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SC issues notice on petition alleging Sardar Sarovar water level raised for Modi b’day in violation of its order

Supreme Court issued notices on petition alleging that filling up Sardar Sarovar Dam for PM Narendra Modi’s birthday submerged of vast areas without proper rehabilitation of affected persons.

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Sardar Sarovar water level

The Supreme Court on Wednesday, Sep 18 issued notices to the Centre, state governments of Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Maharashtra and the Narmada Control Authority (NCA) on a petition alleging that filling up Sardar Sarovar Dam on Narmada river to full capacity to mark Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s birthday on Sep 17 led to submergence of vast areas without proper rehabilitation of affected persons.

The petition on behalf of five affected persons from Barwani, Dhar and Alirajpur districts of Madhya Pradesh was heard by a division bench comprising Justices NV Ramana and Justice Ajay Rastogi who fixed Sep 26 as the next date of hearing.

Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA), spearheading a movement for the dam affected people, said the court will go into the question of rehabilitation before submergence as well as the water level to be maintained in the Sardar Sarovar Dam at the next hearing.

The writ petition has challenged the filling up of the Sardar Sarovar Dam to full capacity of 138.68 meters ahead of schedule and in contravention of the Narmada Water Tribunal directive and earlier judgments of the Supreme Court, wherein it is mandated that no submergence should take place without rehabilitation, the NBA statement said.

Sanjay Parikh, senior advocate appearing for petitioners, pointed out before the Supreme Court that in April this year the state of Gujarat insisted that the dam should be filled to full capacity of 138.68m, to check the safety of the dam and test the dam gates.

The NCA, on July 15, permitted increase in water level according to a fixed schedule, despite noting that the Narmada Tribunal Award stipulates that no submergence should take place without rehabilitation.

Also Read: Bike rally flagged off from Delhi for Vadnagar for PM Modi’s 69th Birthday Celebration

Even according to this schedule, the dam was to be filled to full capacity of 138.68 metres only by Oct 15. It said the water level in Sardar Sarovar was to be increased to 134.18 metres by August 31, to 137.72 meters by September 30 and to full capacity of 138.68 metres by October 15.

Though the NCA noted that rehabilitation of people had not been completed, the NCA allowed the scheduled rise in water level saying that according to the Narmada Tribunal award and orders of the Supreme Court, action plan should be framed by each state to shift people.

The petition alleged that after this illegal decision, water level of reservoir started rising. The level was raised with the target of reaching the full reservoir level of 138.68 m by the special date of September 17, 2019 (birthday of Prime Minister Narendra Modi).

This was in violation of the time schedule fixed, the petition said.

“As a result, 178 villages, people living there with women and children, having livelihoods, including prime agriculture, fisheries, cattle grazing, water transport, trading etc. with schools, dispensaries, places of worship, roads, large number of trees, grazing land got submerged, resulting in the human calamity of the worst kind. The said decision was, in fact, a cruel and inhuman way to compel people to vacate under threat of and imposed submergence,” the petition said.

The petition said the raising of water level by NCA without due rehabilitation was contrary to Narmada Water Dispute Tribunal’s Award (NWDTA) and earlier judgments of the Supreme Court, wherein it is mandated that no submergence should take place without rehabilitation.

Also Read: Gold Crown to mark PM Modi’s Birthday

Sanjay Parikh, Senior Advocate, appearing for Petitioners, submitted before the Supreme Court that Sardar Sarovar being an inter-State project, terms and conditions of the Award are binding on the concerned States (Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra).

The stipulation that no submergence should take place till complete resettlement and rehabilitation (R&R) is done, is not only a mandatory condition in the said Award, but was also affirmed by the Supreme Court judgments in 2000 and 2005. In those judgments, the Supreme Court held that even temporary submergence cannot take place till R&R is complete. After the last order in February, 2017, the complete R&R should have been done but the same did not happen and immense sufferings faced by the people, affecting livelihood, shelter and life, continue.

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Journalist files police complaint against Rahul Gandhi over push allegation

Journalist Richa Parashar has filed a criminal complaint against Rahul Gandhi and others, alleging that she was pushed while covering the Opposition’s march to the Supreme Court. The Congress has denied the allegation.

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Journalist Richa Parashar has filed a police complaint against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over an alleged incident during the INDIA bloc’s march to the Supreme Court in New Delhi on October 12. She has sought the registration of a First Information Report (FIR) against Gandhi and others, alleging that she was pushed while covering the protest.

Parashar submitted her complaint to the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), New Delhi district, on Friday, seeking immediate action. She has said she was three months pregnant at the time of the alleged incident and accused those involved of mistreatment, threats and the use of force.

What Richa Parashar alleged in her complaint

Parashar alleged that she was reporting on the Opposition’s march when the incident occurred. According to her earlier account, she was waiting near a gate on the Supreme Court premises to seek a response from Gandhi when he allegedly grabbed her hand and pulled her forward. She further alleged that his security personnel pushed her away, causing her to fall on the Supreme Court steps.

In her complaint, Parashar said she asked Gandhi questions before he allegedly pushed her towards a gate. She claimed that the force caused her to lose her balance and fall, and that her repeated requests not to be pushed were ignored.

