Hyderabad: Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) MLC K Kavitha questioned how the Telangana government was seeking a loan of Rs 4,100 crore from the World Bank and Rs 14,000 crore from the Centre for the Musi Rejuvenation Project when the detailed project report (DPR) was not yet prepared.

Speaking in the legislative council on Tuesday, 17 December, about the Musi rejuvenation issue, she said that while the state government had informed the upper house that the Musi Riverfront Development Corporation Ltd was only recently onboarded and the DPR for the project was still in progress, its actions appeared contradictory.

“We have reliable information that the state government has sought Rs 4,100 crore from the World Bank for the Musi rejuvenation project. We would like to know when this request was made. Furthermore, the chief minister recently met Union Minister Kishan Reddy in Delhi and requested Rs 14,000 crore from the Centre for the project. How can they request such assistance without a DPR in place?” she asked.

She added that, according to the state government’s submission, 309 families had given their consent to vacate their houses to facilitate the project, and of these families, 181 had demolished their homes and relocated.

Kavitha urged the chairman of the legislative council to produce the consent letters if any existed.

She also sought clarification on whether the state government planned to pay the EMIs for loans taken by house owners whose homes were demolished for the Musi rejuvenation project.

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The Telangana Assembly witnessed heated exchanges on Tuesday, December 17, as Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) MLA T Harish Rao and deputy chief minister Bhatti Vikramarka sparred over the loans accumulated during the BRS’s ten-year rule and the Congress’s eleven-month tenure. Allegations and counter-allegations flew thick and fast, with both sides presenting contrasting figures and questioning each other’s financial management.

Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) MLA T Harish Rao initiated the debate by asking, “How much loans were taken by the Congress government during its eleven-month rule?” deputy chief minister Bhatti Vikramarka responded, stating, “The government has obtained Rs 52,118 crore loan under the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (FRBM) Act by furnishing guarantees from December 2024 till November 30, 2025.”

He added, “Through various corporations and special purpose vehicles (SPV), the state government has drawn loans amounting to Rs 61,991.14 crore, and Rs 10,099 crore through FRBM loans without guarantees between December 2024 and November 2025.”

Harish Rao countered, “Including Rs 3,000 crore loans obtained in December 2025, the total FRBM (with guarantees) amounts to around Rs 54,277 crore. Combined with other loans secured, the total debt accumulated through loans in the last year is Rs 1,27,208 crore.”

“At this rate, one can understand that the state government is certain to take Rs 6,36,040 crore as loans in five years,” he observed.

Claims and counterclaims over BRS debts

Harish Rao further claimed, “The total amount of loans taken by the BRS government in 10 years was Rs 4,17,496 crore and not Rs 7 lakh crore as alleged by the Congress.” He requested a discussion on the white paper released by Congress on the BRS government’s debts during the current winter session.

Welcoming the discussion, Bhatti clarified, “The state government has made debt repayments amounting to Rs 66,000 crore (Rs 6,400 crore per month) for the loans taken during the BRS government, including principal and interest repayments.”

Harish Rao disputed these figures, saying, “As per the CAG report, the monthly interest was Rs 2,100 crore, and according to the RBI reports, it was Rs 2,900 crore (only interest excluding principal amount).”

Bhatti also claimed that the BRS government left Rs 40,000 crore worth of unpaid bills. “The Congress government has paid Rs 14,000 crore of these bills and reduced the pending amount to Rs 28,000 crore after coming to power.”

“Without taking any bank guarantees, you took loans and left all the paddy lying with the rice millers. We recovered Rs 11,000 crore, auctioned the paddy to gain revenues for the government, and streamlined the paddy procurement,” he added.

Unpaid bills of BRS and accusations of mismanagement

Bhatti further alleged that the BRS government did not pay Rs 18,000 crore to energy distribution companies (Discoms), Rs 3,000 crore to industries, and failed to pay hostel bills for residential schools.
“Instead, they (the BRS) cleared the bills of big contractors on time, even including escalated costs.”

