TVK promised to make Tamil Nadu a safe haven for women and children. But the instances of sexual violence in the state have gone up notches ever since the party came to power.
A 85-year-old woman was sexually assaulted while grazing cattle near Uthangarai in Krishnagiri district, prompting a widespread search for an unidentified man, police said on Saturday.
The elderly woman, a resident of the Katteri area, was resting in the field after grazing her cattle when the suspect allegedly covered her mouth and assaulted her. She suffered severe injuries in the attack. The man fled the scene immediately after the incident.
The victim is currently undergoing treatment at the Krishnagiri Government Hospital. Police have registered a case and launched an intensive search operation to apprehend the absconding suspect.
The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has questioned the lack of supervision by temple authorities in an alleged ₹25.24 lakh irregularity involving the distribution of special darshan tickets at the Tiruchendur Subramania Swamy Temple, as reported in Vikatan.
The temple operates a paid darshan system under which devotees can obtain ₹100 tickets for expedited access to the deity. Allegations recently surfaced that funds amounting to ₹25.24 lakh generated through the sale of these tickets had been misappropriated.
Following an inquiry into the complaint, temple authorities alleged that a temporary woman employee, identified as Menaka, was involved in the irregularities. She was subsequently suspended from service.
The temple administration also issued notices to employees Balamurugan and Uchimakali, seeking explanations for alleged negligence in failing to properly verify computer-generated tickets and monitor the ticketing process.
Meanwhile, Balamurugan and Uchimakali approached the Madras High Court seeking anticipatory bail in connection with the case. Their petition came up for hearing before Justice Dhanapal.
During the hearing, the judge raised a series of questions regarding the apparent failure of senior officials to detect the alleged fraud.
“An irregularity involving nearly ₹25 lakh has taken place. Why did higher officials fail to properly monitor it?” the judge asked.
Justice Dhanapal further questioned whether authorities had adequately scrutinised the revenue generated by one of Tamil Nadu’s most prominent temples.
“Tiruchendur Murugan Temple receives a large number of devotees. It is the duty of officials to examine how much revenue is being generated and whether that revenue is being properly collected and accounted for,” the court observed.
After hearing the matter, the judge directed the concerned authorities to file a detailed response explaining the nature of the alleged irregularities and clarifying the role, if any, played by the petitioners in the case.
The court adjourned the hearing to 8 August 2026 for further proceedings.
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An elderly woman from Periya Kodiveri in Gobichettipalayam taluk of Erode district has alleged that functionaries associated with Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) damaged her livelihood, threatened her and subjected her to intimidation, prompting her to make a public appeal seeking justice.
In a video statement, Vallimaal, who earns her living through a pushcart business despite suffering from severe physical disabilities, alleged that a group of TVK members created a disturbance in the area and rammed a vehicle into her pushcart, causing significant damage.
According to Valli Maal, when she questioned those responsible, they allegedly attempted to assault her. She said she initially chose not to pursue the matter despite losing her source of livelihood.
“I have been surviving by running this pushcart business. TVK men came in a car and rammed into my cart. When I questioned them, they came forward to beat me. I stayed quiet for two days thinking that even if my cart was gone, let it go,” she said.
The elderly woman stated that she already suffers from serious mobility issues following an accident in which her leg was trapped while boarding a bus. She said metal plates had been inserted into both her legs and that she now struggles to support herself.
She expressed disappointment over the alleged treatment meted out to her, claiming that she had actively campaigned for TVK and encouraged people in her locality to vote for the party.
“It was I who told people to vote for TVK and give Vijay sir a chance. Is this what I deserve now?” she asked.
Valli Maal further alleged that a person identified as Satheesh, whom she described as a CID officer and a TVK functionary from Bangalapudur, visited her residence around 8 p.m. one night, photographed her and questioned her about her family.
According to her account, Satheesh allegedly asked about her husband, to which she replied that she was a widow. She claimed he then threatened to register a case against her and have her detained if necessary.
“He came at night, took my photo and asked where my husband was. I told him my husband had passed away and that I am a widow. He told me he would file a case against me and lock me up if needed,” she alleged.
