Page 235 - Law Crime
Howrah court violence: HC directs DGP, home secy to file
The Calcutta High Court Monday directed the West Bengal DGP, home secretary, police commissioner of Howrah and other officials to file separate personal affidavits on violence at Howrah court premises last week which left several persons injured and led to ceasework by lawyers in the state. Hearing a suo motu writ petition on the violence, a division bench headed by Chief Justice T B N Radhakrishnan observed that unauthorised intrusion into court premises and the activities would stand to breach the Constitution and the laws. Lawyers at the Howrah district court and employees of the Howrah Municipal Corporation, which is located opposite to the court, clashed on April 24 over vehicle parking. The lawyers alleged police highhandedness in controlling the situation. Several persons, including lawyers, were injured in the incident. The bench said the executive agency of a state has the constitutional duty to provide infrastructure for courts and protect those institutions and ...
Kohinoor diamond: SC dismisses curative petition
The Supreme Court has given the legal burial to a case which had sought judicial intervention to reclaim the 108-carat Kohinoor diamond from the United Kingdom. A five-judge bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi dismissed a curative petition seeking to re-examine its 2017 verdict in which it had said that it cannot pass order for reclaiming Kohinoor diamond from the UK or to stop it from being auctioned. Kohinoor, which means Mountain of Light, is a large, colourless diamond that was found in Southern India in early 14th century. The 108-carat Kohinoor gem, which fell into British hands during the colonial era, is the subject of a historic ownership dispute and claimed by at least four countries including India. "We have gone through the curative petition and the connected papers. In our opinion, no case is made out within the parameters indicated in the decision of this court in the case of Rupa Ashok Hurra vs. Ashok Hurra & another....Hence, the curative petition is ...
Man held for cheating in Jammu
The police crime branch arrested a man here on Monday on charge of cheating, officials said. The arrested, Puneet Rasutra, is presently on police remand, they said. FIR has been registered under sections 420 (Cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property), 467 (forgery of valuable security, will, etc.), 468 (forgery for purpose of cheating), 471 (using as genuine a forged) of the Ranbir Penal Code, they said. Police said complainant Munish Bhatia of Jammu had started a firm ACE Engineering Infra Tech Pvt Ltd with its office at SIDCO Industries Area in Bari Brahmna belt. Rasutra had close relation with Bhatia, taking advantage of which the accused convinced Bhatia to mortgage his and his brother's property in Gandhi Nagar here. The mortgage enabled Rasutra to avail a cash credit facility from J&K Bank, they said. The mortgaged property is valued at Rs 4 crore, for which the complainant and his brother became guarantors, officials said. In 2015, Rasutra again approached the
SC seeks response of EC on plea against prosecution of elector for complaining against EVMs, VVPATs
The Supreme Court Monday sought a response from the Election Commission on a plea seeking setting aside a rule which provides for prosecution of an elector if the complaint alleging malfunctioning of EVMs and VVPATs eventually turns out to be false. A bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi took note of the plea, which alleged that Rule 49MA of 'The Conduct of Elections Rules' was unconstitutional as it criminalizes reporting of malfunctioning of Electronic Voting Machines and Voter Verified Paper Audit Trails. The plea alleged that putting the onus on the elector in cases of arbitrary deviant behaviour of machines used in election process, infringes upon a citizen's right to freedom of expression under the Constitution. The bench, which comprised justices Deepak Gupta and Sanjiv Khanna, also issued a notice to the Centre on the plea filed by Sunil Ahya. His plea has sought a direction to the EC to register a complaint of any deviant behaviour of equipment used in the election ...
Activist Varavara Rao's bail plea rejected
A special court here Monday rejected the temporary bail application of activist and poet P Varavara Rao who is currently lodged in a prison here. Rao wanted temporary bail to visit his hometown to perform post-death rituals of his sister-in-law who died on April 22. However, the prosecution, objecting to the temporary bail to Rao, cited a letter to Pune's Joint Commissioner of Police by Hyderabad Superintendent of Police (Special Intelligence Branch) which stated, "Considering seriousness of the crime, there is a possibility that accused may abscond if he is allowed attending the last rites of his relative". "Moreover, there is a possibility of a serious attack on the police party, who will be deputed for an escort, by Naxals," the letter added. The prosecution also informed the court that the letter stated that as per Hindu traditions and customs, there is no established procedure and norms to attend "pedda karma" (10th-day ritual) by the brother-in-law of a deceased who is survived
Delhi HC refuses to restrict media from publishing allegations against CJI
The Delhi High Court Monday refused to entertain a plea seeking to restrain the media from publishing allegations of sexual harassment against Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi by a former Supreme Court employee. A bench headed by Chief Justice Rajendra Menon and Justice Anup Jairam Bhambhani disposed the plea filed by an NGO saying that the top court is seized of the matter and various orders have been passed, including directing initiation of certain inquiry. Once the top court is seized of the matter interference in the matter by this court is not called for, the bench said. "We have considered the contentions advanced and we are of the considered view that when the issue is pending consideration before the Supreme Court in the suo motu writ petition...and the Supreme Court has already expressed itself..., judicial propriety and discipline require that this Court should not interfere in the matter at all, when the matter is sub-judice before the Supreme Court. "In view of the ...
