Indian actor and cultural icon of Hindi cinema
Renowned Indian actor Patekar has died at the age of 75 from a suspected cardiac arrest. His career spanned five decades across Hindi and Marathi cinema, with national awards and a Padma Shri to his name. He was active in theatre and social causes, and is mourned by Prime Minister Modi and others in the industry.
Two leaders of the Cockroach Janta Party, Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, have been released from Tihar jail after a magistrate ordered their release following arrests at Jantar Mantar. The youth-led CJP has driven near-daily protests demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over a voter-roll revision that removed about 130 million names; police have restricted central protest sites and detained dozens of activists.
The Delhi Police have designated Jantar Mantar as no longer a protest site, forcing demonstrators to move to expensive venues as a Gen Z-led movement presses for electoral reforms and accountability. Police say the move responds to the Supreme Court’s guidance, but critics warn it narrows access to power.