Tiger Shroff Firing Case: 3 Accused Arrested, CCTV Trail Helps Police Track Them Heading Towards Surat

The Anti-Gangster Task Force (ATF) and the Rajasthan Police on Monday arrested all three accused, aged 17, 18 and 22, who were absconding in connection with the firing incident targeting actor Tiger Shroff’s car in Mumbai’s Juhu area. The accused were apprehended from a train at Kota railway station in Rajasthan while travelling from Mumbai towards Delhi. According to the information confirmed by the ATF Rajasthan, the three accused were intercepted when the train arrived at Kota railway station. The shooters had reportedly boarded the train at Vasai in an attempt to flee after the firing incident, but were apprehended by the Kota Police.

FIR against Surat firm after 6-year-old bridge found unsafe in Narmada district

The Roads and Buildings Department has registered an FIR against a Surat-based contractor over alleged substandard work on a bridge built over the Karjan River in Narmada district, said an official release from the state government on Sunday. The government has also initiated departmental proceedings against the officials responsible. The FIR was registered at the Rajpipla Police Station on Sunday against Royal Infra Engineering Pvt. Ltd. The bridge, which is crucial for connectivity in and around Rajpipla and Ramgadh, was found to have several construction-related defects, raising concerns about its safety for public use. As per the release, the Department had awarded the bridge construction contract to Royal Infra in 2018-19 at a tender cost of Rs 10.71 crore. The bridge’s construction commenced on September 15, 2018, and was completed on August 14, 2020. However, during an inspection

SolisLaunches SolisStorage: A Decade of Innovation in India

Solis has marked a decade of operations in India with the official launch of SolisStorage, expanding its presence beyond solar inverters into integrated energy storage solutions. The announcement was made during the Solis Surat Technical Seminar 2026, held on September 18 at Le Méridien Hotel in Surat, Gujarat. The event brought together customers, business partners, and renewable energy professionals for technical discussions, product presentations, and industry networking. It also highlighted the company’s evolving strategy in India, with a growing focus on combining solar generation, battery storage, and intelligent energy management. Over the past ten years, Solis has established its presence in India’s solar market through its inverter technologies and partnerships with industry stakeholders. The introduction of SolisStorage represents a significant step in broadening its portfolio

Surat civic body’s sealing process under scanner: Sealed factories got thousands in DGVCL power bills

Surat illegal factory power bill scam exposed via sting operation. Follow Bhaskar English Latest Updates. The Surat Municipal Corporation has sealed the cottage industries operating illegally in a residential area, but surprisingly, electricity bills running into lakhs are still arriving for these units even after they were sealed. The biggest and most pressing question now is: if the Surat Municipal Corporation has genuinely carried out the sealing operation, how can electricity bills running i

Mapped: The fastest-growing cities in the world

Return to homepage The world's fastest-growing cities are all in Asia and Africa , with Indian cities topping the list in terms of annual growth, according to a global ranking of urban population growth. Every city in the top 10 lists for the "Fastest Growing Cities in the World 2026" rankings, published by World Population Review, is either in Asia or Africa. Ghaziabad, a city next to Delhi , tops the table of annual growth rates at 5.2 per cent, followed by Surat in the western Indian state of Gujarat at 4.99 per cent, Kabul in Afghanistan at 4.74 per cent and Lagos in Nigeria at 4.44 per cent.

Clash Over ₹500 Triggers Factory Closure Rumours in Surat's Kapodra Sector

A financial dispute involving just ₹500 escalated into a violent clash between two groups of workers in Kapodra's industrial precinct on Sunday, sparking local shutdown rumours that caused temporary disruption across area embroidery units. Panic spread quickly through the industrial hub after unfounded reports claimed factories were being forcibly closed over a Sunday holiday disagreement. Fearing damage, several embroidery unit owners quickly pulled down their shutters. The sudden panic prompted a large crowd of unit owners to gather outside Kapodra police station seeking official intervention, with local legislative representatives also arriving on site to address worker concerns.

Man stabs to death mother, brother over property dispute in Gujarat’s Surat

Surat, Oct 18 (PTI) A man allegedly stabbed his mother and younger brother to death over a property dispute in Gujarat’s Surat city on Sunday, police said. Accused Srinivas (40) was arrested within hours of the incident, which took place around 7:30 am at Sahjanand Society in Limbayat area here, Deputy Commissioner of Police Kanan Desai told reporters. The deceased were identified as Malleshwari Goduru and her youngest son, Raju. The family originally hails from Telangana and has been living in Surat, police said.

