Page 1802 - Law Crime

Portuguese pilot held after being found drunk in cockpit

The co-pilot of a Portuguese airline was detained in Stuttgart after being found drunk in the cockpit just before take off, German police and prosecutors said today. German police entered the cockpit and found the 40-year-old in a "highly intoxicated condition" last evening, a statement said. An airport official had sounded the alert after finding the Portugalia pilot "reeking of alcohol and walking unsteadily," it said. Portugalia is a subsidiary of the national carrier TAP. Stuttgart prosecutors immediately suspended the co-pilot's flying licence and fixed a 10,000-euro (USD 12,000) bail. Portugalia cancelled a flight from Stuttgart to Lisbon last night with 106 passengers. TAP said it would "open an enquiry and take necessary measures" and apologised to passengers for the inconvenience caused.

C'garh medical services corporation official arrested by ACB

A senior official of the Chhattisgarh Medical Services Corporation (CMSC) was today arrested by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) for allegedly demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 1.15 lakh here. Virendra Jain, a general manager with the CMSC, was caught red-handed during a trap laid by the ACB at a shopping mall in Pachpedi Naka area here, Additional Director General (ACB/Economic Offences Wing) Mukesh Gupta told PTI. He said that the complainant, Akash Mishra, is a medical equipment and medicine supplier and his payment was pending since last year. "When Mishra contacted Jain for the bills, since the latter's department deals with such payments, Jain asked for a bribe of Rs 1.15 lakh. He asked Mishra to get the money and meet him at a mall," he said. The official said that a trap was laid at the mall and Jain was caught. A case had been registered under the Prevention of Corruption Act, the ADG said.

Pakistani court frees 20 in killing of Christian couple case

A Pakistani court today acquitted 20 people suspected of involvement in the lynching and burning alive of a Christian couple accused of blasphemy in 2014. Shahzad Masih, 26, and Shama Shahzad, 24, brick factory workers and parents of three, were burned alive in an industrial kiln by a mob incited by accusations that the couple desecrated the Quran in the town of Kot Radha Kishan. Police arrested scores of villagers and a court in Nov 2016 sentenced five men to death while 10 others were given varying jail terms. Prosecutor Abdur Rauf says the court acquitted 20 suspects indicted in the case at a later stage. Blasphemy is a sensitive issue in Pakistan and a mere allegation can often prompt mob violence.

Maha ATS arrests six Bangladeshi nationals for illegal stay

The Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad today arrested six Bangladeshi nationals for staying in the country without valid documents, officials said. The Thane unit of the ATS arrested the six from Bhiwandi and they have confessed that they are Bangladeshi nationals who had been staying in the country illegally, an official said. They have been booked under relevant sections of the Passport (Entry Into India) Rules,the Foreigners Act as wellas the Indian Penal Code, he said. Officials said the number of nationals from the neighbouring country apprehended by the state's ATS now stood at 24. Earlier, raids by the ATS had netted Bangladeshi nationals from Malwani, Kandivali, Panvel in Navi Mumbai, Ambernath as well as Pune, officials informed. Among the arrested, five have also been charged with sheltering operatives of the Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT), a terror outfit banned in Bangladesh, an official said.

HC sets single judge order allowing CPT to impose fine on CCT

The Madras High Court has set aside a single judge order of 2014, allowing the Chennai Port Trust (CPT) to impose Rs 63.08 crore fine on the Chennai Container Teriminal for alleged non-achievement of output targets and directed the CPT to return the amount. The first bench, comprising Chief Justice Indira Banerjee and Justice Abdul Quddhose, directed the CPT to return the amount while allowing an appeal by CCT against the order of the single judge. In December 2007, the CPT had said the container terminal had failed to achieve the required percentage of non-transhipment traffic as per the licence agreement and slapped a fine of Rs 63.86 crore. Besides, the port encashed Rs 47.08-crore bank guarantee granted by the terminal, the court was informed. The dispute was referred to an arbitration tribunal presided over by former Chief Justice of India R C Lahoti. The other two members were former judges of the high court -- Justice R Jayasimha Babu and Justice S A Kader. In 2013, the ...

Rs 17 lakh stolen after breaking open ATM

Thieves used gas cutters to break open an ATM of State Bank of India (SBI) here and stole around Rs 17 lakh in cash late last night. The cash had been filled in the ATM yesterday morning in view of coming bank holidays, said Navin Oswal, the manager of SBI's Dussehra Maidan Branch. Additional Superintendent of Police Jitendra Singh Pawar said the police have registered a case against unidentified persons. The thieves used a gas cutter to break open the cash box of the ATM, he said. There was no security guard at the ATM, he said.

Rahul says Law Minister 'peddling fake news', Prasad hit back

Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Saturday attacked Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, saying that he was "peddling fake news" while the legal system is collapsing.

