As Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) defeated the Gujarat Titans (GT) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 final in Ahmedabad on Sunday (May 31), celebrations erupted across the country, including Hyderabad. However, the festivities in several parts of the city turned disorderly, with multiple videos circulating on social media showing instances of vandalism, traffic disruptions and violations of public safety norms.

Police were forced to intervene at a number of locations and reportedly resorted to mild lathi-charge in some areas to disperse unruly crowds and restore order.

The Secretariat Road stretch, which has increasingly become a major point for public celebrations following major sporting victories, witnessed large gatherings on Sunday night. Hundreds of fans assembled to celebrate RCB’s title triumph, but several were seen obstructing traffic and flouting traffic regulations. One video from the area showed a group of supporters striking police barricades, causing them to topple onto the road and disrupt the flow of vehicles. Others were seen moving around shirtless and creating a nuisance in the vicinity.

In another incident reported from KPHB, a group of people was seen throwing around waste baskets left behind by vendors after the weekly Sunday vegetable market. Videos showed individuals scattering objects onto the road while blocking traffic and engaging in disruptive behaviour.

Another video circulating online showed a man emerging through the sunroof of a moving car and setting off a rocket firecracker while holding the cracker box in his hand, raising concerns over public safety and reckless conduct during the celebrations.

Amid the celebrations, RCB urged supporters to mark the occasion responsibly. In a post on X after the victory, the franchise advised fans to celebrate with their families and avoid gathering in large crowds. “Best way to celebrate is with your loved ones. Relive the memories, and enjoy this special moment from the comfort of home,” the team said.

The appeal comes against the backdrop of the tragic event that followed RCB’s maiden IPL title win in 2025. During victory celebrations in Bengaluru, a crowd crush outside the stadium resulted in the deaths of 11 fans and left more than 50 others injured.

Minister for Revenue and Housing Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy has said that the historic Ganapeswaralayam (Sivalayam) of the Kakatiya-era in Kusumanchi of Khammam district will be developed at an estimated cost of ₹3.72 crore.

Speaking after laying the foundation stone for the temple development works in Kusumanchi on Sunday, he said the temple development works would be completed by the next Maha Sivaratri festival.

The Congress government has developed the historic Sammakka Saralamma temple in Mulugu district by spending ₹300 crore, he noted.

The State government has decided to sanction ₹1,000 crore in the first phase to develop the temples along the banks of the Godavari from Basar to Bhadrachalam ahead of the Godavari Pushkaralu, the once in 12 years event, slated to be held next year.

Mr. Reddy said, “The BRS government had assured to allocate ₹100 crore for the development of the historic Sri Sitaramachandra Swamy temple in Bhadrachalam. But the previous regime had failed to release even a single pie.”

He noted that Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy had performed bhoomi puja for ₹350 crore-worth temple development works during Sri Rama Navami celebrations in Bhadrachalam in March this year. The works will be executed expeditiously well ahead of next year’s Godavari Pushkaralu.

The Minister said the Congress respects all religions. Religious harmony and ‘Sarvamatha Samarasyam’ has been the hallmarks of the Congress government, he said, noting that funds had been sanctioned for the development of various mosques, churches and other places of worship.

Khammam MP R. Raghuram Reddy, Collector T.S. Divakara and others were present.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a heatwave warning in nine Telangana districts for Thursday (May 28).

According to the IMD’s latest bulletin, heatwave conditions are very likely to prevail at isolated pockets in Adilabad, Kumaram Bheem Asifabad, Mancherial, Karimnagar, Peddapalli, Jayashankar Bhupalpally, Mulugu, Bhadradri Kothagudem and Khammam districts.

Additionally, thunderstorms accompanied with lightning and gusty winds are very likely to occur at isolated places in Bhadradri Kothagudem, Khammam, Nalgonda, Suryapet, Mahabubabad, Warangal, Hanumakonda, Jangaon, Siddipet, Yadadri Bhuvangiri, Rangareddy, Hyderabad, Medchal Malkajgiri, Vikarabad, Sangareddy, Medak, Kamareddy, Mahabubnagar, Nagarkurnool, Wanaparthy, Narayanpet and Jogulamba Gadwal districts.

