Page 1092 - Law Crime
US woman jailed for smuggling cocaine in heels
A US woman, who was found with cocaine stuffed inside her high heels and other belongings in her luggage, was jailed on Thursday for smuggling drugs into Australia.
Political parties in Maha hail SC verdict on homosexuality
Political parties in Maharashtra Thursday hailed the Supreme Court verdict on decriminalising gay sex, with the Congress terming the judgement as a big jolt to the BJP and RSS' "conservative" and "narrow" mindset. Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant said the party has long been seeking a relook at Section 377 of the IPC as everybody has an equal right to live life the way they want. "This verdict is a big jolt to the conservative and narrow mindset of the BJP and the RSS leadership, who wanted to govern what people should eat and their sexual orientation," Sawant said. When contacted, BJP leaders here refused to comment on the SC verdict. Shiv Sena spokesperson Manisha Kayande said everybody is bound by the judgement of the apex court. "Everybody has freedom of speech, the right to eat what they want. Now they have the right to live the way they want," she said. Congress MLA Nitesh Rane said, "Today, India has changed forever and for good." NCP leader Dhananjay Munde said the ...
SC upheld values of equality, says Tharoor on Section 377 verdict
Welcoming the Supreme Court judgment on Section 377, Congress leader Shashi Tharoor said that the order has upheld the values of equality.He further stated that the matter was not an issue of sex but of constitutional freedom.Speaking to ANI, Tharoor said, "First of all, I welcome the Supreme Court's judgment and I think it is a right judgment to make. I feel particularly satisfied with the facts of the court as I myself advocated and raised the issue a few years ago. Rightly said, it is not the issue of sex but the issue of constitutional freedom.""The Supreme Court has upheld the values of equality which should apply to all communities of our country," he added.Meanwhile, Communist Party of India- Marxist (CPI-M) leader Brinda Karat also welcomed the apex court's order on Section 377 by terming it as 'historic'."It is a historic day. It is a historic judgement and victory for all those citizens of India who have suffered. It has been struck down and Chief Justice of India has ...
Singer Remo Fernandes acquitted in verbal abuse case
A local trial court on Thursday acquitted one of Goa's most popular entertainers and musicians Remo Fernandes, who was booked for allegedly verbally abusing a minor girl.
South Sudan judge convicts 10 troops for 2016 rampage
A military judge in South Sudan on Thursday sentenced 10 soldiers to jail for a 2016 rampage in which a local journalist was killed and five international aid workers were gang-raped. The case was widely seen as a test of South Sudan's ability to hold its soldiers to account during the five-year civil war here, and diplomats and activists welcomed the outcome. However, they said many other victims of violations have yet to see justice and urged the government to hold more trials. Brig Gen Knight Briano convicted and sentenced two soldiers to life in prison for the murder of a South Sudanese journalist. The judge found three other soldiers guilty of raping foreign aid workers, four guilty of sexual harassment and one guilty of theft and armed robbery. They received sentences ranging from seven to 14 years in jail. Another soldier was acquitted for lack of evidence. Still another accused soldier died in jail during the trial. The convicted soldiers were stripped of their uniforms before
LGBT community would no longer feel like criminals, second class citizens: one of petitioners in SC
One of the petitioners in the Supreme Court on the Section 377 issue said the apex court verdict is a new dawn for the LGBT community which would no more feel like criminals and second class citizens. A five-judge constitution bench of the Supreme Court on Thursday unanimously decriminalised part of the 158-year-old colonial law under Section 377 of the IPC which criminalises consensual unnatural sex, saying it violated the rights to equality. Calling the change "historic", Ankit Gupta, an LGBT activist with the Humsafar Trust said the fight for equality continues and there is still a long way to go for it Another activist with the Humsafar Trust said the change has come after 18 years of suffering and what the community has gone through in these 18 years could not be expressed in words. "Tomorrow when we wake up we would be able to look in the mirror and not see ourselves as a second class citizen or a criminal," he said. "This is an opportunity to fight further for equality," he ...
Maharashtra Police flayed for casting aspersions on SC
The Supreme Court on Thursday took strong objection to the Maharashtra Police casting aspersions on its order placing five human rights activists under house arrest and told the Maharashtra government to discipline the police officers.
After 13 years, lawyer gets 1-week jail for contempt of court
The Bombay High Court has sentenced a lawyer to simple imprisonment for a week in a 13-year-old case of contempt of court wherein he abused a trial court judge and threw a notebook towards him. The contempt petition seeking action against the lawyer, Ramchandra Kagne, 55, was filed before the Aurangabad bench of the high court by a trial court judge. A bench of Justices T V Nalawade and Vibha Kankanwadi sentenced Kagne to jail for a week and also imposed a fine of Rs 2,000 on him last Friday. The court held that interference in the administration of justice, particularly by a lawyer, could not be tolerated. The incident took place in October 2005 when Kagne was present before the then district and sessions judge Ashok Bilolikar at Parbhani in Maharashtra, representing an accused in a rape case. The judge had held the accused guilty, pronounced his conviction order in the open court, and invited all parties to argue on the sentence. When Kagne's turn for arguments came, he began ...
