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Supreme Court pulls up ED over TASMAC raids in Tamil Nadu, halts further action

The Supreme Court has strongly criticised the Enforcement Directorate over its recent raids in Tamil Nadu, calling its actions excessive and pausing further investigations into TASMAC.

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In a significant rebuke, the Supreme Court of India has come down heavily on the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for its aggressive actions targeting Tamil Nadu’s state-run liquor corporation TASMAC, cautioning the agency against breaching the federal structure of governance. The apex court directed the ED to suspend further proceedings, raising serious concerns over the agency’s conduct during its raids in the state.

SC slams ED for overreach, pauses probe

A bench led by Chief Justice BR Gavai termed the ED’s operations as “crossing all limits”, particularly its raids conducted in March and again in May at various TASMAC-run liquor outlets. The court stated that while action against individuals might be acceptable, taking sweeping actions against state corporations could not be condoned.

“You may register cases against individuals… but corporations? Your ED is passing all limits!” the bench observed. The court granted a stay on further proceedings and issued notice to the ED, returnable after the court’s vacation.

State government challenged Madras High Court order

The Tamil Nadu government and TASMAC approached the top court challenging an earlier Madras High Court decision dated April 23, which had permitted ED to proceed with its probe. The petitioners claimed that the ED’s moves were politically motivated and in breach of constitutional principles.

DMK welcomes Supreme Court order

Reacting to the apex court’s intervention, senior DMK leader and former Rajya Sabha MP RS Bharathi said the ruling was a blow to the political efforts aimed at tarnishing the state government’s image. The ruling DMK has consistently maintained that the ED’s actions are part of a wider attempt to malign the state ahead of elections.

ED allegations: ₹1,000 crore unaccounted cash, irregularities in tenders

The ED, during its raids conducted under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), had earlier claimed to unearth significant irregularities within TASMAC operations. These included alleged manipulation in the grant of bar licences, corrupt practices in the transportation of liquor, and coordination with private distilleries and bottle suppliers to siphon off public money.

It further alleged the recovery of incriminating data related to the tender process, including overpriced surcharges imposed per bottle sold, reportedly with the involvement of TASMAC officials. The agency claimed it had evidence of manipulated financial records during the award of indent orders and tenders.

ED accused of political vendetta

Following the raids, Tamil Nadu Excise Minister S Muthusamy accused the ED of harassing state officials under the guise of investigation. He questioned the timing and motives behind the searches, asserting that no conclusive evidence was found and that the agency’s efforts were aimed at tarnishing the image of the DMK-led government.

This echoed a broader narrative often raised by opposition parties that central agencies are being misused by the ruling party at the Centre to target non-BJP ruled states, particularly in the run-up to elections.

BJP alleges ministerial involvement

Meanwhile, BJP leader and former state president K Annamalai accused Tamil Nadu minister V Senthil Balaji of being the central figure in the alleged scam. Claiming corruption to the tune of ₹1,000 crore, he alleged that Balaji was “involved in every single scam” and referred to separate court proceedings naming him.

Balaji, however, categorically denied the charges, asserting the transparency of TASMAC’s procurement and pricing mechanisms. He clarified that purchase orders were issued based on long-term average demand calculations, with no room for bias or favouritism.

India News

CBSE denies OSM portal data breach, terms online allegations misleading

CBSE has strongly dismissed social media allegations of a security breach in its On-Screen Marking (OSM) portal, clarifying that the exposed URL is a mere testing site containing no actual student data or exam marks.

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The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has refuted viral claims circulating on social media regarding a security breach in its On-Screen Marking (OSM) portal. In an official statement, the national education board dismissed the allegations, labeling them completely false and highly misleading.

The clarification comes after social media posts suggested that sensitive student records and internal assessment systems had been compromised by unauthorised actors. Media reports indicate that the board has categorically denied any leak of actual student marks or examination-related details.

Testing site hosted no real student details

According to the statement released by the board, the web address highlighted in the viral allegations belongs strictly to a testing environment. The board clarified that this URL is utilized purely for internal evaluations, data sampling, and platform reviews during development phases.

The board firmly reiterated that no live student details, official scoreboards, or active examination data are stored on this testing site. Authorities have advised stakeholders and students to refrain from panic and avoid circulating unverified rumors that challenge the integrity of the examination system.

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India News

Congress Dismisses Karnataka Leadership Transition Rumors After Six-Hour Delhi Meet

The Congress party has rejected ongoing rumors regarding a leadership change or a rotating Chief Minister formula in Karnataka, stating that a recent six-hour meeting in Delhi focused strictly on the upcoming Rajya Sabha and MLC elections.

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The Congress party has strongly downplayed the intense political buzz surrounding a potential leadership transition or a change in the Chief Minister’s post in Karnataka. Following a marathon six-hour meeting with the state’s top leadership in New Delhi, the party explicitly rejected the ongoing speculation, labeling it as having “no reality.”

