Goa nightclub fire: Owners flee India
Goa police said nightclub owners Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra fled to Phuket, Thailand, hours after a fire killed 25 people, mostly staff, in Arpora.
The fire, likely caused by electrical firecrackers, led to suffocation deaths in the club’s basement. Interpol assistance has been sought after police raids found the brothers missing.
Actor Dileep acquitted in 2017 assault case
Malayalam actor Dileep was acquitted by a Kerala court in the 2017 abduction and rape case of an actress. Six others were convicted.
Dileep, who spent three months in jail, claimed he was framed. The survivor can appeal the verdict in a higher court. The case spotlighted harassment in the film industry.
Tirupati temple dupatta scam uncovered
A Rs54 crore (S$7.8 million) scam rocked Tirumala Tirupati temple after it was revealed that polyester dupattas were falsely sold as silk over 10 years.
An internal probe found missing silk holograms and inflated prices.
The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams has called for an anti-corruption probe, with scientific tests confirming the material was fake.
Microsoft announces US$17.5B India investment
Microsoft will invest US$17.5 billion (S$22.6 billion) in India’s cloud and AI infrastructure over four years, CEO Satya Nadella announced after meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
This is Microsoft’s largest investment in Asia.
The plan includes expanding hyperscale data infrastructure and AI skilling to support India’s AI ambitions and build sovereign digital capabilities.
Amazon to Invest US$35 billion in India by 2030
Amazon has pledged over US$35 billion in India by 2030, creating one million jobs.
The investment will boost fulfilment, AI tools for 15 million small and medium-sized businesses, and e-commerce exports to USUS$80 billion.
Amazon also aims to support AI education for 4 million students. It remains India’s largest foreign investor in e-commerce.
More Indians want to be their own boss
A LinkedIn report reveals over 70 per cent of Indian professionals want to become entrepreneurs soon. The number of members adding “founder” to profiles has doubled.
AI adoption, trusted networks, and brand credibility are driving the shift. About 95 per cent of Indian small businesses are investing in or planning AI integration.
Shashi Tharoor declines Savarkar Award
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor declined the Veer Savarkar International Impact Award, citing a lack of clarity about the award or its organisers.
He said he learnt about it from media reports and had not agreed to receive it. The award, by NGO Highrange Rural Development Society, was to be presented at an event in Delhi.
Smriti breaks silence after calling off wedding
Indian women’s team vice-captain Smriti Mandhana made her first public appearance since calling off her November wedding with composer Palash Muchhal, declaring that her “only love” remains cricket.
Speaking at an event with captain Harmanpreet Kaur, she said: “When you wear the Indian jersey, nothing else matters – you just want to win for your country.”
Smriti will be the vice-captain as India play a T20I series against Sri Lanka from Dec 21.
UP woman dies after surgery by YouTube-trained duo
A woman in Uttar Pradesh died after an illegal clinic owner and his nephew performed surgery based on a YouTube video, reported NDTV. The duo had no valid medical licence.
The victim’s husband paid Rs20,000 for the operation. Both men face charges of causing death by negligence.
ICICI Bank, Vodafone fined in Gujarat SIM-swap fraud case
In a landmark cybercrime ruling, Gujarat’s Adjudicating Officer fined ICICI Bank Rs10 lakh and Vodafone Idea Rs5 lakh for negligence in a Rs1.19 crore SIM-swap fraud targeting Ahmedabad-based Collective Trade Links.
Fraudsters cloned the firm’s SIM to bypass OTPs and drain its overdraft account in March 2023. The officer ordered ICICI to refund Rs1.05 crore and pay compensation under Sections 43(g) and 43(j) of the IT Act.
Mehul Choksi extradition appeal rejected
Belgium’s Supreme Court rejected Mehul Choksi’s appeal against extradition to India over the Rs13,000 crore Punjab National Bank fraud case.
The Antwerp Court had earlier upheld India’s request. Choksi fled to Antigua in 2018 and was recently spotted in Belgium seeking treatment.
India’s arrest warrants remain enforceable under Belgian law.
Amit Shah slams India bloc over judge impeachment bid
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Dec 10 denounced the Opposition’s move to impeach Madras High Court judge GR Swaminathan, calling it “appeasement politics”.
Speaking in the Lok Sabha, Mr Shah said: “Never in independent India has a judge faced impeachment for a judgment.”
The INDIA bloc’s over 100 MPs sought action against Justice Swaminathan for directing temple authorities to light a lamp near a mosque in Tamil Nadu, sparking political debate.
U-19 cricket coach attacked in Puducherry
Under-19 cricket coach Venkataraman suffered a fractured shoulder and 20 stitches after three players allegedly assaulted him with a bat over non-selection in Puducherry.
Police have registered an attempted murder case and are searching for the suspects.
The Cricket Association of Puducherry condemned the attack, which raised concerns over indiscipline in youth cricket.
