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The CBI on Friday summoned former Kar Medical College principal Sandip Ghosh for the 14th consecutive day for questioning in connection with its probe into the alleged rape and murder of a postgraduate intern doctor in the early hours of August 9. Ghosh, officials said, has already been questioned by the agency for over 140 hours.

The ruling Congress in Karnataka has called for 'Raj Bhavan Chalo' on August 31 to inform Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot that he has approved an “illegal order” to prosecute Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in the alleged Mysuru Urban Development Authority site allotment “scam”. The party will also hold a district-level agitation, Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara told reporters on Friday. “Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, who is also the state president of the party, have decided to hold the 'Raj Bhavan Chalo' programme,” he said.

Union Minister Chirag Paswan on Friday dismissed rumours of a rift between his Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) and the BJP, saying he considers himself “inseparable” from Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Paswan said he was ready to contest the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections as an NDA partner “if the BJP wants”, and shed light on his uncle Pashupati Kumar Paras' recent meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

Speaking on the occasion of the release of Ambassador Rajiv Sikri's new book, 'Strategic Conundrums: Reshaping India's Foreign Policy', the External Affairs Minister said the era of uninterrupted dialogue with Pakistan was “over”. “I think the era of uninterrupted dialogue with Pakistan is over. Actions have consequences. And as far as Jammu and Kashmir is concerned, I think Article 370 is over. So the question today is what kind of relationship can we envisage with Pakistan?” [Sikri] suggests [in his book] “Maybe India is content to continue its relations at the present level. Maybe yes, maybe no… We are not passive. And whether events take a positive or negative direction, one way or the other, we will respond,” S Jaishankar said.

The Joint Committee of Parliament examining the Waqf (Amendment) Bill on Friday sought suggestions from stakeholders, experts and other institutions on the bill. The committee headed by BJP's Jagdambika Pal sought “views/suggestions from the public in general and NGOs, experts, stakeholders and institutions in particular” considering the “wider implications” of the bill.

The India Meteorological Department on Friday forecast heavy to very heavy rains in parts of Andhra Pradesh during the next three days starting August 30, accompanied by strong surface winds. It predicted heavy to heavy rains in parts of North Coastal Andhra Pradesh (NCAP), Yanam and South Coastal Andhra Pradesh (SCAP).

After the Supreme Court took strong exception to his reported remarks related to the bail granted to BRS MP K Kavitha, Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Friday said the remarks were taken out of context and expressed “unconditional regret” over the statements. In a message posted on social media platform ‘X’, he expressed his highest regard and full confidence in the country’s judiciary.

Former Union HRD Minister MM Pallam Raju said the recent demolition of his brother's sports project was carried out without prior notice and without taking into account prior permissions. Raju, a senior Congress leader from neighbouring Andhra Pradesh, also said he felt the pain of defamation of a clean record of three generations of public life.

Maharashtra Health Minister Tanaji Sawant said he used to sit next to his NCP peers during cabinet meetings but felt like vomiting after coming out, prompting a sharp reaction from the Ajit Pawar-led party. Speaking at an event on Thursday, Sawant, who is the Maharashtra Health Minister, said he was a die-hard Shiv Sainik and never got along with Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leaders.