Page 2014 - Law Crime
Justice K M Joseph, sr. adv Indu Malhotra to be appointed as
The Supreme Court collegium today made public its resolution recommending the name of Uttarakhand High Court Chief Justice K M Joseph for appointment as an apex court judge, saying he is "more deserving and suitable in all respects" than other chief justices and judges of the high courts. Along with Justice Joseph, the collegium has also recommended the name of senior advocate Indu Malhotra, who would be the first woman lawyer to be directly appointed as a judge of the top court, instead of being elevated from a high court. Malhotra would be the seventh women judge in the apex court since Independence as only six women judges have made it to the Supreme Court as judges. Justice Joseph had hogged the limelight when a high court division bench, headed by him, quashed in 2016 the imposition of President's Rule in Uttarakhand. The reports quoting sources about elevation of Justice Joseph and Malhotra had appeared on January 11. According to the resolution, the collegium, ...
Church panel finds violation of laws in land deals by
A committee of Kerala-based Syro Malabar Church which probed alleged irregularities in financial and land transactions of its Ernakulam-Angamaly archdiocese has said it has found numerous instances of violation of canon and civil laws and recommended necessary action against those responsible. The six-member enquiry committee also said the head of Syro-Malabar Catholic Church, Cardinal George Alencherry, "seems to have fully known and involved" in the alienation and purchase of lands by the archdiocese during April 1, 2015 to November 30, 2017. The panel comprising priests was appointed by Alencherry, who is also the Major Archbishop of the archdiocese, after some priests and faithful accused him of having sold prime land of the archdiocese for "a very low price". They had also alleged the role of land mafia in the sale of land in a "non-transparent manner" violating even civil and canon laws, a charge rejected by the supporters of the cardinal as a 'misinformation ...
CBI files charge sheet against Ram Rahim in castration case
The CBI today filed a charge sheet against rape convict and Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh and two doctors for allegedly forcibly castrating 400 followers of the sect, officials said. Singh, who is serving a 20-year jail term after being convicted in two rape cases, has been charged along with doctors Pankaj Garg and M P Singh. They allegedly castrated the men at the Sirsa-based dera, officials said. The charge sheet has been filed in a special court in Panchkula. The agency had registered the case of alleged criminal conspiracy for voluntarily causing grievous hurt by dangerous weapons or means among other charges under the Indian Penal Code against Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh and others in 2015. The case relating to the alleged castration of 400 devotees was registered on the orders of the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
Bofors case: SC to hear plea tomorrow
The Supreme Court will on Friday hear the petition filed by lawyer, Ajay Aggarwal, seeking Chief Justice of India (CJI) Dipak Misra's recusal in Bofors Case.On January 31, a petition has been filed in the top court seeking recusal of CJI Dipak Misra from hearing the Bofors case.Apex Court lawyer Ajay Aggarwal filed the petition against the CJI on the ground that he acted in a biased manner during January 16 hearing and that he allowed former law minister Kapil Sibal to intervene without any authority despite, repeated objection.On Jaunary 1, the top court asked the locus standi of Aggarwal, in filing an appeal in the case.The apex court also said that it would be against criminal jurisprudence to permit a third party who is not connected to the case.The apex court will hear the case on February 2.Aggarwal, who is also a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader, had filed the plea in the top court seeking an early hearing in Rs. 64-crore Bofors pay-off case.He challenged the Delhi High ...
Petition against Sanjay Dutt's early release dismissed
The Bombay High Court has dismissed the petition that challenged the early release of Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt.Dutt, sentenced in 2013 to five years in jail for illegally holding and destroying a rifle, was lodged in Pune's Yerwada prison and let out early by approximately eight months in February 2016 on account of what the government said was his "good conduct."The court on Thursday said it finds no violation of rules in his early release from the jail.The petition was filed by an activist Pradeep Bhalekar, who alleged that the government favoured the actor by giving him an early release, thereby flouting rules.The government, in its reply to the court, said that the 58-year-old was given remission in the sentence as per the set laws and jail manual.
Ensure cases of arson attacks on lawyers are solved: HC to
The Delhi High Court today asked the police to ensure that the mystery behind the recent arson attacks on properties of lawyers in the national capital is solved. The court's observation came during the hearing of a PIL initiated by it after lawyers abstained from work on January 25 in protest against the attacks. "Ensure they (cases) are solved," a bench of Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice C Hari Shankar told the Delhi Police, which said it has "started working on them". The court listed the PIL along with a petition filed by the Delhi High Court Bar Association (DHCBA), which has sought a court-monitored special investigation team (SIT) probe into the attacks on lawyers, besides guidelines for advocates' security. The attacks took place on January 4, 9 and 22 on the lawyers representing a woman advocate, who was allegedly assaulted by policemen and dragged out of her house, after a stalking case was lodged against her by a woman purportedly over a property
UP: Man strangulates his daughter to death
A nine-year-old girl was allegedly strangulated to death by his father in Uttar Pradesh's Bulandshahr district, police said today. The incident took place yesterday at a village in Debai when Pradip (45), who is said to be an alcoholic, cut the girl's vein and strangulated her, they said. "The accused has been booked for murder," Circle officer DP Tyagi said, adding that Pradip also allegedly cut the vein of his 12-year-old son According to the officer, the matter came to light after Pradip's neighbour found his daughter dead and son bleeding profusely at his house. The boy has been admitted to a district hospital, the officer informed. A case has been registered and police said they are investigating the matter for further details.
