August 4, 2026

Air India flight from Phuket to Delhi experienced turbulence-related event during cruise. (Photo: TOI) NEW DELHI: Some passengers and crew members onboard Air India’s Phuket-Delhi flight (AI 2379) suffered injuries when the aircraft encountered turbulence during descent at the destination on Tuesday morning, causing a sudden drop in altitude.An AI with medical support received the 134 passengers onboard the Airbus A320 on arrival just after 11 am. About 10 passengers and two crew members are learnt to have been taken to the Medanta medical centre at the airport.An AI spokesperson said: “Air India confirms that flight AI2379, operating from Phuket to Delhi on 4 August, experienced a brief in-flight turbulence-related event during cruise, resulting in a momentary change in altitude.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesThe aircraft landed safely in Delhi and all passengers and crew have safely disembarked.There have been no serious injuries reported as of now. A small number of passengers and crew members with minor injuries requiring medical assessment have been taken to a medical facility at the airport for precautionary examination and care by Air India’s airport team and medical personnel.The safety and well-being of our passengers and crew remain Air India’s highest priority. We are providing all necessary support to those affected and are cooperating fully with the relevant authorities as part of the investigation.”Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosPulwama Man Held With Hand Grenade, Anti-National Posters After Kulgam Terror AttackHigh-Level Probe Ordered As Security Forces Launch Massive Valley-Wide Manhunt | WatchSC Clarifies ‘Criminal Antecedents’ Caveat;CJP Demands Immediate Withdrawal Of FIRs Against StudentsAssam Govt Launches Relief Package As Over 1.36 Lakh People Remain Flood Affected | WatchIndian Parl Panel Grills Meta Over PM Modi Video Takedown, Seeks Mark Zuckerberg’s ApologyBankipur Shock, Datia Loss: BJP Suffers Twin Setback, But Why Isn’t It Good News For Opposition?Bengal STF Busts Alleged JeM Module, Probe Points To Pak-Based Handlers And Intelligence Network’30-Year Stronghold Fell In 30 Days’: Prashant Kishor’s 1st Remarks As He Eyes Historic Bankipur Win‘I Was A Moderate Hindu’: Kangana Ranaut Says ‘People Become Leftist After Meeting Islamists’’Will Lay Down Protocol’: Pellet Guns Under Supreme Court Lens After Jantar Mantar Protests123Photostories5 wedding sarees which are best for wedding season 2026Five women, five golds, one unforgettable day: Meet the Indian champions who rewrote Commonwealth Games boxing history in GlasgowWhy Popcorn pops: Understanding the chemical science reaction behind it10 Indian snacks that are healthier than biscuits7 high-protein breads you should add to your dietThis Indian spice is among the ‘World’s Stinkiest Foods’; detailed list inside10 tasty snacks made with bread you can prepare in minutesWant a happier marriage? Start saying these 5 things every dayThe vanishing threads of India: Rare handwoven textiles you need to knowOne egg, two eggs or more? Cardiologist reveals the ideal daily number for a healthy heart and cholesterol123Hot PicksCJP nationwide tourGold Rate TodayMJPRU resultBSE SensexRBI FD ruleManmohan Singh LiberhanKarnataka cabinet expansionUdhayanidhi StalinD Y PatilTop TrendingFaridabad MurderUdhayanidhi StalinMadhya Pradesh Dam PillarsCJP Founder ComplaintPM ModiKarnataka Cabinet ExpansionTrisha KrishnanD Y Patil DeathBypoll Election Result 2026Shradha Singh

Vamsikrishna02 mins mins
Air India flight from Phuket to Delhi experienced turbulence-related event during cruise. (Photo: TOI) NEW DELHI: Some passengers and crew members onboard Air India’s Phuket-Delhi flight (AI 2379) suffered injuries when the aircraft encountered turbulence during descent at the destination on Tuesday morning, causing a sudden drop in altitude.An AI with medical support received the 134 passengers onboard the Airbus A320 on arrival just after 11 am. About 10 passengers and two crew members are learnt to have been taken to the Medanta medical centre at the airport.An AI spokesperson said: “Air India confirms that flight AI2379, operating from Phuket to Delhi on 4 August, experienced a brief in-flight turbulence-related event during cruise, resulting in a momentary change in altitude.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesThe aircraft landed safely in Delhi and all passengers and crew have safely disembarked.There have been no serious injuries reported as of now. A small number of passengers and crew members with minor injuries requiring medical assessment have been taken to a medical facility at the airport for precautionary examination and care by Air India’s airport team and medical personnel.The safety and well-being of our passengers and crew remain Air India’s highest priority. We are providing all necessary support to those affected and are cooperating fully with the relevant authorities as part of the investigation.”Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosPulwama Man Held With Hand Grenade, Anti-National Posters After Kulgam Terror AttackHigh-Level Probe Ordered As Security Forces Launch Massive Valley-Wide Manhunt | WatchSC Clarifies ‘Criminal Antecedents’ Caveat;CJP Demands Immediate Withdrawal Of FIRs Against StudentsAssam Govt Launches Relief Package As Over 1.36 Lakh People Remain Flood Affected | WatchIndian Parl Panel Grills Meta Over PM Modi Video Takedown, Seeks Mark Zuckerberg’s ApologyBankipur Shock, Datia Loss: BJP Suffers Twin Setback, But Why Isn’t It Good News For Opposition?Bengal STF Busts Alleged JeM Module, Probe Points To Pak-Based Handlers And Intelligence Network’30-Year Stronghold Fell In 30 Days’: Prashant Kishor’s 1st Remarks As He Eyes Historic Bankipur Win‘I Was A Moderate Hindu’: Kangana Ranaut Says ‘People Become Leftist After Meeting Islamists’’Will Lay Down Protocol’: Pellet Guns Under Supreme Court Lens After Jantar Mantar Protests123Photostories5 wedding sarees which are best for wedding season 2026Five women, five golds, one unforgettable day: Meet the Indian champions who rewrote Commonwealth Games boxing history in GlasgowWhy Popcorn pops: Understanding the chemical science reaction behind it10 Indian snacks that are healthier than biscuits7 high-protein breads you should add to your dietThis Indian spice is among the ‘World’s Stinkiest Foods’; detailed list inside10 tasty snacks made with bread you can prepare in minutesWant a happier marriage? Start saying these 5 things every dayThe vanishing threads of India: Rare handwoven textiles you need to knowOne egg, two eggs or more? Cardiologist reveals the ideal daily number for a healthy heart and cholesterol123Hot PicksCJP nationwide tourGold Rate TodayMJPRU resultBSE SensexRBI FD ruleManmohan Singh LiberhanKarnataka cabinet expansionUdhayanidhi StalinD Y PatilTop TrendingFaridabad MurderUdhayanidhi StalinMadhya Pradesh Dam PillarsCJP Founder ComplaintPM ModiKarnataka Cabinet ExpansionTrisha KrishnanD Y Patil DeathBypoll Election Result 2026Shradha Singh


Sudden drop in altitude: Flyers injured as Air India's Phuket-Delhi flight encounters turbulence
Air India flight from Phuket to Delhi experienced turbulence-related event during cruise. (Photo: TOI)

NEW DELHI: Some passengers and crew members onboard Air India’s Phuket-Delhi flight (AI 2379) suffered injuries when the aircraft encountered turbulence during descent at the destination on Tuesday morning, causing a sudden drop in altitude.An AI with medical support received the 134 passengers onboard the Airbus A320 on arrival just after 11 am. About 10 passengers and two crew members are learnt to have been taken to the Medanta medical centre at the airport.An AI spokesperson said: “Air India confirms that flight AI2379, operating from Phuket to Delhi on 4 August, experienced a brief in-flight turbulence-related event during cruise, resulting in a momentary change in altitude.

