Five must-read stories—February 6

Retrospective change to allow tax sleuths an unfettered raid raj

The Narendra Modi government has tweaked a key provision in the Income Tax Act with retrospective effect from April 1, 1962. The amendment raises the scary prospect that tax sleuths could raid assessees based on a rumour, canard, whim or unsubstantiated suspicion without having to disclose to anyone the source or the basis of the information on which the operation was ordered. A Telegraph report.

Crony coronation: Chinnamma 'coup' in Tamil Nadu

VK Sasikala, a constant presence in the last years of Jayalalithaa's life, is set to become Tamil Nadu chief minister in a stunning takeover that skips the more familiar dynasty path and heralds crony coronation, reports The Telegraph.

Aadhaar linkage to school subsidy schemes worries HRD Ministry

The Human Resource Development (HRD) Ministry has expressed concern over the Centre’s push to link the Aadhaar number with subsidy schemes related to school education, reports The Hindu.

Tata no longer in top 100 brands list

The spat between Tata Sons and its former chairman Cyrus P Mistry seems to have pushed Tata out of the top 100 brands in the world ranked by Brand Finance, a consulting firm, reports Mint.

US appeals court rejects White House request to reinstate travel ban

The US appeals court has denied the justice department’s request for an immediate reinstatement of Donald Trump’s controversial travel ban, reports The Guardian.