CEC Under Fire, Hindu Outfits Back SIR Drive, Oppn Demands Impeachment

A massive student protest erupted into a rampage at Lovely Professional University over an alleged rape case on campus. Outside girls' hostel number three, roommates from room 504 described being woken up by police, who recorded their names and contact details after inquiring if they had noticed anything unusual. The students stated that the incident did not take place in their room and expressed frustration that officers did not check other rooms before retreating to the warden's room. Demanding answers, the students criticised the investigation, noting that daytime classes keep them away while workers are present, and arguing that any night commotion would have alerted residents.

A major political row has erupted over the Election Commission, triggering sharp exchanges between the Bharatiya Janata Party and opposition leaders. Ruling party leaders hit back at the opposition, accusing parties of targeting constitutional institutions, spreading misinformation, and attempting to create public confusion after the full commission addressed a joint press conference confirming unanimous decisions. Meanwhile, the opposition intensified its offensive over the Special Intensive Revision process, alleging that thirteen crore voters have been disenfranchised through an opaque mechanism and demanding the immediate resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over transparency and electoral roll discrepancies.

A dramatic 40-kilometre car chase unfolded near Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, after suspects transporting banned gutkha and tobacco attempted to escape police inspection. During a vehicle check, occupants of a luxury SUV pushed police personnel and fled. Head Constable Velmurugan jumped onto the roof of the moving vehicle, holding onto the roof rails as the suspects sped towards Avinashi. Surrounded by police vehicles and ambulances, the chase concluded near Annapoorna Hotel in Avinashi with public assistance. Police apprehended three men from Rajasthan and seized approximately 300 kilograms of contraband gutkha allegedly being transported from Bengaluru to Coimbatore.

The Tamil Nadu government has revoked a controversial order that exempted law and order matters from the Right to Information Act following intense backlash from opposition parties and its own allies. Opposition parties, including the DMK and AIADMK, opposed the move, alleging it was an attempt to conceal rising crime figures and shield the accused in the Veeramani case. Leader of Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin claimed that 500 murders had taken place since the TVK government assumed office. Key allies, including the Congress and CPM, also voiced strong objections, arguing that exempting the department from the transparency law set a poor precedent for accountable governance. Activists, including members of Arappor Iyakkam, noted that the order would not hold up in court. This marks another rollback by the administration, which previously withdrew orders concerning student protest regulations and the appointment of an astrologer as an Officer on Special Duty.