Surat: Electricity Crisis in South Gujarat: Concerns Rise Among Industries Due to 8-Hour Load Shedding on DGVCL's Stagger Day

How A Gujarati Farmer Built America’s Motel Empire From Scratch

Double murder in Surat: Son kills mother and younger brother

Surat double murder: Son kills mother and brother, property dispute motive. Follow Bhaskar English Latest Updates. An elder son, embroiled in a dispute over the division of property and income of lakhs of rupees from shops, attacked his biological mother and younger brother with a knife in a fit of rage and killed them both early in the morning at Sahajanand Society in the Limbayat area of Surat. The brutal murders of the two members of the same family caused shock across the area.

Surat: ED અને મુંબઈ પોલીસના સ્વાંગમાં 88 વર્ષીય ડોક્ટર પાસેથી 8 કરોડ પડાવ્યા! માસ્ટરમાઇન્ડ અલ્તાફ મેમણ સુરતથી દબોચાયો

Foreign garba dancers match Surat's energy: Girls turn fairies to Jyoti Waghwani's tunes, Ahmedabad players

Follow Bhaskar English for Navratri garba updates in Ahmedabad and Surat. Latest Updates. On the seventh night of Navratri, the garba grounds in Ahmedabad, Surat and most other parts of the state were packed with revellers as Saturday was the weekend and Sunday was a holiday. A young man from Belgium took Surat by storm by performing garba that rivalled the Gujaratis.

Surat CA uses ChatGPT for everything, fuels marital discord; wife walks out with daughter

AHMEDABAD: Gujarat High Court has dismissed a habeas corpus petition filed by a Surat-based chartered accountant seeking custody of his two-year-old daughter, ruling that the child staying with her mother cannot be called illegal custody. The court said any change in custody would need a detailed inquiry before a competent court. The man had alleged that his estranged wife and her parents had "illegally detained" the child. The dispute, however, has a backdrop that drew the court's attention: the husband's heavy reliance on AI platform ChatGPT, even for minor, routine matters, which the wife said had steadily strained the marriage. The couple married in 2016 and had a daughter in 2024. The wife left the matrimonial home in May this year and took the child with her in August. The husband then sent a legal notice demanding the child's return. He also approached police, who did not act as t

Surat textile market faces diwali slump: Raw material costs rise 50%, looms to shut for a month, 75,000 wor

Surat textile industry crisis, loom closure impact, 75000 workers risk. Follow Bhaskar English Latest Updates. With the prices of raw materials, including yarn, rising by 50% while finished fabric is not fetching higher prices, it has become impossible for loom operators to keep their units running. Amid the severe liquidity crisis in the market and the burden of bank loan instalments, the industry may be forced to take a long vacation of 15 to 30 days this year, putting the livelihoods of more

Slum demolition, housing rights, and rehabilitation: The Nasirnagar settlement conflict in Surat

At the heart of the conflict are around 250 families who have lived in Nasirnagar for more than three decades on allegedly privately-owned land. Residents argue that their long occupation of the area, coupled with property tax payments, electricity connections and municipal water supply, entitled them to procedural safeguards before any eviction could be undertaken. The demolition was carried out between May 28 and May 30, 2026, in the Ved Darwaja/Katargam area of Surat. Residents alleged that bulldozers razed their homes without prior notice or any official demolition order, and that the operation was carried out under police protection . The controversy deepened due to contradictory claims by public authorities. While Surat Municipal Commissioner M Nagarajan initially denied that the Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) had carried out the demolition , stating that civic officials were pr

Five killed in blast at Bharuch pharma unit

Surat: Five workers were killed and five others injured after a powerful explosion at a pharmaceutical manufacturing unit in Saykha GIDC of Bharuch district’s Vagra taluka on Friday. The blast occurred at the SynZeal Pharmachem plant, where a 5-kilolitre reactor reportedly exploded during a hydrogenation process. The force of the explosion scattered machinery parts and debris across and beyond the factory premises. A suspected gas leak following the explosion triggered panic in the surrounding area, with several people reporting eye irritation.

Textile industries raise concerns over 8 hours of power cut

Surat: Textile industry representatives in South Gujarat have voiced concern over a proposed weekly power cut of eight hours, urging govt and electricity distribution companies to consult industries on timings and related operational issues. Representatives from the textile weaving and processing segments said they are not opposing load management measures in principle, but want staggering planned in a way that does not disrupt production cycles and delivery commitments. Following representations from industries, officials of the Southern Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SGCCI) demanded that electricity staggering be restricted to night hours and limited to once a week. Industry sources said a power cut from 4pm to 12 midnight was earlier being considered, but after objections from industrial bodies, the schedule is being reconsidered.

