Page 1772 - Law Crime
Turkey seeks cleric's arrest over Russian envoy's killing
A Turkish court has issued arrest warrants for a US-based Muslim cleric and seven other people for their alleged involvement in the killing of Russia's ambassador to Turkey, the country's state-run news agency said today. An off-duty police officer fatally shot Ambassador Andrei Karlov at a photo exhibition in Ankara on December 19, 2016. The officer, Mevlut Mert Altintas, was later shot dead by police. Turkey's Anadolu Agency reported that cleric Fethullah Gulen and other seven face charges of attempting to "destroy the constitutional order" and "meditated murder." Turkish authorities have alleged that Karlov's killer had links to Gulen, who is also wanted in Turkey for allegedly masterminding a failed coup in July 2016. Gulen denies the accusation. Turkey says Karlov's assassination was aimed at derailing warming relations between Turkey and Russia.
Shut down 'illegal' meat shops or face action: Gurgaon civic body
The Gurgaon municipal corporation today served notices for the closure of meat shops within two days, which are allegedly being run "illegally" within its municipal limits. The notices have been served to people engaged in the alleged "illegal" sale of meat in Narsinghpur, Mohammadpur Jharsa and Khandsa villages, along with Sector-46 and Sector-39 and other places of Gurgaon, a spokesperson said in a release. In compliance of the Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar's directions, all such people have been asked to shut down their shops or vends within two days, otherwise the corporation would take action against them, the spokesperson said. Khattar had, in a meeting on Saturday, ordered that no "illegal" meat shop would be allowed to run within the city's municipal limits and directed the officers to close such shops, he added.
Court directs Digvijay Singh to appear in defamation case
A Delhi court today directed senior Congress leader Digvijay Singh to appear before it on April 27 in connection with a criminal defamation case filed against him by BJP leader and Union minister Nitin Gadkari. Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Samar Vishal fixed the framing of notice on the matter on the next date after the accused failed to appear before the court today. The court had in December 2012 granted bail to the Congress leader in the case where he had allegedly accused the BJP leader of having business links with his party MP Ajay Sancheti. It was also alleged in the complaint that Singh accused Gadkari of pocketing huge sum to the tune of Rs 490 crore in the coal block allocation to Sancheti. The complaint was represented by advocate Neeraj. The court, after finding prima facie evidence against Singh, had directed him to appear before it as accused in the complaint. The complaint was filed under section 499 (defamation) and 500 (punishment for defamation) of the ...
Gang members planning to instigate violence held
Three members of a gang, including a Sri Lankan, planning to instigate violence, were arrested today by a special police team here. Four others managed to escape. The team, led by ADSP Velladurai, seized a sickle, knife and mobile phones from the gang that operated through a WhatsApp group, police said. Their message read: "with the aim of courageous death and action against those who spoke ill of God," they said. Those arrested were identified as Mohammed Rifass, Mufarris Ahamed and Abubakkar while those who escaped were Sheikh Dawood, Hameedu Abbas, Abdur Razik and Sajith. Cases were registered under various IPC sections and Prevention of Unlawful Activities Act against the members. Police said Mohammed Rifass, who belonged to Sri Lanka, was arrested in 2014 for smuggling ganja to the island republic and jailed for three years. The gang was allegedly trying to instigate violence with their banner reading 'veera maranam' (courageous death), they said. They had been ...
Dalit activists stage protests in HP
Dalit activists staged protests in several places across Himachal Pradesh today against the alleged dilution of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. A strike call given by various Dalit outfits was, however, largely ineffective in the hilly state. The protests were peaceful. A large number of people led by former minister Singhi Ram and former Shimla mayor Sohan Lal assembled at Cart Road in Shimla and blocked traffic for an hour. Dalit activists took put protest marches in Paonta and other places. The Supreme Court had on March 20 diluted certain provisions of the SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act, in a bid to protect 'honest' public servants discharging bona fide duties from being blackmailed with false cases under the Act. The verdict is being widely criticised by the Dalits and the Opposition who claim that the dilution of the Act will lead to more discrimination and crimes against the backward community. The central government has moved a review petition in the Supreme ...