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There was a time when I thought ethanol might define the next phase of my professional life.I accepted a role as the Managing Director at a company which operated sugar mills in Andhra Pradesh. I accepted the role with one private understanding. I would give the industry two years. If I concluded that ethanol represented one of India’s most promising industrial opportunities, I would stay on and build a career around it. If not, I would move to the Foundation of the same group. The arrangement seemed reasonable. The industry, fortunately, had no vote in the matter.Two years later, I moved on. Not because ethanol lacked promise, but because I had become convinced that India was trying to solve one problem by creating another. Nearly two decades later, that conclusion seems, if anything, even more convincing.There is much to admire about India’s ethanol programme. India imports more than 85 per cent of its crude oil. Every litre of domestically produced ethanol blended into petrol reduces that dependence, strengthens energy security, saves foreign exchange, and provides a more stable market for millions of sugarcane farmers. It also cushions the sugar industry by diverting surplus sugar into fuel whenever sugar itself becomes less remunerative.Brazil demonstrated long ago that this model can work. Flexible-fuel vehicles routinely switch between petrol and ethanol, while sugar mills switch between producing sugar and fuel as market prices dictate. The country has built one of the world’s most successful biofuel ecosystems. But Brazil’s success rests on far more than a crop or a policy. It reflects the convergence of favourable climate, efficient logistics, large-scale processing, compatible vehicle technology and decades of institutional learning. In Brazil, ethanol is not merely an agricultural product. It is an ecosystem.Naturally, policymakers in India ask an obvious question. If Brazil can do it, why can’t we? It is an attractive question. Unfortunately, it has an inconvenient answer. Brazil and India may both grow sugarcane, but under very different ecological conditions.When I began studying the Brazilian model twenty years ago, and even today, one fact stands out. Brazil’s great sugarcane belt enjoys abundant rainfall. Much of its crop is rain-fed. Water, while never free, is not the defining constraint.India presents a very different picture. Sugarcane occupies barely 3-4 per cent of the country’s cultivated land, yet consumes roughly 12-15 per cent of its irrigation water. Much of it is grown in states already grappling with groundwater depletion and recurring droughts. Maharashtra and parts of Karnataka are obvious examples. Every additional hectare of sugarcane competes for a resource becoming steadily scarcer.This is where energy economics meets water ecology. An energy policy cannot be judged only by the oil it saves, but also by the scarce resources it consumes. Replacing imported petroleum with domestic water is not necessarily a national gain.The broader question is one of social cost and benefit. Ethanol undoubtedly delivers important public benefits. It reduces crude oil imports, strengthens energy security, supports farm incomes, stabilises the sugar industry and lowers transport emissions. Against these gains must be weighed costs that markets rarely price fully: groundwater depletion, subsidised irrigation, electricity for pumping water, environmental degradation, and the opportunity cost of diverting scarce water from food production or urban use. Whether ethanol generates a positive net social benefit therefore depends not only on the price of crude oil but also on the ecological value of the water it consumes. The answer is unlikely to be uniform across India and, in some regions, may not remain positive once all social costs are taken into account.Supporters of ethanol rightly point out that much of India’s early ethanol came from molasses, a by-product of sugar production. If a waste stream can displace imported fuel, few would complain. But that longer holds. Increasingly, sugarcane juice and B-heavy molasses are being diverted directly to ethanol. The crop is no longer producing sugar with ethanol as a useful by-product; an increasing share is being cultivated primarily for fuel.There is nothing inherently wrong with that, provided the resource economics justify it. That qualification matters. The debate often assumes that higher agricultural productivity automatically justifies greater production. Yet India’s sugarcane yields per hectare are already broadly comparable to Brazil’s. Despite much smaller and more fragmented holdings, Indian farmers have achieved biological productivity comparable with the world’s leading producers.Brazil’s advantage lies elsewhere. Its cane contains more recoverable sugar. Harvesting is highly mechanised, logistics more efficient, and mills operate at scales rarely seen in India. Together, these advantages enable Brazil to convert each tonne of cane into sugar and ethanol at substantially lower cost. The difference lies less in growing the crop than in what happens after it leaves the field.Nor do the economics end at the farm gate or refinery. Higher ethanol blends require adjustments across the automotive ecosystem. Manufacturers must redesign engines and fuel-system components, while owners of older vehicles may face higher maintenance or lower efficiency during the transition. These costs are neither prohibitive nor permanent, but they belong in any serious assessment of ethanol’s economics.None of this is an argument against ethanol. It is an argument against treating geography as an inconvenience. Public policy has a habit of replicating successful international models while overlooking the ecological conditions that made them successful. We import the visible outcomes while ignoring the invisible foundations.The question for India is therefore not whether ethanol is good or bad, but which ethanol, produced where, and from what feedstock. Sugarcane-based ethanol may make excellent sense in regions blessed with reliable rainfall and sustainable water resources. It is far harder to justify where groundwater tables continue to fall.Fortunately, ethanol need not depend on sugarcane alone. Maize is emerging as an important feedstock. Second-generation ethanol from agricultural residues offers another promising pathway, converting what is now burnt in fields into industrial feedstock. Municipal organic waste may eventually join the mix as technology improves. India’s long-term strategy should become progressively more diversified rather than increasingly dependent on a single water-intensive crop.Diversification is not simply environmentally desirable. It is prudent risk management. Dependence on a single feedstock leaves countries vulnerable to climate shocks, rainfall variability and commodity cycles.