Questioning the necessity of such actions, she asked why her photograph was taken at night and whether she was being treated like a criminal.
“Am I an accused person? Will I run away somewhere? Why should someone come into the village at night and take my photo?” she asked.
Valli Maal claimed that her pushcart had been completely damaged and alleged that elderly residents who questioned those responsible for the incident were also attacked.
She expressed fears for her safety and stated that if anything were to happen to her, responsibility should be fixed on those she accused of harassing her.
“If anything happens to my life, Satheesh will be responsible. My son is only 20 years old. If something happens to me, he will become an orphan,” she said.
The woman repeatedly appealed to TVK leader Vijay and AIADMK senior leader and Gobichettipalayam MLA K.A. Sengottaiyan to intervene and ensure justice.
“I have no support. I have no elders in my family to stand with me. I survive only by working and earning daily. I request Vijay sir and Sengottaiyan sir to call me and give me justice. I want someone to question those responsible and give me courage,” she said.
The chargesheet filed by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) in the Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) Nashik sexual harassment and religious coercion case has revealed disturbing details about the alleged methods used by the accused to influence a young Hindu woman and draw her towards Islam, as reported in OpIndia.
The chargesheet, submitted before the court last week, pertains to a case registered at the Deolali Camp Police Station against Danish Shaikh, Tausif Attar and Nida Khan. According to the victim’s statement recorded by investigators and included in the chargesheet, the accused allegedly executed a sustained campaign of psychological manipulation aimed at distancing her from her Hindu faith and persuading her to embrace Islam.
The 23-year-old victim told investigators that Danish Shaikh, a married man, sexually exploited her after promising to marry her. During the course of their relationship, he allegedly discouraged her from visiting temples and listening to Hindu devotional songs.
According to the chargesheet, whenever she expressed anxiety over whether Shaikh’s family would accept her, he allegedly advised her to recite Tasbeeh and perform Islamic prayers. He reportedly told her that taking Allah’s name would reduce her stress, increase her good deeds and secure forgiveness for her sins.
The victim stated that Shaikh repeatedly urged her to stop visiting temples and listening to bhajans. She alleged that he told her that praying according to Islamic practices would ease her mental distress and bring her closer to Allah.
The chargesheet further states that Shaikh directed co-accused Tausif Attar and Nida Khan to educate her about Islam. As part of this effort, Attar allegedly asked her to watch videos of fugitive controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik and Pakistani Islamic scholar Dr Israr Ahmed on YouTube.
Investigators have recorded that the victim was introduced to various Islamic concepts including Jannah (heaven), Jahannum (hell), Qurbani (sacrifice), Bakri Eid and Zamzam water. According to her statement, these discussions and teachings were repeatedly presented to her over an extended period.
The victim told investigators that the constant exposure to Islamic teachings and religious persuasion gradually affected her thinking.
“I was convinced that if I accepted the Islamic religion, my mental stress would decrease. I slowly started believing in those things,” the victim stated before investigators, according to the chargesheet.
The SIT has also alleged that Danish Shaikh had access to sensitive financial information belonging to the victim, including details of her bank accounts and her UPI PIN.
The first chargesheet filed by the SIT in May 2026 includes statements from 106 witnesses. These witnesses include the complainant, her mother, employees and management personnel of TCS, members of the company’s Prevention of Sexual Harassment (POSH) Committee and investigating officers associated with the case.
As the investigation expanded, the SIT subsequently filed a second set of chargesheets connected to eight separate FIRs registered at Mumbai Naka Police Station.
The accused named across the nine cases include Danish Shaikh, Tausif Attar, Nida Khan, Raza Memon, Shahrukh Qureshi, Shafi Sheikh, Asif Aftab Ansari and Ashwini Ashok Chainani. All of the accused are presently in judicial custody.
The investigation has also drawn in a political figure. According to the chargesheet, the name of AIMIM corporator Mateen Patel from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar has been included in connection with allegations that he provided shelter to accused Nida Khan while she was absconding. Investigators allege that Patel extended assistance despite being aware that Khan’s anticipatory bail application had already been rejected by the court.