Asia's Premier News Agency - India News, Business & Political, National & International, Bollywood, Sports

Surat, Gujarat, traditionally known for sarees and synthetic fabrics, is expanding into defence textiles through the Laxmipati Group. The company manufactures high-performance nylon fabrics designed for specialised defence applications, reducing dependence on imports and strengthening domestic production. Through advanced chemical treatments, dyeing and multi-stage processing, unfinished fabrics are transformed into stronger, high-quality materials. Industry representatives highlight Gujarat’s supportive textile policies and government assistance in promoting industrial growth. The initiative is creating employment opportunities, meeting India’s domestic requirements and opening avenues for future exports. By combining technical expertise, specialised materials and modern manufacturing, Surat is diversifying its textile industry and contributing to the national vision of Make in India an

Gujarat Transfers Six Taluka Development Officers With Immediate Effect

The transfers include postings in Surat, Patan, Dang, Gandhinagar, Rajkot and Valsad districts. Four transfers have been made in the public interest, while two are based on the officers’ own requests. The notification directs the respective controlling officers to relieve the transferred officials immediately and ensure that they report to their new postings.

Surat Firm Turns Building Wall Into a Vertical Solar Power Plant

Surat: Angadia Enterprises has installed a 25-kilowatt (kW) vertical solar plant at Katargam GIDC in Surat, using 42 solar panels mounted on the south-facing wall of its building. The project, which cost approximately ₹12 lakh to ₹12.5 lakh, is expected to generate around 18,000 units of electricity annually, according to the company. The installation offers an alternative to conventional rooftop solar systems, particularly for industrial units with limited roof space. The company has described the approach as “3D Solar”, which uses both horizontal and vertical surfaces to generate solar power. According to the company, the wall-mounted panels may also reduce the amount of direct sunlight reaching the building’s exterior, potentially helping lower indoor temperatures.

From sarees to defence: Surat's textile industry boosts self-reliance

Known for its sarees and synthetic fabrics, Gujarat’s Surat is expanding into specialised technical textiles for the defence sector, with manufacturers increasingly producing high-performance fabrics domestically. At the Laxmipati Group, traditional textile manufacturing is evolving to include specialised fabrics designed for defence applications, supporting domestic production, employment generation and India’s push for self-reliance. Aiding 'Make in India' and Self-Reliance “Earlier, these fabrics were imported. Now, they are being manufactured here, creating employment opportunities and helping industries grow. We are meeting domestic demand and hope to export these fabrics in the future,” said Amit Mittal of the Laxmipati Group. Sanjay Sarawagi, Managing Director of the group, highlighted the role of Gujarat’s textile policy and government support in promoting industrial growth. “Guj

Surat manufacturers expand into defence technical textiles sector

ED Searches in Surat, Mehsana in Online Betting Fraud Case

Mumbai: The Enforcement Directorate (ED), Mumbai Zone-II, conducted search operations at 20 premises across Mumbai, Pune, Mehsana, Surat and Hyderabad on October 13, 2026, as part of a money laundering investigation into an alleged large-scale online betting, gaming and cyber fraud syndicate. The searches were carried out under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002. The investigation centres on the online betting and gaming platforms All Panel Exchange (allpanelexch.com) and MGM91, through which complainants were allegedly induced to deposit money and subsequently cheated. According to the ED, its investigation established that funds collected from victims of both platforms were routed through multiple channels and ultimately received in bank accounts of a Pune-based entity established by Ram U. Ramdhani. His company, Edsom Fintech Pvt. Ltd., had developed

Long hours, no weekly offs: Surat textile workers push back against employers

Ahmedabad: Around 10 am on Thursday, about a hundred textile workers assembled in front of the Surat collector’s office. Uniformed and plainclothes policemen, wielding batons, had been deployed at the office’s entrance and were monitoring anyone entering the premises. As a few TV news crews arrived and began interviewing the workers, they grew charged as each interviewee raised their grievances. The crowd cheered and screamed: “We want weekly offs, but the Sethiyas (employers) mark us absent. After taking our Aadhaar cards, they threaten to deny us work. They also threaten us with the police. The more they try to suppress us, the stronger our ‘Gaon Chalo’ movement will become.” The gathering didn’t last long as the police moved in. Some protesters grabbed and bundled into buses that arrived suddenly. With their prominent leaders already detained, the leaderless protest quickly fizzled ou

