Page 1949 - Law Crime
Attack on lawyers: HC pulls up FSL dir for failure to give report
The Delhi High Court today pulled up the director of Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) here over its failure to place before it a scientific report in connection with the recent arson attacks on the properties of some lawyers in the national capital. A bench of Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice C Hari Shankar said that the evidence was collected by three different police stations for three different incidents in the city, but the forensic reports were still awaited. "Why can't we say that it is deliberately delayed and in connivance with the accused," the bench said and asked Deepa Verma, Director CFSL, "if it had been a case of terrorists, what would have they done". "This is happening in the capital of India. It is an emergency situation. A leader of the Delhi High Court Bar Association, its executive member and a lawyer have been attacked," it said, adding that the forensic laboratory has not yet begun their work. The court had sought reports from the FSL on the attacks
Man gets 10-yr in jail for running illegal distillery in Bihar
A court here today awarded 10-year imprisonment to a man for running an illegal distillery. Additional District Judge Kaushalesh Kumar Singh passed the order against Nawal Kishore Chaudhary alias Lutera, who was arrested in December last year. The court also slapped a fine of Rs one lakh on the accused. According to Special Public Prosecutor Triveni Prasad Sinha, Chaudhary was arrested on December 10, 2017 in Rajauli Police Station area in the district after he assaulted a journalist working with a Hindi daily. Journalist Vikas Kumar was beaten up in Rajauli Dih village where he had gone to cover a police raid on illegal distilleries, he said. Sale and consumption of liquor has been completely banned in Bihar by the Nitish Kumar government nearly two years ago. Chaudhary's wife Meena was also arrested in connection with the assault on the scribe, who was seriously injured and had to be rushed to a hospital in Ranchi, the public prosecutor said. Trial in the case relating to assault on
VVIP chopper: Court order on Dubai-based bizman plea on Feb 20
A special court today reserved its order on a plea of a director of two Dubai-based firms, seeking cancellation of a non-bailable warrant (NBW) issued against him in a money laundering case connected with the Rs 3,600-crore VVIP chopper deal. Special Judge Arvind Kumar said he would pass order on the plea of Rajeev Saxena, one of the directors of M/s UHY Saxena and M/s Matrix Holdings, after hearing arguments from accused and the Enforcement Directorate (ED). The ED had alleged that Saxena was "non-cooperative" and evading the probe in the case. Special public prosecutor N K Matta, appearing for ED, said Saxena has not joined the probe despite repeated summons. "The investigation in the matter is going on since June 2016 and Saxena is aware that he is needed in the probe, yet he has been evading it," the counsel said. The agency claimed that during the probe it was found that AgustaWestland, United Kingdom, had "paid an amount of Euro 58 million as kickbacks" through two Tunisia-based
HC directive to police in cheating complaint against Deepa
The Madras High Court today directed the city police to register an FIR against late chief minister Jayalalithaa's niece J Deepa if a cognisable offence was made out in an alleged cheating complaint lodged against her. Passing the order on a petition filed by N Ramachandran, a businessman and former office-bearer of a forum formed by Deepa, Justice M S Ramesh said a case be registered against her driver A V Raja also if cognisable offence was made out. The petitioner, who was formerly Kancheepuram District Secretary of MGR Amma Deepa Peravai, alleged that Deepa and Raja had borrowed Rs 1.12 crore from him and refused to repay. They also allegedly threatened him when he demanded that the money be returned. They collected the money by false inducement and promise that the person, who pays money, would be made the district secretary and very soon they would be made ministers, he claimed.
HC tells Vadra's firm to go for I-T re-assessment
Hearing a plea against re-assessment notice issued by the Income Tax Department to Sky Light Hospitality, in which Robert Vadra is a partner, the Delhi High Court on Thursday asked the company to appear before IT officials.
'Rangotsav' in Mathura: NGT notice to UP govt, seeks report
A plea seeking stay on two-day 'Rangotsav' festival to be held on the Yamuna floodplains in Mathura today prompted the National Green Tribunal to seek a report from the Uttar Pradesh government. The state government is planning to organise 'Rangotsav' (festival of colours) on February 23 and 24 in Mathura and Barsana to commemorate the traditional 'Latthmaar Holi'. A bench headed by Justice Jawad Rahim issued notices to the state government, Mathura Vrindavan Develpoment Authority, National Mission for Clean Ganga, state pollution control board and Braj Pilgrimage Development Council seeking their replies by February 23. The tribunal, however, did not issue notice to actress Hema Malini, the BJP MP from Mathura, who has been arrayed as one of the parties in the case. The green panel directed the UP pollution control board and the Mathura Vrindavan Develpoment Authority to inspect the site on the Yamuna floodplains opposite the historic Vishram Ghat in Mathura and submit a report ...
