DailyWorld News - The First International Newspaper From India https://dailyworld.in/ Sat, 27 Jun 2026 08:51:16 +0530 en https://dailyworld.in/law/ram-temple-donation-row-8-arrested-include-cash-counting-staff-ex-bank-official-689243.html Ayodhya June 26 All eight people named in the FIR over alleged embezzlement of donations and offerings at the Ram temple in Ayodhya have been arrested The arrests followed registration of an FIR over charges of pilferage at the grand temple The case stemmed from a formal complaint filed by Shri Krishna Mohan a member of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi TrustAll the eight accused namely Avinash Shukla Anukalp Mishra Lavkush Mishra Manish Kumar Yadav Karunesh Pandey Ramashankar Mishra Subhash Srivastava and Ramshankar Yadav alias Tinnu were associated with the counting of cash and valuables received as donations They were allegedly caught embezzling valuables on cameraHere are details of the 8 accused held over the donation rowRam Shankar YadavRam Shankar Yadav alias Tinnu Yadav is the key accused in alleged theft at the Ram Temple His alleged links with Ram Temple Kshetra Trust general secretary Champat Rai shot him into the limelight and added fuel to the controversyHe is said to be a former driver of Champat Rai Startling charges were made against him with many claiming that he diverted temple funds to the tune of Rs 50 crore for building a lavish homeSources claimed that he enjoyed excess freedom in handling cash and chadhava owing to his proximity with members of the Trust He is believed to have kept the keys of donation boxes with him and acting arbitrarily thus allowing siphoning of funds meant for Lord Ram He repeatedly denied any role in cash counting but his close association with Champat Rai also brought the latter under the scanner with many gunning for himRama Shankar MishraRama Shankar Mishra is also among those who were engaged in counting of donations He has been charged with hatching a conspiracy to siphon off temple funds He allegedly got his son and soninlaw involved in the cash counting workLavkush MishraLavkush Mishra is the soninlaw of Rama Shankar Mishra According to reports a stash of cash was recovered from his house when the investigation into alleged misappropriation began some days ago He is believed to be the key link in embezzling the temple offerings and disposing the stolen cash offerings to safe locationAnukalp MishraAnukalp Mishra is the son of Rama Shankar Mishra one of the accused He along with his father and brotherinlaw Lavkush Mishra conspired to loot the valuables He is also said to be connected with Trustee Anil MishraAvinash ShuklaAvinash Shukla is one of the attendants of Ayodhyaâs Ram Temple whose association with the accused has been established According to NDTV report Rs 5 lakh was recovered from his account He is believed to be a key link in siphoning off fundsManish YadavManish Yadav nephew of Tinnu Yadav came under police lens after stolen money was recovered from his house as well He was also involved in the donation counting processSubhash Shrivastava is a former bank employee He was the supervisor of cashcounting staff at the temple and allegedly acted as a key pivot in embezzling the donationsKarunesh Pandey also behind bars is said to have manipulated the receipts of donations to coverup the wrongdoingsNotably the State Bank of India was authorised to count cash offerings and valuables at the temple IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/ram-temple-donation-row-8-arrested-include-cash-counting-staff-ex-bank-official-689243.html Fri, 26 Jun 2026 16:37:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/sc-declines-urgent-listing-of-pil-on-ram-temple-donation-row-689110.html New Delhi June 25 IANS The Supreme Court on Thursday declined an urgent hearing on a Public Interest Litigation PIL seeking a courtmonitored probe and forensic audit into the handling of donations and offerings received by the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust while assuring the petitioner that the matter would be listed by the apex court registrynbspnbspAppearing as petitionerinperson advocate Narendra Kumar Goswami submitted before a Bench of Justices BV Nagarathna and Joymalya Bagchi that his immediate prayer was confined to securing an urgent listing to ensure the preservation of crucial evidenceThe petitioner sought appropriate directions for preservation and production of CCTV footage and DVR recordings as well as digital payment logs and transaction records relating to donations and offerings at the Ram Janmabhoomi temple in AyodhyaResponding to the request the Justice Nagarathnaled Bench said The registry will list it You will get a dateThe PIL seeks a courtmonitored investigation and forensic audit into the handling of donations and offerings received by the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust citing reports of alleged financial irregularities linked to the Ram Temple in AyodhyaThe petition has sought directions for the preservation of records and evidence relating to donations made at the Ram Janmabhoomi temple and greater transparency in the administration of temple offeringsAccording to the plea offerings made to a deity in a public temple constitute sacred trust property vesting in the deity as a juristic person and persons handling such offerings are fiduciaries bound by duties of transparency accountability and preservationBesides seeking preservation of all evidence records CCTV footage and digital logs relating to donations and offerings at the temple the petition has also prayed for a sealed status report from an ongoing Special Investigation Team SIT probe and an independent forensic audit of all donations offerings and valuable items received by the Trust since its inceptionThe PIL has further urged the apex court to direct the formulation of minimum constitutional safeguards for the transparent handling of public temple donations and offerings in temples of national importanceReferring to recent developments the plea said the cause of action arose after public reports and the constitution of a threemember SIT by the Uttar Pradesh government over allegations of irregularities misappropriation and mishandling of donations and offerings at the Ram Janmabhoomi templeClarifying the scope of the petition the petitioner said it was confined to the secular administration of donations and did not seek any interference in religious rituals customs or denominational mattersMeanwhile a threemember SIT headed by Lucknow Divisional Commissioner Vijay Vishwas Pant recently submitted its preliminary findings to the state government and a detailed investigation into the alleged embezzlement of temple funds remains underwayIANS https://dailyworld.in/law/sc-declines-urgent-listing-of-pil-on-ram-temple-donation-row-689110.html Thu, 25 Jun 2026 13:50:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/cbi-files-12th-charge-sheet-against-builder-firm-director-in-homebuyers-fraud-case-689125.html New Delhi June 25 The Central Bureau of Investigation CBI has filed its 12th charge sheet in a series of cases related to alleged largescale cheating of homebuyers naming Ms Decent Buildwell Pvt Ltd and its director in connection with a housing project in Greater Noida an official statement said on Thursday According to the CBI the investigation has revealed that the accused company and its director acting in furtherance of a criminal conspiracy allegedly lured unsuspecting homebuyers and investors through false assurances misleading claims and deceptive promises The CBI has alleged that the accused dishonestly collected funds from buyers while failing to deliver on commitments resulting in wrongful loss to the victims and corresponding gains for the accusedThe CBI said it has gathered substantial evidence during the course of the probe Based on the findings the charge sheet has been filed before a competent court under relevant provisions of the Indian Penal Code including sections dealing with criminal conspiracy cheating and criminal breach of trustThe agency is currently probing 37 similar cases registered following directions of the Supreme Court These cases involve multiple builder firms and unidentified officials at financial institutions across the country and pertain to allegations of cheating diversion of funds and financial irregularities affecting homebuyersEarlier the CBI had filed 11 charge sheets against several real estate companies including Rudra Buildwell Constructions Pvt Ltd Dream Procon Pvt Ltd Jaypee Infratech Ltd AVJ Developers India Pvt Ltd CHD Developers Pvt Ltd Sequel Buildcon Pvt Ltd Logix City Developers Pvt Ltd Manju J Homes India Ltd Shubhkamna Buildtech Pvt Ltd and Ninex Developers Ltd along with their directors and certain bank officialsThe agency reiterated its commitment to ensuring accountability in economic offences particularly those impacting homebuyers and the general public IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/cbi-files-12th-charge-sheet-against-builder-firm-director-in-homebuyers-fraud-case-689125.html Thu, 25 Jun 2026 14:09:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/calcutta-hc-rejects-abhishek-banerjees-petition-to-fast-track-hearing-on-foreign-travel-plea-689045.html Kolkata June 24 IANS A singlejudge bench of the Calcutta High Court on Wednesday turned down a plea by the Trinamool Congress general secretary and the partys Lok Sabha member Abhishek Banerjee for a fasttrack hearing on his petition seeking the courts permission to travel abroad for ophthalmic treatmentnbspOn Tuesday Banerjee the nephew of former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee moved a petition at the Calcutta High Courts singlejudge bench of Justice Saugata Bhattacharya seeking permission to travel abroad for ophthalmic treatmentAlong with the petition seeking the courts permission to travel abroad a plea was also moved for a fasttrack hearingnbspHowever on Wednesday Justice Bhattacharyas bench clearly stated that there was no reason to grant a fasttrack hearing and also observed that the matter will come up for hearing in the normal coursenbspIn the recent past following an order of another singlejudge bench of the Calcutta High Court the Criminal Investigation Department of the West Bengal Police questioned Abhishek Banerjee twice in an ongoing probe into the MLA signature mismatch case The case relates to the signatures of some Trinamool Congress legislators on a crucial resolution pertaining to appointments for some slots in the West Bengal Assembly which are reserved for the opposition benchThen the singlejudge bench of Justice Kaushik Chanda also granted Abhishek Banerjee interim protection from coercive police action including arrest but under certain conditions one of them was a bar on his overseas travel without prior court permissionnbspSo amid that restriction Banerjee on Tuesday approached the bench of Justice Bhattacharya with a petition seeking permission for foreign travel for treatment purposes as well as to fasttrack hearing in the matterNow although the main petition seeking permission for foreign travel has been admitted the plea for fasttrack hearing has been rejectednbspIn October 2016 Abhishek Banerjee was involved in an accident on his way back to Kolkata from a party programme in Murshidabad district He suffered serious injuries to his eye in that accident He first visited several hospitals in the country and later sought treatment abroadIANS https://dailyworld.in/law/calcutta-hc-rejects-abhishek-banerjees-petition-to-fast-track-hearing-on-foreign-travel-plea-689045.html Wed, 24 Jun 2026 14:06:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/ews-reservation-does-not-guarantee-fee-concession-in-private-colleges-sc-689048.html New Delhi June 24 IANS The Supreme Court on Wednesday dismissed a plea challenging the Economic Weaker Sections EWS criteria in the context of admissions to private medical colleges refusing to accept the contention that the annual income ceiling of Rs 8 lakh for EWS candidates becomes meaningless when private medical colleges charge tuition fees running into lakhs of rupeesnbspA Bench of Justices BV Nagarathna and Joymalya Bagchi declined to interfere with a Rajasthan High Court judgment that had rejected the challenge mounted by Rajasthan domicile candidate Harshvardhan Singh who had argued that the fee structure of private medical colleges effectively rendered EWS reservation illusory for economically weaker studentsDuring the hearing the Justice Nagarathnaled Bench orally observed that selffinancing private institutions could not be compelled to charge fees at par with government medical colleges merely because seats are reserved for EWS candidatesThe apex court highlighted the distinction between government and private educational institutions remarking that government colleges receive financial support from the public exchequer while private colleges operate on a selffinancing model These are selffinancing institutes For government ones they get grants from the State There is a vital difference the Justice Nagarathnaled Bench saidIt further said that while capitation fees are prohibited that does not mean private colleges cannot charge regular tuition fees fixed under the applicable regulatory frameworkWhen the petitioner argued that EWS candidates from families earning less than Rs 8 lakh annually could not realistically afford annual tuition fees ranging between Rs 18 lakh and Rs 25 lakh in private medical colleges the top court suggested that financial assistance mechanisms were available If you are unable to pay get a scholarship the Justice Nagarathnaled Bench saidThe special leave petition SLP arose from a Rajasthan High Court judgment delivered in May this yearThe petitioner an EWS candidate who appeared in NEETUG 2025 had contended that private medical colleges in Rajasthan were charging tuition fees between Rs 1890 lakh and Rs 25 lakh per annum despite the EWS income ceiling being fixed at Rs 8 lakh annuallyHe had argued that charging EWS candidates the same fees as general category candidates defeated the purpose of the 10 per cent reservation introduced through the Constitution 103rd Amendment Act 2019 and sought directions for affordable fee structures for EWS studentsRejecting the plea in May this year a Division Bench of Justices Arun Monga and Sandeep Shah of the Rajasthan High Court had held that EWS reservation operates only at the stage of admission and does not in the absence of any statutory provision create a right to concessional fees in private medical collegesThe High Court had observed that the fee structure of private medical colleges in Rajasthan had been fixed by the State Fee Regulatory Committee in accordance with the principles laid down by the Supreme Court in the Islamic Academy of Education v State of Karnataka judgment and that the underlying fee fixation order itself had never been challenged by the petitionerIt further ruled that no statutory provision or binding policy in Rajasthan entitled EWS students to fee relaxation and that a National Medical Commission office memorandum relied upon by the petitioner was merely recommendatory and had not been adopted by the state governmentThe Rajasthan High Court also found that all available EWS seats in the concerned college had already been exhausted during earlier rounds of counselling and that subsequent allotments were made in accordance with the applicable counselling regulationsIANS https://dailyworld.in/law/ews-reservation-does-not-guarantee-fee-concession-in-private-colleges-sc-689048.html Wed, 24 Jun 2026 14:48:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/sc-stays-release-of-bowbazar-blast-convict-rashid-khan-688955.html New Delhi June 23 IANS The Supreme Court on Tuesday stayed the operation of a Delhi High Court judgment granting remission and directing the release of Md Rashid Khan a life convict in the 1993 Bowbazar bomb blast case in which 70 people were killednbspA Bench of Justices Prashant Kumar Mishra and Sanjeev Sachdeva passed the interim order after hearing Additional Solicitor General ASG SV Raju who urged the apex court to stay the Delhi High Courts judgmentDuring the hearing ASG Raju submitted that the 1993 Bowbazar blast was a grave terrorist incident in which around 70 people lost their lives more than 100 were injured and two buildings collapsed due to the explosion caused by bombsnbspTaking note of the submissions the Justice Mishraled Bench issued notice on the Special Leave Petition SLP filed by the State of West Bengal and ordered In the meantime the impugned order shall remain stayedThe West Bengal government had earlier approached the Supreme Court seeking urgent intervention against the Delhi High Courts verdict granting remission to Rashid Khan who was convicted under provisions of the Indian Penal Code the Explosive Substances Act and the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities Prevention Act TADA in connection with the Bowbazar blast casenbspThe matter was mentioned before Chief Justice of India CJI Surya Kant last week when counsel for the state government sought an urgent hearingnbspThe CJI who is the Master of the Roster had then assured that the plea would be considered for early listingnbspIn its June 5 judgment the Delhi High Court had held that Khan who has spent more than 33 years in prison was entitled to premature release based on the reformative theory of punishment and his conduct during incarcerationnbspAllowing Khans writ petition a singlejudge Bench of Justice Neena Bansal Krishna observed that keeping him in prison after over three decades of incarceration may not be fruitful in any manner and said that his prison record and reports clearly indicate a reformed person entitled to a reformative approachThe judgment recorded that Khans conduct in jail was rated as very very good that he had returned to custody on time after parole on multiple occasions and that there was a very low likelihood of the recurrence of offence considering his age and medical conditionnbspReferring to the reformative approach adopted in Indian criminal jurisprudence the Delhi High Court said If the gravity of the offence was an important criterion for considering the remission policy then it would have been so stated as a ground in the scheme of remissionIt also took note of the fact that coconvict Pannalal Jaysoara had earlier been granted remission and observed that while parity cannot be claimed as a matter of right the gravity of the offence alone could not be used to deny remission if other criteria were satisfiednbspKhan was convicted in the 1993 Bowbazar blast case and has remained in custody since March 1993The State Sentence Review Board had initially recommended his premature release in 2015 but the proposal was later revisited amid legal questions concerning remission powers in cases involving TADA convictsnbspThe West Bengal government has consistently opposed his release contending that Khan was the mastermind of the blast that the offence had a profound societal impact and that police authorities had raised objections to his premature releaseIANS https://dailyworld.in/law/sc-stays-release-of-bowbazar-blast-convict-rashid-khan-688955.html Tue, 23 Jun 2026 14:17:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/zubeen-garg-death-case-sc-asks-assam-govt-to-reply-to-shyamkanu-mahantas-bail-plea-688985.html New Delhi June 23 IANS The Supreme Court on Tuesday issued notice to the Assam government on a bail plea filed by Shyamkanu Mahanta one of the accused in the highprofile case relating to the death of singer Zubeen Garg in Singapore last yearnbspA Bench of Justices BV Nagarathna and Joymalya Bagchi passed the order while hearing a special leave petition SLP filed by Mahanta challenging the Gauhati High Courts refusal to grant him bail in the caseThe apex court sought a response from the Assam government and according to the computerised case status available on the official website the matter is likely to be listed on August 10Last month the Gauhati High Court rejected Mahantas bail plea observing that the allegations against him were serious and that the investigation had collected material indicating his active involvement in the alleged conspiracyRejecting the bail application a single judge Bench of Justice Mitali Thakuria said that despite being aware of the health condition of the deceased singer there were allegedly no proper safety arrangements or medical facilities provided for himPrima facie it is seen that there was a conspiracy of the petitioner along with other coaccused persons the Gauhati High Court had observed adding that the materials collected during the investigation indicated that the yacht party was organised with Mahantas consultation and that he had played an active part in the said conspiracyThe order further recorded that the prosecution case suggested that the singer was allegedly supplied alcohol throughout the night and taken for the yacht trip without medical assistance despite restrictions on alcohol consumption and exposure to waterrelated activities because of his medical conditionIt also expressed concern over the possibility of Mahanta absconding if released on bail stating that he had travelled to Malaysia after the incident and was later arrested at the Delhi airport after lookout notices were issuedIt cannot be outrightly rejected that there is a flight risk of the petitioner if he is released on bail the Gauhati High Court saidReferring to the large number of witnesses cited by the prosecution Justice Thakuria also observed that the possibility of witness tampering could not be ruled out at the present stageThe Gauhati High Court held that the period of detention could not be treated as prolonged incarceration and that a designated special court had already been constituted to conduct the trial on a daytoday basisMahanta known as the organiser of the popular Northeast festival has been lodged in jail for the past several months after being named as one of the accused in the case linked to the death investigation concerning Zubeen GargThe case pertains to the death of Zubeen Garg who died on September 19 last year while swimming near Lazarus Island in Singapore a day before he was scheduled to perform at an event organised under the Northeast International Festival NEIF bannerFollowing the incident a Special Investigation Team SIT constituted by the Assam Polices CID conducted an extensive probe and filed a chargesheet in DecemberThe chargesheet named seven accused people including Mahanta Four of them have been booked on charges of murderEarlier Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had described the case as a plain and simple murder during a discussion in the state AssemblyMeanwhile a parallel probe conducted by the Singapore Police concluded that there was no evidence of foul play in Gargs deathHowever Assam authorities have maintained that the findings of the foreign investigation will not affect the ongoing criminal proceedings and trial in the stateIANS https://dailyworld.in/law/zubeen-garg-death-case-sc-asks-assam-govt-to-reply-to-shyamkanu-mahantas-bail-plea-688985.html Tue, 23 Jun 2026 16:08:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/yoga-offers-path-to-wellness-amid-demanding-work-schedules-cji-surya-kant-688792.html New Delhi June 21 IANS Chief Justice of India CJI Surya Kant on Sunday said yoga offers a timeless framework to achieve harmony between the mind body and spirit and can play a crucial role in helping individuals cope with stress and demanding professional responsibilitiesnbspAddressing participants at the celebration of the 12th International Day of Yoga held at the Administrative Building Complex of the Supreme Court the CJI described yoga as an intrinsic part of Indias civilisational heritage and emphasised its relevance in modern workplacesnbspWe are truly celebrating an intrinsic piece of Indian heritage For centuries our civilisational wisdom has emphasised that true wellness is never just about physical fitness It is about a harmonious alignment between the mind the body and the spirit Yoga is the practical vehicle for that philosophy offering a timeless framework to find stillness in an otherwise chaotic world he saidnbspnbspHighlighting the demanding nature of work within the judiciary CJI Surya Kant said the pressures associated with supporting the administration of justice often affect both mental clarity and physical vitalitynbspIn our daily lives within the registry the demands are relentless We deal with high volumes of work tight deadlines and the constant pressure that comes with supporting the administration of justice This environment inevitably takes a toll on our mental clarity and physical vitality he saidnbspYoga can serve as an effective tool for maintaining physical and mental wellbeing particularly in highpressure professional settings the CJI addednbspnbspIt is a common misconception that yoga requires perfect flexibility or hours of free time I am myself still a learner when it comes to yoga yet I can say with certainty that even a few minutes of conscious breathing or basic stretching can dramatically alter how you handle stress he saidnbspUrging participants to look beyond the annual observance CJI Surya Kant said the real benefits of yoga stem from consistency rather than occasional practicenbspInternational Yoga Day is an excellent opportunity to spark a transition a moment to step onto the mat and commit to making this a regular habit True benefits do not come from a onceayear exercise they come from consistency he saidnbspThe CJI encouraged employees to incorporate yoga into their daily routines through practices such as meditation stretching and mindful breathingnbspI encourage each of you to take the experiences from todays session back to your desks and into your homes Let us make health and mindfulness a priority not just today but every day he saidnbspThanking the apex court registry team for organising the programme CJI Kant extended his greetings on International Yoga Day to all participants This year marks the 12th International Day of Yoga with the theme Yoga for Healthy Ageing which highlights the importance of yoga across all age groups According to the United Nations yoga can support healthy ageing by improving balance flexibility strength and mobility while also promoting mental wellbeing and stress management through a combination of movement stretching breathing exercises and mindfulnessnbspIANSnbsp https://dailyworld.in/law/yoga-offers-path-to-wellness-amid-demanding-work-schedules-cji-surya-kant-688792.html Sun, 21 Jun 2026 16:22:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/delhi-hc-to-resume-hearing-on-telegrams-plea-against-temporary-ban-ahead-of-neet-retest-677670.html New Delhi June 18 IANS The Delhi High Court is slated to resume hearing on Thursday afternoon a plea filed by messaging platform Telegram challenging the Centres decision to temporarily suspend its services across India ahead of the NEET UG 2026 reexamination scheduled for June 21nbspnbspAs per the cause list published by the Delhi High Court the matter Telegram FZ LLC ampamp Anr vs Union of India ampamp Ors has been listed at 230 pm before the vacation bench of Justice Tejas KariaThe writ petition questions the restrictions imposed pursuant to directions issued by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology MeitY under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act 2000 following recommendations made by the National Testing Agency NTAOn Wednesday the Delhi High Court had sought the Centres response on Telegrams plea and granted liberty to the respondent authorities to place their reply and relevant documents on recordThe matter was taken up after Telegram sought an urgent hearing before the Delhi High Court contending that the temporary suspension of its services and related restrictions were disproportionate and adversely affected millions of users across the countryThe Union government on Tuesday announced a temporary restriction on Telegrams operations in India till June 22 covering the examination day and its immediate aftermath as part of efforts to prevent alleged paper leaks misinformation campaigns and cheating networks ahead of the NEET UG 2026 reexaminationAccording to the NTA the temporary restriction became necessary after other measures including channelspecific takedowns and enforcement actions were found insufficient to address the scale of the problemApart from restricting access to the platform authorities also directed Telegram to disable its messageediting feature in India till June 30 The NTA claimed that the feature had previously been misused to create fabricated evidence of question paper leaks by editing older messages and replacing attachments while retaining the original timestampThe agency further alleged that several Telegram channels operating under names such as Paper Leaked NEET ReNEET 2026 and Private Mafia had been demanding payments from candidates in exchange for purported access to examination papersMeanwhile Telegram founder and CEO Pavel Durov criticised the temporary suspension saying it had affected more than 150 million users in IndiaIn a post on X Durov said Telegram had already removed hundreds of channels in recent weeks that were allegedly involved in sharing leaked examination materials and running scams targeting students in IndiaThe NEET UG 2026 reexamination is being conducted following allegations of question paper leaks during the original examination held on May 3IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/delhi-hc-to-resume-hearing-on-telegrams-plea-against-temporary-ban-ahead-of-neet-retest-677670.html Thu, 18 Jun 2026 11:33:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/telegram-moves-delhi-hc-against-temporary-suspension-ahead-of-neet-ug-retest-677651.html New Delhi June 17 IANS Messaging platform Telegram on Wednesday moved the Delhi High Court challenging the Central governments decision to temporarily suspend its services across India ahead of the NEET UG 2026 reexamination scheduled for June 21nbspThe matter was mentioned before the Vacation Bench of Justice Tejas Karia who agreed to list the case for hearing later in the dayTelegram has challenged the restrictions imposed pursuant to directions issued by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology MeitY under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act 2000 following recommendations made by the National Testing Agency NTAThe Union government on Tuesday announced a temporary restriction on Telegrams operations in India until June 22 covering the examination day and its immediate aftermath as part of efforts to prevent alleged paper leaks misinformation campaigns and cheating networks ahead of the NEET UG 2026 reexamination scheduled for June 21According to the NTA the temporary restriction became necessary after other measures including channelspecific takedowns and enforcement actions were found insufficient to address the scale of the problemApart from restricting access to the platform authorities also directed Telegram to disable its messageediting feature in India till June 30 The NTA claimed that the feature had previously been misused to create fabricated evidence of question paper leaks by editing older messages and replacing attachments while retaining the original timestampThe NTA said several Telegram channels operating under names such as Paper Leaked NEET ReNEET 2026 and Private Mafia had allegedly been demanding payments from candidates in exchange for purported access to examination papersMeanwhile Telegram founder and CEO Pavel Durov criticised the temporary suspension saying it had affected more than 150 million users in IndiaIn a post on social media platform X Durov said that Indias IT ministry had banned Telegram for one week because some users allegedly shared leaked examination questions impacting millions of legitimate users of the platformHe said Telegram had already removed hundreds of channels in recent weeks that were allegedly involved in sharing leaked examination materials and running scams targeting students in IndiaDurov also said the company was working to make the edited label on messages more prominent to prevent backdating scams and manipulation of content timestampsThe remarks came as Google and Apple removed Telegram from their respective app stores in India in compliance with the governments directiveThe NEET UG 2026 reexamination is being conducted following allegations of question paper leaks during the original examination held on May 3IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/telegram-moves-delhi-hc-against-temporary-suspension-ahead-of-neet-ug-retest-677651.html Wed, 17 Jun 2026 12:11:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/sc-agrees-to-examine-plea-against-use-of-aadhaar-as-proof-of-citizenship-age-domicile-issues-notice--677566.html New Delhi June 16 IANS The Supreme Court on Tuesday agreed to examine a Public Interest Litigation PIL seeking directions to the Centre all states and union territories and the Election Commission of India ECI to ensure that Aadhaar is used only as proof of identity and not as proof of citizenship domicile address or date of birthnbspA Bench of Chief Justice of India CJI Surya Kant and Justice V Mohana issued notice to the Union government all state governments and union territories UTs the ECI and the Unique Identification Authority of India UIDAI on the plea filed by advocate Ashwini Kumar UpadhyayThe matter has been listed for further hearing on August 7The petition contends that Section 9 of the Aadhaar Act 2016 expressly provides that Aadhaar is not evidence of citizenship or domicile while UIDAI notifications clarify that Aadhaar serves only as proof of identity and not as proof of citizenship address or date of birthAccording to the plea despite these statutory limitations and judicial pronouncements holding that Aadhaar is not proof of age the document continues to be widely accepted as proof of age residence citizenship and domicile for various purposes including school admissions property transactions issuance of birth certificates ration cards and driving licencesThe PIL has specifically challenged the use of Aadhaar as proof of date of birth and proof of residence in the application form for new voter registration Form6 arguing that such usage is contrary to the Aadhaar Act UIDAI notifications and provisions of the Representation of the People ActUpadhyay has sought directions to the Centre states and the ECI to take appropriate measures to ensure that Aadhaar is used strictly as proof of identity and not for purposes prohibited under the Aadhaar Act and UIDAI guidelinesReferring to the Aadhaar enrolment framework the plea argues that all residents including foreign nationals residing in India for at least 182 days are eligible to obtain Aadhaar It further states that Aadhaar enrolment can be facilitated through Common Service Centres and supporting documents such as rent agreements or certifications issued by local authoritiesThe petition claimed that alleged infiltrators and illegal immigrants are able to obtain Aadhaar cards through weak verification mechanisms and subsequently use Aadhaar as a foundational document to secure other identity and entitlement documents including ration cards birth certificates domicile certificates driving licences and voter identity cardsAccording to the petitioner this process undermines the integrity of the identification framework established under the Aadhaar Act and enables ineligible persons to access subsidies welfare schemes and other benefits intended for lawful beneficiariesThe plea argues that such