Author: TheStateLine

Kochi, Feb 24 (IANS) The Kerala High Court on Tuesday came down heavily on the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) over allegations that it accessed and used personal data of government employees to circulate promotional messages, observing that the matter involved a serious intrusion into privacy.Hearing a petition challenging the alleged use of employees’ contact details from official databases, the Court questioned how the CMO obtained information from the Service Payroll Administrative Repository for Kerala (SPARK).It pointed out that earlier orders clearly stipulated that personal data collected for official purposes must not be used for any other purpose.“How did these private details reach the Chief Minister?” the Court asked, terming the allegations grave.The Bench observed that the gove...

Hyderabad, Feb 24 (IANS) In a major crackdown, Hyderabad Police dismantled a pan-India cyber fraud syndicate with the arrest of 104 fraudsters across 16 states.At least 32 special teams carried out ‘Operation Octopus’ over a span of 10 days, Hyderabad Police Commissioner V.C. Sajjanar said on Tuesday.Under the leadership of DCP (Cybercrimes) V. Aravind Babu, the police executed a coordinated operation against cybercrime syndicates operating across the country.The apprehended individuals are linked to 1,055 cyber fraud cases registered across India, involving a total fraud amount of approximately ₹127 crore, the Commissioner said in a statement.During the operation, the police seized 204 mobile phones, 141 SIM cards, 152 bank passbooks, 234 debit/credit cards, 26 laptops, 56 corporate/firm ...

New Delhi, Feb 24 (IANS) The Supreme Court on Tuesday permitted judicial officers from the neighbouring High Courts of Jharkhand and Orissa to be deputed to West Bengal to expedite the adjudication of voter claims and objections arising from the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in the poll-bound state. A Bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipin Pancholi issued the directions after the Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court informed the Apex Court about the massive pendency of cases involving "logical discrepancy" and "unmapped category" voters.As per the communication placed before the Top Court, nearly 80 lakh applications require adjudication, while only about 250 judicial officers, primarily District Judges and ...

Kolkata, Feb 24 (IANS) Two jawans sustained injuries after an Army truck overturned on the rain-soaked Maa flyover in Kolkata, said police on Tuesday, adding that the truck lost control and entered the opposite lane.The police said the truck, after entering the opposite lane, then hit the railing and overturned. There were three soldiers in the truck. Out of them, two were injured. The police soon reached the accident spot and rescued the jawans from the overturned truck. They have been taken to a nearby hospital for treatment, said the officials.According to Kolkata Traffic Police sources, while going from Science City to Park Circus, the truck suddenly lost control and crossed the divider into the opposite lane of the flyover. As the city has been experiencing light to moderate rain sinc...

Mumbai, Feb 24 (IANS) Maharashtra Samajwadi Party chief and MLA Abu Azmi on Tuesday backed Congress MP Imran Masood’s remarks that authorities must ensure “innocent people” are not arrested. Masood's remarks came following the police crackdown on an alleged terror conspiracy involving eight suspects said to have links with Pakistan’s ISI and Bangladesh-based radical groups.Supporting the Congress MP’s statement, Azmi alleged that members of the Muslim community were being “deliberately targeted” in the country. His comments came a day after Masood stressed the need for caution while taking action against terror suspects.“I am not sure who has been arrested. People may spend 20 years in jail and then get released. There is no doubt that strict action is needed against terror, but innocent p...

Bengaluru, Feb 24 (IANS) Following the arrests made after the Youth Congress' shirtless protest in New Delhi during the India AI Impact Summit 2026, Minister Priyank Kharge on Tuesday slammed the Centre, alleging that the government's inability to host an international event had been exposed and that it was now victimising those involved in the demonstration.His remarks came after Delhi Police arrested Indian Youth Congress (IYC) National President Uday Bhanu Chib in connection with the shirtless protest at Bharat Mandapam on the final day of the India AI Impact Summit.Speaking to reporters, Priyank Kharge said, "Maybe there is some reservation on the way it was done, but protesting is not illegal. Maybe they could have done it better, maybe they could have expressed it much better, but ...