THIRUVANANTHAPURAM l monday l may 25, 2026 l `9.00 l PAGES 12 l late city EDITION Cbse says Glitch led to incorrect fee deduction, will issue refunds The board said on Sunday it will issue refunds to students who were overcharged during Class 12 post-result process due to technical issues Technical issues with post-result portal Experts from two iits roped in On May 21 and 22, certain technical issues led to incorrect fee deductions from students who were applying for scanned copies of evaluated answer books, the CBSE said. “In some instances, excess payment was deducted, while in others, lesser amounts were charged,” it said. The board said those who were charged more will get back the excess amount they paid | P7 ■ The CBSE will engage experts from IIT-Madras and IIT-Kanpur to tackle issues in its post-result services portal, the government said ■ “The expert team will implement focused technological improvements of the systems and technical workflows and will specifically examine portal stability and server performance,” the education ministry said 18,57,517 Students registered to appear for class 12 exam, the CBSE said CHENNAI ■ MADURAI ■ VIJAYAWADA ■ BENGALURU ■ KOCHI ■ HYDERABAD ■ VISAKHAPATNAM ■ COIMBATORE ■ KOZHIKODE ■ THIRUVANANTHAPURAM ■ BELAGAVI ■ BHUBANESWAR ■ SHIVAMOgGA ■ MANGALURU ■ TIRUPATI ■ TIRUCHY ■ TIRUNELVELI ■ SAMBALPUR ■ HUBBALLI ■ DHARMAPURI ■ KOTTAYAM ■ KANNUR ■ VILLUPURAM ■ KOLLAM ■ TADEPALLIGUDEM ■ NAGAPATTINAM ■ THRISSUR ■ KALABURAGI Iran peace deal in sight but not rushing it, says Trump Breakthrough imminent, claims Rubio; Tehran yet to publicly commit to giving up its uranium The deal that’s taking shape The pact being negotiated would extend truce by 60 days, creating space to resolve key issues before a final agreement is reached, according to US officials quoted by AP and Axios Strait of Hormuz The US would lift its blockade of Iranian ports Iran would reopen the Strait of Hormuz and allow free passage for all ships US would allow Iran to resume oil exports through sanctions waivers Tehran would suspend nuclear enrichment and agree to give up highly enriched uranium stockpile The mechanism for Iran surrendering its highly enriched uranium stockpile would be finalised through further talks during the 60-day period Washington and Tehran would negotiate sanctions relief and the release of Iran’s frozen funds worth $100 billion during the 60-day period central objective. “Iran can never possess a nuclear weapTHE US and Iran on Sunday ap- on,” Rubio said. “The ultimate peared to edge closer to a break- goal is to make sure Iran could through agreement that could never have a nuclear weapon.” end months of conflict in West According to Axios, CNN and Asia, reopening the Strait of The New York Times reports, Hormuz and imposing fresh negotiators are finalising a 60curbs on Tehran’s nuclear pro- day ceasefire arrangement that gramme, even as differences would immediately reopen the persisted over uranium enrich- Strait of Hormuz and create a ment and regional control. window for broader negotiaUS President Donald Trump tions over dismantling parts of said negotiations were pro- Iran’s nuclear programme. gressing in a “constructive However, conflicting messagmanner” and insisted Tehran es from Iran suggested major “must understand” that it can- disagreements remain unrenot develop a nuclear weapon. solved. The Iranian Embassy Trump also confirmed the in Delhi said Tehran has the US blockade linked to the ongo- right to “peaceful use of nucleing conflict would rear science and techmain in place until a nolo g y” and that deal was reached. “Iran will never reThe remarks came linquish this lawful amid hectic parleys The negotiations are and internationally proceeding in an involving the US, Isrecognised right”. orderly and rael and Iran after constructive manner, Iranian state media three months of con- and I have informed also disputed Trump’s frontation that dis- my representatives claim that the Strait not to rush into a rupted shipping would be fully reodeal because time is pened under the prothrough the Strait of on our side Hormuz and rattled posed arrangement. global markets. Donald Trump, I love India and PM Earlier in the day, US president Modi: Trump during a joint press Trump on Sunday made a conference with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in surprise live video appearance at an event in Delhi attended by New Delhi, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio claimed a Rubio, praising Prime Minister breakthrough is imminent. Narendra Modi as a close friend “There is the possibility that in and asserting that India-US ties the next few hours the world had “never been closer”. Speakwill get some good news,” he ing on a giant screen installed at the event marking the 250th said. Rubio said progress had been anniversary of the US Declaramade over the past 48 hours on tion of Independence, Trump a framework that could stabi- described himself as a “big fan” of the Indian Prime Minlise the Strait of Hormuz. The US administration has ister. “I love the Prime Minisrepeatedly maintained that ter. Modi is great. He’s my preventing Iran from obtaining friend,” Trump said during the P9 a nuclear weapon remains its virtual address.  