On Friday, the Kerala High Court extended the status quo for an additional four months regarding the prosecution complaint filed by the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) in the Cochin Minerals and Rutile Ltd (CMRL)-Exalogic case, which includes Veena Vijayan, the daughter of Kerala’s Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, among the accused.

This High Court ruling puts a temporary stop to further proceedings in the CMRL pay-off case stemming from the SFIO’s charge sheet. Previously, on April 16, a single bench of the High Court reviewed a petition from CMRL contesting the Additional Sessions Court-VII’s acceptance of the SFIO’s prosecution complaint.

CMRL challenged the order from the Additional District and Sessions Court–VII, arguing that they were not afforded an opportunity for a pre-cognizance hearing as stipulated under Section 223(1) of the BNSS. They contend that since the SFIO’s complaint was filed in March-April 2025, the BNSS provisions should apply.

The High Court’s ruling halts the issuance of summons related to the SFIO’s prosecution complaint, providing temporary relief to the accused, including Veena Vijayan.

Assam’s Minister for Industries, Commerce, and Public Enterprises, Bimal Borah, announced at the Rising Northeast Investors’ Summit in Delhi that the state aims to achieve a Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) of Rs 11 lakh crore by 2030. During the ministerial session on ‘Infrastructure and Logistics,’ which was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he stated, “With the visionary guidance of Prime Minister Modi and continuous support from the Government of India, Assam has experienced significant economic growth. Our GSDP has increased from Rs 2.8 lakh crore in 2018 to Rs 5.7 lakh crore in 2024, reflecting the resilience and determination of our people.”

“Today marks the beginning of a transformative journey, as we elevate Assam from its rich cultural roots to a thriving economic future,” he continued.

Borah emphasized Assam’s potential beyond its scenic beauty and cultural diversity, noting, “Our strategic position, with Guwahati as the gateway to the seven sister states, uniquely positions us to harness the vast opportunities of Southeast Asia.” He also highlighted the One District One Product (ODOP) initiative, which has facilitated the identification and promotion of distinctive products from each district, such as muga silk, tea, and handloom items, thereby boosting local entrepreneurship and export opportunities.

A BJP councillor from Kerala’s Palakkad municipality has lodged a complaint against rapper and songwriter Vedan, also known as Hirandas Murali, with the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and the Union Ministry of Home Affairs. The complaint alleges that Vedan insulted Prime Minister Narendra Modi in one of his songs.

In her complaint, Mini Krishnakumar, the BJP councillor, claims that the lyrics of Vedan’s song “Voice of Voiceless,” released four years ago, contain defamatory remarks about the Prime Minister. She further contends that the artist promotes societal division based on caste through his music.

The complaint highlights phrases such as “pseudo-nationalist” and lines that suggest, “The country is in the hands of the one who wields the sword.” Mini alleges that these lyrics are a deliberate affront to the Prime Minister and has called for an investigation by central agencies into the artist’s intent.

She stated, “The artist has made unsubstantiated, disrespectful, and offensive remarks about the Prime Minister, which not only tarnish his personal and political image but also undermine the dignity of India’s highest constitutional office.”

Mini’s complaint follows a wave of criticism directed at Vedan from Sangh Parivar leaders. RN Madhu, editor of Kesari, the RSS mouthpiece, accused Vedan of being backed by powerful sponsors and of promoting caste-based terrorism and separatist ideologies through his music. Additionally, KP Sasikala, a leader of the Hindu Aikya Vedi, criticized Vedan’s attire and expressed the belief that rap music lacks relevance for Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe (SC/ST) communities.