Page 481 - Law Crime
Brazil police arrest eight Vale employees in dam disaster
SAO PAULO/RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) - Brazilian police arrested eight employees of mining company Vale SA as part of a criminal investigation into the causes of a deadly dam disaster, prosecutors said on Friday.
Elevation as HC judges: SC collegium relaxes minimum income criterion for some categories
The Supreme Court Collegium has relaxed the minimum income criterion of Rs seven lakh with respect to candidates belonging to SC, ST and OBC communities and for those working for the government as standing or panel counsels for their elevation as high court judges. The collegium, comprising Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and justices A K Sikri and S A Bobde, took the decision on February 12 and the order was uploaded on the apex court's website on Friday. It also reiterated the recommendation to elevate advocate P V Kunhikrishnan as a Kerala High Court judge. The collegium, while recommending the elevation of 10 lawyers -- Vipin Chandra Dixit, Ramanand Pandey, Shekhar Kumar Yadav, Ravi Nath Tilhari, Deepak Verma, Gautam Chaudhary, Manish Kumar, Vivek Ratan Agrawal, Samit Gopal and Alok Kumar Yadav -- as Allahabad High Court judges, noted that the net professional income of some of them was less than the prescribed minimum income limit of Rs seven lakh. "The collegium has duly taken note ..
Two lynched in Meghalaya's village, another critically injured
Two persons were lynched by an angry mob in Meghalayas West Garo Hills district and another was critically injured, police said Friday. The incident took place at Chanangpara village after the locals were alerted about the suspicious movement of the trio in their car, they said. A mob of over a 1000 people stopped the car and when they found weapons- a dagger and rods- inside the car trunk, the occupants of the car were fatally attacked leaving two of them dead and one seriously wounded, according to eyewitnesses. While the victims ran to take shelter in the house of the Nokma (village chief), the crowd barged into the house and dragged them out before thrashing them. One Mokibul Akond died on the spot while Mikseng Marak was declared brought dead at the Hospital, district Superintendent of Police M G R Kumar. He said Akond had been charged in a kidnapping case earlier and police are now verifying if the other two also had any criminal antecedents. The police team that ...
SC seeks Centre's reply by Feb 18 on plea against prior approval to probe govt official for graft
The Supreme Court on Friday granted time till February 18 to the Centre to file its response on a plea challenging the constitutional validity of a provision of the anti-graft law which mandates prior sanction for starting a probe against a government official in a corruption case. A bench comprising Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice Sanjiv Khanna took note of the submission of Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre, and allowed him to file the response by Monday. The bench said NGO Centre for Public Interest Litigation' (CPIL) can file its rejoinder within a week after the Centre files its response. Earlier, the apex court had issued notice to the Centre on the PIL, filed through lawyer Prashant Bhushan, challenging the validity of amended section 17A (1) of the Prevention of Corruption Act. The plea said the amended provision makes the prior sanction of appointing authority essential to launch investigation against government servants in corruption cases. It ..
Anti-graft law amendments: Centre to file its response on Feb 18
The Centre on Friday told the Supreme Court that it would file on Monday (February 18) its response to a PIL challenging the amendments to the Prevention of Corruption Act mandating prior permission of the government for prosecuting a government servant for alleged graft.
SC to examine compliance of guidelines, laws on acid attack survivors
The Supreme Court Friday decided to examine various grievances raised in a PIL on acid attacks including compliance with guidelines and laws for compensation, rehabilitation of victims and including male survivors within the purview of the law. The petition came up for hearing before a bench comprising Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice Sanjiv Khanna which said a direction can be passed by giving opportunity to all respondents for their views. The court issued notices to the Centre and all state governments and Union Territories for their responses within four weeks. The petition filed by advocate Anuja Kapur sought directions to the Centre and state governments for compliance to the existing guidelines, policies and various laws for compensation and rehabilitation of acid attack survivors. She was accompanied by a male acid attack survivor Chandrahass Mishra who works for the Uttar Pradesh chapter of Acid Survivors and Women Welfare Foundation. The plea further sought directions .
HC seeks AAP govt's reply on 1984 riots convict's parole plea
The Delhi High Court Friday sought response of the AAP government on a plea by Balwan Khokhar, who along with former Congress leader Sajjan Kumar was sentenced to life imprisonment in a 184 anti-Sikh riots case, seeking parole to file an appeal. Justice Najmi Waziri issued notice to the AAP government on the petition in which the convict said he wanted parole for a month to file a special leave petition in the Supreme Court against the Delhi High Court's December 17, 2018 verdict. The high court on December 17, 2018 had set aside the trial court's verdict which had acquitted Kumar in a case related to killing of five Sikhs in Raj Nagar Part-I area in Palam Colony in south west Delhi on November 1-2, 1984, and burning down of a Gurudwara in Raj Nagar Part-II during that period. The riots had broken out after the assassination of the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on October 31, 1984 by her two Sikh bodyguards. The high court had also upheld the conviction and varying sentences ...
