Page 1746 - Law Crime
Justice Chelameswar hopes Jan 12 presser wouldn't come in way of Justice Gogoi's elevation as CJI
Justice J Chelameswar today expressed hope that the controversial January 12 press conference against Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra would not come in way of elevation of Justice Ranjan Gogoi, who was also part of the virtual revolt, as the next CJI. He said if any such thing happens, it will mean that whatever concerns were raised by them in the presser were "true". Justice Chelameswar, the senior-most judge after the CJI, had on January 12 held a press conference along with justices Gogoi, M B Lokur and Kurian Joseph, giving out a warning that democracy is at risk and mounted a virtual revolt against the country's chief justice, raising questions on "selective" case allocation and certain judicial orders, sending shock waves across the judiciary and polity. The unprecedented move by the four judges had brought to fore the simmering differences between the country's top judge and some senior judges in the apex court in recent months. "I am not an astrologer... I am not (worried).
18 kg gold looted from jewellery firm employee in Gujarat
Unidentified robbers today looted 18kg gold from an employee of a jewellery firm in adjoining Junagadh district, police said. The incident occurred early this morning when the employee, working with an Ahmedabad-based jewellery firm, was going to Junagadh, they said. He was travelling in a car when five unidentified people chased the vehicle and intercepted it some 15km away from Junagadh, the police said. "As the driver stopped the car, the five men brandished sharp-edged weapons and threatended the two. They then snatched the bag containing 18kg gold and ran away," said Junagadh taluka police station inspector P S Lakkad. "A case has been filed and exit points of the district have been sealed to nab the robbers," he added.
2 dead, 3 injured as car falls into gorge in Shimla
Two persons were killed and three others were injured when their car fell into a deep gorge in the Jubbal area of Shimla district today, police said. The car fell into 500-feet deep gorge and a 76-year-old woman, Sadhi Devi, died on the spot, while 26-year-old Vinay succumbed to his injuries on way to hospital, they said. The injured persons have been identified as Ramlila, wife of Soji Ram, Anil and his wife Banita. They were admitted to hospital at Rohroo. SP, Shimla, Ompati Jamwal said the bodies of the deceased have been handed over to their family members after post-mortem and cause of the accident was being investigated.
CBI court reserves anticipatory bail plea order in Rs 2,654-cr fraud case
A special CBI court today reserved its order on an anticipatory bail plea moved by the officials of Vadodara-based Diamond Power Infrastructure Ltd (DPIL), which is accused of cheating banks to the tune of Rs 2,654 crore. The court of special CBI judge N G Dave reserved its order on the anticipatory bail plea of brothers Amit Bhatnagar and Sumit Bhatnagar, directors in the firm, and their father, Suresh Bhatnagar, the promoter of the firm, for Tuesday. The accused had sought anticipatory bail, claiming that there was no FIR against them and that the CBI, on its own, could not file one. They submitted that the banks, from which they allegedly took loans and defaulted, had not filed a case either, adding that the CBI was acting on the basis of oral information. The CBI opposed the plea, saying the offence was a serious one and related to a "heinous crime of systematic corruption". The central probe agency said the accused, if let out on bail, could tamper with evidence, influence ...
Brazils Lula says innocent but ready to surrender
Brazils former leftist president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said today he had been falsely accused of corruption but was ready to surrender for arrest. In his first comments since being ordered to start a 12-year prison sentence for accepting a luxury apartment as a bribe, Lula told cheering supporters that he was "an outraged citizen." Lula told the crowd that Brazils top anti-corruption judge, Sergio Moro, "lied" about him being given the apartment by a big construction firm as a kickback. "I am the only human being to be put on trial for an apartment which does not belong to me," he said. But Lula, 72, said: "I will comply with their warrant." In a passionate, combative, hour-long speech, Lula accused the judiciary and Brazils most powerful media conglomerate of assisting a right-wing coup with the ultimate aim of preventing him from competing in this Octobers presidential elections. Despite his legal problems, Lula is the frontrunner in polls. Lula said he wanted to go to prison ...
Indrani Mukerjea hospitalised in 'disoriented condition' after drug overdose
Dean of JJ Hospital, SD Nanandkarp on Saturday said the preliminary test of Indrani Mukerjea, the prime accused in Sheena Bora murder case, who was admitted here, indicates a case of poisoning or drug overdose.He further said that the hospital authority is waiting for the final reports to confirm the same."Indrani was brought here in disoriented condition. Tests have been done. The preliminary tests point towards poisoning or drug overdose," Nanandkarp said.Mukerjea, who is also the former head of INX media, was admitted to the JJ Hospital in Byculla late on Friday night in 'disoriented condition'.Earlier in the day, Gunjan Mangla, Indrani's lawyer, was denied an entry into Mumbai's JJ Hospital.Hospital authorities did not allow her to meet Mukerjea, stating that Mangla needs to take permission from jail authorities first.Indrani is currently lodged in Mumbai's Byculla jail on the charges of murder of her daughter Sheena.Sheena was abducted and murdered in 2012, allegedly by her ...