“Because you didn’t pay the hostel bills, the contractors supplied rotten vegetables and eggs to the children, causing them to fall sick. That is why we increased the mess charges by 40 percent and cosmetic charges by 200 percent,” he remarked.

Harish Rao disputed these claims, stating, “The BRS government paid Rs 65,000 crore to Discoms in 10 years.”

Bhatti retorted, “Every year, free electricity to farmers requires the state government to pay between Rs 10,000 to Rs 11,000 crore to Discoms. If Rs 65,000 crore was paid in 10 years, that means Rs 40,000 crore is still pending.”

BJP alleged Congress taking loans exceeding FRBM limits

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) floor leader A Maheshwar Reddy questioned, “Why is the state government taking loans exceeding the FRBM’s limits? Why is it trying to mortgage 400 acres of government land in Raidurgam through Telangana Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (TGIIC)?”

He added, “Mercantile banks were identified for these loans, and the state government is giving 2-3 percent commission to these banks for securing the loans.”

“The state government is not crossing the FRBM’s limits and is trying to stay below them. Ten years of destruction cannot be rectified in one year. In our first year, we had to borrow a little more. At least we didn’t give away the state’s wealth like BRS did, by leasing the outer ring road toll collection to a company for 30 years,” Bhatti clarified.

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Hyderabad: The Cyberabad police, in collaboration with the Society for Cyberabad Security Council (SCSC) will be holding a “Cybercrime Mega Awareness Drive,” across Cyberabad on Wednesday, December 18, as part of their new initiative “Project PROTECT” (Preventing Risks Online Through Education, Collaboration, and Training) that was launched at the Cyberabad Police Commissionerate on Tuesday, December 17.

Explaining the execution of Project PROTECT., SCSC CEO Naved Khan stated that the project will operate through two teams: One team will consist of 50 to 60 SCSC volunteers, and the other team will include 50 to 60 police officers. Groups will be formed from these teams with two members—one police officer and one traffic volunteer.  These groups will visit banks, hotels, parks, schools, colleges, and other public places to interact with the public and spread awareness about cybercrimes.

Speaking on the occasion, Cyberabad police commissioner Avinash Mohanty raised alarm over “digital arrest” emerging as one of the most concerning trends in cybercrime, where people, out of fear, end up sharing their bank account details and personal information with fraudsters.

Urging the people not to do so, he urged the people to combat cybercrimes by dialling 1930, the helpline that could save them from significant loss and distress.

“Every year, cybercrimes are compounding at an alarming rate, and our investigations and efforts must also compound proportionately to tackle this menace,” he said.

Through Project PROTECT, he said that the collective efforts of the mainstream media, social media influencers, students, and the police in raising awareness about cybercrimes would be instrumental in educating the public and preventing these crimes.

DCP Cyber Crimes Sreebala emphasised that in most cybercrimes, people were not only losing their money but also their lives in some cases.

“We need education, collaboration, and continuous training to combat these crimes effectively,” she said.

“The more you know about cybercrimes, the safer you will be. This initiative aims to empower citizens with critical knowledge about the latest cybercrimes and equip them to safeguard themselves against evolving threats,” she added.

Cyber Crimes ACP Chandrakanth stated that people should report cybercrimes as soon as possible to 1930, as it is the golden hour to recover their lost money. He cautioned the people against searching for customer care numbers on search engines. Instead, he suggested taking the numbers only from official websites.

“By doing this, you can stay safe from data breaches and cybercrimes,” he said.

At the end of the session, Madhapur DCP G Vineeth launched a short film on trading fraud. Women and Children’s Safety Wing DCP Srujana Karnam launched another short film highlighting the importance of 1930, the toll-free number for reporting cybercrimes.

Avinash Mohanty unveiled posters of 1930, digital arrest, trading fraud, and safe jobs, to further spread awareness.

