ED quizzes Ashok Gehlot's son Vaibhav's business partner

On this news bulletin, the focus is on Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin's sharp critique of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The Unidentified speaker reports that Stalin mocked Prime Minister Narendra Modi regarding the BJP's performance in the 2024 parliamentary elections, specifically highlighting that 'the BJP did not manage to win a single seat in Tamil Nadu'. Furthermore, the Chief Minister targeted AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami, labeling him a 'loser' and asserting that 'EPS has not won a single election since 2019'. The report underscores the intensifying political rivalry in Tamil Nadu as Stalin reminds the Prime Minister of the NDA's electoral vacuum in the state. The programme details these political jibes which aim to diminish the standing of both the national ruling party and the primary state opposition in the wake of recent election results.

On this special report, the focus is on the announcement of the Padma Awards 2026, which honour icons and grassroots change-makers across India. Former UGC Chairperson Mamidala Jagadesh Kumar, who has been conferred with the Padma Shri, shared his vision for the future of Indian academia. He stated, 'These reforms will be carried out at scale so that, you know, our country's higher education will reach the next level and help our students become, you know, global leaders in science and technology.' The bulletin highlights other major recipients, including late actor Dharmendra and late former Kerala CM V S Achuthanand for the Padma Vibhushan. The list also features sports icons Rohit Sharma and Harmanpreet Kaur, alongside industrialist Uday Kotak. Kumar noted that the awards now increasingly recognise 'unsung heroes' working selflessly in remote areas, providing great motivation for those serving society. The 2026 awards see a significant representation from Southern states, particularly Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

On this edition of Postmortem, Anjali Stewart examines the deteriorating law and order situation in Punjab, where gang violence has increasingly targeted public gatherings. Stewart highlights chilling incidents, including the January 2026 assassination of an Aam Aadmi Party Sarpanch at an Amritsar wedding and the daylight killing of Kabaddi promoter Rana Balachuria in Mohali. 'Crime is unbridled, murder, gun and gang glorification and festering drug problem,' Stewart notes, pointing to the influence of foreign-based gangsters and the glorification of weapons in music. The report also delves into the state's devastating drug crisis, featuring the tragic story of a family in Jagrao that lost seven members to addiction. While Punjab Police cite statistics showing a lower crime rate than the national average, political critics argue the situation is 'totally out of control.' The programme explores the complex challenges of cross-border narco-terrorism and the social impact of unmitigated gun culture on the youth of Punjab.

On this edition of Postmortem, the focus is on two major crime investigations: the systemic failure of British authorities to stop Pakistani grooming gangs and the Haryana Police's crackdown on music glorifying gun culture. The programme highlights the 'systematic rape, abuse and exploitation of young girls by organized gangs' in the UK, citing decades of institutional neglect due to political correctness. It further explores the recent rescue of a 16-year-old girl in Hounslow by the Sikh community. Shifting focus to India, the report details how the Haryana Special Task Force has removed 67 songs from digital platforms like YouTube and Spotify. These tracks were flagged for 'glorifying weapons, violence and even attempting to intimidate the judiciary.' The police argue that such content normalises criminal lifestyles for the youth, while some artists call for a uniform law against vulgarity and violence across all musical genres.