Police Complaint Filed Against Thalapathy Vijay Over Alleged Disrespect at Iftar Event

Tamil star Thalapathy Vijay has landed in controversy following an Iftar event he hosted in Chennai last Friday. A police complaint has been filed against the actor by the Tamil Nadu Sunnat Jamath, who allege the gathering was offensive to the Muslim community.

The complaint, submitted to the Chennai Police Commissioner’s office, claims that individuals described as "drunkards and rowdies" were present at the religious gathering—people the organization says had no connection to the observance of fasting or prayer.

Actor Vijay in a skull cap, praying at an Iftar event in Chennai.

Speaking to the media, Tamil Nadu Sunnat Jamath treasurer Syed Kous stated, “Muslims were insulted at the Iftar program organised by Vijay. The event was conducted in a hurtful manner, and there was no regret shown afterward.”

Syed also criticized the event’s arrangements, claiming they were poorly managed and that Vijay’s security team, particularly his foreign guards, mistreated attendees. “They treated people like cows,” he alleged.

He clarified that the complaint wasn’t made for publicity but to prevent similar issues in the future. “Legal action should be taken against Vijay,” he emphasized.

The Iftar, held at the Royapettah YMCA grounds, saw Vijay wearing a skull cap, joining the evening prayers, and sharing a meal with the crowd. Photos and videos from the event quickly spread online, garnering both praise and criticism.

Nitish Kumar, Furious With Rahul Gandhi, Left INDIA Video Meet 10 Min Early

The BJP and Nitish Kumar in Bihar are going to stick to the 2020 formula to share the cabinet berths in Bihar, sources have said. The Bihar Chief Minister switched sides last week -- the fifth time in a decade -- and formed a new government in partnership with the BJP, which he dumped in 2022.

BJP deputies 'keeping watch

He took oath yesterday with two deputies from the BJP, who, sources said, were deputed by the party "to keep an eye" on the 72-year-old dubbed "Paltu Kumar" by many for his frequent flip-flops.

The Council of Ministers will be expanded over the next few days, sources said, and the allocation of portfolios will take place after that. The crucial home department will stay with Mr Kumar.

In the coming days, the two sides will also discuss seat sharing for the Lok Sabha polls, but the earlier 17-17 formula for Bihar's 40 parliamentary seats will have to be tweaked, sources indicated.

This is because seats will also have to be allocated for the new allies, including Jitan Ram Manjhi's HAM.

Mr Kumar, sources said, had made up his mind to quit the Opposition on January 13, the day they were holding a video meet. Furious with Rahul Gandhi, he had left the meet 10 minute early.

Sources said what drove him to the final step was a response by Mr Gandhi that he would consult Mamata Banerjee on the post of the coordinator for the INDIA bloc. Shortly after that, the leaders chose him as the convenor. But angry, Mr Kumar rejected the post, saying it can be given to Lalu Yadav, sources said.

For chairman post, the suggestion was Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge, whose name was also proposed by Ms Banerjee and Arvind Kejriwal at an earlier meeting as the Opposition's Prime Ministerial candidate.

For Mr Kumar, it was the other big letdown since he was counting on being projected for the job, sources earlier told NDTV.

While announcing the break-up over the weekend, Mr Kumar had said he was unhappy with the way things were progressing at the Opposition camp.

Navy Rescues 19 Pak Sailors Kidnapped By Pirates, Second Op In 2 Days

Indian warship INS Sumitra rescued 19 Pakistani sailors after pirates hijacked their fishing vessel off the east coast of Somalia on Monday. This was the second anti-piracy operation carried out by the warship within 36 hours, the Indian Navy said.

Navy Rescues 19 Pak Sailors

Iranian-flagged fishing vessel FV Al Naeemi was boarded by 11 armed pirates who took the 19 crew members - all Pakistanis - hostage. The Navy warship intercepted the fishing vessel and coerced the pirates to release the hostages.

Responding swiftly to the developing situation Sumitra intercepted the FV (fishing vessel) on PM 29 Jan 24 and through coercive posturing and effective deployment of her integral helo and boats compelled the safe release of the crew and the vessel," the Navy said in a statement

The Navy personnel boarded the vessel subsequently to check on the well-being of the crew.

The swift rescue comes a day after INS Sumitra responded to an SOS call by another Iranian-flagged fishing vessel, FV Iman, which was hijacked by Somali pirates. The vessel's 17 Iranian crew members were rescued by the Navy.

"INS Sumitra, over the course of less than 36 hours, through swift, persistent and relentless efforts has rescued two hijacked Fishing Vessels along with 36 Crew (17 Iranian and 19 Pakistani) in Southern Arabian Sea approximately 850 nm West of Kochi, and prevented misuse of these Fishing Vessels as Mother Ships for further acts of Piracy on Merchant Vessels," the official statement said.

INS Sumitra is Indian Navy's indigenous offshore patrol vessel that has been deployed for anti-piracy and maritime security operations in east of Somalia and Gulf of Aden.

Earlier, Indian Navy's guided missile destroyer INS Visakhapatnam, which is currently on an anti-piracy mission, had helped extinguish a massive blaze onboard a merchant vessel after it was struck by a missile in the Gulf of Aden on Saturday night .