Nerdiest India (2025)

02/10/2025

A woman in Mangaluru lost Rs 9.10 lakh after falling prey to an elaborate scam powered by AI-generated deepfake videos. The fraudulent clips, featuring Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Sudha Murty, promised government-backed investment schemes with guaranteed doubled returns. Persuaded by the seemingly authentic endorsements, the victim registered through a link in the Facebook video and was swiftly approached by scammers on WhatsApp, who coaxed her into making a series of payments totaling over Rs 9 lakh.

This incident marks a disturbing trend in India’s cybercrime landscape, where criminals are routinely leveraging deepfake technology to impersonate high-profile personalities and trick citizens into investing in nonexistent schemes. Cases in Bengaluru and across Karnataka show similar patterns, with victims targeted via convincing videos of well-known figures like spiritual leader Sadhguru and even Donald Trump. Industry analysts estimate nationwide losses due to AI-powered investment fraud could reach Rs 20,000 crore in 2025, prompting tech giants like Google to crack down on millions of scam advertisements.

Authorities and cybersecurity agencies are sounding the alarm, urging the public to be skeptical of investment offers encountered online and to verify any celebrity endorsements independently. As the sophistication of these scams increases, experts stress the importance of digital literacy and caution, warning that the human and financial costs will continue to rise unless citizens adapt to the threat posed by deepfake-driven cybercrime.

01/10/2025

A deeply disturbing incident has surfaced in Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu, leading to the arrest and suspension of two police constables on charges of ra**ng a 19-year-old woman.

The arrested constables, identified as Suresh Raj and Sunder, were attached to the Tiruvannamalai East Police Station. The victim, a native of Andhra Pradesh, was reportedly returning home in a goods-laden truck with her sister after delivering a consignment of vegetables and fruits to the local market.

The constables allegedly stopped the vehicle on the bypass road near Endal village under the guise of "regular verification of vehicle documents." Following this, they took the young woman to a secluded area past midnight where they committed the heinous crime before abandoning the spot.

After the incident, the victim was assisted by local residents in reaching the Government Medical College Hospital. Police authorities were alerted by the hospital staff. Senior officials, including the DIG (Vellore Range) and the SP (Tiruvannamalai), conducted an immediate inquiry and inspected the crime scene.

A case has been officially registered by the Tiruvannamalai All Women Police Station (AWPS). Both Suresh Raj and Sunder were subsequently arrested, suspended from service, and have been lodged at the Central Prison in Vellore. The community has voiced widespread outrage, demanding swift justice and stringent action against those who abuse their power.

01/10/2025

A 13-year-old boy from Afghanistan has survived a life-threatening journey after stowing away in the landing gear compartment of a commercial flight from Kabul to New Delhi. The incident occurred on Sunday, September 21, 2025.

The boy was discovered wandering on the tarmac at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport on Sunday morning after the Kam Air flight landed following its approximately 90-minute journey.

The boy reportedly hid in the rear central landing gear compartment of the aircraft. Conditions in this unpressurized and unheated section at cruising altitude are generally considered fatal, with temperatures dropping to extreme lows and oxygen levels plummeting. His survival has been called miraculous by experts, as the vast majority of "wheel-well stowaways" do not survive.

During questioning by Indian security forces (CISF), the boy, who is a native of Kunduz, Afghanistan, claimed he had intended to travel to Iran and mistakenly boarded the Delhi-bound flight.

Officials also quoted the boy as saying he made the attempt "out of curiosity," though such dangerous acts often highlight the desperate circumstances driving people to flee their home country. A small red audio speaker was recovered from the landing gear area.

Following security checks and questioning, the teenager was safely repatriated to Kabul on the same aircraft later that day.

The incident has raised serious questions about security protocols at Kabul airport, allowing a minor to sneak onto a passenger plane and survive such an ordeal.

01/10/2025

Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) General Secretary Aadhav Arjuna has been booked by the Greater Chennai City Police over a controversial social media post, which he subsequently deleted.

The post suggested that the youth of Tamil Nadu might have to resort to an "uprising" against the ruling government, drawing parallels to events in Sri Lanka and Nepal.

Police registered a case against Mr. Arjuna under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including provisions related to promoting enmity between different groups, intent to cause a riot, and making statements that conduce to public mischief.

The deleted post drew immediate and widespread condemnation from political quarters.

30/09/2025

Opposition parties such as TVK, ADMK, NTK, BJP, and PMK called for a CBI probe into the Karur tragedy due to suspicions of deliberate sabotage, lack of trust in the state-led investigation, and to ensure transparency.