practices result in diversion of public resources exclusion of genuine beneficiaries and violation of constitutional principles of equality fairness and targeted welfare deliveryThe petitioner stated that the cause of action arose after concerns emerged regarding the alleged misuse of Aadhaar beyond its legally permissible purpose despite repeated clarifications in the Aadhaar Act and UIDAI notifications regarding its limited evidentiary valueThe petition seeks directions to the Centre states and the ECI to take appropriate measures to ensure that Aadhaar is used strictly as proof of identity It also seeks a declaration that the use of Aadhaar as proof of date of birth and residence in voter registration processes is legally unsustainable and should be rendered void and inoperativeIANS https://dailyworld.in/law/sc-agrees-to-examine-plea-against-use-of-aadhaar-as-proof-of-citizenship-age-domicile-issues-notice--677566.html Tue, 16 Jun 2026 12:35:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/sc-issues-notice-on-plea-challenging-bihar-ministers-reappointment-without-legislative-membership-677477.html New Delhi June 15 IANS The Supreme Court on Monday issued notice on a public interest litigation PIL challenging the reappointment of Bihar Panchayati Raj Minister Deepak Prakash despite him not being a member of either House of the state legislaturenbspnbspA bench of Chief Justice of India CJI Surya Kant and Justice V Mohana issued notices to the respondents including the Election Commission of India ECI Deepak Prakash and the Bihar government and posted the matter for further hearing on July 15The PIL filed by social activist and whistleblower Rakesh Kumar Singh raises a key constitutional question regarding the scope of Article 1644 of the Constitution which permits a nonlegislator to serve as a minister for a maximum period of six months during which he or she must secure membership of the legislatureThe petition challenges the constitutional validity of Deepak Prakashs reappointment as Panchayati Raj Minister and seeks issuance of a writ of quo warranto questioning the authority under which he ontinues to hold ministerial officeAccording to the plea Deepak Prakash was first inducted into the Bihar Cabinet on November 20 2025 despite not being a member of either the Bihar Assembly or the Legislative Council The petitioner contended that he continued to function as a minister for nearly five months without becoming a legislator The petition stated that Chief Minister Nitish Kumar resigned on April 15 resulting in the dissolution of the Council of Ministers and cessation of Deepak Prakashs ministerial tenure After a gap of 22 days he was reappointed as Panchayati Raj Minister in the newly constituted government headed by Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary on May 7 though he had still not secured membership of either house of the state legislatureThe petitioner argued that the reappointment amounts to a colourable exercise of constitutional power aimed at indirectly extending the sixmonth constitutional grace period available to a nonlegislator ministerRelying on the Supreme Courts judgment in SR Chaudhuri versus State of Punjab 2001 the plea contended that the exception under Article 1644 is a onetime constitutional privilege and cannot be repeatedly invoked through resignation cabinet reshuffles change of Chief Minister dissolution of a ministry or reappointmentThe petition submitted that allowing repeated appointments of unelected individuals to ministerial office would undermine parliamentary democracy representative government collective responsibility and electoral accountability It further alleged violations of Articles 14 1642 1644 and 141 of the Constitution along with broader principles of constitutional morality and the rule of lawThe PIL seeks a declaration that Deepak Prakashs reappointment is unconstitutional and void and raises the larger issue of whether an unelected individual can repeatedly occupy a ministerial post without first obtaining a democratic mandate through election or legislative membershipThe controversy over Deepak Prakashs ministerial continuance comes amid recent Bihar Legislative Council elections in which all 10 candidates were elected unopposed Notably Deepak Prakash was not among the NDA nominees for the vacant Council seats despite continuing as Panchayati Raj Minister His exclusion from the ruling alliances list of candidates triggered speculation over his political future and intensified questions over his continuance in the Cabinet without being a member of either House of the Bihar LegislatureIANS https://dailyworld.in/law/sc-issues-notice-on-plea-challenging-bihar-ministers-reappointment-without-legislative-membership-677477.html Mon, 15 Jun 2026 14:27:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/neet-ug-2026-paper-leak-case-delhi-court-extends-judicial-custody-of-10-accused-till-june-29-677480.html New Delhi June 15 IANS A Delhi court on Monday extended till June 29 the judicial custody of 10 accused in the NEETUG 2026 paper leak case being investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation CBInbspThe accused were produced before the Rouse Avenue Court through video conferencing from Tihar Jail upon the expiry of their previously granted judicial custody The court extended the judicial custody of Yash Yadav Mangilal Biwal Dinesh Biwal Vikas Biwal Dhananjay Lokhande Tejas Harshad Shah Shubham Khairnar Manisha Waghmare Manisha Sanjay Havaldar and Dr Manoj Shirure till June 29The Rouse Avenue Court also permitted the CBI to interrogate accused Shubham Khairnar Manisha Waghmare and Dhananjay Lokhande inside jail on June 17 18 and 19 respectivelynbspThe probe agency has been allowed to question each of the accused for one hour as part of its ongoing investigation into the alleged examination paper leaknbspThe CBI has so far arrested 13 accused in the case and is investigating an alleged network involved in procuring and circulating NEETUG question papers ahead of the examinationnbspEarlier on June 1 the Rouse Avenue Court had remanded accused Dr Manoj Shirure Tejas Harshadkumar Shah and Manisha Sanjay Havaldar to judicial custody till June 15 The Central agency has alleged that Shirure a Laturbased doctor played a key role in facilitating three students including the son of an accused coaching centre owner in obtaining Chemistry questions from alleged kingpin PV Kulkarni before the examinationShah a Physics faculty member at Punebased Abhang Prabhu Medical Academy APMA is alleged to have received leaked Physics questions from coaccused Manisha HavaldarnbspThe case pertains to the alleged leak of the NEETUG 2026 examination paper following which the CBI registered an FIR on May 12 on the basis of a complaint lodged by the Department of Higher Education under the Union Ministry of EducationnbspAccording to the probe agency Punebased education consultant Manisha Waghmare was among the intermediaries involved in mobilising students who allegedly paid lakhs of rupees to attend special coaching sessions where questions that later appeared in the NEETUG 2026 examination were dictated and discussedThe CBI has claimed that Waghmare facilitated prospective candidates for special coaching classes conducted by NTAappointed senior Botany teacher Manisha Gurunath Mandhare who is suspected to be the comastermind behind the Biology paper leaknbspChemistry professor PV Kulkarni has been identified by the probe agency as the alleged kingpin of the paper leak networknbspMeanwhile the Centre has stepped up preparations for the NEETUG 2026 reexamination scheduled for June 21 after the original examination held in May was cancelled following allegations that some questions had been leakedAmid preparations for the retest Cabinet Secretary TV Somanathan recently reviewed the arrangements with National Testing Agency officials and warned that the full might and weight of the law would fall on anyone attempting to distort disrupt or tamper with the integrity of the examination processnbspThe Centre has put in place enhanced security measures including transportation of question papers by the Indian Air Force and deployment of CRPF and CISF personnel to assist local authorities in ensuring secure conduct of the reexaminationThe NTA has also announced an additional 15 minutes for candidates and increased space for rough work in answer bookletsnbspThe Centre has maintained that coordinated efforts by the Union government state governments and district administrations are aimed at safeguarding the integrity and credibility of the reexamination processIANS https://dailyworld.in/law/neet-ug-2026-paper-leak-case-delhi-court-extends-judicial-custody-of-10-accused-till-june-29-677480.html Mon, 15 Jun 2026 14:36:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/sabarimala-gold-scam-row-devaswom-special-pleader-kb-pradeep-resigns-677419.html Thiruvananthapuram June 13 Devaswom Special Government Pleader KB Pradeep whose appointment had created a major embarrassment for the VD Satheesanled UDF government resigned on Saturday The resignation came after Chief Minister sought his removal amid criticism over appointing the lawyer of a company linked to the Sabarimala gold theft case to handle crucial Devaswom mattersPradeepâs appointment as Special Government Pleader for the Devaswom Department in the Kerala High Court had triggered a political storm with opposition parties questioning the propriety of giving a key legal position to a lawyer who had represented Smart Creations a Chennaibased company under scrutiny in the Sabarimala gold scam caseThe controversy intensified as the government had created the post of Special Government Pleader a position that did not exist earlier with critics alleging that the post was created specifically for PradeepUntil now the Devaswom Department had only a Senior Government PleaderSmart Creations had come under the scanner of investigators in connection with the alleged theft of gold from the Sabarimala templeâs goldplated structuresThe company was linked to the prime accused Unnikrishnan Potty with allegations that panels removed from the shrine were taken to its facility where the gold was separated and allegedly diverted for other worksPradeep had earlier appeared before the media defending Smart Creations arguing that there was no wrongdoing and that the company did not have the technical facility to add gold over an already goldplated surfaceDevaswom Minister K Muraleedharanâs defence of the appointment added to the controversyHis remark that âsomeone who knows the weaknesses of the accused can be usefulâ drew sharp criticism from the Opposition which said the statement appeared to justify appointing a lawyer associated with the defence side to represent the governmentFormer Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Saturday slammed the way things are going in the new administration saying that the appointment of Pradeep explains everythingThe resignation is the second controversy to hit the new UDF government over appointmentsEarlier Electricity Minister Sunny Josephâs brotherinlaw had resigned from his personal staff following criticism over his appointment IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/sabarimala-gold-scam-row-devaswom-special-pleader-kb-pradeep-resigns-677419.html Sat, 13 Jun 2026 13:45:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/karnataka-writer-bhagawan-booked-over-remarks-against-lord-ram-hindu-scriptures-677422.html Davanagere Karnataka June 13 The Karnataka police registered an FIR against noted writer and rationalist KS Bhagawan over alleged remarks concerning Hindu beliefs Lord Ram and Hindu scriptures made during a public event earlier this week police officials said on Saturday The FIR was registered on Friday by the Harihara Rural Police in Davanagere district following a complaint filed by Dinesh a resident of KR Nagar in HariharAccording to the complaint Bhagawan allegedly made the controversial remarks while addressing a programme organised by the Karnataka Dalit Sangharsha Samiti at B Krishnappa Maitrivan in Hanagawadi village on June 9The event was held to mark the birth anniversaries of social reformer Prof B Krishnappa and Dr BR Ambedkar During his speech Bhagawan allegedly made statements about Lord Ram Hindu deities and the Valmiki Ramayan that the complainant described as derogatory and provocativeAmong the remarks cited in the complaint were claims that Shri Rama was not born to King Dasharath and assertions that Hindus should not worship Hindu gods The complaint further alleged that Bhagawan described Hindu deities as murderers and claimed that Dr BR Ambedkar had supported such viewsAccording to the complainant the statements insulted Hindu religious beliefs deities and sacred texts including the Valmiki Ramayan It was also alleged that the remarks hurt the religious sentiments of Hindus and had the potential to disturb communal harmony and create social unrestBased on the complaint Harihara Rural Police have booked Bhagawan under Sections 1961a and 299 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita BNS Police said an investigation is underway to ascertain the facts and circumstances surrounding the alleged remarksBhagawan a retired professor and prominent rationalist thinker has long been known for his criticism of mainstream Hindu scriptures and traditional religious narratives His interpretations of Hindu texts and deities have often sparked controversy protests and legal complaints across KarnatakaIn the past Bhagawan triggered widespread outrage by claiming that the Valmiki Ramayan contains references to Lord Ram and Sita consuming wine He also argued that Ram could not be regarded as an ideal ruler because of episodes such as the exile of Sita and the killing of the Shudra ascetic ShambukaThe writer had also drawn criticism after announcing his intention to burn selected pages of the Bhagavad Gita alleging that certain passages promoted social inequality by portraying women Vaishyas and Shudras in a discriminatory manner IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/karnataka-writer-bhagawan-booked-over-remarks-against-lord-ram-hindu-scriptures-677422.html Sat, 13 Jun 2026 14:19:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/internet-suspended-in-parts-of-jaipur-ahead-of-encroachment-removal-drive-676875.html Jaipur June 8 The district administration has temporarily suspended Internet services in several parts of Jaipur Rajasthan ahead of a major encroachment removal drive scheduled for Monday The move has been taken as a precautionary measure to maintain law and order as the Jaipur Development Authority JDA will undertake a campaign to widen the road running parallel to the railway line from the Nandpuri Underpass in Jagatpura to its sanctioned width of 80 feetOfficials said that rumours misinformation or inflammatory content could be circulated through social media and internetbased platforms potentially disrupting public order Hence Jaipur Divisional Commissioner V Sarwan Kumar has issued the orderUnder the directive 2G 3G 4G and 5G mobile Internet services remained suspended in designated areas from midnight on Sunday until 12 midnight on Monday The order covers not only mobile data services but also bulk SMS and Internetbased messaging platforms Access to social media applications including WhatsApp Facebook and X will also be restricted during the shutdown periodEssential government and emergency services may remain exempt in accordance with regulations The suspension will be enforced across the Jaipur Police Commissionerate and adjoining district areas In Jaipur North the affected police station jurisdictions include Ramganj Galta Gate Manak Chowk Subhash Chowk Amer Brahmapuri Nahargarh Kotwali Jalupura Sanjay Circle Shastri Nagar Bhattabasti Vidyadhar Nagar and Jaisinghpura Khor In Jaipur East Internet services will remain suspended in the police station areas of Bassi Kanota Tunga Adarsh Nagar Transport Nagar Jawahar Nagar Jamdoli SMS Hospital Gandhi Nagar Lalkothi Motidungri Airport Malviya Nagar Jawahar Circle Bajaj Nagar KhoNagorian Sanganer Pratap Nagar Ramnagariya and Malpura GateAdditional police personnel have already been deployed in sensitive locations while cyber teams have been activated to monitor social media activityOfficials warned that strict action will be taken against anyone found spreading rumours misinformation or content that disturbs public order The administration has appealed to citizens to maintain peace and communal harmony avoid sharing unverified information and comply with official directives Violators will face legal actionAs part of the roadwidening project the JDA is set to remove five religious structures located within the roads rightofway To ensure smooth execution of the drive additional police forces have been requisitioned from the Jaipur Kota and Bharatpur ranges Security has also been tightened in sensitive areas including the Walled CityAccording to Anand Sharma Deputy Inspector General of the JDA Vigilance Branch 134 encroachments along the same route were removed on May 22 Following that operation management committees and concerned individuals associated with the affected religious structures were given time to voluntarily relocate themWith the deadline now over the administration will proceed with removal Officials stated that although revenue records indicate the roads sanctioned width is 80 feet several stretches currently measure only 2530 feet due to encroachmentsThe approximately 15kilometre stretch connects the Nandpuri Underpass to Jagatpura and passes through six major residential colonies The administration maintains that widening the road will significantly ease traffic congestion on Hare Krishna Marg and improve connectivity between Nandpuri and Jagatpura The project is expected to benefit residents of more than 50 nearby colonies including Malviya Nagar and other rapidly developing residential areas IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/internet-suspended-in-parts-of-jaipur-ahead-of-encroachment-removal-drive-676875.html Mon, 08 Jun 2026 10:50:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/delhi-hc-issues-notice-on-pil-alleging-irregularities-in-cbses-on-screen-marking-system-676927.html New Delhi June 8 IANS The Delhi High Court on Monday issued notice to the Centre and the Central Board of Secondary Education CBSE on a public interest litigation PIL raising concerns over the newly introduced OnScreen Marking OSM system for evaluation of Class 12 board examination answer sheetsnbspnbspA Bench of Justices Neena Bansal Krishna and Madhu Jain sought responses from the Union government and CBSE on the plea filed by the National Students Union of India NSUI and posted the matter for further hearing on June 12The PIL has questioned the fairness transparency and reliability of the digital evaluation mechanism adopted by CBSE alleging that thousands of students across the country faced issues such as blurred scans missing pages mismatched answer sheets incomplete uploads and unexpectedly low marks following the declaration of Class 12 resultsThe OSM system is a digital evaluation process under which physical answer sheets are scanned digitally masked to conceal students identities and assessed by examiners on computer screensFiled through NSUI President Vinod Jhakhar the petition contended that Class 12 board examination marks have a direct bearing on admissions to universities and professional institutions scholarship opportunities and future academic prospectsClass XII board marks are not only a record of academic performance They determine admission to universities professional colleges scholarship opportunities entrance eligibility and the overall academic future of students the plea statedAccording to the petition the concerns raised are not isolated instances but indicate a larger systemic issue affecting lakhs of students who appeared for the examinations under the newly introduced digital assessment frameworkThe PIL referred to CBSEs public communications acknowledging technical glitches in the portal used for providing scanned copies of answer books to studentsIt highlighted that around 127146 applications relating to nearly 387399 scanned answer books were submitted within a short period after the portal was restoredThe said figure itself reflects an extraordinary level of concern and lack of confidence amongst students regarding the process When such a large number of students seek scanned copies immediately after result declaration the matter cannot be treated as a routine postresult formality the petition saidThe plea argued that students whose answer sheets were properly scanned and evaluated cannot be equated with those whose scripts were allegedly affected by scanning defects mismatch errors or technical failures Students cannot be made to suffer because of deficiencies in a system introduced by the authorities themselves it said alleging violation of Article 14 of the Constitution on account of arbitrary and unequal treatmentThe petition has also questioned the adequacy of the grievance redressal mechanism available to students claiming that candidates were left with limited digital remedies and lacked access to any meaningful process for manual verification or independent rechecking of disputed answer sheetsSeeking judicial intervention the PIL prayed for directions to reopen the verification portal for one month permit manual rechecking and physical verification of answer sheets in disputed cases order an independent inquiry into the alleged irregularities and frame safeguards and guidelines for future digital evaluation systemsIANS https://dailyworld.in/law/delhi-hc-issues-notice-on-pil-alleging-irregularities-in-cbses-on-screen-marking-system-676927.html Mon, 08 Jun 2026 13:22:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/cbi-files-11th-charge-sheet-against-builder-firm-director-in-homebuyers-fraud-case-676972.html New Delhi June 8 IANS In its ongoing probe into alleged largescale fraud against homebuyers the Central Bureau of Investigation CBI has filed its 11th charge sheet in cases related to alleged cheating diversion of funds and financial irregularities by real estate developers an official statement said on MondaynbspThe latest charge sheet has been filed against Ms Ninex Developers Ltd and one of its Directors in connection with a housing project located in Gurugram Haryana the statement saidAccording to the CBI its investigation revealed that the accused builder company and its Director acting in furtherance of a criminal conspiracy allegedly lured innocent homebuyers and investors through false assurances misleading representations and deceptive promises regarding the projectThe agency alleged that the accused dishonestly induced buyers to invest substantial sums of money resulting in wrongful financial gains for themselves while causing significant losses to the victimsThe investigation has reportedly uncovered substantial documentary and oral evidence indicating irregularities in the collection and utilization of funds raised from homebuyers Based on the findings the CBI has filed the charge sheet before the competent court under relevant provisions of the Indian Penal Code relating to criminal conspiracy cheating and criminal breach of trustThe case forms part of a wider investigation being carried out by the CBI into alleged fraud involving real estate companies and financial institutions The agency is currently probing 50 cases registered pursuant to directions issued by the Supreme Court concerning allegations of cheating of homebuyers diversion of funds and suspected involvement of unknown officials of banks and financial institutions across the countryEarlier the CBI had submitted charge sheets against several builder companies and their directors including Ms Rudra Buildwell Constructions Pvt Ltd Ms Dream Procon Pvt Ltd Ms Jaypee Infratech Ltd Ms AVJ Developers India Pvt Ltd Ms CHD Developers Pvt Ltd Ms Sequel Buildcon Pvt Ltd Ms LogixCity Developers Pvt Ltd Ms Manju J Homes India Ltd and Ms Shubhkamna Buildtech Pvt LtdIANS https://dailyworld.in/law/cbi-files-11th-charge-sheet-against-builder-firm-director-in-homebuyers-fraud-case-676972.html Mon, 08 Jun 2026 16:51:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/sc-initiates-contempt-proceedings-against-delhi-aiims-acting-director-orders-appearance-on-july-7-676465.html New Delhi June 5 IANS The Supreme Court has issued a contempt notice to the Acting Director of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences AIIMS New Delhi after expressing shock over the failure to comply with its direction requiring the institutions head to personally furnish an explanation in a pending matter concerning a DNA test reportnbspA Bench of Justices Ahsanuddin Amanullah and R Mahadevan took strong exception to an affidavit filed by a Deputy Secretary of AIIMS instead of the Director despite a specific direction passed on April 16 requiring the Director to submit an explanationRecording its displeasure the apex court said that the most objectionable part of the affidavit was that it had been filed by one Nishant Kumar claiming to be Deputy Secretary at AIIMS New Delhi as an authorised officer rather than by the DirectornbspWe had specifically sought explanation to be furnished by the Director AIIMS and it is not within the discretion of any person to submit hisher explanation by authorising someone else to do the same the Justice Amanullahled Bench observedDuring the hearing counsel appearing for AIIMS submitted that there was currently no permanent Director at AIIMS New Delhi and that the previous Director had demitted office about two to three weeks earliernbspIt was further stated that the present incumbent was only holding charge in a temporary capacitynbspThe Justice Amanullahled Bench however rejected the explanation and said it was not only surprised but shocked by the responsenbspAny person who is on a post either in substantive capacity or in acting capacity has to take responsibility and perform the duty of the post held by himher in whatever capacity it may be the apex court saidThe top court added that it was not inclined to extend any benefit of doubt to the current head of the institution and held that prima facie the Acting Director had committed contemptnbspAccordingly the Supreme Court impleaded Dr Nikhil Tandon Acting Director AIIMS New Delhi as a party respondent and issued a notice in contempt proceedings against himnbspHe shall be personally present along with his explanation on the next date of listing ie 07072026 at 12 Noon the order saidOn the merits of the case the Justice Amanullahled Bench took note of a DNA analysis report submitted by the Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology AIIMS New Delhi The report concluded DNA profile of Ah Kp is matching with DNA profile of Bimal Kishore and Pratibha Kashyap Hence Bimal Kishore is biological father of Ah KpnbspIn view of the findings contained in the DNA report the apex court held that the miscellaneous applications pending before it no longer required adjudication and accordingly disposed of them However the matter will remain listed before the apex court on July 7 solely for the appearance of the Acting Director and consideration of his response to the contempt noticenbspThe Supreme Court directed that copies of the DNA report be supplied to the parties concernedIt further ordered that the original report be handed over to the petitioners counsel for onward transmission to the petitionernbspThe Justice Amanullahled Bench also directed the petitioners counsel to place the DNA report before the concerned High Court which would thereafter proceed with the matter in accordance with lawIANS https://dailyworld.in/law/sc-initiates-contempt-proceedings-against-delhi-aiims-acting-director-orders-appearance-on-july-7-676465.html Fri, 05 Jun 2026 14:27:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/sc-closes-wfi-plea-against-vinesh-phogats-asian-games-trials-participation-676165.html New Delhi June 4 IANS The Supreme Court on Thursday disposed of as infructuous the Wrestling Federation of Indias WFI plea challenging a Delhi High Court order that had allowed wrestler Vinesh Phogat to participate in the Asian Games 2026 selection trialsnbspA Bench of Justices PS Narasimha and Aravind Kumar closed the proceedings after noting that the selection trials which formed the subject matter of the dispute were already overThe apex court clarified that the closure of the case should not be construed as an endorsement of the Delhi High Courts observations against the WFI In view of subsequent developments this SLP is rendered infructuous This Court will not be taken as having reiterated the findings and observations of the High Court The issues are kept open the Justice Narasimhaled Bench said while disposing of the matterDuring the hearing senior advocate DN Goburdhun appearing for the WFI urged the top court to expunge certain observations made by the High Court against the federation while granting interim relief to PhogatThe senior counsel contended that the Delhi High Court had made adverse remarks against the WFI including observations suggesting mala fides on the federations part and argued that those findings could prejudice proceedings pending before a singlejudge Bench of the High CourtGoburdhun submitted that although Phogat had been permitted to participate in the trials the observations contained in the High Courts order particularly from paragraph 31 onwards ought to be deleted as the matter remains pending before the High Court However the Justice Narasimhaled Bench declined to expunge the adverse observations and proceeded to close the proceedings while making it clear that its order should not be read as affirming the findings recorded by the Delhi High CourtThe matter reached the Supreme Court after the Delhi High Court permitted Phogat to participate in the Asian Games 2026 selection trials despite her not fulfilling the eligibility requirements under the WFIs revised selection policyIn an interim order passed last month a Bench of Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia had allowed Phogat to participate in the trials observing that motherhood could not be treated as a ground for exclusion from professional opportunitiesThe Delhi High Court had prima facie held that the WFIs policy framework failed to adequately account for the wrestlers maternityrelated break and postpartum recovery period Subsequently the Supreme Court while entertaining the WFIs appeal had permitted Phogat to participate in the selection trials held on May 30 and 31 even as it expressed reservations over certain observations made by the Delhi High Court at the interim stage and flagged issues relating to the wrestlers antidoping obligationsPhogats comeback bid however ended in disappointment at the selection trials held at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi Competing in the womens 53kg category after the WFI revised its initial decision restricting her to the 50kg division she lost 46 to Meenakshi Goyat in the semifinals and failed to qualify for the Asian Games 2026 in AichiNagoya JapanIANS https://dailyworld.in/law/sc-closes-wfi-plea-against-vinesh-phogats-asian-games-trials-participation-676165.html Thu, 04 Jun 2026 14:12:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/asaram-hospitalised-again-in-jodhpur-brought-from-central-jail-under-tight-security-676006.html Jaipur June 3 Asaram serving a life sentence in a minor sexual assault case has been admitted once again to a hospital in Jodhpur He was brought from the Central Jail to Arogyam Hospital under heavy police security for medical treatment and has been kept under observation Asaram was brought to our hospital on Tuesday night officials from the hospital confirmed to IANSA large police contingent remained deployed during his transfer and he was transported to the hospital in an ambulance amid tight security arrangementsAfter surrendering before Jodhpur Central Jail Asaram cited multiple health issues and filed a petition in the Rajasthan High Court seeking permission to undergo treatment at Arogyam HospitalThe matter came up before the Vacation Bench of the High CourtAccording to reports Asaram had arrived in Jodhpur on May 28 following the Rajasthan High Courtâs verdict in his case News of his arrival prompted several supporters to gather at Jodhpur Airport From the airport he proceeded directly to his ashram in Pal village before undergoing a medical examination at AIIMS JodhpurHe later surrendered at the Central JailEarlier a Division Bench of the Rajasthan High Court comprising Justice Arun Monga and Justice Yogendra Kumar Purohit upheld the life sentence awarded to Asaram by the lower court affirming imprisonment for the remainder of his natural lifeIn its observations the Court remarked The accuseds imprisonment is confined within walls but the mental trauma and lifelong suffering inflicted upon the victim know no such boundariesActing on the order the Court cancelled Asaramâs interim bail and directed the immediate issuance of an arrest warrant following which he surrendered before jail authoritiesThe case dates back to August 2013 when allegations emerged regarding the sexual assault of a minor student inside a hut at Manai Ashram in Jodhpur A lower court convicted Asaram and sentenced him to life imprisonment in April 2018 IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/asaram-hospitalised-again-in-jodhpur-brought-from-central-jail-under-tight-security-676006.html Wed, 03 Jun 2026 12:33:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/abhishek-banerjee-approaches-calcutta-hc-challenging-cid-summons-in-mla-signature-mismatch-case-676016.html Kolkata June 3 IANS Trinamool Congress General Secretary and the partys Lok Sabha member Abhishek Banerjee on Wednesday approached a singlejudge vacation bench of the Calcutta High Court challenging the summons from the Criminal Investigation Department CID of the West Bengal Police for interrogation in the signature mismatch casenbspThe case involves a mismatch in the signatures of some of the partys MLAs on a resolution nominating party MLAs to four crucial slots in the Assembly which are reserved for the opposition bench in the HouseThe singlejudge bench of Justice Apurba Sinha Roy has admitted his petition seeking protection from coercive police action including arrest in the case The matter will come up for hearing on FridayInitially Abhishek Banerjee was summoned at the CID office on June 1 However instead of appearing on that day he sought 15 days to appear on the pretext of his physical condition after being assaulted by the public at Sonarpur in South 24 Parganas district of West Bengal on the afternoon of May 30However in the evening of June 1 the CID sleuths served him a second notice asking him to appear at the CID office on June 8On June 8 Abhishek Banerjee and his aunt the former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee are scheduled to be in New Delhi to attend a meeting of the opposition INDIA blocA few days ago Abhishek Banerjee had sent a letter to the office of the new Speaker of the West Bengal Assembly Rathindra Bose naming Sovandeb Chattopadhyay as the Leader of Opposition Nayna Bandopadhyay and Asima Patra as the two deputy leaders of the opposition and Firhad Hakim as the Chief Whip of Trinamool Congress legislative party in the state AssemblyThe Speaker however insisted that the resolution carrying the signatures of the Trinamool Congress legislators and endorsing the four names should be submitted along with the letter from Abhishek Banerjee Thereafter a resolution carrying the signatures of the Trinamool Congress