??Maharashtra elections: ‘Fake’ AI audio clip, Crypto and Cash-for-Votes | ??Employee dies in a fire at EV showroom

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Market Watch

• The Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) and National Stock Exchange (NSE) are?closed today, for the Maharashtra Assembly elections, impacting all trading segments, including equities and derivatives.

ICYMI

???Maharashtra recorded 58.22% voter turnout. In Jharkhand’s first phase of polling, the state recorded 67.59 % turnout.

??Canada has implemented additional security screening for passengers travelling to India, citing “an abundance of caution.”

??AR Rahman's wife Saira Banu announces separation after 29 years . The use of ‘#arrsairaabreakup’ by AR Rahman in his statement on X has left many questioning.

??Tennis legend Rafael Nadal bid farewell to the sport after an illustrious career marked by incredible achievements and heartfelt moments.

? Bitcoin reached a record high of $94,078 . The surge is partly due to Trump's media company potentially acquiring the crypto trading firm Bakkt.

?Argentina's football team, including Lionel Messi, is set to visit Kerala in 2025 .

????Delhi High Court has summoned OpenAI following ANI's allegations of copyright infringement by ChatGPT, marking the first such case in India.

??A devastating suicide attack in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa took the lives of 17 soldiers.

Maharashtra elections: ‘Fake’ AI audio clip, Crypto and Cash-for-Votes

‘Fake’ AI audio clip and Alleged Bitcoin Scam: The alleged "Bitcoin scam" has emerged as a contentious issue during the Maharashtra Assembly Elections, with accusations, counterclaims, and legal battles involving prominent political leaders and police officials.

• Allegations are based on claims by ex-IPS officer Ravindranath Patil, who implicated Sule and Patole in a 2018 crypto fraud . The clip released by the BJP sounds fake ??

Audio Clip Controversy: A purported audio recording involving Supriya Sule, Nana Patole, and former Pune Police Commissioner Amitabh Gupta was circulated on social media, claiming to implicate them in the alleged misuse of cryptocurrency.

• BJP spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi accused Supriya Sule and Nana Patole of using illegal Bitcoin funds for election campaigns .
• Gaurav Mehta, a cryptocurrency trader, claimed to have helped certain opposition leaders convert bitcoins into cash. Mehta alleged he feared for his safety and provided evidence, including the controversial audio clips, which are now under scrutiny.

The role of Ex-IPS Officer Ravindranath Patil: Patil alleged that opposition leaders were involved in the scam and called for an Election Commission probe.

• Patil himself was arrested in 2022 alongside cyber expert Pankaj Ghode for allegedly transferring crores from a Bitcoin wallet during the investigation into the 2018 case. He maintains that he was framed.

Counterclaims: Supriya Sule dismissed the accusations and filed complaints with the Election Commission and Cyber Crime Department.

What now? The Election Commission and Maharashtra Police are expected to investigate the matter further. Meanwhile, results from the Maharashtra Assembly polls on November 23 will determine whether this controversy impacts the political fortunes of the involved parties.

Cash-for-Votes controversy: BJP national general secretary Vinod Tawde was allegedly found with cash at a hotel in Virar, prompting police action.

• Three FIRs were filed against Tawde and others for allegedly distributing cash and liquor to voters, violating the election code, and holding an unauthorized press conference.
• Bahujan Vikas Aghadi (BVA) accused Tawde of carrying Rs 5 crore to influence voters, a claim he denied.

Clip du jour

Jaguar’s latest rebranding and ad without cars is making people ask why. Just why? Check the replies and quotes on this tweet .

Employee dies in EV showroom

A tragic fire at a Bengaluru electric vehicle showroom resulted in the death of a 25-year-old employee, Priya , due to a suspected battery explosion while charging.

• The fire broke out at an EV showroom on Dr Rajkumar Road. 45 electric scooters were destroyed, and an investigation is underway to determine the exact cause of the fire .
• Emergency services deployed multiple fire-fighter teams to extinguish the blaze and ensure public safety.
• Showrooms are urged to implement robust safety measures for handling lithium-ion batteries to prevent similar incidents.

What’s happening | Google could be forced to sell Chrome

The U.S. Department of Justice is evaluating whether to recommend Google's breakup to curb its search market monopoly.?Possible remedies include forcing Google to sell parts of its business or altering its practices.

• Potential divestments include the Android operating system and Chrome browser, which are critical to Google's market dominance.
• Another potential action includes forcing Google to sell its AdWords platform, a major revenue source, generating about two-thirds of its revenue.

Hi, I’m Sai Deepthi, the editor of this newsletter. I’d love to hear some feedback on the newsletter. WhatsApp me directly and tell me what you think.