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Hyderabad: Telangana Vidyut Artisens Conversation (TVAC) JAC has announced a protest at Dharna Chowk near Indira Park at 12 pm on Wednesday, December 18, demanding the state government to regularise the services of 23,000 artisans working in the energy department.

K Eashwar Rao, chairman of the JAC, informed media that the BRS government had cheated the artisans by just putting the “board” of artisans as their position but has not regularised 23,000 artisans working in the department.

He stated that the artisans have been hoping that the Congress government would regularise them immediately.

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Hyderabad: Union Social Justice and Empowerment minister Ramdas Athawale said that there are no manual scavengers in Telangana, and stated that the data was derived at through surveys conducted in 2013 and 2018.

This statement was made in response to a question raised by Congress MP Gaddam Vamsi Krishna during a Lok Sabha session on Tuesday, December 17.

Athawale stated that the government has successfully rehabilitated manual scavengers into alternative professions.

To support this initiative, interviews were conducted with 3,813 beneficiaries across 13 states, including Telangana.

Among those surveyed, 45% were aged between 31 and 45 years, while 25% were aged between 46 and 60 years. Notably, 56.5% of the beneficiaries identified were women.

Manual scavenging refers to the practice of manually cleaning, carrying, disposing of, or otherwise handling human excreta from insanitary latrines, open drains, and sewers.

This practice has been historically linked to caste-based discrimination, predominantly affecting marginalized communities, particularly Dalits.

Despite being officially banned since 1993, manual scavenging persists in India due to inadequate sanitation infrastructure and socio-economic factors.

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Hyderabad: Hyderabad District Collector Anudeep Durishetty took strict action on Tuesday against negligence in schools across the city.

He suspended a Deputy Inspector of Schools (DIoS) and issued show-cause notices to several teachers for dereliction of duty.

Schools in Hyderabad shut for lunch party

The collector’s action was prompted by an incident in Shaikpet mandal, where teachers abandoned their duties to attend a lunch party during school hours.

The suspended official, K. Yadagiri, a gazetted headmaster in Banjara Hills who also served as the DIoS of Shaikpet mandal, allowed schools in Shaikpet to remain closed for the party.

Although the district collector acted on Tuesday, the incident occurred on December 13, when teachers from around 20 government schools locked classrooms to gather for the lunch party.

Reports suggest that the event was organized to welcome newly appointed and transferred teachers in the district.

Hyderabad collector takes action against 80 teachers

In connection with the incident, show-cause notices were issued to 80 teachers who participated in the party. Neglecting their school duties was deemed a violation of government regulations.

Members of teachers’ associations acknowledged the event but condemned the act of closing schools during working hours. E. Raghunandan, State General Secretary of Balala Hakkula Sankshema Sangam, stressed the need for strict measures to prevent such disruptions in the future.

Students inconvenienced

The closure of schools caused significant inconvenience to students and disrupted their education. The district collector’s decisive action aims to send a strong message that negligence will not be tolerated in government schools.

By implementing such measures, the administration including Hyderabad Collector seeks to improve the efficiency and accountability of government schools, ensuring that students receive uninterrupted education.

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Hyderabad: Five areas in Hyderabad have witnessed an intense winter cold wave yesterday. The temperatures in these areas have dipped significantly in the past few days.

In these areas, the temperatures dropped below 15 degrees Celsius yesterday.

Least temperature during winter cold wave in Hyderabad

As per the data from Telangana Development Planning Society, yesterday, the least temperature was recorded in Maredpally.

Following are the areas where the temperature dropped below 15 degrees Celsius:

In the entire state, the least temperature of 5.9 degrees Celsius was recorded in Adilabad district.

IMD Hyderabad forecast

As per the forecast of the weather department, the temperatures in Hyderabad are likely to increase, providing relief to the residents of the city from the winter cold wave.

It has also forecasted that a partly cloudy sky will continue till December 21. Apart from this, mist or hazy conditions are likely to prevail during the morning hours till Saturday.

