Latest news with #Billa
Time of India
a day ago
- Time of India
Panchkula police bust heroin smuggling network operating across state borders
1 2 3 Panchkula: The police claimed to have busted a well-organised heroin smuggling network that was operating across state borders. The crime branch-19 team, headed by inspector Nirmal Singh, has so far arrested five accused, including the key mastermind, Harpreet Singh alias Billa. A case was registered under the NDPS Act along with Section 111 of the BNS, which pertains to organised crime. According to ACP crime Arvind Kamboj, the case first came to light on Feb 9 when crime branch-19 arrested Rohit, a resident of Dhakoli, Punjab, from Sector 20, Panchkula, with 9.56 grams of heroin. During interrogation, Rohit revealed the name of another member of the network, Mohan Sahu, who was subsequently arrested on March 10 from Khark Mangoli. Further questioning led to the arrest of a third accused, Santosh Gupta, also from Khark Mangoli. As the investigation progressed, a fourth accused, Prince, a resident of Amritsar, Punjab, was identified and arrested. The police were on the lookout for the prime accused, Harpreet Singh alias Billa, for a long time. On July 22, he was finally nabbed after persistent efforts by the crime branch team. He is currently in police custody on a three-day remand. Preliminary investigations reveal that this gang operated in a highly organised manner, forming a supply chain to distribute heroin in both Punjab and Haryana. Harpreet Singh is believed to be the central figure controlling the network and has three previous cases of drug trafficking registered against him in the two states. During the remand period, police are interrogating the accused to uncover further details about the network, identify additional suppliers, and conduct raids at suspected locations.
News18
4 days ago
- Automotive
- News18
Superstar Ajith Kumar crashes during GT4 European Series race
New Delhi, Jul 21 (PTI) Tamil superstar and avid racer Ajith Kumar crashed while participating in the GT4 European Series race in Italy on July 20. Following the crash, the actor helped the staff clear the debris. The incident took place at the Misano track in the second round of the series. The official X page of GT4 European Series posted a video of the aftermath of the crash. The actor crashed into a stationary car and did not sustain any injuries. The caption with the video read, 'Out of the race with damage, but still happy to help with the clean-up. Full respect, Ajith Kumar." 'Ajith Kumar out of the car, out of the race. It's the first significant bit of a damage we've seen from him this year. He's a fine champ, he goes and helps the marshals clear up all the body. Not many drivers would do that," a commentator can be heard saying. The 54-year-old actor, known for hits such as 'Mankatha", 'Billa", 'Varalaaru", 'Vaalee" and 'Viswasam", has participated in various races, including Germany and Malaysia. He drove in the 2003 Formula Asia BMW Championships as well as the 2010 Formula 2 Championship. view comments First Published: July 21, 2025, 13:45 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Indian Express
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Chandra Barot, best known for directing Amitabh Bachchan's Don, passes away at 86
Veteran filmmaker Chandra Barot passed away at the age of 86 following a prolonged battle with pulmonary fibrosis. Best known for directing Amitabh Bachchan's all-time blockbuster Don (1978), which went on to inspire multiple remakes and legacy sequels across various languages, Barot reportedly breathed his last at a hospital in Bandra, Mumbai, on Sunday. Confirming his passing, the filmmaker's wife Deepa Barot told Times of India, 'He had been battling pulmonary fibrosis for the past seven years.' Upon hearing the news, actor-filmmaker Farhan Akhtar, who helmed the 2006 remake of Don, took to social media to express his grief. 'Saddened to learn that the director of the OG Don is no more. RIP Chandra Barot-ji. Deepest condolences to the family,' he shared along with a photo of the director. Born in Tanzania, Chandra Barot and his family moved to India in 1967 due to racial unrest in East Africa. After working as an assistant director on a few films, he made an enviable debut with Don, written by legendary screenwriting duo Salim Khan and Javed Akhtar (popularly known as Salim–Javed). Not only was the film a massive commercial success, but it also became one of the most beloved action thrillers in Indian cinema history. Besides helping cement Amitabh Bachchan's status as a superstar, it was also remade across multiple languages, with the biggest stars of the respective industries stepping into the central dual roles. While Don was remade in Telugu as Yugandhar (1979) starring NT Rama Rao (NTR), in Tamil, it became Billa (1980) with Rajinikanth. The film marked a turning point in the Tamil actor's rise to superstardom. The Malayalam version, Shobaraj (1986), featured Mohanlal in the lead role. Years later, Javed Akhtar's son Farhan Akhtar rebooted the film with Shah Rukh Khan in the titular role. Much like the OG version, the remake also became a massive hit, leading to a successful sequel in 2011. A third instalment, Don 3, starring Ranveer Singh, is currently in the works. Billa also inspired its own franchise, with a Telugu remake in 2009 starring Prabhas and Tamil reboots in 2007 and 2012 starring Ajith Kumar. Despite Don's success, Chandra Barot couldn't capitalise on its momentum. He later directed the Bengali films Aashrita (1989) and Pyar Bhara Dil (1991). Several of his other projects, including Boss and Neil Ko Pakadna… Impossible, remained incomplete or unreleased.
