Pioneer in short
Lokpal sees surge in complaints
Lokpal chairperson Justice A M Khanwilkar on Friday said complaints to the anti-corruption ombudsman have risen steadily over the past two years, signalling stronger citizen engagement. Speaking at the Lokpal Foundation Day, he said projected complaints for 2025-26 show an exponential jump over 2024-25, reflecting greater awareness of rights and confidence in approaching the institution. Khanwilkar reminded citizens, NRIs and overseas citizens that they are “ground soldiers” against corruption, warning that silence itself is a form of corruption. He said the number of bench sittings has also increased, enabling swift handling of cases and minimal pendency, and reiterated the Lokpal’s commitment to transparency, accountability and independence. “True justice demands patience, not performance,” he said. The Foundation Day was observed in-house due to budgetary austerity, unlike last year’s larger event. Judicial and non-judicial members attended the function. Justice Lingappa Narayana Swami said the day marked a milestone in India’s democratic journey and called for reflection on strengthening ethical governance and public trust.
PM to visit poll-bound West Bengal, Assam
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will criss-cross poll-bound West Bengal and Assam this weekend, blending high-voltage political messaging with major infrastructure launches as the countdown to the 2026 Assembly elections gathers pace. In West Bengal, where the BJP is the main challenger to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s TMC, Modi’s January 17-18 visit comes amid controversy over the special intensive revision of electoral rolls and the Enforcement Directorate’s searches at the TMC-linked consultancy I-PAC. He will address rallies in Malda on Saturday and Singur in Hooghly district on Sunday, both electorally and symbolically significant. In Malda, Modi will flag off India’s first Vande Bharat Sleeper Train between Howrah and Guwahati, besides laying foundation stones for rail and road projects worth over `3,250 crore.
Russian held for twin murders in Goa
Russian national Aleksei Leonov was arrested for allegedly killing compatriots Elena Vaneeva and Elena Kasthanova in north Goa on January 14 and January 15 in Arambol and Morjim villages, a police official said on Friday. He killed his friend Elena Vaneeva (37) on her room at Morjim on January 14 by slitting her neck with a knife, the Mandrem police station official said. As per the complaint by Vaneeva's landlady, the incident happened after 11 pm, he added. The accused later went to to Arambol village, situated eight kilometres away, on January 15 evening to meet his friend Elena Kasthanova (37). He tied her with rope-like material and later slit her throat, a Morjim police station official said. Both bodies were recovered on Friday, as per police.