Though mist or hazy conditions will continue, Hyderabad is likely to get temporary relief from the intense winter in the coming days.

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Hyderabad: Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) MLC K Kavitha accused the Telangana government of providing “false responses” to questions raised in the Legislative Assembly.

Speaking at a media point outside the Assembly on Wednesday, December 18, Kavitha criticized IT and Industries minister Sridhar Babu for “misleading” the House regarding the Musi project.

Kavitha stated, “Minister Sridhar Babu claims that we did not seek a loan from the World Bank for the Musi project. However, we will present evidence showing that a loan was requested in September.”

She further asserted that claims about the absence of a Detailed Project Report (DPR) were incorrect, as the report was included in a submission to the World Bank on September 19.

She questioned the motives behind these discrepancies, asking, “Why are these lies being told? Who benefits from this?”.

Kavitha emphasized that while BRS was in power, they prevented the World Bank from operating in Telangana, contrasting it with the Congress government’s approach of “rolling out a red carpet” for the organization.

She also said that the central government had been asked for Rs 14,000 crores in assistance for the Musi project.

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Hyderabad: BRS legislators led by its working president KT Rama Rao (KTR) embarked on a rally from the MLA quarters to the Telangana Assembly on Wednesday, December 18, demanding the immediate implementation of promises made to auto workers by the Congress-led state government.

KTR addressed the media during the rally, highlighting the unfulfilled promises made by the Congress party during the 2023 Assembly elections.

Promises made to auto drivers unfulfilled: KTR

He pointed out that Congress had assured benefits to 800,000 auto drivers, yet none of these commitments have been realized.

KTR stated that 93 auto drivers have died by suicide since the current government came to power and should be viewed as government failures rather than individual tragedies.

He criticized the state government for its inaction, stating, “Despite providing a list of auto drivers who have taken their lives in previous Assembly sessions, it seems our concerns are falling on deaf ears.”

The BRS leaders outlined several immediate demands that they believe must be addressed. First and foremost, they are calling for the immediate announcement of a promised financial aid package of Rs 12,000 for auto drivers.

Additionally, they are demanding the establishment of an auto drivers’ welfare board, which was previously promised but has yet to be implemented.

Furthermore, KTR stressed the need for immediate assistance for families of deceased auto drivers to ensure they receive necessary support during their time of grief.

KTR urged auto drivers not to resort to extreme measures such as suicide and assured them that BRS would continue to fight for their rights and welfare.

The legislators donned uniforms representing auto drivers as a gesture of solidarity while marching towards the assembly. 

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Hyderabad: The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) demolished encroachments on both sides of the Laxmiguda Jalpally road on Wednesday morning, December 18.

A huge contingent of police force was deployed to maintain law and order.

According to the GHMC, shopkeepers were already informed about the demolition. they were asked to remove shed but only a handful of them obliged.

Bulldozers pulled out the sheds and razed down illegal structures located on the pavements. The action was taken after several locals complained that the road connecting Mailardevpally to RGI Airport does not provide a safe path for pedestrians to commute.

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The stock market, which is commonly known as the riskiest investment with massive return possibilities, failed to beat the returns delivered by gold, as rates in Hyderabad and other Indian cities surged by over 21 percent in 2024.

In the current year so far, Nifty 50 and Sensex gave returns of 11.4 percent and 11.1 percent respectively.

Gold Rates in Hyderabad, other cities breach 80K mark

Although the current gold rates in Hyderabad are Rs 63,870 and Rs 77,840 per 10 grams of 22-carat and 24-carat yellow metal, on October 23, the rate of 24-carat gold breached the Rs 80,000 mark.

On that day, the rates of 22-carat and 24-carat yellow metal were Rs 73,400 and Rs 80,070.

Following are the gold rates in Hyderabad and other cities on January 1 and today.

Why did yellow metal surge more than Nifty 50 and Sensex?

Nifty 50 and Sensex gave impressive returns of over 11 percent as they were at levels of 21,741 and 72,271 on January 1 and reached 24,221 and 80,299 respectively.

