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 ■ ■ BHUBANESWAR l thursday l may 28, 2026 l `9.00 l PAGES 12 l JEYPORE EDITION SC gives stamp of approval to poll body’s SIR ED search at Pinarayi’s house sparks violence, cars attacked E x p r e s s N e w s Se r v i c e @ T’Puram SUCHI T RA K A LYA N M O HA N T Y @ New Delhi The Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld the power of the Election Commission of India (ECI) to conduct the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, noting that the poll body did not violate the Representation of People’s (RP) Act by ordering the SIR in Bihar. “The ECI has the authority to conduct the SIR exercise and did not transgress any statutory or constitutional provision,” the bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant said, adding it breathed life into the constitutional mandate to conduct fair and fair polls. On the sensitive question of citizenship, the court said the ECI is empowered to conduct a limited scrutiny of citizenship status while preparing and revising electoral rolls. But deletion of names do not amount to a determination of citizenship in the strict sense. “It affects the individual’s entitlement to be included in the electoral roll, and thereby their right to participate in the electoral process. It does not, however, operate to divest the individual of claims of citizenship, nor does it foreclose a determination of that question by the Competent Authority under the Citizenship Act,” the court said. The bench went on to say that the SIR satisfies the requirements of proportionality The . measures adopted bear a rational nexus to the objective sought to be achieved, are not manifestly excessive, and are accompanied by sufficient safeguards against arbitrary exclusion, the bench said. As for deletions, the court said the ECI shall refer all such cases within four weeks to the competent authority under the Citizenship Act, 1955, for adjudication of citizenship. The competent authority shall take the call preferably before the next election cycle after giving notice and an opportunity of hearing to the deleted individuals. ‘Just the beginning’ Pinarayi said the ED action was just the beginning of possible future measures targetting him. “This is not the first time such an event has taken place. ED has been hoping for such a raid for quite long... However, this does not mark our end,” he said THE Enforcement Directorate on Wednesday raided two premises linked to CPM stalwart and Leader of Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan and eight other locations across the state, in connection with the ExalogicCMRL pay-off case, sparking violent protests by agitated CPM workers, who smashed the vehciles in which the search party was returning after the raid in Thiruvanathapuram. Besides the former CM’s rented house in the state capital, the ED also raided his Kannur residence and the Kozhikode house of his son-inlaw and ex-minister P A Mohammed Riyas as part of its money-laundering probe into the case linked to Pinarayi’s daughter, Veena T, owner of the now-defunct Exalogic. The sweep triggered day-long tension and high drama in Thiruvananthapuram. CPM workers and leaders gathered Nowester rain brought huge relief to Bhubaneswar which was reeling under sweltering conditions, on Wednesday | Shamim qureshy Odisha to host Asian Indoor Athletics Championships 2028 Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi welcomed the announcement and deThe Asian Athletics Coun- scribed it as a proud moment cil (AAC) has chofor both Odisha and sen Odisha to host the country. “Odisthe Asian Indoor ha has strengthAthletics Champiened its position as Odisha has onships 2028. a host for global strengthened its The decision was sporting events. It position as a host taken at a meeting is another cap in for global of the AAC in Hong sporting events. It Odisha’s crown,” Kong on Wednesthe chief minister is another cap in day Alongside Odi. said while congratOdisha’s crown sha’s successful ulating Indian athbid, Chandigarh Mohan Charan Majhi, letics authorities Chief Minister was selected to host on securing the the Asian Relays event. The latest hosting rights Championships in 2028. Announcing the develop- come close on the heels of Odisha being awarded the ment, the office of the chief minister said the athletics rights to host the prestigious event will be organised in World Athletics Indoor Bhubaneswar which has in Championships 2028, which the recent years established will also be held at the itself as one of India’s lead- K a l i n g a S t a d i u m i n Bhubaneswar. Continued on P5 ing sports hubs. E x p r e s s N e w s Se r v i c e @ Bhubaneswar CPM workers attack car of ED officials who searched Pinarayi Vijayan’s house in T’Puram on Wednesday | Albin Mathew outside Pinarayi’s residence and staged a sit-in at the gate. Tensions escalated after protest marches by SFI activists and soon exploded into violence as ED officials concluded the raid and began leaving the premises after an eight-hour search. Enraged CPM workers sorrounded their convoy and pelted the vehicles with bricks and stones, shattering windshields and door windows. Three rented cars were damaged in the attack, leaving both ED officials and drivers injured. express read State govt to monitor Vedanta projects: CM Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Wednesday said the state government will review the progress of projects of Vedanta Group in the state every 15 days to ensure timely execution of investments exceeding `1 lakh crore | P3 Online gaming: SC okays 28% retrospective GST New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld the 28% retrospective GST on online gaming companies. It also upheld the validity of laws by TN and Karnataka, which banned online games, including those of skill such as rummy and poker | P10 Byju Raveendran sentenced to jail New Delhi: A Singapore court sentenced Byju Raveendran, founder of Byju’s, to six months in jail for contempt of court over alleged non-compliance with disclosure orders. It was not clear whether he was in Singapore at the time of the order | P10 Shivakumar likely to take over as Karnataka CM on Friday or Sunday CM rejects Eid invites Siddaramaiah turned down Eid lunch offers for Thursday saying he would be resigning that day, sources told TNIE B A L A CHAUHA N & D E VARA J B HIR E HA L L I @ Bengaluru KARNATAKA Deputy Chief Minister Doddalahalli Kempegowda Shivakumar is likely to succeed Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who was asked by the party high command to step down and move to the Rajya Sabha to play a ‘larger role’ at the national level. The Congress high command decided to hand over the mantle to Shivakumar after party chief Mallikarjun Kharge turned down the offer to lead Kar nataka citing age and health issues, sources said. While the Congress leadership is keen on completing the power transfer process quickly and smoothly no date has been , fixed for the oath-taking of the new CM. Sources said it could happen on May 29 or May 31. Celebrations have already begun at Shivakumar’s residence and in his assembly con- stituency Kanakapura. Siddaramaiah has called for a breakfast meeting with his cabinet colleagues on Thursday, and is likely to tender his resignation in the afternoon. Shivakumar, who returned from Delhi on Wednesday, spoke to his mentor, astrologer and spiritual guru Rajguru Bellur Sankaranarayanan Dwarakanath and sought his blessings. Dwarkanath told TNIE that Shivakumar “is waiting for a formal announcement on his appointment as CM.” Meanwhile, AICC General Secretary in charge of Karnataka Randeep Singh Surjewala held talks with Siddaramaiah seeking his cooperation for a smooth transition of power. Siddaramaiah’s followers staged a protest against the high command when Surjewala arrived for the meeting.