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesIndia has an opportunity to build something more resilient. Its ethanol programme has already shown that ambitious public policy can reshape markets. The next stage is to reshape the feedstock itself. Incentives should reward crops and technologies that produce more fuel with less water, rather than treating every litre of ethanol as equally desirable regardless of how it is made.Looking back, I remain convinced that ethanol deserves an important place in India’s energy future. But water deserves an even more important place in its future. That is why, after two years in the sugar industry, I chose not to devote the next phase of my career to ethanol. I came away believing not that ethanol lacked promise, but that India’s comparative advantage lay beyond sugarcane.Oil can be imported. Water cannot. Energy security is essential. Water security is existential. A wise nation should never secure the former by compromising the latter.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorV RaghunathanV Raghunathan is a former director of the Schulich School of Business (India Program), York University, Toronto, a former professor at IIM Ahmedabad and a former President of ING Vysya Bank. A prolific author, he has written over 15 books, including the national bestseller Games Indians Play (Penguin). With more than 600 published papers and articles, his latest books include The Lion, The Admiral, and A Cat Called B. Uma Vijaylakshmi (Westland, 2025) and To Every Parent; To Every Child (Penguin, 2025) and Irrationally Rational: 10 Nobel Laureates Script the Story of Behavioural Economics (Penguin, 2022), among others.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosSC Extends Section 498A Protection To Women In Marriage-Like Live-In RelationshipsWhatsApp Puts Multiple Accounts Under Review, Users Locked Out As Company Admits Mistakes Can HappenUdhayanidhi Stalin Detained Over Trisha Row |FIR, Political Storm & “I’ll Face It Legally” ExplainedPulwama Man Held With Hand Grenade, Anti-National Posters After Kulgam Terror AttackHigh-Level Probe Ordered As Security Forces Launch Massive Valley-Wide Manhunt | WatchSC Clarifies ‘Criminal Antecedents’ Caveat;CJP Demands Immediate Withdrawal Of FIRs Against StudentsAssam Govt Launches Relief Package As Over 1.36 Lakh People Remain Flood Affected | WatchIndian Parl Panel Grills Meta Over PM Modi Video Takedown, Seeks Mark Zuckerberg’s ApologyBankipur Shock, Datia Loss: BJP Suffers Twin Setback, But Why Isn’t It Good News For Opposition?Bengal STF Busts Alleged JeM Module, Probe Points To Pak-Based Handlers And Intelligence Network123PhotostoriesFrom Collarwali to Charger: 5 legendary tigers of IndiaNot lemon, baking soda or detergent: This one ingredient can remove foul smell permanently from water bottles and lunch boxesThe 7 germiest things in your hotel room that most guests touch without thinkingThe most beautiful buildings in the world have been ranked and one is from India5 wedding sarees which are best for wedding season 20269 Maharashtrian vegetarian dishes everyone should try onceFive women, five golds, one unforgettable day: Meet the Indian champions who rewrote Commonwealth Games boxing history in GlasgowWhy Popcorn pops: Understanding the chemical science reaction behind it10 Indian snacks that are healthier than biscuits7 high-protein breads you should add to your diet123Hot PicksCJP nationwide tourGold Rate TodayMJPRU resultBSE SensexRBI FD ruleManmohan Singh LiberhanKarnataka cabinet expansionUdhayanidhi StalinD Y PatilTop TrendingFaridabad MurderUdhayanidhi StalinPanchkula Army Captain Wife DeathPappu Yadav Slipper AttackPM ModiKarnataka Cabinet ExpansionTrisha KrishnanD Y Patil DeathBypoll Election Result 2026Shradha Singh

There was a time when I thought ethanol might define the next phase of my professional life.I accepted a role as the Managing Director at a company which operated sugar mills in Andhra Pradesh. I accepted the role with one private understanding. I would give the industry two years. If I concluded that ethanol represented one of India’s most promising industrial opportunities, I would stay on and build a career around it. If not, I would move to the Foundation of the same group. The arrangement seemed reasonable. The industry, fortunately, had no vote in the matter.Two years later, I moved on. Not because ethanol lacked promise, but because I had become convinced that India was trying to solve one problem by creating another. Nearly two decades later, that conclusion seems, if anything, even more convincing.There is much to admire about India’s ethanol programme. India imports more than 85 per cent of its crude oil. Every litre of domestically produced ethanol blended into petrol reduces that dependence, strengthens energy security, saves foreign exchange, and provides a more stable market for millions of sugarcane farmers. It also cushions the sugar industry by diverting surplus sugar into fuel whenever sugar itself becomes less remunerative.Brazil demonstrated long ago that this model can work. Flexible-fuel vehicles routinely switch between petrol and ethanol, while sugar mills switch between producing sugar and fuel as market prices dictate. The country has built one of the world’s most successful biofuel ecosystems. But Brazil’s success rests on far more than a crop or a policy. It reflects the convergence of favourable climate, efficient logistics, large-scale processing, compatible vehicle technology and decades of institutional learning. In Brazil, ethanol is not merely an agricultural product. It is an ecosystem.Naturally, policymakers in India ask an obvious question. If Brazil can do it, why can’t we? It is an attractive question. Unfortunately, it has an inconvenient answer. Brazil and India may both grow sugarcane, but under very different ecological conditions.When I began studying the Brazilian model twenty years ago, and even today, one fact stands out. Brazil’s great sugarcane belt enjoys abundant rainfall. Much of its crop is rain-fed. Water, while never free, is not the defining constraint.India presents a very different picture. Sugarcane occupies barely 3-4 per cent of the country’s cultivated land, yet consumes roughly 12-15 per cent of its irrigation water. Much of it is grown in states already grappling with groundwater depletion and recurring droughts. Maharashtra and parts of Karnataka are obvious examples. Every additional hectare of sugarcane competes for a resource becoming steadily scarcer.This is where energy economics meets water ecology. An energy policy cannot be judged only by the oil it saves, but also by the scarce resources it consumes. Replacing imported petroleum with domestic water is not necessarily a national gain.The broader question is one of social cost and benefit. Ethanol undoubtedly delivers important public benefits. It reduces crude oil imports, strengthens energy security, supports farm incomes, stabilises the sugar industry and lowers transport emissions. Against these gains must be weighed costs that markets rarely price fully: groundwater depletion, subsidised irrigation, electricity for pumping water, environmental degradation, and the opportunity cost of diverting scarce water from food production or urban use. Whether ethanol generates a positive net social benefit therefore depends not only on