Here's a summary of the latest news:
EC Responds to Rahul Gandhi's 'Vote Theft' Remarks
The Election Commission of India (ECI) has strongly refuted allegations made by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who claimed the poll body was complicit in "vote theft" for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The ECI dismissed these assertions as "baseless" and "irresponsible," affirming its commitment to conducting elections in a fair, impartial, and transparent manner. The Commission has instructed election officials to ignore such unfounded claims and continue working with neutrality and transparency.
Gandhi alleged that the Congress possessed "open and shut" proof of electoral irregularities, describing the evidence as an "atom bomb" that would expose the Election Commission. He claimed the alleged irregularities began with the 2023 Madhya Pradesh Assembly elections and extended to the 2024 Lok Sabha polls and voter revisions in Maharashtra. According to Gandhi, the party conducted an independent investigation after receiving no cooperation from the Election Commission.
The ECI has urged all election officials to stay focused on their duties and not be swayed by what it called "irresponsible and politically motivated" remarks. Union Minister Kiren Rijiju called Gandhi's accusations a "huge conspiracy to weaken democracy" and a "malicious plan to discredit constitutional organizations".
Prajwal Revanna Convicted in Rape Case
Prajwal Revanna, a former Janata Dal (Secular) [JD(S)] MP from Hassan and grandson of former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda, has been convicted in a rape case. The Special Court of Sessions for criminal cases against former and present MPs and MLAs delivered the judgment. This is the first conviction in one of the four cases filed against him. The quantum of the sentence will be pronounced on August 2.
The case was based on a complaint filed by a 47-year-old domestic worker. She accused Revanna of raping her twice at the family's farmhouse in Gannikada, Hassan district, and once at their residence in Basavanagudi, Bengaluru. The chargesheet alleges that the victim was raped by the accused twice in 2021.
Revanna was booked under Sections 376(2)(k) (rape by someone in a position of control), 376(2)(n) (repeated rape), and 66E (violation of privacy) of the Indian Penal Code, and the Information Technology Act. The Special Investigation Team (SIT) filed a 1,632-page chargesheet with 113 witnesses in the case in September 2024. The trial commenced on May 2, 2025, and concluded after daily hearings in just over two months.
According to a reporter in the courtroom, Revanna broke down upon hearing the news of his conviction. After allegations surfaced in April 2024, Revanna fled to Germany and returned in May following a blue corner notice. He has been in jail since last June.
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