Archive · 29 Aug 2026
Evening News Digest Covers Floods, Courts, Schools, Markets and Sports
This evening news roundup includes several important stories from India and Nepal.
Floods in Nepal led to arrests over allegedly stolen money and jewellery.
Some Kailash pilgrims said they survived because they believed Lord Shiva protected them, while many others were reported missing.
Rahul Gandhi criticized an alleged purification ceremony in Haldwani and demanded legal action.
A court also ordered Maharashtra’s drug regulator to reconsider its cancellation of Cipla’s licence.
Reports raised concerns about possibly expired food in a government school and alleged bribery by an FDA officer.
The Supreme Court is considering whether petrol stations should clearly show how much ethanol is in E20 fuel.
Gold prices fell during the week, and cricketer Shubman Gill celebrated Raksha Bandhan with his sister.
Nepal police detained 29 people over alleged theft of ₹92.68 lakh from a flood-swept safe, while around 40 Kailash pilgrims reportedly remain missing.
Rahul Gandhi criticized an alleged Haldwani purification ceremony, while the Bombay High Court rebuked Maharashtra FDA’s handling of Cipla’s licence cancellation.
A school campaign highlighted allegedly expired food, and Maharashtra locals accused an FDA officer of taking a bribe; the bribery claim was not independently established.
The Supreme Court will hear a petition on August 31 seeking mandatory ethanol labelling and other disclosures for E20 petrol.
Gold fell nearly 1.86% during the week, while Shubman Gill celebrated Raksha Bandhan with his sister and a luxury watch drew attention.
- Who
- Nepal police, Kailash pilgrims, Rahul Gandhi, Maharashtra FDA and Cipla, the Supreme Court of India, Manjeet Kaur, market participants, and Shubman Gill are among those featured.
- What
- The roundup reports flood-related arrests and missing pilgrims, political and regulatory disputes, school-food and bribery allegations, an E20 petrol petition, Manjeet Kaur’s death, falling gold prices, and a Raksha Bandhan celebration.
- When
- The items were reported around August 28–29, 2026; the E20 petition is scheduled for August 31, 2026, and the gold decline covers the reported week.
- Where
- The developments occurred in Nepal, Haldwani, Maharashtra, Punjab, Chandigarh, and elsewhere in India.
- Why
- The digest presents major developments and public-interest allegations for readers’ evening news briefing.
Critics, petitioners and complainants
Officials, regulators and respondents
Haldwani purification ceremony
Critics, petitioners and complainants
Rahul Gandhi described the reported ‘shuddhikaran’ as untouchability disguised as purification and alleged that no FIR or action under the SC-ST Act had been taken.
Officials, regulators and respondents
The roundup does not include a response from the accused organizers or government authorities.
Cipla drug licence cancellation
Critics, petitioners and complainants
The Bombay High Court found that Maharashtra FDA acted in a high-handed manner and violated natural justice.
Officials, regulators and respondents
The FDA withdrew the cancellation and will issue a fresh show-cause notice, allowing the regulatory process to be reconsidered.
Food safety and FDA conduct
Critics, petitioners and complainants
Abhijeet Dipke alleged that expired food was being used in a government school, while locals accused an FDA officer of accepting a bribe to protect a shopkeeper.
Officials, regulators and respondents
The bribery allegation was not independently established in the report, and no official response to the school-food allegation was provided.
- Nepal cash investigation
- Dhading Police detained 29 people and recovered ₹92.68 lakh from a flood-carried cash safe allegedly broken open.
- Kailash pilgrimage
- A group of 60 Tamil Nadu pilgrims was traveling in three buses; around 40 were reported missing.
- Cipla licence case
- The Bombay High Court criticized Maharashtra FDA’s action as high-handed and contrary to natural justice; the FDA will issue a fresh show-cause notice.
- E20 petrol hearing
- The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear the plea on August 31 seeking ethanol percentages on nozzles and invoices, a compatibility database, and an expert panel.
- Manjeet Kaur case
- The 28-year-old Punjabi social media influencer died at PGIMER Chandigarh after severe burns in an alleged July attack near Morinda; a murder case was filed.
- Gold prices
- Gold fell nearly 1.86% for the week, with MCX gold futures reported at ₹1,56,400.
- School-food report
- Abhijeet Dipke showed a masala packet reportedly packed in August 2025 and meant to be used before February 2026.