Surat Labour Crisis: बिहारी मज़दूरों को कब तक ऐसी ज़िंदगी जीनी है? Gujarat

Surat Businesses Eye Global Markets Through Dubai Freezone

SURAT : Surat’s textile, diamond and engineering businesses are being encouraged to look beyond domestic markets, with the Southern Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SGCCI) highlighting Dubai... At a special session on Global Business Opportunities with Dubai Airport Freezone, senior DAFZ officials outlined the facilities available to Indian entrepreneurs seeking to establish overseas trading units, offices and distribution networks. The session was organised by SGCCI’s Global Connect Committee at the Chamber’s Samruddhi Bhavan in Nanpura, Surat, on October 6. SGCCI president Ashok Jirawala said local manufacturers needed to take their products directly to global markets and leverage Dubai’s position as an international business and logistics hub.

'Dress me in clothes from our home for my funeral': Surat woman dies by suicide 1.5 months after engagement

Surat woman suicide case, fiancé harassment, engagement tragedy. Follow Bhaskar English Latest Updates. A 30-year-old woman named Pallavi More, who lived in Surats Dindoli area, hanged herself and died by suicide just one and a half months after her engagement. The deceased womans mother alleged, My daughter was forced to end her life because of the harassment by her fiancé, Siddhesh.

Diwali Blow: 8-Hour Power Cuts Threaten Surat Industries

SURAT : With Diwali orders piling up, factory deadlines tightening and thousands of businesses racing to secure payments before the festive season, an eight-hour power cut threatens to bring South... Dakshin Gujarat Vij Company Limited (DGVCL) has announced power cuts on designated industrial feeders from 4 pm to midnight, citing a shortage of available electricity amid rising demand and constraints in power generation. The arrangement will continue until the situation normalises. Ashok Jirawala, president of the Southern Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SGCCI), called the decision a devastating blow to industries at the busiest time of the business calendar.

Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit 2027: State launches global investment outreach across 22 countries and 8 Indian cities

Police assaulted Surat lawyer, then abused their authority to file FIR: High Court

The Gujarat High Court has quashed an FIR registered against a Surat advocate saying it was a “classic counter-blast” by police after the advocate, who had been beaten and seriously injured by policemen, filed a complaint of attempted murder against them. The court said the FIR against Mehul Boghara, an advocate and social activist, amounted to an “abuse of police authority”, and was an attempt to create leverage against him. Justice P M Raval held that the allegations by police under the provisions of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (IPC) and the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 (SC/ST Act) were not supported by essential ingredients of the offences, and that continuing the proceedings would be an abuse of the process of law. Gujarat farmers ‘tied with ropes, paraded’; High Court sends notice to government Four years ago, this is what happened The c

DRI Seizes Rs 68 Lakh Gold from Dubai Passenger at Surat Airport

Patel arrived from Dubai on an IndiGo flight and was intercepted by DRI officials based on specific intelligence inputs. The gold was recovered during a search of his luggage, and legal proceedings have been initiated under customs laws. The DRI is investigating possible links to a gold-smuggling syndicate, examining the source of the gold, its intended recipients and Patel’s travel history to identify potential associates. DeshGujarat

Major crackdown on drug trade: Odisha’s wanted accused Madhu Sahu, absconding in an NDPS Act case, arrested

Download Sat, Oct 17, 2026 Updated 02:28 PM IST Home Video Search Watch Top News Local Navratri 2026 REELS National Cricket Business Originals International Tech & Science Entertainment Lifestyle Sports Utility Career West Bengal Madhya Pradesh Uttar Pradesh Rajasthan English News Local Gujarat Surat Odisha Accused Madhu Sahu Arrested In Surat | NDPS Act Case Action Major crackdown on drug trade: Odisha’s wanted accused Madhu Sahu, absconding in an NDPS Act case, arrested from Sachin GIDC Surat 4 hours ago Copy link Police have arrested a wanted accused from Odisha who had been absconding for a long time in connection with the illegal trafficking of narcotic substances in the Sachin GIDC police station area of Surat city. Acting on a specific tip-off, Sachin GIDC police raided the location, cordoned off the accused and sent him to jail in the case registered under the NDPS Act. Odisha na

5 workers killed, 5 injured in explosion at chemical unit in Gujarat's Bharuch

BHARUCH: At least five workers were killed and five others injured in an explosion at a pharmaceuticals factory in Sayakha GIDC area in Gujarat’s Bharuch, police said. The blast occurred around 10 pm on Friday during a hydrogenation process and triggered a leak of methylene dichloride (MDC) gas, officials said. Bharuch Sub-Divisional Magistrate Manisha Manani said SynZeal Pharmachem, which was set up in Saykha a year ago, manufactures pharmaceutical intermediates.

