Tuesday, February 10, 2026 | Vol. 69 No. 108 | 31 Pages Reg.No MCS/048/2021-23; RNI No. 1541/1957 M.p.c.s office Mumbai. PIN 400001 THE FREE PRESS JOURNAL INDIA EDITION | www.freepressjournal.in ● Leader in E-paper circulation l E-paper edition is not a replica of the print edition Intl epilepsy day Mahayuti tightens its grip on rural Maharashtra Kalpesh Mhamunkar MUMBAI Riding on its emphatic victory in the recent municipal corporation elections, the ruling Mahayuti alliance — comprising the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Eknath Shindeled Shiv Sena — has extended its dominance to Maharashtra’s rural heartland, putting up a strong show in the Zilla Parishad and Panchayat Samiti elections across 12 districts. With the BJP emerging as the single largest party, the Mahayuti once again stamped its authority over local selfgovernment bodies. According to figures released by the State Election Commission, the BJP has won 225 of the 731 Zilla Parishad seats, while the Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) secured 162 seats. The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) won 165 seats, followed by the Indian National Congress with 55, Shiv Sena (UBT) with 43, and NCP (SP) with 26 seats. The trends point to a competitive contest, but one that broadly favours the Mahayuti alliance. 4See also | Mumbai SC lets Madras HC order stand FPJ News Service NEW DELHI The Supreme Court of India on February 9 refused to interfere with the judgment of the Madras High Court, which held that Muslims have no right to conduct prayers at the Nellithoppu area atop the Thirupparankundram hills in Madurai district except during Ramzan and Bakri-Id. The High Court had also ruled that animal sacrifice cannot be permitted in the area. Limits Muslim prayers at Nellithopu area in Thirupparankundram Hills and prevents animal sacrifice The Nellithoppu area measures 33 cents and is owned by the Sikkandar Badhusha Avuliya Dargah. The High Court delivered its judgment in October 2025, Live Law reports. Challenging that verdict, M Imam Hussain, a worshipper at the Dargah, approached the Supreme Court. A bench comprising Justice Aravind Kumar and Justice PB Varale declined to interfere with the High Court’s order, describing it as balanced. 4Contd on | Nation DIGITAL ARREST SCAMS | Top court notes that as much as `52,000 crore was misappropriated through cyber fraud between April 2021 and November 2025 SC wants SOP framed in 4 weeks FPJ News Service NEW DELHI The Supreme Court on Monday said banks have a responsibility to protect public money and must put in place systems to alert customers about suspicious transactions, especially in cases of “digital arrest scams.” The Court observed that when a customer who usually withdraws small amounts suddenly makes transactions running into lakhs or crores, banks should immediately flag and alert the customer. In the over-anxiety of making profits, banks must realise they are trustees of public money. People have deposited because they trust the banks. These banks are becoming a huge liability to the public. The Courts are becoming their recovery agents. – CJI Surya Kant A Bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice NV Anjaria was hearing a suo motu case on the growing menace of digital arrest scams. The Court re- FS ties oil buys to national interest PTI NEW DELHI India will maintain multiple sources for crude oil purchases and diversify them to ensure stability in the supply chain with national interests remaining the "guiding factor" for the procurement, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said on Monday amid a swirling controversy over Washington's claim that New Delhi has agreed to stop importing Russian oil. Misri said the key drivers of the procurement policy are adequate availability, fair pricing, and reliability of supply, remarks seen as an indication that New Delhi is unlikely to snap its energy ties with Moscow. "National interests will be the guiding factor for us in our choices for energy procurement," he said. The foreign secretary said India's "foremost priority" is to safeguard the interests of Indian consumers and to really ensure that they receive adequate energy at the right price and through reliable and secure supplies. "Our import policy insofar as energy is concerned is therefore driven entirely by these objectives," he said at a press conference while replying to a question on whether India will stop buying Russian crude oil. 4Contd on | Nation marked that banks are trustees of public money and cannot remain passive when such frauds take place through their systems, Bar & Bench and Live Law report. Justice Bagchi observed that banks, in their focus on business, were becoming “platforms through which there is a swift and seamless transmission of stolen proceeds of crime.” Referring to an MHA report, he noted that over Rs S Balakrishnan MUMBAI A question posed by the FPJ to RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat has triggered a fierce national debate. At the two-day RSS centenary conclave held at the Nehru Centre, Worli, this corre s p o n d e n t asked about the delay in conferring the nation’s highest civilian honour, the Bharat Ratna, on Veer Savarkar. In his reply, Bhagwat said he was not part of the committee that decides the award. However, he significantly observed that the prestige of the Bharat Ratna would be greatly enhanced if it were conferred on the legendary FPJ News Service NEW DELHI The Supreme Court on Monday made it clear that it will not allow any impediment in the completion of the Election LS adjourned amid row The Lok Sabha was adjourned for the day following a stand-off over Gandhi’s demand to speak before the Budget discussion. In the Rajya Sabha, proceedings were disrupted soon after Question Hour began when Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge sought to raise issues related to events in the Lok Sabha, where Rahul Gandhi was unable to complete his speech earlier. Opposition MPs raised slogans accusing the ruling BJP of insulting women MPs. MPs from all INDIA bloc parties, barring the TMC, participated before staging a walkout. reading from a memoir of former Army chief General MM Naravane, as well as from an article based on the memoir. Opposition leaders were also angered by the manner in which some women MPs were named by the Chair while they were protesting against the denial of an opportunity to the Leader of Opposition to speak in the House. The suspension of eight lawmakers for alleged unruly behaviour during the protests has further added to Commission of India’s (ECI) Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in any state, while hearing petitions related to the West Bengal SIR. Chief Justice of India Surya Kant said the Court may issue orders, their resentment. At the same time, the Opposition has alleged that some Treasury Bench lawmakers were being given the privilege to speak in the House. When asked about the planned course of action, Congress general secretary and MP KC Venugopal said he “cannot comment on reports”, but added pointedly, “you will get to know after the action”. 