Gorain was found to have committed gross misconduct while carrying out his official responsibilities with malicious intent. He allegedly engaged in fraudulent activities by unlawfully inserting his mobile number into the login credentials of the AERO for Assembly Constituency 131 (Kakdwip). By using the OTP sent to his mobile, he processed applications submitted under Forms 6, 7, and 8 inappropriate through the AERO’s login.

The suspects, Abdullah Faiyaz Shaikh, also known as Diaperwala, and Talha Khan, were captured at Terminal 2 of Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport by the Bureau of Immigration. They had been evading authorities in Jakarta, Indonesia, before being taken into custody upon their return to India.

The NIA reported that the pair had been on the run for over two years and were wanted in connection with Case RC-05/2023/NIA/MUM. Non-bailable warrants were issued against them by the NIA Special Court in Mumbai, and a reward of Rs 3 lakh was announced for information leading to their capture.

This case forms part of a broader conspiracy involving ten individuals, including the two arrested, aimed at executing terrorist activities and waging war against the Government of India. The NIA stated, “They conspired to carry out terrorist acts intended to disrupt peace and communal harmony in India and advance the ISIS agenda to establish Islamic rule through violence.”

Abdullah Faiyaz Shaikh had rented an apartment in Kondhwa, Pune, serving as a base for assembling IEDs. Between 2022 and 2023, the two not only manufactured IEDs but also conducted bomb-making training workshops and executed a controlled explosion to test one of their devices.

The NIA has been diligently working to dismantle ISIS-associated networks in India and has previously filed charges against all ten suspects under various laws, including the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, the Explosive Substances Act, the Arms Act, and the Indian Penal Code.

Alongside Abdullah Faiyaz Shaikh and Talha Khan, the eight other individuals currently in judicial custody are Mohammed Imran Khan, Mohammed Yunus Saki, Abdul Kadir Pathan, Simab Nasiruddin Kazi, Zulfikar Ali Barodawala, Shamil Nachan, Akif Nachan, and Shahnawaz Alam. The investigation into the case remains ongoing.

Starting today, the train will now feature 20 coaches instead of the previous 16, with the addition of four AC Chair Car Coaches. This upgrade will enhance the train’s capacity to accommodate the rising number of passengers utilizing this prestigious semi-high-speed service.

The updated configuration will include 16 AC Chair Car Coaches, 2 Executive Chair Car Coaches, and 2 Crew & AC Chair Car Coaches.

The Puri–Howrah Vande Bharat Express is a semi-high-speed train operating between Howrah Junction in West Bengal and Puri in Odisha, covering a distance of 500 km in approximately 6.5 hours. It runs six days a week, excluding Thursdays, with departures from Howrah at 6:10 am and from Puri at 1:50 pm. The train makes stops at seven stations: Khurda Road Junction, Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Jajpur Keonjhar Road, Bhadrak, Balasore, and Kharagpur Junction.

The decision to increase the train’s capacity was made after a comprehensive review of passenger demand, emphasizing the Puri–Howrah route as highly popular among daily commuters and tourists. This enhancement is expected to improve travel convenience, reduce waitlists, and further elevate the popularity of this premium service.

Since its launch, the train’s patronage has significantly increased. From an initial occupancy rate of 70–80%, it has now reached over 110%. Currently, Train No. 22895 (Howrah–Puri) shows an occupancy of 110.9%, while Train No. 22896 (Puri–Howrah) stands at 109.2%. Specifically, the AC Chair Car classes boast a patronization of 110.65%, with Executive Chair Car coaches recording 103.19%.