Delhi Police has opened a multi-country investigation into the leak of former Army chief M. M. Naravane’s unpublished memoir Four Stars of Destiny. Police say the book appeared on foreign digital platforms before getting mandatory approval from the Defence Ministry. An FIR has been filed for criminal conspiracy. Investigators believe the leak was organised and not simple piracy. Online listings were found in the US, Canada, Germany and Australia. Police are checking ISBN records linked to publisher Penguin India. The controversy grew after Rahul Gandhi referred to the unpublished book. The publisher said no authorised copies were released. (PC: India Today)

The Centre told the Supreme Court it does not support the release of activist Sonam Wangchuk on health grounds. He has been in detention since September 2025 and is held in Jodhpur jail. The government said the grounds for his detention still continue and involve “serious allegations.” He was detained under the National Security Act. The NSA allows preventive detention for up to 12 months in certain cases. Under the Constitution, such detention is usually limited to three months unless a review board approves an extension. Wangchuk’s wife has filed a habeas corpus petition. The Supreme Court is hearing the case. (PC: NDTV)

The Supreme Court reduced compensation for a "faulty haircut" at ITC Maurya Hotel salon from Rs 2 crore to Rs 25 lakh. Justices Rajesh Bindal and Manmohan ruled February 6 that while "deficiency in service" was established, consumer dispute compensation requires "material evidence," not complainant's "whims and fancies." Aashna Roy, a management professional, claimed the 2018 incident caused mental trauma and lost modeling opportunities after her hair was cut shorter than requested. The court criticized the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission for relying on photocopies without proper verification, stating crore-rupee claims require trustworthy evidence. Even after remand, Roy failed adequately proving claimed losses, justifying the reduced award. (PC: Brut India)

India inaugurated its first "musical road" on Mumbai's Coastal Road corridor Wednesday, with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis leading the ceremony. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation installed specially designed grooves on the northbound carriageway from Nariman Point toward Worli that play "Jai Ho" from Slumdog Millionaire when vehicles travel at 70-80 kmph. The friction-generated sound waves create the melody audible inside vehicles. Located 500 meters after the Worli-bound underground tunnel exit, this is the world's fifth such road. The concept, first developed in Japan in 2007 by engineer Shizuo Shinoda, has been implemented in Hungary, Japan, South Korea, and UAE. Signboards alert motorists about required speeds.

The Union government has opposed the release of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, currently detained under the National Security Act (NSA), stating that there is no medical reason to grant him bail. Authorities said Wangchuk has undergone multiple medical examinations since his detention, and his condition has been consistently reported as stable and healthy. The government emphasized that the reasons for his detention continue to exist and cannot be set aside on health grounds. Wangchuk’s wife had filed a habeas corpus petition seeking his release, claiming his detention was unlawful and that his health was deteriorating, but the Centre firmly denied these claims. The Supreme Court will now consider the matter further. (PC: PTI)

Delhi Police have arrested a self-styled “baba,” Kamruddin, in the shocking triple murder of three people found dead inside a parked car near the Peeragarhi flyover. Initial indications of suicide shifted after investigators uncovered that Kamruddin had lured the victims with promises of “Dhanvarsha” (surprise money) through tantric rituals and fed them poison-laced laddoos and drinks, police said. CCTV footage reportedly shows him in the car with the trio before their deaths, and he is now booked for murder as part of a well-planned conspiracy for financial gain. The victims were Randhir (76), Shiv Naresh (47) and Laxmi Devi (40). Police continue probing motive and sequence of events. (PC: HT)

Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju sharply criticised Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for his conduct in the Lok Sabha during a row over his attempt to quote from an unpublished “memoir” of ex-Army Chief General M M Naravane on the India-China border standoff. Rijiju accused Gandhi of defying the Speaker’s ruling, wasting House time and behaving immaturely, telling him “don’t behave like children” amid heated exchanges and disruptions in Parliament. The spat reflects broader tensions between the government and opposition over parliamentary decorum and national security discourse during the Budget Session. (PC: PTI)

The Union Home Ministry has issued new guidelines making all six stanzas of the national song Vande Mataram mandatory at government functions and in schools, using the official 3-minute-10-second version penned by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee. The song must be played or sung at occasions such as the unfurling of the Tricolour, the arrival and departure of the President and governors, and before and after presidential addresses. If Vande Mataram and the national anthem Jana Gana Mana are both performed, the national song comes first. The directive also outlines decorum, including standing to attention, and encourages mass singing at ceremonies. (PC: The Times of India)

In Mathura’s Khapparpur village, Uttar Pradesh, a couple and their three young children were found dead inside their home, in what police suspect was a mass suicide pact. The victims were identified as Manish Kumar (35), his wife Seema (about 32), and their children Honey (8), Priyanshi (5) and Prateek (3). Neighbours broke into the house after there was no response in the morning. Police recovered a video message recorded by Manish and messages scribbled on the wall indicating the deaths were voluntary. Post-mortem findings showed varied causes: the father by electrocution, the wife by hanging, and the children by strangulation. Investigations are ongoing.

At least 10 private schools in Chandigarh and neighbouring Mohali received bomb threat emails on Wednesday, prompting panic among parents and authorities. School administrations immediately evacuated students and sent them back home as a precaution. Police and bomb disposal squads were deployed to conduct thorough security checks on the campuses, but no explosives or suspicious objects were found so far. Officials are investigating the source of the threatening emails and tightening security around schools. Authorities assured parents that all necessary safety measures are in place while the probe continues. (PC: HT)