BIZARRE: 3 | Mind Blowing Facts

South Central 52: The Dileep case and how SIR is unfolding across states

In this episode of South Central, hosts Dhanya Rajendran and Pooja Prasanna first discuss the Kerala actor assault case of 2017, which superstar Dileep is accused of orchestrating. As the verdict is expected in a week, the hosts take us through the details of the case and its impact on…

Newslaundry · Nov 30, 2025

The return of VC Sajjanar: How India glorifies encounter killings

VC Sajjanar, the IPS officer who led the 2019 “Disha encounter,” is now Hyderabad’s new Police Commissioner. In this episode of Let Me Explain, Pooja Prasanna looks at what his rise says about India’s dangerous glorification of encounter killings, and how cinema, media, and public adulation have helped turn cops…

Newslaundry · Oct 27, 2025

Inside Nikhil Kamath’s network and narrative

From school dropout to billionaire podcaster sitting across from Prime Minister Modi, Nikhil Kamath now commands enviable reach and influence. How did he do it and what does it say about the India we live in today? Senior journalist Indulekha Aravind speaks with Pooja Prasanna about her long-form profile for…

Newslaundry · Oct 17, 2025

South Central 42: Kavitha’s exit from BRS, states push back on GST

In this week’s South Central, hosts Dhanya Rajendran and Pooja Prasanna discuss K Kavitha’s suspension and resignation from the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) after she claimed that her cousins Harish Rao and Santosh were responsible for corruption in the Kaleshwaram project. They are joined by political and policy consultant Tara…

Newslaundry · Sep 7, 2025

South Central 41: Questions over Ambani’s Vantara & the farce of Rahul Mamkootathil as MLA

In this week’s South Central, hosts Dhanya Rajendran and Pooja Prasanna first discuss Anant Ambani’s Vantara project and how, under the guise of animal rescue, it may be hiding something far more sinister. They are joined by investigative journalist M Rajshekhar.

Newslaundry · Aug 31, 2025

South Central 40: Election Commission’s credibility crisis and the nun who took Bishop Franco to court

In this episode of South Central, hosts Dhanya Rajendran, Pooja Prasanna, and Leena Reghunath first discuss the ‘vote chori’ press conference by the Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, issuing a seven-day ultimatum to Rahul Gandhi and anyone else casting doubts on the election process. Senior investigative journalist and Executive Editor…

Newslaundry · Aug 24, 2025

South Central 39: How Prajwal Revanna was convicted, National Award row

In this episode of South Central, hosts Dhanya Rajendran, Pooja Prasanna, and Leena Reghunath first discuss the conviction of former Janata Dal (Secular) leader Prajwal Revanna in the first of four cases of rape against him. The panel, joined by TNM Karnataka bureau chief Anisha Sheth, weighs in on why…

Newslaundry · Aug 10, 2025

South Central 38: Kerala nuns arrested in Chhattisgarh, TCS layoffs

In this episode of South Central, hosts Dhanya Rajendran, Pooja Prasanna, and Leena Reghunath are joined by Human Rights Law Network founder and senior advocate Colin Gonsalves, TNM Kerala bureau chief Haritha John, Sriram Rajagopal, and A Welkin. 

Newslaundry · Aug 3, 2025

South Central 37: VS Achuthanandan’s legacy and gag orders in the Dharmasthala case

In this episode of South Central, Dhanya Rajendran, Pooja Prasanna, and Leena Reghunath discuss the life and legacy of V S Achuthanandan with environmentalist Sridhar Radhakrishnan and senior journalist Sreejan Balakrishnan.

Newslaundry · Jul 27, 2025

South Central 35: Vijay Mallya’s half-truths and Kingfisher’s fall, Bharat Mata controversy in Kerala

In this episode of South Central, hosts Dhanya Rajendran, Pooja Prasanna, and Leena Reghunath first discuss the Vijay Mallya podcast and why political patronage for big businessmen is detrimental. Joining them is senior business journalist Sucheta Dalal.

Newslaundry · Jul 13, 2025