SC stays contempt proceedings by Kerala HC against IPS officer
The Supreme Court today stayed the contempt proceedings initiated by the Kerala High Court against suspended IPS officer Jacob Thomas for his alleged remarks against two high court judges in his complaint to the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC). A bench of Justices A K Sikri and Ashok Bhushan, while staying the March 20 order of the high court, posted the matter for final arguments after four weeks. "List the matter for final arguments after four weeks. In the meantime, the impugned order is stayed," the bench noted in its order. The High Court had initiated suo motu (on its own) contempt proceedings against Thomas, the former Vigilance Director, for his alleged remarks against two judges of the court. During the hearing, the apex court observed that the judiciary should not be so "touchy" to initiate contempt proceedings against people for taking the name of a judge in the complaint when there was no allegation made against him. The petitioner before the high court had alleged that
Rape case: SC asks Bollywood producer Karim Morani to file reply
The Supreme Court today asked Bollywood producer Karim Morani to file his response in three weeks to a plea seeking cancellation of regular bail granted to him in a rape case. Morani has been accused by a 25-year-old woman of "aggravated", "brutal rape" over a period of six months. He has denied the allegations. The woman, an aspiring actor, has claimed in her petition that she was raped under threat of elimination by the underworld and her nude pictures, possibly taken during the alleged assaults, circulated. A bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra made it clear that if Morani does not file his response within three weeks, his righttofilethe reply "shall stand extinguished". The bench, which also comprised Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud, posted the matter for final hearing on May 8. During the hearing, senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi and Siddharth Luthra, appearing for Morani, told the bench that they would file their reply on the plea. However, advocate Karuna Nandy, .
Centre failed to present effective case against SC/ST Act's dilution: CPI(M)
The CPI(M) today condemned the deaths of agitators during protests against the Supreme Court's ruling on the SC/ST Act and accused the central government of failing to present an effective case on the issue in the court. The Left party in a statement said the response to the call for a 'Bharat Bandh' by various Dalit organisations had been widespread in states like Punjab, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha and Uttar Pradesh. "This shows the anger against the Supreme Court's decision to dilute the SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act", it said. The party claimed that the situation had arisen because of the failure of the Narendra Modi-led government at the Centre. "The politburo condemns the brutal police firing which has led to the death of four people in Gwalior, Bhind and Morena in BJP ruled Madhya Pradesh. In many other places, there have been attacks by police on protesters. One person has died in Alwar, Rajasthan. "Such a situation has arisen because of the ...
Pak Army chief approves death penalty for 10 terrorists including Amjad Sabri's killers
Pakistan Army Chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa today approved death penalty for 10 "hardcore terrorists" including those who shot dead Amjad Sabri, one of the country's renowned Sufi Qawwals. In a statement, the military's media wing said the hardcore terrorists, tried by special military courts, were involved in killing of 62 people and heinous crimes against the state including attack on security forces and Pearl Continental Hotel in Peshawar. The terrorists were identified as Muhammad Ishaq, Muhammad Rafique, Muhammad Arish, Habibur Rehman, Muhammad Fayaz, Ismail Shah, Muhammad Fazal, Hazrat Ali, Muhammad Asim and Habibullah. Another five militants were awarded imprisonment of different terms. Ishaq and Asim were involved in the killing of Sabri and attacking the law enforcement agencies of Pakistan, which resulted in death of 17 officials, the statement said, adding that they were awarded death sentence. Sabri, 45, was travelling in a car in Karachi's congested Liquatabad 10 area when .
Govt questions SC order on SC ST Act
Unhappy with the Supreme Court order diluting the provisions of the SC/ST Act, the government today said it "differs" with the verdict and questioned why the Union of India was not made a "formal" party in the case. Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said that the government "differs" with the reasoning given by the Supreme Court judgement "virtually redoing the entire architecture of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act". He said it is important to note that the government was not firmly made a party in this case and only allowed to make certain oral submissions. "We feel that a sensitive case of this nature required a more in depth consideration with requisite consideration of objective data to come to a conclusion as to whether the law is being abused or there is a need to give protection to the continued, unfortunate instances of injustice against Dalits," he said. The apex court had on March 20 said that on "several occasions", innocent ...