HC rejects Indian Bank plea over sale of granite blocks of PRP Export

The Madras High Court has dismissed a petition by public sector Indian Bank seeking permission to conduct a public auction to sell granite blocks of Madurai based PRP Exports, which the exporter had pledged as collateral towards credits and loans granted to it. When the petition came up recently, a bench of justices T S Sivagnanam and G Jayachandran held that the sale cannot be permitted when granite worth Rs 132 crore had already been seized by respective Investigating Officers probing over 52 criminal cases pending against the exporter. The bank submitted that the materials pledged with them are granite blocks, slabs, finished goods and others, which could be identified and valuation could be done. The properties could be photographed and brought for sale to recover the loan provided to the exporter, it said. It argued that if the goods were left exposed to sun and rain, its value was bound to deplete, which would ultimately cause loss to the state exchequer. To this, the Additional

Man killed during drunken brawl

A 32-year-old man was killed during a brawl here this morning, police said. Munna Laxman Atram (32), a resident of Bhosa area, was allegedly stabbed to death by Madhukar Kasiram Surpam (47) after both had liquor at a weekly market and had a heated argument over some money-related matter, police said. Officers from Awadhhowadi police station arrested Surpam subsequently. A case of murder under section 302 of IPC was registered against him and further probe is on, said inspector Balasaheb Khade.

5 corporators detained for attacking Mayor's car in Varanasi

Five corporators were detained here for allegedly trying to stop the Mayor's car and breaking a window of her SUV to protest the adjournment of the Varanasi Municipal Corporation's House today, police said. The incident took place when Mayor Mridula Jaiswal's SUV was passing through the Sanskritik Sankul (cultural complex) at Chowkaghat, they said. The corporators were from opposition Samajwadi Party (SP), BSP and Congress, and Independents. They were demanding commencement of the House and holding of electionsto the corporation's executive body after it was deferred today. The polls were postponed after BJP corporators demanded that a meeting be held to condole the death of BJP member Rohit Jaiswal's wife. The mayor gave her consent to it and adjourned the House, following which BJP and members of the opposition bench entered into heated arguments. Opposition corporators over turned the table and chair of the mayor as soon as Jaiswal left the House, and began their protest. Some of ..

UK police call on Indian-origin households to keep gold safe

Police in the UK have urged Indian-origin families to keep their gold away from homes after a growing number of robberies targeting jewellery associated with such households. Leicestershire Police released an image of a burglar this week after he was jailed for four years for a violent robbery at an Indian-origin home in Leicester last year. The elderly couple, who have chosen to remain anonymous, have been left traumatised and decided to sell their home and move from the area. "A 63-year-old woman, who was asleep in bed with her three-year-old grandchild next to her, was awoken after she felt a blow to her face, she was then subjected to a vicious attack and threatened with a knife before she was left unconscious. "Gold bangles on her wrists were stolen along with cash and other items of jewellery. The child wasn't harmed during the incident but the victim was treated in hospital for cuts and bruises," Leicestershire Police said. African-origin Farhan Loonat, 27, pleaded guilty to ...

Punjab CM asks officials to check transport cartels

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh today directed administration officials to check formation of transport cartels during the upcoming wheat procurement season. The orders came during a review by the state cabinet of the arrangements made for procurement of wheat during the Rabi season commencing April 1, 2018. While directing the deputy commissioners of all districts to ensure that the arrangements are made well in time, the chief minister ordered them to strictly enforce the law against the formation of cartels by transporters. The transportation and labour policy formulated by the government for procurement purposes should be strictly followed, he said, warning the DCs and SSPs that no laxity or complicity in this regard should be allowed under any circumstances. The chief minister asked the officials to monitor transportation to and from the markets closely to ensure total compliance with the law and complete ban on cartelization, according to an official spokesperson. The ...

2 members of an inter-district gang of robbers arrested in Punjab

An inter-district gang of robbers has been busted with the arrest of its two members here, the police said here today. The two accused, both residents of Hoshiarpur district, were arrested during checking of vehicles at a check post on Panshta road near Sahni village last night, Phagwara Superintendent of Police Parminder Singh Bhandal said. A country-made pistol, four live cartridges, two stolen motorcycles, eight mobile phones and Rs 52,000 in cash were recovered from them, the officer said. During interrogation, the two accused have confessed of being involved in 12 incidents of snatching and thefts in Hospirapur, Mahilpur, Chabewal,Garshanker, Saila Khurd, Rawalipindi and Panshta in Phagwara, the SP claimed. The cash belonged to a truck driver Jatinder Kumar who was robbed of it by the duo near Rehana Jattan village, Bhandal said.

