Reported speech: Which option correctly changes Akash's statement "Mahesh has gone home." into indirect (reported) speech?

Introduction / Context:
This question checks your understanding of basic rules for changing direct speech into indirect or reported speech. The reporting verb "said" is in the past tense, and the original message uses the present perfect tense. We must apply the normal sequence of tenses and choose the most natural connector in reported form.

Given Data / Assumptions:
- Direct speech: Akash said, "Mahesh has gone home." - Reporting verb: "said" (simple past). - Reported clause verb: "has gone" (present perfect). - We must choose the correct combination in indirect speech.

Concept / Approach:
When the reporting verb is in the past, English usually shifts the tense of the reported clause back one step: present becomes past, present perfect becomes past perfect, and so on, unless the statement is a timeless fact. Here, "has gone home" refers to a completed action at the time Akash spoke, so in reported speech we normally change it to "had gone home". Also, the conjunction "that" is standard in reported statements, while "then" is used for time, not as a connector.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Remove quotation marks and replace the comma with the conjunction "that". Step 2: Keep the reporting verb "said" as it is. Step 3: Apply backshifting: change "has gone" (present perfect) to "had gone" (past perfect). Step 4: Build the reported clause: "that Mahesh had gone home." Step 5: Combine everything: "Akash said that Mahesh had gone home."

Verification / Alternative check:
Ask whether the sentence correctly describes Akash's statement from another person's point of view. At the time of reporting, the going home is already complete, and the reporting verb is in the past. Native speakers naturally say "He said that Mahesh had gone home." Using "has gone" would sound as if the action is still connected to the present moment of reporting, which does not fit well with "said" in the past.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option A keeps "has gone" without backshifting, which is not the usual exam standard when the reporting verb is past. Option B uses "then" instead of "that" and also changes the tense, making the sentence ungrammatical and awkward. Option C repeats "then" and does not change the tense at all, breaking both grammar and reported speech conventions.

Common Pitfalls:
Many learners either forget to backshift the tense or overuse it in contexts where it is not required. A good rule is to backshift when the reporting verb is in the past and the original statement refers to a completed action. Also remember that "then" is not a conjunction for reported speech; it is mainly an adverb of time.

Final Answer:
The correct reported sentence is "Akash said that Mahesh had gone home."