Despite an impressive return, it failed to beat gold rates in Hyderabad and elsewhere in the world due to the uncertainty prevailing across the globe.

Central banks were seen buying in huge quantities this year in view of the geopolitical uncertainty, especially the Russia-Ukraine war and Israel-Iran tensions.

Apart from wars, Trump’s reelection as President of the US also contributed to the already rising gold rates in Hyderabad and other cities.

Due to the prevailing geopolitical situation and recession threat, gold is gaining more attention and experiencing huge demand, leading to a massive rise in rates.

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Hyderabad: The Ghatkesar police have registered a case against a 30-year-old YouTuber for throwing bundles of Rs 200 notes on the Outer Ring Road (ORR), causing a public nuisance.

According to reports, the YouTuber, Bhanuchanderalias Anchor Chandu, a resident of Balanagar in Hyderabad, posted a video challenging his viewers to retrieve bundles of Rs 200 notes that he threw along the roadside near ORR exit number 9 in Ghatkesar.

The video went massively viral, and people started to gather at the ORR hoping to get the money.

The situation led to a huge traffic jam raising safety concerns. The ORR patrolling team was immediately informed. They reached the spot to ease the traffic flow.

Taking cognizance of Bhanuchander’s irresponsible behaviour for endangering public safety, police filed a complained and took the YouTuber into custody.

A case has been registered under Section 125, 292 BNS, and Section 8(1b) of the National Highway Act.

On August 24, a similar incident took place another Hyderabad YouTuber and an Instagram ‘influencer’ was arrested for throwing money in the air on busy streets across the city, causing chaos amid traffic.

The stunt intended to boost social media clout, has been widely condemned by netizens, following which cases was booked against him at KPBH, Kukatpally ans Sanathnagar police stations.

Harsha was arrested and sent to judicial remand.

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Hyderabad: Attention, car and bike lovers! Hyderabad is about to host one of the most thrilling automotive events of the year. WhipMantra 3.0 is here, bringing exotic supercars, superbikes, breathtaking bike stunts, and exciting drifting action all under one roof!  

What to Expect  

Here’s why you can’t miss this event: 

Supercar and Superbike Displays  

From the fastest supercars to the meanest superbikes, you’ll find them all here. Don’t forget to check out the vintage car collection too!  

SuperCar CatWalk  

Watch Ferraris, Lamborghinis, and McLarens take over a ramp in India’s first-ever SuperCar CatWalk. Get ready to see these stunning machines like never before.  

Drift Arena  

Feel the adrenaline as professional drifters perform thrilling stunts like burnouts and donuts. Bring your car and join the action to experience the excitement firsthand!  

Get amazed by daring bikers performing flips, spins, and stunts in the air. This show will leave you cheering for more!  

Event Details  

Date: 19th December 2024  Venue: Hitex Exhibition Center, Hyderabad  

Time: 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM  Tickets: Starting at Rs. 699  

If you love cars, bikes, or just enjoy a thrilling show, this is an event you can’t miss. Mark your calendar and join the night full of action, speed, and unforgettable memories.

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Hyderabad: A cashier at a petrol pump in Hyderabad’s Falaknuma was injured in an incident where a car, with four occupants, escaped without paying in Falaknuma on Wednesday morning, December 18.

The cashier Jitender, told the Hyderabad police that four people came to the petrol pump in a car and he dispensed fuel of Rs 1500. The men told him that the payment was done through online mode and tried to leave the place.

The cashier tried to stop them but was dragged by the car occupants for some distance. The man suffered injuries on his head and hands.

The Hyderabad petrol pump staff checked the phone and found the payment was not made. The occupants of the car abused the cashier and sped away.

A complaint was made to the police who started an investigation. The police collected the footage from closed-circuit cameras and identified the four people in the i20 car.

