FOLLOW US: @TheStatesmanLtd @thestatesmanltd thestatesman1875 www.thestatesman.com People’s Parliament, Always in Session India’s National Newspaper since 1818 | Pages 12 | ` 5.00 | KOLKATA | NEW DELHI | MUMBAI | BHUBANESWAR | LUCKNOW | SILIGURI ‘Sindoor marked a new normal’ Struggling Knight Riders face must-win battle against rampaging Gujarat Titans Page 7 Page 12 Ground signal NATION SATURDAY INTERVIEW Manipur: 30 hostages released, 6 still in captivity Page 6 Page 8 Adani Group, US SEC agree to settle civil fraud case: New Delhi: The US authorities and the Adani Group have agreed to settle a civil fraud case filed by the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) against Gautam Adani, Chairman of the Adani Group and his nephew Sagar Adani, on the payment of civil penalties amounting to a combined $18 million. The case relates to falsely promoting the company’s compliance with anti-bribery laws in connection with a $750 million bond offering by Adani Green Energy Ltd. Under the proposed settlement filed in a federal court, the Adani Group Chairman will pay $6 million, and Sagar Adani will pay $12 million. “Mr Gautam Adani and Mr Sagar Adani have consented to inter alia entry of the final judgment without admitting or denying the allegations made in the civil complaint and payment of a civil penalty of $6 million and $12 million respectively,” Adani Green Energy said in an exchange filing. Page 10 Saturday, 16 May 2026 SPORTS EDITORIAL BRIEFLY | PM in UAE: Countries cement strategic ties STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE Abu Dhabi/New Delhi, 15 May P rime Minister Narendra Modi and United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on Friday presided over the signing of a broad range of bilateral agreements aimed at strengthening cooperation in energy security, defence, trade, technology and infrastructure, further consolidating the rapidly expanding strategic partnership between the two nations. The agreements covered a wide spectrum of economic and strategic collaboration, with a particular focus on energy security and infrastructure development. Among the key outcomes were agreements to enhance cooperation on strategic petroleum reserves, secure long-term supplies of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) to India and establish a ship repair cluster at Vadinar in Gujarat. The two sides also signed pacts to deepen strategic defence cooperation and expand partnerships in agricultural re-search, MSME promotion and digital payments integration. In a major boost to economic ties, investment commitments worth 5 billion US dollars were announced in infrastructure projects, RBL Bank and Sammaan Capital, reflecting growing confidence among Emirati investors in India’s expanding economy. The latest agreements underscore the increasing importance of India-UAE relations as both countries seek to position their partnership as a key pillar of economic and strategic cooperation in the Gulf region amid rising trade, energy interdependence and evolving geopolitical challenges. Soon after arriving in Abu Dhabi, Mr Modi highlighted the warmth of the bilateral relationship and thanked the UAE leadership for the special welcome extended to him. Officials said the energy agreements would help provide India with greater longterm stability in hydrocarbon supplies at a time when global energy markets continue to face volatility due to geopolitical tensions and disruptions in maritime trade routes across West Asia and the Red Sea. India, the world’s third-largest energy consumer, has steadily expanded long-term energy partnerships with Gulf countries, with the UAE emerging as one of New Delhi’s most dependable suppliers of crude oil and natural gas. Former Kolkata CP, two other IPS officers suspended over RG Kar case STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE Kolkata, 15 May Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Friday announced the suspension of three senior IPS officers for lapses in the RG Kar rape and murder case involving a junior doctor. Mr Adhikari told a Press conference at Nabanna that these officers were suspended and a departmental enquiry will follow for alleged negligence and mishandling of the RG Kar case. The three officers include the then Commissioner of Police Vineet Goyal, the then DC Central Indira Mukherjee, and the then DC North, Abhishek Gupta. The Chief Minister was particularly scathing about Indira Mukherjee, stating: “The way she conducted herself while briefing the Press during the peak of the RG Kar fiasco raised serious questions. She was neither the official spokesperson of the police nor authorised to speak in that capacity. The obvious question is: on whose instruc- tions did she act? Hence, her suspension is necessary.” On Abhishek Gupta, Mr Adhikari said: “He was said to have offered bribes to the parents of the deceased doctor. His role is under scrutiny and must be investigated.” Mr Adhikari said the action followed a review of the Kolkata police response to the incident, which he described as having been “seriously mishandled”. Mr Adhikari stated that he had formed a fact finding committee included the Chief Secretary and Home Secretary, to probe into the Kolkata Police’s initial response and handling of the incident. “I had asked them to find