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Two persons have been arrested in connection with the theft of hard disks from the headquarters of the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board (TNEB), and police have recovered 34 hard disks from the accused. The arrests and recoveries come days after the theft of the storage devices, which reportedly contained data related to ongoing investigations, coal procurement, transformer purchases, taxation, GST matters, and material management operations, came to light.
Although the theft allegedly took place in mid-May, the incident was discovered only on 18 May 2026 when TNEB staff noticed that several hard disks were missing from the utility’s 10-storey headquarters building.
The arrested individuals have been identified as Gopinath, 31, from Valarpuram near Arakonam in Ranipet district, and Murali Manohar, 33, a resident of Bengaluru. According to investigators, Gopinath allegedly removed the hard disks from the TNEB headquarters, while Murali Manohar is believed to have received and purchased the stolen devices.
Police said Gopinath stole a total of 34 hard disks on May 16 and 17. After taking the devices from the premises, he allegedly stored them at his residence, where he formatted the hard disks and erased the stored data before transporting them to Bengaluru. Investigators stated that the hard disks, each valued at approximately ₹20,000, were later sold for just ₹2,500 apiece.
Following the discovery of the theft, TNEB officials informed system engineers and maintenance personnel, after which the matter was referred to the electricity board’s vigilance wing for inquiry. Additional Director General of Police Ayush Mani Tiwari, who heads the TNEB Vigilance Unit, conducted a preliminary investigation before a formal complaint was lodged with the Chintadripet police.
Based on the complaint, police registered a case under Section 305 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and launched a detailed investigation. A special team headed by Triplicane Deputy Commissioner of Police V. Jayachandran subsequently tracked the suspects and arrested Gopinath and Murali Manohar from locations in Arakonam and Bengaluru.
During the investigation, police seized a laptop and several pen drives belonging to Gopinath for forensic examination. Investigators said they are also examining Murali Manohar’s role in the disposal and handling of the stolen devices after he allegedly purchased them from Gopinath.
The investigation has now widened beyond the immediate theft. Police are probing the possible involvement of individuals linked to procurement and tender-related activities associated with the electricity board. Details of contractors and others connected to TNEB purchases have been collected, and investigators are scrutinising their communications with the accused.
Cyber forensic experts assisting the probe noted that government data is generally stored in secured data centres connected through the National Informatics Centre (NIC) infrastructure. Authorities are assessing whether any information can be recovered through digital forensic techniques and whether any sensitive data may have been compromised despite the alleged formatting of the hard disks.
Given that the investigation now spans multiple locations outside Tamil Nadu, police are considering transferring the case to the Crime Branch-Criminal Investigation Department (CB-CID).
Gopinath was produced before the XIV Metropolitan Magistrate Court in Egmore and remanded to judicial custody. Murali Manohar was also taken into custody. Further investigation is underway.
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Chief Minister joseph Vijay is reportedly considering major reforms to Tamil Nadu’s liquor retail system, including the possibility of adopting aspects of the Puducherry model and increasing private participation in the operation of liquor outlets, as reported in Maalaimalar.
According to the report, Vijay has been focusing on measures to curb drug abuse and alcoholism since assuming office. Believing that ganja abuse and alcohol consumption are among the major factors contributing to crimes against women, he had earlier ordered the closure of 717 TASMAC outlets across the state. So far, around 500 outlets have reportedly been shut, while the process of closing the remaining shops is underway.
At present, Tamil Nadu has 4,171 TASMAC liquor outlets in operation.
The Chief Minister has also taken steps to address complaints regarding the collection of an additional Rs 10 per bottle at TASMAC outlets. The issue has become a subject of controversy on social media and has also contributed to criticism of the government, since liquor sales are conducted through a state-run corporation.
As part of these efforts, Vijay held a meeting with officials on Thursday to review the functioning of TASMAC outlets and discuss possible reforms.
During the meeting, officials presented various suggestions and also discussed issues raised by TASMAC employees. Officials explained that certain irregularities in liquor sales could potentially be addressed by adopting practices followed in neighbouring Kerala.
