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India’s active coronavirus cases have risen to nearly 3,000, with Kerala fighting the latest resurgence of infections – followed by Maharashtra, and Delhi. Official data shows a quick rise in the cases within four days. While India recorded a total of 1,010 cases by May 26, the official data by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare shows a total of 2,710 infections as of May 30.

According to the data, Kerala has recorded 1,147 cases, Maharashtra 424, Delhi 294, and Gujarat 223. Tamil Nadu has recorded a total of 148 cases so far, while Karnataka and West Bengal have reported 148 and 116 cases, respectively.

Rajasthan has reported 51 cases, Uttar Pradesh 42, Puducherry 25, Haryana 20, Andhra Pradesh 16, Madhya Pradesh 10, Goa seven, and Odisha, Punjab, and Jammu Kashmir four each. Three states – Telangana, Arunachal Pradesh, and Chandigarh have reported three cases each, while Mizoram and Assam have two people detected with the infection each so far.

No active case has been reported from Andaman and Nicobar, Sikkim, and Himachal Pradesh. The official data for Bihar is not yet available.Data suggested at least seven died in recent weeks across India. Two people who died in Maharashtra (1) and Delhi (1) had other severe ailments along with Covid-19. However, it is not yet clear whether others died due to the infection.

All people who died, except for the one in Punjab, were senior citizens, officials said.

However, officials have said that the coronavirus cases are mild in nature and there is no need to panic.

Earlier this week, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) Director General Dr Rajiv Bahl said the agencies are watching what is unfolding, and stressed the need to be vigilant.

“The public need not worry about this new variant of Covid-19. We just need to be vigilant. The government and all the agencies are watching what is unfolding. According to me, the basic precautions should be taken. We are not talking about enhanced precautions right now. But if someone is a cancer patient or has immunity problems, then we generally advise them to avoid any infection. Precautions need to be taken,” he said.

In India, the most common Covid-19 variant remains JN.1, comprising 53 per cent of samples tested, followed by BA.2 (26%) and other Omicron sublineages (20%), according to the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG). However, the recent cases have seen at least one case of the new highly contagious NB.1.8.1 variant, and at least four cases of the LF.7 variant, the report said.

As of this month, the World Health Organisation (WHO) classifies LF.7 and NB.1.8 subvariants as Variants Under Monitoring (VUMs), not as Variants of Concern (VOCs) or Variants of Interest (VOIs). But these variants are reportedly driving the rise in Covid cases in China and some other parts of Asia.

Honeytrap At The Dockyard: Engineer Ravindra Verma

In Maharashtra, the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) arrested 27-year-old Ravindra Verma, a mechanical engineer employed by a Mumbai-based defence technology firm. Verma had access to the Naval Dockyard in south Mumbai and was involved in work related to submarines and warships.

His arrest was triggered by a forensic trail linking him to Facebook accounts under the names “Payal Sharma” and “Ispreet.” Investigators say these profiles were fronts for Pakistani agents who gradually lured Verma into a honeytrap. Verma began sharing detailed sketches, diagrams, and audio notes about naval assets in exchange for money sent via Indian and international bank accounts.

According to the police, Verma was not merely duped but knowingly and repeatedly shared confidential data. While phones were prohibited inside the Naval Dockyard, he would reportedly sketch from memory and send images later. The ATS suspects he also supplied ship names and docking schedules. He had been communicating with the Pakistani operative since November 2024 and is currently in custody.

The Influencer Asset: Jyoti Malhotra

Perhaps the most publicly visible case is that of travel vlogger Jyoti Malhotra, who ran a popular YouTube channel. Her arrest by Haryana Police came in mid-May, following her alleged links to ISI operatives.

According to authorities investigating the case, Malhotra had direct, repeated contact with operatives at the Pakistan High Commission in Delhi, as well as during visits to Pakistan, at least two of which were confirmed by travel records. She reportedly interacted with Pakistani intelligence officials named Danish, Ahsan, and Shahid. Forensic examination of her seized mobile phones and laptops revealed a trove of over 12 terabytes of data, including communications that investigators claim confirm her awareness of the agents’ ISI affiliations.

Despite being under scrutiny for disproportionate spending and multiple foreign trips, including to Pakistan and China, Malhotra continued her interactions with suspected handlers. One notable incident captured in a video by Scottish YouTuber Callum Mill showed her walking through Lahore’s Anarkali Bazaar accompanied by six men armed with AK-47s.

Malhotra has been charged under the Official Secrets Act and sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Her trial is scheduled to begin in June.

The Health Worker: Sahdev Singh Gohil

A 28-year-old health worker from Gujarat was arrested for transmitting sensitive information related to Indian military infrastructure to a Pakistani operative. 

Officials from the Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) confirmed last Saturday that Sahdev Singh Gohil, a resident of the border district of Kachchh, had been detained earlier this month on charges of sharing classified images and videos of newly constructed Indian Air Force (IAF) and Border Security Force (BSF) installations with a foreign agent.