AAP, BJP demand review of SC ruling on SC/ST Act
The Aam Aadmi Party and BJP today appeared to be on the same page in opposing the Supreme Court's ruling "diluting" the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Delhi Chief Minister and AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal said the "fundamental intent" of the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act should be preserved and demanded that the Centre appoint prominent lawyers to effectively take up the matter in the Supreme Court. Leader of Opposition Vijender Gupta said the BJP "doesn't support" the court's ruling and demanded that like the Centre, the Delhi government should also intervene in the matter in the apex court. Later, members of the AAP and the BJP opposed the apex court's decision in the Delhi Assembly. The AAP chief had earlier tweeted, "Under the situation resulting due to the Supreme Court's decision on SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act, the AAP is with the movement of SC/ST community." "The central government should deploy top lawyers for the ...
Mamata supports Dalit cause, shocked over deaths in MP
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today expressed her support to the cause of the Dalits and said she was shocked over the death of four persons in Madhya Pradesh during the nationwide bandh called against the alleged dilution of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. "We are shocked and pained that some of my Dalit brothers and sisters have been killed and injured. We support their cause. I appeal for peace," she tweeted. Four persons were killed and several others, including policemen, injured in the violent protests in Madhya Pradesh during the bandh called by Dalit outfits. Curfew was clamped in Gwalior and Bhind districts. The Rapid Action Force (RAF) was called in to control the situation in Bhind. The Supreme Court had, on March 20, diluted certain provisions of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, in a bid to protect "honest" public servants discharging bona fide duties from being blackmailed with false cases under the Act. The verdict is being widely ...
Jaitley, Kejriwal move joint plea to settle defamation cases after AAP supremo's apology
Union Minister Arun Jaitley and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal today moved joint pleas before the Delhi High Court and the trial court to "settle" their over two-year long litigation regarding alleged defamatory statements made against the BJP leader after the AAP supremo apologised for his remarks. The move by Kejriwal came as no surprise as he has already apologised to some others, including Union Minister Nitin Gadkari and Congress leader Kapil Sibal's lawyer son Amit, who had filed defamation suits and complaints against him. While in the high court, Jaitley had filed a civil defamation suit in December 2015 claiming Rs 10 crore as damages, he had also lodged a criminal defamation case against Kejriwal for his remarks relating to alleged large-scale financial irregularities in the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) during his tenure as the president of the cricket body. Along with Kejriwal, five other AAP leaders -- Sanjay Singh, Raghav Chadha, Ashutosh, Deepak ..
Centre seeks review of SC/ST verdict, SC decline urgent hearing on similar plea
The Centre today moved the Supreme Court seeking review of its recent verdict by which safeguards were put on the provisions of immediate arrest under the stringent SC/ST Act. The apex court, however, declined urgent hearing on a writ petition filed by All India Federation of SC/ST Organisations claiming that the entire nation has witnessed large-scale violence during today's 'Bharat Bandh'. The court said the plea would be listed and heard in due course. The union government, in its review petition, said the March 20 verdict has "wide ramification and implication resulting in dilution of the stringent provisions of law enacted under the 1989 enactment. It adversely affects a substantial portion of the population of India being the members of SC/ST. It is also contrary to the legislative policy of Parliament as reflected in the Prevention Of Atrocities Act 1989". Seeking open court hearing of the review petition, it said that "oral arguments are essential in the present matter in ...
