Nana Patekar’s final hours began with a message to a friend around 2:30 am on Thursday, saying he was not feeling well. The friend reached his Goa home around 4 am and found the actor sweating and gradually losing consciousness. Emergency medical assistance was called, but Patekar was unresponsive when the team arrived. He was taken to Manipal Hospital at around 4:20 am, where doctors attempted CPR and cardiac massage for nearly 45 minutes. Despite their efforts, he was declared dead at around 5:20 am, aged 75. His body was sent for post-mortem as police began an inquiry. (PC: India Today)

Forty-two former judges have defended India’s electoral process and expressed concern over what they called a sustained campaign against the Election Commission, judiciary and other constitutional institutions. In an open letter, they questioned allegations of “vote theft” made without supporting evidence and warned that repeatedly describing constitutional authorities as “thieves” or “compromised” could weaken public trust in democratic institutions. Their statement comes amid growing political opposition to Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and allegations linked to the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. The former judges urged caution in public discourse surrounding institutions responsible for conducting elections. (PC: HT)

YouTuber Dhruv Rathee is set to join the Cockroach Janta Party’s (CJP) protest at Bengaluru’s Freedom Park on Thursday, October 8. Rathee urged people to attend the demonstration, calling it a fight to protect democracy. The protest is demanding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation and changes to the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. Actor Prakash Raj also backed the protest and used a dialogue inspired by Singham to target Kumar. The Bengaluru demonstration will include a “People’s Tribunal on the SIR” and a “Chappal protest”. The CJP has also planned a larger protest at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar on October 10.

Veteran actor Nana Patekar died at 75 after suffering a cardiac arrest at his residence in Goa on Thursday. He was taken to a hospital, where doctors attempted CPR for 45 minutes but could not revive him. Just 4 days earlier, Patekar had attended an event in Dona Paula, Goa, where he spoke about life and death. “We all have to go someday. I don’t know whether I will be here tomorrow or not,” he said. Patekar, known for films including Krantiveer, Parinda, Ab Tak Chhappan and Welcome, had a career spanning Hindi and Marathi cinema. He received the Padma Shri in 2013. (PC: NDTV)

Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s Z+ security cover has been strengthened following a fresh threat assessment amid protests over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, according to officials. Additional personnel have been deployed around his New Delhi residence, the Election Commission headquarters at Nirvachan Sadan and as part of his personal security detail. The review follows protests near Kumar’s Delhi residence and an agitation outside his family’s residence in Agra. Officials said security was also deployed around his home after protesters reportedly traced its location. Kumar already had Z+ security, which has now been reinforced amid the escalating protests targeting the Chief Election Commissioner over the ongoing electoral-roll revision exercise. (PC: X)

Veteran actor Nana Patekar died at the age of 75 in Goa on Thursday after suffering a cardiac arrest. He was found unresponsive at his residence in Dona Paula after complaining of severe chest pain. A medical team was called to his home and attempted to revive him before taking him to Manipal Hospital. Doctors continued CPR and cardiac massage for around 45 minutes, but he could not be revived. He was declared dead at around 5:20 am. A medico-legal case has been registered and his body has been taken to Goa Medical College for a post-mortem. Patekar had a career spanning Hindi and Marathi cinema and theatre. (PC: India Today)

A five-storey building collapsed in Delhi’s New Seemapuri area on Wednesday afternoon, killing 3 people and injuring 8 others. Among the deceased was Gulafsa, 21, who was around four months pregnant, along with a 12-year-old girl and another child whose identity was not immediately confirmed. Rescue teams pulled 11 people from the debris, with the injured taken to Rajiv Gandhi Super Speciality Hospital in Tahirpur. The collapse also damaged parts of 2 to 3 adjoining buildings. Delhi Police, Fire Service, NDRF and other emergency teams continued rescue operations as several people were initially feared trapped under the rubble. 

The Supreme Court on Wednesday agreed to examine a plea seeking recall of its September 23 split verdict on the law governing appointments of the Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioners. Senior Advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan mentioned the application before CJI Surya Kant, who said the court would examine it before taking a decision. The earlier verdict by Justices Dipankar Datta and Satish Chandra Sharma differed on whether challenges to the 2023 CEC appointment law should be referred to a larger Constitution Bench. The recall plea reportedly cites concerns over potential bias involving Justice Sharma, whose son represents the Election Commission in Madhya Pradesh High Court. (PC: India Today)

A child died after a four-storey building collapsed in northeast Delhi’s Seemapuri on Wednesday, officials said. At least 7 people, including a 3-year-old child, were rescued with injuries, while 5 others are feared trapped under the debris. The building, located near Idgah Masjid, stood on a plot of around 25 square yards and partially damaged 2 adjoining buildings. Delhi Fire Service and police teams rushed to the site after receiving a call at around 3:30 pm. Rescue operations are continuing, with ambulances taking the injured to Rajiv Gandhi Hospital. Traffic movement around Seemapuri has also been affected. (PC: X)

Indian Oil field officer Mahesh Shelke was allegedly stabbed to death while carrying out an official operation to seal a petrol pump in Ambachondi village, Maharashtra’s Hingoli district. Police said Shelke and his team were at the outlet around 4:30 pm on Tuesday when an argument reportedly broke out with family members of the pump owner and others present. The dispute allegedly turned violent, and Shelke was stabbed seven times with a knife, killing him at the scene. Police have formed a team to trace the prime accused. Indian Oil condemned the killing and offered support to Shelke’s family. (PC: X)