The CBI Sunday tried to defend its Director Alok Verma following allegations of corruption levelled against him by his deputy Rakesh Asthana, booked by the agency on bribery charges last week, saying they are "false and malicious".

All 400-odd petrol pumps along with linked CNG dispensing units in the national capital will remain shut Monday in protest against Delhi government's refusal to reduce VAT on fuels, the Delhi Petrol Dealers Association (DPDA) said in a statement.

Congress president Rahul Gandhi Sunday used a popular song from Bollywood blockbuster "Sholay" to target Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his "proximity" to industrialist Anil Ambani.

With diesel becoming costlier than petrol in Odisha, the ruling Biju Janata Dal and the opposition Congress Sunday blamed the "faulty" policy of the central government for the rise in price of diesel.

The last rites of veteran Congress leader Narayan Dutt Tiwari were performed with full state honours Sunday at the Chitrashala Ghat in Uttarakhand's Nainital district.

The video clip that has gone viral shows CM Yogi Adityanath with Bihar Governor Lalji Tandon in the front row, while UP ministers Mohsin Raza and Ashutosh Tandon were sitting behind them.

Since the shrine to Lord Ayyappa opened on Wednesday, no woman has been able to reach the temple gates. So far, eight women have attempted the 5-km trek.

Three militants were killed Sunday in an encounter with security forces in Kulgam district of Jammu and Kashmir, while six civilians lost their lives in a blast following the gunfight there, police said.