Police busts gang of ATM thieves in Srinagar
Jammu and Kashmir Police said on Saturday it has busted a gang of ATM thieves in Srinagar.
Impeachment can't be answer to every question in judiciary: Justice Chelameswar
Justice J Chelameswar, who courted controversy by virtually revolting against Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra, today said that impeachment cannot be an answer to every question or problem and there is a need to correct the system. Justice Chelameswar, the senior-most judge after the CJI, said the Januaray 12 press conference he held along with justices Ranjan Gogoi, M B Lokur and Kurian Joseph, was the result of "anguish" and "concern" as their deliberations with the CJI did not achieve the desired results on the issues raised by them regarding the functioning of the top court. The judge, who was delivering a talk on the topic 'Role of judiciary in democracy', also answered questions on the priority of the CJI in constituting benches and allocating cases to different judges as the 'master of roster'. "The CJI is the 'master of roster'. Undoubtedly, the CJI has this power. The CJI has the authority to constitute the benches but under constitutional system every power is coupled ...
Haryana Police bust inter-state 'degree racket'; 4 private university employees held
The Haryana Police today claimed to have busted an inter-state "degree racket" and arrested four men working at a private university in Rajasthan, officials said. The accused provided degrees for various graduation and post graduation courses by charging money without a candidate having to appear in examinations, the police said. Four employees of the university were arrested and a computer, a laptop and other records of the varsity recovered from them, an official release quoting a police spokesperson said. Those arrested have been identified as Deepak, Naveen, Anil and Krishna, who have confessed their involvement in the act, the statement said. "A complaint was made by Bijender, a resident of village Roopgarh, district Bhiwani, Haryana, that some employees of the university were involved in providing fake degrees. Following the complaint, a raid was conducted at the university and various irregularities were found," it said. The head office of this interstate gang was located at ..
Tamil Nadu CM holds meeting with legal experts, ministers
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami held a meeting on Saturday with legal experts and state ministers, over the court proceedings on Cauvery Management Board (CMB).The state government had filed a petition before the Supreme Court seeking to initiate contempt proceedings against Centre for not constituting the board within the top court's six-week deadline that ended on March 29.On March 31, the Central Government filed a clarification petition in the Supreme Court, seeking more time to form the CMB, and asked whether it could modify the composition of the board.On February 16, the top court asked the Centre to form the CMB to implement a formula for sharing of water between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.In the ruling, the court reduced Tamil Nadu's share in the Cauvery water to 177.25 thousand million cubic feet.
Salman released from jail after getting bail in poaching case, fans
Bollywood superstar Salman Khan today walked out the Jodhpur jail after a sessions court here granted him bail in the 1998 blackbuck poaching case in which he was given a five-year prison sentence. Immediately after his release, 52-year-old Khan, who spent two nights in the jail, was driven under police escort to the Jodhpur airport from where he was flown to Mumbai in a special plane, a police official said. Khan was allowed to leave the jail after the prison authorities received the bail documents, the official said. The actor's long-time bodyguard Shera accompanied him to the airport. Hundreds of the actor's fans, who gathered outside the Jodhpur Central Jail, burst fire crackers and sang songs from his films as he walked out of the prison. The police had made tight security arrangements. The fans, who were carrying garlanded posters of Khan, raised slogans like "Salman zindabad", "Salman tum sangharsh karo, hum tumhare saath hai". A few fans even chased the actor's cavalcade for ..
US embassy car kills motorcyclist in Pakistan
A US embassy car hit a motorcycle here in Pakistan today, killing a man on the spot, according to a media report. The US defence air attache, who was driving the white Land Cruiser, hit the motorcyclists near Islamabad's Daman-e-Koh area, Geo News reported. The US official was not arrested owing to their diplomatic immunity, however, the police took custody of the vehicle. A statement released by the US Embassy confirmed the accident. The embassy is in contact with the local authorities to probe into the incident, the statement added. In 2011, American intelligence operative Raymond Davis, 42, was arrested in Lahore on charges of killing two Pakistani citizens and thus kicked off a huge diplomatic crisis between the two countries. Pakistani authorities had charged him with murder, but the Obama administration insisted he is an "administrative and technical official" attached to its Lahore consulate and has diplomatic immunity.
NIA files chargesheet against two in Hindu Munnani leader murder case
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Saturday filed a charge sheet in a special court here against two persons accused in connection with the murder of Hindu Munanni leader Sasikumar.
