Supreme Court halts HC proceedings against Rahul Gandhi in disproportionate assets case

The Supreme Court on Monday (August 17, 2026) ordered an immediate halt on disproportionate assets proceedings initiated by the Allahabad High Court against Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi while observing that at least courts should follow “principles of natural justice”.

A three-judge Bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant was reacting to submissions made by senior advocate Kapil Sibal and advocate Prasanna S., appearing for Mr. Gandhi, that High Court proceedings and subsequent directions to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Directorate of Enforcement (ED) to inquire into the allegations of disproportionate assets made by the private complainant, S. Vignesh Shishir, against the Congress leader, amounted to a “witch-hunt”.

Ram Temple donations theft: SC says ball is in SIT’s court, suggestions can be directed to Solicitor General’s office

The Supreme Court on Monday (August 17, 2026) conveyed a hands-off approach on the investigation into the Ram Temple donations’ misappropriation case, saying a Special Investigation Team (SIT) is expected to take the probe to its logical conclusion, and anyone with further suggestions could approach the office of the Solicitor General of India directly.

“Let the SIT conclude. They must take it to its logical conclusion,” Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, heading a three-judge Bench, addressed petitioners and intervenors.

President Murmu gives assent to Bill to rename Kerala as Keralam

President Droupadi Murmu has given assent to a Bill to rename Kerala as Keralam, with the legislation now becoming a law.

The Lok Sabha passed the Kerala (Alteration of Name) Bill, 2026, on August 11, 2026, followed by the Rajya Sabha the next day.

In the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai said the Kerala Assembly passed a resolution in 2024, urging the Centre to bring a law to change the name of the State to Keralam.

“The Bill provides that the State of Kerala will be known as the State of Keralam, and hence there is a proposal to rename the State of Kerala to Keralam,” he said.

Supreme Court decides to watch progress on Cauvery water-sharing, tells Tamil Nadu water is being given

The Supreme Court on Monday (August 17, 2026) decided to wait and watch the progress in Cauvery water sharing between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, even as Karnataka said that over 12,000 cusecs was released by 8 a.m. on August 17.

A Bench headed by Justice Vikram Nath addressed Tamil Nadu, saying “it is not that the State [Karnataka] is not giving water to you”. Tamil Nadu, represented by senior advocate C.S. Vaidyanthan, emphasised that the court must ensure that Karnataka should strictly follow the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) directions on water allocation.

CID raids under way at JSSC office in connection with Jharkhand recruitment exam irregularities

The Criminal Investigation Department on Monday (August 17, 2026) began conducting raids at the Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission office here in connection with its probe into irregularities in recruitment exams, an officer said.

Job aspirants have been protesting for 24 days now against irregularities in various recruitment examinations in Jharkhand.

BJP reshuffle: Ram Madhav, Smriti Irani, Biplab Deb in new national team; Piyush Goyal named treasurer

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday (August 17, 2026) announced a new team under its chief Nitin Nabin, naming 13 vice-presidents including Vasundhara Raje Scindia, Ram Madhav, D Purandeshwari.

Former Uttarakhand CM Tirath Singh Rawat, former Union Minister Bharti Pawar, Manpreet Singh Badal, and Tariq Mansoor were also named as vice-presidents.

Former Union Minister Smriti Irani, former Tripura CM Biplab Deb, Sunil Bansal, Vinod Tawde, Satish Poonia were among the eight new national general secretaries announced, as the party chose to retain B.L. Santhosh as national general secretary (organisation).

Seven dead in stampede in Bihar’s Ashok Dham temple

At least seven devotees were killed and a dozen others injured on Monday (August 17, 2026) in a stampede at Ashok Dham temple in Lakhisarai district, Bihar, due to a heavy rush of devotees at the temple.

An eyewitness said that two trains full of devotees had reached Lakhisarai railway station, and the devotees, mostly women, rushed to offer sacred water to Lord Shiva at the temple on the third auspicious Monday of the month of Shrawan. The rush led to a stampede at the temple after a bamboo barricade broke and an electric pole snapped at the site, they said.

About seven injured in stampede-like situation near Ujjain Mahakaleshwar Temple

A minor stampede-like situation emerged near the Mahakaleshwar Temple in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, as devotees thronged the holy city on the occasion of Nag Panchali on Monday (August 17, 2026) in the month of Saawan, resulting in about seven people needing medical attention due to injuries and panic.

As per initial information, a rumour about electric current in barricades caused panic among the devotees near the Harsidhi square, which led to falling of some barricades.

Ujjain Collector Roshan Kumar Singh, who reached the spot, told The Hindu that the situation was now under control and that some people who felt uneasy are being given medical care.

Tamil Nadu Minister Sarathkumar faces question in Assembly over action resembling ‘drug use’

Weeks after an old video clip showed D. Sarathkumar, currently Tamil Nadu Minister for Human Resources, indulging in an act that resembled preparation for snorting drugs surfaced, the issue figured in the Legislative Assembly on Monday (August 17, 2026).

The Minister, however, said he had already given his explanation (that he was powdering a tablet for his child on a mobile phone screen using a bank card). He wondered whether “drugs were sold at the gates of the [Chepauk] stadium,” as the alleged incident occurred during an IPL match when the DMK was in power.

Over 200 operatives of ISI-backed terrorist group arrested ahead of Independence Day: HM Amit Shah

More than 200 operatives of the ISI-backed terrorist group Shahzad Bhatti Network were arrested ahead of Independence Day across the country, said Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday (August 17, 2026).

He said the Modi government destroyed the ISI-backed terror group Shahzad Bhatti Network ahead of Independence Day. “Modi govt destroyed the ISI-backed terror group Shahzad Bhatti Network ahead of Independence Day and thwarted its plans for subversive attacks by arresting more than 200 operatives,” he posted on X.

Published - August 17, 2026 06:03 pm IST