legislators was submitted to the office of the SpeakerHowever things started taking a dramatic turn after two Trinamool Congress legislators Ritabrata Banerjee and Sandipan Saha pointed out to the office of the Speaker about the mismatches in the signatures of some party legislatorsSoon after that the Assembly secretariat handed over the charge of the investigation to the CID and the latter summoned Abhishek Banerjee for interrogationIANS https://dailyworld.in/law/abhishek-banerjee-approaches-calcutta-hc-challenging-cid-summons-in-mla-signature-mismatch-case-676016.html Wed, 03 Jun 2026 14:09:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/sc-collegium-recommends-new-judges-for-karnataka-mp-himachal-high-courts-676019.html New Delhi June 3 IANS The Supreme Court Collegium headed by Chief Justice of India CJI Surya Kant has recommended a fresh set of appointments to the Karnataka Madhya Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh High CourtsnbspThe apex court Collegium has approved the proposal for the appointment of advocates Raghavendra Seetharam Srivatsa Hema Kulkarni Subramanya Rangarao Thadagavadi Prakash Vivekananda Bakkeswara Pramod and Hombe Gowda Shanthi Bhushan as Judges of the Karnataka High CourtIn its meeting held on June 2 the SC Collegium also recommended the name of advocate Amit Lahoti for appointment as a Judge of the Madhya Pradesh High CourtThe Supreme Court Collegium in its meeting held on 2nd June 2026 has approved the proposal for appointment of Shri Amit Lahoti Advocate as a Judge of the High Court of Madhya Pradesh said a statement uploaded on the website of the apex courtFurther the Collegium approved the proposal for appointment of judicial officers Chirag Bhanu Singh Bhupesh Sharma and Yogesh Jaswal as Judges of the Himachal Pradesh High CourtThe Supreme Court Collegium in its meeting held on 2nd June 2026 has approved the proposal for appointment of the following Judicial Officers as Judges of the High Court of Himachal Pradesh i Shri Chirag Bhanu Singh ii Shri Bhupesh Sharma and iii Shri Yogesh Jaswal a separate statement saidAs per the Memorandum of Procedure MoP governing the appointment of High Court judges the proposal for appointment is initiated by the Chief Justice of the concerned High Court in consultation with the two seniormost judges of that High CourtThe recommendation is forwarded by the Chief Justice to the Chief Minister who transmits it to the Governor The Governor in turn forwards the proposal to the Union Minister of Law and Justice along with relevant inputs and documentsThe proposal is then processed by the Centre before being placed before the Chief Justice of India CJI who consults the seniormost judges of the Supreme Court for finalising the recommendationFollowing the Collegiums approval the recommendation is sent to the Central government The appointments take effect after the President of India signs the warrants of appointment and the Department of Justice issues the notification in the Gazette of IndiaIANS https://dailyworld.in/law/sc-collegium-recommends-new-judges-for-karnataka-mp-himachal-high-courts-676019.html Wed, 03 Jun 2026 14:17:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/twisha-death-case-giribala-singh-son-samarth-sent-to-judicial-remand-till-june-16-675971.html Bhopal June 2 IANSnbsp The Chief Judicial Magistrate CJM court in Bhopal on Tuesday sent retired district judge Giribala Singh and her son Samarth Singh to judicial remand till June 16 after the Central Bureau of Investigation CBI chose not to seek any further remand in connection with the death of actormodel Twisha SharmanbspThe court directed that both accused be kept separately from other inmates at Bhopal Central Jail and issued jail warrants following the hearing advocate Ankur Pandey representing Twishas family in the court told IANSGiribala Singh and Samarth Singh were produced before the district court after completion of their fiveday CBI custody on Tuesday The court sent them to judicial remand as the agency CBI informed the court that it did not require their further custodial interrogation following which the court remanded them to judicial custodyDuring the hearing Giribala Singh made serious allegations before the court claiming that an advocate representing Twisha Sharmas family assaulted her son Samarth Singh inside the court premises in JabalpurShe alleged that Samarth Singh was facing a threat to his life and sought protection from the court Giribala Singh also objected to what she termed a media trial in the case and urged that media coverage influencing public perception should be stoppedResponding to the claim counsel for Twisha Sharma Anurag Srivastava urged the court to verify the allegation through CCTV footage within the court premises If such an incident occurred the footage should be examined he saidThe court proceedings came a day after the CBI recreated the crime scene at the familys Bagmugalia residence in Bhopal where Twisha Sharma was found hanging on May 12As part of the reconstruction exercise investigators used an 80kg dummy nearly matching Twishas reported body weight to recreate the sequence of events and verify statements given by the accused and witnessesTwisha Sharma 33 a former model and actor from Noida was found dead at her marital home less than six months after her marriage to Samarth SinghWhile the death was initially reported as a suicide Twishas family alleged that she was subjected to dowry harassment and murderedThe case drew widespread attention after the Madhya Pradesh High Court cancelled the anticipatory bail granted to Giribala Singh citing material placed before it during the investigationIANS https://dailyworld.in/law/twisha-death-case-giribala-singh-son-samarth-sent-to-judicial-remand-till-june-16-675971.html Tue, 02 Jun 2026 14:39:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/centre-appoints-five-new-supreme-court-judges-675864.html New Delhi June 1 Acting on the recommendation of the Supreme Court Collegium the Centre on Monday cleared the elevation of four High Court Chief Justices and senior advocate V Mohana as judges of the Supreme Court In a post on X Union Minister for Law and Justice Arjun Ram Meghwal announced that the President after consultation with the Chief Justice of India CJI had appointed Justices Sheel Nagu Shree Chandrashekhar Sanjeev Sachdeva and Arun Palli along with senior advocate V Mohana as judges of the apex courtâIn exercise of the power conferred by clause 2 of Article 124 of the Constitution of India the President of India after consultation with Chief Justice of India is pleased to appoint the following as Judges of the Supreme Court of Indiaâ Meghwal saidThe appointments come days after the Supreme Court Collegium recommended the elevation of the four Chief Justices and senior advocate Mohana to the apex courtâThe Supreme Court Collegium in its meetings held on 22nd amp 27th May 2026 has recommended elevation of the following persons as Judges in the Supreme Courtâ the Collegium had said in a statement uploaded on the apex court websiteThe recommended names were Justice Sheel Nagu Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court Parent High Court Madhya Pradesh High Court Justice Shree Chandrashekhar Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court Parent High Court Jharkhand High Court Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva Chief Justice of the Madhya Pradesh High Court Parent High Court Delhi High Court Justice Arun Palli Chief Justice of the Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court Parent High Court Punjab and Haryana High Court and senior advocate V MohanaJustice Nagu was appointed as a judge of the Madhya Pradesh High Court in May 2011 and took over as the Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court in July 2024Justice Chandrashekhar was elevated as a judge of the Jharkhand High Court in January 2013 and assumed office as the Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court in January 2025Justice Sachdeva was appointed an Additional Judge of the Delhi High Court in April 2013 and became a permanent judge in March 2015 He became the Chief Justice of the Madhya Pradesh High Court in July 2025Justice Palli was elevated as a judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court in December 2013 and was appointed the Chief Justice of the Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court in April 2025Senior advocate Mohana has been practising in the Supreme Court and has handled several constitutional civil and service matters before the apex courtThe appointments follow the Centreâs decision to increase the sanctioned strength of judges in the Supreme CourtLast month President Droupadi Murmu promulgated the Supreme Court Number of Judges Amendment Ordinance 2026 raising the sanctioned strength from 33 to 37 judges excluding the Chief Justice of India CJI with a view to tackling mounting pendency and expediting the disposal of cases IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/centre-appoints-five-new-supreme-court-judges-675864.html Mon, 01 Jun 2026 16:51:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/ex-bengal-minister-seeks-anticipatory-bail-plea-in-district-court-in-messi-kolkata-event-case-675911.html Kolkata June 1 Aroop Biswas the former West Bengal Sports Minister on Monday approached a court in North 24 Parganas district with an anticipatory bail plea His petition at the Barasat District Court follows an FIR registered against him last week at Bidhannagar South Police Station in North 24 Parganas district in connection with the vandalism at the Yuva Bharati Krirangan in Salt Lake during Lionel Messis GOAT India Tour on December 13 last yearAlthough the petition has been admitted the date of the first hearing in the matter is yet to be decidedThe police registered the FIR on the night of May 30 on the basis of a complaint filed by the main organiser of the Messi event Satadru Dutta on May 17Biswas a fourtime Trinamool Congress legislator from the Tollygunge Assembly constituency in South 24 Parganas district got defeated this time from the same constituency in the recently concluded electionsHe was defeated by the Bharatiya Janata Party BJPâs Papiya Adhikari a firsttime legislator and an actressturned politician by a margin of over 6000 votesEarlier during the previous Trinamool Congress regime the police arrested Messis tour organiser Satadru Dutta in connection with the Yuva Bharati incident He was later released on bailOn May 17 Dutta had filed a written complaint against Biswas and several others Based on that complaint the Bidhannagar South Police Station registered an FIR against the former ministerAfter the FIR was registered on the night of May 30 Dutta thanked the current West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari the current state sports minister Nishith Pramanik and the stateâs director general of police Sidh Nath GuptaIn his complaint filed on May 17 Dutta claimed that Biswas had blackmarketed about 22000 tickets for the Messi event Based on that allegation the Bidhannagar South Police Station has started an investigation Incidentally the new Sports Minister of the state government Nisith Pramanik had spoken about opening a file in the Messi event fiasco after taking charge IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/ex-bengal-minister-seeks-anticipatory-bail-plea-in-district-court-in-messi-kolkata-event-case-675911.html Mon, 01 Jun 2026 18:36:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/sad-alleges-political-vendetta-after-punjab-police-raid-on-majithias-residence-675838.html New Delhi June 1 IANS Shiromani Akali Dal SAD leaders strongly criticised the government after Punjab Police conducted a raid at the Amritsar residence of its senior leader Bikram Singh Majithia after a major clash alleging that the action was politicallymotivated and part of a broader campaign to target the OppositionnbspThe raid was carried out at Majithias Green Avenue residence following a major political standoff and clash at a local police stationAfter the confrontation Amritsar Police registered a First Information Report FIR against Majithia and several Akali Dal workersTo trace the accused named in the case police constituted 12 special teams and launched coordinated searches leading to the early morning operation at Majithias houseReacting to the development SAD President Sukhbir Singh Badal accused the ruling dispensation of pursuing a political agenda against the senior Akali leaderThis is all political vendetta They are frustrated and misleading people They put in their full effort in Majithias constituency first to cancel votes and then for booth capturing but still Majithia Sahib won Now they have made it a prestige issue to put him in jail This is all a planned operation by the Punjab government Sukhbir Singh Badal claimedSAD MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal also questioned the police action and alleged irregularities in the handling of the caseFirst he is taken out from the police station and no action is taken against him Then the person who was allegedly kept in illegal confinement at the SHOs residence without any warrant or FIR and who was supposedly going to be killed in a staged encounter at night is rescued After that an FIR is registered against Majithia she allegedThe raid marks the latest flashpoint in the longrunning confrontation between Bikram Singh Majithia and the Punjab government The senior Akali leader has been at the centre of several investigations and legal battles in recent years In June 2025 he was also arrested by the Punjab Vigilance Bureau in connection with a separate enquiryWhile the Punjab Police has maintained that the searches were part of an ongoing investigation linked to the FIR registered after the police station clash the SAD has accused the government of using law enforcement agencies to settle political scoresIANS https://dailyworld.in/law/sad-alleges-political-vendetta-after-punjab-police-raid-on-majithias-residence-675838.html Mon, 01 Jun 2026 14:37:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/cbi-arrests-nominated-member-of-meerut-cantonment-board-in-bribery-case-675668.html Meerut May 30 IANS The Central Bureau of Investigation CBI has arrested a Nominated Member of the Meerut Cantonment Board in Uttar Pradesh in a bribery case according to officials on SaturdayThe officials mentioned that the arrest was made on Friday after the CBI caught the accused redhanded accepting the bribe of Rs 3 lakhThe accused has been identified as Satish Kumar Sharma investigators saidThe CBI registered the instant case on 29052026 against the said accused on the allegations that the accused demanded illegal gratification of Rs 300000 for smooth continuation of tender for parking canteen and entry fees of Gandhi Bagh Meerut Cantt UP awarded to the private firm being operated by the complainant on behalf of his mother the investigating agency said in the statementThe CBI laid a trap on 29052026 and caught the accused redhanded while demanding and accepting the bribe amount of Rs 300000 from the complainant it addedAccording to the officials the accused is being produced before the Competent Court in Ghaziabad Uttar PradeshThe investigators further stated that the investigation into the case is underwayFurther details are awaited officials saidEarlier this month the CBI arrested a Superintendent of CGST Meerut and a Computer Operator working in the office of the Superintendent in a Rs 6000 bribery caseAccording to the officials the arrested individuals were identified as Sanjay Meena Superintendent CGST Office RangeI Meerut UP and Yash Sharma Computer Operator CGST OfficeThe CBI registered the instant case against the accused Computer Operator working in the office of the accused Superintendent CGST Office RangeI Meerut UP on the allegations of demand of illegal gratification of Rs 6000 on behalf of the accused Superintendent for revocation of a Show Cause Notice issued to the complainant said a statementThe CBI laid a trap and caught the accused Computer Operator redhanded while demanding and accepting the bribe amount on behalf of the Superintendent CGST Meerut and arrested the individualsIANS https://dailyworld.in/law/cbi-arrests-nominated-member-of-meerut-cantonment-board-in-bribery-case-675668.html Sat, 30 May 2026 13:19:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/zubeen-garg-death-case-bail-plea-of-accused-rejected-in-gauhati-hc-675601.html Guwahati May 29 The Gauhati High Court has rejected the bail plea of festival organiser Shyamkanu Mahanta one of the prime accused in the Zubeen Garg death case officials said on Friday Earlier a fast track court had also dismissed Mahantas bail application in connection with the case that had triggered widespread public reaction across AssamSources said the High Court while hearing the matter took note of the seriousness of the allegations and the ongoing investigation before refusing to grant bail to the accusedLegal experts said the courts decision indicates that the investigation is at a crucial stage and releasing the accused at this point could potentially influence the probeMeanwhile the family members and supporters seeking justice in the case welcomed the High Courts order terming it an important step towards ensuring a fair investigation and trialThe case has continued to draw strong reactions on social media with several users demanding strict punishment for those involved under the campaign Justice for Zubeen GargThe case pertains to the death of Zubeen Garg who died on September 19 last year while swimming near Lazarus Island in SingaporeThe incident occurred just a day before the singer was scheduled to perform at an event organised under the NEIF bannerFollowing the incident a Special Investigation Team SIT constituted by the Assam Polices Criminal Investigation Department conducted an extensive probe and filed a charge sheet in December 2025The charge sheet named seven accused individuals including Mahanta Of them four have been booked on charges of murder intensifying the sensitivity of the caseEarlier Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had termed the case a plain and simple murder during a discussion in the state Assembly underlining the governments stance on the matterMeanwhile a parallel investigation carried out by Singapore Police reached a different conclusion saying that there was no evidence of foul play in Gargs deathDespite this authorities in Assam have said that the findings of the foreign probe will not influence the ongoing investigation and trial in the stateThe case continues to draw widespread public and political attention with the upcoming bail hearing expected to be a crucial stage in the legal proceedings IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/zubeen-garg-death-case-bail-plea-of-accused-rejected-in-gauhati-hc-675601.html Fri, 29 May 2026 18:20:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/neet-ug-2026-cancelled-to-protect-students-interests-nta-in-sc-675483.html New Delhi May 29 IANS The National Testing Agency NTA on Friday told the Supreme Court that its decision to cancel the NEETUG 2026 examination and order a retest was taken in the interest of students and to preserve public confidence in the national examination systemnbspnbspIn an affidavit filed before the apex court in the batch of petitions seeking reforms in the conduct of NEETUG the NTA said the cancellation of the May 3 examination and referral of the matter to the Central Bureau of Investigation CBI demonstrated the seriousness with which it viewed examination integrityIt is respectfully submitted that the cancellation of the NEET UG 2026 examination conducted on 03052026 and the reference of the matter to the Central Bureau of Investigation CBI on 12052026 for investigation are themselves illustrative of the seriousness with which the Answering Respondent NTA and the Government of India view examination integrity the affidavit statedThe decision was taken in the interest of students and in recognition of the trust on which the national examination system rests it addedThe affidavit was filed in compliance with the Supreme Courts May 25 order directing the NTA to place on record the status of implementation of recommendations made by the highpowered committee headed by former ISRO Chairman K Radhakrishnan following the NEETUG 2024 controversyAccording to the NTA the examination held on May 3 was conducted at 5432 centres across 552 cities in India and 14 overseas cities with more than 22 lakh candidates appearing for the test under a strengthened security framework involving biometric verification AIassisted CCTV surveillance and mobile jammersThe affidavit said the NTA received inputs regarding alleged malpractice on the evening of May 7 and escalated the matter to central agencies the following morning for verification Based on the findings shared by investigative agencies the examination was cancelled and the matter referred to the CBI for a comprehensive probeDefending its handling of the situation the NTA told the apex court that it has acted in good faith with due diligence and in accordance with law to protect both the integrity of the examination process and the interests of genuine aspirantsThe affidavit said all necessary cooperation is being extended to the CBI in its ongoing investigationThe NTA further informed the Supreme Court that the reexamination scheduled for June 21 would be conducted under an even more robust security architecture with enhanced coordination involving Chief Secretaries Directors General of Police District Magistrates the Department of Posts and other authoritiesIt added that extensive reforms recommended by the Radhakrishnan committee have either been implemented or are at advanced stages of implementation including Aadhaarbased biometric authentication AIpowered CCTV monitoring installation of mobile jammers at all examination centres multitier oversight mechanisms and institutional coordination with state and district authoritiesThe NTA also reiterated that the highlevel expert committee had recommended a transition of NEETUG from penandpaper mode to a computerbased test CBT format and said the shift would be implemented from the next examination cycle in consultation with the Union Ministry of Health and Family WelfareEarlier this week the Supreme Court had issued notices to the Centre the NTA and other authorities on pleas seeking structural reforms in the conduct of NEETUG and an immediate transition to CBT mode observing that despite lessons from the 2024 controversy concerns regarding examination integrity had resurfacedWhen the matter was taken up for hearing on Friday it was passed over as Solicitor General Tushar Mehta was appearing before another BenchIANS https://dailyworld.in/law/neet-ug-2026-cancelled-to-protect-students-interests-nta-in-sc-675483.html Fri, 29 May 2026 13:47:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/majority-of-neet-reform-recommendations-already-implemented-former-isro-chief-to-sc-675559.html New Delhi May 29 Former ISRO Chairman K Radhakrishnan has informed the Supreme Court that a majority of the recommendations made by the highlevel expert committee constituted after the NEETUG 2024 controversy have either been implemented or are under active execution with several reforms already operational in the conduct of NEET examinations In an affidavit filed before the apex court Radhakrishnan who headed both the HighLevel Committee of Experts HLCE on NTA reforms and the subsequent HighPowered Steering Committee HPSC monitoring implementation of its recommendations said the reforms were aimed at ensuring âtransparent smooth and fair conduct of examinationsâ by the National Testing Agency NTAThe affidavit was filed pursuant to the Supreme Courtâs May 25 direction asking him to apprise the top court of the status of implementation of the panelâs recommendationsRadhakrishnan said the HLCE constituted by the Union Ministry of Education in June 2024 following the NEETUG controversy held extensive consultations with stakeholders including state governments police authorities technology experts academicians student groups and global testing agencies âThe HLCE also consulted stakeholders through the MyGov portal and received 37144 responses from students parentsguardians teachersacademicians etcâ the affidavit statedAccording to the affidavit the committee submitted its report on October 21 2024 making 101 recommendations covering examination reforms data security institutional restructuring of NTA examination integrity mental health support and technological safeguards âThe HLCE made a total of 101 recommendations with shortterm mediumterm and longterm perspectiveâ it saidThe affidavit stated that a HighPowered Steering Committee was subsequently constituted on November 14 2024 to oversee implementation of the recommendations and has been continuously monitoring progress through periodic reviews and presentations by NTA officialsHighlighting measures already put in place Radhakrishnan said state governments are now actively involved in the conduct of NEET examinations through StateLevel Coordination Committees SLCCs and DistrictLevel Coordination Committees DLCCs âStates are now actively involved in the conduct of NEETUG Examination as recommended by the HLCE State Level Coordination Committees SLCCs and District Level Coordination Committees DLCCs are functional and played a key role during NEET UG 2025 and 2026 Examinationsâ the affidavit saidIt added that more than 995 per cent of examination centres for NEETUG 2026 were government institutions and that city coordinators were drawn from government schools and Kendriya VidyalayasOn strengthening of the NTA the affidavit said the government had created 16 new seniorlevel posts and deployed domainspecific experts from institutions such as IITs the University Grants Commission UGC and Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan KVSRadhakrishnan also informed the top court that Aadhaarbased biometric authentication has been introduced for NEETUG candidates as part of the first phase of the proposed âDIGIEXAMâ systemâHPSC noted that NTA introduced Aadhaarbased biometric authentication for candidates appearing in NEETUG Examination as part of first phase for implementation of DIGIEXAM systemâ the affidavit statedIt further recorded that a multilayer frisking mechanism has been introduced CCTV surveillance has been expanded across examination centres and mobile jammers have been installed to prevent electronic malpracticeThe affidavit added that data analytics tools are now being used to identify suspicious patterns and anomalies in candidate responses while the grievance redressal system is being strengthened through artificial intelligence and machine learningbased functionalitiesOn the issue of examination format Radhakrishnan said the expert committee had recommended a gradual transition of NEETUG from penandpaper mode to a computerbased testing CBT format along with multisession and multistage testingâOn the structure of NEETUG the HLCE had recommended a transition from PenandPaper to ComputerBased Testingâ the affidavit stated However it clarified that such recommendations would have to be implemented in consultation with the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare which is the nodal ministry for NEETUGThe affidavit also said that several longterm reforms including educational testing research information security upgrades AIbased monitoring systems and harmonisation of entrance examinations are being implemented in a phased manner under the committeeâs supervisionThe affidavit comes in the backdrop of petitions seeking sweeping reforms in the conduct of NEETUG following the 2026 paper leak controversy IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/majority-of-neet-reform-recommendations-already-implemented-former-isro-chief-to-sc-675559.html Fri, 29 May 2026 15:34:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/bsnl-officer-in-jharkhand-convicted-in-da-case-gets-3-year-jail-675570.html Ranchi May 29 A special CBI court in Ranchi on Friday convicted former BSNL Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd technical officer Ram Vinod Singh in a disproportionate assets case and sentenced him to three yearsâ rigorous imprisonment The court also imposed a fine of Rs 25 lakh on the officerSpecial Judge Yogesh Kumar while delivering the verdict stated that failure to deposit the fine within the stipulated period would result in an additional one year of simple imprisonment in jailThe case dates back to 2007 when the CBIâs AntiCorruption Branch in Ranchi registered a case RC 02A2007 against the accused Ram Vinod SinghAccording to the investigating agency Singh while in service abused his official position to acquire assets worth around Rs 34 lakh in excess of his known sources of incomeThe CBI launched several searches at his premises in Jamshedpur and other areas During one of the searches the CBI found cash of Rs 68000 apart from the documents of several movable and immovable properties disproportionate to Singhâs known sources of incomeFollowing a detailed probe the CBI filed a charge sheet in court During the trial the agency presented documentary evidence and examined several witnesses in support of its caseCBI public prosecutor Davinder Pal Sood argued that the accused had amassed property through corrupt means by misusing his position as a BSNL officerBased on the prosecutionâs arguments documentary evidence and witness testimonies the court found Singh guilty under Sections 132 and 131e of the Prevention of Corruption Act 1988 and sentenced him to three years in jail apart from a fine of Rs 25 lakhCBI officials said that the investigation involved an assessment of the accusedâs movable and immovable assets which confirmed that he possessed wealth disproportionate to his legitimate income IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/bsnl-officer-in-jharkhand-convicted-in-da-case-gets-3-year-jail-675570.html Fri, 29 May 2026 16:17:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/rajasthan-hc-upholds-asarams-life-sentence-in-minor-sexual-assault-case-will-now-have-to-surrender-675335.html Jaipur May 27 The Rajasthan High Courtâs Jodhpur Bench on Wednesday upheld the life imprisonment sentence awarded to Asaram in the case involving the sexual assault of a minor student While affirming the conviction the court acquitted coaccused Shilpi and Sharatchand Asaram who is presently out on interim medical bail will now have to surrender The verdict was delivered by a Division Bench comprising Justice Arun Monga and Justice Yogendra Kumar PurohitAsaram was arrested in August 2013 following allegations of sexually assaulting a minor student at his ashram in Jodhpur After a prolonged trial a Special POCSO Court in Jodhpur convicted him on April 25 2018 sentencing him to life imprisonment The High Court conducted daytoday hearings in the appeal from February 16 to April 20 2026 Following the conclusion of arguments the Division Bench reserved its judgment on April 20 and pronounced the verdict on May 27During the hearings Asaramâs defence described the case as fabricated and pointed to alleged inconsistencies in the statements of the victimâs parents The defence argued that no call records established communication between Asaram and the victim on the night of the incident Invoking the principle of parity the lawyers contended that since certain coaccused had been acquitted based on the same evidence Asaram too could not be held guiltyOpposing the appeal the prosecution and the victimâs counsel PC Solanki argued that under the POCSO Act the testimony of the victim alone can constitute sufficient evidence for conviction a principle repeatedly upheld by the Supreme CourtThey further argued that attacks on and killings of witnesses reflected attempts to destroy evidence and influence the caseAsaram is already serving a life sentence in another sexual assault case involving a female devotee at his ashram in Gandhinagar Gujarat He was convicted in that case in January 2023 The 86yearold had repeatedly sought bail citing advanced age and deteriorating health Acting on directions of the Supreme Court the High Court had granted interim medical bail which was extended on multiple occasions Following the latest verdict he is now required to surrender to the authorities IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/rajasthan-hc-upholds-asarams-life-sentence-in-minor-sexual-assault-case-will-now-have-to-surrender-675335.html Wed, 27 May 2026 12:06:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/wanted-ndps-accused-from-rajasthan-held-in-ahmedabad-675221.html Ahmedabad May 26 A Rajasthanbased man wanted in multiple narcotics cases has been arrested in connection with a mephedrone seizure in Ahmedabad police said on Tuesday The accused identified as Rajuram Bishnoi 40 a businessman from Danta Bawaliya village in Sanchore taluka of Jalore district was apprehended by the Ahmedabad Crime Branch from his native villagePolice said Bishnoi allegedly supplied 412 grams of mephedrone valued at Rs 1236 lakh which was seized in Ahmedabad last monthOfficers acting on specific intelligence carried out a raid on April 13 near Ganesh Selection shop below Laxmi Market in the Ghee Kanta area of AhmedabadDuring the operation police arrested Malaram Devasi Rabari and Ashokkumar Darji who were allegedly found in possession of 412 grams of mephedrone without any legal authorisation or permitFollowing the seizure the Detection of Crime Branch registered an offence at DCB Police Station Part âCâ under Sections 8c 22c and 29 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances NDPS ActPolice said the investigation later revealed Bishnoiâs alleged role in supplying the contrabandâThe accused who had supplied the seized mephedrone consignment was traced to village Danta Bawaliya in Sanchore taluka of Rajasthan and was brought to Ahmedabad and arrested in the NDPS offenceâ officials saidOfficials further said Bishnoi is also wanted in another NDPS case registered at Abu Road RIICO Police Station in Rajasthan for offences under Sections 8 and 22 of the NDPS ActCrime Branch records show the accused has previously been booked in several criminal cases in RajasthanThese include a theft case registered at Industrial Area Pali Police Station in 2016 under Section 379 of the Indian Penal Code an NDPS case at Sanchore Police Station in 2019 under Sections 8 and 21 another NDPS case registered there in 2022 under Sections 8 21 22 25 and 29 and a further NDPS case at Karda Police Station in 2022 under Sections 8 22 and 29 of the ActPolice said further investigation into the interstate narcotics network and the source of the seized mephedrone is underway IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/wanted-ndps-accused-from-rajasthan-held-in-ahmedabad-675221.html Tue, 26 May 2026 12:47:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/kerala-hc-denies-bail-to-expelled-cong-councillor-in-dalit-womans-exploitation-case-675230.html Kochi May 26 In a major setback to expelled Congress councillor MA Prashob the Kerala High Court on Tuesday refused to grant him anticipatory bail in a rape case involving allegations of sexual exploitation of a Dalit woman on the promise of employment and lifelong support Justice A Badharudeen upheld the earlier order of the Special SCST Court which had rejected the former councillorâs plea for prearrest bail after finding that a prima facie case existed against himThe case registered at the Palakkad Town South Police Station has triggered political embarrassment for the Congress in Palakkad after the allegations