Senior ATS officer K Siddharth said that Gohil came into contact with a person identifying herself as Aditi Bharadwaj via WhatsApp in 2023. Investigators now believe Bharadwaj was a cover identity used by a Pakistani intelligence operative. The communication, according to ATS sources, evolved into an exchange of visuals and data concerning Indian military sites near the border.

According to investigators, Gohil procured a new SIM card registered under his Aadhaar details in early 2025 and activated a WhatsApp account on behalf of the alleged handler using a one-time-password (OTP) authentication process. This channel, officials say, was subsequently used to transmit sensitive content documenting military construction and movements in the area.

Since the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack and India’s retaliatory strikes under Operation Sindoor, Indian counterintelligence agencies have been on high alert. Over the past month, at least 15 individuals across Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, and Punjab have been detained or arrested. 

An engineer in Mumbai sketching warship blueprints after being honey-trapped on Facebook, a travel vlogger in Haryana escorted by armed men through Lahore’s markets, a Rajasthan government employee with seven unexplained trips to Pakistan, and a SIM card supplier in Deeg funnelling information to Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) handlers – each arrest, unconnected yet similar, reveals a wide network of people engaged in passing sensitive information to Pakistan. Moti Ram Jat was not a high-ranking officer, but his access to operational details within the Central Reserve Police Force made him a candidate that Pakistani operatives could exploit. According to the National Investigation Agency (NIA), Jat had been in contact with Pakistan Intelligence Officers (PIOs) since 2023, passing along classified information in exchange for money.

The NIA arrested Jat from Delhi earlier this month after his social media activity triggered internal alarms. The CRPF, in a rare public disclosure, acknowledged that Jat was dismissed after being found to have “acted in violation of established norms and protocols.” Jat is currently in NIA custody until June 6. Investigation is still underway to determine what information he passed on to India’s nuclear-powered neighbour. 

Honeytrap At The Dockyard: Engineer Ravindra Verma

In Maharashtra, the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) arrested 27-year-old Ravindra Verma, a mechanical engineer employed by a Mumbai-based defence technology firm. Verma had access to the Naval Dockyard in south Mumbai and was involved in work related to submarines and warships.

His arrest was triggered by a forensic trail linking him to Facebook accounts under the names “Payal Sharma” and “Ispreet.” Investigators say these profiles were fronts for Pakistani agents who gradually lured Verma into a honeytrap. Verma began sharing detailed sketches, diagrams, and audio notes about naval assets in exchange for money sent via Indian and international bank accounts.

According to the police, Verma was not merely duped but knowingly and repeatedly shared confidential data. While phones were prohibited inside the Naval Dockyard, he would reportedly sketch from memory and send images later. The ATS suspects he also supplied ship names and docking schedules. He had been communicating with the Pakistani operative since November 2024 and is currently in custody.

The Influencer Asset: Jyoti Malhotra

Perhaps the most publicly visible case is that of travel vlogger Jyoti Malhotra, who ran a popular YouTube channel. Her arrest by Haryana Police came in mid-May, following her alleged links to ISI operatives.

According to authorities investigating the case, Malhotra had direct, repeated contact with operatives at the Pakistan High Commission in Delhi, as well as during visits to Pakistan, at least two of which were confirmed by travel records. She reportedly interacted with Pakistani intelligence officials named Danish, Ahsan, and Shahid. Forensic examination of her seized mobile phones and laptops revealed a trove of over 12 terabytes of data, including communications that investigators claim confirm her awareness of the agents’ ISI affiliations.

Despite being under scrutiny for disproportionate spending and multiple foreign trips, including to Pakistan and China, Malhotra continued her interactions with suspected handlers. One notable incident captured in a video by Scottish YouTuber Callum Mill showed her walking through Lahore’s Anarkali Bazaar accompanied by six men armed with AK-47s.

Malhotra has been charged under the Official Secrets Act and sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Her trial is scheduled to begin in June.

The Health Worker: Sahdev Singh Gohil

A 28-year-old health worker from Gujarat was arrested for transmitting sensitive information related to Indian military infrastructure to a Pakistani operative. 

Officials from the Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) confirmed last Saturday that Sahdev Singh Gohil, a resident of the border district of Kachchh, had been detained earlier this month on charges of sharing classified images and videos of newly constructed Indian Air Force (IAF) and Border Security Force (BSF) installations with a foreign agent.

Senior ATS officer K Siddharth said that Gohil came into contact with a person identifying herself as Aditi Bharadwaj via WhatsApp in 2023. Investigators now believe Bharadwaj was a cover identity used by a Pakistani intelligence operative. The communication, according to ATS sources, evolved into an exchange of visuals and data concerning Indian military sites near the border.

According to investigators, Gohil procured a new SIM card registered under his Aadhaar details in early 2025 and activated a WhatsApp account on behalf of the alleged handler using a one-time-password (OTP) authentication process. This channel, officials say, was subsequently used to transmit sensitive content documenting military construction and movements in the area.

