A Delhi court has convicted a man, Girdhari Lal, for insulting a woman's modesty with the sexually-derogatory remark "Kaun se wale papa?". The court ruled that the comment, made in response to the woman pacifying her child, insinuated infidelity and questioned the child's paternity, thus affronting her dignity and leading to a conviction under IPC section 509.
A Delhi court has convicted a man, Girdhari Lal, for insulting a woman's modesty with the remark "Kaun se wale papa?" The court ruled that the comment, made in response to the woman telling her daughter "dekho papa aa gaye," was a sexually-derogatory insinuation about her fidelity and the paternity of her child, and not an innocent question. He was convicted under IPC section 509.
President Droupadi Murmu gave assent to a bill which now provides 'Vande Mataram' with the same legal protection and status as India's national anthem, 'Jana Gana Mana'.
The Rajya Sabha has passed the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026, making insult to the national song 'Vande Mataram' a criminal offence. The bill, which also covers other national symbols, was passed amidst protests from opposition parties regarding the NEET paper leak. Union Minister Nityanand Rai criticised the opposition's stance, emphasising the song's historical significance and its role in national unity.
The Indian government plans to introduce a bill in the Rajya Sabha to make obstruction or insult to the national song 'Vande Mataram' a criminal offence. This amendment to the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971, aims to grant 'Vande Mataram' the same statutory protection as the national anthem, 'Jana Gana Mana', with penalties up to three years' imprisonment.
A Delhi court has convicted Vikas Kumar alias Vicky for outraging the modesty of a woman, sexually harassing her, and insulting her modesty during a neighbourhood quarrel. The court, however, acquitted him of attempting to disrobe her and causing hurt to her mother, citing lack of evidence and inconsistencies in testimony. The conviction was made under BNS Sections 74, 75(3), and 79.
A Hindu College student was allegedly harassed by a group of men in a car in northwest Delhi's Mukherjee Nagar area. Police have registered an FIR under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and are investigating the incident.
A family faced a violent assault during a Ganesh immersion procession after a woman politely asked a group to lower the volume of their drums.
A professor at Nirma University in Ahmedabad allegedly grabbed a student's collar during a stand-up comedy show, sparking a controversy. The incident, captured in a viral video, occurred during the 'Technofora 2026' event after the student reportedly interrupted the professor. The NSUI has demanded an apology and an inquiry, threatening protests.
The Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly has passed a resolution demanding the urgent restoration of full statehood, a move that saw the opposition BJP stage a walkout. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah moved the resolution, which also referenced previous calls for greater autonomy and special status. The BJP vehemently opposed the resolution, calling it an insult to the Constitution.
The Jammu and Kashmir Assembly witnessed chaotic scenes as BJP members protested a resolution seeking the urgent restoration of statehood. The BJP opposed the resolution, calling it an insult to the Constitution, and moved a motion for the Speaker's removal, leading to disruptions and mock proceedings in the House.
Madhya Pradesh BJP MLA Usha Thakur has sparked controversy by claiming that 4.5 lakh girls elope with non-Hindu men during Garba celebrations annually, leading to demographic change. She advocated banning non-Hindus from Garba pandals, a stance supported by the VHP, which suggests Aadhaar checks to prevent "love jihad." The Congress has condemned her remarks, demanding an apology, and highlighted similar controversial statements from another BJP MLA.
A Hindu College postgraduate student and her friend were allegedly harassed and nearly abducted by men in a car in Delhi's Mukherjee Nagar. Police have traced the vehicle and registered an FIR under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, with further investigation ongoing.
Police in Bhadohi, Uttar Pradesh, have registered a case against an X user for allegedly making indecent and derogatory remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP MP Kangana Ranaut online. The complaint was filed by the district police's social media in-charge, leading to charges under the BNS and IT Act. Authorities are examining evidence and will take further action.
Around 20 Congress workers, including six arrested, have been booked for attempt to murder, grievous hurt, and rioting after allegedly defacing Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar's residence in Agra during a protest. The Congress party claims "false" sections were invoked and plans to challenge the charges.
The Delhi High Court has refused anticipatory bail to YouTuber Ajeet Bharti in a case involving alleged casteist remarks against Nagina MP Chandrashekhar Azad, citing a statutory bar under the SC/ST Act.
Nirma University has formed a three-member committee to investigate an incident where a professor allegedly grabbed a student's collar during a stand-up comedy show. The incident, captured in a viral video, led to apologies from both parties and protests from student organisations, prompting the university to launch a formal inquiry.
The Congress government in Karnataka has issued an order limiting the singing of 'Vande Mataram' to its first two stanzas at state programmes, with exceptions for events attended by high-ranking officials. This decision, based on a 1937 Congress resolution, has drawn sharp criticism from the opposition BJP, which labels it "appeasement politics" and an insult to the national symbol.
The Supreme Court has indicated that individuals with a conscientious objection should not face criminal consequences for declining to sing Vande Mataram, while asking the Centre to consider a 1986 judgment protecting similar rights concerning the national anthem.
The parents of IIT Bombay student Sahil Wakode, who died by suicide, spent eight hours at the Mumbai Crime Branch office, while Union Minister Ramdas Athawale visited IIT Bombay, seeking a thorough investigation into the death and alleging potential caste discrimination.
The Allahabad High Court has ruled against compelling employees to wear Santa Claus red caps, stating such actions can hurt religious sentiments and are not permitted in India's democratic system. The court partly allowed a plea challenging criminal proceedings against an individual accused of forcing subordinates to wear the caps, clarifying how such cases should be treated under law.