the price of crude oil but also on the ecological value of the water it consumes. The answer is unlikely to be uniform across India and, in some regions, may not remain positive once all social costs are taken into account.Supporters of ethanol rightly point out that much of India’s early ethanol came from molasses, a by-product of sugar production. If a waste stream can displace imported fuel, few would complain. But that longer holds. Increasingly, sugarcane juice and B-heavy molasses are being diverted directly to ethanol. The crop is no longer producing sugar with ethanol as a useful by-product; an increasing share is being cultivated primarily for fuel.There is nothing inherently wrong with that, provided the resource economics justify it. That qualification matters. The debate often assumes that higher agricultural productivity automatically justifies greater production. Yet India’s sugarcane yields per hectare are already broadly comparable to Brazil’s. Despite much smaller and more fragmented holdings, Indian farmers have achieved biological productivity comparable with the world’s leading producers.Brazil’s advantage lies elsewhere. Its cane contains more recoverable sugar. Harvesting is highly mechanised, logistics more efficient, and mills operate at scales rarely seen in India. Together, these advantages enable Brazil to convert each tonne of cane into sugar and ethanol at substantially lower cost. The difference lies less in growing the crop than in what happens after it leaves the field.Nor do the economics end at the farm gate or refinery. Higher ethanol blends require adjustments across the automotive ecosystem. Manufacturers must redesign engines and fuel-system components, while owners of older vehicles may face higher maintenance or lower efficiency during the transition. These costs are neither prohibitive nor permanent, but they belong in any serious assessment of ethanol’s economics.None of this is an argument against ethanol. It is an argument against treating geography as an inconvenience. Public policy has a habit of replicating successful international models while overlooking the ecological conditions that made them successful. We import the visible outcomes while ignoring the invisible foundations.The question for India is therefore not whether ethanol is good or bad, but which ethanol, produced where, and from what feedstock. Sugarcane-based ethanol may make excellent sense in regions blessed with reliable rainfall and sustainable water resources. It is far harder to justify where groundwater tables continue to fall.Fortunately, ethanol need not depend on sugarcane alone. Maize is emerging as an important feedstock. Second-generation ethanol from agricultural residues offers another promising pathway, converting what is now burnt in fields into industrial feedstock. Municipal organic waste may eventually join the mix as technology improves. India’s long-term strategy should become progressively more diversified rather than increasingly dependent on a single water-intensive crop.Diversification is not simply environmentally desirable. It is prudent risk management. Dependence on a single feedstock leaves countries vulnerable to climate shocks, rainfall variability and commodity cycles.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesIndia has an opportunity to build something more resilient. Its ethanol programme has already shown that ambitious public policy can reshape markets. The next stage is to reshape the feedstock itself. Incentives should reward crops and technologies that produce more fuel with less water, rather than treating every litre of ethanol as equally desirable regardless of how it is made.Looking back, I remain convinced that ethanol deserves an important place in India’s energy future. But water deserves an even more important place in its future. That is why, after two years in the sugar industry, I chose not to devote the next phase of my career to ethanol. I came away believing not that ethanol lacked promise, but that India’s comparative advantage lay beyond sugarcane.Oil can be imported. Water cannot. Energy security is essential. Water security is existential. A wise nation should never secure the former by compromising the latter.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorV RaghunathanV Raghunathan is a former director of the Schulich School of Business (India Program), York University, Toronto, a former professor at IIM Ahmedabad and a former President of ING Vysya Bank. A prolific author, he has written over 15 books, including the national bestseller Games Indians Play (Penguin). With more than 600 published papers and articles, his latest books include The Lion, The Admiral, and A Cat Called B. Uma Vijaylakshmi (Westland, 2025) and To Every Parent; To Every Child (Penguin, 2025) and Irrationally Rational: 10 Nobel Laureates Script the Story of Behavioural Economics (Penguin, 2022), among others.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosSC Extends Section 498A Protection To Women In Marriage-Like Live-In RelationshipsWhatsApp Puts Multiple Accounts Under Review, Users Locked Out As Company Admits Mistakes Can HappenUdhayanidhi Stalin Detained Over Trisha Row |FIR, Political Storm & “I’ll Face It Legally” ExplainedPulwama Man Held With Hand Grenade, Anti-National Posters After Kulgam Terror AttackHigh-Level Probe Ordered As Security Forces Launch Massive Valley-Wide Manhunt | WatchSC Clarifies ‘Criminal Antecedents’ Caveat;CJP Demands Immediate Withdrawal Of FIRs Against StudentsAssam Govt Launches Relief Package As Over 1.36 Lakh People Remain Flood Affected | WatchIndian Parl Panel Grills Meta Over PM Modi Video Takedown, Seeks Mark Zuckerberg’s ApologyBankipur Shock, Datia Loss: BJP Suffers Twin Setback, But Why Isn’t It Good News For Opposition?Bengal STF Busts Alleged JeM Module, Probe Points To Pak-Based Handlers And Intelligence Network123PhotostoriesFrom Collarwali to Charger: 5 legendary tigers of IndiaNot lemon, baking soda or detergent: This one ingredient can remove foul smell permanently from water bottles and lunch boxesThe 7 germiest things in your hotel room that most guests touch without thinkingThe most beautiful buildings in the world have been ranked and one is from India5 wedding sarees which are best for wedding season 20269 Maharashtrian vegetarian dishes everyone should try onceFive women, five golds, one unforgettable day: Meet the Indian champions who rewrote Commonwealth Games boxing history in GlasgowWhy Popcorn pops: Understanding the chemical science reaction behind it10 Indian snacks that are healthier than biscuits7 high-protein breads you should add to your diet123Hot PicksCJP nationwide tourGold Rate TodayMJPRU resultBSE SensexRBI FD ruleManmohan Singh LiberhanKarnataka cabinet expansionUdhayanidhi StalinD Y PatilTop TrendingFaridabad MurderUdhayanidhi StalinPanchkula Army Captain Wife DeathPappu Yadav Slipper AttackPM ModiKarnataka Cabinet ExpansionTrisha KrishnanD Y Patil DeathBypoll Election Result 2026Shradha Singh

Vamsikrishna 0