Hotel CCTV leads police to Gujarat: Missing child found in Surat, another girl found alone in Jaipur

After completing the necessary formalities, the police handed the boy over to his family. Meanwhile, the circumstances in which the girl travelled from Ajmer to Jaipur and was found there are being investigated. According to the police, the 14-year-old boy worked at a hotel in Ajmer. Around 20 days ago, after speaking to a vegetable trader from Vadodara who was staying at the hotel, he was persuaded to leave and work elsewhere. After the boy went missing, the police examined the hotel's CCTV footage. Footage from the railway station showed the trader walking behind the boy. After obtaining the businessman's name and address from the hotel records, the police team reached Vadodara. There, information was gathered with the help of the local police. The investigation revealed that the child had boarded a train on the Gujarat route. The police then examined CCTV footage from several railway

Gujarat strengthens healthcare infrastructure with two new 1,500-bed hospital plans, focus on cleanliness, medicine quality

Second Khodaldham in Surat Sparks Debate Within Patidar Community

SURAT : The announcement of a second Khodaldham in Surat has reignited questions over unity and leadership within the influential Patidar community, with the proposed Annapurna Khodaldham in Varachha... The new project was announced during a Navratri ‘Sheri Otlo’ Garba event, where chants of “Jai Khodiyar” echoed across the venue as a preview of the proposed complex was presented to attendees. Chairman of Greenlab diamonds, a leading lab-grown diamond manufacturing company and Patidar leader Mukesh Patel has been identified as the driving force behind the Varachha project, with Jayanti Eklara, real estate developers joining the initiative and serving as president of the temple trust. The proposed Shri Annapurna Khodaldham is planned on 150 bighas of land at Velanja, Surat. The land acquisition process is reportedly nearing completion, with a formal announcement expected after it is final

Gujarat: Surat gets Rs 108 crore push for rural infra, mobile computer bus for village schools

Fake WhatsApp Boss Dupes Company Accountant of Rs 40 Lakh; Surat Police Arrest Haryana Man in Cyber Fraud Case

Surat Cybercrime Police have arrested a 26-year-old Haryana man in an alleged Rs 40 lakh WhatsApp ‘Boss Scam’ that involved impersonating a company owner to trick an accountant into transferring funds. The Cybercrime Police of Surat city have arrested a 26-year-old man from Haryana for his alleged role in a Rs 40 lakh ‘Boss Scam’ . In this type of fraud, scammers pretend to be a company owner on WhatsApp and trick an employee into transferring money from the company’s bank account. The accused, Naveen Jaat, is a resident of Gorakhpur village in Haryana’s Fatehabad district. Police arrested him after a technical investigation into the case.

Sharika Enterprises to host investor meet with Veloce Opportunities Fund

[Sharika Enterprises Limited](https://scanx.trade/company/sharika-enterprises-ltd) will host an investor meeting with Veloce Opportunities Fund on October 17, 2026, at 9:45 am in Surat, Gujarat. The meeting involves Rajinder Kaul, Managing Director of the company, and is scheduled as a group call conducted in person. The company confirmed that discussions will rely exclusively on publicly available information, ensuring no unpublished price sensitive information (UPSI) is shared during the session. The company filed an intimation under Regulation 30 of the SEBI (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2015, detailing the schedule for the institutional investor interaction.

MLA Chaitar Vasava’s Younger Brother Admitted to ICU

in Surat After Poison Consumption Attempt Surat: Shantilal Vasava, the 35-year-old younger brother of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Chaitar Vasava, was rushed to the New Civil Hospital in Surat in critical condition after attempting to end his life by consuming poison. He is currently under intensive care in the hospital's ICU, with family members revealing that he had been suffering from severe mental stress following his elder brother's seven-year prison sentence. The incident came to light after Shantilal ingested poisonous medicine at his residence. Family members discovered his condition and immediately transported him to Surat for emergency medical treatment. According to family members who rushed to the Surat hospital, Shantilal had been experiencing acute distress ever since the court sentenced MLA Chaitar Vasava to seven years in prison. The prolonged emotional strain associated wit

Surat to Get Second Khodaldham: ‘Annapurna Khodaldham’ Announced in Varachha After Antroli Project