surfaced against the nowexpelled municipal councillorThe incident was used by the CPIM during the Assembly polls campaignAccording to the prosecution Prashob despite being married maintained a relationship with the complainant for nearly oneandahalf years and repeatedly engaged in sexual intercourse with her by allegedly assuring her of a job and continued support in lifeThe woman who belongs to the Scheduled Caste community alleged that she later became pregnant during the relationship and was subsequently threatened and abused after details of the affair became publicBased on the complaint police booked Prashob under various provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita including charges related to rape sexual exploitation under false promises and criminal intimidation apart from Sections of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Prevention of Atrocities ActSeeking anticipatory bail Prashob had argued before the High Court that the allegations even if accepted entirely pointed only to a consensual relationship between two adultsHis counsel contended that the provisions of the SCST Act were wrongly invoked and therefore the statutory restrictions against granting anticipatory bail under the Act would not apply in the caseThe defence also argued that the Special Court had failed to record any prima facie finding specifically substantiating the allegation of rape and had rejected bail mainly on the basis of offences under the SCST ActHowever the counsel appearing for the complainant strongly opposed the bail plea alleging that the accused had manipulated and exploited the woman emotionally and sexually over a prolonged periodThe complainant further alleged that she first came into contact with Prashob after his father who ran a tea shop allegedly misbehaved with herAccording to her Prashob later persuaded her not to pursue a complaint and gradually gained her trust by offering assurances of employment and protection before luring her into the relationshipWith the High Court declining relief the expelled councillor now faces the prospect of arrest as the investigation progresses IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/kerala-hc-denies-bail-to-expelled-cong-councillor-in-dalit-womans-exploitation-case-675230.html Tue, 26 May 2026 13:28:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/sad-they-have-not-learnt-their-lesson-sc-questions-authorities-over-fresh-neet-ug-2026-row-and-exam-irregularity-concerns-675128.html New Delhi May 25 IANS The Supreme Court on Monday issued notices to the Centre the National Testing Agency NTA and other authorities on pleas seeking structural reforms in the conduct of the NEETUG examination including an immediate transition to a computerbased testing CBT mode in the wake of the alleged 2026 paper leak controversynbspnbspA Bench of Justices PS Narasimha and Alok Aradhe directed that copies of the petitions be served upon Solicitor General Tushar Mehta the Centres secondhighest law officer and listed the matter for further hearing on Friday May 29During the proceedings the apex court remarked that despite the controversy surrounding NEETUG 2024 and the recommendations made thereafter by a highpowered committee headed by former ISRO Chairman K Radhakrishnan concerns regarding examination integrity had resurfacedIts sad that they have not learnt their lesson the Justice Narasimhaled Bench orally observedThe Supreme Court recalled that after the 2024 controversy a committee had already been constituted recommendations were accepted and even a monitoring mechanism was put in place In this backdrop the Justice Narasimhaled Bench directed the NTA to file an affidavit clarifying the present status regarding compliance with the recommendations of the monitoring committee constituted on November 14 2024 including details of its functioningIt also asked Prof K Radhakrishnan Chairman of the highpowered committee to submit a separate affidavit indicating the steps taken to ensure implementation of the panels recommendations as well as compliance with the directions issued earlier by the apex courtThe latest directions came on petitions including those filed by the Federation of All India Medical Association FAIMA and the United Doctors Front seeking accountability and systemic reforms in the conduct of the NEETUG examinationOne of the petitions sought immediate transition of NEETUG to a fully computerbased test mode contending that the existing penandpaper framework involving physical printing transportation and storage of confidential examination material remained inherently vulnerableThe plea argued that despite recommendations made after the NEETUG 2024 controversy the examination continued under substantially the same penandpaper framework It contended that the Union government had already publicly announced that NEETUG would transition to CBT mode from 2027 which itself amounted to an acknowledgement that technological reform and secure digital examination architecture are necessaryThe petition further sought replacement of the NTA with a new independent transparent and professionally regulated National Examination Authority having statutory accountability judicial oversight and advanced technological safeguardsAnother plea challenged the systemic failure of the NTA and sought dissolution of the agency in its present form as a society registered under the Societies Registration Act 1860The petitions have also sought the constitution of a courtmonitored committee to oversee reforms in national examinations and implementation of encrypted digital paper transmission systems biometric verification AIbased surveillance and stricter cybersecurity protocolsAdditionally directions have been sought for strict criminal prosecution of those allegedly involved in paper leaks and organised cheating rackets as well as a status report from the CBI on the progress of the investigation into the alleged NEETUG 2026 paper leakThe petitions argued that the controversy surrounding NEETUG 2026 including allegations of the circulation of guess papers before the May 3 examination and the subsequent cancellation of the test on May 12 is part of a recurring pattern affecting nationallevel examinationsIIANS https://dailyworld.in/law/sad-they-have-not-learnt-their-lesson-sc-questions-authorities-over-fresh-neet-ug-2026-row-and-exam-irregularity-concerns-675128.html Mon, 25 May 2026 13:17:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/ngt-seeks-action-taken-report-from-rpcb-in-alwar-groundwater-contamination-case-675000.html Jaipur May 24 The Bhopal Central Zone Bench of the National Green Tribunal NGT while taking a serious note of groundwater contamination in and around the Rajasthan State Industrial Development and Investment Corporation RIICO Industrial Area in Sotanala of Rajasthans Alwar has directed the Rajasthan State Pollution Control Board RSPCB to submit a detailed action taken report The matter pertains to original application titled Ms Dhansa Labs Limited formerly Ambey Laboratories Ltd vs Rajasthan State Pollution Control Board amp Others which came up for hearing on Saturday before a bench comprising Justice Sheo Kumar Singh Judicial Member and Sudhir Kumar Chaturvedi Expert MemberThe application highlights serious concerns over groundwater pollution allegedly caused by pesticide residues discharged from industries operating in the RIICO industrial areas of Sotanala and adjoining regionsDuring the proceedings the Tribunal took note of findings recorded in a scientific study conducted by the National Institute of Hydrology NIH Roorkee at the instance of the Rajasthan State Pollution Control BoardAccording to the NIH report groundwater in the RIICO industrial areas of Keshwana and Sotanala has been found to be severely contaminatedThe study also warned that the contamination plume may gradually spread towards the RIICO industrial area of Behror in the future potentially aggravating environmental and public health risks in the regionThe report also said that the deteriorating groundwater quality could have adverse impacts on human healthIt recommended urgent remedial measures including scientific groundwater remediation and implementation of rainwater harvesting systems particularly rooftop rainwater harvesting structures to help restore groundwater quality and improve rechargeTaking the matter seriously the National Green Tribunal directed the Rajasthan State Pollution Control Board to identify the industries actually responsible for the contamination place on record the remedial and corrective measures undertaken so far and ensure further action in accordance with the recommendations made in the NIH reportThe Tribunal has listed the matter for further hearing on August 19 IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/ngt-seeks-action-taken-report-from-rpcb-in-alwar-groundwater-contamination-case-675000.html Sun, 24 May 2026 14:19:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/biggest-ever-mass-surrender-in-jharkhand-as-27-maoists-lay-down-arms-674802.html Ranchi May 21 Security forces got major success in Jharkhand on Thursday as they secured the surrender of 27 Maoists marking the largest such collective surrender in the states history The group included 25 Maoists active in the Saranda and Kolhan regions of the state in West Singhbhum district along with two extremists from the banned Jharkhand Jan Mukti Parishad JJMP They laid down arms at the police headquarters in Ranchi in the presence of Director General of Police DGP Tadasha Mishra and senior officials of the police department and CRPFAmong those who surrendered were eight hardcore Maoists carrying cash rewards These included six cadres with a bounty of Rs 5 lakh each one with a reward of Rs 2 lakh and a woman cadre carrying a reward of Rs 1 lakhPolice said the surrendered extremists were involved in 426 serious cases across various police stations in the state These cases include charges of murder attacks on security forces extortion explosions and other armed activitiesDuring the surrender the cadres also handed over a large cache of arms and ammunition including one LMG INSAS four INSAS rifles nine SLRs a boltaction rifle a pistol 31 magazines 2987 live cartridges and eight walkietalkiesOfficials said the continued operations by security forces and the Jharkhand governmentâs surrender and rehabilitation policy played a key role in persuading them to return to the mainstream of societyThose who surrendered include seven subzonal commanders seven area commanders and 13 active cadres of the CPI Maoist Key surrendered Maoists include Gadi Munda alias Gulshan Nagendra Munda alias Prabhat Munda Rekha Munda alias Jayanti Sagen Angaria alias Dokol Suleman Hansda alias Suni Hansda and JJMP member Sachin BekOthers who returned to the mainstream include Darshan alias Binj Hansda Karan Tiu alias Dangur Basumati Jerai alias Basu Baijnath Munda Raghu Kayam alias Guna Kishore Sirka alias Durga Sirka and Ram Dayal MundaAmong the women cadres who surrendered are Vandana alias Shanti Sunita Sardar Sapna alias Suru Kalundia and Anisha Koda alias RaniPolice officials said all surrendered extremists would receive financial assistance and rehabilitation benefits under the state governmentâs policy Additional incentives will also be provided for depositing weaponsSenior officials present at the event included IG Pankaj Kamboj IG Prabhat Kumar IG Sunil Bansal IG Asim Vikrant Minz IG Anoop Birthare IG Mayur Patel Kanhaiyalal DIG Indrajeet Mehta DIG Manoj Ratan Chauthe DIG Kartik S Shailendra Barnwal SSP Rakesh Ranjan SP Harish Bin Juma and SP Saurabh among others IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/biggest-ever-mass-surrender-in-jharkhand-as-27-maoists-lay-down-arms-674802.html Thu, 21 May 2026 13:20:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/rajasthan-hc-raps-tantrik-based-probe-orders-change-of-investigating-officer-674811.html Jaipur May 21 The Rajasthan High Court has strongly criticised the police investigation into a jewellery theft case in Nagaur district after it emerged that the probe was influenced by a âtantrikâ witch doctor The court observed that a criminal investigation cannot be carried out on the dictates of a tantrik and ordered the removal of the investigating officer within 15 daysThe order was passed by the single bench of Justice Munnuri Laxman while hearing a petition filed by 80yearold petitioner Khemi Devi a resident of Utwalia village under Sri Balaji police station limits in Nagaur district The court directed the Nagaur Superintendent of Police to transfer the investigation from Sri Balaji police station to a subinspector or higherranking officer from another police stationAccording to the petition Khemi Devi had lodged an FIR on March 8 alleging theft of gold and silver jewellery belonging to her and her daughterinlaw from their home on the night of March 7 Her counsel advocate Manohar Singh Rathore told the court that despite being provided with the names of suspected persons the investigating officer Head Constable Ratiram failed to recover the stolen jewellery or identify the accusedThe petition further alleged that instead of relying on evidence the investigating officer resorted to superstition and allegedly visited a tantrik in Alwar district along with the daughterinlawâs father and some village eldersAccording to the petitioner the tantrik allegedly claimed that the daughterinlawâs father was involved in the theft after which the police began treating him as a suspect without any concrete evidence and attempted to frame him in the caseDuring the hearing Public Prosecutor Vikram Singh Rajpurohit appearing for the state government submitted a status report received from the Nagaur Superintendent of Police The report stated that the investigating officer had questioned several suspects and visited multiple places during the investigation While the prosecution denied that villagers had been taken to the tantrik it admitted that the investigating officer had visited the tantrikâs place in Alwar districtAfter examining the status report and hearing both sides Justice Munnuri Laxman observed that there was a possibility the investigation had been influenced or tainted by the tantrikâs opinionsThe court said an independent and impartial investigation was necessary to identify the actual culprits and held that under no circumstances could a criminal investigation be conducted at the behest of a tantrikOn these grounds the High Court ordered the removal of the present investigating officer and directed that the probe be handed over to another officer within 15 days IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/rajasthan-hc-raps-tantrik-based-probe-orders-change-of-investigating-officer-674811.html Thu, 21 May 2026 13:52:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/sc-issues-notice-on-pil-against-liquor-sold-in-tetra-packs-sachets-674652.html New Delhi May 20 IANS The Supreme Court on Wednesday issued notice to the Centre and all states on a public interest litigation PIL raising concerns over the sale of alcohol in inconspicuous packaging such as tetra packs PET bottles plastic sachets and other portable containersnbspA Bench of Chief Justice of India CJI Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi passed the order while hearing a petition filed by an NGODuring the hearing the CJI Kantled Bench orally remarked This is very deceptive after being informed by the petitioners counsel advocateonrecord Vipin Nair that certain alcoholic beverages were being packaged in containers resembling fruit juices complete with fruit imagery and flavoursThe plea seeks formulation of uniform and harmonised guidelines across states to regulate the packaging of liquor contending that divergent definitions under various State Excise Acts allow alcohol to be sold in flasks pots wrappers and other similar receptacles According to the petition alcohol is increasingly being sold in portable and inconspicuous packaging such as tetra packs plastic sachets and small PET bottles which can be easily concealed and carried in public placesIt argued that such packaging poses various risks including consumption by juveniles drinking in a moving vehicle health risks increased ease of smuggling ease of public consumption and environmental risksThe plea further highlighted that these products are often marketed using fruit names and colourful designs making them deceptively similar to nonalcoholic beverages and consequently increasing their appeal particularly among younger consumersSuch packaging being deceptively similar to fruit juices facilitates easy access and concealment encourages underage consumption promotes public drinking and drunk driving the petition statedIt added that unlike tobacco products these alcohol packs do not carry prominent health warnings with any cautionary messages being printed in small barely visible textThe petitioner organisation which has been campaigning against drunken driving and underage drinking for over two decades contended that the absence of uniform regulation has resulted in states prioritising revenue considerations over public health and safetyThe plea referred to provisions under different state excise laws including those in Uttar Pradesh Punjab Maharashtra Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh which define bottle and bottling in broad terms to include receptacles such as sachets wrappers flasks packets and similar containersSeeking intervention of the apex court the petition prayed for uniform and harmonised guidelines governing liquor packaging across the country while keeping public health road safety and environmental concerns in mindSeeking intervention of the top court the petition has prayed for directions to the Union and states to adopt a uniform definition of bottle restricted to clearly identifiable containers and to frame guidelines keeping in view public health road safety and environmental concernsIANS https://dailyworld.in/law/sc-issues-notice-on-pil-against-liquor-sold-in-tetra-packs-sachets-674652.html Wed, 20 May 2026 14:09:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/telangana-official-sent-to-judicial-custody-in-disproportionate-assets-case-674662.html Hyderabad May 20 An ACB court on Wednesday sent a top official of Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board to judicial custody for 14 days in a Disproportionate Assets case The AntiCorruption Bureau ACB which registered a case against SA Laxmi Kumar and arrested him on Tuesday produced him before the courtAfter the court remanded him to judicial custody he was shifted to Chanchalguda Central PrisonLaxmi Kumar General Manager Engg Project DivisionVIII Red Hills HMWSampSB was booked after assets of over Rs588 crore were found during searches at premises linked to himAccording to the ACB he acquired assets disproportionate to his known sources of income by indulging in corrupt practices and dubious means during his serviceAs this is an offence punishable under Section 13 1 b and 12 922 of the Prevention of Corruption Act 1988 as amended in 2018 searches were conducted on May 1 at his residence and eight other places belonging to his relatives friends benamis and other associates the ACB said in a releaseThe antigraft agency stated that during the searches documents relating to 18 acres agricultural land in Nizamabad and Sangareddy six open plots three flats and one house in Hyderabad were foundFurther during the searches net cash of Rs110 crore gold ornaments weighing 21 kg and silver articles weighing 92 kg were also found in the accused officerâs house the ACB said Further one Maruti Ritz car one Bajaj motor bike all assets worth Rs 58855490 were foundâThe market value of movable and immovable property may be many times higher than the document valueâ said the releaseFurther verification of additional assets is underway The case is under investigation it addedACB officials conducted simultaneous searches at eight locations since early morningOne of the teams conducted searches at his residence at Mallapur The officials were seen counting cash and sealing gold ornaments silver items and other valuables They were also checking documents relating to properties at various places in Hyderabad and other districts IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/telangana-official-sent-to-judicial-custody-in-disproportionate-assets-case-674662.html Wed, 20 May 2026 14:52:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/rg-kar-rape-amp-murder-case-calcutta-hc-directs-cbi-to-seal-all-hospital-areas-that-may-be-linked-to-crime-674568.html Kolkata May 19 The Calcutta High Court on Tuesday directed the Central Bureau of Investigation CBI to immediately seal all the areas in the staterun RG Kar Medical College amp Hospital that may be linked with the ghastly rape amp murder of a junior woman doctor there in August 2024 A division bench of Justice Shampa Sarkar and Justice Tirthankar Ghosh which had been recently assigned the matter at the end of its first hearing specially directed the agency to ensure that the seal of the seminar room within the hospital premises where the body of the victim was detected in the morning of August 9 2024 remained intactIt also directed the CBI to seal other suspected sports within the hospital premises like the office and chamber of the then Principal Sandip Ghosh who is already tainted both in the rape amp murder case as well as the multicrore financial irregularities in the said medical college amp hospitalDuring the hearing on Tuesday on the petition by the family members of the victim seeking permission to visit the scene of the crime the division bench asked the CBI counsel whether the seminar room was still in a sealed condition or the seal had been removedWhen the CBI counsel informed the court that the seal was still there the counsel of the victimâs family informed the court that the office and chamber of Ghosh had not been sealed Thereafter the division bench again questioned the CBI counsel whether the investigating officials of the central agency did not feel it necessary to seal spots other than the seminar room for the sake of proper investigationIt directed the CBI to immediately seal all the suspected spots within the hospital premises that might have links with the tragedy The next hearing in the matter had been scheduled on May 21After the previous division bench headed by Justice Rajasekhar Mantha recused from hearing the matter on May 12 observing that this important case needs to be heard quickly the Calcutta High Courtâs Chief Justice Sujoy Paul on May 15 referred the matter to the division bench of Justice Sarkar and Justice Ghosh IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/rg-kar-rape-amp-murder-case-calcutta-hc-directs-cbi-to-seal-all-hospital-areas-that-may-be-linked-to-crime-674568.html Tue, 19 May 2026 19:28:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/sc-collegium-recommends-appointment-of-permanent-judges-in-bombay-hc-674585.html New Delhi May 19 The Supreme Court Collegium headed by Chief Justice of India CJI Surya Kant has recommended the appointment of six additional judges as permanent judges of the Bombay High Court In a statement issued on Tuesday the apex court Collegium said that in its meeting held on May 18 it approved the proposal for the appointment of Justices Nivedita Prakash Mehta Prafulla Surendrakumar Khubalkar Ashwin Damodar Bhobe Rohit Wasudeo Joshi Advait Mahendra Sethna and Pravin Sheshrao Patil as permanent judges of the Bombay High CourtâThe Supreme Court Collegium in its meeting held on 18th May 2026 has approved the proposal for appointment of the following Additional Judges as Permanent Judges of High Court of Bombay i Ms Justice Nivedita Prakash Mehta ii Shri Justice Prafulla Surendrakumar Khubalkar iii Shri Justice Ashwin Damodar Bhobe iv Shri Justice Rohit Wasudeo Joshi v Shri Justice Advait Mahendra Sethna and vi Shri Justice Pravin Sheshrao Patil the statement saidThe Chief Justice and Judges of the High Courts are appointed by the President under clause 1 of Article 217 of the ConstitutionWhile recommending the appointment of an additional judge as a permanent judge the Chief Justice of the High Court is required to furnish detailed statistics including monthwise disposal of cases and judgments delivered by the judge concerned as well as the number of cases reported in law journals The data must also include information regarding the total number of working days the number of days the judge actually attended court and the days of absence during the relevant period for which disposal statistics are submittedIn a separate development the Supreme Court Collegium has also approved proposals for the appointment of 19 advocates and judicial officers as judges of the Madras High Court IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/sc-collegium-recommends-appointment-of-permanent-judges-in-bombay-hc-674585.html Tue, 19 May 2026 19:49:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/new-division-bench-of-calcutta-hc-to-hear-rg-kar-rape-murder-case-today-674464.html Kolkata May 19 A new division bench of the Calcutta High Court Justice Shampa Sarkar and Justice Tirthankar Ghosh will hear on Tuesday the case on the 2024 ghastly rape and murder of a woman doctor of the staterun RG Kar Medical College and Hospital As per the cause list of the Calcutta High Court the hearing in the matter will start at 1 pmAfter the previous division bench headed by Justice Rajasekhar Mantha recused from hearing the matter on May 12 observing that âthis important case needs to be heard quicklyâ the Calcutta High Courtâs Chief Justice Sujoy Paul on May 15 referred the matter to the new division bench of Justice Sarkar and Justice GhoshWhile referring the matter to the new bench Justice Paul observed that all petitions connected to the matter including the plea by the victimâs family seeking permission to visit the crime scene would now be heard by the new division benchTo recall although the Central Bureau of Investigation CBI which is probing the matter did not object to the plea from the victimâs family seeking permission to visit the crime scene the previous state government led by the previous Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had objectedIn fact the previous division bench headed by Justice Mantha during a hearing then questioned why the state government was objecting to the plea from the victimâs family when CBI as the investigating agency was not objectingRecently the new state government led by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announced the suspension of former Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Kumar Goyal and two deputy commissioners of the city police namely Indira Mukherjee and Abhishek Gupta for shoddy handling of the initial probe by the city police before the charge of the probe was handed over to the CBI by the Calcutta High CourtAdhikari had on Monday also announced the state governmentâs decision to permit the ED to prosecute the former principal of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital Sandip Ghosh who has been linked to both the RG Kar financial irregularities case as well as the rape and murder of the junior doctor a permission which was long held back by the previous regimeHowever since the ED is conducting the probe into the RG Kar financial irregularities case the formal permission granted by the state government to prosecute and convict Sandip Ghosh is limited to that caseThe Central Bureau of Investigation is conducting a parallel probe into the RG Kar financial irregularities case as well as the rape and murder case within the same hospital premises in August 2024 IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/new-division-bench-of-calcutta-hc-to-hear-rg-kar-rape-murder-case-today-674464.html Tue, 19 May 2026 11:17:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/ai-needs-oversight-enforceable-accountability-in-law-justice-manmohan-at-jgu-674497.html New Delhi May 19 âAI needs institutional oversight and enforceable accountability in lawâ said the Honâble Justice Manmohan Judge Supreme Court of India at the Dr HR Bhardwaj Memorial Lecture on the theme The Emergence of AI and Its Implications for Justice Delivery and Legal Systems held at OP Jindal Global University âWhat is needed is that human judgment must remain central even with the use of AI India requires a clear regulatory framework for judicial AI and it must be developed in the Indian context Capacity building within the judiciary will be required and universities will have to develop courses on ethical constitutional and procedural dimensions of AI deploymentâ he addedJustice Manmohan paid tribute to Dr HR Bhardwaj and said âDr HR Bhardwaj was a multifaceted personality He was an author and a senior advocate designated by the Supreme Court He was a Member of Parliament five times and a minister for 15 years under three Prime Ministers He belonged to a generation where people across the political divide could be friends His question across five decades was always the same How do we bring justice to every Indian And he believed in technology In fact the first phase of the programme the eMode Phase One which is being implemented in the Supreme Court was launched while he was the law minister Technology and law have always had a very symbiotic relationship where technology has challenged fundamental concepts of law All our laws when they were promulgated we were dealing with a physical world Today we live in a digital world So when we are applying these laws are we doing the right thing by applying the same principles Or do we need a different set of principlesâAI the artificial intelligence as we call it is also demanding the same reckoning but at a pace which is unimaginable and at a scale which is also unbelievable due to its evolving nature If a computer software programme operates according to rules defined in advance by the programmers it is not an AI system But if a system is built using techniques that allow the programme to create rules of its own based on input data or data sets provided to the programme then it is an AI system Today the question is no longer whether they will be used or not The question is whether their use will be structured by clear principles of institutional oversight and enforceable accountability Keeping in view the importance of AI the Supreme Court has constituted an AI committee chaired by a sitting judge of the Supreme Court to lay down a broad strategy and policy with adequate guardrailsThe Supreme Courts White Paper on AI and judiciary released by the Centre for Policy Research and Planning in November 2025 is an authoritative statement of where the institution currently stands The paper positions AI as an assisted technology capable of supporting legal research transcription translation filing scrutiny and administrative analytics while firmly stating that judges must remain the ultimate decision makers with every AI output subject to human verification In consonance with our constitutional mandate there is human oversight throughout the process There is also the issue of privacy Data is collected by consent or not but what are the inferences that are being drawn and whether the individual who has given their consent is even aware of the downstream consequencesIn his Welcome Address Prof Dr C Raj Kumar Founding Vice Chancellor OP Jindal Global University said âThis is an occasion of remembrance gratitude and reflection a tribute to a statesman a constitutionalist a mentor an institution builder and above all a remarkable human being It was a dream to be able to come to India and be part of an effort to build a worldclass university I had not known HR Bhardwaj before I wrote to him and shared with him the idea of creating a university in India This is how the idea of establishing OP Jindal Global University began I want to begin by expressing this deep sense of institutional gratitude from the bottom of my heart and also from the hearts of more than 16000 students 4000 faculty members and the staff of O P Jindal Global University Dr Bhardwaj believed that India deserved a truly global university A university rooted in Indian values but globally engaged A university committed to constitutional morality public service and intellectual excellence He had extraordinary faith in the transformative power of youth and education Bharadwajs contribution is quite extraordinary He had a deep commitment to the Constitution of India and dedicated his life to preserving democratic values He oversaw significant legal and judicial reforms and promoted modernization within legal institutions He supported the expansion of legal aid and initiatives and was a strong advocate for worldclass legal education in India A number of his writings including books reflected the idea of Indias history civilization and heritage He believed education must cultivate humanity and compassion Legacies survive not only through institutions but through families preserved through values and memories and today I also pay tribute to his family for their supportâKarn Bhardwaj Advocate shared his reflections on his illustrious grandfather Dr HR Bhardwaj and said âToday is very meaningful for us because not only are we here with our near and dear ones but its also the birth anniversary of my grandfather Dr HR Bhardwaj The digitization of the courts and the use of AI are very new and very fastevolving aspects of legal practice And it is something that everybody is engaging with New entrants into the legal profession come with a very different mindset they are technologydriven They believe in electronic case management And they are really very differently evolved as professional individuals And as a lawyer in my generation I believe that this mindset transition has come not just because of access to technology but because of the integration of technology into the legal profession Today technology is so deeply integrated in law and Im proud to say that the late Dr H R Bhardwaj has had a founding role in the implementation of technology in our justice system as it stands todayâAlso present at the Memorial Lecture were members of his family including his wife Dr Prafullata Bhardwaj his son Arun Bharadwaj Senior Advocate and grandchildren Karn Bhardwaj Advocate and Gautam Bhardwaj AdvocateDr Hans Raj Bhadwaj 17th May 1937 08th March 2020 former Governor of Karnataka and Kerala 201213 former Union Minister of Law and Justice 20042009 was an inspirational leader eminent lawyer humanitarian educationist and politician who leaves behind a remarkable legacyIn a legal and political career spanning over five decades as a fivetime Member of Parliament Rajya Sabha 19822009 Dr Bhardwaj served under several Prime Ministers Dr Bharadwaj also played a founding role in establishing the International Centre for Alternative Dispute Resolution ICADR and has been at the helm of legal and judicial reforms including womenâs right to property introduction of rural courts for doorstep justice reservation for women in the House of the People Lok Sabha and legislative assemblies perks and privileges for the judiciary etcThe Concluding Remarks were given by Prof Dabiru Sridhar Patnaik Registrar OP Jindal Global University IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/ai-needs-oversight-enforceable-accountability-in-law-justice-manmohan-at-jgu-674497.html Tue, 19 May 2026 13:06:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/justice-manoj-jain-to-hear-cbi-plea-division-bench-to-hear-contempt-case-against-kejriwal-674315.html New Delhi May 18 IANS The Delhi High Court has constituted a new Bench to hear the CBIs plea challenging the discharge of AAP leaders including