The accused, Hamim Mondal, was arrested by the STF from Purba Bardaman last week NEW DELHI: A suspected Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) operative, arrested last week for allegedly tracking the movements of West Bengal chief minister Suvendu Adhikari, had also surveyed the area where the chief minister’s official residence is located in Kolkata, a police officer said on Tuesday.The survey of the area was carried out as part of a “larger conspiracy” orchestrated by the Pakistan-based handlers of the accused, Hamim Mondal.The disclosures emerged during the interrogation of Mondal, who was arrested by the Special Task Force (STF) from Purba Bardhaman last week, and his alleged associates, Arpita Sarkar, and Aditya Sinha.”During the initial phase of interrogation, the accused denied visiting the locality. However, technical evidence, including mobile tower location analysis, conclusively established his presence there. When confronted with the evidence, he admitted to carrying out reconnaissance,” the officer, a senior STF official, told PTI.Investigators are also probing whether Mondal and his associates conducted a survey of the state secretariat, Nabanna, to identify possible vulnerabilities in the chief minister’s security arrangements.”We are scrutinising CCTV footage and other technical evidence to verify their movements around Nabanna. Every lead is being thoroughly examined, and no possibility is being ruled out at this stage,” the officer added.The STF suspects Mondal had explored the possibility of renting accommodation near Adhikari’s residence to facilitate prolonged surveillance, though it is yet to establish whether he had actually rented any premises.The agency alleged that Mondal maintained direct links with Pakistan’s spy agency, the ISI, and a network operated by Pakistan-based gangster Shahzad Bhatti.The STF also alleged that Sarkar was assigned the role of a “honeytrap” operative to cultivate contacts with influential politicians and senior bureaucrats and gather confidential information.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesInvestigators suspect the alleged module was planning a major act of sabotage aimed at triggering political instability in the state, with Adhikari believed to be one of its principal targets.Following the revelations, security around the chief minister has been significantly strengthened, a senior bureaucrat at Nabanna said.The STF is also probing whether any other network linked to Bhatti or other Pakistan-backed operatives is active in West Bengal, and whether local facilitators or sleeper cells provided logistical support to the alleged conspiracy.”We are investigating the role of every individual connected to the module and examining whether any sleeper cells or local facilitators were involved,” the STF officer said.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorKaran ManralKaran Manral is a journalist at the Times of India. He covers politics, social issues, and international affairs, exploring stories that affect people’s everyday lives. He also writes explainers to make these stories easier for readers to follow.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosSC Extends Section 498A Protection To Women In Marriage-Like Live-In RelationshipsWhatsApp Puts Multiple Accounts Under Review, Users Locked Out As Company Admits Mistakes Can HappenUdhayanidhi Stalin Detained Over Trisha Row |FIR, Political Storm & “I’ll Face It Legally” ExplainedPulwama Man Held With Hand Grenade, Anti-National Posters After Kulgam Terror AttackHigh-Level Probe Ordered As Security Forces Launch Massive Valley-Wide Manhunt | WatchSC Clarifies ‘Criminal Antecedents’ Caveat;CJP Demands Immediate Withdrawal Of FIRs Against StudentsAssam Govt Launches Relief Package As Over 1.36 Lakh People Remain Flood Affected | WatchIndian Parl Panel Grills Meta Over PM Modi Video Takedown, Seeks Mark Zuckerberg’s ApologyBankipur Shock, Datia Loss: BJP Suffers Twin Setback, But Why Isn’t It Good News For Opposition?Bengal STF Busts Alleged JeM Module, Probe Points To Pak-Based Handlers And Intelligence Network123PhotostoriesThe 7 germiest things in your hotel room that most guests touch without thinkingThe most beautiful buildings in the world have been ranked and one is from India5 wedding sarees which are best for wedding season 20269 Maharashtrian vegetarian dishes everyone should try onceFive women, five golds, one unforgettable day: Meet the Indian champions who rewrote Commonwealth Games boxing history in GlasgowWhy Popcorn pops: Understanding the chemical science reaction behind it10 Indian snacks that are healthier than biscuits7 high-protein breads you should add to your dietThis Indian spice is among the ‘World’s Stinkiest Foods’; detailed list inside10 tasty snacks made with bread you can prepare in minutes123Hot PicksCJP nationwide tourGold Rate TodayMJPRU resultBSE SensexRBI FD ruleManmohan Singh LiberhanKarnataka cabinet expansionUdhayanidhi StalinD Y PatilTop TrendingFaridabad MurderUdhayanidhi StalinPanchkula Army Captain Wife DeathCJP Founder ComplaintPM ModiKarnataka Cabinet ExpansionTrisha KrishnanD Y Patil DeathBypoll Election Result 2026Shradha Singh

The accused, Hamim Mondal, was arrested by the STF from Purba Bardaman last week NEW DELHI: A suspected Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) operative, arrested last week for allegedly tracking the movements of West Bengal chief minister Suvendu Adhikari, had also surveyed the area where the chief minister’s official residence is located in Kolkata, a police officer said on Tuesday.The survey of the area was carried out as part of a “larger conspiracy” orchestrated by the Pakistan-based handlers of the accused, Hamim Mondal.The disclosures emerged during the interrogation of Mondal, who was arrested by the Special Task Force (STF) from Purba Bardhaman last week, and his alleged associates, Arpita Sarkar, and Aditya Sinha.”During the initial phase of interrogation, the accused denied visiting the locality. However, technical evidence, including mobile tower location analysis, conclusively established his presence there. When confronted with the evidence, he admitted to carrying out reconnaissance,” the officer, a senior STF official, told PTI.Investigators are also probing whether Mondal and his associates conducted a survey of the state secretariat, Nabanna, to identify possible vulnerabilities in the chief minister’s security arrangements.”We are scrutinising CCTV footage and other technical evidence to verify their movements around Nabanna. Every lead is being thoroughly examined, and no possibility is being ruled out at this stage,” the officer added.The STF suspects Mondal had explored the possibility of renting accommodation near Adhikari’s residence to facilitate prolonged surveillance, though it is yet to establish whether he had actually rented any premises.The agency alleged that Mondal maintained direct links with Pakistan’s spy agency, the ISI, and a network operated by Pakistan-based gangster Shahzad Bhatti.The STF also alleged that Sarkar was assigned the role of a “honeytrap” operative to cultivate contacts with influential politicians and senior bureaucrats and gather confidential information.