The Puducherry model was also discussed in detail. Officials informed the Chief Minister that in Puducherry, liquor sales are conducted not only through government-linked cooperative institutions but also through private liquor shops. Under such a system, the government retains oversight while private operators run the retail outlets.
Officials also explained the possible advantages and disadvantages of handing liquor retail operations to private entities. Vijay reportedly sought detailed information on the impact such a move could have on government revenue.
Sources said the Chief Minister directed officials to study the liquor retail system followed in Puducherry and submit a report.
The meeting also examined the future of employees currently working in TASMAC outlets if retail operations are partially or fully handed over to private operators. Discussions were held on possible alternative arrangements for affected workers.
According to sources, the government is considering whether to adopt a model similar to Puducherry’s system or allow private operators to run retail outlets while the government continues to procure and supply liquor.
A new policy on liquor sales is expected to be introduced within the next one or two months.
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Kerala is facing a severe financial crisis, with total outstanding liabilities touching Rs 5.07 lakh crore and pending arrears amounting to Rs 48,733 crore, according to a white paper tabled in the Kerala Assembly on Thursday, 4 June 2026, by the newly elected government, as reported in The New Indian Express.
The report, titled “Kerala’s Fiscal Health: A Status Report”, was prepared by a committee headed by former Cabinet Secretary K.M. Chandrasekhar. Chief Minister and Finance Minister V.D. Satheesan presented the document in the Assembly, describing it as an exercise in transparency aimed at revealing the true state of Kerala’s finances at the beginning of the new government’s tenure.
The white paper paints a troubling picture of a state struggling under the weight of debt, unpaid bills, mounting losses in public sector companies and a shrinking ability to invest in future development.
According to the report, Kerala currently has outstanding liabilities of Rs 5.07 lakh crore. In addition, the government has inherited arrears worth Rs 48,733 crore from the previous administration. These arrears include Rs 21,670 crore in unpaid Dearness Allowance (DA) owed to government employees, Rs 14,387 crore in Dearness Relief arrears owed to pensioners and another Rs 3,431 crore owed to banks and contractors.
The report notes that these unpaid dues are almost equal to the amount Kerala borrows from the market in a year, highlighting the scale of the financial burden facing the state.
One of the most serious concerns raised in the white paper is the government’s spending pattern. It states that 77% of Kerala’s total revenue receipts are consumed by committed expenditure such as salaries, pensions and interest payments. In simple terms, for every Rs 100 earned by the government, Rs 77 is spent on unavoidable expenses before any development work can even begin.
Interest payments alone account for 20.09% of the state’s revenue receipts. As a result, very little money remains for creating new assets, improving infrastructure or funding major development projects.
The impact of this is reflected in Kerala’s capital expenditure, which has fallen to just 1.3% of the state’s Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP). Capital expenditure refers to spending on roads, bridges, schools, hospitals, water projects and other long-term infrastructure. The report notes that Kerala is now among the lowest-spending states in India in terms of capital expenditure.
The white paper also scrutinises the functioning of the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB), which was heavily used by the previous Left Democratic Front (LDF) government to finance infrastructure projects. According to the report, KIIFB spending was often driven by political priorities rather than balanced development needs.
The document points out that nearly 20% of KIIFB’s total expenditure was concentrated in Kannur district, which is widely regarded as a stronghold of the CPI(M), the dominant party in the LDF that governed Kerala from May 2016 to May 2026.
Another major concern highlighted in the report is the deteriorating condition of state-owned public sector enterprises (PSEs). The accumulated losses of 132 active state government-owned enterprises rose dramatically from Rs 31,571 crore in 2021-22 to Rs 78,851 crore in 2024-25.
According to the report, just three entities – the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC), Kerala State Steel Products Limited (KSSPL) and the Kerala Water Authority (KWA) accounted for 72% of the total losses recorded by state public sector enterprises during the last financial year.
