Page 1550 - Law Crime
Jethmalani moves SC against Karnataka Guv's decision inviting BJP to form govt
Senior lawyer and jurist Ram Jethmalani today moved the Supreme Court in his personal capacity against the Karnataka governor's decision to invite the BJP to form government in the state, saying it was a "gross abuse of constitutional power". A bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra considered the submission of Jethmalani seeking urgent hearing and said that a three-judge special bench, which had heard the matter in the early hours, would re-assemble tomorrow. The bench also comprising Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud asked the veteran lawyer to make his submission before the three-judge bench led by Justice A K Sikri on May 18 when the petitions filed by the Congress party and the Janata Dal (Secular) (JD(S)) would be taken up for further hearing. "The governor's order is a gross abuse of the constitutional power and this has brought disrepute to the constitutional office he has been holding," Jethmalani submitted while seeking nod to submit his views in the case. He ...
Yeddyurappa sworn in as Karnataka chief minister
BJP legislature party leader B S Yeddyurappa was today sworn in as the chief minister of Karnataka for a second time, after an overnight high-voltage legal battle in the Supreme Court. The 75-year-old Lingayat strongman was administered the oath of office and secrecy by Governor Vajubhai Vala at a ceremony at Raj Bhavan amid loud cheering by his supporters. Yeddyurappa was administered the oath alone, hours after the Supreme Court refused to stay his swearing-in. In a rare post-midnight courtroom battle, the Congress-JD(S) combine made a desperate legal push to stall the government formation. Yeddyurappa has 15 days to prove his majority in the Assembly. The BJP has 104 MLAs in the House, eight short of the magic figure of 112. Polling was held in 222 of the state's 224 seats. Election to the Jayanagar seat was countermanded following the death of the BJP candidate, while polling was deferred to May 28 for R R Nagar seat due to alleged electoral malpractices.
Ayodhya land dispute: SC to resume hearing
The Supreme Court on Thursday will resume hearing the Ayodhya-Babri Masjid land dispute case.The apex court is hearing 13 appeals filed against the 2010 judgment of the Allahabad High Court that mandated a three-way division of the disputed site in Ayodhya.It earlier dismissed all the 32 intervention petitions, including applications of filmmakers Shyam Benegal and Aparna Sen, and journalist Teesta Setalvad, in the case.During the previous hearing, a bench, comprising of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Dipak Misra, Justices Ashok Bhushan and Abdul Nazeer, had directed the registry not to entertain any intervention application in the Ayodhya case.The top court also rejected the intervention plea of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Subramanian Swamy in the matter.On May 2, the Supreme Court even refused to give an urgent hearing to a mentioning by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Subramanian Swamy, seeking a direction to perform puja at the disputed site at Ayodhya in Uttar ...
Highlights of Supreme Court Karnataka order
Following are the highlights of the Supreme Court order refusing to stay the swearing-in of BJP leader B S Yeddyurappa in Karnataka: * A bench of Justices A K Sikri, S A Bobde and Ashok Bhushan was specially convened at "odd hours" to hear the petition which challenges the Governor Vajubhai Vala's communication to Yeddyurappa to be sworn in as CM. * The bench noted that it is necessary to peruse the letters dated May 15 and May 16 submitted by Yeddyurappa to Governor for claiming stake for government formation. * It requested Attorney General K K Venugopal, appearing for the Centre and Yeddyurappa to produce these letters on next hearing tomorrow at 10.30 am. * The court made it clear that its order allowing swearing-in and government formation by the BJP in Karnataka is subject to the outcome of the case before it. * It also issued notices to the Karnataka government and Yeddyurappa as it was clarified by senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi that he was appearing for three BJP MLAs -- ...
Karnataka power battle: SC refuses to stay Yeddyurappa swearing-in
The Supreme Court today refused to stay BJP leader B S Yeddyurppa's swearing-in as Karnataka Chief Minister, paving the way for formation of his government after dramatic turn of events through the night inside and outside the courtroom that saw a rare post-midnight hearing continuing till the wee hours. Hours before the swearing-in ceremony, the apex court made it clear that the swearing-in and the government formation would be subject to the final outcome of the case before it. After hearing the matter for more than three hours beginning 2.11 am, a three-judge bench, comprising justices A K Sikri, S A Bobde and Ashok Bhushan, directed that the letter sent by the BJP to the governor for forming the government be placed before it. The bench posted the matter for further hearing tomorrow morning, saying it will peruse the letter as it was necessary to decide the matter. It also issued notices to the Karnataka government and Yeddyurappa.
No stay on Yeddyurappa swearing-in after midnight battle in Supreme Court
Amid jockeying for power in Karnataka, and the Supreme Court early on Thursday after a midnight hearing -- only second time in its history -- refused to stay the swearing-in of BJP leader B.S. Yeddyurappa as Karnataka's new Chief Minister.