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesInvestigators suspect the alleged module was planning a major act of sabotage aimed at triggering political instability in the state, with Adhikari believed to be one of its principal targets.Following the revelations, security around the chief minister has been significantly strengthened, a senior bureaucrat at Nabanna said.The STF is also probing whether any other network linked to Bhatti or other Pakistan-backed operatives is active in West Bengal, and whether local facilitators or sleeper cells provided logistical support to the alleged conspiracy.”We are investigating the role of every individual connected to the module and examining whether any sleeper cells or local facilitators were involved,” the STF officer said.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorKaran ManralKaran Manral is a journalist at the Times of India. He covers politics, social issues, and international affairs, exploring stories that affect people’s everyday lives. He also writes explainers to make these stories easier for readers to follow.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosSC Extends Section 498A Protection To Women In Marriage-Like Live-In RelationshipsWhatsApp Puts Multiple Accounts Under Review, Users Locked Out As Company Admits Mistakes Can HappenUdhayanidhi Stalin Detained Over Trisha Row |FIR, Political Storm & “I’ll Face It Legally” ExplainedPulwama Man Held With Hand Grenade, Anti-National Posters After Kulgam Terror AttackHigh-Level Probe Ordered As Security Forces Launch Massive Valley-Wide Manhunt | WatchSC Clarifies ‘Criminal Antecedents’ Caveat;CJP Demands Immediate Withdrawal Of FIRs Against StudentsAssam Govt Launches Relief Package As Over 1.36 Lakh People Remain Flood Affected | WatchIndian Parl Panel Grills Meta Over PM Modi Video Takedown, Seeks Mark Zuckerberg’s ApologyBankipur Shock, Datia Loss: BJP Suffers Twin Setback, But Why Isn’t It Good News For Opposition?Bengal STF Busts Alleged JeM Module, Probe Points To Pak-Based Handlers And Intelligence Network123PhotostoriesThe 7 germiest things in your hotel room that most guests touch without thinkingThe most beautiful buildings in the world have been ranked and one is from India5 wedding sarees which are best for wedding season 20269 Maharashtrian vegetarian dishes everyone should try onceFive women, five golds, one unforgettable day: Meet the Indian champions who rewrote Commonwealth Games boxing history in GlasgowWhy Popcorn pops: Understanding the chemical science reaction behind it10 Indian snacks that are healthier than biscuits7 high-protein breads you should add to your dietThis Indian spice is among the ‘World’s Stinkiest Foods’; detailed list inside10 tasty snacks made with bread you can prepare in minutes123Hot PicksCJP nationwide tourGold Rate TodayMJPRU resultBSE SensexRBI FD ruleManmohan Singh LiberhanKarnataka cabinet expansionUdhayanidhi StalinD Y PatilTop TrendingFaridabad MurderUdhayanidhi StalinPanchkula Army Captain Wife DeathCJP Founder ComplaintPM ModiKarnataka Cabinet ExpansionTrisha KrishnanD Y Patil DeathBypoll Election Result 2026Shradha Singh

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ANI photo NEW DELHI: Madras high court on Tuesday directed the Tamil Nadu Police to release DMK leader and former deputy chief minister Udhayanidhi Stalin after questioning him over his alleged “double meaning” remark made during a protest in Thanjavur over the Cauvery water-sharing dispute.The court issued the direction after the Tamil Nadu government informed it that Udhayanidhi would be released on station bail following the inquiry.Hours after the leader of the opposition was detained over remarks allegedly targeting chief minister C Joseph Vijay, Advocate General P S Raman (or Vijay Narayan, if that’s the correct name in your copy) told the court that Udhayanidhi would not be kept in custody after questioning.The submission was made during the hearing of Udhayanidhi’s anticipatory bail plea. Recording the government’s assurance, Justice G K Ilanthiraiyan directed the police to ensure that his detention was not prolonged and that he was released before the end of the day.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesThe political confrontation unfolded after Udhayanidhi led a protest in Thanjavur against the ruling TVK government’s handling of the Cauvery water-sharing dispute and Karnataka’s proposed Mekedatu dam project.During his speech, Udhayanidhi accused chief minister C Joseph Vijay of showing little interest in resolving the Cauvery issue or protecting farmers’ interests.At one point, a section of DMK supporters began chanting the name of a Tamil actress, apparently suggesting that Vijay’s priorities lay elsewhere. Udhayanidhi paused, smiled and said, “The water should come there, irrespective of where it is supposed to come from.”As the crowd erupted in cheers and laughter, he added, “No. I was referring only to the Cauvery,” prompting another round of applause and laughter.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorAbhishek MishraAbhishek Mishra is a Digital Content Producer at The Times of India, working with the news desk. He writes with a keen eye on foreign policy, defence developments, and the shifting currents of geopolitics-and yes, Indian politics always finds a way onto his radar too.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosWhatsApp Puts Multiple Accounts Under Review, Users Locked Out As Company Admits Mistakes Can HappenUdhayanidhi Stalin Detained Over Trisha Row |FIR, Political Storm & “I’ll Face It Legally” ExplainedPulwama Man Held With Hand Grenade, Anti-National Posters After Kulgam Terror AttackHigh-Level Probe Ordered As Security Forces Launch Massive Valley-Wide Manhunt | WatchSC Clarifies ‘Criminal Antecedents’ Caveat;CJP Demands Immediate Withdrawal Of FIRs Against StudentsAssam Govt Launches Relief Package As Over 1.36 Lakh People Remain Flood Affected | WatchIndian Parl Panel Grills Meta Over PM Modi Video Takedown, Seeks Mark Zuckerberg’s ApologyBankipur Shock, Datia Loss: BJP Suffers Twin Setback, But Why Isn’t It Good News For Opposition?Bengal STF Busts Alleged JeM Module, Probe Points To Pak-Based Handlers And Intelligence Network’30-Year Stronghold Fell In 30 Days’: Prashant Kishor’s 1st Remarks As He Eyes Historic Bankipur Win123PhotostoriesThe most beautiful buildings in the world have been ranked and one is from India5 wedding sarees which are best for wedding season 20269 Maharashtrian vegetarian dishes everyone should try onceFive women, five golds, one unforgettable day: Meet the Indian champions who rewrote Commonwealth Games boxing history in GlasgowWhy Popcorn pops: Understanding the chemical science reaction behind it10 Indian snacks that are healthier than biscuits7 high-protein breads you should add to your dietThis Indian spice is among the ‘World’s Stinkiest Foods’; detailed list inside10 tasty snacks made with bread you can prepare in minutesWant a happier marriage? Start saying these 5 things every day123Hot PicksCJP nationwide tourGold Rate TodayMJPRU resultBSE SensexRBI FD ruleManmohan Singh LiberhanKarnataka cabinet expansionUdhayanidhi StalinD Y PatilTop TrendingFaridabad MurderUdhayanidhi StalinMadhya Pradesh Dam PillarsCJP Founder ComplaintPM ModiKarnataka Cabinet ExpansionTrisha KrishnanD Y Patil DeathBypoll Election Result 2026Shradha Singh