US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar during a bilateral meeting at Hyderabad House in New Delhi on Sunday | pti J AYA N T H J AC O B @ New Delhi We’ve made tremendous progress and I think we’re going to wind up with a trade agreement between the United States and India that’s going to be enduring, beneficial to both sides and sustainable Marco Rubio ‘US, too, has stupid people’ Rubio defended America’s image as a welcoming country when asked about racist remarks targeting Indians in the US, saying such comments reflected the actions of “stupid people” and not American society at large. “Every country in the world has stupid people… stupid people in US make dumb comments all the time,” he said US pushes trade deal, India flags visa concerns J AYA N T H J AC O B @ New Delhi india and the US on Sunday sought to project continuity and momentum in their strategic partnership despite unease over trade talks and tightening American visa policies, with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar raising concerns over difficulties faced by legitimate Indian travellers seeking entry into the US. Addressing a joint press conference in Delhi alongside US Secretary of State Marco Rubio after delegation-level talks, Jaishankar said the two sides had made progress on trade negotiations and remained committed to deepening cooperation in energy , technology mobility and regional security , . “We spoke about the value of concluding at an early date the final text of the interim agreement regarding reciprocal and mutually beneficial trade,” Jaishankar said, and referred to efforts to operationalise the bilateral trade framework envisioned during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Washington earlier this year. An Indian delegation had recently travelled to the US, he said, while an American team was expected in India soon. Rubio confirmed that both sides were “on the verge” of reaching a durable agreement. Energy security emerged as another major focus of the talks. Jaishankar underscored that India’s priority remained ensuring affordable and accessible supplies. Flagging concerns about delays in US visa processing, the minister said “Peopleto-people ties are at the heart of the relationship... I apprised Secretary Rubio of challenges that legitimate travellers face in respect of visa issuance.” In response, Rubio said the recent visa policy changes were not aimed at India. After 12 days and a second autopsy, Twisha laid to rest A N URAA G SI N G H @ Bhopal A team of doctors from AIIMS Delhi completed the second autopsy of 33-year-old modelactor Twisha Sharma in Bhopal on Sunday. The process lasted three hours. The AIIMS team will submit its report in a sealed envelope to the Special Investigation Team, as directed by the Madhya Pradesh High Court. Twisha was found hanging at her matrimonial home in Bhopal’s Katara Hills area on May 12, with her family accusing her in-laws of dowry harassment and abetment to suicide. Her in-laws, however, alleged she suffered from drug addiction. Two hours after the second autopsy was completed, and 12 days after she was found dead, Twisha’s body was cremated on Sunday afternoon. Her brother Harshit Sharma, an army officer, performed the last rites, including rendering ‘mukhagni’ to the body at the Bhadbhada Vishram Ghat in Bhopal. Emotions were high. Twisha’s mother and other members of her family were inconsolable as the funeral pyre was lit. Case in SC today The Supreme Court is set hear the Twisha Sharma death case on Monday. The court had taken suo motu cognisance of the case on Saturday. A three-judge bench of the court, headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant and comprising justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul Pancholi, will hear the matter No one from her husband’s family including the ex-judge , mother-in-law Giribala Singh and brother-in-law Siddharth Singh, an Indian Air Force officer, attended the funeral. Meanwhile, sources said Twisha’s husband Samarth Singh is not fully cooperating with the Bhopal Police’s Special Investigation Team. The investigators are not convinced by certain answers he has given. While the focus is on the events of May 12, the SIT is looking into every aspect of Samarth and Twisha’s life, right from the time they became close through a dating app in 2024. It is also trying to determine where Samarth was hiding and what role his mother had played in helping him. Sources said the initial questioning of Samarth has revealed that Twisha wasn’t keen to lead a family life. There was a drastic change in her behaviour after her pregnancy was confirmed on April 17, sources said. On Saturday, Twisha’s father submitted a detailed representation along with a copy of the high court order to the medical board, raising several concerns regarding the first autopsy . Among the concerns raised were alleged blunt force injuries on Twisha’s left arm and forearm, lack of detailed dissection to determine the depth and age of injuries, and absence of radiological examination of the neck and cervical structures. E x p r e s s Re a d Kelkar takes charge, opposition