Karnataka tussle: SC says not restraining swearing-in; Cong pleads for more time
The Supreme Court tonight said it was not in favour of deferring BJP leader B S Yeddyurappa's swearing-in as Karnataka Chief Minister, even as the Congress and JD (S) continued their past-midnight legal push to stall the government formation in the state. "As far as swearing-in is concerned, we are not restraining it, but we are making it subject to the outcome of the case," a three-judge bench, comprising justices A K Sikri, S A Bobde and Ashok Bhushan, said in a rare past-midnight hearing that was continuing till the wee hours of Thursday. However, before the bench was to dictate the order, senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi pleaded the bench not to dictate the final order and sought to argue the matter further. Continuing with his submission, he said the swearing-in could be extended from 9.30 am to 4.30 pm on Thursday and the BJP should be asked to produce the letter of support from majority of MLAs submitted to the governor for forming the government. The bench was of the view that
Unnao rape case: CBI arrests two sub-inspectors
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Wednesday arrested two sub-inspectors of the Uttar Pradesh Police in connection with the death of the father of a minor girl, who was allegedly raped by BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar.Sub Inspector Ashok Singh Bhadauriya, the then Station Officer, and Sub Inspector Kamta Prasad Singh, both of Makhi Police Station in Unnao district, have been arrested over allegations of criminal conspiracy and destruction of evidence. At present both of them are under suspension.The rape survivor had alleged that she was raped by the MLA at his residence on June 4, 2017, where she had gone with a relative seeking a job.The survivor's father was booked by the police under the Arms Act on April 3 earlier this year and put in jail on April 5. He later died in a hospital, with the postmortem report mentioning serious injuries on his body.
Turkish banker gets 32 months prison in U.S. case over Iran sanctions
NEW YORK (Reuters) - A U.S. judge sentenced Mehmet Hakan Atilla, a banker at Turkey's state-controlled Halkbank , to 32 months in prison on Wednesday after he was convicted earlier this year of taking part in a scheme to help Iran evade U.S. sanctions.
Youth held for raping minor girl in Delhi
The Delhi Police has arrested a youth on the charge of sexually assaulting a minor girl in the national capital, police said on Wednesday.
Ishrat Jahan case: Court concludes hearing on Amin's discharge plea
A special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court hearing the 2004 Ishrat Jahan fake encounter case on Wednesday concluded hearing in the discharge plea by former top cop of Gujarat Police N.K. Amin.
Officials: Multiple people dead in shooting at Texas home
Authorities say multiple people have died in a shooting at a home in a rural town north of Fort Worth. Denton County sheriff's Captain Orlando Hinojosa says police responding today to a report of a burglary in progress found "several deceased individuals inside the house." He declined to say just how many people were found dead in the home in Ponder, about 50 kilometres north of Fort Worth. Hinojosa says authorities are not looking for a suspect and that residents are not in danger, but declined to elaborate. One person at the home was hospitalised. School Superintendent Bruce Yeager said in a statement that no students or district staff are listed as living at the home and that police told him there is no threat to any schools.
Larry Nassar victims to get USD 500 mn university settlement
The Michigan university where serial sex abuser Larry Nassar practiced medicine announced today it has agreed to a USD 500 million settlement with hundreds of former victims of the USA Gymnastics doctor. The agreement with attorneys representing 332 women and girls was a "global settlement," Michigan State University said. It resolved claims against faculty and staff employed at the school, and implicated in the wide-ranging scandal. It did not resolve claims against USA Gymnastics, the US Olympic Committee, star gymnastics coaches Bela and Marta Karolyi, and others. Neither did it end a criminal probe of the university's actions with regard to Nassar's behavior. The 54-year-old Nassar was sentenced in January to spend his life behind bars after pleading guilty to sexually assaulting women and girls over a two-decade period under the guise of medical treatment. Olympic gold-medal gymnasts Aly Raisman, Simone Biles, Gabby Douglas and McKayla Maroney have all identified themselves as ...
Turkish banker sentenced to 32 months in US prison
A Turkish banker was sentenced today to 32 months in a US prison for plotting to help Iran evade American sanctions, in an explosive case straining ties between Ankara and Washington. Mehmet Hakan Atilla, 47, deputy chief executive of Turkish lender Halkbank, was convicted by a New York jury on January 3 on five counts of bank fraud and conspiracy. He was acquitted on one count of money laundering. Judge Richard Berman handed down the sentence of 32 months in a Manhattan court Wednesday. US prosecutors had wanted him put away for 20 years. Atilla will be free to return to Turkey after serving his sentence. His conviction hinged on the testimony of Turkish-Iranian gold trader Reza Zarrab, who was arrested by US authorities in 2016 after jetting to Florida with his pop-star wife and child on a family holiday to Disney World. Zarrab, 34, initially pleaded not guilty then flipped, becoming a US government witness after admitting being involved in the multi-billion-dollar gold-for-oil ...
