A Delhi court on Monday stayed the filing of an FIR against Abhijit Iyer Mitra, who has been accused of making derogatory and sexually abusive remarks against nine women journalists associated with online media outlet Newslaundry.

Purushottam Pathak, an Additional Sessions Judge, passed the interim order while hearing Mitra’s plea challenging a magistrate’s 23 April direction to register an FIR.

The court stayed the filing of the FIR till 28 May, the next date of hearing. A detailed order is awaited.

Allegations over posts targeting journalists

Mitra has been accused of posting derogatory tweets against Manisha Pande, editorial director of Newslaundry, along with eight other women journalists.

According to the complaint, a tweet dated 28 April 2025 containing the alleged remarks was submitted as evidence, along with another post dated 8 February 2025 in which Mitra allegedly made sexually abusive comments.

Earlier order flagged ‘sexually coloured remarks’

In its 23 April order, the magistrate court observed that the content of the posts qualified as sexually coloured remarks and appeared intended to insult the modesty of the complainants.

The court held that the allegations disclosed cognisable offences under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, specifically Sections 75 and 79.

“Police investigation is also necessary to trace and recover the computer/electronic device from which the said tweets were published. This court is also of the view that the action taken report filed in the case is not satisfactory,” the order said.

Interim relief, final decision pending

With the sessions court now granting interim relief, the matter will be taken up again on 28 May, when further arguments are expected.

The case centres on the legal threshold for initiating criminal proceedings in cases involving online speech and allegations of harassment targeting women journalists.

A crucial meeting of the trustees of Tata Trusts scheduled for 8 May is expected to have far-reaching implications for governance within the Tata Group, as well as the future of Tata Sons.

At the centre of the discussions is the proposed reappointment of Venu Srinivasan, chairman Emeritus of TVS Motor, and former defence secretary Vijay Singh. Their positions have gained significance given the ongoing differences among trustees over key strategic issues.

Tata Trusts holds a substantial influence over Tata Sons, with representation accounting for roughly one-third of the holding company’s board. Any change in trustee composition, particularly if Srinivasan were to step aside, could alter the balance of power and further complicate internal dynamics.

Legal experts note that recent regulatory developments have added another layer of complexity. Amendments to the Maharashtra Public Trusts Act, 1950 now limit the proportion of lifetime trustees to 25 per cent of the total board strength. According to Amit A Tungare, Managing Partner at Asahi Legal, the developments point to a broader contest over control of Tata Trusts, with direct implications for the composition of the Tata Sons board.

The debate also ties into the long-standing question of whether Tata Sons should pursue a public listing. Both Srinivasan and Singh are understood to favour such a move, while Noel Tata is believed to be more cautious, potentially seeking to avoid internal divergence on the issue.

People familiar with the matter indicate that the recent amendment provides some clarity but also raises questions around the tenure and structure of trusteeship, particularly in relation to lifetime appointments.

Meanwhile, regulatory pressure on Tata Sons has increased. The Reserve Bank of India has introduced a framework that could categorise large non-banking financial entities as part of an upper regulatory tier, often described as “shadow banks”. Given its asset size — estimated at Rs 1.75 trillion — Tata Sons could fall within this category, which entails stricter oversight.

Under earlier guidelines, Tata Sons, classified as a core investment company, was required to list by 30 September 2025. Although that deadline has passed, recent regulatory changes may influence the path forward.

As the trustees convene later this week, their decisions are likely to shape not only the governance of Tata Trusts but also the strategic direction of the wider Tata Group.

With PTI inputs

India’s benchmark equity indices surrendered a portion of their early gains on Monday as investors turned cautious and booked profits following a strong start to the session.

The BSE Sensex surged nearly 1,000 points in early trade to touch 77,910.75, while the Nifty 50 climbed close to the 24,300 level, buoyed by supportive domestic cues. However, by mid-afternoon, both indices had eased from their highs. The Sensex was up 334.24 points, or 0.43 per cent, at 77,247.74, while the Nifty traded 113.40 points higher, or 0.47 per cent, at 24,110.95.

Market participants attributed the pullback primarily to profit booking after the initial rally, which had been driven by encouraging April auto sales figures, softer crude oil prices earlier in the day and broadly favourable political signals.

Investor sentiment also remained under pressure due to continued selling by foreign institutional investors. Recent data showed sustained outflows, which have weighed on market momentum and limited the upside.

Political developments, including ongoing vote counting in several states, had a limited and short-lived influence on market direction.

According to V.K. Vijayakumar, chief investment strategist at Geojit Investments, market reactions to election trends are likely to remain temporary, with investors focusing more on global developments, particularly tensions in West Asia.

Currency movements added to the cautious mood. The Indian rupee weakened against the US dollar, reflecting pressure from rising crude oil prices and continued foreign capital outflows. Oil-importing economies such as India remain sensitive to fluctuations in global energy prices.

