New Delhi, Sept 25 : The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) today arrested Akhand Pratap Singh, who was the Chief Secretary of Uttar Pradesh during the previous Mulayam Singh Yadav regime, for his alleged involvement in the 2005 disproportionate assets case.

Singh, a 1967 batch IAS officer, was arrested from his Vasant Kunj farmhouse, said CBI.

The former UP Chief Secretary allegedly tampered with evidence, influenced witnesses and did not cooperate with the CBI in investigation of the case registered in March 2005.

Mumbai, Sept.26 : Fugitive gangster Dawood Ibrahim's brother, Iqbal Kaskar, has surrendered before a special court in Mumbai in connection with a case relating to the illegal construction of Sara-Sahara shopping malls.

Kaskar, who was acquitted in the case where he is alleged to have aided Dawood in constructing the structures, had to surrender after the Bombay High Court last week admitted an appeal against his acquittal.

Following the surrender, Kaskar sought bail and the court is to hear the arguments in the matter.

Imphal (Manipur), Sep 26 : Apart from opting ‘Art’ as a career, women in Manipur have taking up painting as a therapeutic way to combat stress and express their feelings.

In the past two years, the number of girl students enrolling in the art college has increased manifold.

"I am glad that the response is encouraging and girls are taking keen interest," said Y. Nabachandra, Principal of the Imphal Art College.

Bangalore, Sept. 26 : Orange County Resorts & Hotels Ltd. has announced the opening of its new luxury resort on the banks of river Kabini in Karnataka.

Retaining Orange County's values of respect for the purity of nature and culture of the land, this resort, inspired in design by the mud-walled Hadis (Village) of the Kadu Kurubas, is built on the banks of the Kabini River, in the land of the Kadu kuruba tribe of Nagarhole forest in Karnataka.

Chennai, Sept. 26 : Premium carmaker Ford launched the Ford Fiesta1.6 Fida in Chennai on Tuesday.

The new edition with a 1.6 litre duratec engine is available in new copper rust and panther black.

The car is priced at 6.6 lakhs.

Scoot Mcormack, Vice President (Marketing), Ford India, put the sales figures for the earlier version at 55,000, and said he expected good demand during the forthcoming festive season.

Mumbai, Sept 25 : Hundreds of thousands of devotees participated in the immersion ceremony of the idols of Lord Ganesha as the 10-day Ganesha Chaturthi festival came to an end today.

In Mumbai, thousands of people crowded the streets to see their beloved god being immersed amidst beating of drums. Men and women danced as they paid their respects to the god seeking his blessings.