Dog, best companion-turned into-campaigner, detained
A dog with pro-BJP stickers on its body was detained alongwith his master in north Maharashtra's Nandurbar town where polling for the Lok Sabha elections took place Monday. Eknath Motiram Chaudhary (65), resident of Navnathnagar area, was spotted with his dog near Andhare hospital Monday afternoon. The dog's body was found covered with stickers bearing the BJP's symbol and the message "Modi Lao, Desh Bachao" (Vote for Modi and save the country), a local police official said. As the polling was underway, police had received a complaint about the dog and his master who were roaming around the town, he said. A case was registered against Choudhary under section 171 (A) of the IPC for violation of election rules which prohibit campaigning on polling day. The police have asked the municipal corporation to take custody of the dog, the official added.
Teacher's body found floating in river in Sheikhpura
Body of a school teacher was found floating in a river in Bihar's Sheikhpura district, a senior police officer said Monday. Superintendent of Police Daya Shankar said that the deceased has been identified as Gautam Kumar (28), a resident of Chakandra village under Chewara police station of the district. Kumar was the teacher in government middle school at Chakandra village, the SP said, adding that he had left his village for Patna after completing his duty in the school on Saturday. His body was found floating in a river on Monday near Kamalgarh village, which is four km away from the deceaseds home, he said. The SP said police are investigating the matter and a dog squad has been called from Bhagalpur trace the killer. However, villagers alleged that the teacher was murdered after being kidnapped on Saturday last.
Complaint filed against Arvind Kejriwal's wife for allegedly having two voter IDs
Delhi BJP spokesperson Harish Khuranna Monday filed a complaint against Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's wife Sunita Kejriwal before a Delhi court for allegedly having two voter identity cards. While one identity card is from Uttra Pradesh's Ghaziabad parliamentary constituency, the another is from Chandni Chowk, Khuranna alleged in his petition. The complainant alleged, "In complete disregard to the electoral processes and norms and in order to wrongfully give advantage to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), in which her husband is the national convener, the accused is deliberately and intentionally maintaining her name in the electoral roll at two different places." Khuranna has sought directions to the Delhi police to investigate offences under sections 17 and 31 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, besides other sections. Section 17 of the RPA provides that no person is entitled to be enrolled as a voter in more than one constituency and its violation is a criminal offence .
Pakistan 'frees 55 Indian fishermen, 5 civilians'
Pakistan has released 55 Indian fishermen and five civilians as a "goodwill gesture", the media reported on Monday.
Police garner evidence in 6-year-old's murder, rape
The Uttarakhand Police on Monday said they had collected all the vital evidence in six-year-old girl's murder. She was first allegedly killed then raped by a security guard in Haridwar.
CB-CID hands over documents of Pollachi sexual harassment case to CBI
The Crime Branch CID wing of Tamil Nadu police Monday handed over all documents relating to the Pollachi sexual harassment case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The CBI had taken over the investigation into the case from the state police. CB-CID Superintendent of Police Nisha Parthiban, who was heading the probe, had recorded the statement of 40 witnesses, besides subjecting various material to forensic tests. "All related documents have been handed over to the CBI by CB-CID on April 29," a release by the CB-CID said. The case pertains to alleged sexual harassment of a woman at Pollachi in Coimbatore district by a gang of men, who shot a video of the incident and blackmailed her for money. The central agency has registered two FIRs in the matter --one pertaining to sexual harassment of the woman and another related to assault on her brother -- against different sets of the accused. The gang is believed to have sexually harassed and blackmailed a large number of women ..
