Kannada actress Ranya Rao has been slapped with a massive ₹89 crore penalty by the Customs Department in the alleged gold smuggling case. The investigation reportedly uncovered a network involving 113 kg of gold brought from Dubai. Three other accused have also been penalised, taking the total amount beyond ₹244 crore.

The Andhra Pradesh High Court has scrapped the government order granting 34% reservation to Backward Classes for local body polls, stating it violates Supreme Court norms. Dismissing YSRCP's plea to wait for a BC census and completion of SIR exercise, the court cleared the decks for elections and instructed officials to start the poll process within six weeks.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had a phone call with US President Donald Trump to discuss trade, defence, and energy relations. Modi raised big concerns about new American sanctions targeting Russian oil buyers, which could hit India with heavy tariffs. Both leaders agreed to keep talking to protect their partnership, despite growing tensions over energy policies and trade deals.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge announced that all Opposition MPs will march to the Election Commission’s office on October 6. The move is part of the INDIA bloc’s planned protests over the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls and concerns raised by Opposition parties regarding the poll process.

The Delhi High Court has rejected the bail pleas of Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam in the 2020 Northeast Delhi riots larger conspiracy case. Both are facing charges under UAPA and other laws. The court cited the Supreme Court’s earlier ruling while denying relief.

Three people from Gujarat state in India went missing in Ethiopia after trying to enter the US illegally. The family had paid agents around 70 lakh each for the journey. But after they landed in Ethiopia on September 22, contact was lost. Kidnappers have now demanded 1 crore ransom from family for their release. The worried family members have filed a complaint and requested government intervention.

The Supreme Court has allowed early listing of a plea seeking suspension of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and challenging unilateral decisions by the Election Commission. Senior Advocate Vikas Singh mentioned the matter before CJI Surya Kant’s bench, stating that lack of unanimity in the Commission raises serious concerns.

The Indian stock market saw a massive drop today. The Sensex fell hard by 1,124 points to close around 72,771. Nifty also dropped over 360 points, landing below 22,800. Heavy selling across major banking and auto stocks wiped out nearly ₹8.9 lakh crore of investor wealth in just one single session.

The Supreme Court has refused to stay the new UPI charges on specified merchant transactions above ₹2,000. The court questioned the legal basis and character of the levy and sought affidavits from the Centre, RBI and NPCI. The matter will be examined further after their responses.

Looking for something different on OTT? Modha Rathri is now streaming on Netflix and has been getting strong word of mouth. This simple comedy drama mixes fun moments with emotional themes and natural performances. The first half especially stands out, while the second half has some mixed reactions. Still, it makes for an interesting one-time watch.

The proposed bank strike has been deferred following a meeting between the Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) and the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) tonight. The development brings temporary relief to bank customers, as services are expected to continue normally. Further details on the discussions and next steps are awaited.

SS Rajamouli was asked when fans can expect a film with Suriya. Rajamouli said he had expected the question but did not want to discuss their possible collaboration while promoting his current film. He explained that any talk about him and Suriya would become the headline and overshadow the film. He added that their future project would be special.

A heavy landslide occurred in Gaurikund on the Kedarnath route in Uttarakhand and has completely blocked the connectivity. Around 40 pilgrims from the Telugu states are stranded there. Devotees reported being stuck in their vehicles since 3 PM, facing severe difficulties as traffic has not been restored yet.

Nani’s The Paradise is making a good impact in the Hindi market, earning ₹5.50 crore net in just three days, according to trade reports. Despite a limited release across North India with shows mainly in single-screen theatres and no multiplexes, the film is reportedly gaining momentum among Hindi audiences.

India’s aviation sector is expected to need nearly 30,000 additional pilots as airlines have around 1,600 aircraft on order. The government is expanding Flight Training Organisation (FTO) networks across the country to help aspiring pilots train domestically instead of going abroad. The move aims to build a stronger pool of skilled aviators for India’s rapidly expanding aviation industry.

Two terrifying mass shootings hit South Africa over the weekend, leaving at least 27 people dead. Gunmen with rifles opened fire at a pub near Johannesburg, killing 17. Hours later, 10 more were killed at a shop close to Cape Town. Dozens were injured, and police still haven't caught anyone. People across the country are left in total shock.

A 44-year-old doctor from Hyderabad reportedly lost a staggering ₹14.61 crore in a fake online trading scam, making it one of Telangana’s biggest cyber fraud cases. The doctor was allegedly introduced to online trading through a woman on Facebook and was directed to a fake investment website. Cybercriminals convinced him to make multiple deposits before disappearing with the money.

Telugu-origin student Ashrit Talluri, just 14, has achieved a perfect 1600 out of 1600 on the SAT in the US. The Georgia-based student had already scored 1600 in three practice tests before taking the actual exam. Now studying in ninth grade, Ashrit also takes college-level courses through dual enrollment and hopes to become a neurosurgeon.

Summer Holidays is directed by Srikar and produced by Dheeraj Mogilineni. The team is now considering an October 17 release, with final discussions with the OTT platform reportedly underway. An official announcement is expected after those talks are concluded.

Amid the ongoing controversy over the Special Intensive Revision and opposition demands for Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation, the Election Commission has postponed two youth voter awareness programmes in Meerut and Varanasi. Kumar was scheduled to address the Meerut event on September 25 and interact with youth in Varanasi on September 28.