ANI photo NEW DELHI: Madras high court on Tuesday directed the Tamil Nadu Police to release DMK leader and former deputy chief minister Udhayanidhi Stalin after questioning him over his alleged “double meaning” remark made during a protest in Thanjavur over the Cauvery water-sharing dispute.The court issued the direction after the Tamil Nadu government informed it that Udhayanidhi would be released on station bail following the inquiry.Hours after the leader of the opposition was detained over remarks allegedly targeting chief minister C Joseph Vijay, Advocate General P S Raman (or Vijay Narayan, if that’s the correct name in your copy) told the court that Udhayanidhi would not be kept in custody after questioning.The submission was made during the hearing of Udhayanidhi’s anticipatory bail plea. Recording the government’s assurance, Justice G K Ilanthiraiyan directed the police to ensure that his detention was not prolonged and that he was released before the end of the day.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesThe political confrontation unfolded after Udhayanidhi led a protest in Thanjavur against the ruling TVK government’s handling of the Cauvery water-sharing dispute and Karnataka’s proposed Mekedatu dam project.During his speech, Udhayanidhi accused chief minister C Joseph Vijay of showing little interest in resolving the Cauvery issue or protecting farmers’ interests.At one point, a section of DMK supporters began chanting the name of a Tamil actress, apparently suggesting that Vijay’s priorities lay elsewhere. Udhayanidhi paused, smiled and said, “The water should come there, irrespective of where it is supposed to come from.”As the crowd erupted in cheers and laughter, he added, “No. I was referring only to the Cauvery,” prompting another round of applause and laughter.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorAbhishek MishraAbhishek Mishra is a Digital Content Producer at The Times of India, working with the news desk. He writes with a keen eye on foreign policy, defence developments, and the shifting currents of geopolitics-and yes, Indian politics always finds a way onto his radar too.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosWhatsApp Puts Multiple Accounts Under Review, Users Locked Out As Company Admits Mistakes Can HappenUdhayanidhi Stalin Detained Over Trisha Row |FIR, Political Storm & “I’ll Face It Legally” ExplainedPulwama Man Held With Hand Grenade, Anti-National Posters After Kulgam Terror AttackHigh-Level Probe Ordered As Security Forces Launch Massive Valley-Wide Manhunt | WatchSC Clarifies ‘Criminal Antecedents’ Caveat;CJP Demands Immediate Withdrawal Of FIRs Against StudentsAssam Govt Launches Relief Package As Over 1.36 Lakh People Remain Flood Affected | WatchIndian Parl Panel Grills Meta Over PM Modi Video Takedown, Seeks Mark Zuckerberg’s ApologyBankipur Shock, Datia Loss: BJP Suffers Twin Setback, But Why Isn’t It Good News For Opposition?Bengal STF Busts Alleged JeM Module, Probe Points To Pak-Based Handlers And Intelligence Network’30-Year Stronghold Fell In 30 Days’: Prashant Kishor’s 1st Remarks As He Eyes Historic Bankipur Win123PhotostoriesThe most beautiful buildings in the world have been ranked and one is from India5 wedding sarees which are best for wedding season 20269 Maharashtrian vegetarian dishes everyone should try onceFive women, five golds, one unforgettable day: Meet the Indian champions who rewrote Commonwealth Games boxing history in GlasgowWhy Popcorn pops: Understanding the chemical science reaction behind it10 Indian snacks that are healthier than biscuits7 high-protein breads you should add to your dietThis Indian spice is among the ‘World’s Stinkiest Foods’; detailed list inside10 tasty snacks made with bread you can prepare in minutesWant a happier marriage? Start saying these 5 things every day123Hot PicksCJP nationwide tourGold Rate TodayMJPRU resultBSE SensexRBI FD ruleManmohan Singh LiberhanKarnataka cabinet expansionUdhayanidhi StalinD Y PatilTop TrendingFaridabad MurderUdhayanidhi StalinMadhya Pradesh Dam PillarsCJP Founder ComplaintPM ModiKarnataka Cabinet ExpansionTrisha KrishnanD Y Patil DeathBypoll Election Result 2026Shradha Singh

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MUMBAI: “Who will give the petitioner damages for the loss he has suffered each day?” Bombay high court Acting Chief Justice Ravindra Ghuge and Justice Gautam Ankhad orally asked the Food and Drug Administration on Monday as it restored a hotel’s license which continued to remain suspended over two weeks after 100 pc compliance with rules and license conditions.“The problem is this department (FDA) was sleeping all this while and has now woken up. You have a laudable commissioner (Tukaram Mundhe), but once the petitioner has been certified as 100 per cent compliant, why should the licence remain suspended?” The HC asked the Navi Mumbai bar and restaurant to present on Wednesday the losses it would have suffered since the last inspection on July 14 which should it was all compliant and posted its petition for further orders.The bench said it would consider whether to impose cost on the FDA.”If we remain silent then, we would be failing in our duty,” it said on Monday. said.The HC questioned a Government lawyer why the suspension order was not withdrawn forthwith on the hotel showing 100% compliance over 2 weeks ago, after the second inspection.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesHotel Pawan Bar and Restaurant through its partner Pawan Shetty had petitioned the HC, the third such this month, to challenge as illegal and arbitrary, the suspension order issued by FDA following an inspection. A food safety officer had on June 29, conducted a surprise inspection of the hotel under the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act of 2006. The suspension was “forthwith’’ submitted the hotel’s counsel Mayur Khandeparkar but its restoration even after a re-inspection showed 100 % compliance over two weeks ago, was still awaited.Against the suspension order of the FDA an appeal had been filed on July 6, said the hotel’s petition filed through advocate Sagar Shetty, but it was taken up for hearing before the authority only on July 28 and despite the hotel achieving all compliances, the suspension was not revoked and the appeal hearing adjourned to August 4. The hotel thus had come before the HC against the FDA’s actions.The HC also noted that the hotel’s liquor license had also been suspended solely because the food business license, as a principal license, had been suspended.The HC directed all licenses be restored.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorSwati DeshpandeSwati Deshpande is Senior editor at The Times of India, Mumbai, where she has been covering courts for over a decade. She is passionate about law and works towards enlightening people about their statutory, legal and fundamental rights. She makes it her job to decipher for the public the truth, be it in an intricate civil dispute or in a gruesome criminal case.