former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and exDeputy CM Manish Sisodia in the excise policy case after Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma recused from the matter following initiation of criminal contempt proceedingsnbspA singlejudge Bench of Justice Manoj Jain will now hear the CBIs revision petition against the trial court order that had discharged Kejriwal Manish Sisodia and others in the alleged excise policy corruption case The matter is scheduled to be taken up on TuesdaySeparately a Division Bench of Justices Navin Chawla and Ravinder Dudeja has been constituted to hear the criminal contempt case against Kejriwal Sisodia AAP MP Sanjay Singh and party leaders Saurabh Bharadwaj Vinay Mishra and Durgesh Pathak The contempt proceedings will also be heard on TuesdayThe developments come days after Justice Sharma initiated criminal contempt proceedings observing that a coordinated social media campaign had been carried out to scandalise the judiciary in connection with the excise policy caseIn a detailed order the Delhi High Court held that the actions of the proposed contemnors were calculated to scandalise the Court lower the authority of the institution of justice interfere with the administration of justice and intimidate the independent exercise of judicial functionsIt observed that while fair criticism of judicial orders is permissible there is a distinction between fair criticism and running a campaign to portray a judge as biasedThe Court cannot permit erosion of the constitutional system and the justice delivery system by tolerating organised assaults in the name of public discourse the order said adding that such attempts if unchecked could undermine public confidence in the judiciaryJustice Sharma also made it clear that the contempt proceedings were not driven by personal grievance stating that she neither seeks sympathy nor demands immunity from criticism but is dutybound to protect the institutionThe judge had clarified that transfer of the main excise policy case to another Bench was not a recusal at the asking of the accused persons but a step necessitated by judicial propriety and discipline after initiation of contempt proceedingsThe main revision petition can always be heard by any other Bench However the acts of the proposed contemnors directed against this Court and the institution of the judiciary could only have been noticed and addressed by this Court the order saidIt added that the transfer of the case should not be construed as succumbing to recusal demands stating that the earlier order rejecting recusal continues to hold the fieldThe contempt proceedings were initiated after the Delhi High Court took exception to alleged defamatory and vilifying material circulated against Justice Sharma on social media following her refusal to recuse from the matterAccording to the Delhi High Court instead of challenging the recusal order before a higher forum the accused persons sought to carry the matter to social media by publishing letters and videos questioning the judges impartiality thereby attempting to create public distrust in the judiciaryThe trial court in a judgment running into more than 1100 paragraphs had discharged all accused persons holding that the nowscrapped excise policy was the outcome of a consultative and deliberative process and that the prosecution failed to establish an overarching conspiracyIn its revision plea before the High Court the CBI has alleged that the excise policy framed by the then AAPled Delhi government was manipulated to favour select liquor traders in exchange for kickbacksIANS https://dailyworld.in/law/justice-manoj-jain-to-hear-cbi-plea-division-bench-to-hear-contempt-case-against-kejriwal-674315.html Mon, 18 May 2026 14:41:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/jodhpur-police-registers-suo-motu-fir-in-womans-suspicious-death-followed-by-overnight-cremation-674330.html Jodhpur May 18 Jodhpur Rural Police registered a suo motu FIR in connection with the suspicious death of a woman in the AsopBhopalgarh area and her subsequent overnight cremation Superintendent of Police PD Nitya said on Monday According to the SP the incident is being treated as serious and suspicious due to the circumstances surrounding the womanâs death and the hurried cremation carried out during the night without prior information to the authoritiesSP PD Nitya stated that on May 14 the woman and her husband had visited the Asop police station following mutual disputes and familyrelated tensionsBoth parties expressed apprehension and claimed they felt threatened by one another Police officials counseled the couple at the police station and asked the woman whether she wished to file a formal complaintHowever she declined to lodge any report Considering the situation the Station House Officer presented both individuals before an Executive Magistrate for preventive legal actionDuring this process the womanâs brothers also arrived at the police station and assured officials that they would take responsibility for her safety and ensure that no further dispute occurred between the two sidesThe woman subsequently left with her brothers for her maternal home The SP further stated that on the morning of May 15 police received information regarding the death of a woman in the village and that her cremation had already been carried out overnightWhen police reached the spot it emerged that the deceased was the same woman who had visited the police station a day earlierFamily members informed officials that the woman had allegedly died by suicide following which her cremation was performed during the night itselfFinding the circumstances suspicious police took suo motu cognisance and registered an inquest reportForensic investigation teams including the FSL and Mobile Forensic Unit were called to the site to collect evidence Police officials collected samples from the cremation site including bones and bodily remains firewood and other materials used during the cremation processAccording to SP PD Nitya a Medical Board has conducted a postmortem examination of the remains and all collected samples will be sent for forensic analysisThe investigating agency has been directed to conduct a detailed enquiry into all aspects related to the womanâs death and the circumstances under which the cremation was carried outFurther legal action will be initiated based on the findings of the investigation the SP added IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/jodhpur-police-registers-suo-motu-fir-in-womans-suspicious-death-followed-by-overnight-cremation-674330.html Mon, 18 May 2026 16:16:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/sc-refuses-to-hear-pil-on-temple-priests-wages-674336.html New Delhi May 18 The Supreme Court on Monday declined to entertain a public interest litigation PIL seeking directions for framing a uniform wage and welfare framework for priests sevadars and temple staff working in statecontrolled temples across the country A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta expressed disinclination to interfere in the matter and refused to entertain the plea filed by advocate Ashwini Upadhyay who appeared in personAfter the apex court indicated its unwillingness to examine the issue Upadhyay sought permission to withdraw the petition with liberty to approach the appropriate authoritiesThe Justice Vikram Nathled Bench thereafter dismissed the matter as withdrawnThe petitioner seeks permission to withdraw the plea with liberty to approach the appropriate authorities The petition is dismissed as withdrawn the top court recorded in its orderThe plea had sought directions to the Centre and state governments to constitute a judicial commission or expert committee to review the wages and service conditions of priests sevadars and temple staff in temples under government control The petition also sought a declaration that priests and temple staff fall within the definition of employee under Section 2k of the Code on Wages 2019 making them entitled to minimum wages and other labour welfare protectionsThe plea contended that once state governments assume administrative financial and economic control over temples an employeremployee relationship arises between temple administrations and priests or temple workers It claimed that priests and temple staff in several states survive on arbitrary honorariums dakshinabased payments and meagre remuneration often ranging between Rs 1000 and Rs 5000 per month without pension healthcare or social security protectionsReferring to statutory frameworks governing temples in states such as Tamil Nadu Andhra Pradesh Telangana Karnataka and Kerala the plea argued that governments exercise pervasive control over appointments service conditions disciplinary supervision and temple revenues while simultaneously denying labour welfare protections to temple workersThe petition further relied on constitutional provisions under Articles 14 and 21 contending that denial of fair wages and dignified livelihood to priests and temple staff violates their fundamental rightsReferring to judicial precedents including observations of the Allahabad High Court on minimum wages for temple staff the plea contended that the issue had nationwide implications and warranted intervention by the apex court IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/sc-refuses-to-hear-pil-on-temple-priests-wages-674336.html Mon, 18 May 2026 17:14:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/plea-in-sc-seeks-immediate-shift-of-neet-ug-to-computer-based-test-mode-674238.html New Delhi May 18 IANS A fresh petition has been filed before the Supreme Court seeking immediate transition of the National EligibilitycumEntrance Test NEETUG to a ComputerBased Test CBT mode contending that repeated paper leak controversies and alleged security lapses have exposed the vulnerability of the existing penandpaper examination system conducted by the National Testing Agency NTAnbspnbspAccording to the plea despite recommendations made by the highlevel committee headed by former ISRO Chairman K Radhakrishnan after the 2024 controversy NEETUG 2026 continued under substantially the same penandpaper framework involving physical printing storage transportation and handling of confidential examination materialThe present penandpaper system is inherently vulnerable owing to dependence upon physical logistics chains strong rooms transportation networks and thirdparty operational mechanisms each creating multiple access points and possibilities of unauthorised disclosure the petition statedThe plea said that the Union government had already publicly announced that NEETUG would transition to a fully computerbased test mode from 2027 which itself amounted to an acknowledgement that technological reform and secure digital examination architecture are necessaryOnce the Respondents authorities have accepted the inevitability of transition to CBT mode postponing implementation despite the events of NEETUG 2026 lacks reasonable justification it addedThe petition contended that the CBT mode would substantially reduce risks associated with physical handling of confidential papers through encrypted delivery systems digital audit trails biometric verification and realtime security protocolsSeeking urgent directions the plea prayed for conducting the retest scheduled on June 21 through the CBT mode instead of the existing penandpaper format It also sought directions to the Centre to prepare a timebound roadmap for the transition of NEETUG to a fully computerbased framework along with details of infrastructure development cybersecurity mechanisms and candidate accessibility measuresFurther the petition sought replacement of the NTA with a new independent transparent and professionally regulated National Examination Authority having statutory accountability judicial oversight and advanced technological safeguardsThe plea also sought the constitution of a highlevel monitoring committee comprising retired Supreme Court judges educationists psychologists cybersecurity experts forensic scientists and administrative experts to recommend structural reforms for the secure conduct of nationallevel examinationsIn addition the petition sought directions for the implementation of encrypted digital paper transmission systems biometric verification AIbased surveillance systems and strict cybersecurity protocols in national examinationsThe plea further prayed for strict criminal prosecution and fasttrack investigation against individuals coaching centres middlemen and officials allegedly involved in examination leaks and organised cheating racketsIt also sought a direction to the CBI to file a status report before the apex court within four weeks regarding the investigation into the alleged NEETUG 2026 paper leak including details of arrests charges and progress of prosecutionReferring to the NEETUG 2026 examination conducted on May 3 the petition alleged that guess papers and leaked material were circulated on digital platforms including WhatsApp and Telegram before the examination The cancellation of a national examination affecting more than 22 lakh candidates itself demonstrates that the integrity of the examination process stood compromised and that the existing security architecture failed to preserve the confidentiality of examination material the plea statedThe petition said that the National Testing Agency NTA cancelled the examination on May 12 after receiving investigative inputs regarding compromise of examination integrity and directed the reconduct of the test on June 21According to the plea the events surrounding NEETUG 2026 were not isolated incidents but part of a continuing pattern of controversies linked to examinations conducted by the NTAThe petition filed under Article 32 of the Constitution clarified that it does not challenge the cancellation or reconduct of NEETUG 2026 itself Rather its limited grievance concerns the repeated institutional failures in the conduct of NEET examinations and the urgent need for structural reformsIt referred to instances of impersonation forged identities proxy candidates and organised solver networks allegedly detected during NEET examinations in 2021 as well as allegations of remoteaccess software misuse and organised cheating modules in JEEMain 2021The petition further cited the NEETUG 2024 controversy involving allegations of paper leaks circulation of solved papers suspicious grace marks and interstate cheating syndicatesReferring to the Supreme Courts observations in Vanshika Yadav vs Union of India 2024 the plea quoted the apex court as saying This indicates that there is a serious lapse in security and that security measures which are stringent and effective must be implemented by NTAThe petition also referred to the cancellation of UGCNET 2024 following concerns relating to compromise of examination integrityThe petition has been filed before the Supreme Court by RJD MP Sudhakar Singh social activist Anubhav Garg Dr Dhruv Chauhan National Spokesperson of the Indian Medical Association IMA and political leader Harisharan Devgan through advocate Satyam Singh Rajput advocateonRecord Neema along with a legal team comprising Muskan Singh and Adarsh SinghIANS https://dailyworld.in/law/plea-in-sc-seeks-immediate-shift-of-neet-ug-to-computer-based-test-mode-674238.html Mon, 18 May 2026 12:55:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/plea-in-sc-seeks-immediate-cbt-mode-for-neet-ug-674240.html New Delhi May 18 IANS A fresh petition has been filed before the Supreme Court seeking immediate transition of the National EligibilitycumEntrance Test NEETUG to a ComputerBased Test CBT mode contending that repeated paper leak controversies and alleged security lapses have exposed the vulnerability of the existing penandpaper examination system conducted by the National Testing Agency NTAnbspnbspAccording to the plea despite recommendations made by the highlevel committee headed by former ISRO Chairman K Radhakrishnan after the 2024 controversy NEETUG 2026 continued under substantially the same penandpaper framework involving physical printing storage transportation and handling of confidential examination materialThe present penandpaper system is inherently vulnerable owing to dependence upon physical logistics chains strong rooms transportation networks and thirdparty operational mechanisms each creating multiple access points and possibilities of unauthorised disclosure the petition statedThe plea said that the Union government had already publicly announced that NEETUG would transition to a fully computerbased test mode from 2027 which itself amounted to an acknowledgement that technological reform and secure digital examination architecture are necessaryOnce the Respondents authorities have accepted the inevitability of transition to CBT mode postponing implementation despite the events of NEETUG 2026 lacks reasonable justification it addedThe petition contended that the CBT mode would substantially reduce risks associated with physical handling of confidential papers through encrypted delivery systems digital audit trails biometric verification and realtime security protocolsSeeking urgent directions the plea prayed for conducting the retest scheduled on June 21 through the CBT mode instead of the existing penandpaper format It also sought directions to the Centre to prepare a timebound roadmap for the transition of NEETUG to a fully computerbased framework along with details of infrastructure development cybersecurity mechanisms and candidate accessibility measuresFurther the petition sought replacement of the NTA with a new independent transparent and professionally regulated National Examination Authority having statutory accountability judicial oversight and advanced technological safeguardsThe plea also sought the constitution of a highlevel monitoring committee comprising retired Supreme Court judges educationists psychologists cybersecurity experts forensic scientists and administrative experts to recommend structural reforms for the secure conduct of nationallevel examinationsIn addition the petition sought directions for the implementation of encrypted digital paper transmission systems biometric verification AIbased surveillance systems and strict cybersecurity protocols in national examinationsThe plea further prayed for strict criminal prosecution and fasttrack investigation against individuals coaching centres middlemen and officials allegedly involved in examination leaks and organised cheating racketsIt also sought a direction to the CBI to file a status report before the apex court within four weeks regarding the investigation into the alleged NEETUG 2026 paper leak including details of arrests charges and progress of prosecutionReferring to the NEETUG 2026 examination conducted on May 3 the petition alleged that guess papers and leaked material were circulated on digital platforms including WhatsApp and Telegram before the examination The cancellation of a national examination affecting more than 22 lakh candidates itself demonstrates that the integrity of the examination process stood compromised and that the existing security architecture failed to preserve the confidentiality of examination material the plea statedThe petition said that the National Testing Agency NTA cancelled the examination on May 12 after receiving investigative inputs regarding compromise of examination integrity and directed the reconduct of the test on June 21According to the plea the events surrounding NEETUG 2026 were not isolated incidents but part of a continuing pattern of controversies linked to examinations conducted by the NTAThe petition filed under Article 32 of the Constitution clarified that it does not challenge the cancellation or reconduct of NEETUG 2026 itself Rather its limited grievance concerns the repeated institutional failures in the conduct of NEET examinations and the urgent need for structural reformsIt referred to instances of impersonation forged identities proxy candidates and organised solver networks allegedly detected during NEET examinations in 2021 as well as allegations of remoteaccess software misuse and organised cheating modules in JEEMain 2021The petition further cited the NEETUG 2024 controversy involving allegations of paper leaks circulation of solved papers suspicious grace marks and interstate cheating syndicatesReferring to the Supreme Courts observations in Vanshika Yadav vs Union of India 2024 the plea quoted the apex court as saying This indicates that there is a serious lapse in security and that security measures which are stringent and effective must be implemented by NTAThe petition also referred to the cancellation of UGCNET 2024 following concerns relating to compromise of examination integrityThe petition has been filed before the Supreme Court by RJD MP Sudhakar Singh social activist Anubhav Garg Dr Dhruv Chauhan National Spokesperson of the Indian Medical Association IMA and political leader Harisharan Devgan through advocate Satyam Singh Rajput advocateonRecord Neema along with a legal team comprising Muskan Singh and Adarsh SinghIANS https://dailyworld.in/law/plea-in-sc-seeks-immediate-cbt-mode-for-neet-ug-674240.html Mon, 18 May 2026 12:57:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/neet-paper-leak-case-manisha-mandhare-sent-to-14-days-cbi-custody-674181.html New Delhi May 17 A Delhi court on Sunday sent NEET paper leak accused Manisha Gurunath Mandhare to a 14day custody of the Central Bureau of Investigation CBI Manisha Gurunath Mandhare an NTAappointed senior Botany teacher from Pune is suspected to be the comastermind behind the leak of the Biology question paper Chemistry professor PV Kulkarini is being considered the kingpin of the paper leakDuring the proceedings in the Rouse Avenue Court the CBI told the bench that Manisha Mandhare was an expert in translating botany and zoology question papersManisha was in conspiracy with PV Kulkarni and Manisha Waghmare She gave the question paper to another accused Shubham Simultaneous investigations are going on across the country We need to take her to different parts of the country for the purpose of investigation the CBI said The investigative agency also mentioned that Mandhare had access to the question paper Meanwhile the defence stressed that the manner in which Mandhare was arrested is illegalShe was arrested after sundown and then was brought to Delhi at 1 am the defence counsel saidThe court directed the defence counsel to move an application regarding this Additionally the court allowed Mandhare to meet her counsel daily for 15 minutesAccording to the CBI statement released on Saturday Mandhare was involved in the NEETUG 2026 Examination process and appointed by the National Testing Agency NTA as an expert and had complete access to the Biology question paperIn April 2026 she had mobilised prospective NEET examination candidates through Pune consultant Manisha Wagmare arrested on May 14 and conducted special coaching classes for these students at her Pune residence the statement saidDuring these classes she explained and disclosed various questions from Biology and made the students note down the same in their notebooks and also mark these in their textbooks the statement saidA majority of these questions tallied with the actual question paper of the NEETUG 2026 examination held on May 3 and cancelled later the probe agency saidIn the last 24 hours the CBI conducted searches at six locations across the country and seized several incriminating documents laptops bank statements and mobile phones Detailed analysis of the seized items is going on an official saidIt may be recalled that CBI registered this case on May 12 based on the written complaint given by the Department of Higher Education Ministry of Education Government of India pertaining to the alleged paper leak of NEETUG 2026 ExaminationImmediately after registration of the case special teams were formed and searches were conducted at various locations across the country and several suspects were picked up and interrogatedSo far nine accused have been arrested in this case from Delhi Jaipur Gurugram Nasik Pune and Ahliyanagar Out of these five accused have already been produced before the court and taken into 7day police custody remand for detailed interrogationTwo other accused who were arrested on Friday were produced before a court in Pune and shifted to Delhi after taking transit remandInvestigation is continuing with the special teams and the investigation conducted so far has brought out the actual source of the leakage of Chemistry and Biology papers as well as the middlemen the CBI saidThe middlemen were involved in mobilising the students who paid lakhs of rupees to attend the special coaching classes where the questions which would come in the NEET UG2026 exam were dictated and discussed IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/neet-paper-leak-case-manisha-mandhare-sent-to-14-days-cbi-custody-674181.html Sun, 17 May 2026 12:36:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/from-myanmar-to-malabar-kerala-emerges-as-new-hub-in-indias-drug-war-674097.html New Delhi May 16 The Narendra Modi government has set a target of making India free from narcotics by 2047 Speaking at the annual R N Kao Memorial Lecture organised by the Research and Analysis Wing Union Home Minister Amit Shah reiterated the governmentâs commitment to achieving a DrugFree India by 2047Security and antinarcotics agencies say several international and domestic cartels are attempting to push drugs into India In Jammu and Kashmir Punjab and Maharashtra enforcement agencies have intensified operations to curb the growing menaceAn official said that the road ahead is going to be tough with these cartels chasing newer states to further the drug trade The modus operandi being used by the cartels in Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir is established patterns and conventional methods In most cases the agencies have managed to get the better of cartelsHowever the main concern for the agencies is now Kerala Almost all cartels that target the Indian market are focusing heavily on Kerala An official said the smuggling patterns in Kerala differ from those seen in other states with traffickers constantly changing their methods Agencies have found that almost every major drug seizure in the state reveals a new modus operandi making enforcement operations more challenging and keeping investigators on constant alertIn Kerala the drugs earlier would make their way in from Afghanistan Pakistan and into India Once the contraband made it into Indian territory the narcotics would be taken to Kerala by road Officials now say the trafficking network has undergone a major shift with most drugs particularly heroin increasingly being sourced and smuggled in through MyanmarOfficials say heightened security along the IndiaPakistan border in Jammu and Kashmir Punjab and Rajasthan has made it increasingly difficult for narcotics cartels to use the traditional trafficking routes As a result smuggling networks have gradually shifted their operations with a growing volume of drugs now entering India through MyanmarThe Pakistani cartels have been coordinating with their counterparts in Myanmar These persons push the heroin into India through the Bangladesh border following which it makes its way to Kerala by road an official saidAnother official said that in addition to MDMA the drug that is smuggled in large quantities into Kerala is heroin âThis is not only because of the demand but the profit margins are very high A kilogram of heroin is valued at anything between Rs 2530 lakh The dealers purchase each gram at Rs 3000 and then sell it in the market at Rs 12000 a gramâ the official saidThese profit margins are huge and hence heroin is the preferred drug that makes its way into the Kerala marketFurther these smugglers have found various methods to conceal the drugs Heroin is concealed in soap boxes or in tiny bottles and smuggled into Kerala The idea is to smuggle more but in very small quantities per trip another official said This means those smuggling the drug from West Bengal or Assam come at regular frequencies The fact that it is being smuggled in very small quantities and concealed in tiny bottles has only made the challenge for law enforcement agencies even harderâThere are hits no doubt but the misses are quite large owing to this modus operandiâ officials saidThis modus operandi came to light following the arrest of three from Assam in Angamaly near Kochi in Kerala They were caught with 600 grams of heroin which was hidden in over 40 soap boxesAn official from the Intelligence Bureau said law enforcement agencies are closely monitoring the Malabar corridor in view of the sharp rise in drugrelated activities He said traffickers are increasingly targeting this region of Kerala for smuggling operations with Kozhikode emerging as a major area of concern The official added that large quantities of MDMA have been seized in the region as demand for the synthetic drug has now overtaken that of marijuanaOfficials say the region has also become a preferred destination for traffickers because of its proximity to the BengaluruMysuru corridor which functions as a major transit hub Kozhikode is additionally linked to several interstate road networks connecting Tamil Nadu Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh making the movement of contraband easierInvestigators have also noticed a changing pattern in the choice of carriers Officials say smuggling networks are increasingly using influential or highprofile individuals to transport narcotics There has also been a growing preference for women carriers as traffickers believe they attract less scrutiny during checks and surveillance operationsLast month the excise officials intercepted a car at Keralas Pantheerankavu toll plaza and seized 35 kilograms of MDMA worth Rs 3 crore Two people Fathima Nasreen a 20yearold social media influencer and a repeat offender PK Shafeeq were arrested They had reportedly sourced the drugs from Rajasthan and then driven all the way to KeralaIn another incident the agencies apprehended one Sheetal Shivdas 21 along with Firoz Musa The agencies recovered 1183 Kg of MDMA and 544 grams of cannabis from an apartment in Ulliyeri near the Malabar Medical College in KozhikodeLast year one Yasar Arfath and Rincy Mumtaz a YouTuber were nabbed in Kochi along with 22 grams of MDMA An official said that the changing patterns are making the battle against drugs harder in Kerala The official said the smugglersâ tactics resemble methods once employed by InterServices Intelligence to expand espionage networks in India with traffickers increasingly using women and social media influencers to widen their operations and move drugs discreetly IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/from-myanmar-to-malabar-kerala-emerges-as-new-hub-in-indias-drug-war-674097.html Sat, 16 May 2026 14:32:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/sc-sets-aside-delhi-hc-order-suspending-sengars-sentence-in-unnao-rape-case-674026.html New Delhi May 15 The Supreme Court on Friday set aside the Delhi High Court order suspending the life sentence of expelled BJP leader Kuldeep Singh Sengar in the 2017 Unnao rape case A Bench of Chief Justice of India CJI Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi partly allowed the special leave petition SLP filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation CBI against the Delhi High Court order granting conditional bail to Sengar during the pendency of his appeal against convictionThe apex court requested the Delhi High Court to make an endeavour to decide Sengarâs criminal appeal as expeditiously as possible preferably within three months âIn case the High Court finds that the appeal is not likely to be decided early it may pass a fresh order on the prayer for suspension of sentence after hearing all parties including counsel for the complainantâ the CJI Kantled Bench ordered clarifying that it was not expressing any opinion on the merits of the matter at this stageDuring the hearing Solicitor General Tushar Mehta appearing for the CBI submitted that the Delhi High Court had erred in adopting a narrow interpretation while considering whether an MLA would qualify as a âpublic servantâ under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences POCSO ActJustice Bagchi orally remarked that the apex court was ânot endorsing the hypertechnical approach taken by the High Courtâ SG Mehta argued that a legislator occupied a dominant position and could not be excluded from the ambit of aggravated penetrative sexual assault provisions under the POCSO Act merely on technical groundsSenior advocate N Hariharan appearing for Sengar contended that there was material to show that the prosecutrix was not a minor at the time of the incident and argued that the POCSO Act itself may not be attractedHariharan further submitted that Sengar had already spent more than 10 years in custody and said that the issue regarding whether an MLA could be treated as a public servant would also require considerationThe CJI Kantled Bench was hearing the CBIâs plea challenging the December 2025 order of the Delhi High Court which had suspended Sengarâs life sentence and granted him conditional bail during the pendency of his appeal However in December last year itself the Supreme Court had stayed the operation of the Delhi High Courtâs order and clarified that Sengar would not be released pursuant to the impugned judgmentIn December 2019 a Delhi trial court had convicted Sengar of kidnapping and raping a minor girl and sentenced him to imprisonment for the remainder of his natural life along with a fine of Rs 25 lakhThe Supreme Court had earlier transferred all cases related to the Unnao incident from Uttar Pradesh to Delhi and directed that the trial be conducted on a daytoday basisSeparately in February this year the Supreme Court had declined to interfere with the Delhi High Courtâs refusal to suspend Sengarâs sentence in the custodial death case of the rape survivorâs fatherSengar was convicted by a Delhi court in March 2020 for conspiring in the custodial death of the survivorâs father and was sentenced to 10 yearsâ rigorous imprisonment IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/sc-sets-aside-delhi-hc-order-suspending-sengars-sentence-in-unnao-rape-case-674026.html Fri, 15 May 2026 15:12:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/rk-family-trust-dispute-sc-allows-ripl-board-meeting-but-bars-discussion-on-directors-bank-signatories-673862.html New Delhi May 14 The Supreme Court on Thursday refused to stall a proposed board meeting of Raghuvanshi Investment Private Limited RIPL in the highprofile RK Family Trust dispute involving Rani Kapur and Priya Sachdev Kapur but restrained the company from taking up agenda items relating to the appointment of independent directors and changes in authorised bank signatories during the meeting A Bench of Justices JB Pardiwala and Ujjal Bhuyan passed the direction while hearing a fresh plea moved by 80yearold Rani Kapur mother of late businessman Sunjay Kapur who had sought a stay on the board meeting scheduled for May 18 At the outset the apex court observed that since the dispute had already been referred to mediation the parties should refrain from taking any steps which may directly impact the mediation proceedings âWe have already requested the mediator to start with the mediation proceedings For the present we request the opponents not to do anything which may directly affect mediation Time and again we have said it will be in the interest of all parties to put an end to this dispute else it will be a long drawn battleâ the