A Thane court has acquitted a man accused of attempting to rape his stepdaughter in 2016, citing that the victim and her mother turned hostile during the trial and there was a lack of corroborating evidence. The court observed that the case likely stemmed from domestic differences that may have been resolved.
The Allahabad High Court has ruled that the SC/ST Act cannot be invoked merely because a complainant belongs to a Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe. Justice Santosh Rai observed that specific ingredients of the offence must be present, quashing proceedings under the Act in a property dispute where no caste-based abuse occurred.
West Bengal BJP president Samik Bhattacharya's comments recalling the role of non-Bengali communities during the 1946 communal riots and alleging past restrictions on Durga Puja have drawn sharp criticism from opposition parties, including the TMC, Congress, and CPI(M). Bhattacharya appealed for unity for peaceful Durga Puja celebrations, while opposition leaders accused him of divisive politics and distorting history.
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju strongly condemned the alleged desecration of the Indian flag and pro-Khalistan slogans by protesters outside Madison Square Garden in New York, where RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat addressed the Indian-American community. Rijiju warned against insulting the nation and its flag, while Bhagwat spoke on unity in diversity.
A sessions court in Mumbai acquitted a Shiv Sena-affiliated union leader in a 2015 case of allegedly insulting a woman hospital staffer's modesty, overturning a magistrate's verdict.
Raphinha's hat-trick led defending champions Barcelona to a 3-1 victory over Sevilla, extending their winning streak in La Liga. Elsewhere, Lautaro Martinez secured a 2-2 draw for Inter Milan against Roma in Serie A, while Borussia Dortmund claimed the top spot in Germany. Premier League saw Arsenal lose its top position after a defeat to Brighton.
Uttar Pradesh assembly Speaker Satish Mahana has found himself at the centre of a controversy after he was seen walking away while the national anthem was played at an event in Unnao, drawing flak from the opposition. Mahana, however, claimed that the anthem was not played where he was given the guard of honour.
A special POCSO court in Thane has convicted a 20-year-old man for sexually assaulting a 16-year-old girl, sentencing him to three years of rigorous imprisonment. The court relied heavily on the victim's "clear and cogent" testimony and rejected the plea for probation, citing the fear and insecurity caused by the accused's actions.
Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor has criticised the Centre's new mandate requiring the full rendition of the National Song, Vande Mataram, alongside the National Anthem at official functions. Tharoor argues that the extended duration could lead to a decrease in respect rather than an increase, citing practical considerations for audiences. The amendment bill, which grants Vande Mataram equal statutory penal protection as the National Anthem, recently received presidential assent.
Did love make Bhagat Singh a weaker revolutionary? In a heated argument once, Sukhdev accused him of allowing his fascination with a woman to come in the way of revolutionary duty. Bhagat Singh's answer, in a letter days later, was a defence of love as a revolutionary's strength, not a weakness. On Bhagat Singh's 119th birth anniversary, Utkarsh Mishra looks at the friendship, arguments and ideas that bound him and Sukhdev together.
Senior BJP leader Rajendra Rathore has formally objected to the use of a song dedicated to Maharana Pratap in "Mirzapur The Movie", demanding its removal from the Central Board of Film Certification. Rathore argues that using the historical song in a scene with criminal characters disrespects Maharana Pratap and hurts public sentiments. The song's composer, Rapperiya Balam, also claims it was used without his permission and that its placement glorifies villains, insulting Rajasthan and Maharana Pratap.
It's A Medical Miracle has a promising superhero premise and some genuinely inventive moments, but a wildly uneven screenplay ultimately squanders its potential.
A committee formed by West Bengal's BJP government is considering proposals to rename several prominent roads, bridges, and public places in Kolkata, including those named after communist leaders Vladimir Lenin, Karl Marx, and Ho Chi Minh. This move has sparked sharp criticism from the Trinamool Congress and CPI(M), who view it as "vendetta politics" and an attempt to disrespect differing ideologies.
The Congress Working Committee has decided to adhere to its 1937 resolution, mandating that only the first two stanzas of 'Vande Mataram' be sung at all party events, a move that has drawn sharp criticism from the BJP, which labelled the Congress the 'new Muslim League'.
The Congress party has strongly condemned the 'purification' of a rally venue in Haldwani, Uttarakhand, after a public meeting addressed by party chief Mallikarjun Kharge, alleging it reflects an 'anti-Dalit' mindset of the BJP and RSS.
Self-proclaimed Hindutva influencer Swatantra Bhardwaj was questioned by Delhi Police during his remand in connection with an alleged assault on a student activist's father at Jantar Mantar. Bhardwaj, who showed no remorse, was confronted with his viral videos. The case now includes charges under the SC/ST Act and POCSO Act, following outrage and further complaints.
Hindutva influencer Swatantra Bhardwaj has been remanded to one-day judicial custody by a Delhi court in connection with the alleged assault on the father of a student activist during a protest at Jantar Mantar. The Delhi Police have added charges under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and criminal intimidation, along with a POCSO case, following his detention and previous claims of "cracking the skull" of the activist's father.
A political controversy has erupted in Uttar Pradesh after Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath accused state Congress chief Ajay Rai of participating in a fish feast in Ayodhya during the holy month of Shravan, near the Ram temple. Rai has vehemently denied the allegations, challenging Adityanath to provide proof and threatening to resign if proven, while also demanding the CM's resignation if no evidence is found. The Congress party has defended the event, stating it was a Nishad community gathering with their own food traditions.
Hindutva influencer Swatantra Bhardwaj has been remanded to one-day police custody by a Delhi court judge, facing charges under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, criminal intimidation, and the POCSO Act following allegations of assault and online harassment.