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Hyderabad: The Telangana Bhu Bharathi (Record of Rights in land) Bill 2024 was tabled on the fourth day of the Winter Session of the Telangana Assembly on Wednesday, December 18.

Tabling the Bill on the floor, state revenue minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy said that the rights of small and marginal farmers, in possession of 5 or 10 guntas of land, but have no ownership, will be protected.

9,24,000 ‘Saada Bainama’ applications to be resolved

For 9,24,000 applications under the ‘Saada Bainama’ lands that were applied for registration during the previous BRS government, minister Srinivas Reddy said that the 2024 Bill will help register applicants who have submitted applications online by November 10, 2020.

Land tribunals to be set up

The 2024 Bill will help set up land tribunals to address issues of those farmers whose applications were rejected during the registration process.

Apart from the registration and mutation of lands with clear ownership during its sale or inheritance, the minister informed the Assembly there were 14 different types of land registration matters. The revenue divisional officer (RDO) will perform the mutation. If not resolved, farmers can approach the land tribunals for help.

Resolution of 18,26,000 acres of lands in Part-B

To resolve the issues of 18,26,000 acres of private and government lands currently under Part-B in the Dharani portal, the minister said that the passbooks issued before 2014 would be taken as the basis. In cases that have been pending in the court, the rightful owner will be presented with the land.

In cases of land sales with clear ownership at the mandal revenue official (MRO) level, registration and mutation will be completed on the spot as per the 2020 Act. However, if anyone has objections to the sale, they can file an appeal with the RDO and district collectors, who will serve as appellate authorities under the 2024 Bill.

In cases of mutation of inherited land, the new 2024 Bill proposes a cut-off date. Mutation will be performed by revenue officials only after they ascertain how many in the family have rights to the land in question. Appeals can be made at RDO and district collector levels, the minister said.

The minister also informed that the chief commissioner of land (CCLA) will be in-charge of protecting various types of lands like Inam, Waqf, forest, endowments, shikham and other government lands.

The 2024 Bill also proposes to provide legal protection to those who possess land under the ‘aabadi’ and ‘grama kantham’ lands, by issuing ownership cards.

To address land disputes, the state government has proposed a survey to determine the current occupants of land following which it will be given to the rightful owner.

Bhudhar cards for farmers

A ‘Bhudhar card’ will be provided to every farmer with a code, revealing the details about their land, the minister informed the Assembly.

Annual ‘Jamabandi’ and village revenue system to be restored

The state government has proposed to restore ‘Jamabandi‘, the process of reviewing and recording all the sale of lands including gift, transfer and sale of lands at the village level.

Jamabandi was discontinued after the enactment of the 2020 Act by the previous BRS government.

“Village-level revenue officials (VROs) and village revenue assistants (VRAs) were present in 10,956 villages. However, the previous chief minister, K Chandrashekar Rao (KCR), halted the system. A village-level revenue official will be attached to every revenue village to conduct Jamabandi and maintain the record of transactions while protecting government lands,” the minister said.

Revenue records preservation, action against officials at fault

On manual pahanis (an important legal document related to land issued by tehsildar) gone missing, the minister said that a record of all the revenue data would be uploaded online. These records will be preserved and maintained by the village revenue official.

The minister said that strict action will be taken against officials found guilty of carrying out land transactions illegally.

Recalling that the 33 modules, previously used before the introduction of Dharani, were reduced to just 3 modules, minister Srinivas Reddy stated that Bhu Bharathi will feature six modules. Additionally, the land records, which were consolidated into a single column in the Dharani Portal, will be expanded and restored to 11 columns in Bhu Bharathi.

Complaint registration option in Bhu Bharathi

The 2024 Bill contains provisions to lodge complaints regarding encroachments by logging into the Bhu Bharathi app. The complaint will be overseen by the principal secretary of the revenue department and the minister concerned.

Occupied government lands to be taken back

The minister said that the state government is considering distributing lands to the poor which were forcefully taken away or grabbed illegally.

