Page 867 - Law Crime
SC upholds life term to RJD leader Shahabuddin in 2004 double murder case
The Supreme Court has upheld the conviction and sentence of former MP and RJD leader Mohammad Shahabuddin and three others in a 2004 double murder case in which two brothers were killed for not paying extortion money. A bench comprising Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and justices S K Kaul and K M Joseph dismissed at the threshold, the four appeals filed by the convicts against the Patna High Court judgement. "We find no ground to interfere. The Special Leave Petitions are dismissed," the bench said adding that the case was of grievous nature in which a person, who had witnessed the killing of his brother, was also shot dead. Satish and Girish Roshan were murdered in August 2004 in Siwan for refusing to pay extortion money. A third brother, Rajiv Roshan, who was an eyewitness to the incident in which Shahabuddin's men allegedly threw acid to kill the two brothers, was shot dead on June 6, 2014. Roshan was killed when he was going to depose against Shahabuddin in the trial court despite ...
HC to pronounce verdict tomorrow in Hasimpura massacre case
The Delhi High Court is slated to pronounce on Wednesday its verdict on pleas challenging a trial court's decision to acquit 16 policemen of charges of murder and other crimes in the 1987 Hashimpura case in which 42 people were killed. The high court had on September 6 reserved its verdict on the appeals filed by Uttar Pradesh state, National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and some private parties including a survivor of the massacre Zulfiqar Nasir. It had also reserved its judgement on BJP leader Subramanian Swamy's plea seeking further probe to ascertain the alleged role of the then Minister of State for Home P Chidambaram in the case. The court had on February 17, 2016, tagged Swamy's plea with the other petitions in the matter. On March 21, 2015 a trial court here had given the benefit of doubt and acquitted 16 former Provincial Armed Constabulary personnel accused of killing 42 people in Meerut, saying lack of evidence has failed to establish their identification. Nineteen people
CBI DySP Bassi moves SC against his transfer to Andaman and Nicobar
CBI Deputy SP AK Bassi, a former probe officer in the alleged corruption case against the agency's Special Director Rakesh Asthana, moved the Supreme Court Tuesday against his transfer. Bassi in his plea said his transfer to Andaman and Nicobar Islands on October 24 is "mala fide and derails a sensitive probe" and added that allegations against Asthana are "grave". A bench of CJI Ranjan Gogoi and justices U U Lalit and K M Joseph said "it will look into urgent listing of the plea" after advocate Sunil Fernandes sought listing of the petition on November 2. In his plea, Bassi claimed the transfer order is "vitiated by mala fide, and interference in the fair and impartial investigation of pending case(s) and intended to penalise and victimise an officer for his honesty and integrity". The plea, filed through advocate Fernandes, said that Bassi is also aggrieved by the actions taken after his transfer, whereby not only the course of the investigation of a highly sensitive case, ...
Law Minister bats for all-India judicial service; says consultations on amid opposition
Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad Tuesday pitched for an all-India service to recruit judges for the lower judiciary but said the concept cannot take shape without consultations as several states and high courts are opposed to the idea. Addressing a seminar here on the subject, he also said the proposed All-India Judicial Services would ensure that lawyers from the "marginalised" communities get due representation in the lower judiciary. He said if such a service comes up, it would help create a pool of talented people who could later become part of the higher judiciary -- the 24 high courts and the Supreme Court. Prasad rejected criticism that people from other states will face problems in holding court proceedings due to language barrier. Proceedings in lower courts are held in regional languages. He said an IAS officer from Kerala learns to speak in Hindi while posted in Uttar Pradesh or Bihar. Similarly, people can learn other languages, he said. But at the same time he said that ..
Ditch saves two DD staffers during Dantewada naxal attack
The two Doordarshan crew members, who survived the volley of bullets during Tuesday's naxal attack in Dantewada district of Chhattisgarh, were saved because of a ditch. At around 11 am, around 100 naxals ambushed a security patrol party near Nilawaya village, around 450 kms from here, the police said. A three-member team of Doordarshan, travelling for election-related news coverage, was caught in the cross-fire. Two policemen and a cameraman of Doordarshan Achyutanand Sahu were killed in the ambush. "We all were on three bikes and he (slain cameraman) was riding the first one. We suddenly heard firing and saw him collapsing on bike," Mor Mukt Sharma, Light Assistant of DD News, said while recounting the horrific scene. "We immediately realised that it was a naxal attack and hid behind a tree. As bullets kept flying, we saw a ditch nearby and crawled into it. That is how we escaped death," he added.
Ayodhya: Haryana minister mocks SC, Adityanath says justice delayed is justice denied
A day after the Supreme Court deferred hearing the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid land dispute, a Haryana minister mocked the apex court's decision and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said justice delayed can be justice denied. "The matter pertaining to Shri Ram Janmabhoomi is before the Supreme Court. Justice delivered timely is considered to be the best justice. Delay in justice sometimes amounts to injustice," Adityanath tweeted Tuesday in Hindi. But at the same time, the tweet appealed to the seers demanding early construction of a Ram temple at the disputed site in Ayodhya to exercise patience. The UP chief minister stopped short of demanding that the Centre bring legislation to allow the construction of the Ram temple, while suggesting that all alternatives to resolve the issue should be explored. But the demand for a law was reiterated Tuesday by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP). It's up to the Centre whether they bring an ordinance or a bill. We want a law which ...
