<h1>National agencies conduct multi-location searches and raids in terrorism, alleged sand-smuggling and money-laundering probes; judge recuses</h1> National agencies conducted law enforcement actions: the NIA searched 22 locations in multiple states and a union territory in a terrorism conspiracy inquiry, and the ED carried out coordinated raids in West Bengal over an alleged sand-smuggling racket. The Supreme Court sought responses from a state government and the ED on a journalist's bail plea in an alleged money-laundering/financial-fraud case, questioned a state over appointment of an acting police chief and directed the UPSC to expedite recommendations, and experienced a judge's recusal from a petition seeking investigation into allegations by a foreign short seller against a major mining conglomerate.