Hyderabad and its surrounding areas for the next 24 hours will see a generally cloudy sky. “Light to moderate rains or thundershowers accompanied with gusty winds are very likely to occur in the city. The maximum and minimum temperatures are likely to be around 36C and 26C respectively,” the bulletin said.

The Telangana High Court declined to interfere with an order passed by the Debt Recovery Appellate Tribunal-Kolkata dismissing its interim application to condone delay of 169 days in appealing against an order of Debt Recovery Tribunal-Hyderabad order.

A bench of Justices Moushumi Bhattacharya and Gadi Praveen Kumar dismissed the writ petition filed by the Bank of Baroda (e-Vijaya bank) of ARM branch in Hyderabad in the matter. In 2019, the DRT-Hyderabad directed the bank to refund the bid amount of ₹4.64 crore to Kosetty Krishna, who participated in the auction of a non-performing asset, at the simple interest rate of 5%.

Challenging this order, the bank approached the HC. On April 29 of 2024, the HC ordered the bank to file an appeal before the DRAT within eight weeks. However, the bank filed the appeal on December 10 of 2024, 224 days after the HC passed the order, seeking condonation of the delay of 169 days in filing the appeal. The DRAT dismissed the appeal.

Upholding the DRAT decision, the HC division bench dismissed the bank’s plea observing that the facts of the case suggest that the bank was ‘lethargic and lax in taking their duty to comply with the HC’s direction with seriousness’.

Choppadandi MLA Medipally Sathyam on Sunday personally monitored the paddy lifting process at various paddy procurement centres in Gangadhara mandal in Karimnagar district.

Responding to the procurement issues due to the reported shortage of vehicles at several paddy procurement centres, Mr. Sathyam rushed to Madhuranagar chowrasta on the Karimnagar-Jagtial main road on Sunday afternoon.

He held discussions with the owners of the lorries plying on the highway and persuaded them to deploy the vehicles to shift the paddy stocks from the procurement centres to the rice mills, sources said.

He boarded a lorry and reached a nearby paddy procurement centre, where he oversaw the paddy lifting process.

The local farmers hailed the MLA’s intervention for ensuring deployment of lorries to speed up the ‘tardy’ paddy lifting and mitigate their woes.

Recently inducted Tamil Nadu Minister P. Vishwanathan paid a courtesy call on Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy at Jubilee Hills on Sunday.

During the meeting, the Chief Minister felicitated Mr. Vishwanathan on assuming charge as a Minister in the Tamil Nadu government and extended his best wishes for his new responsibilities. Mr. Viswanathan was the AICC Secretary for Telangana.

Food safety inspections conducted by the Telangana Food Safety department at a bakery and a brewery in Hyderabad’s Nagole area on Wednesday (May 20) uncovered serious hygiene and food safety violations, with officials finding pest infestation, expired food products and suspected reuse of cooking oil at two establishments.

According to a press note issued by the department, inspections at Urban Monk Fine Dine and Baking in LB Nagar and Meld Haus brewery in Nagole revealed multiple violations. Officials found expired and mislabelled food products, improper food storage practices, poor sanitary conditions and suspected repeated use of cooking oil at the premises.

In a separate inspection in Karimnagar, officials detected serious violations at Ganesh Bangalore Bakery in Subhash Nagar. Food Safety officers found 750 damaged eggs that were foul-smelling and infested with houseflies. Authorities also discarded 20 kg of cakes suspected to have been prepared using the spoiled eggs.

“Expired and spoiled food articles, along with suspected reused cooking oil, were discarded on the spot during the inspections. Enforcement samples were collected from the establishments and sent for laboratory analysis,” the department said.

They further added that necessary action is being initiated against the Food Business Operators concerned under the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act.

Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay said he has handed over his son Bandi Bageerath for police inquiry through advocates with respect for the law.

In a statement issued late on Saturday (May 16) evening, Mr. Sanjay said: “All are equal before the law. All should abide by the rule of law.”

“My son is repeatedly claiming innocence,” Mr. Sanjay said, referring to the POCSO case registered against Mr. Bageerath at Petbasheerabad police station in Hyderabad.

“In fact, I thought of handing him over at the police station soon after a complaint was lodged. We consulted lawyers and produced the evidence with us before them. The lawyers, after examining them, said that the case will be quashed and bail will be granted. As a result, a slight delay occurred,” Mr. Sanjay said.

He further said, “Even today, the lawyers are saying bail will be granted. However, I thought it was not proper to further delay things. Hence, I handed over my son to the police through the lawyers for an inquiry.”

“I have full faith in the judiciary,” Mr. Sanjay added.

Cyberabad police on Tuesday (May 12) served a notice on Bandi Sai Bageerath, son of Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar, directing him to appear before investigators in connection with the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act case registered against him.

The notice, issued by the Station House Officer of Petbasheerabad police station, instructed Bageerath to appear before police by 2 p.m. on May 13 (Wednesday) for inquiry and investigation into the case.

According to the notice, the case was initially registered under Sections 74 and 75 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Sections 11 read with 12 of the POCSO Act based on a complaint lodged by the mother of the minor girl.

Police stated in the notice that, based on the victim’s statement, the sections of law were later altered to Section 5(l) read with Section 6 of the POCSO Act, which deal with aggravated sexual assault.

The notice further warned that failure to comply with the direction could result in legal action being initiated against the accused in accordance with law.

The development comes as Bageerath has approached the Telangana High Court seeking anticipatory bail in the case.

A case was registered against him on May 8 at Petbasheerabad police station following allegations of sexual assault on a 17-year-old girl.

Earlier, Bageerath had also lodged a complaint at Karimnagar II Town police station alleging that the girl and her parents attempted to honeytrap him and demanded ₹5 crore to avoid filing a police complaint. Based on his complaint, police registered a separate case against the girl and her parents under sections relating to extortion, criminal intimidation and criminal conspiracy.

Further investigation into the case is underway.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to Telangana, which was expected to energise the BJP cadre, is said to have left a sour taste among the top leaders as the PM is said to have been pissed off over the internal wranglings when the party was in a position to challenge the Congress government.

Sources within the party claimed that the Prime Minister was utterly unhappy due to persistent internal differences and factional politics. Staying away from them and spending an unusually long time with Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu and Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan also unnerved them.

The controversy surrounding Union Minister Bandi Sanjay Kumar’s son, which surfaced ahead of the Prime Minister’s visit, is also believed to have added to the unease. Some BJP leaders alleged that certain internal groups were attempting to politically damage Mr. Bandi Sanjay by amplifying the issue at a sensitive time despite knowing it could damage the party.

“The Prime Minister is fully aware of the developments surrounding the episode and also the political moves made during his visit,” a senior leader claimed.

Some leaders feel the optics sent an uncomfortable signal to the cadre at a time when the BJP is trying to project Telangana as its next major political destination in South India. “The Prime Minister rarely visits the State. Leaders expected greater engagement with the State party with 8 MPs and 8 MLAs”, a senior leader said with a note of disappointment.

Another senior leader saw a positive side too. Mr. Modi avoiding a prolonged interaction with top leaders may have actually helped avoid an uncomfortable situation. “Had there been a long meeting, the Prime Minister might have taken them to task over the internal political rivalries damaging the party,” the leader claimed.

With Municipal Corporation elections to three Commissionerates of Hyderabad ahead, perhaps Mr. Modi had more faith in Mr. Naidu and Mr. Pawan Kalyan, who can influence the AP-origin voters in Hyderabad, argued a senior functionary. Is that the reason why they were favoured with precious time of the PM over the State BJP leaders?