The traditional ‘halwa ceremony’, marking the final stage of the preparation process for interim Union Budget 2024, was held this evening at the Union Finance Ministry headquarters at North Block in Delhi. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman was seen unwrapping a huge iron wok which had halwa in it and distributing it to the officials of the ministry.

#WATCH | Delhi | The Halwa ceremony, marking the final stage of the Budget preparation process for Interim Union Budget 2024, was held in North Block, today, in the presence of Union Finance & Corporate Affairs Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Union Minister of State for Finance… pic.twitter.com/wjoyI5QqQ3

— ANI (@ANI) January 24, 2024

Ms Sitharaman was seen stirring the halwa before serving it to the oficials.

Besides Ms Sitharaman, Union Minister of State for Finance Dr Bhagwat Karad also attended the ceremony.

A customary halwa ceremony is performed every year before the “lock-in” process of Budget preparation begins. The lock-in process is observed to maintain the secrecy of the upcoming budget and prevent any leaks before it is finally presented in the Parliament.

According to the ritual, the Indian dessert is served to all those who are directly assciated with the Bidget making process. Post the ceremony, the officials are required to stay in the Finance Ministry till the Finance Minister finally presents the Budget.

The Chief Justice of the Karnataka High Court, Prasanna B Varale, has been elevated to the Supreme Court. He will take oath tomorrow, sources said. He replaces Justice S K Kaul, who retired last month. His elevation takes the number of Supreme Court judges back to its full strength of 34.

The 61-year-old has practiced law (specifically civil, criminal, labour, and administrative matters) for over two decades, and previously served in the Bombay High Court.

He took oath as the Chief Justice of the Karnataka High Court in October 2022.

While recommending his name earlier this month, the Supreme Court Collegium said it took into consideration the fact that he is among the senior-most high court judges and is the only High Court Chief Justice from the Scheduled Caste.

He would become the third sitting judge from a Scheduled Caste community. The others are Justices B R Gavai and C T Ravikumar.

Justice Varale’s appointment came within a week of the Supreme Court Collegium recommending his name.

“In exercise of the powers conferred by clause (2) of Article 124 of the Constitution of India, the President is pleased to appoint Shri Justice Prasarma Bhalachandra Varale, Chief Justice of the Karnataka High Court, to be a Judge of the Supreme Court of India, with effect from the date he assumes charge of his office,” read the notification from the law ministry.

The Anti-Corruption Bureau has uncovered over Rs 100 crore in disproportionate assets allegedly amassed by Shiva Balakrishna, the Secretary of Telangana State Real Estate Regulatory Authority (TSRERA) and the former Director of Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA).

The ACB’s preliminary findings suggest Mr Balakrishna accrued crores by allegedly facilitating permits for numerous real estate companies.

Officials searched several locations across the state, including Mr Balakrishna and his relatives’ homes and offices, over allegations that Mr Balakrishna amassed assets beyond his known sources of income.

The searches began at 5 am today and covered 20 locations. They are expected to extend into tomorrow. ACB teams combed through offices of the HMDA and RERA, while Mr Balakrishna’s home and other key locations linked to the probe were raided.

A case of unaccounted assets has been registered against Mr Balakrishna, who is suspected to have exploited his official position to accumulate massive wealth.

Assets valued at over Rs 100 crore, including gold, flats, bank deposits, and benami holdings, have been found during the searches. The inventory of seized items comprises Rs 40 lakh in cash, two kilograms of gold jewellery, 60 high-end wristwatches, property documents, and substantial bank deposits. Additionally, 14 phones, 10 laptops, and several electronic gadgets have been confiscated.

The ACB is now going through Mr Balakrishna’s bank lockers and other undisclosed assets, signaling a continuation of the investigation tomorrow.