SC asks states to sensitise cops about scrapping of Section 66A of IT Act in 2015
The Supreme Court Friday directed all state governments to sensitise their police personnel about its March 24, 2015 verdict which had scrapped Section 66A of Information Technology Act, so that people are not unnecessarily arrested under the struck down provision. It also asked all the high courts to send the copy of the verdict to all the trial court to avoid people being prosecuted under the scrapped provision which provided for jail term to people who posted offensive content online. A bench of Justices R F Nariman and Sanjay Kishan Kaul disposed of the application filed by NGO PUCL alleging that people were still being prosecuted under the scrapped provision. Attorney General K K Venugopal, appearing for the Centre, said the apex court verdict needs to be sent to all the high courts and to the district courts, so that prosecution does not take place. On January 7, while hearing the application of PUCL, the bench had observed that it is shocking that people are still being ...
One gets life term for murdering two people in Muzaffarnagar
A local court sentenced on Friday a man to life imprisonment in connection with a murder case here. District sessions judge Sanjay Kumar Pachori has also imposed a fine of Rs 1 lakh on Raj Singh after holding him guilty under Section 302 (murder) of the IPC. According to the district government counsel, two people were shot dead by the accused over a money dispute at Nojal village under the Bhawan police station area on November 14, 2000.
Court reserves order for February 19 on Gautam Khaitan's bail plea
A Delhi court on Friday reserved for February 19 its order on lawyer Gautam Khaitan's bail plea, who was sent to judicial custody in a case of laundering of black money.
Appointment of AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan as Delhi Wakf Board chairman challenged in SC
The Supreme Court Friday sought response from the Delhi government on a petition challenging the appointment of controversial Okhla MLA Amanatullah Khan as chairperson of Delhi Wakf Board on the grounds of alleged corruption and irregularities committed by him during his previous tenure. The apex court was hearing an appeal filed against the November 16, 2018 order of the Delhi High Court which had said that any relief under the Delhi Wakf Rules could be sought by approaching the Tribunal. A Bench comprising Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice Sasnjiv Khanna also issued notices to Khan and Delhi Wakf Board to respond to the petition challenging the high court order and the allegations raised in it. The petition filed by Mohd Irshad, a north Delhi resident, alleged that during the previous tenure of Khan from March 12, 2016 to October 7, 2016 as the member and Chairperson of the Delhi Wakf board, there were allegations of massive corruption, irregularities and illegalities against ..
SC to examine plea seeking quashing of appointment of new Chief Secretary in MP
The Supreme Court Friday agreed to examine a plea challenging the appointment of 1982 batch IAS officer S R Mohanty as chief secretary of Madhya Pradesh on the ground that he was allegedly involved in a corruption case pertaining to state industrial development corporation. A bench of Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justices Sanjiv Khanna issued notice to the Centre and sought its reply in six weeks. Senior advocate Maninder Singh, appearing for petitioner Manohar Dalal, said that the present case demonstrates a glaring abuse of power by Mohanty. He also pointed out that abuse of power gets established by the fact that Director General (DG) of Economic Offences Wing (EOW) who was probing the corruption case against him was removed on January 2, immediately after Mohanty took charge as chief secretary on December 31, 2018. Singh said the DG of EOW was appointed only six months before that but was replaced. The petitioner had sought directions for quashing Mohanty's appointment and a ...
Gautam Khaitan's bail plea order reserved by court for Feb 19
A Delhi court on Friday reserved for February 19 its order on the bail plea of lawyer-businessman Gautam Khaitan, who was sent to judicial custody in a black money and money laundering case.The order was reserved Patiala House court Special Court Judge Arvind Kumar.Khaitan, an accused in the AgustaWestland case, was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with the case. Later, Khaitan moved a bail petition after which the court had sought a reply from the ED till February 15.The ED opposed the bail plea of Khaitan and said, "As far as the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA) is concerned, there is a prosecution complaint in this. We have read laundering of money. There is no question of retrospectivity as it remains a continuing AcT."The agency said, "During the investigation in the past 14-20 days, we have come up with three more accounts which have never been mentioned before. He is a master launderer on a pretext of a law firm and a repeat offender."It
Panchayat samiti head arrested for taking bribe
The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) Friday arrested a panchayat samiti head for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 15,000 in Rajasthan's Jhalawar district. Moharam Bai Tanwar, 30, head of Manhorethana panchyat samiti in Jhalawar, had demanded Rs 15,000 as bribe from a member of the samiti for sanctioning Rs 10 lakh for construction of an interlocking road in Bhojpura village, Assistant Superintendent of Police, ACB, Chandrasheel Thakur said. Ratanlal Lodha, the member of the samiti, approached the ACB Thursday to register a complaint against Tanwar, following which a trap was laid Friday morning, he said. Tanwar was caught accepting the money at her home, he said.
