The Delhi High Court on Wednesday sought a report from jail authorities regarding the non-appearance of separatist leader Yasin Malik for a virtual hearing in a terror funding case. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) is seeking the death penalty for Malik, who is currently serving a life term, arguing that his guilty plea should not preclude capital punishment for a terrorist. Malik had previously expressed a desire to argue in-person against the NIA's plea.
Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor has strongly criticised the Bikaner House administration's decision to remove certain photographs from Raihan Vadra's exhibition before its opening. Tharoor termed the act as "petty" and "censorship," stating it casts a shadow on India's reputation as a democracy and a land of freedom of expression. He highlighted the removal of protest photographs and those featuring the tricolour, calling the decision "stupid" and counterproductive, as it has inadvertently boosted Raihan Vadra's profile.
The Supreme Court has agreed to examine a plea seeking the recall of its recent split verdict regarding the 2023 law on the appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioners. This law notably excludes the Chief Justice of India from the selection panel, a change from a previous Supreme Court directive.
AICC general secretary K C Venugopal announced that the INDIA bloc will stage a major protest in Delhi on Monday to protect voting rights, following meetings with the President and a planned meeting with the Chief Justice of India. He accused PM Modi and Amit Shah of attempting to protect Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and criticised the Centre for denying an AIIMS facility to Keralam despite past assurances. Venugopal affirmed the bloc's commitment to ensuring free and fair elections and expressed hope for AIIMS if they come to power.
Supreme Court Justice Ujjal Bhuyan has unequivocally stated that any process disenfranchising Indian citizens is arbitrary and violates the Constitution.
Kunwar Basit Ali, national president of BJP Minority Morcha, stated that the demolition of religious structures for development should not be viewed communally, citing examples from Uttar Pradesh and Muslim nations. He accused the Congress of misleading Muslims and instigating unrest. Ali also expressed confidence in the BJP forming the next government in Jammu and Kashmir and addressed concerns regarding the delay in statehood restoration, asserting that the central government would make the best decisions for Kashmir.
Thousands gather in Budgam to bid an emotional farewell to policeman Ashiq Hussain, killed in a militant attack in Anantnag.
Police in Bengaluru have registered a case against two Booth Level Agents (BLAs) and others for allegedly submitting fraudulent Form 7 applications to delete 5,698 voters from the electoral rolls in the Jayanagar Assembly constituency. The complaint, filed by Karnataka Mahila Congress president Sowmya Reddy, claims the BLAs are affiliated with the BJP and targeted minority communities and politically unfavourable voters.
A Delhi court granted bail to 17 protesters arrested for unlawful assembly and obstructing public space, citing their youth and future careers. Simultaneously, the court sought a report from Delhi Police regarding allegations of "custodial torture" made by some of the accused, while also emphasising the right to peaceful protest but condemning assault on police officials.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday met the families of individuals who lost their lives due to drug-related issues in Punjab, saying he had never felt so deeply saddened in life as he did while meeting them and also called out the AAP government for failing to curb the menace.
Ajinkya Shinde, a native of Latur, Maharashtra, has taken charge of the Cockroach Janta Party's (CJP) "Jantar Mantar 2.0" protest in Delhi. This follows the detention of CJP's top leaders, including Dipke, Saurav Das, and Ashutosh Ranka, by Delhi Police on Saturday. Shinde, a former computer engineer and AAP activist, is leading the agitation against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged voter-list manipulation. The national capital saw a significant crackdown on Saturday, with nearly 500 protesters and leaders detained.
Maharashtra's Chief Electoral Officer has allowed voter documents via WhatsApp for the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise, with Block Level Officers (BLOs) conducting home verifications. This development comes amidst controversy surrounding the Election Commission and its Chief, Gyanesh Kumar, over alleged unilateral decisions regarding the SIR, which opposition parties claim dilute the powers of Electoral Registration Officers. The deadline for claims and objections has been extended to October 12.
