PANAJI: The alleged sex scandal in Curchorem has intensified days after the arrest of 20-year-old Soham Sushant Naik, with the case now transferred to the crime branch for a detailed probe. Three FIRs have been registered so far, and statements of two survivors have been recorded. Investigators have found that both the accused and the survivors were minors at the time of the alleged incidents, which reportedly took place around three years ago when they were in college. Naik, a resident of Madhegal in Cacora and son of a councillor of the Curchorem Cacora Municipal Council, was arrested following public outrage, with locals gathering outside the police station on Sunday demanding immediate action. South Goa SP Santosh Desai said that while one case was initially registered, two more FIRs were filed based on subsequent statements. The first FIR has been registered on behalf of the state. Police said Naik is being treated as the prime suspect and is currently under interrogation, while several others suspected to be linked to the case are also being questioned. Deputy inspector general of police Varsha Sharma, who reviewed the probe, said the additional FIRs were registered based on a survivor’s statement. She added that video clips recovered so far do not show the presence of survivors, and the accused’s mobile phone will be sent for forensic examination. Police said the investigation is being carried out from all angles and denied any political pressure in the case, maintaining that FIRs are being registered strictly based on complaints received. Naik has been booked under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Samhita, the Information Technology Act, the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act, and the Goa Children’s Act. A local court remanded him to four-day police custody on Monday.

‘Protecting such monsters is fatal for society’AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday slammed BJP over the Curchorem sex scandal, demanding the harshest punishment for the accused and justice for the survivors.

He accused BJP of shielding the son of one of its councillors, who allegedly sexually exploited 30 minor girls over three years, filming and blackmailing them. “BJP has turned people’s lives in Goa into hell. Everyone is living under the shadow of fear,” Kejriwal said.He demanded that the guilty be dealt with sternly and warned that those in office must not protect such offenders. “Protecting such monsters is fatal for society. No demon should even think of doing this again,” he added. TNN

The 19th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) is set to begin soon. As the league’s popularity grows year by year, with new teams and international players joining, former cricketers and experts have begun speculating about players like MS Dhoni, who will turn 45 this year.

Dhoni is currently the oldest player in the IPL, having represented his team since 2008 and played a total of 278 IPL matches, holding the record for the most appearances in the tournament’s history. He has represented Chennai Super Kings and Rising Pune Supergiant (2016–2017), scoring over 5,000 runs as a wicketkeeper-batsman.

However, since his surgery in 2023, Dhoni’s performance has declined; he has mostly played as an impact player or batted at number 7 or 8, typically in the final overs. In the last season, he averaged around 25 runs at a sub-par strike rate of 135.7 across 14 games.

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The Role of MS Dhoni in Today’s IPL

Many Indian fans tune in to the IPL to watch players who have retired from international cricket, such as Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. With new franchises emerging and auction prices rising every year, the league has evolved significantly.

Former cricketer Aakash Chopra recently questioned whether the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) still requires Dhoni’s presence to maintain the league’s growth and popularity.

From 2023 to 2026: Will This Be MS Dhoni’s Last Season?

After CSK’s last title win, MS Dhoni said in the post-match presentation that he had “one more year of cricket left.” He later underwent knee surgery under sports medicine specialist Dr. Dinshaw Pardiwala. When asked how long he planned to continue, Dhoni replied simply: at least another year.

As the 2026 season approaches, his longevity remains the sport’s biggest talking point. Chopra believes Dhoni’s self-awareness will dictate his exit. He told RevSportz: “Whenever Mahendra Singh Dhoni comes on the field, his reputation precedes him, and with that comes responsibility. He is playing because he loves the game. He has achieved everything there is to achieve. But the day he feels he is a liability if he can’t hit a six, drops catches, or misses stumpings he will leave on his own. He will say, ‘that’s it.’”

Does the IPL Still Need MS Dhoni?

Chopra raised the question: despite the league’s global popularity, is Dhoni’s presence still essential? He pointed out that the IPL has grown tremendously and does not depend solely on any single player. International interest in the league remains high, even as players leave other competitions, such as the PSL or ECB, to participate.

“With due respect to MS and others, the IPL has become incredibly big. A small child doesn’t learn to walk until you hold his finger. But holding his finger has helped him grow. Now he is running, and when he is running, he doesn’t need anyone to hold his finger. The ecosystem will not be significantly affected whether it is MS or someone else. The IPL can take care of itself,” Chopra said.

However, the decision of whether to play or not ultimately depends on MS Dhoni and the CSK team management. There is no doubt that his presence can influence any team’s performance, as we saw during the concluded ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. Dhoni was seen motivating the Indian team from the stands alongside last year’s World Cup-winning captain, Rohit Sharma, during the semi-final and final games against New Zealand and England.

No team would want to risk losing such a genius, who can even change the course of a match from the pavilion. Chennai Super Kings will play their first match of the season against Rajasthan Royals on March 30 in Guwahati.

Also Read: “Should not play”: CSK legend suggests MS Dhoni to skip IPL 2026

Kolkata Knight Riders Captain Ajinkya Rahane (PTI Photo)

Former India batter Aakash Chopra believes Ajinkya Rahane has a significant point to prove heading into IPL 2026, especially in addressing long-standing doubts about his game beyond the powerplay.Rahane led Kolkata Knight Riders from the front with the bat in IPL 2025, finishing as their top run-scorer. He amassed 390 runs in 12 innings at a strike rate of 147.72. Despite those numbers, questions persisted around his ability to maintain scoring momentum once the field restrictions were lifted, particularly against spin, which many felt slowed KKR down at crucial stages.