Page 1582 - Law Crime
Ex-ISRO scientist's reputation was dented due to malafide prosecution: SC
Former ISRO scientist S Nambi Narayanan has faced a dent in his reputation in the espionage case due to "malafide prosecution" and Kerala government cannot evade "vicarious liability" to grant him compensation, the Supreme Court said today. The apex court also said the state government may be asked to re-investigate the role of the then SIT officers who had framed the former scientist. A bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud said it could direct the recovery of the compensation either from the officers who were involved in the probe or the state government which cannot evade vicarious liability. Vicarious liability refers to a situation where someone is held responsible for the actions or omissions of another person. "It is not the case that his (Naryanan) reputation was not dented. We can direct that his reputation be restored and for the loss of reputation we can give the compensation. There is direct judgement to this effect and direct ..
Man gets 10-year jail term for raping minor in Uttarakhand
A court here sentenced a man to 10 years rigorous imprisonment after convicting him for raping a minor girl two years ago. Chamoli's District and Sessions judge Pradip Pant sentenced Satish alias Sonu to 10 years rigorous imprisonment yesterday after he pleaded guilty for raping the teenager in 2016. The judge also imposed a fine of Rs 5,000 on the convict, special prosecutor Mohan Pant said. The convict was held guilty under IPC section 376 (rape) and section 6 (aggravated penetrative sexual assault) of the POCSO Act.
HC allows minor rape survivor to terminate 24-week pregnancy
The Bombay High Court today allowed a minor rape survivor to terminate her 24-week pregnancy, considering her "tender age" and the fact that she had already suffered enough trauma. A vacation bench of justices A K Menon and Bharati Dangre passed the order on a petition filed by the 16-year-old girl's mother, seeking permission to terminate her daughter's pregnancy. According to the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, an abortion beyond 20 weeks of pregnancy can be done only after getting the high court's nod. The woman had filed the petition earlier this month, after her daughter complained of stomach pain and was taken to a hospital. She had claimed that she got to know about her daughter's pregnancy only then. According to the petition, the girl was allegedly raped by a relative's friend. The court had last week directed that the girl be examined by a special panel of experts and doctors at the Rajawadi hospital. The panel had submitted a report to the court, stating that the girl
SC restrains bar association from going on strike, boycotting a judge
As judicial work was hit today in the six district courts here due to a lawyers' strike, the Supreme Court restrained the Delhi's Tis Hazari Court Bar Association from going on strike or boycotting any judge of the court. The striking lawyers were protesting against alleged false implication of its office bearers in an assault case lodged by a woman lawyer. A bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud directed the Police Commissioner to provide adequate security, preferably by a woman police officer, to the victim lawyer who appeared in person, along with senior advocate Indira Jaising, that she was scared to record her statements in the court. The bench said "her apprehension is not in the realm of illusion, but real" and directed that she should be given police security so that her statement can be recorded in the court. Later, bar association leaders said they had a meeting with Acting Chief Justice of Delhi High Court Gita Mittal after the .
Actress dies after bitten by snake used as prop during jatra
A 63-year-old actress has died after a live snake being used as a prop in a 'jatra' bit her during the show in North 24 Parganas district, police said today. The incident occurred at Barunhat village in Hasnabad police station area last night. After the snake bit Kalidasi Mondal, she was taken to hospital where she was declared brought dead, police said. A co-actress of Mondal, however, alleged that after the incident, an 'ojha' tried to cure her but failed. Mondal was taken to the local primary health centre but she had died by then, she said. People in many areas of India believe that an 'ojha' can cure a snake bite case by chanting 'mantra' and using herbs. The police said nobody lodged any complaint yet on this but they are investigating the incident. The snake was needed in the 'jatra' (rural theatre) as it was based on 'Manasamangal Kavya', a mediaval era literature that narrates the story of how snake goddess Manasa establishes her worship in Bengal. Basirhat ...
Journalist Upendra Rai sent to judicial custody
A court here on Wednesday rejected the CBI's plea for additional custody of senior journalist Upendra Rai, arrested for dubious transactions in his accounts, and sent him to 14-day judicial custody.
CBI books 40 in candidate recruitment scandal in Army
The CBI has registered a case against 40 persons alleging irregularities in the appointment of 34 ineligible candidates in the Indian Army during a recruitment drive by its Headquarter Recruitment Office here in Uttar Pradesh in 2016-17.
