India Today reporter suffers horrifying attack by Sabarimala protesters

The Union Cabinet has approved Fairfax-backed Canada Inc. as the strategic buyer for a 60.72% stake in IDBI Bank for 52,878 crore rupees, leaving the Centre and LIC with a combined 34% holding. While the government highlights the winning bid of 81 rupees per share above its fair value benchmark, the United Forum of IDBI Officers and Employees has sought parliamentary scrutiny over valuation and public safeguards. In foreign affairs, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is scheduled to visit Mumbai and Jamnagar rather than New Delhi, placing commercial energy interests and Reliance Industries' refining hub at the forefront amid friction over Russian oil purchases. Additionally, Yemeni Houthi rebels are reportedly seeking to manufacture long-range ballistic missiles using components seized from China, while in the US, a 19-year-old was arrested in Illinois over an alleged white supremacist plot targeting a Hindu temple.

On News Track, Marya Shakil reports on the Supreme Court taking a grim view of the INDIA bloc's march to the court premises against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the Special Intensive Revision process. The bench, headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, observed that nobody can browbeat the judiciary and that mob entry into court premises is impermissible, issuing notices to Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, Akhilesh Yadav, Mahua Moitra, and other leaders. The top court also agreed to examine the de-notification of Jantar Mantar as a designated protest venue. Senior Advocate Mahesh Jethmalani evaluates the legal limits of challenging unanimous Election Commission decisions and questions the suitability of Jantar Mantar for massive demonstrations. The programme further debates the Delhi High Court refusing to halt a protest in Connaught Place, alongside severe political clashes triggered by Prashant Bhushan's admission calling for regime change, drawing sharp rebuttals from the BJP and responses from Congress.

A major political confrontation has erupted in Telangana following allegations of irregularities worth ten thousand crore rupees in the Singareni Collieries Company Limited. BRS working president KTR demanded an inquiry by the Central Bureau of Investigation or a sitting judge, alleging that the BJP and the Congress have colluded to shield the guilty. Meanwhile, the BJP responded by raising allegations surrounding the Kaleshwaram project scam, accusing both rival parties of being corrupt and working hand in glove. Dismissing the accusations, Congress MP Anil Kumar Yadav labelled KTR's claims as completely baseless, asserting that the state government is honestly delivering welfare schemes to the people while questioning the BJP's silence on the Kaleshwaram project.

A blood test report confirmed that the 19-year-old driver accused in the fatal Mini Cooper hit-and-run near Kochi Airport had an alcohol level five times higher than permissible limits. The crash claimed the lives of three people riding a scooter on Sunday. Police retrieved around 50 CCTV camera clips showing the accused visiting three bars before driving the vehicle. No narcotic substances were detected in the blood report. The accused faces charges including culpable homicide and rash driving, while victims' families demand murder charges and oppose leniency over his age as the investigation continues.