Page 854 - Law Crime
Justice Ranganathan takes oath as Chief Justice of U'khand High Court
Justice Ramesh Ranganathan was Friday sworn in as the Chief Justice of the Uttarakhand High Court. Uttarakhand Governor Baby Rani Maurya administered the oath of office to Justice Ranganathan at a simple function held at the Raj Bhavan in the presence of Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat, his ministerial colleagues, State Assembly Speaker Premchand Aggarwal and legislators, a statement issued here said. Justice Ranganathan, 60, was the seniormost judge of the Hyderabad High Court before his appointment as the Chief Justice of the Uttarakhand High Court. He takes over from Justice K M Joseph who was elevated as a judge of the Supreme Court in August this year.
SC refuses to entertain pleas against ordinance making instant 'triple talaq' penal offence
The Supreme Court Friday refused to entertain a batch of pleas challenging the constitutional validity of the provisions of the September 19 ordinance which make the practice of instant 'triple talaq' a punishable offence. The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Ordinance was notified on September 19, hours after the Union Cabinet had cleared it. Instant 'triple talaq', also known as 'talaq-e-biddat', is an instant divorce whereby a Muslim man can legally divorce his wife by pronouncing 'talaq' three times in one go. Under the ordinance, instant 'triple talaq' has been declared as illegal and void and will attract a jail term of three years for the husband. Seeking to allay the fears that the proposed law could be misused, the government has also included certain safeguards, such as adding a provision of bail for the accused before the trial. The petitions challenging the constitutional validity of provisions of the ordinance came up for hearing on Friday before the bench .
Class 8 student dies in celebratory gunfire
A Class 8 student who was injured in celebratory gunfire died at a hospital here, police said Friday. Adil, 17, was hit by a bullet on October 27 when someone fired in the air. He was admitted in the hospital where he succumbed to injuries Thursday, said Station House Officer at the Bhopa police station BP Singh. A case of murder has been registered against four people from Belda village in the district, he said.
Hindus 'insulted' by SC's observation that Ram temple is not a priority: RSS
The RSS on Friday said Hindus were feeling "insulted" by the Supreme Court's declaration that the Ayodhya issue is not a priority and insisted that an ordinance would be needed if all options run out. After a three-day RSS conclave here in Maharashtra, its general secretary Bhaiyyaji Joshi said the organisation "will not hesitate to launch an agitation for Ram temple, if needed, but since the matter is in the Supreme Court, there are restrictions." He said the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) was "not putting pressure" on the government as "we respect the law and the Constitution which is why there has been delay." Joshi added that the Ram temple issue was among the various matters discussed when Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Amit Shah met RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat here earlier in the day. "We respect the Supreme Court and urge it to take into consideration sentiments of hindus," Joshi said while addressing a press conference after the National Executive meeting of the RSS ...
Bombay HC rejects plea against CBI relief to Amit Shah
In a relief to the BJP chief, the Bombay High Court on Friday dismissed a petition questioning the CBI's decision of not challenging a lower court order discharging Amit Shah in the Sohrabuddin Sheikh encounter case.
24,000 litres of smuggled liquor seized in UP; one arrested
A man was arrested and nearly 24,000 litres of smuggled liquor seized in Shamli district, police said Friday. The liquor smuggled from Punjab was seized Thursday, Circle Officer Rajesh Kumar Tiwari said. One Balbir Singh was arrested in this connection while another accused is on the run, Tiwari said, adding that the truck carrying smuggled liquor was also seized. The liquor was to be supplied in 10 districts of Uttar Pradesh, police said.
Trial in 2008 Malegaon blast case begins
A special court here Friday commenced trial in the September 2008 Malegaon bomb blast case against Lt Col Prasad Purohit, Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur and five other accused. The prosecuting agency, the National Investigation Agency (NIA), submitted a list of 286 witnesses which include doctors, police officers, forensic experts and panch witnesses. The agency also submitted over 200 documents in support of its case. Judge Vinod Padalkar, presiding over the special NIA court, accepted the witness list and documents and posted the matter for further hearing on November 12. The court had on October 30 framed charges in the case against all the seven accused for terror activities, criminal conspiracy and murder, among others. The accused face trial under sections of the stringent Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) and the Indian Penal Code (IPC). They were charged under sections 16 (committing terrorist act) and 18 (conspiring to commit terrorist act) of the UAPA. Under the IPC, ...
Madras HC quashes IT prosecution of P Chidambaram's kin
Madras High Court on Friday quashed a sanction order issued by Income Tax officials for the prosecution of former Union Minister P Chidambaram's wife, son and daughter-in-law under the Black Money (Undisclosed Foreign Income and Assets) and Imposition of Tax Act, 2015.The bench also quashed the private complaints filed against Chidambaram's kin by the IT department before the Economic Offence Wing (EOW) court in Egmore.The Division Bench comprising Justice S Manikumar and Justice Subramonium Prasad had reserved its order on September 3 on the appeal filed by Chidambaram's wife Nalini, son Karti and daughter-in-law Srinidhi. In their appeal, they had challenged the prosecution initiated by the IT department.The prosecution proceedings were quashed on the grounds that the sanction orders were not issued in accordance with the law.The case pertains to an alleged non-disclosure of overseas assets and bank accounts held by Chidambaram's family members.The prosecution case filed by the ...