Militant hideout busted in Shopian
A militant hideout was Tuesday busted in Shopian district of Jammu and Kashmir and incriminating materials were recovered from there, police said. "On a credible input on Tuesday, police busted a hideout of terrorists in Shopian district," a police spokesperson said. He said incriminating materials were recovered from the hideout and were seized. Police has registered a case under relevant sections of law and investigating in the matter is underway, the spokesperson said, without providing further details.
Pickup van loaded with fire crackers catches fire in Sahabganj
A pickup van loaded with firecrackers caught fire at Sahabganj here on Tuesday afternoon, police said. No causality was reported. Local residents tried to control the fire, but the vehicle along with the firecrackers burned before fire tenders could reach the spot. Superintendent of Police (city) Vinay Kumar Singh, said, "A stationary pickup van loaded with firecrackers at Sahabganj Market caught fire at around 12.30 pm. No causality was reported. We are investigating the case and no culprit will be spared.
Collegium decides to recommend names of 4 HC chief justices for elevation as SC judges
The Supreme Court on Tuesday decided to recommended to the Centre the names of four Chief Justices of high courts for elevation as judges of the apex court, sources said. They said the collegium, headed by Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi and comprising four-senior most judges of the top court, met to deliberate upon the names of Justices Hemant Gupta, Ajay Rastogi, M R Shah and R Subhash Reddy for their elevation as apex court judges. The collegium has decided to recommend these four names to the Centre for their elevation as judges of the apex court, the sources said. Justice Gupta is currently the Chief Justice of the Madhya Pradesh High Court, while Justice Rastogi is presently the Chief Justice of Tripura High Court. Similarly, Justice Shah is the incumbent Chief Justice of the Patna High Court while Justice Reddy is the Chief Justice of Gujarat High Court. If the recommendation of the Collegium is cleared by the government, the strength of the Supreme Court would rise to ...
Top IISc scientist retired compulsorily over sexual harassment
A senior professor at the prestigious Indian Institute of Science here has beenretired compulsorily over allegations of sexually harassing aPhD student, IISc said Tuesday. The internal complaints committee of the IISc, which investigated the matter, found truth in the complaint, the institute said without identifying the professor. "A complaint was received from a PhD student about sexual harassment by a senior professor. The complaint was enquired into by the internal complaints committee of the institute," IISc said in a statement. The governing council being the appointing authority for faculty deliberated on the inquiry report and resolved to compulsorily retire the faculty with immediate effect, it said. "The orders were served on the faculty on October 22, 2018 and he stands compulsorily retired," it said. The IISc authorities did not say whether he would be entitled to retirement benefits.
Odisha: Cong MLA Krushna Chandra Sagaria resigns
Congress Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) Krushna Chandra Sagaria resigned from the Odisha State Assembly on Tuesday. Announcing his decision to step down, Sagaria said he took the step following the party's failure to bring justice to a 14-year-old gang-rape victim in his constituency of Koraput.On October 10 last year, the 14-year-old girl, who is a native of Musaguda village, was allegedly raped by four men while she was returning home from a market in Kunduli area.In January this year, the minor girl committed suicide as no action was taken.
ED Court rejects Mallya's plea against declaration as 'Fugitive Economic Offender'
An Enforcement Directorate (ED) Court on Tuesday rejected Vijay Mallya's counsel Amit Desai's application to stay the ED's decision to declare the liquor baron as a 'Fugitive Economic Offender.'The next date of hearing in the case is November 22.Last week, the court had heard detailed arguments from Desai, and DP Singh, representing the ED. Desai had approached the court to stay the ongoing proceedings by ED against Mallya as per the Fugitive Economic Offender Act.Singh had, however, called the petition an attempt to ensure that Mallya doesn't have to face any court in India.Last year, the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court had issued non-bailable warrants against Mallya in the two cases filed by the ED.Fugitive Economic Offender Act has provisions for special courts under the PMLA to declare a person as an economic offender.Mallya has allegedly defrauded banks and defaulted loans worth around Rs 9000 crore.
Scolded for coming home late, girl commits suicide
A 17-year-old girl committed suicide by drinking pesticide in Haryana's Sonipat district after she was allegedly scolded by her mother for reaching home late, police said on Tuesday. The girl left her residence in Kharkhoda town on Monday in the absence of her father, who is a factory worker, her mother and her two brothers, SHO of Kharkhoda police station Inspector Rajiv said. "She returned home late on Monday. She was questioned and scolded by her mother after she returned. The girl later drank some pesticide and died late in the night," the SHO said quoting the statement given to the police by the teen's family. Suspecting foul play, a local called up Jarot police chowki on Tuesday morning, Rajiv said. "A police team reached the cremation ground. The last rites were about to start. We made enquiries and found during preliminary investigation that the girl drank pesticide and died as a result of that," he said. "However, we have sent the viscera for examination to Forensic Science ..
