Evening news wrap: Court grants interim bail to Sharjeel Imam; Putin offers support to Iran’s new leader Mojtaba Khamenei & more

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Here are the top 5 news of the day:

Court grants 10-day interim bail to Sharjeel Imam in 2020 Delhi riots case

A Delhi court granted 10-day interim bail to student activist Sharjeel Imam in a case related to the 2020 Delhi riots, allowing him to attend his brother’s wedding. Additional Sessions Judge Sameer Bajpai approved the relief from March 20 to March 30, while hearing Imam’s plea seeking six weeks of interim bail. Imam is among the accused in the conspiracy case linked to the February 2020 communal violence in northeast Delhi that left 53 people dead and more than 700 injured. The interim bail comes months after the Supreme Court rejected regular bail pleas filed by Imam and fellow activist Umar Khalid on January 6, observing that prolonged incarceration and trial delays cannot automatically justify bail in cases under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).

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Putin congratulates Khamenei’s son on appointment as Iran’s new leader, pledges ‘unwavering’ support

Russian president Vladimir Putin congratulated Mojtaba Khamenei on his appointment as Iran’s new supreme leader, pledging Russia’s “unwavering support” to Tehran amid escalating regional tensions. The leadership change came after the death of Ali Khamenei who was killed in US-Israeli airstrikes in Iran last week, with Iran’s Assembly of Experts announcing Mojtaba’s selection shortly after midnight on Monday. Long viewed as a potential successor despite holding no formal government office, Mojtaba Khamenei was chosen over other contenders including Alireza Arafi, Mohsen Araki and Hassan Khomeini. In a message reported by Reuters, Putin said Mojtaba would carry forward his father’s legacy and unite the Iranian people “in the face of severe trials”. Read full story

Murmu-Mamata row: BJP calls TMC ‘fake news factory’, hits back with rulebook over insult to President

The Bharatiya Janata Party accused the All India Trinamool Congress of running a “fake news factory” after Mamata Banerjee alleged that PM Modi had insulted President Droupadi Murmu during a Bharat Ratna ceremony for veteran BJP leader Lal Krishna Advani. The BJP’s West Bengal unit responded to Banerjee’s allegation that PM Modi had insulted the President by remaining seated while she stood to present an award to BJP leader LK Adavani, saying in a post on X that the claim was misleading and accusing the TMC of spreading misinformation. The dispute comes amid a separate controversy over the President’s reported displeasure with arrangements during her visit to Siliguri, where she attended an international tribal conference and where questions were raised about the change of venue and the absence of senior state representatives including the Bengal CM. Read full story

Thousands gather in Tehran square to pledge allegiance to new Iran leader

Thousands of people gathered on Monday at Enghelab Square in Tehran to pledge allegiance to Iran’s new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei, according to journalists from Agence France-Presse. The crowds were seen carrying Iranian flags and portraits of Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of Ali Khamenei, who was killed in US and Israeli strikes on February 28. The gathering marked one of the first major public displays of support for Mojtaba Khamenei since he assumed the country’s top leadership position following his father’s death. Follow live updates

‘Contact with Iran leadership difficult’: Jaishankar spells out India’s position on Middle East war

External affairs minister S Jaishankar said India believes dialogue and diplomacy are essential to de-escalate rising tensions in the Middle East, telling the Rajya Sabha that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is closely monitoring developments as the conflict involving Iran, Israel and the United States intensifies. Jaishankar said the government had earlier urged restraint and that the cabinet committee on security met on March 1 to review the situation, particularly the safety of Indians in the region, where more than one crore Indian nationals live and work in Gulf countries. He said the embassies are assisting citizens, including relocating students from Tehran and facilitating travel through Armenia. The Union minister also noted that contact with Iran’s leadership is currently difficult amid ongoing tensions. Read full story Go to Source