22-yr-old woman commits suicide in Himachal Pradesh

A 22-year-old woman allegedly committed suicide in Kangra district, with her family members claiming that she was killed by her in-laws, police said today. Chandresh Kumari hanged herself from a ceiling fan in her house in Badoi yesterday, Superintendent of Police (SP) Santosh Patial said. Her family members have alleged that she was killed by her in-laws, the police said. The local police have registered a case against the woman's husband, sister-in-law and mother-in-law under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including abetment of suicide, the officer said. No body has been arrested yet. The post-mortem has been conducted and the matter is being probed, the SP said. The body has been handed over to the woman's brother, the police said.

Journalists stage protest outside Delhi Police HQ

A group of journalists belonging to various media organisations today protested outside the Delhi Police Headquarters here, demanding strict action against the police personnel accused of assaulting and molesting media persons. Two journalists yesterday filed separate complaints -- one for molestation and another for assault during a protest march organised by Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) students and teachers. The police lathicharged and used water canons to disperse the crowd near Sanjay Jheel in Lakshmi Bai Nagar. In a joint statement issued by Press Club of India, Indian Women's Press Corps, Press Association and Federation of Press Clubs in India, immediate action against the officers was demanded. The protesters also demanded that the Commissioner of Police hear their grievances. One of the protesting journalists, who did not want to be named, said, "What happened yesterday was not only shocking but scary. It shows the lack of discipline among police personnel who enforce ..

Two held at Kolkata airport for smuggling forex by hiding it in body cavity

Two persons, including a woman, have been arrested by DRI officials at the Kolkata airport for allegedly trying to smuggle out foreign currency by hiding it in their body cavities, according to an official statement issued today. Acting on intelligence, Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) officials intercepted two persons a man and a woman on Thursday. These two were slated to travel to Bangkok by an Indigo flight carrying the illegally acquired foreign currency, it said. The DRI officers intercepted the duo when they were about to board the flight. A detailed personal and baggage search was done but nothing incriminating was found at first, the statement issued by the DRI said. Thereafter, after intense questioning, the two persons admitted to carrying the foreign currency in their rectum and voluntarily ejected out the currency which had been rolled up and wrapped in a rubber, it said. Euro currency notes valued at Rs 58 lakh were recovered from them and seized under ...

Guj man gets life term for raping minor daughter

A 35-year-old man was sentenced to life imprisonment by a court in Nadiad near here for repeatedly raping his minor daughter. Additional district sessions judge NA Anjaria sentenced the man, a resident of Radhu village in Kheda district, yesterday under relevant sections of the IPC and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, public prosecutor Prem R Tiwari said. "This man, a farm labourer, raped his 14-year-old daughter repeatedly for three months before September 7, 2016. He threatened to kill her and her mother if she told anyone about it. It resulted in the minor getting pregnant after which the crime was revealed," he said. The victim filed a complaint with the Kheda police following which charges of rape and other offences under the POCSO Act were registered against the man, Tiwari said. "Her pregnancy was terminated after the high court gave permission," Tiwari said, adding the convict will have to spend 14 years in jail. Judge Anjaria also imposed a fine of

Journalists protest outside Delhi Police HQ asking action against assault

The protesters also demanded the Commissioner of Police to hear their grievances

Rahul targets Prasad over pendency of cases in courts

Congress President Rahul Gandhi today hit out at Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad over huge pendency of cases in courts and shortage of judges, and charged him with "peddling fake news" instead. His attack came after Prasad accused the Congress of hiring the services of controversial data firm Cambridge Analytica, accused of harvesting data stolen from Facebook, in previous elections. The charge has been denied by the Congress, which instead accused the BJP of using the services of the firm. Legal system collapsing under Pending Cases: Supreme Court 55,000+, High Court 37 Lakh+, Lower Courts 2.6 Crore+. Yet, a staggering 400 High Court and 6,000 Lower Court judges not appointed, while Law Minister preoccupied peddling fake news, Gandhi said on Twitter, using the hashtag JudiciaryDemonetised. He also took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over delay in appointment of judges to the Supreme Court. "Justice K M Joseph, overturned President's rule in Uttarakhand in 2016. When his ...

Karti granted anticipatory bail in Aircel-Maxis case

A Special Delhi Court on Saturday granted anticipatory bail to Karti Chidambaram, son of former finance minister P. Chidambaram in Aircel Maxis case.The court also asked him to appear before the investigating officer whenever he is summoned.The next date of hearing has been fixed for April 16.Karti had yesterday filed an anticipatory bail plea in the court seeking protection from arrest in the case, in which the Central Bureau of Investigation and the Enforcement Directorate have lodged cases in 2011 and 2012 respectively.The Aircel Maxis deal case, which was part of the 2G spectrum cases, pertains to grant of Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) clearance to a foreign firm M/S Global Communication Holding Services Ltd for investment in telecom company Aircel.