Articles by Ananya Varma

World

Drone Buzzing Over Uddhav Thackeray's Matoshree Residence Sparks 'Surveillance' Fears - What It Truly Was

A drone was spotted near former Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray's residence in Mumbai, raising allegations of "surveillance" by Shiv Sena (UBT). After the drone was spotted near the highly guarded residence of the Thackerays in the Bandra area, Aaditya alleged that the country was turning into a "surveillance state". "The drone surveillance of our house today is a shameful incident, yet doesn't shock us, with the kind of surveillance state that we live in," the Sena (UBT) leader stated on X. But the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has clarified what the UAV truly was. Responding to Aaditya Thackeray's post on X, MMRDA said the drone was for a POD taxi project survey and was flown with prior permission of the police. The exercise was conducted to aid a visual study of the approved alignment for the Personal Rapid Transit (POD) taxi project along Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC). 'All permissions were obtained by police': MMRDA The authority had secured all necessary approvals from the police department on behalf of the concessionaire, and the survey, carried out over the past two days, was monitored by police personnel and officials concerned, it said. The project is being executed on a public-private partnership basis and is progressing as planned, it stated. MMRDA also reiterated that all necessary permissions were obtained by MMRDA on behalf of the concessionaire from the Police Department, and every instruction issued by them was strictly adhered to. "The certified drone operator, whose background verification has already been submitted, adhered to all instructions issued by the authorities. The operation remained fully restricted to the permitted route without any deviation," the agency stated. "The operation remained fully compliant and restricted to the approved alignment, with no breach or deviation at any stage," the MMRDA added. But the explanation did not go well with the party. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Anand Dubey asked reporters, "The whole of Mumbai knows that Kala Nagar's 'Matoshree' is the residence of the Thackeray family. If a survey is to be done by a drone, it should be informed in advance. But what kind of survey is the MMRDA conducting on Sunday, with police permission, that only shows the 'Matoshree' premises?" The party has demanded a fair investigation into the matter. (With agency inputs) For the Latest news, India News, Bihar Election 2025 updates and breaking stories from around the world, visit Times Now for live coverage and in-depth reporting.

Politics

'72 Of 121 Seats Will Be...' Congress Has A Bold Prediction On INDIA Bloc's Bihar Result

Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera projected that the INDIA bloc could secure 72 out of 121 seats it contested in the first phase of the Bihar assembly polls on November 6. Addressing a press conference in Patna on Sunday, he said that Congress could also have "entered the double-digit mark" in the first phase itself. Attacking the NDA, he alleged, without naming anyone, that efforts were being made to steal votes, and a "thief is roaming the state". Khera said that the ensuing elections will "not only set the trajectory of Bihar but also define the outline of political discourse in the country." "Bihar's people are ready to chase them out of power," he added. The Congress leader also claimed that ministers in the NDA government "have sensed their defeat" and are trying to "destroy traces of their corruption". "At least one deputy CM and several other ministers have already decided to vacate their official residences and are destroying files of corruption," Khera alleged. "Don't be shocked if you see a fire breaking out in any government office," he told reporters. 'Tejashwi Yadav will not decieve people': Khera On RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav's promise to provide one government job per household, if voted to power, Khera said, "One who can provide 5 lakh jobs in 17 months, can also fulfill this promise. He is a young leader and has a long road to travel. He will not deceive people." He was referring to Yadav's claim that he, as the then deputy CM, was instrumental in providing five lakh jobs during the 17-month Mahagathbandhan government, of which Nitish Kumar was then a part. "On one hand, we have a leader who uses words like 'katta' (country-made pistol) and 'kanpatti' (temple of head) in his rally speeches, and on the other, there are promises of a government job in each household, reduced cost of LPG cylinders, and 200 units of free electricity, among other things," the Congress leader added. The first phase of the Bihar Assembly elections concluded peacefully on Thursday with a record voter turnout of 64.66 per cent, the highest in the electoral history of the state. Assembly elections in Bihar are being held in two phases on November 6 and 11, while the counting of votes is set for November 14. (With PTI inputs) For the Latest news, India News, Bihar Election 2025 updates and breaking stories from around the world, visit Times Now for live coverage and in-depth reporting.

Technology

'Drunk Drivers Are Terrorists': Hyderabad Top Cop's Strong Remark After Kurnool Bus Tragedy

Calling the Kurnool bus tragedy a "preventable massacre," Hyderabad Police Commissioner VC Sajjanar on Sunday said that drunk drivers are no less than terrorists. The top cop's remarks came as investigators zeroed in on a two-wheeler believed to have triggered the chain of events that caused the deadly fire. CCTV footage accessed by Times Now shows the bike being driven recklessly by an inebriated rider just minutes before it was abandoned on the highway where the accident happened. "The horrific Kurnool bus accident, which claimed the lives of 20 innocent people, was not an accident in the truest sense. It was a preventable massacre, caused by the reckless and irresponsible behaviour of an intoxicated biker," he said. According to police, the biker was under the influence of alcohol, and his reckless act led to the collision that engulfed the bus in flames, killing several passengers on board. "This was not a road mishap but a criminal act of negligence that annihilated entire families within seconds. The biker, identified as B. Shiva Shankar, was under the influence of alcohol. CCTV footage shows him refueling his motorcycle minutes before he lost control and caused the devastating collision. His decision to drive drunk turned a moment of arrogance into a tragedy of unimaginable scale," said Sajjanar. Also Read: Kurnool Bus Tragedy: Clincher CCTV Shows Biker Riding Recklessly Moments Before Accident | WATCH Questions raised on why the bike was abandoned Fresh details from the investigation reveal that the biker, identified as Shiv Shankar, and another youngster were caught on CCTV at a BPCL petrol pump, barely 3 kilometres from the crash site. The two were allegedly under the influence of alcohol and had refuelled their Pulsar motorcycle minutes before the accident. Soon after, the bike was found abandoned in the middle of the highway, raising questions about whether it broke down, ran out of fuel, or was involved in a minor mishap. The petrol tank cap, police say, appeared improperly closed, adding another layer to the mystery. The bus, unable to avoid the obstacle, rammed into the two-wheeler and dragged it along the road, igniting sparks that set the vehicle ablaze. By the time firefighters and rural police reached the spot around 3:15 AM, the entire bus was engulfed in flames, leaving 20 dead. Most of the victims were charred beyond recognition, according to the police. The dead included two children, while nine others sustained injuries. The bus was carrying 44 passengers at the time of the accident. For all the latest news and india news, visit Times Now to get live updates and breaking news around the world.