4Contd on | Nation 4See also | Nation Haridev Pushparaj MUMBAI The International Cricket Council (ICC) has rejected three of the five demands placed by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) during a meeting held in Lahore to resolve the deadlock arising from Pakistan’s decision to boycott the February 15 T20 World Cup match against India in Colombo, according to reports. The most significant demand turned down by the ICC was the PCB’s insistence on the resumption of bilateral cricket between India and Pakistan. The ICC made it clear that it does not have the jurisdiction to mandate bilateral series between member boards, even under the framework of the World Test Championship (WTC). 4Contd on | Nation No evidence Epstein trafficked: FBI AP WASHINGTON After years of investigation that included combing through bank records, emails, electronic devices and interviews with victims, the FBI concluded that while Jeffrey Epstein sexually abused underage girls, there was insufficient evidence to prove he ran a sex trafficking ring for powerful men, according to an Associated Press review of internal Justice Department records. The records show investigators searched Epstein’s homes in New York, Florida and the U.S. Virgin Islands, examined his financial dealings and scrutinised his ties to influential figures across academia, finance and global diplomacy. However, they found no material linking those individuals to criminal activity. Videos and photographs seized from Epstein’s prop- erties did not depict victims being abused or implicate anyone beyond Epstein and his longtime associate Ghis- freedom fighter. He added that even without the top honour, Savarkar’s legacy remained strong in India and abroad. His response drew resounding applause from the 900-strong audience, comprising the who’s who of Mumbai. Sources in the RSS said Bhagwat’s reply was a direct hint to the Modi government not to delay the award any further. 4Contd on | Nation No hurdles to be allowed to SIR: SC Gaurav Vivek Bhatnagar Peeved at the manner in which Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi was prevented from speaking, and following the suspension of several MPs, Opposition parties on Monday indicated that they may move a no-confidence motion against Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. The indication came after a meeting held in the chamber of the Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha. While there was no official announcement, sources said the motion could be moved during the second part of the Budget Session, scheduled from March 9 to April 2. Parliament is set to go into recess from February 14 to March 8. The Opposition has been unhappy with the way Rahul Gandhi was stopped by the Speaker from speaking on Indo-China relations while 4Contd on | Nation RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat favours Bharat Ratna for Veer Savarkar Opposition mulls move against Key PCB demands Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla turned down NEW DELHI 52,000 crore was misappropriated through cyber fraud between April 2021 and November 2025. The CJI added that this amount is more than the budget of many States. The Court directed swift action; it ordered that a draft memorandum of understanding be prepared within four weeks and that the SOP dated January 2, 2026, be formally adopted and implemented nationwide. It also directed that the necessary rules be notified within two weeks. laine Maxwell, according to internal memos. An internal prosecutor memo from 2025 stated that videos and photos recovered from Epstein’s homes “didn’t depict victims being abused or implicate anyone else in his crimes.” A separate 2019 memo said an examination of Epstein’s financial records, including payments to entities linked to influential figures, “found no connection to criminal activity.” The documents were released under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, and include police reports, FBI interview notes and prosecutors’ emails. The AP and other media organisations continue to review millions of pages of records, some previously confidential, and note it remains possible evidence was overlooked. 4Contd on | Nation clarifications or interim directions as required, but the SIR process cannot be obstructed. “One thing, we would like to be very clear. 4Contd on | Nation World Pulses Day Tarique Rahman awaits his political moment in the sun FPJ Special BANGLADESH MANDATE Sufia Chowdhury DHAKA Wearing a crumpled but spotless white cotton shirt, the bespectacled Tarique Rahman, addressing a vast crowd in Dhaka’s upmarket Banani on Monday afternoon, could easily pass for a college lecturer. He is, of course, a dyed-inthe-wool politician — and the front runner in Bangladesh’s long-delayed elections scheduled for Thursday. “I want to build a Bangladesh where no citizen faces discrimination on the basis of religion, race or identity,” thundered Rahman, 60, the son of former dictator-turnedpresident Ziaur Rahman and former prime minister Khaleda Zia — heir to one of South Asia’s most enduring political dynasties. “Assurances will be given so that businesspeople, salaried employees and workers alike can function in a safe environ- ment,” Rahman added, squinting into the crowd as an aide handed him a glass of water. Among those listening was Asif Bhuiyan, a 32-year-old civil servant who had been on strike just last week, demanding better wages. “He knows people are fed up with the mobocracy unleashed on the streets after Sheikh Hasina was forced out by a military-backed student revolt,” Bhuiyan said. “Some of those who extorted bribes from businessmen were his own men — but it’s still good to hear the top man promise things will improve.” Bhuiyan lives in a tworoom flat near Paltan Bazaar. The coming election will mark the final act of an unusual interregnum. Since the upheaval of August 2024 forced Hasina from office, Bangladesh has been run by a caretaker administration led by Muhammad Yunus, the microfinance pioneer turned politician. Assessments of Yunus’s stewardship vary sharply. Supporters argue he inherited a weakened state and, at the very least, managed to stem immediate collapse. 4Contd on | Nation