Jan 19 news LIVE: CBI questions TVK chief Vijay for over 6 hours; no fresh summons

First Vande Bharat sleeper booking begins

The first Vande Bharat sleeper train flagged off by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been scheduled to begin commercial operations for general passengers from January 22 from Kamakhya to Howrah, according to an order issued by the Railways.

"Prospective passengers can book berths through IRCTC or other online platforms, as well as from physical counters, as the train's name and number have been added to the software system," a senior railway official said on Monday.

The fare, inclusive of GST, between the two stations is Rs 2,435 for AC 3, Rs 3,145 for AC 2, and Rs 3,855 for AC 1.

The train will cover the entire distance in 14 hours, making it the fastest service on this route. The existing fastest train, the Saraighat Express, completes the journey in 16 hours and 23 minutes.

However, the Vande Bharat Sleeper's fare is significantly higher, especially for AC 2 and AC 3 classes, compared to the Saraighat Express.

The fare of the Saraighat Express, including GST and superfast charges, is Rs 3,320 for AC 1, Rs 1,985 for AC 2, and Rs 1,410 for AC 3.

Compared to the Saraighat Express, the Vande Bharat Sleeper's fare is higher by 72 per cent for AC 3, 58 per cent for AC 2, and 16 per cent for AC 1.

Railway officials said the Vande Bharat Sleeper Train offers a wide range of passenger amenities, enhanced safety features, and other facilities compared to any other train in the country, which justifies its higher fare.

The airline fare between the two cities ranges between Rs 3500 and Rs 4500.

On January 8, 2026, the Railway Ministry released a circular notifying the train's timetable and stoppages.

According to the circular, one train set (Train No 27576) will depart from Kamakhya station at 6.15 pm and, with stoppages at 13 stations, will arrive at Howrah at 8.15 am the next morning, covering 972 kilometres in 14 hours.

The other train set (Train No 27575) will depart from Howrah at 6.20 pm and arrive at Kamakhya at 8.20 am the next morning.

The 13 stoppages between Kamakhya and Howrah are Rangiya, New Bongaigaon, New Alipurduar, New Cooch Behar, Jalpaiguri Road, New Jalpaiguri, Aluabari Road, Malda Town, New Farakka, Azimganj, Katwa, Nabadwip Dham, and Bandel.

A press release from the Railway Ministry stated that the sleeper train set consists of 16 air-conditioned coaches, including one AC First Class coach, four AC Two-Tier coaches, and eleven AC Three-Tier coaches.

"It is designed to provide safe and comfortable overnight travel, with a total capacity of around 823 passengers," the statement added.

Officials maintained that Vande Bharat is envisioned as a key pillar of India's passenger rail modernisation in the coming decades.

"By 2047, the Vande Bharat fleet is envisioned to scale up to around 4,500 train sets, aligned with India's long-term development goals," they added.

Outlining future plans, the ministry stated that in the medium term, the focus is on scaling up services by operating about 800 Vande Bharat train sets by 2030, subject to infrastructure readiness and manufacturing capacity.

Karnataka BJP leader booked under POCSO act for allegedly revealing identity of minor survivor

An FIR was registered against former Minister B Sriramulu under the POCSO and Juvenile Justice Acts for allegedly revealing the name of a minor survivor, police said on Monday.

The BJP leader had revealed the identity while addressing a mega protest rally here on January 17, targeting the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government in Karnataka over the deteriorating law and order in the state, in the backdrop of recent clashes in Ballari that led to the death of a person.

The case was registered at the Ballari Women Police Station under Sections 23(1) and 23(2) of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012, and Section 74 of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, police said.

Reacting to the FIR, Sriramulu's close friend and MLA G Janardhan Reddy said, the case has been registered on the basis of a complaint by Ballari APMC police station inspector and "we will face whatever it is in accordance with law." BJP leaders, during Saturday's protest rally, had demanded the arrest of Congress MLA Nara Bharat Reddy in connection with the recent clashes in Ballari, and sought the transfering of probe into the case to CBI.

Congress holds 'Satyagraha' in Bhubaneswar demanding withdrawal of VB-G RAM G

Congress leaders staged a 'satyagraha' in Bhubaneswar on Monday, demanding the withdrawal of Viksit Bharat - Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin), commonly known as VB-G RAM G.

The Union government has formulated the VB-G RAM G scheme, replacing the 20-year-old Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).

Demanding the withdrawal of VB-G RAM G, several Congress workers, under the banner of the Rajiv Gandhi Panchayati Raj Sangathan (RGPRS) staged the protest here as part of nationwide agitation.

RGPRS chairman Sunil Panwar said the BJP-led NDA government has brought an "anti-workers" law repealing the right-based act, MGNREGA.

"Under MGNREGA, the workers had the right to claim work for 100 days. Now, the central government has completely removed it," he alleged.

The workers are behind the development of all infrastructures in the country, and the Modi government has snatched their right to work, the Congress leader alleged.

NCLAT upholds Adani Power's Rs 4k-cr acquisition of Vidarbha Industries Power

Insolvency appellate tribunal NCLAT has upheld the acquisition of Vidarbha Industries Power by Adani Power Ltd (APL), India’s largest private thermal power producer.