A brief statement issued to the media after the high-level meeting advised against spreading rumors, clarifying that the discussions were entirely centered on upcoming electoral strategies rather than structural changes within the state government. The party stated that the deliberations solely revolved around the state’s three vacant Rajya Sabha seats and the upcoming Member of Legislative Council (MLC) elections.

Rajya Sabha and MLC Polls Take Center Stage

The high-stakes meeting was attended by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, senior leader Rahul Gandhi, and party General Secretary KC Venugopal, alongside Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar.

Briefing the media post-meeting, KC Venugopal stated that conversations were strictly confined to the Rajya Sabha and MLC elections, emphasizing that there is no truth to any other political speculation. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah also confirmed that the agenda of a potential cabinet expansion or a leadership shift did not come up during the six-hour-long discussion.

Background of the Power Struggle

The question of leadership in Karnataka has remained a recurring theme for over a year. Supporters of Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar have consistently maintained that the central leadership promised a rotating Chief Ministership arrangement when the government was formed after the 2023 assembly elections.

Speculation had intensified recently as the ruling government faced local anti-incumbency pressures alongside renewed political activity from the opposition bench. Some internal reports had even indicated a push from within certain sections of the high command, including Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, for a leadership revamp.

Balancing Caste Equations and Party Structure

The central leadership has navigated the situation cautiously to maintain political stability. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, 80, commands a powerful “Ahinda” support base—a coalition comprising minority communities, backward classes, and Dalits. This social alliance was crucial in helping the party navigate the traditional Vokkaliga and Lingayat caste dynamics during the 2023 elections.

Although the rotation issue had previously gained significant momentum when the government completed two years in office, the party high command had chosen to maintain the status quo to avoid any adverse electoral impact in neighboring assembly elections, such as in Tamil Nadu. With those elections concluded, supporters of the 64-year-old Deputy Chief Minister had expressed optimism for a transition. Shivakumar currently holds the dual responsibility of being the Deputy Chief Minister as well as the state Congress chief, signaling his critical organizational value to the party. However, for the time being, the party high command has firmly signaled that the current leadership structure will remain unchanged.

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Cricket news

Bowlers may hold the key in high-stakes IPL 2026 Qualifier 1 at Dharamsala

Although the media build-up centers on the batting heavyweight clash between Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill, the IPL 2026 Qualifier 1 in Dharamsala is set to be decided by the bowling consistency of Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Mohammed Siraj.

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Flat pitches, towering sixes, and relentless run-scoring have defined the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 so far. However, when Gujarat Titans (GT) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) lock horns in Qualifier 1 at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) Stadium in Dharamsala, the contest could ultimately hinge on the bowlers.

The HPCA Stadium has proved to be unforgiving for bowlers due to its short boundaries. A teaser of what could unfold was evident during recent net sessions, where Gujarat Titans’ Jos Buttler and Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s Tim David regularly launched monstrous hits out of the stadium. In the three matches played at this venue this season, teams crossed the 200-run mark five times, with the lowest score being 199/8. An average of nearly 25 maximums per match has been hit here, promising another potential run-fest.

Moving past the Kohli vs Gill narrative

While media attention focuses on the iconic battle between the ‘King’ Virat Kohli and the ‘Prince’ Shubman Gill—hailed as the heir to Indian cricket’s batting legacy—the true deciding factor might lie elsewhere. Both batters look in pristine touch. Gill occupies the second spot in the Orange Cap race with 616 runs from 13 matches, trailing behind his opening partner Sai Sudharsan. Meanwhile, Kohli has bounced back from a brief mid-tournament slump by smashing a sparkling century, taking his tally to 557 runs this season.

Despite the incredible batting firepower on display, the bowling units are expected to dictate which team blinks last. Media interactions with team managements highlighted that consistency and self-belief within the respective bowling departments have been the defining traits of both squads this season.

Powerplay battles to decide the finalist

For RCB, veteran pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar leads the charge alongside Kagiso Rabada for GT, with both spearheads locked as the joint-highest wicket-takers across the two sides at 24 wickets each. Bhuvneshwar holds a slight edge due to a superior economy rate. Close behind them is GT’s Mohammed Siraj, who has taken 17 wickets so far. With supporting acts like Josh Hazlewood, Jason Holder, Prasidh Krishna, Rasikh Salam Dar, and spinners Rashid Khan and Krunal Pandya in the mix, the match promises an intriguing tactical battle.

Gujarat Titans’ assistant coach Vijay Dahiya acknowledged that negotiating Bhuvneshwar Kumar in the powerplay will be a massive task, but reminded that GT possesses equal firepower in Siraj and Rabada. “If you talk about the powerplay, our numbers are among the best in this tournament,” Dahiya stated.

RCB captain Rajat Patidar echoed similar views, placing immense faith in his bowling attack to stop GT’s prolific opening duo of Gill and Sudharsan. “Our strength is bowling. The way we bowl in the powerplay will be very crucial. We’ll look for early wickets and that is what we have done throughout the tournament,” Patidar remarked.

In a tournament dominated by towering batting displays, the team whose bowling unit holds its nerve under the Dharamsala lights will seal a direct spot in the IPL final.

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