The Election Commission of India on Friday dismissed allegations made by Rahul Gandhi who claimed that the constitutional body was involved in large-scale electoral manipulation. A special court for elected representatives convicted Prajwal Revanna, ex-Hassan MP and grandson of former prime minister HD Devegowda for raping a 47-year-old domestic help. Meanwhile, the government is exploring options to respond to US President Donald Trump’s decision to impose a 25 per cent tariff on Indian goods. Here are the top five news stories for the evening:Election commission dismisses Rahul Gandhi’s ‘vote theft’ allegations:The Election Commission of India has rejected Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s allegations of vote theft during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections in Karnataka, calling them baseless. In an internal note, the EC instructed election officials to ignore such unfounded claims and continue working with neutrality and transparency. It also pointed out that no formal complaints or legal action were taken by the Congress party during or after the elections. Read full story Prajwal Revanna convicted in rape case involving domestic help: A special court in Bengaluru has convicted Prajwal Revanna, former Hassan MP and grandson of ex-Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda for raping a 47-year-old domestic worker. The judgment was delivered by a court handling cases related to elected representatives. The incident adds to the ongoing legal troubles for Revanna, who is already facing multiple allegations of sexual assault. Read full storyIndia mulls next steps after 25% US tariff; F‑35 jet deal in jeopardy:India is reassessing its defense and trade strategy following a 25% tariff imposed by the US on certain Indian exports. The development has cast uncertainty over the proposed acquisition of F-35 fighter jets from the US, with the Indian government now considering whether to proceed with the deal. Officials are evaluating next steps while weighing the impact of the tariff move on broader trade and defense ties between the two countries. Read full storyBihar draft electoral rolls released; EC opens window for claims till September 1: The Election Commission has published the draft electoral rolls for all 243 Bihar assembly constituencies following a Special Summary Revision. Citizens can file claims and objections regarding the voter list until September 1. The rolls will be available both digitally and physically at designated locations. The exercise aims to ensure transparency and correct inclusion or removal of names ahead of the assembly elections. Read full storyWorld’s longest lightning megaflash spans 829 km across three US States:The World Meteorological Organization has confirmed a new world record for the longest single lightning flash measuring 829 kilometers recorded across Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi. This “megaflash” broke the previous 768 km record from Brazil. The flash occurred horizontally and didn’t last long but traveled an exceptional distance. WMO used advanced satellite technology to detect and verify it. Read full story