In a day of significant developments across India and the world, authorities made a crucial arrest in a tragic case, a high-profile resignation followed a celebrity event fiasco, and the sports world witnessed a massive financial splash. Here are the top five stories that dominated headlines.
Goa Nightclub Owners Apprehended After Fleeing to Bangkok
Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra, the owners of the 'Birch by Romeo Lane' nightclub in Goa, were arrested on Tuesday upon their arrival at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport. The brothers were wanted in connection with the devastating fire that broke out at their establishment on December 6, claiming 25 lives.
After fleeing India within hours of the tragedy, the duo was tracked down to Bangkok. They were brought back to the country on an emergency certificate. An IndiGo flight carried them from Thailand, landing in Delhi around 2:10 pm. Goa Police, who were waiting, took them into custody immediately. The brothers are now set to be produced before a court for a transit remand order to be taken to Goa for further legal proceedings.
West Bengal Sports Minister Resigns Over Messi Event Chaos
In the aftermath of the widely criticised management of football legend Lionel Messi's event at Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium on December 13, West Bengal's sports minister Aroop Biswas has resigned. He stepped down, taking responsibility for the alleged mismanagement and chaos that marred the event.
Trinamool Congress leader Kunal Ghosh shared the purported resignation letter where Biswas requested Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to relieve him of his sports portfolio. Following this development, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is now expected to take direct charge of the state's sports ministry.
IPL 2026 Auction: Cameron Green Becomes a Crorepati Knight
The mini-auction for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season created fireworks as a fierce bidding war erupted for Australian all-rounder Cameron Green. Despite a manager's error listing him solely as a batter, Green confirmed his availability to bowl in the upcoming season.
Starting with a base price of Rs 2 crore, Green attracted intense bids from multiple franchises. In the end, it was the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) who secured his services for a staggering Rs 25.20 crore, making him one of the most expensive picks of the day. The auction also saw uncapped Indian players like Prashant and Kartik fetching huge sums, with Chennai Super Kings spending Rs 14.2 crore each to acquire them.
Delhi Minister Apologises, Calls Pollution a 'Disease'
As Delhi-NCR continued to grapple with severe air quality, ranging from poor to severe, Delhi's Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa issued a public apology. However, he stated that it was unrealistic to expect any government to solve the pollution crisis within a short timeframe of 9-10 months.
"It is impossible for any elected government to reduce AQI in 9-10 months. I apologise for the pollution in Delhi," Sirsa said. He blamed the previous Aam Aadmi Party government for the "disease of pollution" and asserted that his administration was working diligently to fix the longstanding issue.
Ukraine Claims First Underwater Drone Strike on Russian Submarine
In a significant escalation of naval warfare, Ukraine's security service claimed responsibility for blowing up a Russian submarine in the Black Sea. The attack, which took place in the port of Novorossiysk, was carried out using underwater drones.
This marks the first such attack on a Russian submarine since the conflict began. Ukraine has recently intensified its strikes on Russian naval assets in the Black Sea, while Russian forces have continued to target Ukrainian port infrastructure, including in Odesa.