Justice Pardiwalaled Bench observed Appearing on behalf of Rani Kapur senior advocate Navin Pahwa argued that the proposed board meeting was intended to ensure that she is âcompletely drowned outâ from the affairs of the familycontrolled entities Referring to the dispute over the family estate it was argued that Rani Kapurâs majority shareholding in the group companies had allegedly been transferred into a trust without her consent âMy shareholding was transferred into the trust behind my back I was holding the majority shares in all the companies My daughterinlaw transferred my shareholding into a trustâ the senior counsel submitted on behalf of Rani Kapur On the other hand senior advocate Kapil Sibal appearing for the respondents including Priya Sachdev Kapur and RIPL submitted that the appointment of independent directors was being undertaken pursuant to directions issued by the Reserve Bank of India RBI following an inspection Sibal argued that the proposed board meeting was convened primarily to comply with statutory and regulatory obligations and not with an intention to alter the status quo during the mediation process Taking note of the submissions the apex court clarified that while the board meeting itself may proceed agenda items concerning the appointment of independent directors and the change in authorised signatories for certain bank accounts need not be acted upon for now It repeatedly urged the parties to sincerely attempt an amicable settlement and cautioned against converting the family dispute into prolonged litigation âShe is an 80yearold woman We all came with empty hands and we have to go with empty hands All we carry is our souls There has to be a will to settle the matter Donât go before the mediator with a heavy heart just because the court has pushed you Each one of you tryâ the Justice Pardiwalaled Bench observed during the hearing The latest plea arose from a notice dated May 8 issued by RIPL convening a board meeting on May 18 Rani Kapur had described the meeting as a âfraudulent attempt to bypass courtordered mediationâ and sought directions restraining the company from proceeding with the meeting till the mediation proceedings conclude She had also sought directions restraining Priya Sachdev Kapur and other respondents from interfering in the functioning of the alleged RK Family Trust during the pendency of the mediation proceedings The disputed agenda items included the appointment of two independent directors and changes in authorised signatories for certain bank accounts Earlier on May 7 the Supreme Court had appointed former Chief Justice of India CJI DY Chandrachud as mediator to resolve the ongoing family dispute between Rani Kapur and Priya Sachdev Kapur over the alleged RK Family Trust A Bench of Justices Pardiwala and Bhuyan had passed the order after all parties agreed to explore a settlement through mediation Observing that the controversy was a âfamily affairâ the apex court had requested the parties not to make public statements or social media posts concerning the dispute âItâs a family dispute let it be confined among the family only It should not be a source of entertainmentâ the Justice Pardiwalaled Bench had orally remarked The apex court had said that it would await a preliminary report from the mediator before taking up the matter further and posted the case for hearing in August The dispute pertains to the creation and control of the alleged RK Family TrustRani Kapur Family Trust which has been challenged by Rani Kapur as fraudulent and illegal According to the plea Rani Kapur is the sole beneficiary of the estate of her late husband industrialist Dr Surinder Kapur who allegedly bequeathed all movable and immovable properties to her through a will probated by the Bombay High Court in 2016 Rani Kapur has alleged that despite this the family estate was clandestinely transferred into a newly created trust without her informed consent and that control over key group companies was assumed without her knowledge following the death of her son Sunjay Kapur IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/rk-family-trust-dispute-sc-allows-ripl-board-meeting-but-bars-discussion-on-directors-bank-signatories-673862.html Thu, 14 May 2026 14:51:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/shikohpur-land-deal-case-robert-vadra-fails-to-get-immediate-relief-from-delhi-hc-673898.html New Delhi May 14 Businessman Robert Vadra on Thursday failed to secure immediate relief from the Delhi High Court in a money laundering case linked to a 2008 land deal in Gurugramâs Shikohpur village A singlejudge Bench of Justice Manoj Jain was hearing Robert Vadraâs plea challenging a Rouse Avenue Court order taking cognisance of an ED complaint under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act PMLA and issuing summons to him and eight othersDuring the hearing senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi appearing for Vadra argued that some of the offences invoked in the predicate case under the Indian Penal Code IPC and the Prevention of Corruption Act were added to the schedule of the PMLA after the alleged commission of the offence between 2008 and 2012He contended that the issue relating to jurisdiction and retrospective application of the provisions had been raised before the trial court but was not dealt withOpposing the plea ED counsel Zoheb Hossain submitted that Vadra had made âfalse and incorrect statementsâ in his petition âThis needs to go with costs I have done an exercise of pulling out all the bare acts Complete false submissions Section 467 IPC was there in its original inception in the PMLA schedule Ex facie false and incorrect statements are madeâ Hossain submittedThe Delhi High Court after hearing submissions on behalf of Robert Vadra and the ED which opposed the plea on maintainability grounds adjourned the matter for further hearing on May 18âMr Singhvi please come prepared on this aspect on Monday because that is your central plank We will hear you on Mondayâ Justice Jain saidEarlier on April 15 the Rouse Avenue Court had issued a summons to Vadra and eight others after taking cognisance of the EDâs prosecution complaint The Special Court had directed Vadra husband of Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi and the other accused to appear before it on May 16Accordingly Robert Vadra will have to appear before the trial court on the date fixed in compliance with the summons issued to himThe ED has alleged that Vadraâs company Skylight Hospitality Private Limited acquired around 35 acres of land in Haryanaâs Shikohpur village in February 2008 for Rs 750 crore from Omkareshwar Properties Private Limited despite having limited capitalAccording to the probe agency no actual payment was made and the sale deed contained false declarations including reference to a cheque that was allegedly never issued or encashedThe ED has further claimed that the land was undervalued in the sale deed resulting in evasion of stamp duty and constituting an offence under Section 423 of the IPCIn its prosecution complaint the ED has identified Rs 58 crore as proceeds of crime and provisionally attached 43 immovable properties worth Rs 3869 crore allegedly linked to Vadra his proprietary concern Artex Skylight Hospitality Private Limited and associated entitiesThe federal antimoney laundering agency has sought a maximum punishment of seven yearsâ rigorous imprisonment under Section 4 of the PMLA along with confiscation of the attached propertiesIn October 2012 senior IAS officer Ashok Khemka had cancelled the Shikohpur land deal citing procedural irregularities Though an inhouse government panel later gave a clean chit to Vadra and DLF an FIR was subsequently registered after the BJP government came to power in Haryana IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/shikohpur-land-deal-case-robert-vadra-fails-to-get-immediate-relief-from-delhi-hc-673898.html Thu, 14 May 2026 16:48:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/bihar-tejashwi-yadav-granted-bail-in-covid-period-case--673919.html Patna May 14 Leader of the Opposition in Bihar Tejashwi Yadav was granted bail on Thursday in a sixyearold case dating back to the COVID19 periodâ He appeared before the MPMLA Court in Patna and surrendered before the court of Praveen Kumar Malviya following which his bail plea was acceptedâThe case pertains to protests and sitins organised during the COVID19 pandemicâAccording to Tejashwi Yadav the FIR was registered by the administration in a forced manner in response to demonstrations he led to highlight public grievances during the crisisâSpeaking to the media after securing bail he said âDuring the COVID period a case was forcibly registered against me by the administration As a public representative I organised protests to raise issues affecting the publicââTejashwi Yadav recalled the hardships faced by migrant workers during the pandemic when thousands were forced to walk back to their homes due to a lack of transport facilitiesâHe alleged that the government did not make adequate arrangements at the timeâHe stated that the Opposition had a responsibility to raise these concerns and ensure that the voices of affected people reached the governmentâTargeting the administration the RJD leader said that taking action against leaders for raising public issues goes against democratic principlesâHe asserted that the Opposition would continue to speak up for the rights and welfare of the peopleâThe case is among several filed during the pandemic period when protests over lockdown measures and migrant worker issues led to FIRs under various sections for alleged violations of guidelinesâTejashwi Yadav also targeted the Centre following Prime Minister Narendra Modiâs appeal to citizens to conserve energy reduce the use of petroleum products and adopt public transportationâReacting to the appeal Tejashwi Yadav said that such a message reflects the failure of the governmentâs policiesâHe remarked that a similar appeal had been made during the demonetization period and questioned its outcomeââThe Prime Ministerâs appeal to the nation is actually a sign of policy failure A similar appeal was made during demonetizationâwhat came of it The decisions taken by the Prime Minister in the past have not been in the interest of the common peopleâ he said IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/bihar-tejashwi-yadav-granted-bail-in-covid-period-case--673919.html Thu, 14 May 2026 18:59:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/sc-to-hear-plea-against-madras-hc-order-barring-tvk-mla-from-floor-test-proceedings-today-673616.html New Delhi May 13 The Supreme Court is slated to hear on Wednesday a plea filed by Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam TVK MLA R Seenivasa Sethupathi challenging the Madras High Courtâs interim order restraining him from participating in any floor test proceedings in the Tamil Nadu Assembly amid a dispute over his onevote victory from the Tiruppattur Assembly constituency According to the details available on the official website of the apex court a Special Leave Petition SLP filed by Sethupathi was registered earlier on Tuesday and is listed before a bench of Justices Vikram Nath Sandeep Mehta and Vijay Bishnoi for hearing on WednesdayThe plea was mentioned for urgent hearing before Chief Justice of India CJI Surya Kant by senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi earlier on Tuesday following which the apex court agreed to list the matter for hearing on WednesdaySethupathi has moved the top court challenging the interim order passed by a vacation Bench of the Madras High Court restraining him from voting or otherwise taking part in any floor test including confidence motion noconfidence motion trust vote or any voting proceeding in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly where the numerical strength of the House is tested until further ordersA bench of Justices L Victoria Gowri and N Senthilkumar had passed the interim direction while hearing a writ petition filed by former Tamil Nadu Minister and DMK leader KR Periakaruppan who lost the Tiruppattur Assembly seat in Sivaganga district by a margin of just one voteAccording to the official results declared by the Election Commission of India ECI Sethupathi secured 83365 votes while Periakaruppan polled 83364 votesPeriakaruppan had alleged serious irregularities in the counting process and claimed that a postal ballot meant for Tiruppattur Assembly constituency No185 in Sivaganga district was mistakenly sent to Tiruppattur Assembly constituency No50 in Tiruppattur district near Vellore and was rejected there instead of being transmitted back to the correct constituencyIn its order the Madras High Court observed that the case disclosed a peculiar constitutional anomaly where a postal ballot admittedly relatable to a live and concluded election in one constituency was allegedly diverted to another constituency bearing a similar nomenclature and came to be rejected thereThe order said the controversy was not a routine election dispute involving recounting or rejection of votes simpliciter but arose from an antecedent administrative failure in preserving the integrity of the electoral chain itselfIt further observed that in an election decided by a margin of one vote every vote is not merely relevant it is potentially determinativeReferring to the alleged discrepancy of 18 EVM votes between two official sources and the disputed postal ballot the Madras High Court held that the issues could not be brushed aside at the threshold particularly in view of the razorthin margin of victoryIt had also directed election authorities to preserve all records connected with the counting process including postal ballot records rejected postal ballot covers EVM vote account records videographic footage of counting and all related materialsAt the same time the Madras High Court clarified that its interim order should not be construed as setting aside Sethupathiâs election or conferring any right upon the petitioner to be declared electedDuring the hearing before the High Court the Election Commission of India ECI had opposed the writ petition and contended that once election results are declared any dispute can only be adjudicated through an election petition under the Representation of the People Act 1951 IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/sc-to-hear-plea-against-madras-hc-order-barring-tvk-mla-from-floor-test-proceedings-today-673616.html Wed, 13 May 2026 07:28:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/nepali-gang-strikes-again-in-hyderabad-robs-elderly-couple-673702.html Hyderabad May 13 Even as Hyderabad Police were still looking for a breakthrough in the last weekâs sensational murder of former IPS officer Vinay Ranjan Rayâs wife at their residence by their Nepali maid and her associates another Nepali gang struck in the city by targeting an elderly couple and escaping with 70 tolas of gold and other valuables A Nepali couple along with their associates committed the robbery at a house at Golf Enclave Kowkur under the limits of Jawaharnagar Police Station of Malkajgiri Police Commissionerate police said on WednesdayThey tied up N Murali Mohan a retired professor and his wife K Vijaya Lakshmi a doctor in a room and drugged them The gang escaped with gold 20 kg silver Rs30000 cash and other valuablesThe crime was committed on the night of May 11 but came to light on Tuesday afternoon after the couple raised an alarm after gaining consciousness Some workers nearby heard their cries for help rescued them and alerted the policeAccording to police the family had hired a Nepali couple as domestic servants about 20 days ago As they had gained the trust of their employers on Monday they sought permission to celebrate a birthday in the house and invited about six outsiders to the partyThe gang destroyed CCTV cameras in the premises and also damaged the hard disks They tied up Murali Mohan and his wife Vijaya Lakshmi a physician in a room The couple pleaded with the gang not to harm them and take whatever they wantedThe robber drugged them before decamping with the jewellery cash and other valuablesMalkajgiri Police Commissioner Sumati said six special teams have been formed to arrest the gangPolice were questioning a woman who had brought the Nepali couple for work Preliminary investigation by the police indicate that the accused may have fled to Delhi and from there to NepalThe robbery occurred even as Hyderabad police were continuing investigation into the gruesome murder of Tanuja Ranjan wife of retired IPS officer Vinay Ranjan RayA Nepali woman working as maid in their house in posh Jubilee Hills along with her two associates killed Tanuja on the night of May 7 The assailants escaped with jewellery and other valuablesPolice have formed 10 teams to arrest the gang The suspects were reported to be hiding in Pune Police were still trying for a breakthrough in the caseHyderabad Police Commissioner VC Sajjanar has already appealed to citizens not to hire Nepalis as domestic workers as Nepali gangs were found involved in similar crimes in cities like Mumbai Pune and Bengaluru IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/nepali-gang-strikes-again-in-hyderabad-robs-elderly-couple-673702.html Wed, 13 May 2026 14:09:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/sc-halts-madras-hc-order-restraining-tvk-mla-from-assembly-floor-test-participation-673703.html New Delhi May 13 In relief to Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam TVK MLA R Seenivasa Sethupathi the Supreme Court on Wednesday stayed the Madras High Courtâs interim order restraining him from participating in any floor test proceedings in the Tamil Nadu Assembly amid a dispute over his onevote victory from the Tiruppattur Assembly constituency A Bench of Justices Vikram Nath Sandeep Mehta and Vijay Bishnoi passed the interim order while hearing a Special Leave Petition SLP filed by Sethupathi challenging the Madras High Courtâs directionTerming the High Court order as âatrociousâ the apex court questioned how a writ petition under Article 226 of the Constitution could be entertained in an election dispute when the law provides for an election petition as the appropriate remedyâThis is atrocious to say the leastâ the Justice Nathled Bench remarked during the hearing It questioned senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi appearing for DMK leader KR Periakaruppan how a writ petition challenging an election result could be maintained before the Madras High Court âThis is atrocious The High Court says remedy is an election petition and still entertains the writ petitionâ the Supreme Court remarkedAfter hearing the submissions on behalf of the parties the apex court ordered âWe have heard the senior counsels for the parties Counsel for the respondent is granted two weeks to file a reply In the meantime the impugned order shall remain stayed Further proceedings before the High Court also stayedâSethupathi had moved the top court challenging the interim order passed by a vacation Bench of the Madras High Court restraining him from âvoting or otherwise taking part in any floor test including confidence motion noconfidence motion trust vote or any voting proceeding in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly where the numerical strength of the House is tested until further ordersâA Bench of Justices L Victoria Gowri and N Senthilkumar had passed the interim direction while hearing a writ petition filed by former Tamil Nadu Minister and DMK leader KR Periakaruppan who lost the Tiruppattur Assembly seat in Sivaganga district by a margin of just one voteAccording to the official results declared by the Election Commission of India ECI Sethupathi secured 83365 votes while Periakaruppan polled 83364 votes Periakaruppan had alleged serious irregularities in the counting process and claimed that a postal ballot meant for Tiruppattur Assembly constituency No185 in Sivaganga district was mistakenly sent to Tiruppattur Assembly constituency No 50 in Tiruppattur district near Vellore and was rejected there instead of being transmitted back to the correct constituencyThe Madras High Court had said that the controversy was not a routine election dispute involving recounting or rejection of votes simpliciter but arose from âan antecedent administrative failure in preserving the integrity of the electoral chain itselfâReferring to the razorthin margin of victory the High Court had observed that in an election decided by one vote âevery vote is not merely relevant it is potentially determinativeâDuring the hearing before the Madras High Court the ECI had opposed the maintainability of the writ petition and contended that once election results are declared any dispute can only be adjudicated through an election petition under the Representation of the People Act 1951The Supreme Courtâs interim order came on a day when Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay successfully won the confidence motion in the Legislative Assembly with 144 votes in favour while 22 MLAs voted against the motion and five abstainedThe floor test witnessed dramatic scenes including a walkout by the DMK sharp exchanges between rival camps and visible divisions within the AIADMK Leader of Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin led the DMK members out of the House after accusing the Vijayled government of encouraging political defections by meeting rebel AIADMK legislators ahead of the trust voteThe situation further escalated after AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami announced that all 47 MLAs belonging to his faction would oppose the confidence motion while rebel AIADMK leader SP Velumani and supporting legislators eventually backed the TVK government during the votingReplying to the debate before the trust vote Chief Minister Vijay asserted that his government would remain secular and committed to governance âThis government will function with the speed of a horse and not indulge in horse tradingâ Vijay said IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/sc-halts-madras-hc-order-restraining-tvk-mla-from-assembly-floor-test-participation-673703.html Wed, 13 May 2026 14:10:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/delhi-hc-bans-commercial-religious-activities-on-yamuna-floodplains-at-sur-ghat-673409.html New Delhi May 12 IANS The Delhi High Court has directed the Delhi Development Authority DDA to ensure that no commercial or religious activity takes place on the Yamuna floodplains at Sur Ghat observing that the ecologically sensitive area cannot be used even for parking purposesnbspnbspA singlejudge Bench of Justice Jasmeet Singh said that no activity including parking of vehicles for commercial purposes should be permitted on the land situated in ZoneO of the Yamuna floodplainsIt is directed that the respondent No1DDA shall ensure that no activity is allowed to take place on the said land including parking of any vehicle for any kind or for any commercial purpose even if it may be for the convenience of people coming to pay respecthomage to the river on any auspicious occasion the Delhi High Court saidIt added that in view of environmental protection concerns and the ecological sensitivity of the area all types of commercialreligious activities for any purpose whatsoever shall be restricted from the said areaThe direction came while disposing of a petition filed by one Suresh Kumar seeking restoration of possession of a parking site at Yamuna Sur Ghat in accordance with a Notice Inviting Tender NIT issued by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi MCD in September 2022The petitioner submitted that he was declared the highest bidder for operating the parking site and was granted possession for a period of three years after depositing security and advance licence fee amounts During the hearing the Delhi High Court was informed that while DDA had handed over only 2508 square metres of land to the MCD the civic body allotted 3780 square metres to the petitioner Subsequently the DDA withdrew the permission granted to the MCD and the allotment of the parking site was cancelled on January 31 2025In its order the Delhi High Court noted a submission made on behalf of the DDA that the parking site at Sur Ghat was urgently required to be vacated for development purposes and that the land forms part of the Yamuna floodplainsRejecting the plea for restoration of the parking site it observed that the petitioner had not challenged the cancellation order and that disputed questions relating to the validity of the cancellation and compensation could not be adjudicated in writ proceedingsThe question regarding the correctness and validity of the cancellation and the petitioners entitlement to compensation are disputed questions of fact which certainly cannot be adjudicated in the present writ petition Justice Singh observedGranting liberty to the petitioner to seek damages through a civil suit the Delhi High Court further directed the DDA to make alternative parking arrangements away from the Yamuna floodplains if required for visitors coming to worship the river during auspicious occasionsIf in case the respondent No1DDA is of the opinion that parking space is required to be provided to people coming to worship at the river on any auspicious occasion the respondent No1DDA is directed to make alternative arrangements accordingly away from the Yamuna Flood Plains without disturbing the ecologically sensitive area the order saidIANS https://dailyworld.in/law/delhi-hc-bans-commercial-religious-activities-on-yamuna-floodplains-at-sur-ghat-673409.html Tue, 12 May 2026 15:10:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/sc-summons-kerala-acp-over-failure-to-register-fir-673452.html New Delhi May 12 The Supreme Court has expressed strong dissatisfaction over the Kerala Policeâs failure to register a formal FIR despite receiving a complaint by post and directed the Assistant Commissioner of Police Ernakulam district to personally appear before it with an explanation A bench of Justices Ahsanuddin Amanullah and R Mahadevan said the affidavit filed by the state of Kerala pursuant to an earlier order was thoroughly unsatisfactory as it failed to answer the core issue raised by the top courtWe find the same to be thoroughly unsatisfactory as the basic point as to why immediately upon receipt of the complaint filed by the petitioner a formal FIR was not registered has not been answered the Justice Amanullahled Bench observed in its order passed on May 8The apex court recorded that it was an admitted position that the complaint sent through post had been received by the Assistant Commissioner of Police Ernakulam district on January 8Accordingly we direct the Assistant Commissioner of Police District Ernakulam Kerala to be personally present before the Court on 15052026â to explain as to why upon receipt of the complaint through post no formal FIR was registered the order statedIt also extended the interim protection earlier granted to the petitioner on February 19 till the next date of hearingThe protection restrains coercive action against the petitioner in connection with FIR No10 of 2026 registered at Panangad Police Station in Ernakulam City subject to his cooperation in the investigation and trialDuring the previous hearing on April 2 the apex court had questioned the Kerala Police over allegations that a complaint filed by a coaccused person in relation to the same incident â alleging outraging of modesty of a woman belonging to the SCST community and supported by a medical report showing injuries â was not acted uponWe are at a loss to understand as to how when a counter affidavit is being filed and the said issue has been raised at more than one place in the pleadings there is no answer given in the counter affidavit on this issue the bench had remarkedHighlighting the wider ramifications of such alleged police inaction the Supreme Court had observed that the issue had a larger implication as it relates to the faith of the general public in the police when they approach it with any complaint supported by some evidence It had also cautioned that if dereliction of duty on the part of the authorities was established it would take a strict view of the same IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/sc-summons-kerala-acp-over-failure-to-register-fir-673452.html Tue, 12 May 2026 16:58:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/one-vote-victory-row-tvk-mla-moves-sc-against-madras-hc-order-barring-him-from-floor-test-673456.html New Delhi May 12 Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam TVK MLA R Seenivasa Sethupathi has moved the Supreme Court challenging the Madras High Courtâs interim order restraining him from participating in any floor test proceedings in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly amid a dispute over his onevote victory from the Tiruppattur Assembly constituency The plea was mentioned for urgent hearing before Chief Justice of India CJI Surya Kant by senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi on TuesdayThe apex court agreed to list the matter for hearing on WednesdayThe challenge comes immediately after a vacation Bench of the Madras High Court passed an interim order restraining Sethupathi from âvoting or otherwise taking part in any floor test including confidence motion noconfidence motion trust vote or any voting proceeding in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly where the numerical strength of the House is tested until further ordersâA Bench of Justices L Victoria Gowri and N Senthilkumar had passed the interim direction while hearing a writ petition filed by former Tamil Nadu Minister and DMK leader KR Periakaruppan who lost the Tiruppattur Assembly seat in Sivaganga district by a margin of just one voteAccording to the official results declared by the Election Commission of India ECI Sethupathi secured 83365 votes while Periakaruppan polled 83364 votesPeriakaruppan had alleged serious irregularities in the counting process and claimed that a postal ballot meant for Tiruppattur Assembly constituency No185 in Sivaganga district was mistakenly sent to Tiruppattur Assembly constituency No50 in Tiruppattur district near Vellore and was rejected there instead of being transmitted back to the correct constituencyIn its order the Madras High Court observed that the case disclosed a âpeculiar constitutional anomaly where a postal ballot admittedly relatable to a live and concluded election in one constituency was allegedly diverted to another constituency bearing a similar nomenclature and came to be rejected thereâThe order said the controversy was not a routine election dispute involving recounting or rejection of votes simpliciter but arose from âan antecedent administrative failure in preserving the integrity of the electoral chain itselfâIt further observed that in an election decided by a margin of one vote âevery vote is not merely relevant it is potentially determinativeâReferring to the alleged discrepancy of 18 EVM votes between two official sources and the disputed postal ballot the Madras High Court held that the issues could not be brushed aside at the threshold particularly in view of the razorthin margin of victoryIt had also directed election authorities to preserve all records connected with the counting process including postal ballot records rejected postal ballot covers EVM vote account records videographic footage of counting and all related materialsAt the same time the Madras High Court clarified that its interim order should not be construed as setting aside Sethupathiâs election or conferring any right upon the petitioner to be declared electedDuring the hearing before the High Court the Election Commission of India ECI had opposed the writ petition and contended that once election results are declared any dispute can only be adjudicated through an election petition under the Representation of the People Act 1951Senior counsel G Rajagopalan appearing for the ECI had argued that the Returning Officerâs powers cease after declaration of results and that âthe moment results are declared our hands are tiedâHowever the Madras High Court held that the present case stood on an âexceptional and unprecedented factual footingâ involving preservation of electoral integrity and constitutional justice IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/one-vote-victory-row-tvk-mla-moves-sc-against-madras-hc-order-barring-him-from-floor-test-673456.html Tue, 12 May 2026 17:05:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/restaurant-of-arrested-tmc-leader-earned-rs-111-crore-during-covid-lockdown-ed-tells-court-673496.html Kolkata May 12 A restaurant owned by former West Bengal Minister Sujit Bose earned over Rs 1 crore during the Covid19 lockdown in 2020 despite remaining completely shut the Enforcement Directorate ED told a special Prevention of Money Laundering Act PMLA court in Kolkata on Tuesday Bose who served as a minister during the previous Trinamool Congress government was arrested by ED officials on Monday night in connection with the multicrore municipal recruitment scam after a marathon interrogation at the agencyâs Salt Lake office on the outskirts of KolkataHe was presented at the special PMLA court by the ED officials on Tuesday afternoon during which the ED counsel gave details of the alleged moneylaundering transactions linked to the restaurant of the former ministerThe ED council informed the court that the said restaurant showed an income of Rs 111 crore during the Covid19 lockdown when the entity remained closed totally and none of its employees was in service during that periodThe ED counsel also informed the court that besides Rs 11 crore transferred to the said restaurant another amount of Rs 22 crore was transferred to the personal account of BoseThe ED further submitted that investigators had unearthed multiple financial transactions involving Bose with individuals where the transfers lacked any legal basisThe agency also informed the court that it had found evidence of at least 150 illegal recruitments in the Uttar Dum Dum Municipality in the North 24 Parganas district allegedly carried out on Boseâs recommendationThe ED counsel sought 10 days of remand of Bose to interrogate him The court order is yet to be deliveredMeanwhile moving the bail plea Boseâs counsel informed the court that the documents based on which ED had arrested his client were available with the investigating officers of the central agency between 2022 and 2023Boseâs counsel questioned the justification of the arrest based on documents available three to four years back He also claimed that even the earlier charge sheet presented by ED in the matter did not have his clients name as the accusedBose a threetime Trinamool Congress legislator from Bidhannagar assembly constituency in North 24 Parganas district was defeated this timeED officials had first received information about the multicrore municipalities job case while conducting raids and search operations at the residence of Trinamool Congresslinked promoter Ayan Shil in connection with another money laundering case related to the cashforschool jobs scam in West BengalLater the Central Bureau of Investigation had also started a parallel probe into the municipalitiesâ job case following an order of the Calcutta High CourtAs officials of the two central agencies progressed further with the investigation the names of several politically influential persons including state ministers and ruling party leaders surfaced IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/restaurant-of-arrested-tmc-leader-earned-rs-111-crore-during-covid-lockdown-ed-tells-court-673496.html