Sand mining: NGT raps Baghpat DM for refusing to receive uncertified order, slaps fine of Rs 10k
The National Green Tribunal has rapped the Baghpat District Magistrate for refusing to receive an uncertified copy of its order and slapped a fine of Rs 10,000 on him for "slackness" in stopping sand mining in the area. The DM tendered an apology to the green panel, which said the tribunal's order are uploaded on the internet to immediately bring it to the knowledge of the officer concerned. The compliance of the order, in letter and spirit, is the duty of officer and he should not ignore the information given by the party or advocate, it said. The tribunal said that in case the officer wishes to verify he can immediately contact the government advocate or any other person, for his satisfaction, but, he does not have the liberty of refusing receipt of the order, on the pretext of not being a certified copy. "In contemporary times and days of digital world the very purpose of uploading the order on the internet, is to immediately bring it to the knowledge of the officer/party concern ..
11-year-old Riya Rajkumar found dead in Brampton, father arrested
41-year-old Roopesh Rajkumar was arrested by law enforcement after his 11-year-old daughter, Riya Rajkumar, was found dead in Brampton late Thursday night (local time)."Roopesh Rajkumar has been located and arrested. Riya Rajkumar has been located deceased at a residence in #Brampton. Homicide and Missing Persons Bureau has taken carriage of this investigation," Peel Regional Office tweeted.Roopesh did not reside with his daughter on a full-time basis and was supposed to take Riya home by a stipulated time on Thursday. An alarm was raised when he failed to do so, following which an Amber Alert was sounded.She was later found deceased at a house in Brampton, while Roopesh was absconding. Police later located and arrested the father.Law enforcement officials have since revealed that Roopesh had made comments "indicating he was going to harm himself and his daughter."Investigations are underway into the incident.
Delhi court reserves order for Feb 19 on Gautam Khaitan's bail plea
A Delhi court on Friday fixed February 19 to pronounce order on lawyer Gautam Khaitan's bail plea who was sent to judicial custody in a fresh case of alleged possession and laundering of black money. In an elaborate hearing, Special Judge Arvind Kumar heard both the parties where the Enforcement directorate opposed his bail plea and said that it be given more time to question him. The agency contended that Khaitan, who is also an accused in AgustaWestland VVIP chopper scam, was a serial offender. Khaitan was placed under arrest on January 25 by the agency under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The Income Tax Department had earlier carried out searches against Khaitan in this new case filed under the anti-black money law. Khaitan had been arrested by the ED and the CBI a few years ago in connection with their probe in the Rs 3,600-crore AgustaWestland case.
Two get life term for killing farmer in UP
A local court has sentenced two persons to life imprisonment for killing a man in Uttar Pradesh's Shamli district in the year 2010. The judge also imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 each on Iqbal and Mohsin after finding them guilty under section 302 (murder) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) on Thursday evening. According to the government counsel, Aasif, a farmer, was shot dead by the accused over a land dispute in the district's Kairana town in 2010.
Kejriwal, Azad settle defamation row with DDCA, inform HC
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and cricketer-turned-MP Kirti Azad on Friday informed the Delhi High Court that the defamation case by cricketing body DDCA against them has been settled. DDCA too informed the court that it is withdrawing its Rs 5 crore defamation suit against the two. Both Kejriwal and suspended BJP MP Azad told Justice R S Endlaw that they are withdrawing their allegedly defamatory statements against DDCA. Taking note of the submissions, the court disposed of DDCA's defamation suit. Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convenor Kejriwal's lawyer, Anupam Shrivastava, handed over in court to the DDCA counsel, Pradeep Chhindra, a letter stating that statements regarding functioning and finances of the cricketing body have been withdrawn. No reasons were given in the court as to why both of them were withdrawing their statements against DDCA. The court noted that both defendants (Kejriwal and Azad) have withdrawn their allegedly defamatory statements, for which DDCA had sought ...
Man gets seven years in jail for raping neighbour in Maha's Thane
A 36-year-old man was sentenced to seven years imprisonment by a local court in Maharashtra for raping a married woman in his neighbourhood. District Judge Kavita D Shirbhate convicted Bablu Lakhan Shaha under section 376 (rape), 385 (extortion) and 506(2) (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code and also imposed a fine of Rs 9,000 on him. Additional Public Prosecutor Sanjay More said Shaha had called the woman, who resides in the same building with her husband and two children, to his home on the pretext of some work on December 13, 2013, and raped her in the kitchen. He also threatened her. Shaha then started demanding sexual favours from the woman. He asked her to give him for Rs 2 lakh and threatened to kill her husband, More said.