Jat quota in Haryana: SC continues status quo order
The Supreme Court today continued its interim order granting status quo on the operation of the Punjab and Haryana High Court verdict upholding the constitutional validity of the law providing ten per cent reservation to Jats and five other communities in Haryana. A bench of Justices J Chelameswar and Sanjay Kishan Kaul asked Haryana to file within three weeks its counter affidavit on the plea which has also opposed the Haryana Backward Classes Act of 2016. "Counter affidavit be filed within three weeks. Rejoinder affidavit be filed within three weeks thereafter. List thereafter. Interim order to continue in the meantime," the bench noted in its order. On March 26, the apex court had ordered status quo on the operation of the Punjab and Haryana High Court verdict. The petitioner had earlier informed the top court that the Backward Class Commission would submit its report on the percentage of quota by March 31. The Haryana Assembly had unanimously passed The Haryana Backward Classes ...
Suspect in radio jockey's murder flees abroad: SIT
The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the murder of a young radio jockey near here last week has identified the three hired killers involved, though the key accused has since fled abroad, an official said on Monday.
HC disposes of harassment plea against Thane civic chief
The Bombay High Court today disposed of a petition which alleged that the Thane Municipal Corporation commissioner had allegedly sexually harassed a 15-year-old girl. A bench of Justices R M Savant and Sarang Kotwal refused to issue any directions or pass orders on the petition, after the victim retracted her allegations while her statement was being recorded by the police and the magistrate. The bench was hearing a plea filed by an activist, Vikrant Karnik, seeking appropriate directions to the Thane police. In his plea, Karnik had alleged that the minor girl was employed by the Thane Municipal Commissioner Sanjeev Jaiswal as a domestic help. The petitioner claimed that in December last year, he came across a video on social media in which the girl alleged that Jaiswal had subjected her to mistreatment and harassment. Karnik said that he registered a police complaint and also wrote to the Thane police commissioner seeking a probe into the matter, no appropriate steps were taken. The .
DDCA: Jaitley, Kejriwal move court to settle criminal defamation case
A joint plea by Union Minister Arun Jaitley and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was moved before a Delhi court today seeking to settle the criminal defamation case filed by the former against the AAP convenor in the DDCA row after the latter tendered an apology. Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Samar Vishal said the court will take up the application, filed by Jaitley and Kejriwal through their respective counsels, tomorrow. "Each of the accused (Kejriwal, Sanjay Singh, Raghav Chadha, Ashutosh and Deepak Bajpai) have unequivocally withdrawn all the allegations made by them in print, electronic or social media against the complainant and his family members. Further they have offered their sincere apology to the complainant and his family members for any harm caused to the complainant's reputation as a consequence of the allegation made by the said accused. "The complainant has accepted the apology tendered by the accused and in view thereof does not wish to proceed with ...
HC declines to stay order upholding slapping UAPA against CPI(M) leader
The Kerala High Court today declined to stay a single bench's decision, upholding slapping of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act by the CBI against ruling CPI (M) strongman P Jayarajan and other accused in a case relating to the murder of an RSS worker in Kannur district in 2014. Considering a plea filed by Jayarajan, challenging the single bench decision of March 15, the division bench, headed by Chief Justice Antony Dominic, however, issued notice to the CBI and other respondents in the Kathiroor Manoj murder case. Earlier, refusing to interfere with the slapping of UAPA by the CBI against the accused in the case, the single bench had said the investigating agency need not obtain the state government's sanction to invoke provisions of the Act and rejected the petition filed by Jayarajan and others. Jayarajan, also Kannur district secretary of the CPI(M), was named by the CBI as "principal conspirator" in the murder. The high court had said that either the central government or the
London murder rate higher than New York for first time
The number of murders being investigated by Scotland Yard in London has surpassed New York for the first time, according to latest figures released for the months of February and March. Fifteen people were murdered in the UK capital in February and 23 in March compared with 14 and 21 respectively in New York, a city with a similar population size. For 2018 so far, there have been 46 murders in London, with 31 as a result of knife attacks. Murder rates in London had seen a steady decrease from 206 in 2003 to 94 in 2014 but the figure rose to 119 in 2015 and 116 last year. "London remains one of the safest cities in the world. One murder is one too many, and we are working hard with our partners to understand the increase and what we can all do to prevent these tragedies from happening in the first place," a Metropolitan Police spokesperson said. Croydon Central MP Sarah Jones, who chairs the UK's All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Knife Crime, told the BBC that London could learn .