HSNS Cess | CBIC's Flyer On Health Se National Security Cess, Monthly Cess Payable By Feb 07, Return Due By March 20

The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) has issued informative flyers relating to 'Capacity Based Excise Duty' and Health Se National Security Cess (HSNS) payable by manufacturers of Pan Masala, Tobacco from February 01 2026. With the introduction of the Health & National Security Cess and Additional Excise Duties on Pan Masala, Tobacco and Other Allied Products,...

MLA Antony Raju Found Guilty In Evidence Tampering Case By Kerala Court

A Kerala Court has found MLA Antony Raju guilty of tampering with the material evidence in a drug case, while he was practicing as an Advocate.Judicial First Class Magistrate -I Nedumangad delivered the judgment in the case where Antony Raju is arrayed as the second accused. The case dates back to 1990 when Antony Raju was a junior lawyer in a narcotic drugs case involving an Australian national, Andrew Salvatore. He is accused of tampering with the material evidence in the drugs...

Union Govt Writes To X Corp Over Alleged Misuse Of 'Grok' AI To Generate Obscene Content, Seeks Action Taken Report Within 3 Days

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has issued a detailed notice to X Corp (formerly Twitter), accusing the platform of failing to observe statutory due diligence obligations under the Information Technology Act, 2000 and the IT (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, particularly in relation to the alleged misuse of its AI-based...

Bengaluru Court Grants Bail To Congress MLA K.C. Veerendra In Online Betting Case

On 30 December, a Bengaluru court granted bail to Congress MLA K.C. Veerendra, who had been arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with alleged online betting, gambling, and casino-related offences.The order was passed by the Special Court for People's Representatives in Bengaluru, presided over by Additional City Civil and Sessions Judge Santhosh Gajanan Bhatt. Veerendra, a sitting MLA from the Challakere constituency in Karnataka, had been in judicial custody following his...

Foreign Trade Policy | Natural Honey Exports Capped At USD 1,400 Per Metric Ton Till March 2026, Notifies DGFT

The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has notified that Minimum Export Price (MEP) for Natural Honey will be USD 1,400 per metric ton and exports below this price would not be permitted. In a Notification dated December 31, 2025, DGFT has notified extension by revising the Export Policy condition for Honey falling under tariff heading ITC HS 04090000 till March 31 2026,...

Union Govt Notifies Trade Deals With New Zealand, Switzerland, Norway & Iceland; Eliminates Duty On 100% Of Indian Exports

The Ministry of Finance, Department of Revenue has notified 100% Duty-Free Exports under four major Free Trade Agreements with New Zealand, Switzerland, Norway and Iceland. Indian exports would be partially exempt from various Rates like Basic Customs Duty and fully exempt from Agriculture Infrastructure and Development Cess as well as Health Cess. India also concluded two more...

After Delhi Court Denies Interim Relief, Anil Ambani Withdraws Suit Against Media Over 'Defamatory' Reporting

Businessman and Chairman of Reliance Group, Anil Ambani has withdrawn his defamation case filed before a Delhi Court against Cobrapost, Economic Times and others over allegedly defamatory reporting, claiming that his companies committed a fraud of over Rs. 41,000 crores. Senior civil judge Vivek Beniwal of Karkardooma Courts allowed the withdrawal, while granting Ambani's counsel liberty to file a fresh suit on the same cause of action.The counsel submitted that he had received instructions...

Closure Of Chit Fund Company Without Notice Is Deficiency In Service: Kerala Consumer Commission Orders ₹8.25L Refund, ₹30K Compensation

The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, Ernakulam recently directed a chitty company based in Kodungallur, its Managing Director and Board of Directors to refund an amount of Rs. 8.25 lakhs paid by its subscriber as instalments over a period of around 11 years after the company closed down its offices without notice.The Bench comprising D.B. Binu (President), V. Ramachandran...

CBI Court Convicts Central Excise Inspector In Disproportionate Assets Case, Awards 5 Yrs Imprisonment & ₹63 Lakh Fine; Wife Jailed For Abetment

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Court in Ahmedabad on December 29, 2025, convicted and sentenced an Inspector, Central Excise and Service Tax, Bhavnagar, to five years' rigorous imprisonment along with a fine of ₹63 lakh in a disproportionate assets case. The court also sentenced his wife to one year's imprisonment with a fine of ₹50,000 for abetment of the...

CBI Arrests CGST Deputy Commissioner For Allegedly Taking ₹ 70 Lakh Bribe

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has busted a bribery racket in the officer of the Central Goods & Services Tax (CGST), Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, during an operation on 30.12.2025. The CBI registered the case on the allegations of the demand for an undue advantage of Rs. 1.5 crores for favouring the private firms in GST evasion matters. CBI arrested a Deputy...

SEBI Cancels Research Analyst Registration After Holder Says He Runs Grocery Shop, Not Market Activities

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has cancelled the registration of a research analyst who told the regulator that he runs a small grocery shop and is not engaged in securities market activities, after proceedings relating to the misuse of his SEBI registration details by an unregistered investment advisory firm. The noticee had been registered with SEBI as a...

"Health Security Se National Security" Cess On Pan Masala, Tobacco Manufacturing Enforceable From Feb 01

The Ministry of Finance, Department of Revenue has notified February 01, 2026, as the date for enforcement of the Health Security Se National Security Cess Act, 2025 levying a Health Security se National Security Cess on machines used in manufacture of pan masala and similar items. The Health Security Se National Security Cess Act, 2025 (the Act) requires a manufacturer to...