The white paper concludes that Kerala’s finances are under significant stress due to rising debt, growing liabilities, increasing losses in public sector undertakings and the large share of revenue being consumed by salaries, pensions and interest payments. It suggests that unless corrective measures are taken, the state’s ability to fund development projects and sustain long-term economic growth could face serious challenges.
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A police constable, who had returned home on leave for a temple festival near Sivagiri, has been arrested and imprisoned under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act following allegations that he sexually harassed a 13-year-old girl studying in the eighth grade, as reported in Times of India.
The accused has been identified as Vijayakumar (26), a native of Idayankulam village near Sivagiri in Tenkasi district. He joined the Tamil Nadu Police force in 2024 and is currently serving as a constable in the Tamil Nadu Special Police (TSP) unit in Avadi, Chennai. He had recently taken official leave to attend a temple festival in his native village, as reported in TutyOnline.
While in his hometown, Vijayakumar subjected the 13-year-old schoolgirl from the area to severe sexual harassment. Shocked and terrified by this inappropriate behavior, the student returned home in tears and informed her parents about the abuse she had endured. Her parents and relatives were left devastated upon hearing the news.
The victim’s parents immediately lodged a complaint at the Puliyangudi All-Women Police Station. Acting on the complaint, the police rushed to the scene and conducted a thorough investigation. Preliminary inquiries confirmed that Vijayakumar, the constable from the Avadi Special Police, had indeed sexually harassed the schoolgirl.
Subsequently, the police registered a case against Vijayakumar under the relevant sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. He was arrested on Wednesday, 3 June 2026, after attempting to abscond. Following his arrest, he was produced before the Sivagiri court and, in accordance with the judge’s order, lodged in the Palayamkottai Central Prison.
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A 24-year-old man was allegedly murdered during a violent altercation at a bar attached to a TASMAC outlet in Tirunelveli on Thursday. The victim was identified as Akash, a resident of Melaputhaneri village, as reported by The New Indian Express.
According to police sources, Akash had gone to a bar located in Athiparasakthi Nagar and was consuming liquor when he reportedly became involved in an argument with another man believed to have accompanied him. The verbal altercation soon escalated into a physical confrontation.
During the fight, the suspect allegedly attacked Akash with a liquor bottle, causing him to collapse. Police said that after Akash fell to the ground, the assailant allegedly picked up a stone and dropped it on his face, inflicting fatal injuries.
Akash died at the scene, while the accused fled immediately after the incident.
On receiving information, personnel from the Sivanthipatti police station rushed to the spot and recovered the body. The body was later sent to Tirunelveli Medical College Hospital for postmortem examination.
Police have registered a case and launched an investigation into the incident. Officers are examining the circumstances that led to the quarrel and are attempting to establish the motive behind the murder.
A search has been initiated to trace and arrest the suspect, who remains absconding.
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Before becoming the chief spokesperson of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), Saurav Das had already built a controversial public profile. Questions have now emerged over foreign funding he received in the name of public health reporting, his long association with activist publications and advocacy platforms, and his links to a climate consultancy venture called Climate Action Front that he had publicly promoted but later appeared to distance himself from when scrutiny intensified.
As CJP attempts to project Das as the voice of a new youth movement, a closer examination of his record reveals a trail of political activism, funding controversies, climate activism, and associations that raise serious questions about the backgrounds of the people now leading the organisation.
His social media history, published writings, political advocacy, funding links, activism, and recently surfaced questions surrounding a climate consultancy venture paint the picture of a figure deeply embedded in activist networks that extend well beyond education-related concerns.
From Journalism To Activism
Das studied Journalism and Mass Communication at Amity University between 2016 and 2019.
Over the years, he wrote for several publications including The Hindu, Frontline, The Caravan, Article 14, Al Jazeera, The Wire and other outlets typically associated with India’s activist and civil liberties ecosystem.
While initially presenting himself as a reporter covering legal and governance issues, Das increasingly evolved into an activist-journalist, openly taking positions on political controversies and campaigning for specific causes and personalities.
His work gradually shifted from reporting events to participating in political narratives.
The Climate Action Front Controversy
One of the most intriguing controversies surrounding Das concerns an entity called Climate Action Front.