Bharat Bandh call has 'no meaning' but all have right to express, says UP CM; life normal
Life remained normal across Uttar Pradesh on Thursday despite a 'Bharat Bandh' call by some upper-caste groups against the recent amendment approved by Parliament to overturn a Supreme Court judgment on the Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. "It (Bharat Bandh call) has no meaning. People have their feelings. In a democracy everyone has the right to express themselves," Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said when asked by reporters to comment on the 'bandh' call against the SC/ST Act. Defending the provisions of the Act, Adityanath said his government will ensure that the law is not misused. "The BJP government is committed towards the welfare of people and development. We never play politics of caste and religion. The law is to protect the downtrodden. The government will ensure that it will not be misused," he told mediapersons in Gonda where he had gone to visit flood-hit areas. Reports from districts across the state said life was by and ...
SC verdict on homosexuality momentous; important step towards liberal society: Cong
The Congress Thursday hailed as "momentous" the Supreme Court verdict decriminalising consensual gay sex and termed it as an important step forward towards a liberal and tolerant society. Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said the age-old colonial law was an anachronism in today's modern times and the verdict restores the fundamental rights and negates discrimination based on sexual orientation. "Supreme Court verdict on Section 377 is momentous. "An age-old colonial law, that was an anachronism in today's modern times, ends restoring the fundamental rights and negating discrimination based on sexual orientation. It's an important step forward towards a liberal, tolerant society," he said on Twitter. On its official Twitter handle, the Congress said, "We join the people of India & the LGBTQIA+ community in their victory over prejudice. We welcome the progressive & decisive verdict from the Supreme Court & hope this is the beginning of a more equal & ...
CBI arrests four in Gutka scam
The CBI has arrested two promoters and directors of Annamalai Industries allegedly involved in Gutka scam in Tamil Nadu, officials said Thursday. Along with its promoters A V Madhava Rao and Uma Shankar Gupta, the CBI has also taken into custody, Dr P Senthil Murugan of Food Safety and Drug Administration department of Tamil Nadu and N K Pandian, a superintendent of Central Excise department, they said. The agency had carried out searches at 35 locations in the state Wednesday including the residence of state police chief T K Rajendran, a probable first in the country, and state health minister C Vijayabaskar. The case pertains to illegal sale of gutka, a concoction of tobacco and 'pan masala' which was banned in Tamil Nadu in 2013, by Jayam Industries. "The places searched were residential premises of the promoters/directors of the company and other public servants including officials of Sales Tax Department, Customs and Central Excise, Food Safety and Drug Administration Department .
Dabholkar murder: Accused sent to CBI custody till Sep 12
A session court here on Thursday granted the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) the custody of Amol Kale, an accused in the Narendra Dabholkar murder case, till September 14.Kale is also one of the accused in the murder of journalist Gauri Lankesh. The CBI had requested 14-day custody of Kale.Arguing his case in the court, CBI lawyer Vijay Kumar Dhakne said that the accused is a conspirator in the Dabholkar murder case and one of the accused in Gauri Lankesh murder case also.Countering him, defense lawyer Dharam Raj said, "There is well-rounded apprehension that if long police custody is granted it can be misused. Hence, no 14 days custody should be granted as asked by CBI."On September 4, the session court sent another accused of the same case, Sharad Kalaskar to CBI custody till September 10. In Kalaskar's case also, the CBI had asked for a 14-day custody.Narendra Dabholkar was murdered on August 20, 2013, by bike-borne assailants while he was returning to his home from a morning
Naxal arrested in Dantewada
The Chhattisgarh police on Wednesday arrested one Naxal in Kirandul town of Dantewada district following an encounter.During the encounter the Naxal got injured. It is believed that several other Naxals were also injured.In another incident on the same night, the police arrested three Naxals from Sukma district of the state.On September 2, four Naxals were gunned down in an encounter with District Reserve Guard (DRG) in Narayanpur district. The security personnel had also recovered arms and ammunition, including one INSAS rifle and two 12 bore pistols as well as other incriminating materials from them.
Man held with 17 kg of poppy in Kathua
Police allegedly arrested a truck driver with 17 kg of poppy in Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir Thursday, officials said. They added that the narcotics was being smuggled from Kashmir to Punjab. A police party intercepted the truck on the highway in the district. As much as 17 kg of poppy was seized, police said. The driver of the truck was arrested and a case was registered against him.