The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) has confirmed the Mumbai-bench of NCLT's order, which, on June 18, 2025, approved the Rs 4,000-crore resolution plan of the Adani Group firm.

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India Open mess: Ministry steps in, seeks corrective measures from SAI

Taking note of the organisational lapses that plagued the India Open badminton tournament in Delhi, Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya met officials of the Sports Authority of India (SAI) on Monday to discuss "corrective measures" that would prevent a repeat of the fiasco.

It is reliably learnt that the minister held a meeting with the stadium administrators, who were conspicuous by their absence during the tournament, and sought an explanation for the chaos last week.

The lapses have created a "perception crisis" for India in a potentially "make-or-break year" for the country's audacious 2036 Olympic bid.

Although Delhi's poor air quality was beyond its control, SAI is under tremendous pressure to explain incidents of bird poop in the field of play, a monkey in the spectators' stand, and poorly maintained facilities, including washrooms and training areas.

"The minister has taken note and SAI will come up with details of corrective measures in the next few days," a well-placed source told PTI.

Responsible for the stadium's upkeep, SAI has drawn heavy criticism for the chaos that became the talking point at the venue, which is also due to hold the badminton World Championships in August.

Danish shutter Mia Blichfeldt had described the conditions as unhealthy and wondered aloud as to how the marquee competition later this year could possibly go ahead at the same venue in a few months' time.

Nitin Nabin elected BJP president unopposed; youngest ever

Nitin Nabin was on Monday (January 19) elected unopposed as the BJP national president. At 45 years, he is the youngest ever to occupy the post as it seeks to further expand its influence in uncharted territories.

Nabin, a five-term Bihar MLA, emerged as the sole candidate for the top party post with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other senior BJP leaders filing nomination papers in his support.

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Nitin Nabin sole candidate for BJP president's post, set to be appointed

Nitin Nabin is set to become the BJP national president as he emerged as the sole candidate for the top party post, senior BJP leader and returning officer K Laxman announced on Monday.

In a statement, he said 37 sets of nomination papers were filed in favour of Nabin as the BJP national president and all nomination papers were found to be valid.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was among the proposers of Nabin's candidature for the post of BJP national president. Several senior BJP leaders including party chief J P Nadda, and Union ministers Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh and Nitin Gadkari were among the proposers.

Laxman said according to the schedule, the nomination process for the BJP national president was completed between 2 pm and 4 pm on Monday.

"In all, 37 sets of nomination papers were received in favour of Shri Nitin Nabin for the post of national president. On scrutiny, all sets of nomination papers were found to be duly filled out in the required format and were valid.

"Now, after the period of withdrawal, in my capacity of national returning officer, Sangathan Parv, Bharatiya Janata Party, I hereby announce that only one name, that of Shri Nitin Nabin, has been proposed for the post of national president of the Bharatiya Janata Party," Laxman said in a statement.

14 schoolchildren injured as giant swing breaks, collapses at fair in MP's Jhabua town

A joyful ride turned into a nightmare when a giant swing suddenly snapped and collapsed at a fair in Madhya Pradesh's Jhabua town on Monday, injuring 14 students of a local government school, including 13 girls, a senior official said.

District collector Neha Meena told reporters that the 'Dragon Swing' at the 'Maharaj No Melo' (Maharaj's Fair), being held near the Government School of Excellence in Jhabua, suddenly collapsed while in operation.

She said 14 children riding on the swing - 13 girls and one boy - all students of the School of Excellence, were injured in the accident and admitted to the Jhabua district hospital.

After meeting the children admitted to the hospital, Meena said, "Two girls complained of serious injuries. Doctors are monitoring their health." If necessary, both girls will be admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), stated the collector.

CBI questions TVK party chief Vijay for over six hours; no fresh summons

The CBI questioned TVK chief and actor Vijay for over six hours at its headquarters in Delhi for the second time in connection with the Karur stampede case, officials said.

A visibly relaxed Vijay came out of the CBI headquarters in his luxury SUV after questioning was completed at around 5 PM, got down and waved at his supporters and media, before leaving for the five-star hotel where he was staying.

The actor-turned politician was earlier quizzed by the CBI on January 12. He was asked to come again on January 13, but the actor sought another date due to Pongal, after which the agency summoned him on Monday, they said.

Dressed in a casual shirt, the actor arrived at the heavily barricaded agency headquarters on Lodhi Road with a fleet of luxury SUVs at around 10:20 am, they said.

"Lots of rumours are being spread around which are not true. We all know what happened in Karur...When last time the Home Minister was in Tamil Nadu, the state president of the BJP, Nainar Nagenthran, had openly mentioned that Senthil Balaji who is sitting MLA from Karur was responsible for the death of 41 people and you who needs to be summoned and enquired," TVK Joint General Secretary C T Nirmal Kumar told reporters outside the CBI headquarters after Vijay's questioning ended.

He said they are cooperating with the investigating agencies, and no summons for further questioning has been issued.

"...We know who is responsible for the incident, who has done this, and what is the reason for that. That's the reason we don't have any guilt... Our leader wanted to cooperate and we want the real culprit to be brought to justice... we don't have any hesitation to come and appear for the investigation," he said.

Noida techie death: UP CM orders SIT probe

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has ordered an SIT probe into Noida techie's death. The panel will submit the report in 5 days, an official said.