his thoughts on fans speculating about Mahesh Babu taking on the role of Lord Krishna in the sequel to Kalki 2898 AD. The film, a blend of mythology and sci-fi, initially broke records as the year’s highest-grossing release before being surpassed by Allu Arjun and Sukumar’s Pushpa 2. Kalki 2898 AD was lauded for seamlessly merging a futuristic vision with elements from Indian epics. The movie featured Prabhas as Karna and Amitabh Bachchan as Ashwathama, with a brief yet pivotal appearance of Lord Krishna in a silhouetted form during the climactic reveal of Prabhas’ character as Karna in the Kurukshetra battle. Actor Krishnakumar Balasubramanian, noted for his role in Soorarai Pottru, portrayed Krishna in this brief appearance. However, the silhouette choice left room for fan theories, with many suggesting Mahesh Babu or Nani as potential candidates for the role in the sequel. This speculation continues to fuel excitement as the franchise moves forward.

Shah Rukh Khan is the first love of many. His onscreen charm and style have swept a lot of people off their feet. Rasika Dugal is no exception! The Mirzapur actress opens up about how her connection with Shah Rukh Khan feels like a long-distance relationship. In a recent conversation, Rasika opened up about her relationship with her husband, Mukul Chadda, and Shah Rukh Khan. She described her relationship with Shah Rukh to be like a long-distance one. She talked about how she has never met him in person but she fell in love with him by watching films like Darr and Baazigar. To her, Khan was more than just a Bollywood romance hero. Any film would work as long as it had SRK. She said she would always have an unaltered and unconditional love towards Khan. One day, she could abandon her shyness for him as well. She also opened up about her relationship with her husband, recalling the first time they had met. Rasika and Mukul had met in a theatre workshop. It was very cliche, she admitted. Every Sunday morning they had a session, and she remembers everyone looking hungover after a long Saturday. Out of the 15 attendees, one was Mukul. After chatting during lunch, Rasika and Mukul realised that they had a lot of common friends which was a pleasant surprise. Reflecting on their chance meeting, Rasika Dugal mentions how it’s been 14 years of marriage now. However, her relationship with Shah Rukh, though from afar, has been even longer. And we all could relate to her — Khan has really been the first love of many!