The Supreme Court is now considering a string of petitions against the newly passed Waqf Act, 2025. The court has suspended on a temporary basis the enforcement of some provisions until the case is heard further. Major areas being questioned are waqf-by-user, the powers vested with District Collectors to modify contested waqf properties, and the presence of non-Muslims in Waqf Boards and Councils.
India’s Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna, who presided over the three-judge panel, said, “We do not stay a legislation normally at this stage of the challenge unless in exceptional circumstances. This appears to be an exception.” India’s Waqf (Amendment) Act has caused outrage nationwide since recently passing Parliament.
In another verdict, the Supreme Court affirmed the ruling of the Bombay High Court regarding permission for Urdu signage on the building of the Patur Municipal Council in Maharashtra. The court said, “Language is not religion. Language does not even represent religion. Language belongs to a community, to a region, to a people; and not to a religion.” This case was in regard to signage on the Patur Municipal Council building in the city of Akola, with Urdu and Marathi now permissible.
Mehul Choksi Arrested in Belgium
Fugitive diamond merchant Mehul Choksi, who is accused in the Rs. 13,500 crore Punjab National Bank loan fraud case, has been arrested in Belgium. The arrest comes on the back of extradition proceedings moved by the CBI and Enforcement Directorate. Choksi had escaped India in 2018, just ahead of the scam hitting the headlines.
The authorities last month found him living in Antwerp with his wife, Preeti Choksi, a Belgian citizen. Complications arising from his Antiguan citizenship could, however, delay the extradition process. India can expect to go through a long legal process before Choksi is extradited to face trial, according to experts.
BluSmart Suspends Services Amid SEBI Probe
Electric cab aggregator BluSmart has suspended its operations amid a crackdown by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI). The probe is into Gensol Engineering, which bought EVs hired out to BluSmart. Founders Anmol Singh Jaggi and Puneet Singh Jaggi, who are also BluSmart promoters, have been alleged to have used enormous loan funds for personal use, such as buying a luxury apartment in Gurgaon.
The SEBI order has created serious doubts regarding BluSmart’s financial model and governance. The company’s future is uncertain as investigations continue.
Hajj Setback, Bollywood Buzz & Paneer Row
More than 42,000 Indian pilgrims will lose Hajj this year because the Combined Haj Group Operators (CHGOs) failed to take up more than 52,000 places made available by Saudi Arabia. But with India’s intervention, the Saudi government has permitted private operators to take 10,000 pilgrims. The incident leaves one wondering about the function and responsibility of CHGOs.
In the world of entertainment, Kesari Chapter 2, where Akshay Kumar features, has brought India’s nationalist jurist Sir Chettur Sankaran Nair into focus. The film revolves around the legal fight made by Nair against British imperialism after the Jallianwala Bagh massacre. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also sang Nair’s praises recently, leading to greater public interest in the historical leader.
Meanwhile, a row broke out after YouTuber Sarthak Sachdeva accused Gauri Khan’s restaurant Torii in Mumbai of selling adulterated paneer. In a viral video, Sachdeva performs an iodine test that turns the paneer blue, a potential indicator of starch-based adulteration. This has raised questions about food safety, although experts caution that the iodine test by itself might not establish the quality of paneer.