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosPulwama Man Held With Hand Grenade, Anti-National Posters After Kulgam Terror AttackHigh-Level Probe Ordered As Security Forces Launch Massive Valley-Wide Manhunt | WatchSC Clarifies ‘Criminal Antecedents’ Caveat;CJP Demands Immediate Withdrawal Of FIRs Against StudentsAssam Govt Launches Relief Package As Over 1.36 Lakh People Remain Flood Affected | WatchIndian Parl Panel Grills Meta Over PM Modi Video Takedown, Seeks Mark Zuckerberg’s ApologyBankipur Shock, Datia Loss: BJP Suffers Twin Setback, But Why Isn’t It Good News For Opposition?Bengal STF Busts Alleged JeM Module, Probe Points To Pak-Based Handlers And Intelligence Network’30-Year Stronghold Fell In 30 Days’: Prashant Kishor’s 1st Remarks As He Eyes Historic Bankipur Win‘I Was A Moderate Hindu’: Kangana Ranaut Says ‘People Become Leftist After Meeting Islamists’’Will Lay Down Protocol’: Pellet Guns Under Supreme Court Lens After Jantar Mantar Protests123Photostories5 wedding sarees which are best for wedding season 2026Five women, five golds, one unforgettable day: Meet the Indian champions who rewrote Commonwealth Games boxing history in GlasgowWhy Popcorn pops: Understanding the chemical science reaction behind it10 Indian snacks that are healthier than biscuits7 high-protein breads you should add to your dietThis Indian spice is among the ‘World’s Stinkiest Foods’; detailed list inside10 tasty snacks made with bread you can prepare in minutesWant a happier marriage? Start saying these 5 things every dayThe vanishing threads of India: Rare handwoven textiles you need to knowOne egg, two eggs or more? Cardiologist reveals the ideal daily number for a healthy heart and cholesterol123Hot PicksCJP nationwide tourGold Rate TodayMJPRU resultBSE SensexRBI FD ruleManmohan Singh LiberhanKarnataka cabinet expansionUdhayanidhi StalinD Y PatilTop TrendingFaridabad MurderUdhayanidhi StalinMadhya Pradesh Dam PillarsCJP Founder ComplaintPM ModiKarnataka Cabinet ExpansionTrisha KrishnanD Y Patil DeathBypoll Election Result 2026Shradha Singh

MUMBAI: “Who will give the petitioner damages for the loss he has suffered each day?” Bombay high court Acting Chief Justice Ravindra Ghuge and Justice Gautam Ankhad orally asked the Food and Drug Administration on Monday as it restored a hotel’s license which continued to remain suspended over two weeks after 100 pc compliance with rules and license conditions.“The problem is this department (FDA) was sleeping all this while and has now woken up. You have a laudable commissioner (Tukaram Mundhe), but once the petitioner has been certified as 100 per cent compliant, why should the licence remain suspended?” The HC asked the Navi Mumbai bar and restaurant to present on Wednesday the losses it would have suffered since the last inspection on July 14 which should it was all compliant and posted its petition for further orders.The bench said it would consider whether to impose cost on the FDA.”If we remain silent then, we would be failing in our duty,” it said on Monday. said.The HC questioned a Government lawyer why the suspension order was not withdrawn forthwith on the hotel showing 100% compliance over 2 weeks ago, after the second inspection.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesHotel Pawan Bar and Restaurant through its partner Pawan Shetty had petitioned the HC, the third such this month, to challenge as illegal and arbitrary, the suspension order issued by FDA following an inspection. A food safety officer had on June 29, conducted a surprise inspection of the hotel under the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act of 2006. The suspension was “forthwith’’ submitted the hotel’s counsel Mayur Khandeparkar but its restoration even after a re-inspection showed 100 % compliance over two weeks ago, was still awaited.Against the suspension order of the FDA an appeal had been filed on July 6, said the hotel’s petition filed through advocate Sagar Shetty, but it was taken up for hearing before the authority only on July 28 and despite the hotel achieving all compliances, the suspension was not revoked and the appeal hearing adjourned to August 4. The hotel thus had come before the HC against the FDA’s actions.The HC also noted that the hotel’s liquor license had also been suspended solely because the food business license, as a principal license, had been suspended.The HC directed all licenses be restored.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorSwati DeshpandeSwati Deshpande is Senior editor at The Times of India, Mumbai, where she has been covering courts for over a decade. She is passionate about law and works towards enlightening people about their statutory, legal and fundamental rights. She makes it her job to decipher for the public the truth, be it in an intricate civil dispute or in a gruesome criminal case.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosPulwama Man Held With Hand Grenade, Anti-National Posters After Kulgam Terror AttackHigh-Level Probe Ordered As Security Forces Launch Massive Valley-Wide Manhunt | WatchSC Clarifies ‘Criminal Antecedents’ Caveat;CJP Demands Immediate Withdrawal Of FIRs Against StudentsAssam Govt Launches Relief Package As Over 1.36 Lakh People Remain Flood Affected | WatchIndian Parl Panel Grills Meta Over PM Modi Video Takedown, Seeks Mark Zuckerberg’s ApologyBankipur Shock, Datia Loss: BJP Suffers Twin Setback, But Why Isn’t It Good News For Opposition?Bengal STF Busts Alleged JeM Module, Probe Points To Pak-Based Handlers And Intelligence Network’30-Year Stronghold Fell In 30 Days’: Prashant Kishor’s 1st Remarks As He Eyes Historic Bankipur Win‘I Was A Moderate Hindu’: Kangana Ranaut Says ‘People Become Leftist After Meeting Islamists’’Will Lay Down Protocol’: Pellet Guns Under Supreme Court Lens After Jantar Mantar Protests123Photostories5 wedding sarees which are best for wedding season 2026Five women, five golds, one unforgettable day: Meet the Indian champions who rewrote Commonwealth Games boxing history in GlasgowWhy Popcorn pops: Understanding the chemical science reaction behind it10 Indian snacks that are healthier than biscuits7 high-protein breads you should add to your dietThis Indian spice is among the ‘World’s Stinkiest Foods’; detailed list inside10 tasty snacks made with bread you can prepare in minutesWant a happier marriage? Start saying these 5 things every dayThe vanishing threads of India: Rare handwoven textiles you need to knowOne egg, two eggs or more? Cardiologist reveals the ideal daily number for a healthy heart and cholesterol123Hot PicksCJP nationwide tourGold Rate TodayMJPRU resultBSE SensexRBI FD ruleManmohan Singh LiberhanKarnataka cabinet expansionUdhayanidhi StalinD Y PatilTop TrendingFaridabad MurderUdhayanidhi StalinMadhya Pradesh Dam PillarsCJP Founder ComplaintPM ModiKarnataka Cabinet ExpansionTrisha KrishnanD Y Patil DeathBypoll Election Result 2026Shradha Singh

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