Coach Gambhir, not captain Rohit, addresses press on eve of Sydney Test

On this Special Report, the focus is on the legal and political fallout of Enforcement Directorate (ED) raids in West Bengal and the subsequent Supreme Court observations. Political Analyst Gargi Nandy Roy criticises the state administration, stating, 'the country right now knows that there is no rule of law in West Bengal.' She argues that the state police have been reduced to 'personal escorts' of Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders, justifying why central agencies might not provide prior intimation of raids. The discussion highlights allegations involving IPAC, Pratik Jain, and a coal scam link discovered in October 2025. Conversely, analyst Tauseef Ahmed raises concerns over the timing of the raids and the legal requirement for the ED to notify local police. The programme examines the tension between central investigative agencies and the state government ahead of elections, weighing the right to confidential political documents against the necessity of bona fide criminal probes.

Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar joined India Today to discuss the Supreme Court's decision to pause FIRs against Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials in West Bengal. The FIRs were linked to searches at the premises of political consultancy IPAC. Majumdar described the court's intervention as a 'supreme slap' to the Mamata Banerjee-led government, alleging that the Chief Minister personally orchestrated the obstruction of federal agencies. He claimed that the snatching of documents from ED officials by state authorities represents a 'heinous act' and a direct challenge to India's federal structure and sovereignty. Majumdar further alleged that IPAC was used to channelize 'scam money' from the coal scam during the Goa elections. He dismissed the opposition's claims of political vendetta regarding the timing of the investigation, asserting that finding a money trail takes time and that no entity should have immunity from corruption probes due to upcoming elections.

The Supreme Court has stayed three FIRs filed by the Kolkata Police against ED officials following searches at the premises of political consultancy I-PAC.

In this exclusive interaction with India Today, legendary conductor Zubin Mehta opens up about his deep-rooted connection to India and his firm political stances. Approaching his 90th birthday, Mehta explains his decision to retain his Indian citizenship despite decades of global acclaim, stating, 'The only reason is I never stopped being an Indian. That's the proof of it is I carry an Indian passport for all these years.' The maestro also discusses his 50-year journey in Israel and his recent decision to cancel all engagements there due to his objection to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's policies regarding Palestine. Mehta emphasizes that artists must take a stand on contentious issues, drawing parallels between his work with Israeli and Palestinian musicians in the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra and his historic 2013 concert in Kashmir. The conversation highlights his belief that music serves as a bridge across communal and political divides, transforming listeners into global citizens.