Stories from earlier this week and beyond.
Former IndusInd Bank CFO Gobind Jain has filed a ₹70-crore lawsuit in the Bombay High Court, alleging wrongful termination. He is seeking ₹20 crore for lost earnings and ₹50 crore for reputational damage and mental trauma. The suit claims Jain repeatedly tried to resign and demanded an external audit into alleged accounting lapses.
The NCLAT has dismissed Vedanta Ltd’s plea against the Gautam Adani group’s winning bid for bankrupt Jaiprakash Associates. The tribunal found Vedanta’s petitions without merit and upheld the Committee of Creditors’ ₹14,535-crore decision. Jaiprakash had entered insolvency after failing to repay bank dues exceeding ₹57,000 crore.
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Sebi Chairman Tuhin Kanta Pandey said India’s banking and insurance regulators are not in favour of allowing lenders and insurers to trade in commodity markets, citing legitimate concerns. Separately, Sebi is preparing an advisory on emerging AI risks, warning that powerful models can exploit weaknesses at speed. The regulator is also set to roll out C-KYC 2.
Individual investors trimmed direct equity exposure for a third straight quarter, even as mutual fund holdings climbed to an all-time high. The shift was powered by strong retail inflows into MFs. At the same time, foreign ownership slid to a 14-year low amid risk-off sentiment, while domestic institutional holdings rose to a fresh peak.
Shares in several West Bengal-linked companies rose Monday after BJP’s victory in the state assembly polls. Gains were seen in CESC, McLeod Russel India, Dhunseri Tea, Bandhan Bank and Emami. Analysts say the move looks sentiment-driven rather than fundamentals-led, urging investors to wait for the new administration’s policy direction before making big bets.
Enhanced geothermal startup Fervo Energy is preparing for an IPO that could raise up to $1.3 billion and value the company at as much as $6.5 billion. The market debut underscores growing investor appetite for renewable energy technologies that aim to deliver steady, dispatchable power beyond intermittent solar and wind.
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FIFA says it has signed broadcaster agreements across more than 175 territories for World Cup 2026, but India and China remain problematic for viewers. The gap raises questions about how rights deals will be finalized and delivered in the two most populous markets, where demand is enormous and negotiation timelines can make or break telecasts.
The White House is reportedly considering an order requiring government executives to review AI models before they reach the public. The move would mark a notable shift from Donald Trump’s earlier approach, which rolled back Biden-era AI safety evaluations and argued regulation could hurt US competitiveness against China. Experts say the proposal could redefine how AI oversight works.
Sun TV shares fell 5.4% to Rs 572 following a DMK loss, intensifying volatility for the Sun Group controlled by Kalanithi Maran, a relative of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin. The stock slumped as much as 9.5% earlier in the session, briefly touching an intraday low of Rs 547.55 on BSE.
A hantavirus outbreak linked to a cruise ship has put passengers on alert after warnings that the virus can cause a severe, sometimes fatal respiratory illness. Health officials say transmission is mainly through airborne particles contaminated by rodent droppings or urine, and it does not spread easily person to person.
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A man with a gun was shot by security agents near the Washington Monument, prompting the Secret Service to urge people to avoid the area. Emergency crews responded close to the White House at the same time President Donald Trump was holding a small business event, intensifying concerns over potential threats during a public-facing moment.
The U.S. Cybersecurity agency CISA says the CopyFail bug is actively being leveraged in hacking campaigns and could endanger Linux-based servers and datacenters. Organizations running affected major Linux versions are urged to treat it as high risk, as the vulnerability appears to be in use in the wild rather than just a theoretical concern.
Met Gala 2026 is setting a distinctly artistic tone with a dress code that urges guests to “express their relationship to fashion as an embodied art form.” The Monday-night fundraising spectacle also promises star power, with major A-listers including Beyoncé and Nicole Kidman among the headline names expected to bring bold looks and fashion storytelling to the spotlight.