The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke called for a 'Lehra do Tiranga' march in Central Park, Connaught Place, on Friday, despite the NDMC announcing the park's closure and Delhi Police citing prohibitory orders against mass gatherings. The march is part of an ongoing protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in electoral rolls. Police have urged people to stay away, while Dipke questioned the authorities' stance on waving the national flag and alleged surveillance. The agitation follows the arrest of CJP leaders and the denotification of Jantar Mantar as a protest site.
Four men were electrocuted and three others injured when a live power cable snapped and fell on them while they slept inside a Ganesh pandal in Mandla, Madhya Pradesh. A preliminary probe suggests a short circuit caused the wire to break, with the incident occurring after power supply resumed.
Three women journalists have accused Delhi Police personnel of sexual harassment during a protest at Jantar Mantar on October 3, leading the Delhi Police to transfer the complaints to its Crime Branch for an impartial enquiry.
'People used to say he had a quick temper or acted out but anger only arises when things aren't organised.'
'Nana Patekar's dedication and passion were unmatchable. I remember there was a dinner sequence and the chicken had gone stale. He ate the stale chicken instead of wasting time waiting for fresh food.'
Uttarakhand's final electoral roll, released after the Special Intensive Revision, shows a significant reduction of approximately 8 lakh voters compared to the start of the process, with the total now standing at 71.58 lakh. The opposition Congress, however, claims the decline is much steeper, citing a 14 lakh reduction from an earlier figure. The Chief Electoral Officer's office detailed the revision process, including additions and removals, and outlined ongoing efforts to ensure all eligible citizens are included.
Union Minister of State L Murugan resigned from the Modi government and his Rajya Sabha membership on Tuesday, stating his intention to return to Tamil Nadu to strengthen the BJP ahead of the 2029 parliamentary elections. His resignation fuels speculation about an upcoming cabinet reshuffle.
IndiGo will have 74 of its 224 weekly international departures affected while Air India will relocate 33 of its 100 departures.
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has permitted the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium in Raipur to host three women's international cricket matches in October. This approval comes with the condition that the stadium deposits Rs 20 lakh for groundwater recharge, addressing its previous failure to use sewage treatment plant (STP)-treated water instead of groundwater for ground maintenance.
Akash Ambani is leading Jio Platforms' initial public offering (IPO), set to be India's largest, with a strategy that includes appealing to regional investors and drawing parallels to his grandfather Dhirubhai Ambani's historic public listing of Reliance Industries.
West Indies head coach Daren Sammy lauded skipper Shai Hope's 'amazing innings' of 162 not out, which led the team to a record chase of 352 against India, denying them a series sweep and providing valuable learnings for the Windies.
BrahMos is a benchmark for India's emerging export story with exports to cross $600 million, defence secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh has said and noted that there are contracts or agreements to sell the high-end strategic system to three Southeast Asian countries including Indonesia and Vietnam.
The Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Committee (DSGMC) has filed a police complaint against AAP leaders, including Arvind Kejriwal, alleging disruptions at Bangla Sahib Gurudwara and the circulation of misleading videos. The complaint stems from an incident on Saturday where AAP-affiliated protesters entered the gurudwara premises during an anti-CEC protest, leading to chaos and alleged political activity within the sacred space. DSGMC claims this violated the sanctity of 'Guru Ghar' and hurt religious sentiments, further accusing AAP leaders of amplifying a distorted narrative.
A network of volunteers, including doctors, lawyers, and social media influencers, has mobilised in Delhi to provide medical assistance, legal aid, and mental health support to thousands of protesters detained during the recent CJP agitation. The initiative includes transport for released detainees, first aid, and therapist connections.
India A secured a thrilling draw against Australia A in the second four-day match, thanks to resilient batting from Yash Rathod and Shams Mulani. This draw ensured India A won the two-match series 1-0.
