New Delhi: A 24-year-old cab driver from Noida, identified as Anil, died tragically after his car caught fire outside a banquet hall in East Delhi’s Gazipur on Saturday night. The incident occurred while Anil was attending a relative’s wedding at the venue.

According to Deputy Commissioner of Police (East Delhi) Abhishek Dhania, the Gazipur police station received multiple distress calls around 11 PM, reporting a vehicle engulfed in flames. "Some bystanders attempted to break the car windows and rescue him, but his body was charred beyond recognition," said Dhania. Anil was rushed to Lal Bahadur Shastri Hospital, where he was declared dead.

Crime and Forensic Science Lab (FSL) teams have been deployed to investigate the cause of the fire, and a case has been registered under relevant sections of the law.

Preliminary investigations suggest that Anil was allegedly in a relationship with the bride, but her father opposed the match due to their familial ties. The woman’s family had reportedly arranged for her to marry another man, leading to Anil’s presence at the wedding venue on the night of the incident.

Family members of the deceased suspect foul play, alleging that Anil was murdered due to his past relationship with the bride. Two PCR calls made by Anil’s brothers accused the woman's family of orchestrating a conspiracy. Meanwhile, three separate calls were made to the police by the bride’s father, claiming that Anil’s relatives were resorting to violence.

Police are currently exploring multiple angles, including personal disputes and the possibility of an accident, to determine the circumstances leading to the fire. "The woman and her family have not yet been questioned due to the ongoing wedding, and the FSL reports determining the exact cause of the fire are still pending," said an officer familiar with the case.

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New Delhi: The All India Football Federation (AIFF) was taken by surprise during its ongoing search for a new head coach for the Indian national football team, when it received an application from none other than former Barcelona legend Xavi Hernandez.

According to a report in the Times of India, Xavi’s name was listed among several other applicants, including former India head coach Stephen Constantine and ex-Liverpool player Harry Kewell. What raised eyebrows was that the application had been sent from Xavi’s personal email address. However, the contact number field was left blank, which left AIFF officials unsure about how to proceed.

Confirming the development, AIFF’s National Team Director Subrata Paul told TOI, “It’s correct that Xavi’s name was there. The application was emailed to the AIFF.”

Despite the excitement around such a high-profile name, the AIFF had to reject Xavi’s application due to budgetary limitations. A member of the AIFF's technical committee admitted that while it was flattering to receive Xavi’s interest, it was simply not feasible. “Even if Xavi was genuinely interested in Indian football and could be convinced to take up the job, we would need a lot of money,” the official told TOI.

Xavi had earlier stated in an interview that he closely follows Indian football, largely due to the increasing presence of Spanish coaches in the Indian Super League (ISL).

Xavi Hernandez, a product of FC Barcelona’s famed La Masia academy, is widely regarded as one of the greatest midfielders of all time. Known for his vision and passing accuracy, he played 767 official matches for Barcelona, forming a formidable midfield trio alongside Andres Iniesta and Sergio Busquets.

During his playing career at Barcelona, Xavi won five La Liga titles, three Copa del Rey trophies, and three UEFA Champions League titles. After leaving the club in 2015, he joined Al Sadd in Qatar, where he added four more trophies before retiring in 2019. On the international stage, Xavi was a key part of the Spanish national team that won the UEFA Euro titles in 2008 and 2012, and the FIFA World Cup in 2010.

As a coach, Xavi enjoyed notable success with Barcelona as well, leading the team to victory in the 2023 Supercopa de España and the 2022–23 La Liga season.