“All land records in villages before 2014 will be preserved in the sub-registrar’s offices. The government will superimpose them with the present land records. Government lands that were illegally grabbed will be taken back. The state government is considering the prospect of distributing those lands to the poor,” the minister informed the Assembly.

Rules to be framed in 3 months

He assured that within three months, the rules for the 2024 Bill (after enactment), will be framed and an awareness programme will be conducted by touring the villages and mandals.

“Because of the loopholes in the 2020 Act, people have lost their land rights. Murders took place, differences came between parents and children, and brothers within a family did not talk. People have lost whatever little land they had and are on the roads. The proposed 2024 Bill addresses these issues effectively,” the minister assured.

Opposition seeks time to study draft 2024 Bill

All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) floor leader Akbaruddin Owaisi, senior Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) MLA T Harish Rao and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Palvai Harish have sought a day to study the draft 2024 Bill and suggest amendments.

State legislative affairs minister D Sridhar Babu obliged their request and requested the Assembly Speaker to adjourn the House and provide adequate time for the Opposition to study and reply to the draft 2024 Bill on Thursday, December 19.

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Hyderabad: The scrutiny of restaurants in Hyderabad continues as the food safety department’s team conducted raids on Tuesday, December 17 at Mubarak Arabian Mandi House in Kacheguda and Mehfil Biryani Darbar in Narayanguda.

Violations found during raids at popular restaurants in Hyderabad

At Mubarak Arabian Mandi House in Kacheguda, the food safety team noted that the restaurant in Hyderabad lacked key documents, including pest control records, water analysis reports and medical records of food handlers. Synthetic food colours suspected of being used in prepared dishes were seized and discarded.

Unhygienic conditions were observed in the kitchen, where raw chicken was stored uncovered over a drain, and food waste littered the floor. The washing area was stagnant with water and food waste, and the windows lacked insect-proof screens.

The food safety team in Hyderabad further noted that refrigerators at the restaurant were found in poor condition, with unlabeled food items and vegetarian and non-vegetarian products stored together. Additionally, lights in the kitchen lacked fixtures, and dustbins were left open.

Food handlers were observed wearing dirty aprons, and the false ceiling in the storage area was broken.

At Mehfil Biryani restaurant, the food safety team in Hyderabad noted that the eatery lacked medical records and FOSTAC certificates for its food handlers. The kitchen walls were found greasy and sooty, while the floors were littered with food waste and stagnant water. Drains were clogged with food debris, and the exhaust system was oily and unclean.

Refrigerators were in unhygienic condition, with food articles covered but not labeled. In the storage area, food items were improperly stored on the ground instead of racks, and the walls and flooring were unclean and damaged in places.

On December 14, the food safety team identified multiple safety violations by ‘Daily Rituals’ restaurant located at Road No 45 in Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad.

Expired products were discovered on the premises, including a 280 ml bottle of biryani flavour that expired on October 2, 2024, and a 180 gm samosa pastry that expired on November 28, 2024. Both items have been seized.

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Several Congress leaders participated in the ‘Chalo Raj Bhavan’ protest across the country on Wednesday, December 18, over the indictment of industrialist and billionaire Gautam Adani by a US court and Manipur violence which has been raging for more than a year.

The allegations against Adani in the US have hurt the country’s image, the Congress leaders claimed, adding that Prime Minister Modi has not visited Manipur despite the violence in the state.

In Hyderabad, chief minister Revanth Reddy along with his cabinet colleagues and leaders, including Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) president B Mahesh Kumar Goud marched from the Indira Gandhi statue near Hussain Sagar Lake and reached the Raj Bhavan.

In Patna, Bihar, Congress workers were stopped by police from marching towards the Raj Bhavan.

In Jammu, several Congress workers protested against the Adani indictment and ongoing Manipur violence. They demanded Prime Minister Narendra Modi address the northeastern state issue which has been at war since May 3, 2023

In Kerala, Leader of Opposition in the Kerala Assembly VD Satheesan along with state Congress president K Sudhakaran and others marched towards the Raj Bhavan as part of the Chalo Raj Bhavan protest in Thiruvananthapuram. 