Sindh Minister, wife found dead in Karachi
Minister for Planning and Development of Pakistan's Sindh province Mir Hazar Khan Bijarani and his wife were found dead in their home in Karachi's Defence Housing Authority on Thursday.According to the Dawn, both husband and wife were found dead in their bedroom.Police has launched an investigation into the case.However, the cause of their death is still unknown.Sindh Assembly Deputy Speaker Shehla Raza said, "This is a very sad incident. I could never have imagined this could happen. I do not know anything else except that he is not among us right now."She said it was a "huge loss for the party", adding, "He was an educated individual and a very soft-spoken person.
Second Taiwanese man probed over secret N Korea oil sales
A second Taiwanese businessman has been questioned over his alleged involvement in selling oil to North Korea, prosecutors said today, as their probe into the illicit sanctions-busting trade widens. The UN Security Council imposed three sets of sanctions on North Korea last year in response to the reclusive state's nuclear and missile tests, including restrictions on oil sales. But the US has said companies with ties across Asia were violating those sanctions, including by transferring oil to North Korean vessels at sea to avoid detection. The latest man to be questioned, identified only by his family name Chuang, owns a ship suspected of transferring oil products to North Korea in the East China Sea, the Kaohsiung district prosecutor's office in southern Taiwan said. Chuang, 56, allegedly purchased 7,000 tons of diesel in Taiwan, falsely claiming in December that the ship was bound for Hong Kong when it was instead headed to international waters. He also intentionally ..
UP: Two killed after youths clashed over dancing
Two persons, including a woman, were killed and 6 others injured when two groups clashed during Ravidas Jayanti procession at Gokulpura village in Ranipura area here, police said today. The incident took place last night when some youths, suspected to be in an inebriated state, were asked to stop dancing in the procession, they said. The two who died in the clash were identified as Rakesh (22) and Devanti(50). According to Circle officer Ravindra Kumar, the injured were rushed to the hospital, where their condition was stated to be stable. A cross-FIR was registered and police is probing the matter for further details, the officer added.
Pak chief justice criticises IGP Sindh for not arresting Anwar
Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar on Thursday questioned Sindh Inspector General of Police (IGP) A.D. Khowaja for not being able to arrest the District Malir's former senior superintendent of police (SSP) Rao Anwar.He is guilty in the extra-judicial killing of 27-year-old, Naqeebullah Mehsud.According to the Dawn, a three-member bench of the Supreme Court, presided by the chief justice, was conducting a suo motu hearing in the case."The state has been blamed for his murder. Those who were responsible for providing security are being accused of murder," Nisar said.Nisar questioned Khowaja over his failure to nab Anwar when he was trying to flee the country before going into hiding."What was the Sindh Police doing?" he questioned. "You did not stop Rao Anwar. Should you not have known [his whereabouts]? I had given you 36 hours.""Why did you wait for the victim's father to arrive? The parents were miles away from Karachi, how could they have reached there so soon? Why did the ..
Myanmar court denies bail to Reuters journalists
A Myanmar court today denied bail to two Reuters journalists charged under a secrecy act that could see them face up to 14 years in jail, in a case that has sparked outcry over shrinking media freedom. Myanmar nationals Wa Lone, 31, and Kyaw Soe Oo, 27, are accused of possessing classified documents thought to relate to the violent military crackdown on the Rohingya Muslim minority. The crackdown in northern Rakhine state has forced nearly 700,000 Rohingya Muslims over the border into Bangladesh since August, many carrying allegations of rape, mass murder and arson at the hands of Myanmar's army. "The pair can't be granted bail according to the law... and the court has decided not to give them bail," judge Ye Lwin told the Yangon court of charges under the colonial-era Official Secrets Act. The journalists, who have been in custody since December, say they were given the papers by two policemen who had invited them to dinner in the outskirts of Yangon. As they left the ..
Man found dead in kitchen of his house
A 38-year-old man was found dead under mysterious circumstances in the kitchen of his house at village Panchhat near here, police said today. Police identified the deceased as Gurpal Singh, who lived alone in the house. When he did not come out of the house yesterday, his neighbours informed his elder brother Budh Singh, who lived in a 'dera' in Meghowal village in Hoshiarpur district, they said. Budh Singh broke opened the door of the house and found Gurpal lying dead in the kitchen, they said. Budh Singh told newsmen that their parents had died a couple of years ago while other family members were settled in Canada. He said that Gurpal Singh had also returned from Canada three years ago and lived at the Meghowal 'dera'. He said Gurpal left the 'dera' two months ago and started living in Panchhat village. Panchhat Police Post incharge Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Jaswinder Singh said that Gurpal Singh's body was sent for post-mortem examination to the civil hospital in .
