The Kollam Vigilance Court on Wednesday granted bail to Thantri Kanthar Rajeevar in connection with the Sabarimala gold theft case. The bail applies to matters linked to the Kattilappalli and Dwarapalaka idol cases. With this development, Rajeevar becomes the sixth accused to obtain bail, joining others including Unnikrishnan Potty, Vasu, and Murari Babu. He was taken into custody on January 9 and is the second accused to receive bail before the completion of the mandatory 90-day custody period. Earlier, former Administrative Officer S Sreekumar had also been granted bail. The detailed bail order is expected to be issued soon.

The Supreme Court of India is scheduled to begin hearings on April 7 regarding the long-standing Sabarimala temple entry issue and related petitions. The matter will be heard by a nine-judge Constitution Bench, which will examine important constitutional questions involving religious freedom, equality, and constitutional principles. Review petitioners and supporting parties will present arguments from April 7 to 9, followed by hearings of the original petitioners from April 14 to 16. Any rejoinders will be heard on April 22. The Court has directed that oral arguments from all sides be completed within the fixed schedule.

The Union Government has backed the review petitions challenging the 2018 verdict, while the original petitioners seek to uphold it. In 2018, a Constitution Bench permitted women of all age groups to enter the Sabarimala Sree Dharma Sastha Temple, overturning the traditional restriction on women between the ages of 10 and 50. In February 2020, a nine-judge Bench referred wider constitutional issues arising from the case for further examination.

The gold theft case involves allegations that around 4.54 kilograms of gold were misappropriated from sacred temple structures, including the sanctum sanctorum door frames and Dwarapalaka idols. The alleged theft is believed to have taken place in 2019 under the guise of restoration and gold replating work.

The controversy dates back to a 1998 donation by industrialist Vijay Mallya, who contributed 30.3 kilograms of gold and 1,900 kilograms of copper for gold plating at the temple. Later inspections and court-supervised investigations found inconsistencies between the quantity of gold donated and the amount reportedly used.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from ANI.

The Indian Army is steadily transforming into a data-driven, AI-enabled force, fully aligned with India’s vision of technological self-reliance and secure digital capability. At the India AI Summit 2026, the Army highlighted a range of indigenous AI solutions designed to deliver substantial value across both defence and civilian domains. These initiatives reflect a broader commitment to enhancing operational efficiency, situational awareness, and disaster response, while also strengthening national technological capabilities.

Major General VTS Varaich, ADG of Information Systems in the Indian Army, explained that the Army’s journey toward implementing AI and other core technologies began long ago and has been carefully planned over the years. Speaking to ANI, he emphasized that the adoption of AI is not just a technological exercise but a strategic approach aimed at improving the effectiveness of commanders and soldiers on the ground. He highlighted the importance of co-partnerships with Indian industry, stating that collaboration will help develop world-class solutions that enhance operational efficiency and serve the nation at large. Major General Varaich described the seminar as a significant achievement for Indian industry, noting that initiatives led by the Confederation of Indian Industry and SIDM demonstrate how AI can be leveraged to strengthen defence capabilities.

He further elaborated that the Army’s focus is not merely on acquiring technology but on implementing functional, mission-oriented solutions. With long-term vision, dedicated funding, and consistent efforts, the Army has established integrated networks that support multi-domain operations, encompassing land, air, and cyber domains. He stressed that the Army’s progress is driven by its will, commitment, and persistence rather than budget constraints, exemplified by the continuous implementation of public-private partnerships and various technology projects.

Addressing potential risks, Major General Varaich cautioned about challenges like deepfakes and highlighted ongoing work to ensure AI applications maintain accuracy above 99.5 percent through trust-based algorithms. This illustrates the Army’s balanced approach—adopting AI for operational and strategic advantage while safeguarding against misuse and cyber threats.

The Army’s AI initiatives are wide-ranging, covering education, training, situational awareness, disaster prediction, security, and logistics. Systems like AI-based assessment tools for training, geospatial situational awareness platforms, air-gapped AI cloud solutions for secure data handling, climatology prediction tools, facial recognition systems, mobile telemetry reporting platforms, driver fatigue detection devices, portable edge AI platforms, AI-enabled fleet monitoring systems, and deepfake detection and cybersecurity tools demonstrate the Army’s commitment to leveraging AI across multiple operational areas.

Together, these efforts signify a decisive shift toward a networked, AI-empowered ecosystem that enhances defence preparedness, disaster resilience, and national development. By integrating AI deeply into its operations, the Indian Army is positioning itself as a forward-looking, technologically advanced force, capable of achieving high operational efficiency while fostering strong collaboration with India’s technology sector to develop solutions that are globally competitive.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from ANI.

