Mumbai: Twenty-five years after his escape, the CBI has arrested absconder Farookh Takla, an accused in the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts and a close aide of fugitive mafia don Dawood Ibrahim Kaskar, from Dubai.

Takla, against whom the Interpol had issued a Red Corner Notice in 1995 was finally tracked to Dubai and brought to Mumbai earlier on Thursday. He has been whisked off to the CBI offices for questioning and will be produced before a Special TADA Court later in the day for remand.

Takla's arrest comes just two days after wellknown criminal lawyer Shyam Keswani reiterated in Thane that Dawood Ibrahim Kaskar was reportedly willing to return to India and face trial, but the Indian government had rejected some of his preconditions.

Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.



Bengaluru: Congress has taken the lead in all three Assembly constituencies where by-elections were held in the state. Among these, Congress has secured victories in the Sandur and Shiggaon constituencies. However, the official announcement from the Election Commission is awaited.

In the Shiggaon Assembly constituency, Yasir Khan Pathan has achieved a resounding victory against Bharath Bommai, the son of former Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai. With this win, Congress has taken control of a constituency that was previously under BJP's hold.

In Sandur, Congress candidate Annapoorna Tukaram has defeated BJP's Bangaru Hanumanthu, reclaiming the Sandur constituency for Congress.