Ashutosh Negi, the Uttarakhand journalist whose petition first sought a Central Bureau of Investigation probe into the 2022 murder of Ankita Bhandari, says he told the agency there had been “clear high-handedness from the very beginning of this case.” Negi, editor of the news outlet Jago Uttarakhand, was questioned at CBI headquarters in New Delhi on October 27. The agency is investigating the alleged involvement of an unidentified “VIP” in the murder of the 19-year-old resort receptionist. Speaking to Influencing on October 28, Negi said he was at the agency from 10.30 am until about 4 pm. He said investigators asked him several questions. “I told them that there had been clear high-handedness from the very beginning of this case,” he said. Negi said the Vanantara resort near Rishikesh, where Bhandari worked, should not have been demolished because it was a crime scene. Authorities partially demolished the resort in September 2022, days after

Thursday, 29 October 2026 #1  ·  Front Page  ·  Breaking news SC removes Oct 30 deadline for additions to Delhi electoral roll By Dhananjay Mahapatra   ·   The Times of India, New Delhi  ·  Page Page 5 The Supreme Court, hearing petitions challenging the deletion of over 43 lakh voters from Delhi's draft electoral rolls on grounds of 'permanently shifting out', directed the Election Commission not to enforce the October 30 deadline for additions and to continue distributing and receiving enumeration forms. The bench of CJI Surya Kant questioned why previously registered voters whose names were deleted were being asked to fill Form 6 — meant for first-time voters — instead of Form 8, and said it would examine the legality of the 'logical discrepancy' criterion used for deletions in detail at a later date. Mahapatra, one of India's most experienced Supreme Court correspondents,

The Digital News Publishers Association (DNPA) has welcomed the Centre’s offer to discuss media concerns about the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, saying it hopes provisions affecting journalists will be reviewed. “We are happy that the Supreme Court and the Centre have acknowledged our concerns, and we look forward to a fruitful dialogue. Our demands are genuine, and we hope that some of the provisions in the DPDP Act that impose restrictions on press freedom will be reviewed,” said Sujata Gupta, Secretary General, DNPA. Information Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on October 28 invited editors and media professionals to engage with the government on the legislation. He also said the law does not infringe on press freedom. “The journalistic freedom is guaranteed by the Constitution of India. That freedom is absolutely available. There is not even an intention to affect the journalistic freedom,” he said. Vaishnaw said the law was fr

India’s media and entertainment (M&E) industry has bounced back from slower growth, expanding by 9 per cent in 2025 to reach 2.78 lakh crore, according to Information and Broadcasting Secretary Chanchal Kumar. Speaking at the CII Big Picture Summit in Mumbai, Kumar highlighted India’s large domestic market, cultural diversity, storytelling traditions and young creative workforce as strengths in an evolving global media industry. He called for greater investment in intellectual property, sustainable revenue models and financial discipline to support the sector’s long-term expansion. Kumar also highlighted the government’s efforts to create an environment where creative businesses can scale and compete internationally. He pointed to the WAVES platform as an initiative connecting Indian creative industries with global markets, with its next edition scheduled for Mumbai in October 2027. The growth comes as digital consumption, creator-led content and live

Inflation shock puts a Cup Day rate rise back on the table A hotter-than-expected inflation read (4.3 per cent) has markets and economists bracing for another Reserve Bank hike, potentially as soon as Melbourne Cup Day, with talk of the cash rate pushing above 5 per cent. Beyond household mortgage stress, the political sting is growing: Treasurer Jim Chalmers is being pressed to find spending restraint and is also facing scrutiny over who is to blame for persistent price pressures. Covered by: Australian Financial Review, Australian Financial Review, Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, The Australian, The Advertiser, Herald Sun, Daily Telegraph, The West Australian. Albanese under fire over Marrickville golf club grant: “Come clean” demands The Prime Minister is facing escalating pressure over a $6 million funding decision linked to Marrickville Golf Club, with the Opposition accusing Anthony Albanese and Minister Catherine King of misleading parliament about whether sewera

Journalist Siddique Kappan has said his two bank accounts remain frozen as he awaits a Supreme Court hearing on November 2 on his plea for the release of his passport for renewal. “My two bank accounts are frozen. And my passport is already expired in 2021,” Kappan told Influencing India. He said his salary account with the State Bank of India in New Delhi was also frozen and confirmed that he had sought relief for the account through the same plea. Asked whether he expected to get his passport back at the next hearing, Kappan said, “Yes, sure, sure, sure.” He clarified that he was seeking the passport only for renewal. The Supreme Court on October 27 deferred the hearing on his application after the Uttar Pradesh government sought time to obtain instructions. The matter will now be heard on November 2. Notably, Kappan's passport was deposited with investigating authorities as part of the Supreme Court's bail conditions in the Hathras conspiracy c

Fifteen days after seeking an urgent meeting with the Centre and Delhi Police over the alleged harassment and detention of digital and independent journalists at Jantar Mantar, DIGIPUB News India Foundation is awaiting a response and exploring legal options. “We are waiting for a response to the meeting request. However, we are also looking at the legal aspect,” Dhanya Rajendran, co-founder and Editor-in-Chief of The News Minute and founding chairperson of DIGIPUB News India Foundation, told Influencing India. In a letter dated October 12, addressed to Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and the Delhi Police Commissioner, the foundation sought an urgent meeting to raise concerns over the treatment of journalists covering events at the protest site. Protests at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar over alleged irregularities in the Election Commission’s voter roll revision sparked tensions with police. Notably, as many as 37 digital and independent