cries foul T’Puram: Amid a political storm, Rathan U Kelkar assumed office as principal secretary to Chief Minister V D Satheesan on Sunday. The appointment of Kelkar, who had been serving as Kerala’s chief electoral officer, has triggered sharp criticism from the opposition. The CPM alleged that the appointment was similar to a controversial move in West Bengal and hinted at a possible “deal” between the EC and Congress, demanding a probe into it | P4 Waqf Board registers Munambam land 24 dead in Pak blast Paramilitary forces and volunteers try to recover victims after a powerful explosion ripped through a shuttle train in Pakistan’s Balochistan province on Sunday. At least 24 people were killed and dozens injured | AFP | p9 Kochi: The Munambam land dispute has taken a new turn with the Waqf Board registering the 404 acres in question on the Union government’s Umeed portal, the database for waqf properties in India. The Assembly of Christian Trust Services termed the Waqf’s Board move illegal. However, Munambam residents remain positive of a favourable outcome, with their hopes hinging on the reconstitution of the Waqf Board | P4 ADGP Ajith Kumar intervened to alter case diary Evidence missing, spl CBI on Youth Cong attack: Crime Branch SP report court pulls up CJM court S h a n A S @T’Puram BJP Sweeps falta re-poll BJP candidate Debangshu Panda won West Bengal’s Falta assembly seat on Sunday by 1.09 lakh votes. The Trinamool Congress candidate Jahangir Khan slipped to fourth position in the re-poll. With the win, the BJP’s strength in the House rises to 208 | P8 Amid the SIT probe into the attack on Youth Congress workers during the Nava Kerala Sadas, a report by the Crime Branch SP has pointed fingers at ADGP M R Ajith Kumar, alleging that he had intervened to alter the case diary and investigation report prepared earlier. The interim report prepared by Crime Branch SP A P Shoukathali, who is heading the special investigation team (SIT) probing the 2023 attack, will be filed before state police chief Ravada A Chandrasekhar. The government will decide on further action after getting Chandrasekhar’s feedback. As per the interim report, Ajith Kumar, the then Law & Order ADGP, prompted Crime Branch DySP Sunil Raj, who Govt keen to act As per norms, the state police chief will forward the interim report to the government with a remark, which reflects his position and the legality of the matter. The final say rests with the government. Youth Congress activists protesting in Thiruvananthapuram in December 2023 | File pic had probed the alleged attack on YC workers by then Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s security guards on December 15, 2023, to alter the documents and final report. Sources said the government is keen to take action on the basis of the report and that Ajith Kumar will have to face the music. A departmentlevel inquiry is most likely against the ADGP. In that case, Chandrasekhar will conduct the proceedings. The DySP’s report had originally mentioned the availability of video recordings depicting police excesses. It was removed from the final report, allegedly at the behest of Ajith Kumar after summoning Sunil to Thiruvananthapuram in 2024. As per sources, Shoukathali recorded Sunil’s statement, which he then included in the interim report. They said after perusing Shoukathali’s report, Chandrasekhar will send it to the government with his remarks within two days. “The state police chief is out of station and will return by Monday , after which he will go through the report,” said a source. In his report filed before the Alappuzha Judicial First Magistrate Court recently, Shoukathali had found five police personnel at fault in their conduct against the Youth Congress workers. They were Pinarayi’s security officers S Sandeep, Anil Kumar and cops Arun, Vipin and Shyju, who had escorted him. E x p r e s s N e w s Se r v i c e @Kochi The Special CBI Court in Kochi has sought a report from the Ernakulam Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) Court over the disappearance of a bloodstained towel, a crucial piece of evidence in the murder of NDF activist Mohammed Fasal in 2006. In its recent directive, the CBI court added that further course of action, including the possibility of an investigation, would be decided after examining the CJM court’s report. The towel, kept in a sealed cover, went missing from the CJM court’s custody The court . records reportedly noted on the cover that it was “taken away by rats.” The matter came to light af- ter the CBI court, which is conducting the trial, asked the evidence to be produced. A subsequent check revealed it had gone missing. As per the prosecution, the towel was a crucial piece of evidence. The investigators had alleged that after the murder, the towel was planted near the house of an RSS worker at Andalloor to frame RSS activists for the killing. The disappearance raises serious concerns as the case involves prominent CPM leaders, including Karayi Rajan and Karayi Chandrasekharan, who are among the eight persons booked. The CPM leaders are accused of criminal conspiracy. I f c o nv i c t e d , K a r ay i Rajan could lose his MLA posi● More on P4 tion.