HC seeks ED's reply on ex-Andhra Bank officer's bail plea
The Delhi High Court today sought the response of the Enforcement Directorate on a bail plea filed by former Andhra Pradesh Bank Director, who was arrested in connection with a money laundering probe in an alleged Rs 5,000-crore bank fraud case. Justice A K Pathak issued notice to the agency on the plea of Anup Prakash Garg who sought bail saying he was arrested by the ED on January 12 in connection with the case involving a Gujarat-based pharma firm and has been in custody since then. Senior advocate Mohit Mathur, appearing for Garg, sought the relief saying the official has been in custody for four months and the charge sheet has already been filed in the case so he was not required for further probe. Advocate Nitesh Rana, respresenting the ED, opposed the bail plea saying Garg had granted a loan of nearly Rs 250 crore to the accused firm Sterling Biotech and accepted Rs 1.52 crore illegal gratification during his tenure. The court listed the matter for July 2 for further ...
Man tied to tree, beaten to death in UP
In a shocking incident, a 40-year-old man was tied to a tree and beaten to death allegedly over an old enmity, police said today. The incident occurred in Bihauni Khurd village under Muskara police station area yesterday. Kamal Kumar Tewari was tied to a tree and beaten up mercilessly by six people over old rivalry, SP Dinesh Kumar said today. The accused kept on beating the deceased in full view of the villagers but none informed the police, the SP said, adding that it was only later that the family called up the police and he was rushed to a hospital where he succumbed to injuries. A case has been lodged by the brother of the deceased against the six accused, the SP said, adding two police teams have been formed to nab them. The body has been sent for post-mortem, he said.
Former Sacha Sauda driver deposes in murder case
A former driver of Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh has testified in court that a sect follower was killed on the directions of the self-syled godman. Khatta Singh gave his testimony on the murder of a dera follower Ranjit Singh at the special CBI court in Panchkula, said advocate Navkiran Singh who is representing him. The Sacha sauda chief was sentenced last year to 20 years in prison for raping two women followers, in a verdict which triggered violence in Haryana by his followers. "In his statement, Khatta said the dera chief issued directions for the killing of Ranjit Singh," the counsel said today. Khatta told the court that Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh had ordered elimination of Ranjit Singh on June 16, 2002. The murder took place on July 10. The head of the Sirsa-based sect was named key conspirator in the killing. The next hearing in the case is on May 15. Khatta Singh earlier gave a statement against Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh in 2007 but retracted it in 2012, ...
SC to NAB: Conclude corruption references against Sharifs by June 9
The Supreme Court of Pakistan has extended the deadline for an accountability court to conclude the trial in three corruption references against former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and his family by June 9."We are certain the trial will conclude by June 9," the Dawn reported the apex court as ruling after hearing arguments of the representative of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and the defence counsel.The accountability court of Islamabad had sought another extension to conclude the trial as the deadline given to it by the apex court will expire on May 12.According to the Dawn, Supreme Court Justice Ijazul Ahsan asked Special Prosecutor Akbar Tarrar why NAB had not been able to conclude the trial until now even though the apex court had given it enough time.The prosecutor responded that the third reference, concerning Avenfield properties, has been concluded and that "every case is being heard individually".Justice Ahsan observed that the Bureau would require additional time .
Police foil two child marriages
Two child marriages were foiled by police and two girls, aged 16 and 17 years, rescued in neighbouring Yadadri Bhongiri district, police said today. Acting on specific information regarding marriage of a 17-year-old girl scheduled on May 12 with a 22-year-old man, a police team went to the girl's house today. They counselled the parents of the bride and bridegroom and rescued the girl, Rachakonda Police Commissioner Mahesh M Bhagwat said. In another case, police rescued a 16-year-old girl, whose marriage was scheduled on May 11 with a 22-year-old man, Bhagwat said. The Commissioner appealed to people against performing marriages below the stipulated age and said it is a crime. He said under the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act-2006, those found guilty would face a minimum two years imprisonment and Rs one lakh fine as punishment.
Director of firm involved in Bitcoin scam booked by Chandigarh police
The cyber cell of Chandigarh police has booked six people, including the director of an online multi-level marketing company Amit Bhardwaj, who was arrested from Delhi by the Pune police last month in connection with an alleged multi-crore bitcoin ponzi scheme. Bhardwaj has been charged with duping three residents of Chandigarh after promising them handsome returns on investing in Bitcoin. "A case has been registered against him. In all six people have been booked," Cyber Cell In-charge Inspector Jaswinder Singh said today. Amit Bhardwaj, the director of Gainbitcoin, and his brother Vivek Kumar Bhardwaj were arrested from Delhi by the Pune Police in April after they picked up seven people in connection with the alleged scam. According to the police, Amit Bhardwaj had set up the online multi-level marketing company through which he allegedly lured investors by promising them handsome returns. He would allegedly promise 10 per cent returns for investing one bitcoin but did not keep his .