SC lawyer Niranjan Thomas Alva passes away
Niranjan Thomas Alva, a Supreme Court lawyer and husband of Congress leader Margaret Alva, passed away here today after brief illness, a family member said. Alva, 78, died this morning around 10.30 at the Ramaiah Hospital where he was admitted for 20 days following chest congestion, the family member told PTI. A reputed orator, he practised law at the Supreme Court. One of the landmark litigations he lead resulted in women flight attendants in the Air India getting the same rights and privileges as their male counterparts including full retirement benefits and the right to bear children. Son of Joachim and Violet Alva, freedom fighters and the first couple in Parliament, Alva was also a former Director of the State Bank of India. He later served as a board member of the State Bank of India in Karnataka for over a decade. He had played a key role in expanding the footprints of the All India Catholic University Federation as its president across the country in late 1950s. Alva is ...
BJP says supporting deportation of Rohingyas, asks lawyers to call off protest
The BJP, which is sharing power with PDP in Jammu and Kashmir, today urged the lawyers to call off their protest, saying it was concerned about issues raised by them, including deportation of Rohingyas. It, however, said it did not support them over Rassana rape-cum-murder case since it was subjudice. Lawyers affiliated with Jammu High Court Bar Assoication (JHBA) are on a four-day strike since Wednesday to press for their various demands, including deportation of Rohingyas, handing over the Kathua rape-and-murder case to the CBI, tribal affairs and district status to Nowshera in Rajouri district, badly affecting judicial work. "We appealed to the protesting advocates to call off their strike and return to their work so that time is given to the government to resolve the issues raised by them," state BJP chief spokesperson Sunil R P Sethi told reporters here. He said the BJP was "seriously concerned" about all the local issues and committed for their early resolution. "BJP supports ...
CBI books Jt.Chief Controller of Explosives for bribery
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Saturday said it has registered a case against A.K. Yadav, Joint Chief Controller of Explosive, Petroleum and Explosive Safety Organization and two others in a corruption case.
Violence in Bhind, Morena were funded: MP IG Law and Order
Madhya Pradesh Inspector General Law and Order, Makrand Deuskar on Saturday informed the violence incited in Madhya Pradesh's Bhind and Morena district were funded.Speaking to media, IG Deuskar said that several organisations were given money to incite violence, which they are investigating now."Violence in Bhind and Morena were funded. Several organisations and people had been given money to incite violence. Police is investigating this," he said.He also informed about the arrest of four people from Gwalior on charges of inciting violence by posting offensive items on social media.He added that cases have been registered against all the accused under Information Technology Act.Earlier on April 4, the Madhya Pradesh Police has arrested 226 people in connection with the Bharat Bandh violence.Police on Tuesday had also registered an FIR against 'Raja Chouhan' - the man was allegedly seen firing shots at a mob in Gwalior during Monday's bandh.The death toll in Madhya Pradesh due to ...
NIA files chargesheet against two persons in Sasikumar murder case
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Saturday filed a charge sheet in a special court here against two persons accused in connection with the murder of C. Hindu leader Sasikumar.
Police constable killed by Meghalaya minister's son's car
A police constable was killed and another seriously injured when the Meghalaya Health Minister A L Hek's son, Aibansharai Nongsiej rammed his Mercedes into their motorcycle at around midnight last night, police said today. The incident took place at Fourthfurlong area in the town and the minister's 28-year-old son was at the driving seat at the time, East Khasi Hills district SP Davis Marak told PTI. Constable P D Sangma who is an armed branch jail personnel was rushed to the civil hospital where the doctors declared him brought dead while the other constable who with him on the bike is said to be in critical condition. Asked he said Aibansharai appeared to be alone in the vehicle when the accident occured and had helped in taking the policemen to the hospital. The SP said both the vehicles were seized and investigation is on to find out if the ministers son was in an inebriated condition when he was driving the car. "We are waiting for a medical report in the case," ...
Cauvery: CM chairs cabinet meet on legal steps over TN plea in SC
Chief Minister K Palaniswami today discussed with his cabinet colleagues the next legal steps over Tamil Nadu's plea in the Supreme Court seeking contempt action against the Centre for not constituting the Cauvery Management Board within the stipulated period of six weeks. Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam, fisheries and law ministers D Jayakumar and C Ve Shanmugam respectively, and advocates representing the state in the court, including counsel Shekhar Naphade, attended the meeting, the government said. Tamil Nadu moved the contempt plea in the apex court on March 31, seeking action against the Centre for allegedly failing to form the Cauvery Management Board and the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee within six weeks as ordered by the court on February 16. In the plea, Tamil Nadu has said the central government was bound to give effect to the judgement by framing a scheme top put in place the CMB and the CWRC within six weeks. On February 16, the Supreme Court raised the 270 ...