In May 2025, Das publicly announced the launch of Climate Action Front, describing it as a consultancy service helping companies navigate sustainability compliance, carbon accounting and climate communications.
In the announcement, Das stated that the venture offered services such as Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), Carbon Accounting, and Climate Communications.
He also invited founders, organisations and professionals to collaborate with the venture.
However, questions emerged after social media users began investigating the organisation’s ownership structure and personnel.
Archived social media material and publicly available information appeared to show links between Climate Action Front and Shubham Thakur, a climate communications professional.
Hello Cockroach Beta,
Please tell us what kind of relationship you have with Shubham Thakur?
What is Climate Action Front, where you work as a co-founder?
— Office Of Vijay Patel (@VijayGajeraO) June 4, 2026
Soon after questions began circulating online, it was noticed that portions of the information connecting Saurav Das to the climate outfit were removed or altered.
Foreign Elite-funded Naxali Cockroach has started to delete his data from the website!
— Office Of Vijay Patel (@VijayGajeraO) June 4, 2026
The controversy escalated when a whistleblower alleged that Shubham Thakur was the son of a senior journalist covering the Prime Minister’s Office, Parliament and the BJP. Mind you, he did not mention anyone’s name in particular.
Hello @PMOIndia
There is a journalist who covers the BJP, the PMO, and the RSS, and he has built strong relationships with leaders.
But his son has co-founded a company with Marxist Cockroach Saurav Das.
Your internal information might be reaching them via this channel!
— Office Of Vijay Patel (@VijayGajeraO) June 4, 2026
It was later known that Shubham was the son of Rajesh Kumar Thakur who worked with The New Indian Express and covered news relating to the PMO, BJP, etc.
Even before the whistleblower named any names, Saurav started denying them. Now, people began wondering why Das was publicly denying any relationship with Thakur while historical online material appeared to suggest otherwise.
He wrote, “Absolutely RUBBISH! DELETE this FAKE NEWS IMMEDIATELY otherwise get ready for legal action! There is ABSOLUTELY no relation of this kind with Shubham Thakur! There is no such company that operates.”
Absolutely RUBBISH!
DELETE this FAKE NEWS IMMEDIATELY otherwise get ready for legal action! There is ABSOLUTELY no relation of this kind with Shubham Thakur! There is no such company that operates. Anyone spreading fake news will face the full wrath of the law! @VijayGajeraOhttps://t.co/W6TZLaKvEO
It is noteworthy that Shubham Thakur and Saurav Das were not only connected professionally through Climate Action Front but were also probably former classmates during their undergraduate studies.
Sequence of events.
1) Vijay tweets about a guy without naming him
2) Saurav Das, names the guy Shubham but denies connection
3) guy turns out to be Rajesh Thakur’s Son. Rajesh covers PMO. Son is in business with Saurav
4) Twitterati provide evidence
5) Proven CJP are frauds https://t.co/SWvzcYLfPcpic.twitter.com/A8RmE1JDjc
The episode has generated more questions than answers, particularly because the denials came despite publicly visible references to Climate Action Front that had previously been promoted by Das himself.
Funding Questions
Das has earlier faced scrutiny for funding links to foreign and non-governmental foundations. A 2023 exposé by The Pamphlet showed that he received support from the Thakur Family Foundation for public health reporting, though his published articles reportedly extended to political topics beyond health policy.
Image Source: The Pamphlet
The Thakur Family Foundation (TFF), which presents itself as an organisation promoting “public health and civil liberties,” has funded multiple Indian media outlets and journalists, including individuals associated with Alt News, The Wire, and Moneylife Foundation, under the banner of health-related reporting. These grants coincided with the publication of articles critical of India’s pharmaceutical industry, traditional medicine systems, and domestic COVID-19 response, while appearing to favour Western vaccine and corporate narratives.
TFF has also been linked to the US-based testing firm Valisure, which released reports questioning the quality of Indian-made drugs. The pattern of financial support, editorial influence, and timing of campaigns indicates an organised effort to erode confidence in Indian generics and Ayurveda. During the COVID-19 pandemic, TFF-funded content appeared in The Wire and Alt News, amplifying narratives that portrayed India’s pandemic management and indigenous pharmaceutical initiatives in a negative light.