Similar protests were observed in Andhra Pradesh, Uttarakhand

(With inputs from PTI)

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Hyderabad: As the world gears up to bid adieu to 2024 and welcome 2025, Hyderabad too is basking in the festive spirit with lights, decorations, and celebrations adorning every street. Well, Hyderabadis, like always, are taking the festive cheer to a whole new level, blending their love for grandeur with creativity.

This year, the city’s streets are not just glowing with traditional holiday decorations but are also witnessing something unique – ‘Christmas Cars.’

In a dazzling display of festive enthusiasm, a group of supercar owners in Hyderabad has turned their luxurious rides into mobile light shows. Decked out in thousands of LED lights, these cars are zipping through the city streets, spreading Christmas cheer and turning heads wherever they go.

These rolling works of art are the latest Instagram sensation, with reels trending online.

As they zoom through some popular locations like Jubilee Hills, Duragam Cheruvu cable bridge and Gachibowli, onlookers are left awestruck, capturing the moment on their phones and sharing it on social media.

A McLaren bathed in twinkling multi colored lights. Check out the below.

Hyderabad’s love for innovation and celebration is evident in how these cars have been transformed.

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Hyderabad: Hyderabad Football Club (Hyderabad FC) management sacked its head coach Thangboi Singto, owing to the team’s poor performance in the Indian Super League (ISL), on Wednesday, December 18.

In a statement, the management said that the club and the coach have “mutually decided to part ways with immediate effect.”

The top-flight club of Hyderabad sits in the second-last position in the current season’s ISL table, with 7 points from 11 games. The club was able to register only two wins in this campaign so far, drawing one and losing in 8 games.

The team’s next games are at their home ground GMC Balayogi Athletic Stadium Gachibowli, where they will host Northeast United on December 23 and East Bengal FC on December 28.

The 50-year-old coach from Manipur, Singto has been the assistant coach of the Hyderabad FC senior team since the 2022-23 season, after serving as the assistant coach and technical director of the youth team since 2020.

He was appointed senior team head coach in 2023 after the team parted ways with Irish coach Conor Nestor.

Ownership change in Hyderabad FC

The club ownership was taken over recently in September, with the Jindal Group taking over the reins of the club from the former majority share owner Varun Tripuraneni, the club’s co-founder.

Though relatively successful, the club was marred with financial difficulties at the time of the takeover. The new owners Jindal Group cleared the financial issues of the club with their investment. The outgoing co-owner Varun Tripuraneni thanked the club’s co-owners including Rana Daggubatti and other participants at the cub, in a statement confirming the takeover.

The Nizams of Hyderabad

The club, fondly called The Nizams, was founded in 2019 when the owners bought the ISL franchise of the disbanded Pune FC club and gifted Hyderabad its own ISL club. Hyderabad FC, which finished at the bottom of the league in their debut season in 2019, won the ISL championship in just their third season in the 2021-22 season, making them one of the most successful young football clubs in India.

The club is known for its road to success with young Indian players, rather than spending big on foreign players.

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Hyderabad: The Telangana Overseas Manpower Company Limited (TOMCOM), under the Department of Labour, Employment Training and Factories, has rescheduled the final client interview for the recruitment of ‘bike riders’ (delivery boys) in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) to the second week of January 2025.

In a press release on Wednesday, December 18, TOMCOM said that the postponement was due to administrative reasons on the part of the Dubai employer.

The exact date and time of the rescheduled interview will be announced soon. Previously, the interview was set for Friday, December 20 at ITI Mallepally Campus in Vijaynagar Colony, Hyderabad.

Interested candidates, aged between 21-38, must have at least an SSC degree and a minimum of three years of driving experience.

For more details, candidates can reach out to TOMCOM at 9440050951/9440049861/9440051452.

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