Journalism of Courage
The Daily Catch-Up: Noida workers jailed for weeks, Vande Mataram row and more
An Express investigation examines how Noida factory workers spent weeks in jail before courts stepped in; the debate over Vande Mataram returns to the spotlight; and a four-year search reunites a missing engineer with his family.
On April 13, when thousands of workers in Noida and Ghaziabad took to the streets to demand higher wages, the Noida police, caught off guard, all but invented a conspiracy theory about the agitation being sponsored by “Pakistan-based handlers” and radical leftists. (File Photo)
Dear reader,
Welcome to The Daily Catch-Up, your three-minute evening briefing from The Indian Express.
- An Express investigation into the Noida workers’ protests examines what happened after factory workers were arrested — and how gaps in the system kept many of them behind bars for weeks before courts intervened.
- Across seven major FIRs, workers spent an average of 53 days in jail before bail orders began exposing serious questions about how protesters had been booked and prosecuted.
- Why are only the first two stanzas of Vande Mataram usually sung? The answer lies in the song’s history, its political journey and the controversy that has followed it for more than a century.
- Four years after he went missing, a Nagpur engineer has been reunited with his family after a long trail involving the Kerala Police and a remarkable journey back home.
- A ‘purification’ row has reached the Congress Working Committee, putting Mallikarjun Kharge and the party leadership at the centre of a fresh political confrontation.
- The ED has made claims involving money allegedly transferred to Dubai in a case connected to ex-Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s daughter.
- Karnataka has cancelled more than 1,100 sites linked to the MUDA 50:50 scheme, adding another chapter to the controversy surrounding Mysuru’s land-allotment programme.
- Punjab is heading into a bandh on Friday. Here’s what could be affected and what is expected to remain open.
Podcast of the day: UGC caste discrimination guidelines under review, says Centre ( 20 August)
When protest became an FIR: Inside the Noida workers’ arrests
How does an arrest during a labour protest turn into weeks in jail? The latest Express investigation traces the cases that followed demonstrations by factory workers in Noida, examining the FIRs, the allegations, the court orders and the gaps that emerged between mass arrests and individual scrutiny of the evidence.
Jailed for 53 days on average, then courts stepped in
An examination of 222 bail orders across seven major FIRs shows courts granting bail in a large majority of cases.
Why India sings only the first two stanzas of Vande Mataram
The national song has been at the heart of political and cultural debates for decades.
Why Vande Mataram is now part of the Congress’s political conversation
The Congress is revisiting the history and politics surrounding the song as the debate returns to the national stage, with the party attempting to frame its own position on a subject long associated with competing ideas of nationalism.
The ‘purification’ row and the Congress Working Committee
A controversy involving Mallikarjun Kharge has added another layer to the Congress’s political discussions, bringing questions of symbolism, identity and the party’s messaging into focus.
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Four years, a missing engineer and the journey home
A Nagpur engineer who had been separated from his family for four years has finally been reunited with them.
Bharat Taxi drivers say the numbers aren’t adding up
Drivers associated with the new platform are grappling with questions about earnings and viability as they navigate competition in India’s crowded ride-hailing market.
Punjab bandh: What will remain closed and what may stay open
A bandh is scheduled across Punjab on Friday. The Express breaks down the likely impact on transport, markets, schools and other services.
Karnataka cancels 1,100-plus sites under MUDA’s 50:50 scheme
The Karnataka government has moved to cancel a large number of sites associated with the controversial scheme, which has been under scrutiny over land allotments and compensation.
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ED makes allegations involving Pinarayi Vijayan’s daughter and Dubai transfers
The Enforcement Directorate has alleged that money was transferred through a hawala route to Dubai in a case involving the former Kerala Chief Minister’s daughter.
What Sergio Gor’s Pakistan visit says about the US position on Kashmir
The visit and the diplomatic signals surrounding it have renewed attention on Washington’s approach to Kashmir and its balancing act between India and Pakistan.
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Denied boarding on a Canada-bound flight, passenger wins Rs 1.53 lakh payout
A consumer dispute over an international journey has resulted in compensation for a passenger who was unable to board.
A kidney donor, family support and a court dispute over a job
A family’s experience with organ donation and subsequent questions over employment has reached the courts, raising issues around eligibility, dependency and the interpretation of service rules.
A maid and a Mumbai murder story: Police allege a family conspiracy
Investigators say a woman allegedly hired a domestic worker and members of her family in a plot to kill her daughter-in-law.
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Rajpal Yadav on a Rs 250-crore loss and the 13-year struggle that followed
The actor looks back at the financial setbacks that followed his move into film production and the long road that followed.
The Daily Catch-Up: Your evening briefing
Awarapan 2 crosses the Rs 150-crore mark
The Emraan Hashmi film continues its box-office run, building on the renewed popularity of the franchise.
Batwara 1947’s box-office run, six days in
Sunny Deol’s latest release is finding its place at the box office as comparisons emerge with his earlier blockbusters and the wider commercial landscape.
Why Operation Safed Sagar wanted to bring Pervez Musharraf back into the story
Manu Rishi Chadha discusses the creative decisions behind the series and the challenge of bringing real political and military figures into a dramatic narrative.
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Tendulkar, Kohli or someone else? The debate over India’s best overseas batter
A discussion involving some of cricket’s biggest names has reopened the familiar question of how India’s greatest batters should be judged away from home.
Khushbu Sundar on losing 40 kg over five years
The actor’s long-term approach to weight loss involved changes to diet, walking and lifestyle.
The Daily Catch-Up is published Monday to Friday by The Indian Express.
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