 "FirstUp: Prajwal Revanna likely to be arrested, GDP Q4 data release... The headlines today")
It is set to be a defining Friday in the subcontinent today.
Suspended JD(S) MP Prajwal Revanna, facing sexual abuse charges, is set to arrive in Bengaluru from Munich early today after a special court rejected his anticipatory bail plea.
Amid election buzz, India is set to release GDP growth numbers for the fourth quarter of FY24 and the full fiscal year today, with analysts expecting surprisingly better-than-expected growth for the January to March quarter.
A court is likely to decide on today whether to take cognisance of a supplementary charge sheet filed by the Enforcement Directorate against BRS leader K Kavitha in an excise policy-linked money laundering case.
We dig deeper:
Revanna arrest inevitable?
The police are on high alert to execute the arrest warrant against the absconding JD(S) leader upon his arrival at the airport.
Sources in the Special Investigation Team (SIT) indicate that the 33-year-old grandson of JD(S) supremo HD Deve Gowda is expected to arrive in Bengaluru in the early hours of May 31.
“He has booked a Lufthansa Airlines flight from Munich to Bengaluru. The flight is scheduled to depart Munich on Thursday afternoon and arrive in Bengaluru at 12:05 am on Friday,” an official stated.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsThe SIT is maintaining surveillance at Kempegowda Airport in Bengaluru to apprehend him immediately upon landing.
The MP, who is running for re-election as the NDA candidate from the Hassan Lok Sabha segment, fled the country on 27 April. This followed news that the Karnataka State Commission for Women had requested Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to order an investigation into a large cache of explicit videos allegedly showing him sexually assaulting several women.
Will the economy get a boost?
Amid the election buzz in the country, India is poised to release the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth figures for the fourth quarter of FY24, along with the full fiscal year data, on Friday. Analysts are eagerly anticipating whether the numbers will exceed expectations, predicting surprisingly strong growth for the January to March quarter.
These growth figures will be released as Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeks a third term after a decade in power. India’s economic progress has been a cornerstone of the Modi government’s election campaigns, which will conclude just one day before the new growth data is published
BRS leader Kavitha in excise policy case
A Delhi court is expected to issue its decision on Friday regarding the cognisance of a supplementary charge sheet filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) against Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leader K Kavitha in connection with an excise policy-linked money laundering case.
Special Judge for ED and CBI matters, Kaveri Baweja, reserved the order after reviewing the anti-money laundering agency’s assertion that it possesses sufficient evidence to prosecute her. The ED also claimed it has adequate evidence to prosecute Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in the same case
Link Pan Card with Aadhaar deadline
The income tax department has reminded taxpayers to link their PAN with Aadhaar by today to avoid higher tax deductions. According to income tax rules, if a Permanent Account Number (PAN) is not linked with biometric Aadhaar, Tax Deducted at Source (TDS) will be deducted at double the applicable rate.
Last month, the income tax department issued a circular stating that no action will be taken for short deduction of TDS if the assessee links their PAN with Aadhaar on time.
Shangri-La Dialogue opens!
The fraught relationship between China and the United States is expected to dominate Asia’s top security meeting this week, alongside discussions on the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, and ongoing tensions in the South China Sea. The Shangri-La Dialogue, which brings together top defense officials, senior military officers, diplomats, weapons manufacturers, and security analysts from around the world, will take place from 31 May to 2 June in Singapore.
Approximately 600 delegates from nearly 50 countries will attend the meeting, which will begin with a keynote address by Filipino President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. He has expressed concerns about new South China Sea rules outlined by China’s coast guard, describing them as an escalation and “worrisome.”
Today in History - 31 May
World No Tobacco Day
Every year on 31 of May, World No Tobacco Day is observed to raise awareness about the harmful effects of tobacco use and to advocate for effective policies to reduce its consumption.
Organised by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and its partners, this day highlights the health risks associated with tobacco use, including its link to diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases, respiratory disorders, and other serious health conditions. Additionally, it emphasises the economic and environmental impact of tobacco production and consumption.
With inputs from agencies
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