Shia Waqf Board chief claims he has filed police complaint against AIMPLB spokesperson
Chairman of UP Shia Waqf Board Waseem Rizvi today claimed that he has filed a police complaint against spokesperson of All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) Maulana Khalilurrahman Sajjad Nomani at a police station here for his alleged inflammatory remarks. However, police did not confirm receiving any such complaint. In a statement issued here today, Rizvi said, "In my complaint I have stated that All India Muslim Personal Law Board supports the ideology of the terrorists, and they never want that the Ayodhya issue be resolved." Rizvi referred to Nomani's February 9 statement made in Hyderabad during AIMPLB meet, and alleged, "Nomani through his statement is conspiring to wage a civil war in the country by instigating the Muslims. This amounts to sedition." SHO Hazratganj Anand Shahi, when contacted, said that he has not received any such complaint. Despite repeated attempts, Nomani could not be contacted for comments.
Students: Shooting suspect harassed peers, bragged about gun
Students and neighbours describe the suspect in the deadly rampage at a Florida high school as a troubled teenager who threatened and harassed peers, talked about killing animals, posed with guns in disturbing photos on social media, and bragged about target practice in his backyard with a pellet gun. Nikolas Cruz, 19, had been expelled from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School for "disciplinary reasons," Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel said, but he insisted he didn't know the specifics. Math teacher Jim Gard told the Miami Herald that before Wednesday's fatal shooting of 17 people, Cruz may have been identified as a potential threat - Gard believes the school had sent out an email warning teachers that Cruz shouldn't be allowed on campus with a backpack. "There were problems with him last year threatening students, and I guess he was asked to leave campus," Gard told the paper. Student Victoria Olvera, 17, said Cruz had been abusive to his ex-girlfriend and that his expulsion was
Couple gets grandchildren via surrogacy
Two years after the death of their son, a couple here in Maharashtra has been blessed with twin grandchildren via surrogacy using their son's cryo-preserved semen.A Pune based woman's son Prathamesh Patil died of cancer two years ago in Germany.She became the grandmother of the twins after doctors at Pune's Sahyadri Hospital performed the In-vitro fertilisation (IVF) procedure and fused Patil's semen, which was extracted and preserved long before his death, with the eggs of a donor to form embryos.The embryos were then transferred into the womb of a surrogate mother who gave birth to the twins -- a boy and a girl -- on Monday.After her son's death, the mother contacted the semen bank in Germany and brought it to India after completing the formalities.She then approached the hospital for an IVF procedure with the help of her son's semen.IVF, Gynaecology and Obstetrics Department Head Supriya Puranik said she was happy that advancement in science and technology was bringing a smile on ..
Lookout notice issued - after Nirav escaped
A lookout notice was issued by the CBI against jeweller Nirav Modi and his associates last month in the banking fraud case but by then they had escaped from India, CBI sources said on Thursday.
Priyanka mulling termination of contract with Nirav Modi, says her spokesperson
Priyanka Chopra, who featured in one of the advertisement campaigns for jewellery designer Nirva Modi, is currently seeking legal opinion to terminate her contract with the brand, the actor's spokesperson said today. Yesterday, state-owned Punjab National Bank said it has detected a USD 1.77 billion (about Rs 11,400 crore) scam where the billionaire jeweller allegedly acquired fraudulent letters of undertaking from a branch in Mumbai to secure overseas credit from other Indian lenders. On reports of her taking legal action against the brand for alleged non-payment of dues for the ad campaign, Priyanka's spokesperson said in a statement,"There are speculative reports that Priyanka Chopra has sued Nirav Modi. This is not true. "However, she is currently seeking legal opinion with respect to terminating her contract with the brand in light of allegations of financial fraud against Nirav Modi." Actor Sidharth Malhotra, who also featured in the same advertisement with Priyanka, told PTI .
Woman files rape case against Arunachal CM
A woman has filed a complaint with the National Commission for Women (NCW) alleging that she was raped by Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu.The victim who arrived with her lawyer at NCW has alleged that in year 2008 the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Pema Khandu, who was not the chief minister at the time, along with two of his colleagues gang-raped her."My client has leveled allegations of rape against Arunachal Pradesh CM Pema Khandu. It is a 2008 incident. She had approached police and court who did not register her complaint. We have given her complaint to the women's commission," victim's lawyer Rashmi Bhati told ANI.Bhati also said that the victim used to work at PCO in Arunachal Pradesh back in 2008."An informer on the pretext of giving her a government job took her to the Circuit House, where the three men gave her drugs and raped her," said Bhati.The lawyer also said that after the incident she got really scared."Khandu had introduced himself as an Army ...
No prima facie evidence against IPS officer in Sohrabuddin case: Lawyer
The lawyer of Rajasthan IPS officer Dinesh MN, named by the CBI as an accused in the Sohrabuddin Shaikh fake encounter case, told the Bombay High Court today that the trial court discharged him because there was no prima facie evidence. Raja Thakre also pointed out that the CBI chose not to challenge the lower court's discharge order. While discharging Dinesh last year, the special CBI court not only cited lack of official sanction for his prosecution, but also noted that there existed no prima facie evidence against him, the lawyer said. "The same court rejected the discharge applications filed by three junior police officers who were alleged to have accompanied me (Dinesh) to the encounter site. That is because the CBI had claimed they were the ones who shot at Sohrabuddin," Thakre said. "The CBI failed to ascribe any distinct role to me and said merely that I had conspired to have Sohrabuddin and (his aide) Prajapati killed. However, the CBI court held that there was no prima facie
SC verdict on Cauvery water dispute likely on Friday
The Supreme Court is likely to pronounce on Friday its verdict on a batch of cross petitions by Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala and Puducherry challenging the 2007 Cauvery River Water Disputes Tribunal award.