Time of India
17-07-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Medical Tourism India: India Aims to Lead Global Medical Tourism by 2035, ETTravelWorld
Advt By , ETTravelWorld Join the community of 2M+ industry professionals. Subscribe to Newsletter to get latest insights & analysis in your inbox. All about ETTravelWorld industry right on your smartphone! Download the ETTravelWorld App and get the Realtime updates and Save your favourite articles. India has announced an ambitious plan to become the world's leading destination for medical and wellness tourism by 2035. The announcement was made at the Heal in India 2025 Summit with the launch of the flagship report by the Federation of Hotel & Restaurant Associations of India (FHRAI) and KPMG India , titled 'Heal in India: Catalysing Medical and Wellness Tourism for a Healthier Global Future'.The summit was inaugurated by Suman Billa, IAS, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, who emphasised the critical role of building trust, enhancing care delivery, and sustaining service quality in achieving this vision. Billa stressed the need to expand beyond traditional metro cities and encourage participation from stakeholders in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities to make healthcare more accessible for international already attracts more than two million medical tourists annually from over 75 countries. In 2024, over 463,000 medical visas were issued, reflecting the sector's growing global importance. With its high-quality treatment at competitive prices and strong traditional medicine systems, India is poised to expand its market from USD 18.2 billion in 2025 to USD 58.2 billion by Manoj Nesari, Adviser (Ayurveda), Ministry of Ayush, pointed to India's strengths in holistic healing through Ayurveda and Yoga , which could be key differentiators for global wellness seekers . FHRAI President K. Syama Raju described Heal in India as a 'national branding opportunity,' reinforcing the image of India as a destination not just for treatment, but for complete recovery and India's Someswara Koundinya, a co-author of the report, called the document a strategic call to action. He underlined the need for digital transformation, global outreach, multilingual capacity-building, and incentivising private investment to position India as a healthcare Heal in India mission envisions stronger collaboration across tourism, health, and policy sectors. With growing international demand and robust domestic capability, India is positioning itself not just as a centre of medical excellence, but as a global leader in healing and hospitality.
Time of India
16-07-2025
- Time of India
Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh high court denies bail to accused in narco-terror case
Representative image JAMMU: Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh high court on Tuesday rejected the bail application of an accused in a narco-terrorism case. The petitioner, although under 18 at the time of arrest, was declared to be tried as an adult owing to the grave nature of the offences and his level of maturity as assessed by the Juvenile Justice Board. The minor was named in an FIR registered at Samba PS under relevant sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, NDPS Act, Arms Act, Foreigners Act and Enemy Agents Ordinance. An SIA investigation had revealed that the petitioner had been actively assisting his associates and participating in the activities of an organised narco-terror gang, involved in the smuggling of narcotic drugs and firearms into India from Pakistan, the high court was told. The kingpin of this gang was a Pakistan-based man codenamed 'Rana', who had been operating with a motive to incite subversive activities using narcotics as a terror currency. Rana had consistently been in touch with Gurpreet Singh alias Billa, another key member of this gang. They used to communicate using virtual numbers and other encrypted and highly sophisticated applications installed in their cellphones, specifically for the operation, the high court was informed. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You To Read in 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo Billa's links with Rana were corroborated by forensic investigations from screen recordings captured by Billa, who was arrested at a hotel in Samba while on a video call with his Pakistani counterparts. The petitioner was Billa's associate, the high court was told. Justice Rajesh Sekhri observed that narco-terrorism was no longer confined to drug and weapon smuggling, but had emerged as a new front of proxy war unleashed by adversaries from across the border. The enemy has adopted a dual strategy of sending across drugs and weapons to threaten India's economic security, incite subversive activities and disrupt the country's social fabric. The high court noted that the petitioner had been actively assisting and participating in the activities of an organised narco-terror module along with his associates, and thus, couldn't be allowed to reap the benefits of legislation to 'defeat the ends of justice'.
