Top 10 news today: From liquor ban in Bihar, Noida ‘jinx’, Pratyusha Banerjee death, to Odd-even scheme in Delhi

1. Nitish Kumar declares Bihar a dry state: Bihar was today declared a dry state with the Nitish Kumar government imposing a total ban on the sale and consumption of alcohol including India Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) with immediate effect. The decision, announced by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar after a Cabinet meeting, which comes into effect from today makes it clear that no alcohol can be legally consumed in all of Bihar, including bars and restaurants. The Bihar government had banned sale and consumption of country and spiced liquor in rural areas from April 1 this year, but had allowed sale of IMFL in towns and cities.

3. Pratyusha Banerjee death: Parents of TV actress Pratyusha Banerjee, who allegedly committed suicide, today alleged that her daughter took the extreme step as she was subjected to torture by her boyfriend Rahul Raj Singh. Rahul, a TV producer, who is currently in hospital, was today booked after police registered an FIR based on a complaint filed by Banerjee's mother Soma at Bangurnagar Police Station. "He (Rahul) should not get out. My daughter should get justice and I would like to appeal to the entire nation to help me in seeking justice for my daughter. He tortured my daughter a lot and finished her," Soma said.

4. BJP says Arvind Kejriwal's attack on PM Narendra Modi over Pakistan's JIT visit shameful: BJP termed as "shameful" Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his government allowing Pakistan's JIT into India on a day his cabinet colleague Kapil Mishra wondered "do we have an ISI agent as PM now?". Party spokesperson Sambit Patra said the 125 crore people of India will never forgive anyone calling the Prime Minister an ISI agent. (PTI)

5. Women drivers likely to be exempted from odd-even scheme: The Delhi government is likely to give exemption to women drivers under the second round of odd-even scheme starting from April 15. Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) Swati Maliwal has also urged Transport Minister Gopal Rai to exempt women from the road-rationing scheme as the city's public transport is not in a good shape and safety for working women is also a issue of concern. Rai today held consultation with different women organisations where most participants raised their voices in favour of keeping women drivers out of the ambit of the scheme. (Express photo)

6. AAP back stabbed people of Punjab, says Badal: Hitting out at the Aam Aadmi Party for its stand the Sutlej-Yamuna Link issue in the Supreme Court, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal said the party has back stabbed the people of Punjab especially farmers. "I am sad this has come at the expense of the beleaguered farming peasantry of my state," the Chief Minister said, adding, "I do not know how Kejriwal will now face the people of Punjab after this fraud." The Kejriwal government has supported the stand of Haryana on SYL issue by filling an affidavit in the apex court, said Harcharan Bains, Advisor, National Affairs and Media to Punjab Chief minister. (PTI)

7. Marketing executive killed by speeding Mercedes in Delhi: A 32-year-old marketing executive was killed by a speeding Mercedes allegedly driven by a minor at the posh Civil Lines area in north Delhi, police said. The victim, Sidharth Sharma, was the marketing head of a private enterprise, and also pursuing professional degree from an institute here affiliated to Stratford University in US. "The accused has been identified and he has turned out to be a minor. The minor is the son of the owner of the Mercedes and he will be apprehended soon," DCP (North) Madhur Verma said. (PTI) (Representational image)

8. I am 'CBI-certified honest', says Mulayam Singh Yadav: Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav today charged CBI with bothering him a lot but said he came out clean and now he was a "CBI-certified honest" person. "The person who progresses from poor section of the society has to face such (CBI probe) problems. All persons should keep their papers and accounts updated otherwise CBI will frighten them," he said. "CBI bothered me a lot. It searched my house and also of my relatives for disproportionate assets. Fields and cattle were also counted but they got nothing. In such scenario I can say that now I am CBI-certified honest," he said. CBI had in 2013 cleared Yadav of charges that he misused his office as chief minister of Uttar Pradesh to accumulate vast amounts of wealth. (PTI)

9. Narendra Modi launches attack on Congress for forgetting Jagjivan Ram: In a veiled attack on Congress, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said it has forgotten dalit leader Jagjivan Ram who toiled hard for the country. "Probably no programme has been launched by previous governments on the occasion of birth anniversary of Babu Jagjivan Ram. At least I don't remember any such occasion. I am proud that today's programme has some association with his birth anniversary," Modi said while launching the 'Stand Up India' initiative to promote financial inclusion. His government, the Prime Minister said, is of the view that irrespective of political leanings, all persons who have worked for this country deserved to be honoured as they are "source of inspiration for us". (AP)

10. Petition in Pune court seeks to prevent Kanhaiya Kumar's visit: A petition sought to restrain JNU student leader Kanhaiya Kumar from visiting Pune on the occasion of Babasaheb Ambedkar's birth anniversary on April 14. Judge S R Yadav posted the petition for hearing tomorrow, said lawyer Wajid Khan, who appeared for Hemant Patil, the petitioner. The petition contends that Kumar's visit may create law and order problem as he may give inflammatory speeches. A Delhi court has already restrained the JNU student leader, arrested on sedition charge before being released on bail last month, from delivering speeches for six months and on this ground alone he should be restrained from visiting Pune, it said. (PTI)