NIA conducts raids in Hindu outfit leader murder case
The National Investigation Agency (NIA), probing the 2016 murder of a Hindu outfit functionary here, today raided the houses of five people with suspected links with the accused in the case, police said. Some electronic devices, including mobile phones, were seized during the raid here, police said adding the five had allegedly spoken to the accused over a period of time. Four persons have been arrested on the charge of killing Hindu Munnani spokesperson C Sasikumar on September 22, 2016 when he was returning home at Thudiyalur here. NIA has taken over the probe into the case from the CB-CID of Tamil Nadu police in February.
Justice Chelameswar declines SCBA invite for his farewell
Justice J Chelameswar, the senior most judge of the Supreme Court who retires on June 22, has declined an invitation from the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) for his farewell function citing personal reasons, SCBA office-bearers said. Justice Chelameswar had recently courted controversy by holding a press conference along with other three senior most judges -- Justices Ranjan Gogoi, M B Lokur and Kurian Joseph -- on January 12, in which litany of allegations were made against Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra. SCBA president Vikas Singh said the bar body had met him last week to invite him for the farewell on May 18, which is the last working day of the Supreme Court before the summer vacation. "He declined the invite for the farewell function," Singh told PTI. He said the members of the executive committee of SCBA today once again tried to persuade him to attend the farewell function but the judge did not agree citing personal reasons. The judge also told the members of the bar
CBI gets time to get sanction to prosecute Lalu, others in IRCTC case
A Delhi court today granted three weeks to CBI to procure sanction from concerned authorities to prosecute an accused in a graft case against former Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav, his wife Rabri Devi and son Tejashwi Yadav relating to the allotment of IRCTC hotels. Special Judge Arvind Kumar directed the CBI to get the required nod till June 1 to prosecute Additional Member of Railway Board, B K Agarwal, who was then the group general manager of Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC). The CBI, meanwhile, submitted various documents related to the case before the court. The agency had on April 16 filed a charge sheet against two companies and 12 people in the case. Besides Yadav and his family members, former union minister Prem Chand Gupta, his wife Sarla Gupta, Agarwal, then Managing Director of IRCTC P K Goyal and then IRCTC Director Rakesh Saxena, were also named in the charge sheet. Others named in the charge sheet, include then group general managers of ...
PIL to cap air fares: HC seeks Centre, DGCA reply
The Delhi High Court today sought responses from the Centre and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation on a PIL seeking capping of air fares charged by the various airlines in the country. A bench of Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice C Hari Shankar sought the stand of the Ministry of Civil Aviation and DGCA on the plea by a consumer rights activist who has alleged that the authorities were acting as "silent spectators" to the "arbitrary" fixing of fares by the airlines. The activist, Bejon K Misra, in his plea, has claimed that capping of air fares was necessary as airlines often charge more than 10 times the base rate when there is a shortage of seats. In support of his claim, he has referred to the recent incident of IndiGo airline cancelling a large number of its flights after some of its A320N aircraft were grounded due to engine trouble. Misra has alleged that due to the cancellation of these flights, IndiGo passengers had to book tickets at the last minute on other
Wife kills husband, chops body into three pieces
A woman has been arrested in Goa for allegedly murdering her husband and chopping the body into three pieces, police said on Wednesday. Three of her accomplices were also held.
Court refuses scribe's CBI custody, sends him to 14-days in jail
A city court today sent journalist Upendra Rai, arrested for his alleged involvement in dubious financial transactions, to 14-day judicial custody after rejecting CBI's plea for his custody for five more days. "I am rejecting your application," Special CBI Judge Santosh Snehi Mann said in response to the investigative agency's argument that the scribe's custodial interrogation was necessary to carry forward the investigation. The court thereafter sent him to judicial custody till May 23. CBI counsel Manoj Shukla sought 5-day custody of Rai, saying certain new grounds had come up and the journalist was required to be confronted with them. It also said that the journalist's bank locker had to be searched for which his presence was required, but Rai's counsel argued that they could open the locker without his presence. The CBI had on May 3 arrested the Delhi-based scribe for allegedly indulging in dubious financial transactions and getting an airport access pass made by the Bureau of ...
Kasuali killing: SC seeks names of erring officials
The Supreme Court on Wednesday asked the Himachal Pradesh government to provide it the names and designations of officers who were posted in Kasauli when unauthorized constructions were carried out.