Brent crude prices edged higher during the session, reversing earlier losses and adding to inflationary concerns. The uptick in oil prices, alongside geopolitical uncertainties, contributed to the subdued sentiment in equities.

From a technical perspective, analysts noted signs of resilience despite the volatility. Anand James, Chief Market Strategist at Geojit Investments, said recent price patterns suggest that bulls are attempting to regain control, although elevated volatility levels may persist in the near term. He indicated that the Nifty could move towards the 25,000–25,600 range, with the immediate trading band seen between 24,050 and 24,350.

Overall, while domestic fundamentals provided early support, global uncertainties and cautious investor behaviour kept gains in check.

With IANS inputs

India’s air traffic witnessed a slowdown in April, with both domestic and international passenger volumes declining compared to March, according to figures released by the Ministry of Civil Aviation.

Domestic carriers handled around 14.08 million passengers during the month, marking a 4 per cent drop both year-on-year and on a monthly basis. The decline was more pronounced in international travel, where passenger numbers fell by 20 per cent month-on-month to approximately 2.83 million.

The dip has been attributed largely to disruptions in the West Asia, where ongoing tensions affected flight schedules and reduced connectivity across key transit routes.

However, there are signs of gradual recovery. The UAE’s aviation authorities recently confirmed the full restoration of normal air navigation services, following the withdrawal of precautionary restrictions. In response, both Indian and UAE airlines have begun scaling up services between the two countries.

Flight operations across other parts of the West Asia are also improving. Services from Saudi Arabia and Oman to India continue as scheduled, while airspace in Qatar remains partially accessible, with select airlines operating routes between the two countries.

Air traffic from Kuwait and Bahrain has normalised, with multiple carriers running regular services to India. Meanwhile, limited operations have resumed in Iraq and Israel, enabling onward travel to Indian destinations.

Iran’s airspace is still only partially open, primarily for cargo and chartered flights. Authorities have advised Indian nationals to avoid travel to the country and have encouraged those currently there to exit via land routes with assistance from the Indian Embassy. To date, over 2,500 Indian citizens have been helped to leave Iran through these arrangements.

While the situation remains fluid, aviation authorities indicate that connectivity between India and the West Asia is steadily stabilising.

With IANS inputs

Opposition parties in Odisha on Monday accused the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of failing to maintain law and order after a man was chased and brutally attacked in broad daylight in Puri district, triggering political outrage.

The incident occurred in Kanas area of Puri district on Saturday, where a group of assailants allegedly chased a man through a crowded marketplace, attacked him with a sharp weapon and ran over him with a motorcycle, according to police and local sources.

The victim, identified as 35-year-old Mrutyunjaya Bharimal of Dokanda village, was critically injured and initially taken to a local hospital before being shifted to AIIMS Bhubaneswar. His condition remains critical, police said.

Police cite past enmity, form teams to nab accused

Prateek Singh, the Puri Superintendent of Police, said preliminary findings suggest past enmity between rival groups may have led to the attack.

“The injured man has a criminal record. The Puri police have formed three special teams to nab the accused persons,” the SP said.

Sources indicated the assault took place barely half a kilometre from a police station, raising further concerns over security.

Opposition alleges breakdown of law and order

Former CM Naveen Patnaik said the incident showed that lawlessness in the state had “crossed all limits”.

“In what direction is the BJP government taking Odisha? The sight of miscreants banding together in broad daylight during the afternoon to brutally and mercilessly carry out a fatal attack on a young man has left the entire populace of Odisha shaken and terrified,” Patnaik said.

He questioned the state’s governance, asking, “Is there rule of law in Odisha, then? Due to the BJP government's inertia and incompetence, criminals are roaming about completely fearless. Ordinary citizens have been gripped by fear and terror.”

The Leader of Opposition further alleged that public trust in governance was eroding.

“People's trust in Odisha's governance system is on the verge of shattering. How much more disastrous does lawlessness have to become before the government wakes up from its slumber?” he asked.

Congress raises alarm over delayed action

Former state minister Bhakta Charan Das also criticised the state government, calling the incident a serious indicator of deteriorating law and order.

“The incident of brutal violence at Pipili Kanas Golabazar continues to raise serious concerns over the prevailing law & order situation in the state. Even after 24 hours, the absence of prompt and decisive action is deeply concerning. People of Odisha deserve a secure environment. BJP Govt must act firmly without delay to uphold law and order,” Das said.

The attack, captured in a widely circulated video, has intensified political sparring in the state, with opposition parties using the incident to question the BJP government’s handling of public safety.

Police said investigations are underway and efforts are on to identify and arrest those involved in the assault.

The injured people include six Tangkhul Naga individuals and one Kuki person; on April 28, three Tangkhul Naga individuals were injured in a similar gunfight in Ringui village.

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