Rediff

Former civil servants and rights activists have issued a people's impeachment notice demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar. They allege six charges against him, including undermining the Election Commission's functioning, mass disenfranchisement through Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, and compromising political impartiality. The group, including G K Pillai and Najeeb Jung, was prevented from submitting the notice at the EC office.

Former Supreme Court judge Justice Rohinton Fali Nariman has voiced serious concerns regarding the Election Commission's functioning, stating that the right to vote is 'at great peril'. He called for the Supreme Court's intervention to address 'disturbing developments' within the poll panel, particularly citing issues like voter disenfranchisement during electoral roll revisions and the controversial appointment process of Election Commissioners.

Indian swimmers Thanuja S, Beena S, and Lakka Rajini secured gold medals in the women's 200m butterfly, while Yogesh Kumar, Tarun Tokas, and Manikandan Kandeth won their respective men's events at the 2nd Asian Masters Swimming Championship 2026 in Bengaluru.

Three drivers of Gem Granite founder R Veeramani have been arrested in Chennai for their alleged involvement in the sexual harassment of minors. The arrests are part of an ongoing investigation into five cases against Veeramani, who was previously arrested along with accomplices after a pendrive allegedly containing video evidence triggered the probe.

Russian tennis player Daniil Medvedev was disqualified from his China Open semi-final match against Novak Djokovic after accidentally hitting a spectator with a ball. Djokovic, who was leading at the time, advanced to the final, extending his unbeaten record at the tournament. Another semi-final also saw a retirement due to injury.

Legendary Uruguayan striker Diego Forlan, now coaching Uruguay, believes India can significantly improve its football standing despite cricket's dominance. He emphasizes the importance of grassroots development, strong domestic leagues, and consistent exposure to high-level international competition to nurture young talent and elevate the sport in the country. Forlan also shared his positive experiences with Indian football passion during his ISL stint.

The Mizoram government has announced a cash reward of Rs 40 lakh each for hockey players Lalremsiami and Lalthantluangi, who were part of the Indian women's team that won gold at the Asian Games. Chief Minister Lalduhoma felicitated the athletes, highlighting their historic achievement for the state and the government's commitment to promoting hockey through schemes and infrastructure development.

Uruguay head coach Diego Forlan discusses the team's recent World Cup group-stage exits, emphasising the need for calm and confidence in rebuilding the squad. He highlights his philosophy of hard work, adaptability, and playing good football, while acknowledging the pressure of managing a national team with a rich history. Forlan also reflects on his initial games as coach and the importance of team cohesion.

The Supreme Court has strongly criticised actor Rajpal Yadav for his failure to deposit money as per an undertaking in a long-running cheque-bounce case. The court expressed displeasure over the non-compliance despite previous directives and warned of serious consequences, including potential jail time, if the payment is not made promptly.

West Indies spinner Akeal Hosein acknowledges India as a very dangerous side ahead of the upcoming five-match T20I series. He discusses the challenges of bowling in the powerplay against India's strong batting lineup and emphasizes the importance of planning, execution, and sticking to effective strategies, aided by data. Hosein asserts that the West Indies team is ready for the challenge and will not back down.

Former Indian cricketer Wasim Jaffer believes young batter Tilak Varma is the ideal candidate to replace Virat Kohli at the crucial No. 3 position in One-Day Internationals once Kohli retires after the 2027 World Cup, citing Varma's versatility and strong first-class record.

Germany coach Juergen Klopp acknowledges that while his team's results in the initial four international matches have been mixed, with only one win, he sees clear progress since their disappointing World Cup exit, particularly in their aggressive, high-tempo play.

Norway striker Erling Haaland is reportedly suffering from physical fatigue due to a demanding schedule for both club and country. His manager and teammates have noted his exhaustion, and the Norwegian players' union has expressed serious concerns over the increasing workload on top athletes, calling for clearer guidelines.

Kunwar Basit Ali, national president of BJP Minority Morcha, stated that the demolition of religious structures for development should not be viewed communally, citing examples from Uttar Pradesh and Muslim nations. He accused the Congress of misleading Muslims and instigating unrest. Ali also expressed confidence in the BJP forming the next government in Jammu and Kashmir and addressed concerns regarding the delay in statehood restoration, asserting that the central government would make the be

The Supreme Court has refused to entertain the Centre's plea challenging the Calcutta High Court's decision to uphold the maintainability of Public Interest Litigations (PILs) against the Great Nicobar Island mega-infrastructure project. The PILs allege violations of the Forest Rights Act and impact on Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups. The apex court directed the High Court to proceed with hearing all related petitions.

