Election Commission Decided SIR Matters Unanimously; BJP Slams Congress Over 'Manufactured Lie'

The parents of IIT Bombay student Sahil Wakhure have announced an indefinite hunger strike at Mumbai's Azad Maidan starting Monday, demanding an in-depth investigation into his death by suicide. Mumbai Police denied them permission to protest outside the IIT campus, directing them to Azad Maidan in accordance with High Court guidelines. Crime branch officials are reconstructing the crucial timeline between his departure from the examination centre, where he was allegedly caught using artificial intelligence, and his arrival at his hostel room. Investigators are analysing Sahil's phone to decode key details, while the professor involved remains under scrutiny.

A twenty-two-year-old Guwahati University student was found dead at a homestay in the Azara area of Guwahati, Assam. The student was rushed to a hospital by friends but was declared brought dead. Following the incident, the Vishva Hindu Parishad alleged a conspiracy and claimed love jihad behind the death, demanding that all accomplices be exposed and addressing the matter to the state leadership. The student's partner claimed that she died by suicide. Assam Police have placed the partner under investigation and are questioning him while examining all details surrounding the death.

A political controversy has erupted during by-poll campaigning in Tamil Nadu over the proposed construction of a new secretariat building near the beach at an estimated cost of twelve hundred crore rupees. Questions have been raised regarding the choice of the location facing the sea near the Chief Minister's residence, alongside remarks suggesting astrological counsel behind the decision. Clarifications were issued stating that references to the Chief Minister's disposition were strictly about the inclination to work. The comments have sparked sharp exchanges amidst the ongoing election campaign across the state.

Telugu Desam Party leader N. Chandrababu Naidu has defended the Election Commission of India following a unanimous clarification issued by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar alongside Election Commissioners S.S. Sandhu and Vivek Joshi. Quoting his public statement, the bulletin noted that Naidu affirmed the clarification puts to rest misconceptions regarding the special intensive revision of electoral rolls, which he stated are taken collectively in adherence to established protocols. Naidu emphasised that attempts to undermine global confidence in India's electoral framework for political gains are unfortunate, stressing that leadership requires accepting outcomes with humility and upholding institutional respect.