Vande Mataram Row: Karnataka Governor Urges Reconsideration of Two-Stanza Order

The Mumbai Police Crime Branch has launched a detailed investigation into the death of a second-year B.Tech student, Sahil, at IIT Bombay by scanning campus CCTV footage to reconstruct the sequence of events. The investigation focuses on recordings from the examination hall, campus grounds, and hostel areas from 18 September. The development comes amid intense campus unrest with opposing perspectives emerging. While protesters and the student's family demand justice along with an independent Central Bureau of Investigation probe into allegations of caste-based harassment, the IIT Bombay Faculty Forum and faculty from IIT Madras and IIT Delhi have come out in support of invigilator Professor Suryanarayan Dula. The faculty representatives maintain that prescribed examination procedures were strictly adhered to after suspected academic malpractice was observed, dismissing allegations of discrimination as baseless. Institute director Shirish Kedare continues dialogue with students to address concerns and resolve tensions on campus.

Government upper primary schools in Robertsganj and Akhada Mahal in Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh, are witnessing a significant turnaround in their midday meal service under the PM Poshan scheme. Students receive varied daily meals cooked from fresh vegetables and quality ingredients according to a prescribed menu, alongside iron supplements throughout the week. On instructions from the district magistrate, administrative teams at district and tehsil levels conduct weekly surprise inspections and eat alongside the students to ensure strict quality control. The focus on balanced nutrition and consistent monitoring has restored parental faith, leading several families to shift their children from private institutions to government schools.

The bulletin examines how an industrial leader accused of sexually exploiting young girls allegedly built influence across industry, government, education and chambers of commerce. The transcript lists leadership roles in granite and natural stone associations, advisory positions linked to the commerce and mines ministries, university responsibilities and senior positions in Indo-Russian and Indo-American chambers of commerce. It questions whether this network of access and institutional standing enabled the alleged exploitation to continue for years.

Chennai Police have arrested Ganesan, a former long-time employee of Gem Granites founder Veeramani, in connection with an ongoing POCSO investigation. Ganesan was taken into custody and remanded to Puzhal Central Prison for failing to report digital evidence of sexual abuse of a minor found on his mobile phone. Authorities are probing the origin of the video and investigating a suspected 70-crore-rupee money trail allegedly used to suppress the crime.