The Punjab and Haryana High Court has sought a status report from the Punjab Police regarding the ongoing investigation into the suicide of Gulzar Singh. The direction came during the hearing of a public interest litigation seeking the transfer of the probe to the Central Bureau of Investigation. Gulzar Singh, a resident of Tur Banjara village in the Dirba constituency, had died by suicide after raising concerns over drug abuse affecting his family and questioning Punjab Cabinet Minister Harpal Singh Cheema. While a Special Investigation Team was earlier constituted by the state police to probe the matter, opposition parties have mounted sharp criticism against the Bhagwant Mann-led administration over the exclusion of the minister from the initial First Information Report. The High Court observed the need to ensure a proper investigation while seeking clarity on the progress made so far.
The US military has released newly declassified footage showing the dramatic rescue of Air Force weapons-systems officer DUDE 44 Bravo, whose F-15E Strike Eagle was shot down by an Iranian missile near Isfahan on April 2.
The Central Consumer Protection Authority has cracked down on ride-hailing platform Rapido, imposing a fine of ten lakh rupees on its parent operator for deceptive digital practices known as dark patterns. An on-screen demonstration illustrates how the application prompts users to add extra tips ranging between ten and thirty rupees under the pretext that captains are declining standard fares. The consumer watchdog identified this mechanism as a form of confirm shaming and unfair interface manipulation designed to pressure commuters into paying extra amounts after initiating their bookings. The practice highlights how daily commuters are pushed into paying above the determined fare for essential travel. The regulatory body has sought accountability to safeguard consumer rights and curb manipulative user interface designs across transport platforms.
An AIADMK leader has targeted Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay over the proposed construction of a new secretariat in Pattinampakkam, alleging that the plan was devised after consulting an astrologer to retain the Chief Minister post. The move has triggered opposition from the local fisherman community, who claim ancestral ownership over the land parcel since prior to 1958 and demand its return. Fisherfolk argue that regular movement of the Chief Minister would raise security issues and disrupt their livelihoods, urging the state government to shift the proposed project elsewhere.
The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration has suspended the licence of an iconic heritage cafe in south Mumbai following inspections that uncovered significant food safety and hygiene lapses. Authorities identified deficiencies relating to improper holding temperatures for hot and cold foods, improper thawing and rapid cooling procedures, inadequate drainage systems, and poor sanitation of equipment. The regulatory action is part of an ongoing statewide enforcement crackdown targeting legacy establishments, festival sweet-makers, and pharmaceutical suppliers to enforce compliance with public health and safety standards across Maharashtra.