AI chip maker Cerebras is reportedly lining up for a blockbuster IPO, with projections valuing the company at $26.6 billion or higher. What makes the story stand out is the strength of its relationship with OpenAI, described as deep and “rich,” hinting that demand and credibility from that tie may be central to its market momentum.
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BJP has returned to power in Assam by winning 82 of 126 seats in the 2026 Assembly elections, granting it a clear two thirds mandate. Congress has slumped to 19 seats, while AGP and BPF each won 10. AIUDF and Raijor Dal were reduced to two seats apiece, and AITC opened its account with one seat.
TMC leader Aroop Biswas has lost the Tollygunge seat to BJP candidate and veteran actress Papiya Adhikari, marking a dramatic political reversal. Biswas’ setback comes after he resigned as Bengal Sports Minister following Lionel Messi’s controversial, chaotic visit to Kolkata—an episode that briefly dominated local headlines.
US stock indexes slipped from record highs as a blast involving a South Korean ship in the Strait of Hormuz reignited Middle East tensions. The move came even as first-quarter earnings remained strong, with investors prioritizing escalating geopolitical risk. Energy stocks rose on the confrontation, while broader market optimism faded amid fear of disruption.
Microsoft has pulled Agent 365 out of preview and into general availability, betting that autonomous “shadow AI” is already a day-to-day enterprise risk. The platform offers a unified way to inventory and govern AI agents across clouds, SaaS, and endpoints—plus discovery of local agents on managed Windows devices, with Defender-style “blast radius” context.
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American Express is rolling out its Agentic Commerce Experiences kit to let AI agents register, receive permission, follow an “intent contract,” and pay using single-use tokens within the Amex network. The system emphasizes control and proof during disputes, but its validation logic is still largely opaque, raising trust and auditability concerns outside Amex’s closed loop.
Deepika Padukone-backed D2C brand Epigamia has named former Mars executive Ritesh Gauba as CEO, tapping over 24 years of FMCG experience. COO Ankur Goel has been elevated to cofounder. The leadership changes follow the death of cofounder Rohan Mirchandani in December 2024. Epigamia sells across ecommerce, quick commerce, and 25,000 retail touchpoints, having raised about $60 million.
Fintech startup Aurm raised ₹42 crore in a Series A led by Earth Fund and Sattva Ventures to scale automated locker vaults inside residential complexes, office campuses and select bank branches. It says fewer than 20% of Indian bank branches offer locker services due to real estate and security costs. Aurm claims it cut setup costs by about 25% while offering 24/7 access and multi-layer security.
Sona Comstar says it is looking for acquisitions to put its cash reserves to work, while an expanding order book—now increasingly EV-led—supports its growth outlook. The company is open to deals of ₹2,000 crore or beyond, focusing on technology and adjacent new product areas, preferring domestic targets but leaving international options on the table.
D2C skin and haircare brand CHOSEN has raised $5 million in a Series A led by Fireside Ventures, with support from L’Oréal’s corporate venture fund and dermatologists. Founded in 2020, the Chennai startup says it will use the funding to strengthen R&D, scale its centre of excellence, and expand clinically validated product lines across skincare, haircare, and wellness.
Kissht’s IPO for OnEMI Technology Solutions was subscribed about 60 percent by the end of day two of bidding, according to BSE data. QIBs led with roughly 1.45X oversubscription, while NIIs were only halfway subscribed. Retail participation stayed low at around 16 percent. The issue values the company near ₹2,881 crore at the upper price band.
Tsavorite, an AI compute startup, raised $5 million from Hyderabad VC Pavestone to build a full-stack compute platform spanning edge devices, enterprises, and data centres. The company is developing an “omni processing unit” that bundles compute, memory, and connectivity, aiming to reduce redundant data movement and lower power, cost, and complexity. Tsavorite also claims around $100 million in pre-orders.