out and detail the steps taken in the immediate aftermath of the crime at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. A fact-finding report was subsequently submitted to me," Mr Adhikari said. He said that there were shortcomings in the registration of the FIR and the conduct of the investigation, particularly at the senior supervisory level. He also referred to allegations made by Ratna Debnath, the mother of the victim, that two police officers, acting on behalf of the state administration, had attempted to bribe her and offered her money. Petrol, diesel prices hiked by `3 per litre across major cities BRICS nations criticise unilateral economic sanctions, fail to adopt united stance on W Asia crisis STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE New Delhi, 15 May NIKHIL VYAS PM Modi, Lavrov review India-Russia ties, discuss Ukraine and West Asia: New Delhi, 15 May The BRICS nations on Friday criticised unilateral economic sanctions, reaffirming that the bloc does not impose or support non-UN Security Council authorised sanctions that are contrary to international law. However, there were differing views among some members of the bloc on the West Asia situation. The BRICS nations condemned the imposition of unilateral coercive measures that are contrary to international law, and reiterated that such measures, in the form of unilateral economic sanctions and secondary sanctions, have far-reaching negative implications for human rights, including the rights to development, health and food security, of the general population of targeted states, disproportionately affecting the poor and people in vulnerable situations, deepening the digital divide and exacerbating environmental challenges. They called for the elimination of such unlawful measures, which undermine international law and the principles and purposes of the UN Charter and reaffirmed that BRICS member states do not impose or support non-UN Security Council authorised sanctions that are contrary to international law. New Delhi: Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Thursday met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi, with the two leaders reviewing bilateral cooperation and discussing major regional and global developments, including the conflicts in Ukraine and West Asia. According to an official statement, Mr Lavrov briefed Mr Modi on the progress made in India-Russia relations since the Prime Minister’s meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin during the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit held in December 2025. The meeting also saw an exchange of views on issues of mutual international concern, particularly the evolving situation in Ukraine and the continuing tensions in West Asia. During the talks, Mr Modi reaffirmed India’s long-standing position that dialogue and diplomacy remain the most effective means to resolve conflicts. India hosted the two-day BRICS Foreign Ministers Meeting which concluded on Friday in the national capital. The meeting was chaired by External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar. Several foreign ministers, including Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi (photo), Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Indonesian Foreign Minister Sugiono and senior representatives from BRICS nations and partner countries, attended the meeting. Fuel prices across the country have gone up sharply after oil marketing companies increased petrol and diesel rates by up to Rs 3 per litre, adding to the burden on consumers and transport operators. Following the revision, petrol prices in Delhi rose from around Rs 94.77 per litre to Rs 97.77 per litre, while diesel prices climbed from Rs 87.67 per litre to Rs 90.67 per litre. Similar hikes were reported in several metro cities, including Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Bengaluru and Hyderabad. The latest increase comes amid volatility in global crude oil markets and rising international energy costs, which have put pressure on domestic fuel retailers. Industry observers said the revision reflects higher input costs faced by oil companies after a prolonged period of relatively stable retail fuel prices. In Mumbai, petrol prices crossed the Rs 106 per litre mark, while diesel rates moved above Rs 94 per litre. Chennai and Kolkata also witnessed a steep rise in retail fuel rates after the revision. The increase is expected to impact transportation costs, logistics expenses and daily household budgets, with sectors dependent on fuel consumption likely to face additional pressure in the coming weeks. Commercial vehicle operators and delivery businesses are likely to feel the immediate impact of the increase, while consumers may see higher prices in goods and services due to elevated freight expenses. The fuel price revision comes at a time when global crude prices remain uncertain amid geopolitical tensions and supply-related concerns in the international energy market. Monsoon expected early again, Kerala onset around 26 May: IMD SC restores Kuldeep Sengar’s sentence in 2017 Unnao rape case PARMOD KUMAR New Delhi, 15 May The Supreme Court on Friday set aside the Delhi High Court’s order suspending the jail sentence of former Uttar Pradesh BJP legislator Kuldeep Singh Sengar in the 2017 