SC asks TN Guv to consider Perarivalan's mercy plea in Rajiv Gandhi assassination case
The Supreme Court on Thursday asked the Tamil Nadu Governor to consider the mercy petition of A G Perarivalan, a convict in the 1991 Rajiv Gandhi assassination case. A bench of Justices Ranjan Gogoi, Naveen Sinha and K M Joseph disposed of the Centre's petition regarding a proposal for the release of the convicts, filed by the Tamil Nadu government. The Centre had on August 10 told the apex court that it does not concur with the Tamil Nadu government's proposal to release the seven convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, saying remission of their sentence will set a "dangerous precedent" and have "international ramifications". On August 20, 47-year old Perarivalan alias Arivu had told the apex court that no decision has been taken as yet on his mercy petition filed before the Tamil Nadu Governor over two years ago. He was charged with supplying a 9-volt battery which was allegedly used for the belt bomb that had killed Gandhi and 14 others. Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated on ...
HC raps Maha Police for divulging info on sensitive cases
The Bombay High Court Thursday came down heavily on the Maharashtra Police machinery for divulging information to the media about sensitive cases, saying such "over-enthusiasm could be fatal". A division bench of Justices S C Dharmadhikari and B P Colabawalla was hearing petitions filed by family members of slain rationalists Narendra Dabholkar and Govind Pansare, seeking court supervision in probes being conducted by the CBI (in Dabholkar case) and the state CID (in Pansare case). The bench, after perusing reports submitted by both the agencies on the investigation, said everyday there is vital information leaked to the media by probe agencies. Referring to the press conference of senior IPS officer Parambir Singh along with Pune Police officials last Friday on their case against some activists arrested for alleged Maoist links, Justice Dharmadhikari said, "There is so much hue and cry about this media briefing and disclosures made." During the press conference, Singh had read ...
Video of woman abusing traffic personnel goes viral on the internet
A woman allegedly misbehaving with traffic personnel here has gone viral on the internet. High-voltage drama unfolded in the middle of a busy road near Geeta Bhawan Chowk on Wednesday when a woman riding a scooter was stopped by traffic police for driving without a helmet and for moving on the wrong side. As the police started to issue a challan, the woman allegedly hurled abuses at the traffic personnel and dared them to initiate action against her. A traffic official shot a video of the incident, which has now gone viral on the internet. "The woman was stopped for not wearing a helmet and for driving on the wrong side. A woman constable signalled her to stop. Following which, the woman started using abusive language," said Inspector (in-charge of city traffic) Ramesh Chander on Thursday. Chander added that the male as well as female traffic personnel were polite to the woman and that there was no provocation from their end. In the video, the woman is seen asking the traffic ...
Indian-origin man gets 3-yr jail term for making prank calls to Singapore Police
An Indian-origin Singaporean serial prank caller was sentenced to three years of imprisonment on Thursday for repeatedly making nuisance calls to the police, despite being jailed for the same offence previously. Gurcharan Singh, a 61-year-old cleaner, usually made the "999" emergency calls after drinking alcohol, the court heard. The latest incidents occurred over two days in June, with Singh making two calls on the first day and 15 on the second. On June 10, Singh called the police using a public phone at a void deck of an apartment block in Chai Chee housing estate. In one of his calls, he told the operator: "You are stupid." He also said: "I put one dynamite to the immigration house." He knew this message to be false, Deputy Public Prosecutor Daphne Lim said. The police traced Singh's phone call location and arrested him that day, according to a Channel News Asia report. Three empty beer cans were also recovered from his possession, it said. Despite this, Singh made another 15 ...
South Sudan judge finds 10 troops guilty of violent rampage
A military judge in South Sudan on Thursday found 10 soldiers guilty of rape and murder in a violent rampage two years ago. Brigadier General Knight Briano found two guilty of involvement in the murder of a South Sudanese journalist and sentenced them to life in prison. The judge found three other soldiers guilty of raping foreign aid workers, four guilty of sexual harassment and one guilty of theft and armed robbery. They have been sentenced to between seven and 14 years in jail. One of the 11 soldiers charges was acquitted for lack of evidence. A twelfth soldier charged died while in jail during the trial. The judgment was delivered in a military courtroom filled with diplomats, aid workers and officials. The charges stem from the attacks in the Terrain Hotel in Juba in 2016, when dozens of soldiers broke into the compound, killed a local journalist and gang-raped five international aid workers while U.N. peacekeepers nearby did not respond to pleas for help. The soldiers found ...
Gutkha scam: CBI arrests four
The CBI on Thursday said it has arrested four persons including the promoters and directors of Jayem Industries and officers of the Food Safety and Drug Administration and Excise Department in connection with the multi-crore gutkha scam in Tamil Nadu.