TVK:
TVK asserts that a state-led inquiry lacks impartiality, citing political interference and possible sabotage in the tragedy’s handling. Vijay and TVK leaders insist that only a CBI probe can remove doubts, restore public trust, and bring genuine accountability by moving the investigation outside the ruling DMK’s influence.

ADMK:
ADMK condemns the state’s one-person commission as an “eyewash,” questioning its credibility since it reports to the government it should be investigating. Party leaders argue that only a CBI investigation, free from local political pressure and police involvement, can actually uncover the truth behind the security lapses and administrative failures.

PMK:
PMK states that the police, under direct supervision of the DMK government, cannot be trusted to investigate themselves. Dr. Anbumani Ramadoss specifically claims a state inquiry will “bury the truth,” thus demanding a CBI probe to guarantee transparency and impartiality for the victims and the public.

BJP:
BJP insists that State government inquiries lack objectivity due to inherent conflicts of interest and political control. Their leaders urge for a CBI investigation, arguing that only a central agency can conduct an independent and transparent probe, untainted by DMK’s administrative reach or blame games.

NTK:
NTK maintains that justice cannot be fully served through a state-led process, pointing to doubts about unbiased inquiry. Seeman and other NTK leaders join calls for a central, independent investigation such as by the CBI to restore faith in the outcome and ensure the tragedy’s causes are responsibly addressed.

30/09/2025

Actor-politician Vijay released an emotional video statement following the Karur rally stampede, which claimed 41 lives. Expressing deep sorrow, he said, “I have not faced a painful situation like this in my life. My heart aches.”

Vijay stressed that he prioritized public safety and had requested police support to avoid such incidents. Addressing allegations and the political fallout, he stated: “If you want to take revenge, do it to me. Please don’t touch my supporters.”

He offered condolences to victims’ families, promised support for the injured, and affirmed that the full truth will come out soon. Vijay’s message conveyed his commitment to continue his political journey and ensure safety at future events.

30/09/2025

Haifa’s mayor has officially acknowledged Indian cavalry's role in liberating the city from Ottoman forces during World War I, correcting a century-old historical record.

Israeli schools are now updating textbooks to honor the Indian Mysore, Hyderabad, and Jodhpur regiments, whose daring cavalry charge on September 23, 1918, is called “the last great cavalry campaign.”

The operation, led by Major Dalpat Singh (“Hero of Haifa”), resulted in a decisive victory and is commemorated as Haifa Day in India. Over 900 Indian soldiers who fell in the campaign are buried in Israel.

30/09/2025

Gitanjali Angmo, wife of Ladakh activist Sonam Wangchuk, called out double standards after PM Modi's photo with Bangladesh interim leader Muhammad Yunus surfaced. She questioned why Wangchuk's own meeting with Yunus had triggered suspicions, including recent Pakistan-link allegations, while the PM's involvement faced no scrutiny.

Wangchuk, currently detained under the NSA after deadly unrest in Leh over Ladakh's Sixth Schedule, is accused of "foreign links" by police. Angmo insisted their visits to countries like Pakistan were for climate conferences organized by the UN, dismissing all allegations as politically motivated.

30/09/2025

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. K. Stalin announced that the state government will draft comprehensive guidelines for all public gatherings to ensure the safety of participants, following the tragic stampede at a recent rally in Karur.

Terming the incident a "terrible tragedy," Stalin emphasized that preventing such accidents is the collective responsibility of all stakeholders, including political parties and public organizations.

The CM stated that the new rules and regulations will be formulated after consulting with all political parties and public organizations, once the Justice Aruna Jagadeesan commission's report on the incident is received.

He also appealed to the public to refrain from spreading "irresponsible and malicious news" about the tragedy on social media.

29/09/2025

Team India clinched a record-extending ninth Asia Cup title on Sunday, September 28, 2025, defeating arch-rivals Pakistan by five wickets in a dramatic and controversy-filled final at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

In a low-scoring but high-tension match, India successfully chased down Pakistan's total of 146 with just two balls to spare.

Key Highlights:

Pakistan Collapse: After a strong opening partnership of 84 runs between Sahibzada Farhan (57) and Fakhar Zaman (46), the Pakistani innings dramatically collapsed, losing their last nine wickets for just 33 runs to be all-out for 146 in 19.1 overs.

Kuldeep Yadav's Magic: Left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav was the wrecker-in-chief for India, picking up a sensational 4 wickets for 30 runs and breaking the backbone of the middle order.

Tilak Varma's Heroics: Chasing 147, India were in trouble early at 36/3. However, young left-hander Tilak Varma anchored the innings with a brilliant, unbeaten 69 runs off 53 balls, building crucial partnerships with Sanju Samson and Shivam Dube (33). He finished the job with a huge six in the final over, before Rinku Singh hit the winning boundary. Varma was named Player of the Match.

