At a rally in Puducherry, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) aide Bussy Anand was cut off mid-speech when a female IPS officer snatched the microphone, warning “40 people have died.” The meeting was held under tight security and strict conditions — crowd size capped at 5,000 with QR-coded entries only — in response to the fatal 2025 Karur stampede. A man carrying a handgun was also detained at the gate, raising further security concerns. The rally, first since the tragedy, underscores continuing tensions over crowd-control and political mobilisation. 

A week before the verdict in the 2017 actress assault case, a signed anonymous letter claimed to know the outcome — naming which accused would be acquitted or convicted. The Kerala High Court Advocates’ Association (KHCAA) forwarded the letter to the Chief Justice, calling it a “serious breach of confidentiality” and demanding a formal investigation into how the verdict details leaked. The letter alleged the verdict in Dileep’s case was pre-decided: it predicted his discharge along with two others, with only six of the 12 original accused convicted. The episode has raised concerns about judicial transparency and the integrity of sensitive court proceedings. (PC: The Hindu)

The Luthra brothers — co-owners of the Goa nightclub Birch by Romeo Lane — have filed for four-week transit anticipatory bail in a Delhi court, claiming they travelled to Thailand for work and are willing to return and cooperate with investigations. They denied running the club’s day-to-day operations, calling themselves only licensees, and argued they didn’t “flee,” but left for a pre-planned business trip before the tragic fire. The court, however, questioned the maintainability of their plea — since transit anticipatory bail typically requires appellant’s presence in India — and declined to grant interim relief, asking the state to respond. The plea comes as investigators, aided by Interpol Blue-Corner notice and passport-impounding orders, intensify efforts to bring the brothers back from Phuket to face charges in connection with the fire that killed 25 people. (PC: Reuters)

The Luthra brothers have told a Delhi court that they are “also victims” of the Goa nightclub fire that killed 25 people. Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra fled to Thailand after the incident and later asked the court for anticipatory bail so they could return to India. Their lawyers said the club was run by partners and managers, not by the brothers. They argued that criminal blame cannot be placed on them as they were not present when the fire started. The court refused immediate relief and asked police to file a reply. The case will be heard again tomorrow. (PC: NDTV)

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday sharply questioned the Centre over the IndiGo “crisis” that left thousands stranded. The bench asked, “How can a ticket cost ₹35,000 or ₹39,000?” and said the sudden fare surge caused “trouble and harassment” to passengers. The court also asked how the situation was allowed to “worsen to such an extent”. It noted that a government committee is already probing the issue and directed the Centre to submit its report by January 22. The judges said their remarks were to ensure “public interest” and told authorities to normalise operations and maintain enough pilot strength. (PC: HT)

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday questioned the Centre over the IndiGo flight crisis, where hundreds of flights were cancelled and fares surged up to Rs 39,000. Justice Gedela asked why airlines were allowed to overcharge and why pilots were overworked. The court noted the situation caused passenger harassment and economic loss. While the Centre listed steps taken during the crisis, the court emphasized that the focus should be on preventing such events. Authorities were asked what measures were taken to compensate passengers and ensure airline employees act responsibly. The court demanded answers on accountability and preventive action. (PC: NDTV)

Gaurav and Saurabh Luthra, owners of the ‘Birch by Romeo Lane’ nightclub in Goa, where 25 people died in a fire, have moved Delhi’s Rohini Court for anticipatory bail. The brothers fled to Phuket hours after the incident. Goa Police have coordinated with CBI and Interpol and issued a Blue Corner Notice. Ajay Gupta, another owner, was brought to the Sunlight Colony Crime Branch for questioning and is expected in court. Investigations continue as authorities examine the cause of the fire. The district administration has demolished part of the nightclub as the probe progresses. (PC: HT)

Rishabh Rajput and Sonali Chouksey, a couple from Madhya Pradesh, married last month after 11 years together. Their wedding photos and videos went viral, but trolls targeted the groom’s dark skin and accused the bride of marrying for money. The couple, both working in private jobs, spoke out against the criticism. “People’s negative opinions mean nothing to me,” said Mr Rajput. Ms Chouksey added that judging someone by skin colour is wrong. They stressed their happiness and strong relationship. The couple hopes their story will challenge colourism in India and remind people not to judge by appearances. (PC: BBC)

IndiGo’s flight crisis has now entered its ninth day, with more than 4,600 flights cancelled since December 2. The government has ordered the airline to cut its operations by 10% after saying internal mismanagement caused major trouble for passengers. Airports in Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Ahmedabad saw long lines as travellers waited for updates. Despite IndiGo’s claim that services are improving, cancellations continue. Political leaders have also attacked the government over the crisis. Civil aviation minister Ram Mohan Naidu said India needs more airlines to avoid a monopoly and ensure fair access to airports and better fares. (PC: X)

Ajay Gupta, one of the co-owners of the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub in Goa, said he was only a “sleeping partner” and did not know about any lapses before the fire that killed 25 people. Gupta was detained in Delhi after being on the run for two days. As he was taken for a medical check-up, he said, “I was a mere sleeping partner and had no role. I was unaware of the lapses.” Police say the club had no licences and held a fire show without safety equipment. The main owners, Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra, fled to Thailand. Police will also look into Gupta’s financial links with them. (PC: India Today)