Dinesh Karthik believes Mohammed Shami's chances of an India comeback are slim, stating the team has moved beyond him. He also expressed concerns about the future of ODI cricket once Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli retire, highlighting their significant impact on the sport.

The Supreme Court stated it has not approved any modifications to Form 6, used for electoral roll inclusion, during the Special Intensive Revision. This observation came during the hearing of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) challenging alleged unilateral decisions by the Chief Election Commissioner regarding changes to Form 6 and electoral roll revisions in states like Goa and West Bengal, without the concurrence of his colleagues. The court issued notice on the plea, highlighting concerns ov

The Congress party in Maharashtra has accused the police of illegally entering its Mumbai headquarters, Tilak Bhawan, and arresting tribal students and NSUI members who were protesting. While the police deny these claims, stating no arrests were made from the building, the Congress has threatened to gherao the Chief Minister's residence if the detained individuals are not released, escalating a political confrontation over student protests.

Young Indian fast bowlers Gurjapneet Singh, Arshad Khan, and Yash Thakur are set to feature in the India A vs Australia A one-day series, aiming to showcase their talent and address the senior national team's current scarcity in the pace department. The series, initially anticipated for Hardik Pandya's return, now serves as a crucial platform for these emerging pacers to catch the attention of national selectors amidst injuries and inconsistent form among established bowlers.

Lewis Hamilton expressed 'mixed emotions' after a risky tyre strategy at the Bahrain Grand Prix saw him drop to 18th before an incredible comeback secured a third-place podium finish in a chaotic, rain-affected race.

Kainchi Dham is experiencing unprecedented traffic surges and gridlock, with vehicle queues stretching up to 20 kilometres, following a massive wave of spiritual interest sparked by the film Hanuman Ansh.

Drishyam: The Conclusion has remarkably outsmarted its Malayalam counterpart, Drishyam 3, by delivering a superior thriller that perfectly understands audience expectations for intricate plots and compelling twists.

Despite limited opportunities in the playing XI, India skipper Shreyas Iyer has expressed strong confidence in young cricketer Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, stating that the 15-year-old's time to dominate Indian cricket will come.

India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is actively courting Sri Lanka's Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), a Marxist party with strong Sinhalese nationalist roots, marking a significant shift in bilateral relations despite ideological differences. This engagement, highlighted by a recent high-profile visit by JVP leader Tilvin Silva, aims to foster cooperation on economic projects and address New Delhi's concerns over slow progress in India-aided initiatives in the island nation.

Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt has clarified his controversial can't feel that peace in India remarks made on the Shekhar Tonite show, stating they were part of a scripted, humorous conversation and not intended to offend. He explained his comments were in the spirit of 'Gandhigiri' from his 'Munna Bhai' films, promoting love and togetherness.

The Supreme Court has sought responses from the Election Commission and the Centre regarding a plea challenging the Chief Election Commissioner's alleged unilateral decision-making without the approval of other Election Commissioners. The petition questions the legality of CEC Gyanesh Kumar's actions, following reports of objections from two Election Commissioners over decisions related to electoral roll revisions.

A laboratory technician in Siberia died from 'pneumonia of unknown aetiology' at an Anti-Plague Research Institute, sparking fears of pneumonic plague, with the US now monitoring the situation and urging Russia for transparency.

Ajay Devgn's latest thriller, Drishyam: The Conclusion, has stormed the box office with a blockbuster opening.

How long can the Cockroach Janta Party remain an agitationist force? asks Saisuresh Sivaswamy.

An investigation is underway into a flydubai co-pilot, identified as Hamam al-Hammami, who allegedly attacked Indian Captain Smit Machchhar in an attempt to crash an Israel-bound flight. The incident, which saw the plane plummet thousands of feet before the captain regained control, is being treated as a lone-wolf terrorist act, with probes by UAE, Israel, Saudi Arabia, and Australia.

Rest of India defeated Jammu and Kashmir by 167 runs to win the Irani Cup, providing a perfect birthday gift for Captain Rishabh Pant. Despite Pant being sidelined with fever, the team's pacers, led by Mukesh Kumar, secured a sensational victory by adjusting their bowling strategy in the second innings. Young batter Ravichandran Smaran also played a crucial role with a superb century.

'Their functioning is flawed, they are not accountable, they are opaque, they are non-transparent, they have lost credibility.'

Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang congratulated the Indian Women's hockey team for winning the gold medal at the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, highlighting their determination and teamwork.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated India's Asian Games medallists, praising their outstanding performances and specifically highlighting the women's hockey team's gold medal win after over four decades. India secured a strong position in the medals tally with a six-gold haul on the penultimate day, with Modi acknowledging individual achievements in wrestling, boxing, archery, sepaktakraw, and sailing.

Bollywood actor Dino Morea was questioned by Mumbai police's Economic Offences Wing (EOW) for six hours regarding the alleged Rs 65 crore Mithi river desilting scam. The investigation focuses on financial irregularities in a Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) sanitation contract, where key accused allegedly siphoned off funds. Morea's name emerged due to communications and suspected financial transactions with one of the accused. Federal agencies, including the ED, are also probing the cas

China continues to lead the Asian Games medals tally after Day 13, with Japan and South Korea following. India is currently in fifth position with 76 medals.

India's head coach Khalid Jamil is preparing his team for a historic football match against five-time world champions Brazil. Jamil emphasizes handling pressure, keeping things simple, and giving their best, despite the significant gap in rankings. Defender Anwar Ali also stresses the importance of staying calm and following the coach's plan for the high-stakes encounter.

The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has cancelled the drug sale and distribution licences of Cipla Pharma and Life Sciences Ltd's carrying and forwarding (C and F) warehouse in Pune. This action follows alleged violations related to packaging, storage, documentation, and recall of Reactin Plus Tablets, a Schedule H drug. The FDA cited issues like misbranding, inadequate storage conditions, and deficiencies in record-keeping, reiterating its commitment to ensuring medicine safety a

A Gurugram resident, Akhil Maurya, was arrested for allegedly defrauding an Italian woman, Paola Bertolini, of 900 euros (approximately Rs 98,000) under the guise of marriage. Maurya, who posed as an AI film creator, convinced Bertolini to transfer money for a project before cutting off contact. The Gurugram Cyber Crime police traced and apprehended him after the victim filed a complaint.

The Indian women's hockey team defeated defending champions China 1-0 in the Asian Games final, securing a gold medal and an automatic qualification for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Coach Sjoerd Marijne credited the team's disciplined defence, tireless running, and collective effort for the historic victory.

Hockey India has announced significant cash awards for the national women's team and support staff following their historic gold medal win at the Asian Games in Japan. The team defeated defending champions China 1-0, securing India's first women's hockey gold at the event in 44 years, with Lalremsiami scoring the winning goal.

Nine individuals, including seven students, have been apprehended in connection with the violence at Lovely Professional University (LPU) campus. Two FIRs have been registered for arson, rioting, and damage. Separately, two people were arrested for spreading rumours related to an incident at Chitkara University.

West Indies head coach Daren Sammy acknowledged the financial challenges leading to player pay cuts, stating it's ot what you want to hear before a series. He also highlighted the team's need for greater bowling discipline, especially after failing to defend a 405-run target against India, and reflected on missed opportunities to score higher in the second ODI.

The Cockroach Janta Party protest at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Park in Mumbai drew several hundred Mumbaikars who demanded Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar's resignation.

Former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda criticised the BJP government, alleging that the state has fallen from its top position in development to being number one in drugs, corruption, and crime. He claimed the BJP has not made any public interest decisions in 12 years and accused them of deteriorating Haryana's economic condition and allowing criminal gangs to flourish.

The Indian women's hockey team secured a historic gold medal at the Asian Games, defeating China 1-0, and simultaneously qualified for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. This remarkable turnaround is largely attributed to head coach Sjored Marijne, who transformed a divided and underperforming squad into a united, fearless, and successful team within nine months.

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari stated that the CBI has completed 90% of its investigation into the murder of his personal assistant, Chandranath Rath, with only the alleged money trail left to be established. Adhikari claimed the murder involved shooters from Uttar Pradesh, a hirer from Bihar, and a Bhaipo gang in the Rs 2 crore contract money. He urged voters to seek evenge for Rath's death in the Nandigram bypoll.

Parveen Hooda and Chen Nien-chin's final bout highlighted the respect and camaraderie that exists in the sport of boxing.

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari will attend the India-Brazil international football friendly in Kolkata on October 3. The city is preparing for the historic match, with Brazil's five-time world champions having arrived and security measures stepped up.

The Brazil national football team's training session in Kolkata drew an unprecedented media turnout, resembling a World Cup event, ahead of their friendly match against India. Despite the excitement, the event was marred by significant accreditation chaos for journalists. Head coach Carlo Ancelotti's squad is building towards the 2028 Copa America, with the India match serving as a crucial assessment opportunity.