Madras HC quashes I-T dept's criminal prosecution against Chidambaram's family
In a relief to embattled Congress leader P Chidambaram, the Madras High Court Friday quashed criminal prosecution against his family members in a black money case, holding that no such offence was made out against them. The issue relates to alleged non-disclosure of overseas assets and bank accounts held by Chidambaram's wife Nalini, his son Karti and daughter-in-law Srinidhi. According to the I-T Department, the three had not disclosed a property they jointly owned in Cambridge in the UK worth Rs 5.37 crore in their returns which amounted to an offence under the Black Money (Undisclosed Foreign Income and Assets) Act and Imposition of Tax Act. When their petitions came up before a division bench of justices S Manikumar and Subramania Prasad, the judges said no case was made out and quashed the criminal prosecution. The family members of the former union minister had filed writ petitions challenging the criminal prosecution. On October 12, the high court had extended its interim order
Hindus 'insulted' by SC's observation that Ram temple is not a
The RSS on Friday said hindus were feeling "insulted" by the Supreme Court's declaration that the Ayodhya issue is not a priority and insisted that an ordinance would be needed if all options run out. After a three-day RSS conclave here in Maharashtra, its general secretary BhaiyyajiJoshisaid the organisation "will not hesitate to launch an agitation for Ram temple, if needed, but since the matter is in the Supreme Court, there are restrictions." He said the RSS was "not putting pressure" on the government as "we respect the law and the Constitution which is why there has been delay." He said the Ram temple issue was among the various matters discussed when BJP President Amit Shah met RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat here earlier in the day. "We respect the Supreme Court and urge it to take into consideration sentiments of hindus," Joshi said while addressing a press conference after the National Executive meeting of the RSS here on the outskirts of Mumbai. "The wait for the ...
Compassionate appointment not a matter of right but of employer discretion, says CAT
The Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) has said compassionate appointments cannot be claimed as a matter of right since granting it would be the discretion of the employer by evaluating applicant's family circumstances. The observation by the tribunal came while dismissing Delhi resident Rohit Choudhary's application for compassionate appointment in the Delhi Development Authority. "Grant of compassionate appointment is the discretion of the employer by using it in a judicious manner while evaluating the circumstances of the applicant's family," said a bench of administrative member Praveen Mahajan. "It is a settled law that appointment on compassionate ground cannot be claimed as a legal right and financial stress has to be computed in relative terms," he said. The tribunal also said Choudhary, who was well qualified and held an engineering diploma, could not claim compassionate appointment as a matter of right. Choudhary's father had died at the age of 51 years leaving behind his
Will initiate 1992-like movement if needed: RSS on Ram Mandir construction
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) general secretary Bhaiyyaji Joshi on Friday asserted that a movement similar to the one initiated in 1992 will be carried out, if necessary.On December 6, 1992 Babri Masjid in Ayodhya was demolished, allegedly by a group of Hindu activists, claiming that the mosque was constructed after demolishing a Ram temple that originally stood there. Since then, several hearings have been held in the Supreme Court to resolve the issue.Addressing the media on Friday after the conclusion of a three-day working committee meeting of the RSS, Joshi expressed disappointment in the Supreme Court's decision to postpone the hearing of the title suit and pressed for the immediate construction of a Ram temple in the land which, they claim, was the the 'janmabhoomi' or birthplace of Lord Ram."We understand there are some obstacles in the creation of the temple. However, Lord Ram is there in every heart and he manifests through temples. We expect that the Supreme Court will
Delhi hotel brawl: Ashish Pandey granted bail
The Patiala House Court on Friday granted bail to Ashish Pandey, son of former Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) Member of Parliament (MP) Rakesh Pandey, in connection with his involvement in a brawl that took place in the premises of a five-star hotel in the national capital recently.The bail comes a day after a charge sheet was filed against Ashish, who was seen brandishing a gun outside the five-star hotel last month.Ashish's counsel had stated that his client took out the gun in the spur of the moment and is entitled to keep a weapon for safety of the people around him and himself. Ashish, too, cited the same argument."Ashish Pandey only brought the weapon from the car because he felt threatened and for the safety of the women around him, and he had enough self-control not to use the weapon while he argued," the counsel added.The counsel had further said that while Pandey is ready to cooperate and deposit the pistol, the hype owing to his father's political stature, has become a cause of .
