News18 Evening Digest: Bihar Deputy CM Attacked, Rahul Gandhi's Haryana 'Vote Chori' Claims & Other Top Stories

In Bihar’s Lakhisarai district, Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha’s convoy came under attack during the first phase of the Bihar Assembly elections. Unidentified individuals reportedly hurled stones, slippers, and even cow dung at the convoy while shouting “Murdabad” slogans, effectively obstructing its passage. Sinha alleged that the attackers were supporters of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), escalating tensions on polling day in his constituency. The Deputy CM responded strongly, warning that “bulldozers will roll on their chests,” signaling a stern crackdown against those involved in the violence. Meanwhile, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) took significant action in a money laundering case involving the popular online betting platform 1xBet. Assets valued at Rs 11.14 crore belonging to former Indian cricketers Suresh Raina and Shikhar Dhawan have been attached in connection to the ongoing investigation. The ED’s move underscores the increasing scrutiny of illegal betting operations in India, with 1xBet being a globally recognized entity that has operated for nearly two decades. On a different front, the controversy surrounding Rahul Gandhi’s allegations of “vote chori” or vote theft in the Haryana polls has taken an unexpected turn. A Brazilian photographer, Matheus Ferrero, whose image was widely circulated after being linked to Gandhi’s claims, deleted his Instagram account following an onslaught of online harassment. Ferrero had originally taken the photograph in 2017 with the consent of the subject, but the image was repurposed in the political dispute, leading to significant backlash against him. In economic news, the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) talks between India and New Zealand are nearing completion after six extensive rounds of negotiations. Both nations have expressed optimism about concluding the deal soon, which is expected to cover key sectors like agriculture and space technology. The final review is underway, signaling a crucial step toward strengthening bilateral trade relations and fostering cooperation across diverse industries. In the entertainment world, television actors Neil Bhatt and Aishwarya Sharma have reportedly filed for divorce four years after their wedding. Rumors about their separation had been circulating for some time, but this marks the first official confirmation of their decision to part ways. Lastly, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with the Indian women’s cricket team following their historic ODI World Cup victory. During the interaction, cricketer Harleen Deol lightheartedly inquired about Modi’s skincare routine, to which the PM responded with humor. The video of this meeting was widely shared on social media, celebrating both the team’s achievement and the camaraderie with the Prime Minister. These diverse stories reflect the dynamic landscape of Indian politics, law enforcement, international trade, entertainment, and sports, each carrying its own set of implications and ongoing developments.