In a brazen breach of trust, a deputy manager at a nationalized bank's Girinagar branch here has been arrested for allegedly stealing 2,780 grams of pledged gold ornaments valued at over Rs 3.5 crore to fuel his online betting habit. The scam came to light on February 5 when the branch's chief manager filed a police complaint after customers reported issues redeeming their gold collateral. Investigations revealed that 34-year-old Kiran Kumar had secretly accessed customer lockers, removed the gold, and pawned it at private lenders including Manappuram and Muthoot Finance to fund his gambling losses.

Girinagar police acted swiftly, apprehending Kumar who confessed to the theft during interrogation. So far, they've recovered around 700 grams of the stolen gold, but face hurdles as some finance companies are reluctant to cooperate fully. "We're ready to approach the courts if needed," said Deputy Commissioner of Police (South), Lokesh B. Jagalasar. Kumar, described as deeply addicted to online betting platforms, had been siphoning gold over several months without raising alarms until routine checks exposed the discrepancies.

This incident echoes past frauds, such as a 2023 case at Punjab National Bank where employees misused gold loans for personal gain. With India's gold loan market exceeding Rs 1 lakh crore as per recent RBI figures, experts are calling for enhanced audits, biometric locker access, and regular customer verifications to prevent insider threats.

Customers are advised to monitor loan statements closely and redeem portions periodically. DCP Jagalasar emphasized, "Vigilance is key—don't assume your gold is safe just because it's in a bank." Police continue their probe, with more arrests possible among the pawnbrokers involved. The bank has launched an internal inquiry to plug security gaps.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from NDTV.

The Centre has told Parliament that 8,630 complaints were filed against sitting judges over the last decade. In a written response to a Lok Sabha question raised by Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam MP Matheswaran V S, Minister of State for Law and Justice Arjun Ram Meghwal stated that the office of the Chief Justice of India received these complaints between 2016 and 2025.

According to data provided by the Supreme Court, the complaints involved judges from the High Courts and the Supreme Court and included allegations such as corruption, sexual misconduct, and other serious wrongdoing. The MP had requested details about the complaints and the actions taken in each instance. However, the ministry did not clarify whether any disciplinary or corrective measures were taken. It explained that complaints against members of the higher judiciary are handled through an in house procedure.

Under this process, the Chief Justice of India and the Chief Justices of the High Courts are responsible for receiving and examining complaints against judges. The reply also noted that grievances submitted through the Centralised Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System or other channels are forwarded to the Chief Justice of India or the relevant High Court Chief Justice for review. The ministry did not mention any plans to establish formal guidelines for proper recording, monitoring, or oversight of such complaints against judges of the constitutional courts.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Business Standard.

The Barries have returned, and Angus Taylor has emerged victorious in the Liberal leadership contest, defeating Sussan Ley. Speaking on Friday afternoon, the newly elected leader stressed that he had no intention of becoming “One Nation lite,” but vowed to “close the door” to those who do not share “Australian values.” However, the leadership spill was not the only major development in Australian politics this week. Barrie Cassidy and Tony Barry also examine the challenges facing Taylor, the growing momentum of One Nation, and the recent visit by Israeli president Isaac Herzog.
Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from The Guardian.

In Destination Anywhere, Melanie Oliveiro speaks with dentist and author Vrushali Junnarkar, who shares her experiences of discovering the many attractions and natural retreats in Khandala, a charming hill station located in Maharashtra in central-western India. Frequently referenced in her novel The Campbell Gardens Ladies' Swimming Class, Khandala holds special significance for Junnarkar as she describes visits to the town’s historic fort, waterfalls, and caves. She also discusses traditional Maharashtrian street food and regional dishes that are rarely found in Singapore.

Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from CNA.

Karate standout Marissa Hafezan clinched Singapore's first gold in the sport at the SEA Games in 32 years. She defeated Vietnam's Nguyen Thi Dieu Ly 5-3 in the women's kumite under-55kg final to secure the historic victory. Andrea Heng and Hairianto Diman sit down with Marissa to learn more about her remarkable achievement. They also get an update on Team Singapore’s overall performance at the midpoint of the Games, featuring insights from Marissa Hafezan, SEA Games gold medallist and Singapore karate exponent, and Phil Goh, independent sports journalist.
Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from CNA.

Australia is introducing a first-of-its-kind law that blocks minors from using social media without a parent’s approval. Andrea Heng and Susan Ng discuss the debate with Professor Tama Leaver from Curtin University’s Internet Studies program: is this a vital measure to safeguard young people’s mental health, or an impractical policy that limits digital freedom?

Disclaimer: This Podcast is taken from CNA.