Man bludgeoned to death by friend in Narela
A 24-year-old man was bludgeoned to death allegedly by one of his friends over a petty issue in outer Delhi's Narela area, police said today. The incident took place last night and the accused has been detained, they added. The victim, Aakash Bhardwaj, had left home with one of his friends but did not return till late. His wife contacted her brother-in-law and later they were informed that Akash's body was found, the police said.
SC Collegium defers decision on Justice Joseph's elevation to apex court
The Supreme Court Collegium today again deferred its decision on the issue of recommending Uttarakhand Chief Justice K M Joseph for elevation to the top court after it was returned by the Centre. An apex court official said that no decision has been taken as to when the recommendation will be sent to the Centre. The Collegium comprising Chief Justice Dipak Misra and four senior most judges --justices J Chelameswar, Ranjan Gogoi, M B Lokur and Kurian Joseph deliberated for more than an hour. Official details on the outcome of the meeting were awaited. This was the Collegium's second meeting in five days. At its last meeting on May 11, the Collegium had agreed in principle to reiterate its recommendation for elevating Justice Joseph as a judge of the apex court, almost three weeks after it was returned by the Centre, but could not decide on a date. It had then adopted a resolution which stated that there was a need for further discussion on the issue of sending the other names of judges
Scope of habeas corpus pleas limited, says HC
The Madras High Court has made it clear that the scope of habeas corpus petitions is limited and said the extraordinary jurisdiction of the constitutional courts cannot be invoked for dealing with such missing cases, where there is no "strong suspicion" of illegal detention. A habeas corpus plea is a petition which is filed to ensure a person under arrest is brought before a court which will determine whether the detention is legal. "It is a condition precedent that a person filing a habeas corpus petition should establish that there is a prima facie case of illegal detention or at least a suspicion in respect of such illegal detention," a division bench of Justices S M Subramaniam and S Ramathilagam said recently. "In the absence of any of these ingredients, no habeas corpus petition can be entertained under Article 226 of the Constitution," it said. The police must be used potentially to trace out the cases, where there is a genuine allegation of illegal detention, and in the event
Aurangabad violence: alleged mastermind nabbed
Police arrested Laxminarayan Bakharia alias Lachchu Pahelwan, alleged mastermind of the violence that took place in the city last week, late tonight. A squad of the special investigation team, led by inspector Shrikant Nawale, arrested Bakharia on the charges of arson and rioting, a police official said. It was suspected that Bakharia had taken money from some people to orchestrate rioting and arson so as to vacate some building where shops and kiosks are located, the official said. Police have so far arrested over 50 persons, including two corporators of the Aurangabad Municipal Corporation, in connection with the violence that claimed two lives and left over 60 people injured. The two corporators - Rajendra Janjal of Shiv Sena and Feroz Khan of All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul Muslimeen (AIMIM) - were arrested by the SIT yesterday. On May 11, Aurangabad, located about 350 km from here, witnessed clashes between groups allegedly over illegal water connections.
HC quashes PNB scam accused's arrest for breach of sunset rule
The Bombay High Court today declared the arrest of Kavita Mankikar, an accused in the Punjab National Bank scam, as illegal, as she was taken into custody after sunset. Mankikar, who worked for fugitive jeweller Nirav Modi, moved the court claiming that her arrest by the CBI on February 20 was illegal as she was taken into custody at 10 pm. The law does not allow police or any other probe agency to arrest a woman after sunset. Vacation bench of Justices J Kathawala and Bharati Dangre accepted her contentions and quashed her arrest and the subsequent remand in judicial custody. The bench also imposed a fine of Rs 50,000 on the CBI for its "flagrant violation" of rules and suggested that a disciplinary action be initiated against the erring officers. It, however, clarified that if the CBI's probe called for Mankikar's arrest, the agency was free to arrest her afresh by following the due process of law. "It is an obligation upon the state to ensure that there is no infringement of a ...
Former Pak Army, ISI chiefs quizzed over 1990 election rigging
Former chiefs of the Pakistan Army and powerful Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) were today quizzed by Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) over their alleged involvement in the 1990 election rigging and distribution of money to politicians. Former army chief Gen Aslam Beg and former ISI chief Lt Gen Asad Durrani appeared before a FIA committee tasked with the implementation of the Asghar Khan case verdict, according to official sources. The sources did not share the nature of questions and answers but confirmed that the former top officers were quizzed. The Supreme Court had last week tasked FIA to implement the court's 2012 verdict. In 1996, retired Air Marshal Asghar Khan had filed a human rights petition in the Supreme Court of Pakistan, accusing the ISI of doling out money to a group of politicians including Nawaz Sharif to cobble up an electoral alliance against Pakistan Peoples Party of Benazir Bhutto to defeat her in 1990 elections. The case had resurfaced recently when a ...