Europe has signaled it could retaliate if Donald Trump moves to raise auto tariffs, escalating a long-running dispute tied to a transatlantic trade pact that remains unratified by EU lawmakers. An initial agreement was reached last July, but amendments have delayed approval. Trump says the bloc failed to meet deal obligations, widening tensions between the sides.
Recent assembly election results delivered a harsh blow to India’s ruling giants, with Chief Ministers Mamata Banerjee and MK Stalin losing their own seats. Prominent leaders from other parties also suffered setbacks, turning expectations on their head across multiple states. The surprise outcomes signal widening voter dissatisfaction and a rapidly shifting political map.
New York Fed President John Williams said monetary policy is positioned to handle uncertainty from potential Middle East war risks. He expects interest rate cuts when inflation eases, while warning inflation pressures remain tied to tariffs and energy costs. Despite worries about possibly more severe supply shocks, he expects economic growth to stay resilient and the Fed to stay in a wait-and-see stance.
A fresh round of by-elections across Gujarat, Maharashtra, Nagaland, and Tripura cemented the NDA’s dominance, with BJP and allies winning 5 of 7 seats. Congress managed to secure two victories in Karnataka, limiting the setback. The results, announced on Monday, underline how strongly the ruling alliance is holding key state pockets.
The Congress-led United Democratic Front has secured a historic victory in Kerala, defeating the Left Democratic Front and delivering a major setback to the Communist party. With the incumbent government voted out, the result marks a sharp shift in the state’s political trend. The win strengthens Congress’s grip, bringing it to govern four states overall.
Indian pharmaceutical exports crossed $31 billion in FY26 despite global headwinds. But March deliveries fell 23%, largely linked to weaker demand from the United States and China. Growth held up in markets such as Africa and Oceania, and vaccines led the fastest expansion, signaling a shift in where India’s drug makers are finding momentum.
Reliance charitable trust has challenged the tax department’s decision to cancel its registration, with officials citing alleged commercial activity behind renewal rejections. It isn’t alone: PD Hinduja Hospital and ISKCON are also appealing similar orders. The disputes threaten tax relief for the trusts and reduce eligible donor deductions tied to registered charitable status.
DoorDash has begun delivering groceries from nearly 2,700 Kroger stores using SNAP benefits, aiming to make online grocery access easier for low-income Americans. The partnership targets food deserts and people with limited transportation, while a new customer offer grants free delivery on the first Kroger order—potentially reducing cost and distance barriers to healthy food.
The NCLT has allowed filmmaker Aanand L Rai to proceed with arbitration in his dispute with Eros International Media. The tribunal rejected Eros’s attempt as a “dressed-up petition” meant to sidestep the arbitration clause both parties had agreed to. The matter will now move to arbitration, underscoring how strongly courts enforce contractual arbitration terms.
Edtech giant upGrad is reportedly close to acquiring Unacademy via an all-stock deal valued at about ₹2,055 crore, a steep 90% drop from Unacademy’s 2021 peak acquisition expectations. Sources say CCI approval is sought this week, with Unacademy expected to bring ₹900–₹950 crore in cash at closing. Talks had stalled earlier over valuation mismatch.
The May 4 vote count across West Bengal, Assam, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Puducherry triggered more than seat tallies—it exposed a changing voter mood and weakened several familiar political strongholds. The results highlighted a BJP push in Bengal, an Assam hat-trick-style momentum, and TVK’s attempt to reshape Tamil Nadu’s power equation, signaling a broader realignment ahead.
BJP has not only notched its first victory in West Bengal but also retained Assam and Puducherry with alliance partners and secured a record three seats in Kerala. However, gains were uneven, with just one seat in Tamil Nadu compared to four in 2021. The mix of results may boost an acceleration of the NDA’s reforms even as economic headwinds persist.
Donald Trump sharply criticized Fed Chair Jerome Powell, calling him a “disaster” as US mortgage rates remain above 6.5% and fluctuate frequently. The pressure comes amid stubborn inflation, global conflict, and signs of economic slowdown, while market expectations can shift even when the Fed isn’t meeting. Home buyers are watching closely, often delaying decisions.
