Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk on Thursday said that his imprisonment could create more problems for the government than his freedom and called the home ministry's act of blaming him for recent violent protests in Ladakh a "scapegoat tactic".

A Delhi court reserved for Saturday its verdict on the bail plea of Gaganpreet Kaur, who was allegedly behind the wheel of the BMW car that rammed into the two-wheeler of a senior finance ministry official, leaving him dead and his wife grievously injured.

Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Thursday blamed the BJP for the violent protests in Ladakh, alleging that the ruling party's "breach of promise" on statehood and restoration of powers to the region had triggered anger among people. 

What began as a local case in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, has grown into a nationwide crackdown on banners reading “I Love Muhammad.” According to the Association for Protection of Civil Rights (APCR), police across states have registered 21 FIRs and named 1,324 Muslims, with 38 arrests made so far.

The rupee moved in a tight range to settle 7 paise higher at 88.68 (provisional) against the American currency on Thursday due to suspected RBI intervention amid a strong US dollar and weak domestic markets. 

Protests over an alleged paper leak in the Uttarakhand Subordinate Service Selection Commission (UKSSSC) exam have intensified across the state, with Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami controversially describing the incident as “nakal (cheating) jihad”, The Indian Express reported on Thursday.

The Central Bureau of Investigation has begun an inquiry into alleged violation of Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act against an institution founded by Ladakh-based educationist and activist Sonam Wangchuk, officials said on Thursday.

Female students of Sri Sharada Institute of Indian Management, Delhi were allegedly forced to visit the quarter of self-styled godman Swami Chaitanyananda Saraswati late at night and one of them was even forced to change her name, the FIR filed against him read.