New DelhiMay 12, 2026 02:52 AM IST Senthil Balaji. (Express photo by Arun Janardhanan)THE SUPREME Court on Monday dismissed appeals challenging the Madras High Court order directing a CBI investigation into an alleged Rs 397 crore-scam in the purchase of transformers by the Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation Limited (TANGEDCO) between 2021 and 2023 when V Senthil Balaji was the electricity minister. A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta refused to entertain the appeals challenging the April 29, 2026 High Court order transferring the probe from the TN Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) to the CBI.Though the appellants contended that there was no prayer before the HC seeking a CBI investigation, the SC said courts can order CBI probe even without any such prayer. “We don’t need a prayer. It depends upon how the court feels,” the court said. The bench clarified that the investigation shall not be influenced by the observations made by the High Court. The Madras HC order came on a plea by NGO Arappor Iyakkam and some AIADMK members. The HC said though the NGO had sought criminal investigation against public servants of TANGEDCO, including Financial Controller V Kasi, Chairman and Managing Director Rajesh Lakhoni, firms allegedly involved in the corruption, Balaji and other public servants, the government accorded prior approval for conducting enquiry only against Kasi. It said the state authorities “have failed to provide any explanation or justification for their decision to refrain from taking action against the other individuals. Despite the allegations levelled against these parties, the specific reasoning or evidence that influenced the authorities’ choice to exclude them from the current proceedings remains entirely undisclosed.” The HC said though DVAC asked for approval to conduct a detailed enquiry, the government granted approval only for preliminary enquiry.Story continues below this ad “We find that the timeline for providing prior approval as per Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act is only three months with provision of extension by a maximum of one month. The huge delay in providing prior approval is unexplained,” said the HC. It said “the excessive and unjustified delay in granting permission, coupled with the decision to downgrade the investigation from a detailed enquiry [without registration of an FIR] to a preliminary enquiry and limit its scope solely to Kasi, strongly suggests an attempt by the government and relevant authorities to suppress the truth and these actions create a reasonable suspicion of a cover-up designed to shield high-ranking officials and political figures, thereby undermining the integrity of a free, independent and fair investigation.” “Considering the fact that the matter was pending consideration for over three years and was abruptly concluded while the court was hearing the case, coupled with unexplained delays that exceeded all legal timelines, we are of the view that the entire process is fundamentally biased and devoid of the essential standards of fairness,” said the court. Transferring the probe to CBI, the HC said, “In the present case, the procedures adopted by both the state and the DVAC are so heavily marked by unfairness that they fail to inspire any public confidence, creating an absolute necessity for an independent enquiry to ensure the integrity of the investigation. All the allegations levelled in the complaints concern public contracting under the authority of the state and are directed against persons who occupy high constitutional and political office in the state. In such circumstances, leaving the matter to be investigated by agencies that function under the administrative control of the state would raise a serious and reasonable apprehension in the public mind about institutional independence… An investigation must be not only fair, but must also appear fair.”
PuneUpdated: May 11, 2026 10:26 PM IST The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) expressed strong protest regarding the sexual assaults and atrocities committed on small children in Pune and nearby areas. They demanded strict and severe punishment for the accused. (Express Photo by Pavan Khengre)The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Monday staged a protest at Kalakar Katta in Pune to condemn the rising cases of atrocities against women in the city and to demand justice for the victims of two recent incidents. In one incident a three-year old girl was raped and murdered while in another, a man allegedly attempted to assault a 9-year-old.For the past few days, there has been a sense of deep unrest among the public due to several incidents of violence against girls in Pune, AAP said in a press release. The latest report from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) of the Government of India revealed that Maharashtra ranks second in the country for crimes against women. The highest number of crimes against children has been recorded in Maharashtra. According to this report, eight rape cases occur daily in the state, while a massive number of cases remain pending for police investigation, the party said. Maharashtra leads the country with 78,726 pending cases, and 3,29,000 cases are currently pending in courts. “It is not enough for state ministers to merely express anger; they need to answer for the systemic changes they intend to implement,” the protestors stated. They emphasised that strict enforcement of the law, fast-track justice, and ensuring swift punishment for the guilty are necessary to instill fear in criminals. The party demanded a “zero-tolerance” policy regarding crimes against women and children. Additionally, they urged the police to coordinate with schools, parents, and the administration to ensure the safety of children.Story continues below this ad The protest saw the participation of AAP Women’s Wing President Aarti Karanjavane, along with Surekha Bhosale, Madhuri Gaikwad, Sheetal Kandelkar, State Spokesperson Mukund Kirdat, City President Sudarshan Jagdale, Dhananjay Benkar, among others.
New DelhiUpdated: May 10, 2026 01:54 PM IST The lawsuit argues that Samsung financially benefited by creating the impression that Dua Lipa endorsed the televisions (Photo: @RobertFreundLaw/X)Singer-songwriter Dua Lipa has filed a $15 million lawsuit against Samsung, accusing the electronics giant of using her image on television packaging without authorisation or compensation. According to the complaint filed Friday, Samsung allegedly began placing Lipa’s photograph on TV boxes last year. A report in Yahoo Canada states that after discovering the use, the singer reportedly demanded that the company stop distributing the packaging, but the lawsuit claims Samsung refused and responded in a “dismissive and callous” manner.The filing states, “Ms Lipa’s face was prominently used for a mass marketing campaign for a consumer product without her knowledge, without consideration, and as to which she had no say, control, or input whatsoever.” It further says, “Ms Lipa did not allow and would not have allowed this use.” The lawsuit argues that Samsung financially benefited by creating the impression that Lipa endorsed the televisions, despite there being no partnership or approval from the artist. Court documents say Lipa owns the copyright to the image in question, a backstage photograph reportedly taken during the 2024 Austin City Limits Festival. The complaint also cites posts from X users to support claims that consumers were influenced by the apparent endorsement. Yesterday, Dua Lipa sued Samsung for using her image on TV boxes without permission. She seeks actual damages of at least $15 million. She alleges straightforward claims for violating her publicity rights and false endorsement, in addition to copyright and trademark claims.… pic.twitter.com/tUkJ5xg5cn — Rob Freund (@RobertFreundLaw) May 9, 2026 The incident has taken over social media, with users reacting to it. “That’s literally a Google TV screenshot. Samsung is not going to pay a cent. She should sue Google TV perhaps,” a user wrote. “This is so bad. Especially given so many creators would happily have been on the box for free,” another user commented. “Celebrities are so watered down no one knows who… is famous and who is a random person,” a third user reacted.Story continues below this ad DISCLAIMER: This article provides an overview of legal developments involving celebrity image rights and corporate litigation; it is intended for informational purposes and does not constitute legal advice.
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