x brings in measures to prevent inappropriate editing using grok Elon Musk has introduced technological measures to prevent its AI platform, Grok, from creating inappropriate or obscene content ONLY PAID SUBSCRIBERS CAN have EDIT option kochi l friday l January 16, 2026 l `9.00 l PAGES 18 l late city EDITION Agency moves SC alleging obstruction of probe by Bengal CM during Jan 8 raids Apex court issues notice to Didi, stays action against ED S u c h i t r a K a lya n M o h a n t y @ New Delhi West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee suffered a setback in the Supreme Court on Thursday when it issued notices to her and senior state officials on the petition filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with its raids on I-PAC, Trinamool Congress’s political consultant. The court asked Banerjee, along with DGP Rajeev Kumar and Kolkata Police Commissioner Manoj Kumar Verma, among others, to respond within two weeks. The bench, headed by Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra and also comprising Justice Vipul Pancholi, used strong words about the clashes between Central and state agencies, saying that if the court didn’t examine the issue, it could create lawlessness in the country “We are of the . prima facie view that the present petition has raised a serious issue relating to the investigation by the ED or other Central agencies and interference by state agencies. There would be lawlessness in the country West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee | File pic if the court doesn’t examine the issues raised by the ED,” it said. The court also stayed the FIRs registered by the state against ED officials. The ED petition alleged interference by the West Bengal government and its agencies in the raids the probe agency had launched against I-PAC and its director Pratik Jain. The SC also issued notices to the Centre along with asking the state government to preserve the CCTV footage of the premises searched in the January 8 raids. The ED had first filed a petition in the Calcutta High Court on January 9, but a large number of people gathered in the courtroom, creating commotion. It prompted the court to adjourn the matter. The Supreme Court took a strong view of the unmanageable crowd, after Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said, “I have placed on record WhatsApp chats of the law wing of the party in power. This was not spontaneous, and they were instructed by the legal cell of the party to go there.” Justice Mishra then remarked, “Come everyone? As if it’s Jantar Mantar!” Through a fresh plea filed, the ED sought the suspension of top officials of West Bengal police, including Kumar, alleging that they aided Banerjee in the obstruction of investigation and evidence theft. Banerjee’s counsel Kapil Sibal, however, argued that the ED wanted to obtain access to information pertaining to the Trinamool Congress strategy for the upcoming election, which was in the I-PAC premises, as the political consultancy is the campaign partner of the party . SC asks EC to publish names taken out of Kerala draft rolls rolls.It was argued that while voters are required to file objections against deletions, the list of excluded voters has not been made available, denying them a chance to contest the removal of their names. Taking note of the submissions, the SC directed that the names of excluded voters, if not already displayed, must be exhibited at public offices in villages, and uploaded on official websites. “Meanwhile, having regard to the difficulty being experienced by the people at large, the ECI may consider the desirability of extending the date,” it said. The counsel for the poll panel, said the issue of extension of deadline will be considered. The deadline for submitting claims ends on January 22. The petitioners include the State of Kerala, senior political leaders such as P K Kunhalikutty of IUML, M V Govindan of CPM, Sunny Joseph of Congress, and the CPI State Council. S UCHITRA K ALYAN M OHANTY @ New Delhi EXPRESS READ Vigilance registers case in Sabarimala ghee scam T’Puram: The VACB has registered a case in connection with the alleged irregularities in the sale of ‘Adiya Sishtam Ghee’ in Sabarimala. P7 The Razzle & Dazzle Kalolsavam coverage: P2, P3 The Supreme Court on Thursday asked the Election Commission of India (ECI) to make public the names of people excluded from the draft electoral rolls published after the special intensive revision (SIR) process in Kerala, so that affected voters can raise objections. The SC also asked the poll panel to consider extending the deadline for filing objections, preferably by two weeks. A Bench headed by CJI Surya Kant was hearing a batch of petitions challenging the SIR exercise in Kerala. The petitioners contended that the revision process, as carried out, risks disenfranchising a large number of voters due to technical errors and the absence of a robust grievance redressal mechanism. During the hearing, the counsel for the petitioners submitted that nearly 24 lakh names had been deleted from the draft Internal dissent over alliance Iran unrest India gears up to shift puts KC(M) in a spot A b h i l a s h C h a n d r a n @Kottayam Consensus eludes top leaders of the Kerala Congress (M), compelling the leadership to decline a call from the UDF, even as pressure mounts on the party from the powerful Christian community including Catholic Church to sw i t c h i t s p o l i t i c a l allegiance. Although KC(M) chairman Jose K Mani was reportedly open to rejoining the UDF, stringent objections from top leaders, including its minister Roshy Augustine, Gover nment Chief Whip N Jayaraj and Ranni MLA Pramod Narayanan, put the party chairman on backfoot. The divide was starkly evident during its parliamentary party meeting held in Thiruvananthapuram last week, where these three out of five MLAs of the party reportedly opposed accepting the UDF’s invite, leaving the chairman in a difficult position. Meanwhile, there were reports that Roshy had the backing of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. This has forced Jose to withdraw from the move. Amid the buzz, a crucial meeting of the KC(M) steering committee will be held in Kottayam ● More on P6 on Friday . evacuate nationals J aya n t h J a c o b @ New Delhi The government has begun drawing up contingency plans to bring back Indian nationals stranded in Iran amid mounting safety concerns as unrest continues in large parts of the country, sources said. “In view of the evolving situation in Iran, the External Affairs Ministry is making preparations to facilitate the return of Indian nationals who wish to travel back to India,” sources said. Sources said the first group of evacuees could be flown out as early as Friday , subject to security clearances and the availability of flight routes. 18 pages, including 4 pages of KOCHI Express double whammy AI flight engine sucks in baggage container off at 3:13 am but was forced to return to Delhi after Iran closed its In a rare and alarming incident at airspace for four hours. The aircraft Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International landed safely at 5:47 am, only to enAirport (IGIA) on Thursday morn- counter another misfortune while ing, an Air India Airbus A350-900 taxiing toward the apron. Accordfaced a double setback— ing to DGCA sources, engine damage after inEngine No. 2 ingested a gesting a cargo containcargo container, causing er, just hours after being damage. rerouted midair due to All the passengers the sudden closure of were safe, but for AI101, Iranian airspace. The Thursday proved to be a Flight AI101, bound for day of unexpected turNew York with 240 pas- Damaged engine of the aircraft bulence—first in the sengers on board, took after ingesting a cargo container skies over Iran, and then S L a l i t h a @ New Delhi on the taxiways of Delhi airport. Investigations indicate that ground handling company Bird Worldwide Flight Services was moving containers near Bay 242 when one toppled onto the taxiway after a dolly wheel came off. Though the operator quickly cleared nearby equipment, the container remained there and was sucked into the engine intake. AI described the incident as a “foreign object strike in foggy conditions” and added that the aircraft has been safely positioned at stand 244. Repairs and a detailed probe into the incident are underway . Restrictions for explicit material apply to all users, including paid subscribers. However, the platform said that image creation and the ability to edit images via Grok are now only available to paid users. The Indian government warned X, asking it to comply with the IT Act, 2000. Countries like Brazil, Malaysia, and Australia have initiated inquiries. 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