Post-Match Controversy:

The victory was overshadowed by controversy, as the Indian team refused to participate in the official post-match ceremony and did not accept the trophy from the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) Chairman, Mohsin Naqvi (who is also a Pakistan government minister), due to political tensions.

The victory marks India's third win over Pakistan in this tournament alone, cementing their current dominance in the historic rivalry.

28/09/2025

Before the Karur Incident:

The feud began with AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS) repeatedly accused the DMK government of sending empty ambulances through opposition rallies to deliberately disrupt their meetings and create negative PR, claiming this happened “in at least 30 meetings”. EPS even “warned” that if it continues, the ambulance drivers would have to be taken as patients themselves.

After the Karur incident:

The AIADMK leader questioned the official police statement, which claimed the permitted gathering of 10,000 swelled to 27,000 people. He implied that the police and government were attempting to "shirk their responsibility" by feigning ignorance about the actual crowd size, a number he suggested they should have been aware of.

EPS explicitly demanded a full investigation into the factors contributing to the tragedy, raising serious questions about the event management and the motives behind certain interruptions.

While prioritizing the human cost of the "unprecedented and shocking event," EPS also criticized the main organizer (Vijay) for reportedly not visiting the victims and their families in the hospital following the incident. The death of 39 people at a political meeting is a "horrifying" and unparalleled incident in the state's history and must be addressed with immediate, future-proofing measures.

Vijay & TVK:

The TVK party has taken the matter to the Madras High Court, demanding a court-monitored or CBI probe into the stampede. The party's lawyer suggested that they suspect a "conspiracy" led to the incident.

Hours after the incident, the TVK chief released a statement on social media, expressing profound grief. He stated that his "heart is shattered" and he was in "unbearable, indescribable pain and sorrow."

Vijay announced an ex-gratia relief of ₹20 lakh each to the families of those who died in the tragedy and ₹2 lakh each to those who were injured and are receiving treatment. He described the loss as "irreparable" but stressed it was his duty to stand by the victims' families.

On-Site Action: During the stampede, Vijay immediately halted his address and urged the crowd to make way for emergency ambulances. He also attempted to calm the situation and reportedly threw water bottles to people in distress before eventually cutting his speech short and departing for Chennai.

DMK Government:

The Chief Minister announced ex-gratia relief from the Chief Minister's Relief Fund:₹10 lakh each to the families of the deceased victims. ₹1 lakh each to those injured and undergoing treatment.

The Chief Minister termed the loss of lives at a political event as "unprecedented" in the state's history. While he refrained from making political comments ahead of the judicial report, the state police, operating under the government, have registered FIRs against senior TVK leaders for organizational lapses. DMK leaders have also made veiled criticisms of TVK's leadership for their handling of the aftermath.

CM Stalin assured the public that the truth would be revealed through the inquiry commission and that "strict action will definitely be taken" based on the findings.

The tragedy has led to intense scrutiny of the event's crowd management, with both the state government and TVK facing questions regarding organizational lapses and police deployment.

28/09/2025

External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar delivered a powerful statement at the General Debate of the 80th session of the UN General Assembly in New York (September 27, 2025), asserting that the United Nations is currently in a "state of crisis" and suffering from eroded credibility.

Key Highlights from the Address:

Urgent UN Reform: The EAM stated that resistance to reform is central to the UN's credibility crisis, resulting in gridlock when peace is threatened. He reiterated the need to correct the "historical injustice done to Africa" and expand both permanent and non-permanent membership of the Security Council, affirming that India stands ready to assume greater responsibilities.

War on Terror: Targeting terrorism as a shared global threat, the EAM explicitly called out India's neighbour as an "epicentre of global terrorism" and a country where terror hubs operate on an industrial scale. He demanded that nations must unequivocally condemn state-sponsored terrorism, choke its financing, and sanction prominent terrorists.

Global Challenges: The address highlighted the slow progress on the SDG Agenda, a reality of "recirculated commitments" on climate change, and the "open discrimination" in vaccine and travel access witnessed during the pandemic.

India's Vision: The EAM outlined India's foreign policy guided by three core concepts: Atmanirbharta (self-reliance), Atmaraksha (securing one's interests, with zero-tolerance for terrorism), and Atmavishwas (self-confidence, remaining a firm voice of the Global South).

Call for Peace: India called for an end to hostilities in major conflicts, specifically mentioning Ukraine and Gaza, and pledged support for any initiative that helps restore peace.

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