SC issues notice to Vasundhara Raje, her son in Dholpur land deal
The Supreme Court on Friday issued a notice to Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje and her son on a plea seeking a First Information Report (FIR) against them for allegedly getting compensation of Rs 1.97 crore by selling a piece of government land to the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) for widening a national highway in 2010.A bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Ranjan Gogoi sought a response from Raje, her son and others.As per the petition, Raje was not a public servant at the time of the alleged commission of the offence in 2010. She was the Leader of Opposition in the Rajasthan legislative assembly.The petition also stated that Raje and her son had allegedly illegally claimed ownership of a 567-square meter piece of land near the Dholpur Palace in Dholpur town, and sold it to the NHAI for Rs 1.97 crore that had caused a loss to the state exchequer.A Rajasthan based lawyer, Srijana Shrestha, filed an appeal in the apex court challenging the Delhi High ...
US charges ex-Goldman Sachs bankers in Malaysia graft scandal
US officials have unveiled criminal charges against two former Goldman Sachs bankers over the scandal-plagued Malaysian sovereign wealth fund 1MDB, raising fresh questions about corporate culture at the prestigious investment bank. The Justice Department arrested former Goldman Sachs banker Ng Chong Hwa in Malaysia on Thursday, and unsealed charges against Tim Leissner, another ex-Goldman banker, who has already pleaded guilty and agreed to pay USD 43.7 million in restitution of ill-gotten gains. Both men were charged with conspiracy to commit bribery and conspiracy to commit money laundering. The Justice Department also announced criminal charges against Low Taek Jho, an alleged mastermind and an intermediary to the Malaysian fund. US officials say he remains at large. Goldman Sachs itself was not charged. These are the first US criminal charges in the case which spawned investigations around the world. The 1MDB scandal has had a major impact in Malaysia, with allegations of ...
SC refuses to entertain CBI petition in Bofors case
The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) petition challenging a 2005 High Court verdict in the Bofors case.The petition was dismissed as the appeal is time-barred, the court said.The CBI, which is the prosecuting agency in the case, failed to file an appeal before the apex court within the stipulated 90 days time period after the Delhi High Court's 2005 judgment in which it had discharged Hinduja brothers in the Bofors payoff case.The Supreme Court bench, led by Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi, said that since an appeal against the same court judgment filed by advocate Ajay Aggarwal is pending, the CBI can raise all its grounds and objections to the closure of the Bofors case when Agrawal's appeal is taken up.Commenting on the court's refusal to entertain the appeal filed by the CBI, Supreme Court lawyer and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Ajay Aggarwal, said that the court did not comment on the merits of the case and only pointed out the .
Sohrabuddin case: HC dismisses PIL against CBI's decision not to challenge Amit Shah's discharge
The Bombay High Court Friday dismissed a public interest litigation against the CBI's decision to not challenge a 2014 trial court order discharging BJP chief Amit Shah in the Sohrabuddin Shaikh encounter case. A division bench of justices Ranjit More and Bharati Dangre said it was not inclined to grant reliefs sought in the petition. The petition was filed by a group, Bombay Lawyers Association, questioning the CBI's decision not to challenge the discharge granted to Amit Shah in the case. "We are dismissing the petition. We are not inclined to grant any relief...especially when the petitioner is a body which has no locus in the case," the court said in its judgement. A special CBI court had in 2014 discharged Shah in the case. Sohrabuddin Shaikh and his wife Kausar Bi were killed in an alleged fake encounter by the Gujarat Police in 2005. Shaikh's partner Tulsi Prajapati was killed in another encounter in 2006 by the Gujarat and Rajasthan police. Of the 38 people charged by the CBI .
Radicals call for strike to protest Asia Bibi's acquittal
The leader of the protests against the acquittal of Asia Bibi, a Christian woman, on blasphemy charges urged his followers on Friday to go on strike as negotiations with the Pakistan government to end the demonstrations failed.
U.S. indicts Chinese, Taiwan firms for targeting Micron trade secrets
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Justice Department on Thursday unveiled an indictment against two companies based in China and Taiwan and three individuals, saying they conspired to steal trade secrets from U.S. semiconductor company Micron Technology Inc relating to its research and development of memory storage devices.
Minor abducted, gang-raped by robbers in Odisha
A nine-year-old girl was allegedly gang-raped after being abducted by three men, who also robbed her house in Balisahi area of Odisha's Ganjam district on Wednesday night.The incident took place when the victim and her parents were asleep inside their house. The robbers allegedly broke into the house, stole the valuables and abducted the girl.Narrating the incident, victim's father said, "Three persons barged into our house with an intention of robbery. They looted gold ornaments and cash. Before fleeing the spot, they abducted my daughter."The trio took the minor victim to a nearby farm and allegedly raped her. She was later rescued and hospitalised by her family members. As her health condition was serious, she was shifted to Maharaja Krishna Chandra Gajapati Medical College.Superintendent of Police (SP) Ganjam, BK Rai said, "A case has been registered. Police have started an investigation into the incident. We have launched a manhunt to nab the culprits.