RG Kar rape-murder victim’s mother Ratna Debnath has won the BJP contest from Panihati in North 24 Parganas, West Bengal. Her win ends Trinamool Congress’s 15-year hold on the constituency, marking a historic political shift amid ongoing attention on the RG Kar case.
Menstrual hygiene D2C startup HealthFab has raised ₹20 crore in a Series A led by Atomic Capital, with Mistry Ventures participating. The company plans to widen its menstrual wellness portfolio—from pain relief to fatigue and energy—while scaling quick commerce and general trade. It targets reaching 5 million users in three years and is shifting from a product-first model toward broader femtech.
Puducherry voters appear to be backing the NDA for a second straight term, with the AINRC-led alliance positioned to form the government. Incumbent Chief Minister N Rangasamy won the Thattanchavady constituency, while Election Commission trends show AINRC leading across multiple seats. With 16 seats needed to govern in a 30-member assembly, the NDA’s path to majority looks strong.
The UAE says it has exited OPEC and OPEC+ as a sovereign choice, hours after an ADNOC tanker was struck by Iranian drones in the Strait of Hormuz. UAE officials condemned the incident as a terrorist attack and urged the shipping chokepoint to remain open, warning that closures could destabilize global trade and energy markets.
Kissht heads to an ₹850 Cr IPO with anchor investors committing ₹277.78 Cr, even as its FY25 revenue and profit dipped under RBI tightening for unsecured loans. Management says it stayed disciplined—slowing loan-book growth, focusing on borrower quality, and using its NBFC balance sheet. AUM grew to ₹5,956 Cr by Dec 2025, supported by tech, diversified sourcing, and expansion into LAP and health insurance.
Pinecone says the classic RAG-to-vector pipeline fails for agentic AI, where tasks require reassembling context across sources and sessions. The company’s Nexus shifts reasoning to a compilation stage, creating persistent, task-specific knowledge artifacts, plus KnowQL for declarative agent queries. An internal benchmark claims a 98% token reduction, aiming at deterministic grounding and governance-ready outputs.
TVK is set to meet in Chennai as the party emerges as the largest force in Tamil Nadu, reportedly leading in over 100 constituencies. With plans to form the government underway, candidates are being called to the party office and talks with possible allies like the Congress are expected. Meanwhile, DMK has accepted the election results, signaling a major shift in the state’s politics.
Appfigures reports that when apps launch image AI models, downloads jump 6.5x compared with typical chatbot-era upgrades. The surprise is that this traffic spike often fails to translate into meaningful revenue, suggesting weak monetization, poor onboarding, or churn after the novelty fades. The race for visual AI is on—but conversion remains the bottleneck.
Vijay-led TVK has stunned Tamil Nadu politics by emerging as the single largest party in its electoral debut. The party is leading in 107 constituencies, clearing the majority threshold needed to form the government. Gains span north, central and south districts, including a headline upset where CM MK Stalin has lost his seat, signaling an abrupt break from long-standing Dravidian dominance.
Champions League second legs heat up as PSG host Bayern after a thrilling first match, while Arsenal meet Atletico with the tie still dead level. With a final potentially in Budapest, fans expect bigger drama than usual and sharp scrutiny of refereeing, especially any penalty calls that could swing the outcomes.
The National Company Law Tribunal has approved a revival plan for Rajesh Business & Leisure Hotels, clearing the way for a consortium led by Rare Asset Reconstruction Company and Check-Inn Hotels to take over. The deal requires a ₹730 crore payment and follows the company’s insolvency admission in April 2022. Secured creditors will be fully settled under the approved plan.
Kerala’s Assembly election results mark a major shift, ending Pinarayi Vijayan’s Left Democratic Front (LDF) rule after 10 years. The Congress-led UDF’s victory is reflected in a sharp personal defeat for the ruling cabinet, with 13 of 21 state ministers losing their seats as Left strongholds fell across the state.
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