Injured TMC leader in Titagarh shootout dies
The Trinamool Congress leader, who was shot at by unidentified miscreants in Titagrah area in the northern fringes of the city, died Tuesday at a private hospital here. Four persons - identified as Bhola Prasad, Kala Munna, Sanjay Das and Seikh Samir - were arrested from different parts of Barrackpore Police Commissionerate area during series of raids since last night in connection with the fatal attack on TMC leader Satish Mishra on Monday afternoon, a senior police official of the Commissionerate said. Mishra was shot at from close range by bike-borne assailants before a Kali Puja pandal off B T Road at Brahmastan area in Titagarh. Mishra, who suffered bullet injuries on chest, was operated upon on admission but the bullet could not be retrieved from his body and he died in the early hours of Tuesday, the official said. He said police was scanning the CCTV footage of the area. The news of his death triggered tension in the area as a strong police force and RAF kept ...
Minor girl die, five infants taken ill after consuming
A minor girl died while five other infants were taken seriously ill after they consumed a poisonous liquid substance considering it as vitamin in Bihar's Rohtas district on late Monday evening, police said on Tuesday. Dinara police station SHO Rajendra Singh said that the deceased baby girl has been identified as Durgawati Kumari (05) while five children, who were taken seriously ill, are being treated at Sasaram sadar hospital. All the five children are now out of danger. The incident occurred on Monday evening at Chitanw village under Dinara police station area when the children, who were playing in the village, picked up a bottle containing insecticide from heap of garbage and consumed it considering it to be vitamin and fell ill seriously, the SHO said. All the six children were rushed to a private clinic at Kochas where Durgawati Kumari was declared dead. On the directives of District Magistrate Pankaj Dikshit, all the five children were later admitted to sadar ...
SC collegium recommends elevation of four judges to top court
The Supreme court collegium is understood to have recommended the elevation of the Chief Justices of Patna, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Tripura high courts as judges of the Supreme Court.
Maldives SC stays arrest order against former President Nasheed
The Maldives Supreme Court on Tuesday stayed an arrest order against former President Mohamed Nasheed, paving the way for the return of the self-exiled politician to the country later this week.
Govt should enact law to hand disputed land to Ram Janambhumi Yajna Samiti: VHP
The Centre should enact a law to take over the disputed land in Ayodhaya and hand it over to Shriram Janambhumi Mukti Yajna Samiti for construction of the Ram temple, the VHP's international working president Alok Kumar said Tuesday. The VHP leader said the Hindus across the country wanted a grand temple to be constructed on the Ram Janambhoomi. His remarks came a day after the Supreme Court declined an urgent hearing of the Ayodhya land dispute case and said an "appropriate bench" would decide in January when to hear the politically sensitive case "It's up to the Centre whether they bring an ordinance or a bill, we want a law which ensures that rights of the land are transferred to Shriram Janambhumi Mukti Yajna Samiti for construction of the Ram temple," Kumar told PTI. He said if the government wanted to take over the land itself and set up a trust for construction of the temple, the VHP and its allied organisation were ready to discuss that aspect as well. "The VHP and seers want .
Rafale case: Lawyer seeks hearing on PIL in SC after assembly polls in five states
A lawyer, the first to drag the NDA government to the Supreme Court over the Rafale fighter jet deal, has filed an interim plea seeking hearing on his PIL after assembly polls in five states in November to counter the allegation that his was a politically-motivated petition. The poll panel has recently announced the dates for assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Mizoram and Telangana. They would conclude by mid-December. A bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi is likely to hear tomorrow the two PILs, filed by lawyers Manohar Lal Sharma and Vineet Dhanda, on India's deal with France to buy the fighter jets. The bench, also comprising Justices S K Kaul and K M Joseph, on October 10 had directed the Centre to provide in a sealed cover the "details of the steps" taken in the decision making process, sans pricing and technical information, which led to the deal. Sharma, who filed an interim plea in his pending PIL, has referred to certain media reports to ...
After SC prod, CVC starts examining CBI officials
The Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) Tuesday examined some CBI officials probing crucial cases which figured in Special Director Rakesh Asthana's complaint of corruption against the probe agency's chief Alok Verma, officials said. Officials from the rank of inspector up to superintendent of police of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) were called and their versions were recorded before a senior official of the CVC, they said. The officials who recorded their statements Tuesday include those who handled the Moin Qureshi bribery case, the IRCTC scam, involving former railway minister Lalu Yadav, the cattle smuggling case in which a senior BSF officer was caught with wands of cash in Kerala, according to the officials. These officials were called from the CBI headquarters here and some from zonal offices, including Kochi, they said requesting anonymity. The officials were asked to give details of the cases in whose probe, the charges of alleged interference by Verma have come ...