Tue, 12 May 2026 20:21:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/jacqueline-fernandez-did-not-cooperate-during-probe-ed-tells-delhi-court-673304.html New Delhi May 11 The Enforcement Directorate ED on Monday opposed Bollywood actor Jacqueline Fernandezâs plea seeking to turn approver in the Rs 200 crore money laundering case linked to alleged conman Sukesh Chandrashekhar telling a Delhi court that her conduct during the investigation was ânot satisfactoryâ and that she failed to fully cooperate with the probe Appearing before the Patiala House Court the federal antimoney laundering agency contended that Jacqueline did not make a âfull and true disclosureâ in her statements recorded under Section 50 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act PMLAThe ED said that during the course of the investigation Jacquelineâs conduct was not cooperative as she âconsistently failed to make full and truthful disclosuresâ in connection with the proceeds of crime allegedly generated by ChandrashekharOpposing her plea to become a prosecution witness the ED further alleged that Jacqueline continued to remain in regular contact with Chandrashekhar even after becoming aware of his criminal antecedentsAccording to the probe agency Chandrashekhar had arranged âall benefits gifts and valuablesâ for Jacqueline out of the proceeds of crime generated through the alleged money laundering activitiesAfter hearing the submissions the Patiala House Court granted time to Jacqueline Fernandezâs counsel to file a rejoinder to the EDâs reply and posted the matter for further hearing on May 12The ED has accused Jacqueline of allegedly receiving luxury gifts worth around Rs 7 crore from Chandrashekhar However the actor has consistently maintained that she had no knowledge about his alleged criminal activities or the source of the money used for those giftsIn September last year the Supreme Court had declined to entertain Jacqueline Fernandezâs plea seeking the quashing of the money laundering proceedings initiated against her by the EDSenior advocate Mukul Rohatgi appearing for Jacqueline before the apex court had argued that she could not be prosecuted under Sections 3 and 4 of the PMLA as she had no knowledge that the gifts received from Chandrashekhar were proceeds of crimeThe Justice Dattaled Bench however referred to the Supreme Courtâs judgment in the Vijay Madanlal Choudhary case upholding the EDâs powers under the PMLA and observed that allegations at the stage of framing of charges must be accepted as they standThe ED has filed multiple charge sheets in the case and named Jacqueline Fernandez as an accused in a supplementary prosecution complaint while another Bollywood actor Nora Fatehi was examined as a witnessThe probe agency has alleged that Chandrashekharâs aide Pinky Irani facilitated the delivery of luxury gifts and expensive items to Jacqueline on his behalfThe money laundering case stems from allegations that Chandrashekhar cheated the wives of former Ranbaxy promoters Shivinder Singh and Malvinder Singh of nearly Rs 200 crore However Fernandez maintained that she had no role in laundering Chandrashekharâs alleged illegal wealthThe 40yearold Sri Lankan actress who entered Bollywood after winning the Miss Universe Sri Lanka crown in 2006 has been a prominent figure in Hindi cinema for over a decade also featuring in music videos and reality shows IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/jacqueline-fernandez-did-not-cooperate-during-probe-ed-tells-delhi-court-673304.html Mon, 11 May 2026 14:30:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/list-weekly-limit-adjournments-sc-issues-directions-for-speedy-disposal-of-bail-pleas-pending-in-hcs-673317.html New Delhi May 11 The Supreme Court on Monday issued a slew of directions to ensure the expeditious disposal of bail applications pending before High Courts across the country stressing that courts investigating agencies and governments must work in coordination to safeguard the personal liberty of undertrial prisoners without compromising victimsâ rights Expressing concern over delays in hearing bail pleas a Bench headed by Chief Justice of India CJI Surya Kant said bail matters should be listed weekly or at least fortnightly and directed High Courts to evolve an automatic mechanism for relisting pending bail pleas every two weeks Observing that delay in hearing bail applications directly impacts the fundamental rights of accused persons the apex court said that fresh bail pleas should ordinarily be listed promptly preferably on alternate days or within a week from filing The bench also comprising Justice Joymalya Bagchi directed that status reports must be mandatorily filed before the first hearing of a bail plea It further said that advocates filing bail applications would be required to serve an advance copy upon the office of the Advocate General or the designated agency concernedThe practice of issuing notice at the admission stage has to be dispensed with the top court said adding that bail applications which could not be taken up for hearing should be automatically relisted without requiring fresh procedural steps The Supreme Court further directed all High Courts to prescribe an outer timeline for the expeditious disposal of bail matters and said unnecessary adjournments sought by the Union or state governments should be discouraged Practice has to be developed to not grant casual adjournments to the Union or States keeping in mind the courtâs solemn duty to protect fundamental rights the CJIled bench observed The apex court also flagged delays in forensic reports and said that though forensic science laboratories FSLs have been established Chief Justices of High Courts should work in coordination with state governments to ensure the timely submission of FSL reports In victimcentric cases the Supreme Court said investigating officers must remain conscious that any laxity on their part during investigation may ultimately become a ground for the grant of bail to an accused or suspect The bench said High Courts and investigating agencies should work together to ensure the timely adjudication of bail applications while balancing the rights of victims High Courts and investigating agencies must coordinate so that bail pleas are decided expeditiously without adversely affecting victimsâ rights it added The directions came in the course of proceedings dealing with delays in consideration of bail matters across various High Courts The apex court had earlier expressed extreme disappointment over the manner in which pleas involving personal liberty were being handled observing that several bail applications remained pending for months and were repeatedly adjourned IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/list-weekly-limit-adjournments-sc-issues-directions-for-speedy-disposal-of-bail-pleas-pending-in-hcs-673317.html Mon, 11 May 2026 16:50:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/ed-questions-bengal-ex-minister-sujit-bose-in-municipal-recruitment-case-673322.html Kolkata May 11 Former West Bengal minister Sujit Bose on Monday appeared before the Enforcement Directorate officials for questioning in connection with the alleged municipal recruitment corruption case Bose arrived at the EDâs CGO Complex office in the Salt Lake area of Kolkata along with his son Samudra Bose who was also summoned in the same case According to an ED officer they reached the office around 1030 amOn April 6 the day nominations were being filed for the state Assembly elections Bose received multiple notices from the ED directing him to appear for questioning He later moved the Calcutta High Court seeking more time on the grounds that he was occupied with election campaigningSources in the All India Trinamool Congress claimed that the Bidhannagar candidate deferred his appearance before the agency during the election period in accordance with the courtâs order After the polling process concluded Bose appeared before ED officials at the Salt Lake CGO Complex on May 1 and cooperated with the investigationHe was accompanied by his lawyer and left the office after several hours Speaking to reporters that day Bose said he had visited the ED office carrying a copy of the court orderEven before the Assembly elections the ED had summoned Bose his wife son and daughter multiple times in connection with the alleged municipal recruitment irregularities Family members had also joined the investigation processEarlier ED officials accompanied by central forces conducted searches at several locations linked to Bose including his residence office and his sonâs restaurant near VIP RoadBose had previously criticised the EDâs actions during the election period and alleged that the investigation was politically motivatedSpeaking to the media earlier he had said âSujit Boseâs condition is not so bad that he has to sell jobs to earn money People know that This is a conspiracy by the Election Commission and the EDâHowever before entering the ED office on Monday the former minister declined to make any further comments IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/ed-questions-bengal-ex-minister-sujit-bose-in-municipal-recruitment-case-673322.html Mon, 11 May 2026 18:16:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/telangana-cm-orders-investigation-into-pocso-case-against-mos-bandi-sanjays-son-673325.html Hyderabad May 11 Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Monday directed Director General of Police CV Anand to immediately initiate an investigation into the Protection Of Children from Sexual Offences POCSO Act case registered against Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjayâs son Bandi Bhagirath The Chief Minister instructed the DGP to constitute special teams for a comprehensive investigation into the case of the alleged sexual assault on a minor girl by Bandi BhagirathThe Chief Minister questioned the DGP over the delay in taking action despite the complaint having been lodged on May 8 at Pet Basheerabad Police StationFollowing the Chief Ministerâs direction the police chief reportedly constituted a Special Investigation Team SIT to probe the caseAccording to the Chief Ministerâs Office DGP Anand briefed the Chief Minister on the details of the case The DGP informed the Chief Minister that the entire police force had been engaged in security arrangements in view of Prime Minister Narendra Modiâs visit to HyderabadMeanwhile the Telangana State Commission for Protection of Child Rights TSCPCR has formed a special Bench to hear the caseTGSCPCR Chairperson Kothakota Seetha Dayakar Reddy obtained details from the City Police Commissioner and constituted a special Bench to conduct an enquiry into the matterThe action by TSCPCR and the Chief Ministerâs direction to the DGP came amid the continuing protest by the Opposition Bharath Rashtra Samithi BRS demanding action against Bandi Sanjayâs sonA case was registered against Bandi Bhagirath under POCSO Act for alleged sexual assault on a 17yearold girlThe girlâs mother alleged that Bhagirath had been harassing their daughter for over six months He also allegedly misbehaved with her at a farmhouse in MoinabadOn her complaint the police registered a case under Section 11 of the POCSO Act and relevant sections of BNSBhagirath 25 had earlier lodged a complaint in Karimnagar II Town Police Station against the girl and her parents He alleged that they attempted to honey trap him and demanded Rs 5 crore to not file a police complaint against himOn his complaint a case was booked against the girl and her parents under various Sections of the BNS for extortion criminal intimidation criminal conspiracy and common intentionBandi Sanjay has denied the allegation against his son He claimed that political rivals were trying to tarnish his image by making false allegations IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/telangana-cm-orders-investigation-into-pocso-case-against-mos-bandi-sanjays-son-673325.html Mon, 11 May 2026 18:20:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/three-days-after-killing-of-bengal-cm-aide-chandranath-rath-police-yet-to-nab-accused-673164.html Kolkata May 10 Even 72 hours after the murder of Chandranath Rath personal assistant to Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari the assailants remain at large with police yet to make any arrests Investigators say their biggest challenge is tracking the attackers escape route due to a lack of usable CCTV footage Several cameras along the route adjacent to DohariaMathpara in Madhyamgram through which the miscreants are believed to have fled have been out of order for a long time a senior police officer said on SundayThe shooting took place on Wednesday night in the Doharia area of Madhyamgram in North 24 Parganas district where the assailants stopped Rathâs car midroad before opening fire After the attack the attackers are believed to have fled the scene on motorbikes via an alley road towards Peyara Bagan A search is underway along that route but the absence of effective CCTV coverage at key locations has hampered the investigationPolice investigations have revealed that many CCTV cameras in the area have been nonfunctional for a long time while some installed on light poles were positioned incorrectly As a result no clear visuals of the attackersâ movements are available CCTV cameras at roadside shops have also yielded no clues as most establishments were closed at the time of the incidentA section of investigators believes the assailants deliberately waited for darkness to fall so that faces and number plates would not be clearly captured as they sped away on their bikes the officer saidMeanwhile a red car has emerged as a new mystery in the case CCTV footage shows the vehicle following Rathâs Scorpio from Birati intersection to Jessore Road and remaining close behind even after entering the Doharia area Investigators suspect the car may have been tailing Rath from the start and a vigorous search is underway to trace itA special investigation team has been formed to probe the case which police believe was executed in a wellplanned manner IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/three-days-after-killing-of-bengal-cm-aide-chandranath-rath-police-yet-to-nab-accused-673164.html Sun, 10 May 2026 11:44:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/hope-for-justice-among-citizens-is-reflection-of-nations-character-social-balance-hm-amit-shah-673225.html New Delhi May 10 IANS Union Home Minister and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah on Sunday released a new book titled The Bench the Bar and the Bizarre and The Lawful and the Awful authored by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta during a ceremony in New DelhinbspThe event was attended by several distinguished guests including the Chief Justice of India Justice Surya KantnbspDuring his address Home Minister Amit Shah highlighted that India has significantly strengthened the roots of its democracy throughout the seventy sixyear journey of the ConstitutionHe noted that the country has reinforced its multiparty democratic Parliamentary system emphasising that every legislative change introduced since 1947 has been accepted by the publicnbspThis acceptance he said reflects the deep contributions of the Constitution the citizens and the JudiciarynbspThe Home Minister remarked that people maintain a firm belief that the Constitution remains a vigilant protector against injusticeHe asserted that the doors of justice stay open for those whose rights are violated ensuring that even the weakest voices are heard in courtnbspAccording to Home Minister Shah the hope for justice among common citizens is a vital reflection of the nations character and social balancenbspHe called upon both the Judiciary and the Executive to work together to identify and rectify existing loopholes in the system through a concrete and timebound roadmapHighlighting the unique structure of Indian governance Home Minister Shah noted that the Constitution created institutions to maintain balance rather than to oppose one anothernbspHe described how the Executive takes decisions while the Judiciary performs Constitutional reviews a process preserved through dialogue and proprietynbspHe expressed satisfaction that these Constitutional conventions have remained largely intact and have been further strengthened by traditions over the decadesTurning his attention to the book the Home Minister praised Tushar Mehtas work for providing an impartial analysis that allows for introspectionnbspThe book captures the human side of the legal profession featuring anecdotes about poetry in courtrooms the unique styles of judges and even the challenges posed by artificial intelligence and modern technologynbspHome Minister Shah noted that the release was particularly special as it coincided with Mothers Day resonating with the authors dedication of the book to his motherHe also wrote on his X account Released two books authored by Solicitor General of India Tushar Mehta Ji The Bench the Bar ampamp the Bizarre and The Lawful and the Awful Through amusing stories related to the Judiciary the books bring forth a facet that generally misses the eye They also enlighten the readers about democracy and the significance of its institutionsHome Minister Shah shared photographs of the event tooIANS https://dailyworld.in/law/hope-for-justice-among-citizens-is-reflection-of-nations-character-social-balance-hm-amit-shah-673225.html Sun, 10 May 2026 22:59:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/ed-secures-custody-for-questioning-of-3-accused-in-rs-284-crore-bank-loan-fraud-673079.html New Delhi May 9 A Special PMLA court remanded three accused to ED custody till May 12 in connection with a Rs 284 crore money laundering and bank loan fraud by Sravanthi Group promoter DV Rao and his associates an official said on Saturdayâ The Court accepted the EDâs plea to question the accused and observed that given the gravity of the allegations and the accuseds role in money laundering custodial interrogation is necessary the official said in a statementâThe EDs money laundering probe against Rao and his associates has uncovered largescale laundering of approximately Rs 284 crore the statement saidâTwo directors DV Rao and D Shanthi Kiran along with Raos brother D Avanindra Kumar were arrested following searches at companies associated with the Group the ED saidâEarlier during search operations conducted in the case the ED had seized gold and diamond jewellery valued at approximately Rs 5 crore as well as multiple luxury vehicles belonging to Rao and his family membersâThereafter the ED issued a Provisional Attachment Order under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act PMLA 2002 of Sravanthi Energy Pvt Ltd SEPL and others said a statementâFive residential premises were attached on March 3 2026 as part of EDâs seizure of immovable and movable properties worth Rs 24 crore in the case the ED saidâThe attached assets include house properties 25060 sq ft industrialagricultural land measuring approximately 292 acres and 37 gunthas spread across Andhra Pradesh Telangana and Karnataka owned by Rao and his family members the ED saidâThe investigation originated from a scheduled offence registered as FIR No 03602025 at Police Station Sector40 Gurugram wherein it was alleged that Ms DJW Electric Power Projects Private Ltd controlled by Rao had fraudulently availed loans from various entitiesThe ED investigation conducted till now reveals that the total loan amount involved in the fraud was Rs 58 croreâIn a sophisticated modus operandi while the accounting records of DJW showed that loans were being repaid to the original lenders the ED investigation revealed that the banking RTGS system was misusedâThe RTGS mandate fraudulently mentioned the names of actual lenders but provided bank details of Kolkatabased shell entities the ED saidâConsequently loan repayment funds were siphoned off to shell companiesincluding Nexus International Bhavtarini Sales Pvt Ltd and Gabel Trading Co rather than being returned to legitimate lenders the ED saidâFurther investigation under the PMLA 2002 led to registration of another scheduled offence FIR No 3362025 and a parallel money laundering investigation involving Sravanthi Energy Private Limited SEPL also controlled by RaoâIt was found that SEPL had been fraudulently paying approximately Rs 75 Lakh per month as consultancy fees to a shell entity Ms Verset Technologies Pvt Ltd which had no office or employees and was registered in the name of DV Raos fatherinlaw Through this sham arrangement Rs 8936 Crore was illicitly divertedâSimultaneously SEPL booked bogus purchases of over Rs 139 Crore through fake invoices issued by more than 100 shell entities without any goods or services being supplied These payments were returned to Rao and his family in cashâThe ED investigation has further revealed that Rao had earlier defaulted on large sums to banks leading SEPL to become a NonPerforming Asset NPA â IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/ed-secures-custody-for-questioning-of-3-accused-in-rs-284-crore-bank-loan-fraud-673079.html Sat, 09 May 2026 19:45:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/haryana-special-pmla-court-issues-notices-to-tdi-infra-officials-for-duping-homebuyers--673092.html New Delhi May 9 In a case related to cheating and defrauding of homebuyers a Special PMLA Court in Delhi has issued notices to TDI Infrastructure Ltd its Directors Ravinder Taneja Kamal Taneja and DN Taneja and related entities an ED official said on Saturdayâ The Special PMLA Judge Patiala House District Court issued the notices on April 28 to all the accused in a Prosecution Complaint filed by the Directorate of Enforcement ED Gurugram Zonal OfficeâThe ED initiated an investigation based on multiple FIRs registeredchargesheets filed by the Delhi Police As per the FIRschargesheets TDI Infrastructure and its promoters cheated and defrauded numerous homebuyers by failing to deliver the promised flats and units within the stipulated time and in some cases even after a delay of 1618 years in one of its projectsâThe ED investigation revealed that TDI Infrastructure had launched several commercial residential plots housing projects in Kundali Sonipat Haryana It had collected Rs 461943 crore as advance booking amounts from 14105 customers across 26 projects in SonipatâThe ED said that these projects were launched from 2005 to 2014 however Occupation Certificates for four projects are still pending while one of its projects Park Street remains incompleteâThe ED investigation further revealed that instead of utilising the customer funds for the completion of target residentialhousing projects its promotersdirectors diverted a substantial quantum of such funds to its subsidiarieserstwhile subsidiaries under the head advances for purchase of land parcels and other purposesâThe accused company had also diverted and used said customer funds to repay its loans and also to make investments the ED said in a statementâThis diversion of funds ultimately delayed the construction of the companys target projects thereby preventing customers from receiving timely possession of their unitsplots it saidâRecently the ED provisionally attached assetsproperties valued at Rs 30406 crore belonging to the accused company and its related entities under the PMLA the statement saidâEarlier in 2024 the ED had attached its assetsproperties valued at Rs 4549 crore thereby attaching total Proceeds of Crime to the tune of Rs 34955 crore identified and quantified in the case the official statement saidâThese Proceeds of Crime have also been prayed for confiscation under PMLA 2002 in the said Prosecution Complaint filed by the ED it saidâ IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/haryana-special-pmla-court-issues-notices-to-tdi-infra-officials-for-duping-homebuyers--673092.html Sat, 09 May 2026 21:15:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/maha-govt-to-move-sc-against-bombay-hc-land-ruling-673097.html Mumbai May 9 The Maharashtra government will challenge a Bombay High Court order granting around 25488 acres of prime government land estimated to be worth hundreds of crores in MiraBhayandar to private builders Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule said on Saturday that the state will file a Special Leave Petition SLP in the Supreme Court against the ruling The Bombay High Court on April 30 ruled in favour of handing over the land to Estate Investment and Mira Real Estate DevelopersThe 25488 acres of land in the Mouje Bhayandar area of MiraBhayandar belong to the State Government Since 1948 unauthorised changes have been made in the revenue records without obtaining prior permission from the government Initially the names of âEstate Investment Companyâ and later âMira Salt Worksâ were illegally inserted In 1958 due to its use as salt pans the name of the Central Governmentâs Salt Department was added said the government statementSubsequently the matter regarding ownership reached the Supreme Court which directed that an appeal be filed before the Thane District Collector In 2002 the District Collector rejected the claim of Mira Salt Company and ordered that the entire land be vested with the State GovernmentHowever in 2019 the companies and the Central Governmentâs Salt Commissioner filed a First Appeal in the Bombay High Court On April 30 the High Court rejected the Salt Commissionerâs appeal and ruled that the land belongs to Mira Salt WorksNotably the High Court appeal was only on the issue of maintainability but the court decided the matter on the merits As a result there is now a possibility that the name of the private developer Mira Real Estate Developers will remain on the government land said the statementMinister Bawankule stated that this land belongs to the State Government âWe will firmly crush all attempts to grab government land by tampering with revenue records The Bombay High Court order effectively allows the transfer of government land to private owners The Government of Maharashtra will challenge this order in the Supreme Court to protect public property We will strongly defend the Stateâs ownership rights over this valuable landâ he addedHe also said âWe are going by the Maharashtra Land Revenue Code 1966 â Section 293c which states Occupants Class II shall consist of persons who before the commencement of MLRC have been granted rights in unalienated land under leases which entitle them to hold the land in perpetuity or for a period not less than fifty years with option to renew on fixed rent under any law relating to land revenue and in force before the commencement of this Code and all provisions of this Code relating to the rights liabilities and responsibilities of Occupants Class II shall apply to them as if they were Occupants Class II under this Codeâ IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/maha-govt-to-move-sc-against-bombay-hc-land-ruling-673097.html Sat, 09 May 2026 21:26:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/delhi-hc-to-order-removal-of-ai-generated-fake-videos-of-shashi-tharoor-672921.html New Delhi May 8 The Delhi High Court on Friday said that it will pass an interim order protecting the personality and publicity rights of Congress MP Shashi Tharoor in a suit seeking the removal of alleged deepfake videos and AIgenerated content falsely depicting him as praising Pakistan A singlejudge Bench of Justice Mini Pushkarna issued summons on Tharoorâs plea and directed the respondents including the Centre and social media intermediaries such as Meta and X to file their replies within four weeksWhile dictating the order Justice Pushkarna observed that interim directions would be passed âin terms of prayers a b c and dâ sought in the application for injunctionSenior advocate Amit Sibal appearing on behalf of Tharoor submitted before the Delhi High Court that several deepfake videos falsely attributed politically sensitive statements to the Congress leader and posed a serious threat to his reputation as well as Indiaâs standing internationallySibal contended that despite repeated complaints to authorities and social media platforms under the Information Technology IT Rules the allegedly infringing content continued to reappear through different URLsâThese are three deepfake videos in different links Identical same video but appearing in different URLsâ Sibal submitted adding that even though factchecking organisations had established that the videos were fake sections of the public continued to perceive them as genuineThe senior counsel argued that the alleged misuse of Tharoorâs likeness and persona could have wider diplomatic implications given his stature as a public figure and former Union minister âWhat I say matters and it matters to Indiaâs standing as well They have misappropriated my personality and created these videos praising another country to my detrimentâ Sibal told the Delhi High CourtHe further submitted that the deepfake videos could potentially be misused by foreign governments and formed part of a coordinated misinformation campaign aimed at tarnishing Tharoorâs patriotic image and manipulating public perceptionAppearing for one of the intermediaries Meta informed Justice Pushkarna that certain URLs identified by Tharoor were already unavailable on its platforms However the plaintiff contended that similar content kept resurfacing through newly generated linksTharoor has approached the Delhi High Court seeking protection of his personality and publicity rights against the alleged unauthorised use of his name likeness image and identity across digital platforms including through AIgenerated and morphed contentThe Shashi Tharoor case adds to a growing list of highprofile personalities invoking their personality and publicity rights before the Delhi High Court In recent months former cricketer and current head coach Gautam Gambhir former cricket captain Sunil Gavaskar spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar actors Arjun Kapoor Allu Arjun Nagarjuna Kajol Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Abhishek Bachchan singer Jubin Nautiyal filmmaker Karan Johar and podcaster Raj Shamani have secured court protection against the unauthorised use of their identity likeness or AIgenerated imitations IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/delhi-hc-to-order-removal-of-ai-generated-fake-videos-of-shashi-tharoor-672921.html Fri, 08 May 2026 13:12:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/sc-grants-bail-to-odisha-life-convict-after-22-years-in-jail-slams-orissa-hc-for-rejecting-delayed-appeal-672924.html New Delhi May 8 IANS The Supreme Court has ordered the release on bail of a life convict from Odisha who has remained behind bars for more than 22 years taking strong exception to an Orissa High Court order which had dismissed his criminal appeal on the ground of a nearly nineyear delay in filing itnbspnbspCalling the impugned decision very disturbing a Bench of Justices JB Pardiwala and Ujjal Bhuyan observed that the High Court ought to have adopted a practical view and at the very least afforded the convict an opportunity to argue his appeal on meritsThe apex court was hearing a special leave petition SLP filed by Arjun Jani alias Tuntun against the January 11 2016 order of the Orissa High Court which had refused to condone a delay of 3157 days in filing a criminal appeal against his conviction in a murder caseThe petitioner was tried before the court of the Additional Sessions Judge in Odishas Nabarangpur in connection with offences punishable under Sections 302 and 201 of the Indian Penal Code IPC and was sentenced to life imprisonment on August 25 2006The High Court while dismissing the appeal as timebarred had observed This appeal is beyond time by 3157 days From the jail memo of appeal we do not find any viable reason to condone the delay near about nine years Delay condonation application is dismissed and appeal too stands dismissedTaking exception to the approach adopted by the Odisha High Court the Justice Pardiwalaled Bench said that the petitioner had already undergone over 12 years of imprisonment when the appeal was filed and the fact that it was a jail appeal should have persuaded the High Court to adopt a sympathetic approachThe High Court while declining to condone the delay ought to have considered the fact that the petitioner was already undergoing sentence past 12 years The High Court ought to have also considered that it was an appeal through jail This itself was sufficient for the High Court to take a practical view or rather a sympathetic view of the matter and at least ought to have condoned the delay so as to give one opportunity to the petitioner to argue his criminal appeal on merits the top court saidThe order further noted that as of now the petitioner has undergone almost 22 years of sentence and has never been released even once on parole or furlough during this entire periodThe counsel appearing for the petitioner also produced a conduct certificate issued by the Senior Superintendent of Circle Jail Koraput stating that the convicts conduct and behaviour in prison had remained satisfactory and that no adverse remarks or punishment had ever been recorded against himTaking note of the long incarceration and satisfactory jail conduct the Supreme Court said We are convinced that we should release the petitioner on bail in the peculiar facts and circumstances of this caseIn exercise of our jurisdiction under Article 142 of the Constitution as an exceptional case we order that the petitioner be released on bail the Justice Pardiwalaled Bench addedIt directed that the petitioner be released on furnishing a personal bond of Rs 10000 to the satisfaction of the Jail Superintendent The apex court also directed the District Legal Services Authority Koraput to assist the petitioner in preparing an appropriate representation seeking remission of sentence in accordance with the prevailing remission policy applicable to himWe have passed this order keeping in mind the fact that the petitioner is undergoing sentence past 22 years and has not been released even once during this period of 22 years His jail conduct has also been found to be satisfactory the Justice Pardiwalaled Bench observedThe matter has been posted for reporting compliance on May 28IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/sc-grants-bail-to-odisha-life-convict-after-22-years-in-jail-slams-orissa-hc-for-rejecting-delayed-appeal-672924.html Fri, 08 May 2026 13:33:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/jindal-global-law-school-launches-indias-first-pre-law-summer-programme-for-school-students-672928.html Sonipat Haryana May 8 Jindal Global Law School JGLS OP Jindal Global University JGU has announced the launch of the IMAANDAAR Summer Programme in PreLaw Mooting amp Advocacy a firstofitskind residential summer programme for students of Grades 912 Scheduled from June 14 to June 20 2026 the programme seeks to introduce high school students to the interdisciplinary foundations of legal education through a rigorous experiential and intellectually enriching learning environmentThe sevenday residential programme will be hosted at IMAANDAAR International Mooting Academy for Advocacy Negotiation Dispute Adjudication Arbitration amp Resolution home to one of the worldâs largest academic moot court facilities located within the campus of JGU Conceived as a pioneering initiative in prelaw education in India the programme combines advocacy critical thinking legal reasoning dispute resolution public speaking ethics and leadership development into a transformative academic experience for young learnersA