Unnao rape case and granting him bail. The apex court also directed Delhi High Court to expeditiously decide his appeal against conviction, preferably within two months. A Bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi remanded the matter back to the Delhi High Court for reconsideration. The Bench clarified that if the appeal is not taken up promptly, the High Court may reconsider Sengar’s plea for suspension of sentence afresh before the commencement of the summer vacation. The top court passed the order while hearing an appeal filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) challenging the Delhi High Court’s December 2025 order suspending Sengar’s sentence and granting him bail during the pendency of his appeal against conviction. During the hearing, the Bench also expressed disagreement with the Delhi High Court’s prima facie observation that the offence of aggravated penetrative sexual assault under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act was not attracted in Sengar’s case. Under Section 5 of the POCSO Act, penetrative sexual assault becomes aggravated if committed by a public servant or a person in a position of trust or authority. H owever, while suspending the sentence, the Delhi High Court had observed that Sengar could not strictly be termed a public servant or a person occupying a position of trust or authority for the purpose of invoking the aggravated offence provision. Justice Joymalya Bagchi, however, said the Supreme Court could not endorse what he described as the “hypertechnical conclusion” reached by the High Court, emphasising that the POCSO Act is a penal legislation enacted to protect children from sexual exploitation. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the CBI, argued that an MLA undoubtedly occupies a dominant position in society. Senior advocate N. Hariharan, appearing for Sengar, questioned the applicability of the POCSO Act and argued that medical evidence including an AIIMS report, indicated that the prosecutrix was not a minor. VIBHA SHARMA New Delhi, 15 May Amid apprehensions of an economic slowdown exacerbated by multiple factors such as crude oil price shock and currency depreciation triggered by the US-Iran conflict and disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, there seems to be some positive news regarding the southwest monsoon ~ the most awaited weather phenomenon in the country every year. The monsoon, this year, is again expected to arrive early over Kerala with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasting its onset around 26 May, with a model error margin of ±4 days. The monsoon, which typically strikes the southernmost tip of India around 1 June, may mark its third consecutive early arrival if the forecast holds true. It reached Kerala on 27 May in 2025 and 31 May in 2024. According to the IMD, conditions are currently favourable for the advance of the southwest monsoon over parts of the south Bay of Bengal, the Andaman Sea, and the Andaman & Nicobar Islands within the next 24 hours. Usually, the monsoon first sets in over the South Andaman Sea around 22 May before progressing towards the Indian mainland. While the early onset brings cautious optimism, weather forecasts for the rest of the country remain mixed. The IMD warned that severe heatwave conditions are likely to continue over northwest and central India during the ongoing week. Meanwhile, isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall is expected over northeast this week, and over Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal, Kerala and Mahe, and South Interior Karnataka over the next 3–4 days. For India, the June–September seasonal rains are critical as they deliver over 70 per cent of annual rainfall, shaping agriculture, water availability, reservoir levels, and overall economy of the country. This year, however, the IMD’s seasonal outlook is indicating below normal rains. The weather office has projected rainfall at about 92 per cent of the Long Period Average (LPA), within a model error margin of ±5 per cent. The LPA, based on data from 1971–2020, is 87 cm. Meteorologists say that at present, weak La Niña–like conditions are transitioning to ENSO-neutral conditions over the equatorial Pacific. Atmospheric circulation features across the tropical Pacific remain consistent with weak La Niña–like conditions. The Monsoon Mission Climate Forecast System (MMCFS) suggests the development of El Niño conditions during the season. A respite is the neutral Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) conditions over the Indian Ocean. The latest climate model forecasts also indicate that positive IOD conditions are likely to develop towards the end of the season. A positive IOD is generally good for the monsoon. It creates warmer sea surface temperatures in the western Indian Ocean, which increases moisture transport toward the subcontinent, often leading to above-normal rainfall and acting as a counter to dry El Niño conditions, according to analysts. Also, the Northern Hemisphere snow cover extent during the past three months (January to March 2026) was slightly below normal. Winter and spring snow cover over the Northern Hemisphere, as well as Eurasia, has a general inverse relationship with the subsequent seasonal rainfall over the country.