Saurav Das who seems to write on “public health” only wrote articles that were critical of the government policies in this space and not otherwise.
Image Source: Squint Neon X handleImage Source: Squind Neon X handle
CJP’s chief spokesperson, Saurav Das
has received approximately Rs 6 lakh of foreign funding from the USA-based Thakur family foundation in the name of ‘Public Health in India’, but he wrote propaganda articles on Bhima Koregaon and Muslims.
— Office Of Vijay Patel (@VijayGajeraO) June 4, 2026
The website where he is alleged to have published these ‘health’ articles are no longer active.
Image Source: Squint Neon X handle
Now let’s take a look at his Pegasus article. He amplified an anti-BJP government narrative ably aided by Thakur Foundation despite the Supreme Court not finding any evidence of spyware.
The SC-appointed technical committee examined 29 phones and found no Pegasus spyware in any of them. Das rode that media wave anyway alongside every TFF-funded outlet amplifying the same anti-govt narrative, regardless of the committee’s findings.
As mentioned above, Saurav has written for several publications including The Hindu, Frontline, The Caravan, Article 14, Al Jazeera, The Wire. Now it is noteworthy that The Wire received ~USD 75,000, with founder Varadarajan on Thakur’s advisory board.
Image Source: Squint Neon X handle
Additionally, when India banned anti-Hindu website Hindutva Watch, Saurav Das published a propaganda piece in Article 14 about India’s ‘censorship rules’.
Incidentally, he reshared a video shared by alleged fact-checker Mohammad Zubair of AltNews and the same was reposted by Sucheta Dalal. Incidentally, the video was against journalists perceived as supporters of PM Modi and his government.
Also, Sucheta Dalal and Zubair have been recipients of funding from Thakur Foundation.
CJP’s chief spokesperson, Saurav Das
has received approximately Rs 6 lakh of foreign funding from the USA-based Thakur family foundation in the name of ‘Public Health in India’, but he wrote propaganda articles on Bhima Koregaon and Muslims.
— Office Of Vijay Patel (@VijayGajeraO) June 4, 2026
Money Life Foundation belongs to Sucheta Dalal, and Sumaiya Shaikh was the editor of Altnews silence, where she has written only 10 to 15 articles! https://t.co/hRqoycl1KXpic.twitter.com/ocIxrMN8kV
— Office Of Vijay Patel (@VijayGajeraO) June 5, 2026
Saurav Das & His 2025 Climate Protests
CJP’s own announcement highlighted Saurav Das’s role in the November 2025 anti-pollution protests at India Gate as a major credential.
Image Source: Squint Neon X handle
However, the protest became controversial after participants displayed banners of slain Maoist commander Madvi Hidma and raised slogans such as “Comrade Hidma Amar Rahe.”
Image Source: Squint Neon X handle
The demonstration led to multiple arrests, FIRs, and allegations of clashes with police. Das publicly defended the protesters, while CJP showcased his involvement as evidence of leadership. His record has also drawn scrutiny due to his public praise for G.N. Saibaba, convicted under the UAPA for Maoist links and waging war against India, whom Das described as possessing “immortal” ideas and courage.
Image Source: Squint Neon X handle
Saurav Das’s Pattern
Saurav Das gets funding from Thakur Foundation, he writes pieces that are anti-India, anti-government; gets them published in leftist rags like Caravan and The Wire.
Saurav defends supporters of Maoist terrorists, expresses his love for them – be it GN Saibaba or terrorist Atiq Ahmed whom he reffered to as ‘Muslim ex-MLA’ in his Al-Jazeera piece.
He calls for climate related protests but supports the protest turning into a protest against a Maoist terrorist. Then CJP appoints him as Chief Spokesperson. They said they did not have any foreign influence, but as the days go, the unravelling is happening fast. Saurav Das is their spokesperson who has received foreign funding and floats a climate outfit whose connections he is now denying.
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