Lakshya Chauhan, the 24-year-old son of Delhi Police’s Assistant Commissioner Yashpal Singh, went to Haryana with two others to attend a wedding. By the end of the revelry, he was killed and his body was found in a canal. 

Mr Chauhan, a lawyer at Tis Hazari court, was allegedly pushed into a canal in Haryana by two of his friends, Vikas Bhardwaj and his accomplice Abhishek, over a simmering financial dispute.

The unfolding tragedy began on Monday when Mr Chauhan, accompanied by Bhardwaj and Abhishek, set out to attend a wedding in Sonepat. When he failed to return home the next day, ACP Yashpal Singh filed a missing complaint, triggering a search operation.

As the investigation progressed, it was revealed that the financial dispute between Mr Chauhan and Bhardwaj had escalated, leading to a sinister plan to eliminate him. Bhardwaj alleged that Mr Chauhan had taken a loan and consistently refused to repay, causing tension between the two.

Abhishek, detained after a week-long search, disclosed that Bhardwaj had invited him to the marriage function and shared his grievances about Mr Chauhan. The two hatched a plan to murder the top cop’s son during their return journey.

After leaving the wedding function post-midnight, the trio stopped near the Munak Canal to answer nature’s call. Exploiting the situation, Bhardwaj and Abhishek allegedly pushed Mr Chauhan into the canal and fled the scene in his car.

Upon their return to Delhi, Bhardwaj dropped Abhishek in Narela before disappearing. Abhishek was later apprehended, and based on his statement, a police case was registered. 

The police are intensifying efforts to trace Bhardwaj. 

Nitish Kumar will likely take oath as Bihar Chief Minister again  tomorrow, a record ninth time, supported by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) – mirroring a familiar script from the 2020 elections. The political churn has triggered a flurry of activities, with large-scale transfers of officers adding to the suspense. Reports of an imminent change in government are rife, casting a shadow over the current ‘Mahagathbandhan’ ruling coalition.

The BJP has convened a meeting of its MPs and MLAs today, ostensibly to strategise for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. State unit chief Samrat Choudhary downplayed speculations of a renewed alliance with Nitish Kumar, but BJP leaders dropped significant hints about behind-the-scenes discussions.

According to sources, Nitish Kumar has convened a session of the legislative party at 10 am today. Sources have said that extensive relocations of district magistrates are underway in Bihar, coinciding with rumors of an imminent shift in the government.

Nitish Kumar’s solo appearance at the Republic Day tea at Raj Bhavan yesterday, without his deputy Tejashwi Yadav by his side, indicated a simmering discord between Janata Dal (United) and the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD).

READ | Nitish Kumar Headed To BJP Again? A Look At His Flip Flops Over The Years

Amid this political upheaval, Congress, Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal (United)’s partner in the opposition INDIA bloc, has called a meeting in Purnea, while denying any connection to the evolving political scenario. The Congress plans to discuss preparations for Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra,’ set to enter Bihar on Monday, with public meetings scheduled in Kishanganj, Purnea, and Katihar.

While the immediate focus appears to be on the Lok Sabha elections, sources indicate that the Bihar Assembly won’t be dissolved just yet. Both the BJP and JD(U) are engaging with their respective MPs and MLAs to solidify their strategies, setting the stage for a comprehensive realignment in Bihar’s political landscape.

However, the return of Nitish Kumar to the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is not without its complexities. Sources have told NDTV that the intricate game plan includes the nomination of an Assembly Speaker and a cabinet reshuffle. 

READ | Amid Political Turmoil In Bihar, Dozens Of Senior Bureaucrats Transferred

Nitish Kumar’s former Deputy Chief Minister and BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi’s cryptic statement, “No door is closed in politics. The door can be opened if needed,” has added another layer of suspense to the development. 

Former Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi and his Hindustan Awam Morcha are also players in this political chessboard, courted by the BJP to secure a strategic alliance.

Nitish Kumar’s political journey, once synonymous with stability and development, has become a tale of flip-flops and realignments. From the acclaimed ‘Sushashan Babu’ to the enigmatic “Paltu Kumar,” his trajectory reflects the evolving dynamics of Bihar’s politics.

Martha quota protest leader Manoj Jarange Patil ended his protest today after the Maharashtra government accepted all his demands. Mr Patil has been on a hunger strike in Mumbai since yesterday demanding reservation in education and jobs for the community under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category.

Mr Patil’s demands included Kunbi certificates for all Marathas, free education from kindergarten to postgraduate level, and reservation of seats for Marathas in government job recruitments.

So far, 37 lakh Kunbi certificates have been given, and the number will go up to 50 lakh, he said. Kunbi refers to Other Backward Classes (OBC).

The 40-year-old had threatened to march to Mumbai’s Azad Maidan for a massive protest if their demands were not met. “If the government does not agree, then we will show what we can do,” Mr Patil had said.

The protesters said that two Maharashtra ministers met Mr Patil on Friday night and the government has accepted all their demands.

#WATCH | Navi Mumbai: Maratha reservation activists celebrate after Manoj Jarange Patil announces to end the protests today as the government has accepted their demands pic.twitter.com/V1KxosEHRm

— ANI (@ANI) January 27, 2024

Chief Minister Eknath Shinde is expected to visit the protest site and meet Manoj Patil at 9 am today.

The Maratha leader has planned a victory march for later today. The march will be held in Vashi.

The Maratha community’s demand for reservation has been a focal point of discussions between the community leaders and the state government.

On May 5, 2021, the Supreme Court struck down reservations for the Maratha community in colleges, higher educational institutions, and jobs, after noting that there was no valid ground to breach 50 per cent reservation while granting Maratha reservation.