Polavaram: SC asks Centre, six states to file affidavits on 1980 tribunal award
The Supreme Court today asked the Centre and six states, including Odisha and Andhra Pradesh, to file "specific affidavits" stating they were bound by the 1980 award of Godavari Water Disputes Tribunal, which had adjudicated the river water utilisation disputes among the basin states of Godavari and Krishna. Besides the Centre, Odisha and Andhra Pradesh, the apex court asked Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Telangana and Karnataka to file affidavits in this regard within four weeks. A bench comprising Justices Madan B Lokur and Deepak Gupta said this while hearing a matter related to the Indira Sagar Polavaram Project on river Godavari in Andhra Pradesh. The Polavaram project on Godavari in Andhra Pradesh is a multi-purpose irrigation project which has been accorded the status of a national project. During the hearing, counsel appearing for Odisha, Andhra Pradesh and other states told the bench that they were bound by the terms of Godavari Water Disputes Tribunal award of 1980. The Centre ..
SC to begin final hearing on validity of Delhi sealing act in April
The Supreme Court on Thursday said it would start, from April 2, final hearing on validity of the Delhi Laws (Special Provisions) Act, 2006 and subsequent legislation, which protects unauthorised construction from being sealed in the national capital.
UK ex-football coach guilty on 43 charges of child sex abuse
Disgraced former British youth coach Barry Bennell was found guilty today of seven further counts of sexually abusing boys in a case that has shocked English football to its core. Bennell, 64, was found guilty of indecent assault, buggery and attempted buggery against 11 victims -- all boys aged between eight and 15 -- in a complex trial in Liverpool in northwest England. "Barry Bennell is a predatory paedophile who groomed and abused young boys who dreamed of a career in professional football," Jackie Lamb, from the Crown Prosecution Service, Englands state prosecutors, said after the trial concluded. Bennell had already been found guilty on 36 charges on Tuesday, bringing the number of convictions from the trial to 43. Bennells trial is part of wider allegations of sexual and physical abuse of boys at football clubs in Britain in the 1970s and 1980s by the very people who were supposed to nurture their budding careers. Revelations about the abuse suffered at the hands of Bennell ...
Lawyers profession reached to "most worst condition" HC judge
The Madras High Court today lamented that the noble profession of advocates has reached the "most worst condition" and now a days the "only aim" of the lawyers is to fill their pockets. Justice N Kirubakaran made the oral observation while hearing a writ petition by advocates Bhaskar Maduram and Lenin Kumar challenging the new guidelines introduced by the Bar Council of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry for contesting the elections to the lawyers body. They challenged the guidelines in the Madurai bench of the high court. The judge said a division bench comprising justice R Tharani and himself would deliver the order on the matter tomorrow. The court was earlier scheduled to deliver the judgement on February 12. When a mention was made by the advocates pleading for pronouncement of the order since today was the last date for filing of nominations, justice Kirubakaran said that the order was getting ready and it would be given tomorrow. The judge then said a section of advocates is "spoiling ..
Nirav Modi: ED seizes diamond, gold jewellery worth Rs 5100 crore in searches
The Enforcement Directorate conducted searches in several properties linked to billionaire jewellery designer Nirav Modi in Mumbai, Delhi and Gujarat today, and seized diamond, jewellery and gold worth Rs 5,100 crore, officials said. The raids came after the agency filed a Rs 280-crore money laundering case against Modi, his wife Ami, brother Nishal and business partner Mehul Choksi yesterday, following a complaint by Punjab National Bank. ED officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said five properties belonging to Modi and the other accused in Mumbai were sealed by the agency. It was now planning to move the Ministry of External Affairs with a plea to revoke his passport, they said. Agency sleuths swooped down on at least 10 premises linked to the case early this morning. They searched Modi's residence in Kurla, jewellery boutique in Kala Ghoda area, three company offices in Bandra and Lower Parel in Mumbai, three premises in Surat in Gujarat and Modi's showrooms in ...
Chg police seize 1500 kg cannabis worth Rs 1 crore; two held
In a major haul, 1500 kg cannabis, worth Rs 1 crore, was today seized from a truck in insurgency-hit Kondagaon district in Chhattisgarh, police said. Police arrested the driver of the truck and his associate, both residents of Dinajpur district of West Bengal, who they suspect are part of an inter-state narcotics smuggling racket. "There was information about supply of the contraband from Odisha via Kondagaon following which local police swung into action," Kondagaon Superintendent of Police Abhishek Pallav told PTI. A truck was intercepted during checking of vehicles under Kotwali police station limits and around 1500 kgs of cannabis was seized from it, he said, adding that the contraband was found packed in plastic bags that were concealed inside the truck. The arrested duo are identified as Jagnath Das and Swapan Adhikari, Pallav said. As per preliminary investigation, the seized cannabis worth Rs 1 crore and was being supplied from Odisha to West Bengal, he said. A