Pakistan minister, wife found dead
A senior Pakistani provincial minister, Mir Hazar Khan Bijarani, and his wife were on Thursday found dead at their house in the port city Karachi, police said.
Severed head of infant found on house terrace in Hyd
The severed head of an infant was found dumped on the terrace of a house in Chiluka Nagar here today, police said. The incident came to light after a woman resident of the rented house went to the terrace this morning to dry clothes, a senior official said. The woman's son-in-law Rajasekhar is a cab driver. "They alerted the police immediately. It is still not clear how old the baby is, whether two months or three-months, and also if it is a boy or a girl," DCP (Malkajgiri Zone) Ch R Umamaheswara Sarma told PTI. He said the head has been sent for postmortem. A case is being registered, the DCP said. On January 29, the severed head of a 25-year-old man was found placed on the compound wall of a religious place in Nalgonda town of Telangana. On January 30, chopped body parts of an unidentified pregnant woman were found stuffed in two gunny bags near the Botanical garden at Kondapur near Hitech City here.
JMM MLA gets 3 years RI in coal theft case
JMM MLA Yogendra Prasad Mahto and four others were sentenced to three years rigorous imprisonment in a coal theft case by a Jharkhand court. Ramgarh sub-divisional judicial magistrate R P Mala convicted the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) legislator and the others in the 2010 case. They were also slapped a fine of Rs 5,000 by the court yesterday. If the convicts failed to pay the fine, they would have to serve three months additional imprisonment, the order said. After the pronouncement of sentence, the Gomia MLA's lawyer prayed for bail on the grounds that he would file an appeal before a higher court challenging the order. SDJM Mala granted provisional bail for one month to the MLA and directed him to seek regular bail from an appeal court. Public Prosecutor R B Rai said here that the case had been lodged with Rajrappa police station in Bokaro district against Yogendra Prasad Mahto and the four others for coal theft in 2010.
McDonald's plea against NCLT show cause premature, observes HC
The Delhi High Court today said that a plea by McDonald's against a show cause notice issued to the fast-food major by the National Company Law Tribunal on a contempt plea filed by its estranged Indian partner Vikram Bakshi was "premature" and reflected "some paranoia". The observations were made by a bench of justices Siddharth Mridul and Deepa Sharma while hearing the company's appeal against a single judge's decision to reject its challenge to the NCLT show cause notice. The bench was of the opinion that the tribunal was only contemplating initiation of contempt proceedings and there has been no determination of contempt by the NCLT. It suggested McDonald's to reply to the show cause notice and to indicate before the NCLT that there has been no violation of the tribunal's orders by the company. "Issuance of show cause notice not a cause of action. Why should we entertain this plea at all," the bench said and added "it is a little premature. There seems to be some ...
Sindh minister, wife found dead at their Karachi home
A senior provincial minister and his wife were found dead today at their home in Karachi, the financial capital of Pakistan. Sindh Minister for Planning and Development Mir Hazar Khan Bijarani, 71, and his wife Fariha Razzaq were found dead in their bedroom in high security Defence Housing Authority. Quoting members of Bijarani's family and officials of the Pakistan People's Party, Geo News reported that the minister and his wife had suffered bullet wounds. Police officials have reached the site and started the initial investigation into the case. Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, Home Minister Sohail Anwar Siyal, senior government and party officials reached Bijarani's house after the news of the minister's death broke. Bijarani had served as a senator as well as an MNA and also held the portfolio of Sindh's Education Minister. He was elected in 2013 from PS-16 Jacobabad.
Guj CM orders CID probe into groundnuts warehouse fire
Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani ordered a CID probe today into the massive fire, which gutted a huge stock of groundnuts kept in a warehouse in Gondal town of Rajkot district. In a statement, Rupani said those found guilty in the probe to be conducted by the state CID-Crime, will face stern action. The incident also sparked a political fight, with the opposition Congress claiming that the stock of groundnuts was set on fire as part of a conspiracy to hide massive corruption in procuring groundnut from the farmers. An official statement issued by the government said, "Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani has decided to hand over the probe into the incident of fire in the groundnut warehouse to the state CID-Crime. Whoever found guilty in the probe will face stern action." Officials in Rajkot said efforts are still on to douse the flames, which started on Tuesday evening and engulfed the warehouse, where the groundnuts stock, purchased by the state government was ...
UP: One person injured in cracker blast
One person was seriously injured in a cracker explosion at his house in Jasoi village here, police said today. The incident took place yesterday when Imran (35) was illegally making crackers at his house here under Titawi police station, they said. "The injured was rushed to a district hospital in critical condition," a police official said. According to the police official, the victim has sustained about 90 per cent burn injury.