The Supreme Court of India on 9 February 2026 firmly ruled that no impediment will be allowed in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, amid objections raised by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee against the Election Commission’s exercise. The bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant granted a one-week extension to finalise the Bengal voter list beyond the original 14 February deadline to complete scrutiny of documents. The court also directed the West Bengal DGP to file an affidavit on law-and-order issues and said additional directions would be issued if needed to ensure the SIR proceeds smoothly without disruption. (PC: PTI)

Abdul Rehman, a 20-year-old terror suspect lodged in Faridabad’s Neemka Jail, was killed by a fellow inmate late on 8 February, police said. Rehman, arrested in March 2025 during a joint operation by the Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad and Haryana Special Task Force, was accused of plotting an attack on the Ram Temple in Ayodhya and found with two hand grenades. He was attacked with a sharp object by inmate Arun Choudhary inside the prison and later pronounced dead. Authorities have ordered an investigation into the incident and are reviewing prison security protocols.

The Supreme Court has extended the deadline for West Bengal’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter rolls by one week beyond February 14. The bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant said it would not “create any impediments” in completing the revision process. The order came while hearing a plea filed by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee against the SIR exercise. The court directed that 8,555 Group B officers named by the state must report to district electoral officers by 5 pm. The Election Commission earlier said it faced a manpower shortage. The court allowed the ECI to replace EROs and AEROs if needed and assign trained micro observers. (PC: HT)

An unauthorised balloon entered restricted airspace at Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru on Monday, causing a security scare. The balloon was spotted drifting over the airport premises. CISF personnel quickly intercepted and seized it. Officials said the balloon belonged to a private construction company based in Hoskote. It was reportedly launched from outside the airport but went off course after operators lost control. Aviation rules strictly ban drones and balloons near airports due to safety risks. A complaint has been filed at the airport police station. Devanahalli police have registered a case and are investigating possible negligence behind the incident. (PC: News18)

Indian Railways plans to launch another Vande Bharat Express train for Karnataka. The new semi-high-speed train will run on the Bengaluru–Mangaluru route. It will be operated by the South Western Railway zone. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said the service will start after electrification and safety checks are completed. The train is expected to reduce travel time between the two cities. Officials said it will improve regional connectivity and boost the state’s economy. Karnataka currently has 22 Vande Bharat train services. The Centre has allocated ₹7,748 crore for railway projects in the state. (PC: Ministry of Railways/File)

A luxury Lamborghini crash in central Delhi left six people injured on Sunday afternoon. The car was driven by Shivam Mishra, son of a billionaire tobacco businessman from Kanpur. Eyewitnesses said the car suddenly lost control near the Ring Wala area. It hit an auto-rickshaw, a motorcycle, and then climbed onto the pavement. The family claimed Shivam suffered a seizure while driving. Police said they are checking the medical claim. No FIR has been filed yet. Locals stopped the car and alleged that private bouncers tried to take the driver away. An investigation is ongoing. (PC: HT)

Several schools in New Delhi received bomb threat emails on Monday, prompting widespread alarm among students, parents, and authorities. The messages, which included incendiary language like “Delhi will become Khalistan”, led to immediate evacuations, deployment of police, K-9 units, and bomb disposal squads, and thorough security sweeps of the campuses. No explosives or suspicious devices were found during the searches. This incident comes amid a recurring pattern of similar bomb-threat emails targeting educational institutions in Delhi and other cities, causing repeated disruptions and placing city security forces on high alert while investigations into the source and motive continue. (PC: PTI)

At least six people were injured on Sunday afternoon when a speeding Lamborghini Aventador, allegedly driven by Shivam Mishra, the son of prominent tobacco trader K K Mishra, lost control on VIP Road in Kanpur’s Gwaltoli area. The luxury car first struck an auto-rickshaw and then a parked Royal Enfield motorcycle, flinging the rider nearly 10 feet into the air and injuring bystanders. Eyewitnesses claimed the driver was intoxicated and attempted to flee, prompting anger from locals. Police seized the damaged vehicle and took the driver into custody; the injured were hospitalised and an FIR is being registered. (PC: NDTV)

Former Congress leader Anand Sharma challenged Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal to revoke older trade pacts from the UPA period in response to the new India-US interim trade framework, claiming deeper scrutiny is needed before finalising deals. Critics argue the agreement could undermine domestic interests and questioned whether past pacts should be reconsidered amid shifting economic terms. The framework includes significant tariff changes and market access—with U.S. tariffs on Indian goods reduced to 18% and reciprocal concessions from India—but opposition voices say transparency and national interests must be weighed carefully before moving forward. (PC: ANI)

A private training aircraft operated by Redbird Aviation crash-landed in Karnataka’s Vijayapura district on Sunday after suffering a mid-air engine glitch. The two-seater light aircraft, flying from Kalaburagi to Belagavi, was forced down near Mangaluru village in Babaleshwar taluk when the technical issue developed. Both the captain and a trainee pilot on board were seriously injured and rushed by ambulance to a nearby hospital for treatment. Eyewitnesses reported tense moments as the aircraft descended rapidly before touching down in an open field, avoiding populated areas. Police and aviation authorities have begun an investigation into the cause of the crash. (PC: India Today)