New Delhi. Nov 19 (PTI) Following are the top stories at 5 PM NATION CAL23 BH-NDA-NITISH (4.47 PM) Nitish Kumar elected as leader of NDA in Bihar Patna: JD(U) supremo Nitish Kumar was chosen leader of the NDA in Bihar during a meeting of newly elected MLAs of the alliance partners here on Wednesday, state minister Shrawon Kumar said.

DEL21 NIA-LD GANGSTER (2.49 PM)

Deported gangster Anmol Bishnoi lands in Delhi, arrested by NIA New Delhi: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Wednesday arrested the brother and close aide of dreaded gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, Anmol Bishnoi, upon his deportation from the US to India, officials said.

DEL31 EC-SIR-VOTERS LIST (4.53 PM)

SIR Phase II: Nearly 99 pc enumeration forms distributed to electors in 12 states, UTs New Delhi: More than 50.35 crore of the nearly 51 crore electors in nine states and three Union territories have received enumeration forms under the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls, the Election Commission said on Wednesday.

DEL29 LAUNDERING-AL FALAH-LD CASE (4.25 PM)

Al Falah Group chairperson had reasons to flee India; Rs 415 cr tainted funds identified: ED New Delhi: A Delhi court on Wednesday sent Al Falah group chairperson Jawad Ahmed Siddiqui to ED custody for 13 days even as the agency claimed that he had "incentives" to flee India as his close family members are settled in the Gulf.

DEL22 JK-LG-LADAKH (3.16 PM)

LG admits discontent in Ladakh over ‘imbalanced’ representation in talks with Centre Jammu: Ladakh Lieutenant Governor Kavinder Gupta on Wednesday acknowledged that some people are unhappy with what they see as "imbalanced" representation in the ongoing dialogue with the Centre, but expressed hope that all issues would be resolved through discussions.

DEL25 CONG-KHURSHID-INTERVIEW (3.44 PM)

Delhi blast: Cong's Salman Khurshid seeks PM's answer in Parliament on 'lapse' New Delhi, Nov 19 (PTI) In the wake of the Delhi blast, senior Congress leader Salman Khurshid on Wednesday said the incident has put a "very serious question mark" on the government's security policy and demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi should answer on the "lapse" in Parliament soon. By Asim Kamal

CAL20 WB-MAMATA-LD- BLO DEATH (4.19 PM)

Mamata blames ECI for Jalpaiguri BLO's death; BJP hits back, family cites rising workload Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday tore into the Election Commission after a booth level officer in Jalpaiguri district was found hanging, alleging the "inhuman, unplanned" SIR workload is crushing field staff, even as the BLO's family flagged "unbearable pressure" and the BJP blamed state officials for the tragedy.

CAL17 BH-BJP-LD SAMRAT (2.35 PM)

Samrat Choudhary named BJP legislature party leader in Bihar Patna: Tarapur MLA Samrat Choudhary was on Wednesday named the leader of BJP legislature party in Bihar during a meeting of newly elected legislators, UP Deputy CM Keshav Prasad Maurya said.

MDS45 AP-SAI BABA-3RDLD-PM (4.34 PM)

Sathya Sai Baba's teachings showing light to lakhs in 140 countries, says PM Modi Puttaparthi (Andhra Pradesh): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday paid rich tributes to late spiritual guru Sri Sathya Sai Baba, saying his teachings and service continue to guide lakhs of followers across the world.

LEGAL LGD22 SC-JUDICIAL OFFICERS-CAREER (4.32 PM)

SC refuses to grant quota for promotee judges in Higher Judicial Service New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday refused to grant quota for promotee judges in Higher Judicial Service (HJS), observing that there is no "common malady" of disproportionate representation which afflicts the country.

LGD21 SC-INDIABULLS (4.22 PM)

SC pulls up CBI, slams SEBI's 'double standards' over 'reluctance' to probe allegations against Indiabulls New Delhi: Questioning the CBI and SEBI's "reluctance" to probe allegations of "dubious transactions" against Indiabulls Housing Finance Limited (IHFL), now known as Sammaan Capital Limited, the Supreme Court on Wednesday ordered the agency director to hold a meeting with SEBI, SFIO and ED to look into the matter.

LGD19 SC-AIR POLLUTION (3.30 PM)

Air pollution: SC asks CAQM to consider directing NCR schools to postpone sports competitions New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday asked the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to consider directing schools in Delhi-NCR to postpone open air sports competitions planned in November and December to “safer months” keeping in mind air pollution levels.

BUSINESS DEL32 BIZ-RBI-UNAUTHORISED PLATFORMS (4.56 PM)

RBI updates 'alert list' of unauthorised forex trading platforms Mumbai: The Reserve Bank on Wednesday added 7 new names to its 'alert list' of unauthorised forex trading platforms, taking the total number to 95.

DEL27 BIZ-TRAI-BFSI (3.57 PM)

TRAI sets firm deadlines for BFSI entities to adopt '1600' series for service, transactional calls New Delhi: TRAI on Wednesday mandated clear deadlines for phase-wise adoption of dedicated '1600' numbering series to be used by regulated entities such as banks, NBFCs, mutual funds and others for making service and transactional calls, in a bid to curb impersonation-based financial frauds perpetrated through voice calls.

FOREIGN FGN41 BANGLA-JUDICIARY-SECURITY (3.35 PM)

Bangladesh’s HC orders committee to review of security measures for courts, judges Dhaka: Bangladesh High Court has ordered a review of security measures for courts and judges in view of sporadic, clandestine violence in the capital and elsewhere over the death penalty verdict against deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina, a court official said Wednesday.

FGN35 BANGLA-POLITICS-NCP (1.41 PM)

Bangladesh EC registers NCP as political party, allots 'Shapla Koli' symbol New Delhi/Dhaka: The National Citizen Party (NCP), an offshoot of Students against Discrimination (SAD) that led last year's uprising which toppled Sheikh Hasina's government, has been officially registered as a political party in Bangladesh ahead of the February general election.

APL AMJ AMJ

Supreme Court declines quota for promotee judges and orders agency coordination on high profile corporate probes. The Supreme Court refused to recognise a reserved quota for promotee judges in the Higher Judicial Service, criticised agency reluctance to probe alleged dubious corporate transactions and directed coordination among securities and corporate investigation bodies; regulators mandated a '1600' numbering series for BFSI transactional calls and the central bank expanded its alert list of unauthorised forex platforms, while enforcement agencies reported large identified tainted funds in a money laundering probe and effected custodial and criminal arrests.