Surat Khodaldham Project: Speculation over a second Khodaldham in the diamond city of Surat, after the world-famous Khodaldham at Kagvad in Saurashtra, has ended. A religious complex in Surat was formally announced during the Navratri festival. Named ‘Annapurna Khodaldham’, the project has brought fresh enthusiasm and devotion among the Patidar community and across South Gujarat. The Antroli project was announced earlier by Naresh Patel, president of the Kagvad Khodaldham Trust. With the new Varachha project, Surat will now get two Khodaldhams. The announcement was made at the ‘Sheri Otlo Garba Mahotsav’ in Mota Varachha, in the presence of thousands of garba revellers and community leaders. As soon as ‘Annapurna Khodaldham’ was announced from the stage, the entire ground echoed with chants of ‘Jai Khodiyar’. Mukesh Patel, a well-known community leader, will oversee the construction as t

Shah Publicity joins Gujarat Talks OOH as Associate Sponsor

Shah Publicity, a Surat-based outdoor advertising company with a legacy spanning more than four decades, has taken up Associate Sponsorship for Gujarat Talks OOH. The company’s footprint across South Gujarat extends beyond conventional hoardings and billboards to include gantries, street-pole kiosks, bus queue shelters, bus branding and foot-over-bridges. Its portfolio reflects the role of OOH infrastructure in shaping how brands engage with audiences across the region’s busy roads, commercial centres and urban neighbourhoods. The event will bring together media owners, agencies, brands and other stakeholders to examine how Gujarat’s OOH market is evolving, from changing advertiser expectations and the role of emerging formats to the challenges of building a sustainable business in a changing regulatory and commercial environment.

Ahmedabad Businessman Cheated of ₹2.86 Lakh in Software Development Deal, Surat Firm Director Booked

Image : AI Generated Representative image A businessman from Ahmedabad’s Ghodasar area has alleged that he was cheated of ₹2.86 lakh by the director of a Surat-based IT firm who allegedly failed to deliver functional software under an agreement and later refused to refund the money. Vatva police have registered a case against Darshan Chauhan, director of Durvasa Infotech Pvt. Ltd., following the complaint. Rishik Barot, a resident of Ghodasar who runs E.G.E Agritech Pvt. Ltd., was introduced to Chauhan through a friend. Durvasa Infotech operates from Pragati IT Park in Mota Varachha, Surat, while Chauhan lives at Omkar Avenue in Amroli. According to the complaint, the two entered into an agreement worth ₹3.70 lakh for developing three software systems for Barot’s company: a dashboard, a marketplace and a delivery driver system. Chauhan allegedly assured Barot that the project would be co

Why fewer Afghan students, more Bangladeshis at Gujarat universities

Qiamuddin Andaish is an Afghan student enrolled in a PhD programme at Veer Narmad South Gujarat University in Gujarat’s Surat. He joined the course in 2022 and lives in Surat with his wife and two children, one of whom studies at a local school. His doctoral programme ends this year, and he is yet to decide what to do next. Andaish is among a handful of Afghan students studying in universities in Gujarat. The number of Afghan students admitted to universities in Gujarat through the Indian Council of Cultural Relations (ICCR) has shrunk after the Indian government restricted scholarships offered to Afghan students to online courses. The development followed the Taliban takeover in Afghanistan in 2021. This year's enrolment trends in Gujarat universities show students from African nations and Bangladesh have bagged the most scholarships offered by the Ministry of External Affairs through t

Surat Police Bar JG Navratri Garba Over Missing Permissions

Surat: Saroli police have barred the organisers of JG Navratri from holding Garba celebrations at a venue near Roman Dine Hotel on Puna Canal Road in Surat without obtaining the necessary licences and permissions. In a notice issued on Wednesday, police said the organisers had planned to conduct Navratri celebrations from October 11 to 20 but had failed to obtain the mandatory premises licence. According to the notice, the organisers were required to submit the necessary documents and certificates under government regulations to secure the licence. However, they allegedly failed to provide the required documents despite being informed in writing, verbally and over the phone.

Annapurna Khodaldham to be built in Surat

Annapurna Khodaldham Surat project announcement updates. Follow Bhaskar English. The second Khodaldham in Surat was officially announced during the auspicious Navratri festival. The new religious complex will be named Annapurna Khodaldham.

Surat Food Safety Drive Finds Hygiene Lapses at Garba Venues

The inspections were carried out by the SMC Food Department at Umiyadham Temple on A K Road, Otlo Navratri in Mota Varachha, Dayalji Party Plot at Majura Gate and Garba Global Village in Vesu. These venues are among the locations drawing large crowds during the festival period, when temporary food stalls operate alongside event facilities. The municipal action focused on checking food stalls and collecting samples for testing. The report did not specify the nature of the six hygiene violations, the names of the stall operators who received notices or the deadlines given for compliance. In a separate inspection, the SMC-organised Food Festival 2026 was also checked. Officials collected eight additional food samples from stalls at that event, taking the total number of samples collected across the reported inspections to 26.

