Gangopadhyay, High Court Ex-judge, joins BJP

Kolkata: Two days after resigning as a judge of the Calcutta HC, Abhijit Gangopadhyay joined the BJP on Thursday. “I am happy to join the BJP and will work as a party soldier. Our objective is to oust the corrupt TMC regime from the state,” he said. — TNS

India-US Coast Guard exercise

New Delhi: The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) and United States Coast Guard (USCG) will carry out a two-day exercise on March 9-10 at the strategic Port Blair in Andaman Nicobar Islands. The USCG Ship Bertholf reached Port Blair on Thursday for a joint exercise “Sea Defenders-2024”.— TNS

Bank fraud: CBI raids 67 locations

New Delhi: The CBI conducted fresh search operations at 67 locations in seven cities of Rajasthan and Maharashtra in connection with a case related to suspicious IMPS transactions amounting to Rs 820 crore across multiple UCO Bank accounts. — TNS

Saibaba walks out of jail after acquittal

Nagpur: Former Delhi University professor G N Saibaba, who was released from the Nagpur Central Jail on Thursday after his acquittal in an alleged Maoist links case, said it was a “wonder that he could come out alive” despite suffering the “brutal” jail life. — TNS

AI deboards Religare chief from UK flight

New Delhi: Air India deboarded Religare chairperson Rashmi Saluja from a UK flight at Delhi airport for ‘rude behaviour’ with crew on March 5. tns

Cabinet okays 4% hike in dearness allowance

New Delhi: The Centre has hiked DA by 4% to 50% of basic pay effective January 1 this year, benefitting over 1 crore employees and pensioners.