Malayalam actor Sreenath Bhasi arrested in verbal abuse case
Kochi, Sep 26: Kerala police on Monday said they have arrested Malayalam actor Sreenath Bhasi for allegedly hurling abusive words at a woman journalist during an interview.
The arrest was recorded after summoning him to the Maradu police station on the basis of a complaint from a journalist of an online media.
"We have recorded his arrest. He will be taken for a medical examination," the police told PTI.
The arrest was recorded under sections 354 A (1) (IV), 509 and 294 B of the Indian Penal Code (IPC)
Section 354 A (1) (IV) of IPC deals with the offence of making sexually coloured remarks. Section 509 deals with word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman, while section 294 B deals with uttering any obscene song, ballad or words, in or near any public place.
He would be let out on bail after the medical examination as it was a bailable offence, the police said.
The alleged incident occurred on September 21 while Bhasi was taking part in a promotional interview for his new film 'Chattambi.' The video has gone viral.
During the interview, Bhasi appeared offended when the anchor of the online media asked a question related to the title of the film.
An irritated Bhasi was seen in the video saying that he was "pissed off" and that he wanted to leave. He then asked the cameraperson to stop recording the video.
However, in the complaint, the woman alleged that Bhasi abused her and the crew after the camera was turned off.
Shortly after this, another clip of Bhasi abusing a radio jockey during a different interview with a private FM channel went viral, too.
In the second video, Bhasi was seen irritated apparently by the poor standard of the questions posed by the interviewer. But, no complaint was filed in this regard.
Later, in an interview with a television channel, Bhasi denied the allegations and expressed regret at losing his temper during interviews.
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Metro ridership in Haryana sees over 13 pc rise in 2025-26
Chandigarh (PTI): Haryana's urban transit system witnessed a strong growth in 2025-26, with metro ridership registering a robust 13.55 per cent increase, the state government said in a statement on Thursday.
The progress was reviewed in the 64th board meeting of Haryana Mass Rapid Transport Corporation (HMRTC) chaired by Chief Secretary Anurag Rastogi.
Between April 2025 and February 2026, the metro network recorded over 1.74 crore passengers, compared to 1.53 crore in the corresponding period the previous year.
July recorded the highest monthly growth at 22.93 per cent, while all months showed consistent positive trends.
Financial performance has also remained strong, with fare revenue rising 12.64 per cent till January 2026, the statement said.
Non-fare revenue surged by 108 per cent, driven by effective monetisation of station spaces, advertisements and commercial activities, resulting in an operating surplus for Rapid Metro.
Further initiatives, including the auction of station naming rights and additional advertisement sites, are expected to strengthen HMRTC's financial position, the statement said.
Appreciating the performance, Rastogi stated that the consistent rise in ridership and revenue reflects the success of Haryana's integrated transport strategy, rising commuter confidence and a clear shift towards public transport.
HMRTC Managing Director Chander Shekhar Khare said that, alongside operational gains, the state is making steady progress on an ambitious pipeline of metro and regional transit projects.
Metro connectivity from Gurugram Sector 56 to Panchgaon is under active consideration, with Haryana State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited studying the Detailed Project Report (DPR) and layout plan, and finalising a depot location in Sector 36A near Sihi village, he said.
The Gurugram-Faridabad Namo Bharat corridor has achieved a key milestone, with alignment and station locations finalised and approved by the Haryana government. The National Capital Region Transport Corporation is preparing the DPR, he added.
Similarly, the Delhi-Kundli metro extension is proposed to be placed before the Haryana Cabinet for approval.
The 136.3-kilometre Delhi-Panipat-Karnal RRTS Corridor has also progressed, with the revised DPR submitted for financial concurrence ahead of Haryana Cabinet consideration.
Within Gurugram, DPR preparation has been approved for key intra-city corridors, including the 17.09-kilometre Bhondsi-Subhash Chowk-Rajeev Chowk-Sohna Chowk Railway Station corridor, enhancing connectivity along Sohna Road, Khare said.