‘Asked For Sunday Off, Lost My Job’: 70 Detained As Surat Embroidery Workers' Protest Turns Tense

SURAT: A growing labour dispute in Gujarat’s textile hub of Surat intensified on October 15 after police detained around 60 to 70 workers who were heading to the district Collector’s office to demand weekly holidays, timely wage payments and better working conditions in embroidery units. After months of failed attempts to resolve their grievances through factory owners and labour authorities, the workers planned a peaceful satyagraha outside the Surat Collector’s office. The agitation, which started on August 16, 2026, has gained momentum across industrial hubs such as Amroli, Katargam, Sachin GIDC and Kadodara. Naishadh Desai, president of Gujarat Pradesh INTUC and the leader of the movement, had urged around 10,000 workers from embroidery units and other industrial establishments across Surat city and district to join the protest. However, police stopped the demonstration before the de

‘OG Navratri’ event in AC dome ordered to shut: Fire department finds exposed wires and seven gas cylinders

Surat OG Navratri event shut down by fire department after safety inspection. Follow Bhaskar English Latest Updates. Serious lapses in the safety of revellers came to light during a surprise inspection by the Fire Department at the well-known OG Navratri event held in an AC dome in Sarsana, Surat. After detecting unauthorised changes to the entrance, exposed wires and the illegal use of gas cylinders in the food court, the Fire Department immediately issued a closure notice and ordered the dome

Surat’s Hills High School Girls’ Team Wins Bronze Medal for Gujarat at CBSE Volleyball National Championship

Hills High School won all five matches in its pool and secured a place in the quarter-finals. In the first match, the team defeated Nishan Academy of Punjab; in the second match, SBOA School of Guwahati, Assam; in the third match, Sandipani Academy of Madhya Pradesh; in the fourth match, Indian School of Abu Dhabi; and in the fifth match, DAV Public School, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi. In the quarter-final, Hills High School faced Sanghamitra School from Hyderabad, Telangana. Hills High School’s team registered a victory in this match as well and entered the semi-finals. The team’s journey came to an end after a defeat against the Jaipur team in the semi-final. However, on the strength of its शानदार performance throughout the tournament, the team secured a Bronze Medal for Gujarat. The Bronze Medal won by Surat’s girls’ team at the national-level competition has brought pride not only to the

80 labour activists, textile workers detained

Surat: Around 80 labour rights activists and textile embroidery workers were detained by police across Surat on Thursday, ahead of a planned mass representation at the district collector’s office in Athwalines seeking the implementation of labour codes. The detentions began early in the morning and continued until the afternoon as workers and activists attempted to reach the collectorate. The protest originated in the textile embroidery sector, where workers have been demanding a paid weekly day off and an eight-hour workday without any reduction in wages. They allege that they are currently paid the same amount for working 12-hour shifts. Police maintained a heightened presence in several parts of the city, deploying teams to prevent groups of workers and activists from assembling or travelling towards Athwalines.

GST Council Relief: Surat Textile Industry Gets ITC Refunds, Fewer Highway Checks

SURAT: In a major relief for Surat’s textile industry and transporters, the 57th GST Council meeting has approved changes aimed at unlocking blocked tax credits, curbing arbitrary highway inspections... The decisions address long-standing concerns of the man-made fibre (MMF) textile value chain, where accumulated input tax credit (ITC) under the inverted duty structure has locked up working capital for businesses. SGCCI President Ashok Jirawala welcomed the measures, saying the government had responded to the industry’s concerns over blocked funds and unnecessary vehicle checks.

Surat Actress Mauna Shah Makes Hollywood Lead Debut with Award-Winning Film

SURAT: From the fashion and modelling world to the international film circuit, Surat-born actress Mauna Vallabhbhai Shah is taking Gujarati talent to a global audience with her lead role in the... Mauna, who won the Ms. Universe Asia title and the Most Beautiful Smile of India award in 2019, has marked a new milestone in her career by stepping into a lead acting role in the project. According to information shared by the film’s team, Hide & Seek won a Golden Award at Italy’s Florence Film Festival and received another award at UFMC Cine Goa. The film has also been recognised at the Egyptian American Film Festival and recently selected for the Cannes World Film Festival. The film’s reported festival journey has brought attention to Mauna’s transition from modelling, fashion and classical dance to acting in an international production.

