The Reserve Bank has asked banks to keep open their designated tax collecting branches on Good Friday (March 29) and the following weekend to facilitate tax collection.

Amid protests in support of Sri Lankan Tamils in Tamil Nadu, both ruling AIADMK and Karunanidhi-led the DMK today mounted pressure on the Centre demanding that India boycott the CHOGM to be held in Colombo this November.

The Shiv Sena today opposed the move to pardon Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt stating that it would send a wrong message to the society.

Hearing of the 2002 hit-and-run case involving Salman Khan was today deferred to April 8 by a sessions court which accepted his lawyer’s prayer for time to file a document even as the actor did not make a personal appearance.

In further signs of fissures within DMK, party chief M. Karunanidhi’s son M.K. Alagiri today skipped the crucial executive committee meet, which is likely to take key decisions in the wake of the party’s pullout from the UPA.

Hardcore Maoist Sriramula Srinivas alias Sudarshan, wanted in connection with several cases including the killing of former Andhra home minister A. Madhava Reddy and carrying a reward of Rs 20 lakh on him, was arrested in Khammam district, the police said today.

Former Karnataka chief minister B.S. Yeddyurappa and his family members today appeared before a CBI court here in connection with a case of alleged kickback in illegal mining.

The Securities Appellate Tribunal will continue its hearing on March 26 on Sahara group chief Subrata Roy’s plea against Sebi’s attachment order of his bank accounts and other assets, along with those of his two firms and their top executives.

Falling for sixth straight day, the BSE benchmark Sensex today closed 57 points down at a new four-month low of 18,735.60 on worries that economic reform momentum may slacken and global sentiment remained weak as a solution for the Cyprus issue continued to prove elusive.

The CBI today carried out searches at 19 places across Tamil Nadu, including the residence of DMK chief M. Karunanidhi’s son M.K. Stalin in Chennai in a case of alleged tax evasion of imported cars.