Parashar has sought legal action against Gandhi and others whom she alleges were involved. The complaint reportedly seeks action under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, including Sections 74, 115(2), 131, 125 and 3(5). These provisions concern alleged assault or criminal force against a woman, voluntarily causing hurt, assault or criminal force, acts endangering human life or personal safety, and joint liability for acts committed with common intention.

The allegations and the sections cited in the complaint do not, by themselves, establish criminal liability.

Congress disputes the allegation

The Congress has challenged Parashar’s account of the incident. According to report, the party said a video released by the journalist did not show the sequence of events she described.

Congress leader Alka Lamba also questioned the circumstances surrounding the incident and accused those raising the issue of attempting to manufacture propaganda.

The allegations remain disputed. The complaint and the competing accounts should not be treated as an established finding of wrongdoing.

Incident took place during Opposition’s Supreme Court march

The alleged incident occurred on October 12, when Rahul Gandhi and other INDIA bloc leaders marched to the Supreme Court to submit a petition concerning alleged irregularities in the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

The Opposition has raised concerns about the voter-list revision process and alleged irregularities.

Parashar’s police complaint adds a legal dimension to the controversy surrounding the march. Any further action will depend on the police process and the relevant legal proceedings.

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Delhi court orders release of CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke

A Delhi court on Saturday ordered the conditional release of Cockroach Janta Party founder Abhijeet Dipke, who was detained and subsequently arrested ahead of a planned protest march at Connaught Place.

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Abhijit Dipke

A Delhi court on Saturday ordered the conditional release of Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke, a day after he was detained and subsequently arrested ahead of a planned protest march in the national capital. The march was scheduled to take place at Connaught Place as part of demonstrations against alleged electoral irregularities.

Dipke was asked to furnish a bond and undertake to maintain peace as a condition of his release, according to reports. The court’s order came after he was produced before a Special Executive Magistrate following his arrest on Friday.

Why Abhijeet Dipke was detained

Dipke had planned to participate in the ‘Lehra Do Tiranga’ march at Connaught Place, where participants intended to gather and wave the national flag. The proposed demonstration was part of ongoing protests over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and demands for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

According to the Delhi Police, Dipke was taken into preventive custody before being formally arrested in a case related to the apprehension of a breach of peace. Police cited Sections 126 and 170 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS).

Neha Bora was also detained

All India Students’ Association (AISA) president Neha Bora was also detained on Friday ahead of the planned march. She was released early Saturday morning after completing the formalities associated with her detention, according to the report.

Bora criticised the police action and called for the release of protesters who remained in custody. She also demanded an end to the SIR exercise and sought the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. These were her demands and allegations, rather than findings established by the court.

Protests over electoral rolls continue

The demonstrations involving CJP, student groups and opposition supporters have centred on allegations of irregularities in the voter-list revision process. Critics have questioned the exercise, while the Election Commission has maintained that its decisions were approved by the Supreme Court. The BJP has criticised the protests, describing them as attempts to spread anarchy, according to the report.

Dipke’s conditional release marks the latest development in the dispute over the planned Delhi protest. The court’s order concerns his release under specified conditions; it should not be interpreted as a judicial finding on the wider allegations surrounding the electoral-roll revision.

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Anirudh Ravichander to marry Kavya Maran in November, reception on November 21

Anirudh Ravichander and Kavya Maran are set to marry in November, with their Chennai wedding reception scheduled for November 21.

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Music composer Anirudh Ravichander and Sunrisers Hyderabad executive Kavya Maran are set to marry in November. Their wedding reception is scheduled to take place in Chennai on November 21, according to an announcement by Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy’s office.

The development followed a meeting between Revanth Reddy and Kavya’s parents, Sun Group chairman Kalanithi Maran and Kavery Maran, at the chief minister’s residence in Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad.

According to the Telangana Chief Minister’s Office, the couple’s reception is scheduled for November 21, with Kavya’s parents extending an invitation to the chief minister.

Telangana CM’s office announces reception date

The Telangana CMO shared photographs and videos of the meeting on its official social media account on October 16. The announcement stated that Kalanithi Maran and his wife had met Revanth Reddy to invite him to their daughter’s wedding reception.

The post specifically confirmed that the reception of Kavya Maran and Anirudh Ravichander would be held in Chennai on November 21.

The announcement provided an official confirmation of the reception date and venue, while details about the wedding ceremony itself have also been reported separately.

Who are Anirudh Ravichander and Kavya Maran?

Anirudh Ravichander is a prominent music composer in the Indian film industry. He gained widespread recognition with the song “Why This Kolaveri Di” and has since composed music for several major films, including Leo, Indian 2, Vettaiyan, Vidaamuyarchi and Coolie.

Kavya Maran is the daughter of Kalanithi Maran, chairman of the Sun Group. She serves as an executive director at Sun TV Network and is widely recognised in cricket circles for her association with Sunrisers Hyderabad, the IPL franchise.

Wedding rumours and reported ceremony details

Speculation about a possible marriage between Anirudh Ravichander and Kavya Maran had circulated before the latest announcement. Earlier reports in August 2026 discussed the possibility of a November wedding in Greece.

A subsequent report said the wedding was reportedly scheduled to take place in Greece on November 11. However, the couple had not directly confirmed their wedding plans in the cited report.

The Telangana Chief Minister’s Office has confirmed that the reception is scheduled for November 21 in Chennai. The reported wedding ceremony details should therefore be attributed to reports rather than presented as officially confirmed information.

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