Navratri event in Surat stopped for operating without approval: Police warn of strict action if JG Navratri

Surat police stop unauthorized JG Navratri event due to fire safety violations. Follow Bhaskar English Latest Updates. Police have cracked down on the widely discussed JG Navratri event on Puna Canal Road in Surat, which was organised without permission and in blatant violation of rules, including fire-safety regulations, putting the safety of revellers at risk during the Navratri festival. The Saroli police station issued the organisers a strict notice and ordered them to immediately shut down

Lexus India opens second Gujarat guest experience centre in Surat

Ram Lalla's Clothes To Be Stitched In Ayodhya, Fabric To Be Sourced From Surat

Ayodhya: Clothes for the idol of Ram Lalla at Shri Ram Mandir will now be stitched in Ayodhya. While velvet, silk and other fabrics are being brought in Surat in Gujarat after the approval of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, under the new arrangement, clothes for Ram Lalla will be stitched in Ayodhya in different designs and colours for all seven days of the week. Before the consecration ceremony of Ram Temple, tailor Shankar Lal Pahadi was responsible for making Ram Lalla s clothes. Subsequently, the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust changed the arrangement. Clothes designed by renowned designer Manish Tripathy were made in Delhi and delivered daily to Ayodhya. However, the Trust discontinued the arrangement for reasons unknown, after which new options for making the clothes were considered.

Tamil Nadu Seeks Surat-Based MANTRA’s Textile Expertise

SURAT: Surat’s textile expertise is extending beyond Gujarat, with the Tamil Nadu government approaching the Man-Made Textiles Research Association (MANTRA) for details of its research, testing and... In an official communication addressed to Dr. Pankaj Gandhi, Joint Director of the Department of Textiles, Government of Tamil Nadu, Chennai, sought information on MANTRA’s activities and brochures outlining its vision and key areas of work, including research and development, textile testing, Centres of Excellence and technical consultancy. The request opens up possibilities for inter-state collaboration, potentially bringing Surat’s specialised textile knowledge to one of India’s major textile manufacturing hubs.

Surat police detain 70 workers protesting for weekly holidays, wage hikes in embroidery units

AHMEDABAD: Police detained around 70 workers in Gujarat’s Surat on October 15 as they headed to the district Collector’s office to demand weekly holidays and higher wages in embroidery units. The crackdown comes amid growing concerns over working conditions in Gujarat’s textile hub, where workers have alleged long shifts, denial of statutory weekly holidays and dismissal for seeking leave. The Pandesara police detained more than six worker leaders, including two prominent labour union representatives, even before the proposed satyagraha could begin. As workers gathered near the Collector’s office to press their demands, police moved in, citing a lack of official permission. While some workers managed to escape, others were chased and detained.

Surat Commercial Garba Under Scanner: Darshan Naik Seeks Probe Into High Pass Prices, Safety Violations

SURAT: Has Navratri, a festival rooted in devotion, cultural traditions and social equality, become a playground for commercial profiteering? Raising serious concerns over the organisation of... In a representation to the authorities, Naik said devotees had approached him through social media and other channels, complaining that expensive entry passes were putting commercial Garba celebrations beyond the reach of ordinary people. He argued that a festival dedicated to the worship of Goddess Durga should not become an exclusive affair accessible only to those who can afford premium-priced passes. “Navratri is a sacred festival dedicated to the worship of Mataji and is deeply intertwined with the pride of Hindu Sanatan culture. The celebrations must remain accessible to all sections of society rather than being driven by profiteering,” Naik said in his representation.

Gujarat High Court grants bail to woman accused in Surat suicide case

The Gujarat High Court on Wednesday granted bail to a woman accused of abetting the suicide of a local BJP leader’s daughter-in-law in Surat, whose suicide note named the woman over her alleged relationship with the deceased’s husband. Justice Hasmukh D Suthar granted the regular bail application of Ishika alias Rani Samir Benarji on October 14, citing substantial progress in the investigation, absence of criminal antecedents, and the time likely to be taken for the trial. Nidhikumari Singh, 24, allegedly died by suicide on August 23, and Benarji had been in custody since August 26. Nidhikumari got married to Saurabh Singh, son of local BJP leader Shashi Singh, in 2024 and the couple lived in Kadodara. The court noted that there was nothing left to be recovered from the applicant. “The allegations are that the applicant is having an affair with the co-accused, i.e., the husband of the de