Ishrat case: Order on Vanzara, Amin discharge pleas likely on May 2
A special CBI court is likely to pass an order on May 2 on the applications of retired police officers D G Vanzara and N K Amin seeking dropping of proceeding against them in the Ishrat Jahan alleged fake encounter case after the Gujarat government declined the sanction to prosecute them. Special CBI judge J K Pandya on Monday said he may pass the order on May 2. The court had earlier concluded hearing in the case on April 16, and had kept Monday as the date to pass its order. The two retired police officers, accused in the Ishrat Jahan alleged encounter case, have sought that proceedings against them in the case be dropped as the state government has decided not to grant sanction to the CBI to prosecute them as required under section 197 of the CrPC. Under section 197 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, the government's sanction is necessary for prosecution of a public servant for an act done as part of official duty. The court had in the past rejected their discharge applications in .
NBWs against Delhi CM, Deputy CM cancelled
A Delhi Court on Monday cancelled non-bailable warrants (NBWs) issued against Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and Swaraj India chief Yogendra Yadav in a criminal defamation complaint filed by advocate Surender Kumar Sharma.
BJP leader files complaint against Kejriwal's wife
In a counter attack to the AAP's allegations about cricketer-turned-politician Gautam Gambhir having two voter ID cards, BJP leader Harish Khurana here on Monday filed a criminal complaint against Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's wife Sunita Kejriwal for possessing two voter ID cards.
Telangana BJP chief on fast over BIE goof-up, held
Hyderabad Police on Monday arrested Telangana Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief K. Laxman, hours after he began an indefinite fast over the goof-up in the state intermediate examinations.
HC asks Delhi government to decide on Khokhar's parole
The Delhi High Court on Monday asked the state government to decide on the the parole plea of Balwan Khokhar, who along with former Congress leader Sajjan Kumar, has been sentenced to life imprisonment in a 1984 anti-Sikh riots case.
Karandlaje writes to Rajnath for fair probe into arrest of journalist Hemant Kumar
Karnataka BJP leader Shobha Karandlaje Monday appealed to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh to ensure the CID conducts a fair probe into the arrest of journalist S A Hemant Kumar for allegedly circulating a "fake letter". Kumar was arrested by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) on Friday for allegedly sharing a fake letter, purportedly written by State Home Minister M B Patil to Congress supremo Sonia Gandhi in 2017 for religion tag to the Lingayat sect, with the website Postcard News. "There is no connection between Hemant Kumar and this fake letter. The JD(S)-Congress government is filing false cases against BJP workers and party sympathisers on fear of losing elections," Karandlaje told reporters. The BJP state general secretary and MP from Udupi-Chikmagalur said she does not have "faith" in the investigation being conducted by Hemant Nimbalkar, Inspector General of Police, CID, economic offence wing and cybercrime. "I have informed Rajnath-ji that the way Nimbalkar is ...
Suspect in Taiwan Valentine's murder jailed in Hong Kong
A Hong Kong man wanted in Taiwan for strangling his pregnant girlfriend in a case used by the city to justify controversial changes to its extradition laws was jailed Monday, but not for murder. Chan Tong-kai, 20, confessed to Hong Kong police that he killed Poon Hiu-wing and dumped her body on the outskirts of Taipei last year. Poon, who was 20 and was five months pregnant, was strangled during a Valentine's holiday to the island by Chan who fled back to Hong Kong which has no extradition agreement with Taiwan. The killing sparked sympathy for Poon's family and was used by the Hong Kong government to advocate changing the financial hub's laws to allow extraditions on a case-by-case basis to Taiwan, Macau and mainland China. But the decision to include the mainland in those proposals sparked huge protests and a major backlash within the city's business and legal communities who fear it will hammer Hong Kong's international appeal and tangle people up in China's opaque courts. With ...
Charges framed against Yasin Bhatkal in German Bakery blast case
Charges were framed against Yasin Bhatkal, alleged co-founder of the terror organisation Indian Mujahideen, in the 2010 German Bakery blast case at a trial court here Monday. Bhatkal alias Mohammed Ahmed Siddibappa was produced before the court amid tight security. Charges were framed against him under various sections of the IPC, Explosive Substances Act and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, said special prosecutor Ujjwala Pawar. Seventeen people were killed and 64 injured in the blast at German Bakery, an eatery in the Koregaon Park area in Pune, in February 2010. Bhatkal was earlier convicted in the 2013 Hyderabad twin blasts case and awarded death penalty by a special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court in July 2018. He was brought here from Delhi's Tihar jail Monday and produced before additional sessions judge K D Vadane. This was the first time since his arrest that Bhatkal has been brought to the Pune court. Prosecutor Pawar said the Delhi Police filed an ...