HT Morning News Brief Sept 18: Noel Tata opposes Tata Sons IPO, DUSU elections underway

Several important developments across corporate India, education, crime, sports and entertainment are in focus on Friday. Among the key stories is a reported disagreement within Tata Sons over the proposed listing of the company, while Delhi University students are casting their votes in the Delhi University Students' Union elections.

Tata Trusts Chairman Noel Tata has reportedly opposed the proposed listing of Tata Sons and indicated that he would vote against any board decision supporting an initial public offering. The development comes amid the company's ongoing discussions over regulatory requirements following the Reserve Bank of India's position on Tata Sons.

According to reports, Noel Tata has argued that Tata Sons should approach the central bank and seek additional time to work out an alternative arrangement. The issue has created a significant discussion within the Tata Group because Tata Sons serves as the principal holding company of the conglomerate. Any decision involving its ownership or listing could have wider implications for the group's governance and shareholding structure.

The matter comes after the RBI did not accept Tata Sons' request to move out of the regulatory framework applicable to an upper-layer non-banking financial company. The company now faces the question of how to meet the regulator's requirements, with the possibility of a stock-market listing forming an important part of the discussion.

Voting for the 2026 Delhi University Students' Union elections is taking place on Friday. More than 1.5 lakh students are eligible to vote for the four central posts of president, vice-president, secretary and joint secretary. Students in morning colleges are voting from 8:30 am to 1 pm, while polling for evening colleges is scheduled between 3 pm and 7:30 pm. The votes will be counted on September 19.

The election has attracted participation from major student organisations, including the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad, National Students' Union of India and the AISA-SFI alliance. Security arrangements have been strengthened across the university following incidents and allegations of disruption during the campaign period. The Delhi High Court has also taken note of concerns surrounding violence and vandalism linked to the election.

In another major Delhi development, police are investigating the alleged rape and murder of a 16-year-old girl in the Swaroop Nagar area. The teenager's body was reportedly found in a field. Police have taken four people into custody in connection with the case, including a 19-year-old who has been arrested and three minors who have been apprehended. Investigators are continuing to establish the circumstances surrounding the girl's death.

Indian batter Abhishek Sharma has attracted attention after producing a remarkable performance in the third T20 international against Afghanistan. He scored a century in only 30 balls as India completed a 3-0 series sweep. Sharma finished the series with 229 runs and also hit 22 sixes, underlining his aggressive approach with the bat. His performance has once again placed the young opener in the spotlight as India continues to develop its T20 combination.

The entertainment industry is also making headlines, with Malayalam actor Nivin Pauly's latest film Bethlehem Kudumba Unit reportedly enjoying a strong run at the box office. The Onam release, directed by Girish AD and featuring Mamitha Baiju, has attracted significant attention from audiences. Pauly plays Justin, a character rooted in everyday life, in the film. The Tata Sons listing dispute, the DUSU elections, the Delhi crime investigation and India's recent cricketing success remain among the developments drawing the most attention. The outcome of the Tata Sons debate and the DUSU vote counting scheduled for Saturday will provide further developments in the days ahead.