The Supreme Court clarified that it was not taking cognisance of media reports suggesting government authorities tendered unconditional apologies in contempt proceedings related to restrictions during an October 10 protest. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta explained that apologies are procedural, and authorities have defended their actions, citing reasons like maintaining public order and intelligence inputs. The court emphasised that media coverage was not relevant to its proceedings.
Indian benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty saw a significant rebound in early trade, with the Sensex surging over 700 points, driven by a decline in crude oil prices, easing concerns over Federal Reserve tightening, and the appointment of Anup Bagchi as the new MD and CEO of HDFC Bank.
Smriti Mandhana, the newly-appointed India women's cricket team captain, praised Harmanpreet Kaur's "fantastic" decade-long leadership after Kaur stepped down from the role. Mandhana expressed her desire to continue their journey together, while Harmanpreet will remain a part of the team for the upcoming Zimbabwe series.
Police in Thane have arrested two key suspects, including the alleged shooter, in connection with the murder of Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Pradeep Purnekar. The arrests of Nikhil Yadav and Nitesh Pawar followed technical surveillance, providing crucial leads into the crime that had previously caused tensions among party workers. Investigations are ongoing to determine the motive and apprehend the remaining absconding suspects, with the victim's son accusing a former Thane mayor and her husband of involvement.
Ravichandran Ashwin backs in-form West Indies skipper Shai Hope for an IPL contract, identifying defending champions RCB as a potential fit despite concerns over overseas combinations and batting position.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will host US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Mumbai on October 20 for talks aimed at strengthening the Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership. Discussions will cover energy, trade, defence, and critical technologies. The visit also includes celebrations for the 250th anniversary of US Independence. This meeting follows earlier confusion regarding Rubio's visit and will also touch upon the India-US bilateral trade agreement, which both sides are close to concluding. The MEA clarified that hosting foreign dignitaries outside Delhi is a common practice.
'Eastern Ladakh set the relationship back by about 10 steps. So far, especially since Galwan, we may have taken just 4 steps forward.'
Congress leader Sonia Gandhi reportedly called former Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar a "traitor" during a CWC meeting, drawing sharp criticism from JD(U) leaders. Union minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh "Lalan" and JD(U) working president Sanjay Kumar Jha condemned the remarks, highlighting Kumar's role in the INDIA bloc's formation and his popularity among the people.
The Election Commission has launched a special drive to include eligible citizens who were omitted or deleted during the recent Special Investigative Review (SIR) exercise, as well as to register new and young voters. This initiative follows accusations from opposition parties regarding disenfranchisement and aims to ensure no eligible citizen is left out of the electoral process.
Bahujan Samaj Party supremo Mayawati has reappointed her nephew Akash Anand as the party's national convenor, reversing an earlier decision to remove him. This move comes after Anand's expression of desire to return and considering party members' views, with Mayawati emphasizing the decision was made in the interest of the party and the movement.
Australia A, powered by Sam Harper's century and effective spin bowling from Todd Murphy and Corey Rocchiccioli, gained a significant advantage over India A on Day 2 of their second four-day match in Puducherry, leaving India A trailing by 236 runs.
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announced a fresh inquiry into Mamata Banerjee's alleged "false claims" of a leg injury during the 2021 assembly poll campaign. Adhikari presented a medical report suggesting no fracture or dislocation, asserting Banerjee faked the injury, which he claims insulted the people of Nandigram. The controversy surrounds an incident in Nandigram where Banerjee sustained injuries, leading to her campaigning in a wheelchair, and her party's subsequent victory.
The Supreme Court has referred actor Rajpal Yadav's long-running cheque-dishonour dispute to mediation after he deposited Rs 2 crore with the court's registry. The court also directed the trial court to release his passport for professional commitments abroad. The dispute stems from a 2010 financial agreement for his directorial debut, leading to multiple cheque-bounce cases and a three-month imprisonment sentence upheld by the Delhi High Court.
