🇮🇳Week of November 2

The Central Bureau of Investigation has registered a bank fraud case against businessman Kishore Biyani and Future Retail Ltd over Rs 904 crore in credit facilities. The case follows a complaint filed by the State Bank of India, which alleged that the accused entered into a criminal conspiracy to obtain credit from SBI and from a consortium of nine banks.1234

The amount named in the case is Rs 904.32 crore in the SBI complaint, reported across outlets as a Rs 904-crore fraud. Biyani is identified in the reports as the owner of the Big Bazaar retail chain, and the case names Future Retail and key promoters alongside him.2356

The first reports of the case appeared on Thursday, with the Times of India, Deccan Chronicle, The New Indian Express, Daily Pioneer and The 420.in carrying the CBI registration against Biyani and Future Retail. A day later, NDTV, Telegraph India, Inshorts, the Times of India and The Economic Times reported the same case and the SBI complaint behind it.57689121034

The bench also laid down duties for magistrates in applying the custody limit. The Indian Express reported the Court's position that a person detained more than a day without being brought before a court must be released.123

The Times of India reported a parallel holding by the Karnataka High Court that the 24-hour custody clock starts when liberty is curtailed, not when police record the arrest.4

The ruling was reported across outlets including NDTV, News On AIR, Bar and Bench, Telegraph India and Scroll.in, which described it as a clarification of the 24-hour custody limit.56789

The Supreme Court has sought responses from the Centre and Meta on a public interest plea alleging that social media algorithms are addicting children. The petition asks the court to examine the platforms' role in the digital exploitation of children. Notices went to the central government and to Meta.1234

Delhi Police registered an FIR over the alleged circulation of child sexual abuse material on Meta platforms. The FIR was registered on October 8 under Sections 67 and 67B of the Information Technology Act, 2000, based on a complaint alleging that suspected CSAM was circulated through Meta platforms. About 10 links were flagged in the complaint, and police opened an investigation to verify the allegations, an official said.567

The National Human Rights Commission took up the matter, putting Meta under scrutiny over the child abuse content, The Times of India reported. The two proceedings run in parallel: the FIR in Delhi and the Supreme Court's notice on the addiction plea.71

Ten SDRF personnel went missing after boats carrying rescue teams capsized in floodwaters in Telangana's Khammam district. The rescue teams, made up of SDRF and Fire Services personnel, had entered a swollen rivulet to reach stranded fishermen when the boats overturned.123

Attributed claim: The Hindu reported that nine rescue personnel were feared missing at the swollen Peddacheruvu, while the Times of India and Deccan Chronicle put the number of missing SDRF and Fire Services personnel at 10. CGTN reported 11 rescue personnel missing after the boats capsized in the floodwaters.3124

The News Minute reported that 10 SDRF personnel and a fisherman stranded in the swollen Khammam lake were rescued.5

The Union Cabinet approved a Rs 2,814 crore capital expenditure support scheme to promote processing of critical minerals, including lithium and nickel. The scheme is aimed at building domestic processing capacity for minerals used in batteries and clean energy technology.123

In the same meeting the Cabinet cleared a Rs 14,500 crore viability gap funding scheme for 92 GWh of grid-scale energy storage. The capacity is split across three technologies: Battery Energy Storage System at 30 GWh, Pumped Storage Projects at 60 GWh, and Emerging Storage Technologies at 2 GW.456

Attributed claim: The Indian Express put the energy storage approval at Rs 17,500 crore, while The Hindu, The Economic Times and the government's own release put the viability gap funding at Rs 14,500 crore for 92 GWh. The Hindu's breakdown of the 92 GWh total also lists 30 GWh for battery storage, a component figure that sits inside the 92 GWh headline rather than replacing it.7456

Ahead of the meeting, Zee Business reported that a Rs 2,800 crore critical minerals scheme and a Rs 15,000 crore energy storage plan were likely on the Cabinet agenda. The approvals that followed set the storage support at Rs 14,500 crore.845

The Supreme Court heard a plea from Delhi traders over business losses from last month's protest in central Delhi's Jantar Mantar against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The court directed the traders' bodies to add the organisers of the anti-CEC demonstrations as parties to the plea.123

The bench said a site cannot be occupied indefinitely in the name of protest, and that it cannot occupy a site for all times. The court told the traders that demonstrations generate a "protest economy."1243

The bench expressed sympathy for the right to livelihood of small traders, hawkers and push cart vendors, noting that their right competed with the right to expression of the protesters.5

Counting of votes is under way in 92 urban local bodies across Andhra Pradesh, with results expected through the day. The TDP alliance took an early lead and was ahead in eight Andhra civic bodies. Counting in Pulivendula proceeded after the High Court cleared it, while rain and missing keys delayed the count elsewhere.12

The State Election Commission rescheduled vote counting in Prakasam and Bapatla districts because of Cyclone Murasu. In Visakhapatnam, arrangements were in place for counting of votes in the GVMC elections.34

Attributed claim: The News Minute / The Economic Times: Re-polling was held at 13 stations after a booth capture. Ashutosh Ranka alleged booth capturing, an allegation that came from his side and is not confirmed by election officials in the cited accounts.52

Delhi recorded its first 'very poor' air quality of the season, with the AQI at 324, and GRAP-II restrictions were imposed. The measures include mechanical or vacuum sweeping of roads and water sprinkling, higher parking fees to discourage personal vehicle use, and more frequent Metro, CNG and electric bus services. Border checks tied to the curbs snarled traffic.12

Hindustan Times reported that Delhi's smog came from farm fires lit after a NASA satellite passed, and that India's weather satellite shows a surge in evening crop burning in the four days before November 1. On two October nights with the same weather, the outlet reported, Delhi's air was far cleaner.3

Congress took a dig at the government over the air quality, with the party arguing that the 'so-called PM 3.0' needs to worry about PM2.5.4

The INDIA bloc took its protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls to Ramlila Ground in New Delhi, where thousands gathered. Rahul Gandhi told the crowd that "Modi cannot escape," and the rally carried the slogan "sack-PM" over alleged "vote chori." The demonstration followed a march to Jantar Mantar on which Rahul Gandhi and other Opposition MPs were detained.1234

Attributed claim: Delhi traders put the cost of the rally at Rs 10,000 crore, with 2.5 lakh shops shut for business, and asked who would compensate them. NDTV reported the traders' claim at Rs 11,000 crore. The two figures describe the same disruption and differ by about a tenth.561

The morning after the rally, Ramlila Maidan was left with "vote chor" graffiti, littered roads and a muddy walkway, The Hindu reported. The site had drawn a crowd large enough for Al Jazeera to publish a photo gallery of thousands joining the opposition rally against the election chief.74

More parties have backed the INDIA bloc's protests as the political tide turns against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, The Diplomat reported. The Guardian put the Delhi crowd at tens of thousands protesting against the Modi government.89

Darius Khambata has declined reappointment as a trustee of the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust and the Sir Ratan Tata Trust, writing to Noel Tata to say he will not seek another term. He had resigned from Tata Trusts following a September 17 board meeting.1234

Khambata said the events of September 17 sullied the reputation of Tata Sons and called the date "a day of infamy." He also questioned the extension granted to N. Chandrasekaran, asking whether Tata Sons would have acted as it did under Ratan Tata.56789

In his objections, Khambata opposed a listing of Tata Sons but backed the SP Group, and he questioned the failure of engagement with the RBI. He also criticised the Tata Sons board over recent developments.21011