By late afternoon, the news had spread to every corner of the country, igniting passionate discussions everywhere from the bustling streets of Delhi to the quietest hamlets in Bihar.
Groups gathered under banyan trees, outside tea stalls, and on the steps of village temples.
The government's revelations had shaken the nation to its core.
What had seemed like localized chaos now had faces, names, and damning evidence attached to it.
Betrayal was no longer abstract, it was personal.
In political circles, panic set in.
Opposition leaders scrambled behind closed doors.
Some convened hurried meetings, whispering about strategies to salvage their reputations, while others remained silent, knowing that speaking out now would only further stoke public rage.
For the first time, it was clear: the tide had turned, and it was turning against them.