Mumbai,May 2: A Special Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) Court on Wednesday sentenced to life imprisonment to mafia don Rajendra S. Nikhalje alias Chhota Rajan and eight others found guilty in the sensational June 2011 killing of journalist J. Dey.

The verdict was pronounced by Special MCOCA Court Judge Sameer Adkar, after several hours of arguments between Special Public Prosecutor Pradip Gharat and the defence lawyers on the quantum of punishment after nine of the accused were held guilty this morning.

The court acquitted two co-accused, including former journalist Jigna Vora and Joseph Paulson, who was charged with providing mobile SIM cards for executing the planned murder.

 

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New Delhi: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) confirmed on Wednesday that 2024 was the warmest year on record in India since 1901, with an annual mean temperature of 25.75°C, exceeding the long-term average (1991-2020) by 0.65°C. The previous record, set in 2016, had an anomaly of 0.54°C, making the temperature increase in 2024 significantly notable.

The last quarter of the year (October to December) also marked the warmest period ever recorded, with October 2024 standing out as the warmest individual month in 123 years.

Globally, 2024 broke records as the warmest year, surpassing the 1.5°C threshold above pre-industrial levels for the first time, as per the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). This milestone followed 2023's previous global record of a 1.45°C temperature rise.

Rainfall in January is expected to exceed normal levels across northern India and the country as a whole, potentially benefiting rabi crops if distribution remains consistent. However, parts of northwest India, the northeast, and central regions may experience normal to below-normal rainfall.

Further, IMD's outlook for January 2025 predicts "above normal" minimum temperatures across most of India, except for parts of Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, and eastern regions like Bihar, where temperatures are expected to remain normal to below normal. However, "above-normal cold wave days" are anticipated in western and northern parts of central India.

Regarding Prayagraj's Maha Kumbh festival (January 13-February 26), IMD Chief M Mohapatra indicated that minimum temperatures might be colder than average, though detailed forecasts will be issued closer to the event.