Former Infosys CFO Mohandas Pai has hit back at Hotmail co-founder Sabeer Bhatia for his post questioning whether Indians could feel the impact of the country becoming the fourth-largest economy after surpassing Japan. It all started after Mr Bhatia shared a video showing slumps, poor drainage systems and even white foam that forms in Delhi’s Yamuna, causing concern each year. “We overtook Japan in GDP……but can you feel it in your pocket? Growth without distribution is just inflation in disguise,” he wrote in the caption of the post. 

Reposting the X post, Mr Pai called Mr Bhatia an “economic refugee” and said that he has no standing to comment on the country’s progress since he left the country years ago. “Man Sabeer Bhatia you are an economic refugee, left India long ago. Good riddance to bad rubbish. You had no role in India’s progress. So stop pontificating and shut up. We will grow India and build our future. We do not need you. You are toxic and a hate monger,” he wrote. In his post, Mr Bhatia spoke about the quality of life in India. “The reason I have come out and criticised the overall GDP over that of Japan is for this reason. I have been getting a lot of backlash on my Twitter account but I’m still doing it because I love India and I love each and every one of you. I really care about India and I want it to be an India that improves the lives of all of its citizens, especially the ones right at the bottom of the pyramid. If we can change their lives, all the other numbers automatically take care of themselves,” he said in the clip. 

The Hotmail co-founder also listed how he thinks India can be better. He believes that real progress lies in mass education and empowering people through critical thinking. “Just mass educate the entire population of the country. Today, that is possible with the help of AI. But if we stick to rote learning, memorisation, and chasing exam scores, that is completely useless,” he said. Meanwhile, Mr Bhatia and Mr Pai’s X interaction has sparked discussion online, with many users agreeing with the former Infosys CFO. 

“Dear @sabeer, you were a hero to us when we were young, you sold the story of the great American dream with the sale of #Hotmail. However, we are now through with Nostalgia. There are better role models for us here in India. More humble, more giving back to Indian society. I believe they are the real heroes we Indians admire because they did what you couldn’t here. So, please stop this narrative, do some real work here in India. Do #meaningful #real. Start a #fund,” wrote one user. 

“I get your point, Sabeer, and improvement in GDP per capita growth will happen once we realise India’s full potential across services and product space. So, let’s be optimistic, support the movement, and celebrate the milestone without losing momentum,” commented another. You should have stayed back and contributed to growth and distribution,” expressed a third user. Abhinav Singh, who has helmed short films like Sita starring Shriya Pilgaonkar and Amazon Mini TV’s Yatri Kripya Dhyan De, featuring Shweta Basu Prasad and Shaheer Sheikh, called Shah incredibly manipulative and abusive. The latter highlighted how he had received several testimonies from women.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, a source close to the Indian Women Cinematographers’ Collective (IWCC) also highlighted that Pratik Shah had come under scrutiny about four years ago. This took place after a young cinematographer contacted a senior IWCC member to report inappropriate behaviour. 

Elon Musk allegedly fathered a child with a Japanese pop star and told an ex that he would offer his sperm to anyone, a wide-ranging report about the billionaire’s role in the Trump administration has revealed. Ashley St. Clair, who allegedly shares son Romulus with the Tesla and SpaceX chief, made the bombshell claims in a new article published by The New York Times. 

The 26-year-old told the outlet that Mr Musk told her that he had fathered children around the world, including one with a Japanese pop star. She claimed that the billionaire had a deep concern for the declining birth rate, and allegedly told her that he had given his sperm to the person who asked for it, but did not name the woman. He made it seem like it was just his altruism, and he generally believed these people should just have children,” St. Clair said, according to the NYT. 

Notably, Mr Musk has at least 14 children via four different women who are already publicly known, including Canadian musician Grimes and Shivon Zilis, an executive at his brain-computer company Neuralink. 

The latest NYT article follows a Wall Street Journal report in April, which suggested that the actual number of Mr Musk’s children was much higher than what is publicly known. According to the report, the billionaire claimed that Japanese officials had asked him to be a sperm donor for a high-profile woman. “They want me to be a sperm donor. No romance or anything, just sperm,” read the text message to Ms St. Clair, as per The Independent.

The outlet reported that Mr Musk later told St. Clair that he had given his sperm to the person who asked for it, but did not name the woman.Meanwhile, elsewhere in the NYT article, Ms St. Claire claimed that while she was giving birth to Mr Musk’s alleged child in September last year, he told her “over disappearing Signal messages” that he wanted to keep his paternity and their relationship under wraps. She also said that she had to pretend she didn’t know Mr Musk when they both went to Mar-a-Lago to celebrate President Donald Trump’s election victory. 

The New York Times report also alleges that the billionaire was using drugs “intensely” and regularly during his work with Donald Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), including “so much ketamine that it was affecting his bladder”. He took Ecstasy and psychedelic mushrooms, and travelled with a daily medication box that held about 20 pills, the article claimed. 

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