firstofitskind initiative designed to introduce school students to advocacy constitutional values legal reasoning leadership and global legal educationDesigned and delivered by distinguished faculty members legal scholars advocacy trainers and practitioners the programme aims to nurture the next generation of legal thinkers public leaders and socially conscious citizens The curriculum moves beyond traditional mooting and courtroom simulations to equip students with analytical communicative and problemsolving skills that are increasingly essential across professions and disciplinesAt a time when critical thinking ethical leadership and persuasive communication have become essential life skills across professions the IMAANDAAR Summer Programme seeks to reimagine how young learners engage with law justice public reasoning and democratic values long before entering university educationWhile summer programmes in STEM entrepreneurship and leadership are increasingly common globally structured prelaw education opportunities for school students remain extremely limited in India The IMAANDAAR initiative seeks to fill this gap by introducing young learners to advocacy constitutional thinking ethical reasoning and public discourse in an inspiring academic environmentThe IMAANDAAR Summer Programme at JGLS offers an Immersive Residential Experience in Mooting Legal Reasoning Negotiation and Leadership DevelopmentSpeaking on the launch of the programme Prof Dr C Raj Kumar Founding Vice Chancellor of JGU and Founding Dean of JGLS stated âLegal education today requires far more than doctrinal knowledge It demands intellectual curiosity critical thinking ethical awareness persuasive communication and the ability to engage meaningfully with complex societal challenges The IMAANDAAR Summer Programme has been envisioned as an early gateway into these foundational competencies enabling young learners to understand law not merely as a profession but as an instrument of justice democratic engagement public leadership and social transformation Through immersive learning mentorship advocacy training and experiential pedagogy this programme seeks to inspire students to become thoughtful articulate and globally conscious future leadersâSpeaking about the broader significance of the programme Professor Dr Dipika Jain Executive Dean of Jindal Global Law School stated âI believe this program organised by OP Jindal Global University is a truly transformative and enriching opportunity for young minds It fosters intellectual curiosity builds confidence and nurtures the ability to think critically and independently Such early exposure to structured reasoning and advocacy equips students with skills that extend far beyond the study of law Regardless of the career path they ultimately choose this experience will help them communicate effectively make informed decisions and contribute meaningfully to societyâIndiaâs No 1 Ranked Law SchoolJGLS is ranked 35th globally by QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026 and retains its position as the 1stranked law school in India for the 7th consecutive yearAdvancing Advocacy Critical Thinking and Leadership Through Experiential LearningThe IMAANDAAR Summer Programme has been carefully curated to combine academic depth with practical engagement Participants will receive foundational training in Advocacy and Public Speaking Critical Thinking and Legal Reasoning Moot Court Techniques and Courtroom Etiquette Negotiation Mediation and Alternative Dispute Resolution Legal Ethics and Professional Responsibility Research Argumentation and Case AnalysisOne of the defining highlights of the programme will be the Grand Moot Court where participants will engage in simulated moot court proceedings before expert panels Students will receive firsthand exposure to courtroom advocacy legal argumentation and structured dispute resolution while benefitting from detailed feedback and mentorship from faculty members and trained facilitatorsThe programme also offers students a unique opportunity to experience life at one of Indiaâs leading global universities With its internationally oriented academic ecosystem interdisciplinary pedagogy and diverse student community JGU provides an environment that encourages innovation inclusivity critical inquiry and global engagementOne Week of Learning Lifetime into the LawProfessor Anand Prakash Mishra Executive Dean Institutional Outreach amp Senior Director of Law Admissions said that IMAANDAAR Summer Programme is the first of its kind in India and the World where a top global law school opens its doors for school students of class 912 training them in mooting and advocacy This will help create a generation of law aspirants who are excited and passionate about building a legal career Every school student who is aspiring to join a law school after their class 12 must consider this one week of learning at JGLS This might commence their journey into a lifetime of law and the legal profession IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/jindal-global-law-school-launches-indias-first-pre-law-summer-programme-for-school-students-672928.html Fri, 08 May 2026 13:46:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/sc-names-former-cji-dy-chandrachud-to-resolve-kapur-family-trust-battle-672808.html New Delhi May 7 The Supreme Court on Thursday appointed former Chief Justice of India CJI DY Chandrachud as mediator to resolve the ongoing family dispute between Rani Kapur and Priya Sachdev Kapur over the alleged RK Family Trust linked to the Sona Group estate A Bench of Justices JB Pardiwala and Ujjal Bhuyan passed the order after all parties agreed to explore a settlement through mediationObserving that the controversy was a âfamily affairâ the apex court requested all parties not to make any public statements or post about the dispute on social media âItâs a family dispute let it be confined among the family only It should not be a source of entertainmentâ the Justice Pardiwalaled Bench orally remarked clarifying that the mediation proceedings would be confined to disputes among the family membersâThe endeavour should be to resolve the dispute and put an end to the matter We firmly believe all parties should participate in the mediation with an open mindâ it addedThe apex court further said that it would await a preliminary report from the mediator before taking up the matter further and posted the case for hearing in AugustThe dispute pertains to the creation and control of the socalled RK Family TrustRani Kapur Family Trust which has been challenged by 80yearold Rani Kapur as fraudulent and illegal According to the suit Rani Kapur is the sole beneficiary of the estate of her late husband industrialist Dr Surinder Kapur who passed away in 2015 and had allegedly bequeathed all movable and immovable properties to her through a will probated by the Bombay High Court in 2016The petition alleged that despite this her entire estate was clandestinely diverted into a newly created trust without her knowledge or informed consentDescribing herself as a victim of âillegal acts forgery and undue influenceâ Rani Kapur claimed that within days of the death of her son industrialist Sunjay Kapur control over key group companies was assumed without her knowledgeEarlier on April 27 the apex court had issued notice on Rani Kapurâs plea and indicated that mediation could be an appropriate mechanism for resolving the dispute particularly considering her advanced ageMeanwhile in a related development the Delhi High Court recently granted interim protection to Sunjay Kapurâs children from his previous marriage with Bollywood actor Karisma Kapoor restraining Priya Kapur from dissipating or creating thirdparty rights over key portions of the deceased industrialistâs estate pending adjudication of the inheritance disputeA singlejudge Bench of Justice Jyoti Singh held that the estate of the deceased was required to be preserved during the pendency of the proceedings and observed that suspicious circumstances surrounding the purported will had been raised by the plaintiffs Samaira Kapur and Kiaan Kapur as well as Rani KapurThe Delhi High Court restrained Priya Kapur from alienating transferring pledging or altering the equity and shareholding structure in Sunjay Kapurâs Indian companies and also barred withdrawal of provident fund amounts disposal of artworks personal effects and cryptocurrencies linked to the estate IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/sc-names-former-cji-dy-chandrachud-to-resolve-kapur-family-trust-battle-672808.html Thu, 07 May 2026 14:57:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/assam-advocate-general-devajit-saikia-resigns-following-end-of-govt-tenure-672818.html Guwahati May 7 Senior Advocate General Devajit Saikia on Thursday announced his resignation from the post of Advocate General of Assam following the completion of the tenure of the present state government In a statement posted on X Saikia said he had tendered his resignation on Wednesday in keeping with constitutional tradition and established practice after the end of the current governmentâs term under Chief Minister Himanta Biswa SarmaâKeeping and upholding the high tradition and constitutional practice I have tendered my resignation yesterday from the Office of the Advocate General Assam upon completion of my tenure of nearly five years and consequent to the end of the present Governmentâs termâ Saikia statedHe described his tenure as Advocate General as a matter of âimmense honour and privilegeâ and expressed gratitude to the state leadership and legal fraternity for their support and cooperation during his term in officeSaikia thanked the Chief Minister members of the Council of Ministers government officials fellow lawyers and all those associated with the administration and judiciary for the trust reposed in him during the past several yearsâIt has been a matter of immense honour and privilege to serve the State of Assam in the constitutional office of Advocate Generalâ he said in the statementDevajit Saikia had served as the top law officer of the Assam government for nearly five years and represented the state in several important legal and constitutional matters before various courtsApart from his legal responsibilities in Assam Saikia also holds the position of secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India BCCI and has been associated with Indian cricket administration for several yearsHis resignation comes ahead of the swearingin of the new BJPled NDA government in Assam scheduled to take place on May 12 in GuwahatiSources indicated that a new Advocate General is expected to be appointed after the formation of the new Council of Ministers in the state IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/assam-advocate-general-devajit-saikia-resigns-following-end-of-govt-tenure-672818.html Thu, 07 May 2026 16:41:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/karnataka-bjp-mla-bp-harish-faces-arrest-in-atrocity-case-after-court-warrant-672597.html Bengaluru May 6 Senior BJP MLA BP Harish is facing the threat of arrest in connection with an atrocity case after the Special Court for MLAsMPs issued an arrest warrant against him The police were preparing for the legal action as the court had also directed the prosecution to produce him before it on May 7 A case had been registered at the Harihar Town Police Station against Harihar BJP MLA BP Harish on charges of making casteist remarks In connection with this case the court issued an arrest warrant against him on TuesdayIt is alleged that a day after the 2023 Assembly election results BP Harish made derogatory remarks against the Dalit community Following this BSP leader Hanumanthappa from Harihar filed a complaint at the Harihar Town Police Station leading to the registration of a case under caste abuse chargesAs Harish failed to appear for the investigation Bengaluruâs Special Court for Peopleâs Representatives Judge Santosh Gajanan Bhat issued an arrest warrant against him It may be recalled that after winning the 2023 Assembly elections some leaders from the Dalit community visited Harish to congratulate him During the interaction he allegedly stated that despite the BJP government increasing reservations Dalits did not vote for the party and also allegedly made some other remarksA video of this statement had gone viral then In this connection B Hanumanthappa and others had filed a complaint at the Harihar Town Police Station The court has now directed the Harihar police to arrest Harish and produce him before it on May 7MLA BP Harish represents the Harihar Assembly constituency in Davanagere district He is the only BJP MLA from the district Harish has contested elections seven times and has won twice He is seen as challenging the influence of the powerful Shamanur family in the region which is associated with the Congress party and is often said to wield significant political controlFollowing the court order the Harihar police have also become active and the threat of arrest has begun to loom over MLA BP Harish IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/karnataka-bjp-mla-bp-harish-faces-arrest-in-atrocity-case-after-court-warrant-672597.html Wed, 06 May 2026 12:57:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/sc-flags-egregious-error-in-granting-bail-in-dowry-death-case-672619.html New Delhi May 6 IANS The Supreme Court has cancelled the bail granted by the Allahabad High Court to a man accused in a dowry death case from Uttar Pradesh terming the relief not sustainable in law and cautioning courts against taking crimes against women very lightlynbspA Bench of Justices JB Pardiwala and Vijay Bishnoi allowed the appeal filed by the father of the deceased woman and directed the accused husband to surrender before jail authorities within one week failing which coercive steps may be takenThe case relates to the death of a woman who was found dead under suspicious circumstances at her matrimonial home in Ghaziabad on July 11 2024 within seven years of her marriage solemnised in February 2019An FIR lodged by the deceaseds father alleged that despite spending over Rs 30 lakh at the time of marriage including an i20 car cash jewellery and household articles the husband and his family continued demanding an SUV and an additional Rs 10 lakh as dowryAccording to the complaint the woman was subjected to physical and mental harassment beaten abused and threatened with death over the dowry demandsThe FIR further alleged that shortly before her death the deceased had informed her father over the phone that her inlaws had been assaulting her and threatening to kill herInvestigation in the case culminated in a charge sheet against the husband and his parents under various provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023 and the Dowry Prohibition Act 1961The Allahabad High Court had granted bail to the accused husband in August 2025 observing that the cause of death was asphyxia as a result of antemortem hanging and referring to an alleged delay in lodging the FIRSetting aside the bail order the Supreme Court said the Allahabad High Court committed an egregious error while exercising discretion in favour of the accused in such a serious offenceWhen bail is prayed for the High Court is expected to consider the nature of the crime and a prima facie case The allegations levelled by the father in the FIR do disclose more than a prima facie case the Justice Pardiwalaled Bench observedIt added that the deceased had died in her matrimonial home within seven years of marriage and there were serious allegations of dowry harassment attracting the statutory presumption under Section 118 of the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam 2023Referring to the postmortem report which recorded multiple antemortem injuries including contusions on the face chest and arms as well as a ligature mark around the neck the top court said The postmortem report indicates a ligature mark measuring 32 x 2 cm around the neck What does this indicate Prima facie it suggests that the deceased was strangled to deathExpressing concern over rising dowry deaths the Supreme Court said that young married women were being killed mercilessly in matrimonial homes for want of dowry A young girl does not get married to be killed mercilessly at her matrimonial home for want of dowry This is a serious problem in some sections of the society in this country more particularly in the States of Uttar Pradesh Bihar and Karnataka respectively the Justice Pardiwalaled Bench said adding that despite educational progress and efforts to empower women they continue to suffer due to dowry demands after marriageCiting official data the apex court noted that 6156 people lost their lives in dowry death cases across the country in 2023 with Uttar Pradesh recording the highest number of such deaths at 2122 followed by Bihar with 1143It further observed that bail courts must remain cautious so that their orders are not perceived by society as trivialising serious crimes against women All that we want to convey is that a bail court at any level should remain very careful to ensure that its order should not be seen or read by the society at large that the courts are taking serious crimes against women very lightly the Justice Pardiwalaled Bench saidWhile cancelling the bail the apex court clarified that the observations made in its order were confined to the question of bail and should not influence the trial court while deciding the guilt or innocence of the accusedSetting aside the Allahabad High Courts order the Supreme Court directed that the trial be completed expeditiously preferably within one year The top court also directed that a copy of its order be forwarded to the Registrar General of the Allahabad High Court for being placed before the Chief JusticeIANS https://dailyworld.in/law/sc-flags-egregious-error-in-granting-bail-in-dowry-death-case-672619.html Wed, 06 May 2026 14:22:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/sc-grants-bail-in-murder-case-says-prolonged-custody-without-trial-violates-article-21-672407.html New Delhi May 5 IANS Reiterating that the right to a speedy trial is a fundamental guarantee under Article 21 of the Constitution the Supreme Court has granted bail to an accused in a murder case who had remained in custody for nearly four years without examination of a single witnessnbspA Bench of Justices JB Pardiwala and Vijay Bishnoi passed the order while allowing a special leave petition SLP filed by Sahil Manoj Machare challenging a Bombay High Court order that had denied him bail in a murder case registered in Maharashtras Kolhapur districtTaking note of the prolonged incarceration the apex court observed that despite charges being framed in 2024 the trial had not progressed at all We take notice of the fact that the petitioner is in judicial custody since 1112022 Although the charge came to be framed by the Trial Court in the year 2024 yet till this date not a single witness has been examined the Justice Pardiwalaled Bench recordedIn these circumstances the top court held that the continued detention of the accused infringed his fundamental rights In such circumstances we are left with no other option but to say that the right of the accused to have a speedy trial as enshrined under Article 21 of the Constitution could be said to have been infringed the Justice Pardiwalaled Bench saidIt further said that even in serious offences like murder constitutional safeguards cannot be ignored We are mindful of the fact that the petitioner is charged with the offence of murder but time and again we have said that howsoever serious the crime may be if the right of speedy trial is infringed then the Court must consider the plea for bail appropriately the apex court observedNoting that the accused had spent almost 4 years in jail without progress in trial the Justice Pardiwalaled Bench directed that he be released on bail forthwith subject to terms and conditions to be imposed by the trial courtThe case was registered at Shahapur Police Station in Kolhapur under Sections 302 and 34 of the IPC The petitioner was arrested on November 1 2022 and a charge sheet was filed in September 2023 As per the prosecution the incident occurred during a family gathering in village Tardal where the victim was allegedly attacked with a sharp weapon and later declared dead An eyewitness had identified one of the coaccused as the assailantBefore the Bombay High Court the accused had argued that his name did not figure in the FIR no weapon was recovered from him and the case rested on circumstantial evidence However the Bombay High Court declined the bail plea in March 2026 highlighting the gravity of the offence the presence of prima facie evidence and its possible impact on the administration of justiceIt had observed that the gravity of the offence and the prima facie evidence of the applicants involvement outweigh the grounds for release and stressed that judicial discretion in serious offences must be exercised cautiouslyA singlejudge Bench of Justice Sachin S Deshmukh had also rejected the argument of delay in trial stating that proceedings were under progress and directing parties to cooperate for expeditious disposal instead of filing intervening applicationsSetting aside the impugned order the Supreme Court held that continued incarceration in such circumstances cannot be justified and ordered the petitioners release provided he is not required in any other caseIANS https://dailyworld.in/law/sc-grants-bail-in-murder-case-says-prolonged-custody-without-trial-violates-article-21-672407.html Tue, 05 May 2026 12:41:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/delhi-hc-pulls-up-io-over-defective-notice-grants-interim-relief-to-woman-672473.html New Delhi May 5 IANS The Delhi High Court has granted interim protection from arrest to a woman and her relative who alleged harassment by local police in connection with a matrimonial dispute while expressing shock at the manner in which the Investigating Officer IO issued a notice to join the probenbspnbspRecording the IOs statement that he did not intend to arrest them a singlejudge Bench of Justice Girish Kathpalia directed that the petitioners shall not be arrested till the next date of hearingThe Delhi High Court was hearing a writ petition filed by Sonia Bansal and her sisters brotherinlaw who sought protection of their life and liberty from the police of Alipur Police StationThe petitioners contended that Sonia Bansal was embroiled in matrimonial litigation with her husband and alleged that he was using his influence to harass them through the police machineryAccording to the plea an FIR was registered at PS Alipur on the complaint of the husband and despite the alleged offences being bailable the IO was neither accepting bail bonds nor refraining from harassmentAdditional Standing Counsel Sanjeev Bhandari on instructions from IOHead Constable Anil submitted that the first petitioner had already been called to join investigation and clarified that he does not want to arrest either of the petitionersRecording the statement the Delhi High Court granted interim protection but flagged serious irregularities in the conduct of the investigationIt is shocking to note that the said notice which mentions even time of appearance before the IO does not disclose the date when petitioner no 1 has to report before the IO Rather the relevant space in the notice has been left blank Justice Kathpalia observedThe judge further cautioned that such a lapse raises concerns that at some subsequent stage the IO would have taken a stand that despite service of notice petitioner no 1 did not join investigationTaking note of the deficiency the Delhi High Court directed that a copy of the order be sent to the concerned Deputy Commissioner of Police DCP to take appropriate action and submit a report The matter has been listed for further hearing on July 20IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/delhi-hc-pulls-up-io-over-defective-notice-grants-interim-relief-to-woman-672473.html Tue, 05 May 2026 18:05:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/delhi-high-court-cautions-against-over-expansive-interpretation-of-personality-rights-672506.html New Delhi May 5 The Delhi High Court has cautioned against an overexpansive interpretation of personality rights observing that not every individual achievement or academic success can be elevated to such protection as it would result in absurdity and incongruity A singlejudge Bench of Justice Tushar Rao Gedela made the observation while dealing with a commercial suit arising from a dispute between rival edtech platforms involving allegations of defamation disparagement and unauthorised use of trademarks as well as the use of a CLAT 2026 topperâs identity The Delhi High Court stated that expanding the scope of personality rights to cover every instance of success â such as a student securing a top rank in a competitive examination â would set an unworkable precedent In case any and every success or a milestone achieved is held to be sufficient to be raised to the level of a âpersonality rightâ it would lead to absurdity and incongruity Justice Gedela said If such interpretation is carried forward then every aspirant candidate student citizen of this country who achieves or is declared as a top ranker in every stage of examination would be entitled to protection of their personality rights he added The Delhi High Court observed that while personality rights have been recognised in cases involving individuals with sustained public recognition and commercial value attached to their persona the threshold cannot be diluted to cover isolated academic accomplishments Though the courts have not been able to concisely or precisely define âpersonality rightsâ it is prudent to avoid such enlargement and widening of the scope to the levels of incongruity and absurdity the order said The observations came against the backdrop of a dispute involving claims over the success of a minor student who secured All India Rank 1 in CLAT 2026 with rival coaching institutes accusing each other of misleading publicity and defamatory campaigns At the same time the Delhi High Court said that the minorâs position appeared to be distinct from that of the coaching institutes involved in the dispute remarking that her situation seems to be that of a pawn in a larger rivalry between competing edtech entities It was not appropriate for the defendant nos 1 and 2 to carry out any campaign whether defamatory or otherwise in the name of plaintiff no3 Justice Gedeala observed adding that the student had already clarified her position and requested that her name not be dragged into the controversy While refraining from conclusively adjudicating the issue of personality rights at this stage the order clarified that the present case could not be decided on that basis alone On a prima facie assessment the Delhi High Court found that the defendantsâ posts blogs and videos appeared to be disparaging and intended to tarnish the reputation and goodwill of the plaintiffs including through unauthorised use of their registered trademark âLegalEdgeâ Describing the dispute as an acrimonious professional rivalry it held that attempts to lower the image of a competitor through such content cannot be countenanced Accordingly the Delhi High Court granted an ex parte adinterim injunction restraining the defendants from publishing or circulating defamatory disparaging or infringing content against the plaintiffs across digital platforms It also directed that the defendants refrain from using the minor studentâs name images or AIgenerated representations and barred them from tampering with any material related to the alleged campaign Further intermediaries including Google and Meta were directed to take down or disable access to the identified defamatory content within 72 hours The matter will be heard next after the completion of pleadings IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/delhi-high-court-cautions-against-over-expansive-interpretation-of-personality-rights-672506.html Tue, 05 May 2026 19:46:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/pune-toddler-rape-murder-case-oppn-demands-sit-probe-criticises-maharashtra-home-dept-672154.html Mumbai May 4 The brutal rapeandmurder of a fouryearold girl in Narsapur Pune has fuelled a massive political row in Maharashtra Opposition parties have launched a scathing attack on the State Home Department led by Devendra Fadnavis citing police negligence and a total breakdown of law and order They have demanded an enquiry into the horrific incident by a Special Investigation Team SIT Maharashtra Congress Legislature Party leader Vijay Wadettiwar raised serious questions regarding the polices conduct in court He alleged that despite having knowledge of the accusedâs prior criminal record the police failed to present this information to the judiciaryâThe police only updated the remand application after being reprimanded by the court If the police are this negligent how will the child get justice Is their only achievement lathicharging the grieving family and the public he askedHe further demanded a SIT led by a woman IPS officer stating that the Pune polices insensitive handling of the case has eroded public trustShiv Sena UBT MP Sanjay Raut took a direct shot at Chief Minister and Home Minister Devendra Fadnavis suggesting that the Home Minister himself should be named as an accused for the systemic failureHe claimed that CM Fadnavis is preoccupied with politics 247 leading to a loss of control over the Home Department If beloved sisters Ladki Bahin receive Rs 1500 a month but their daughters are violated in return should they remain silent Raut questioned referencing the governments flagship welfare schemeThe Mumbai Congress chief and MP Varsha Gaikwad echoed these sentiments stating that the incident is a blot on humanity and proves there is no fear of the law left in the state She remarked that the police no longer seem to answer even to the Home MinisterMaharashtra Navnirman Sena leader Amit Thackeray expressed deep outrage over the incident noting that the child had only come to her grandmothers house for a vacationThe case involves the kidnapping rape and subsequent murder of a toddler in Narsapur from Pune district by an old manThe brutality of the crime led to spontaneous public protests Tensions escalated when police reportedly used force lathicharge to disperse angry citizens and the victims family members who were demanding immediate justice further fueling the Oppositions claims of government insensitivityEarlier CM and Home Minister Fadnavis condemned the act in the strongest terms describing it as a blot on humanityHe directed the Pune Rural Police to ensure a watertight case and announced that the trial would be conducted in a FastTrack CourtHe assured the public that the true story and all facts will be brought to light soon and that the government would seek the death penalty for the accused to set a stern precedentHe has ordered increased police patrolling in the Bhor region to restore a sense of security among residents IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/pune-toddler-rape-murder-case-oppn-demands-sit-probe-criticises-maharashtra-home-dept-672154.html Mon, 04 May 2026 14:31:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/mangaluru-blast-nia-to-seek-life-sentence-for-accused-challenge-10-year-term-671992.html Bengaluru May 2 The National Investigation Agency NIA is preparing to file an appeal before the court challenging the 10year imprisonment awarded to Mohammed Shariq in the Mangaluru cooker blast case seeking a life sentence officials said on Saturday According to NIA officials Shariq has already spent nearly four years in jail with about six years of his sentence remainingInvestigations have revealed that convict Shariq was in contact with terrorist organisations and could pose a potential threat to societyNIA officers stated that before being apprehended by the agency Shariq had earlier been arrested by local police and soon after his release he allegedly carried out trial bomb blasts in the Tunga River catchment area in Shivamogga and later planned the Mangaluru blastNIA officers further said that the appeal would be filed on the grounds that Shariq would be around 33yearsold at the time of his release At that age if he returns to mainstream society there is a possibility that he could reconnect with subversive elements and antinational forces might exploit him against the interests of the nationOfficials said preparations are underway and arguments are being formulated in this regard and the appeal will be filed before the court soonMeanwhile it has come to light that local police allegedly showed negligence after arresting Shariq in 2020 along with another suspect Maaz Muneer on charges of antinational graffiti at two locations It is alleged that the police did not effectively utilise witnesses and filed the chargesheet in a hurried mannerAs a result the accused secured bail from the court and allegedly went on to engage in antinational activities Sources said that if the police had conducted a more thorough investigation or if the case had been handed over to the NIA or CBI the terror module could have been busted and the Mangaluru cooker blast might have been preventedIt can be recalled that a special NIA court on April 27 sentenced Shariq to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment in connection with the Mangaluru cooker blast case Shariq had pleaded guilty before the court during the trial The period of imprisonment already undergone will be set off against the total sentenceShariq sought a reduction in his sentence stating that he has one daughter and is the sole breadwinner of his family Meanwhile the second accused Syed Yasin pleaded not guilty and the trial against him will continue IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/mangaluru-blast-nia-to-seek-life-sentence-for-accused-challenge-10-year-term-671992.html Sat, 02 May 2026 16:46:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/nia-court-sentences-two-to-55-years-jail-for-hoisting-khalistani-flag-at-moga-dcs-office-671875.html Mohali May 1 A special National Investigation Agency NIA court in Punjabs SAS Nagar Mohali has convicted and sentenced two men to over five years rigorous imprisonment in a 2020 case involving the hoisting of a Khalistani flag at the Deputy Commissionerâs office in the states Moga the agency said on Friday The convicted accused identified as Inderjeet Singh and Jaspal Singh both residents of Moga have been awarded five years and six months of imprisonment along with a fine of Rs 16000 each The court found them guilty under multiple provisions of the Indian Penal Code the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act and the Prevention of Insults to National Honour ActAccording to the NIA the case relates to an incident on August 14 2020 when the duo allegedly hoisted a Khalistani flag atop the Moga Deputy Commissionerâs office building a day before Independence Day Investigations revealed that the act was carried out at the instigation of Gurpatwant Singh Pannun general counsel of the banned outfit Sikhs for Justice SFJ who has been designated as a terrorist by the Indian governmentThe agency stated that the accused had accessed the administrative complex climbed to the top of the building and replaced the national flag with a saffronyellow flag bearing the word KHALISTAN In the process they allegedly cut the rope of the Indian tricolour causing it to fall and subsequently dragged it amounting to an insult to the national flagThe NIA had earlier filed a charge sheet against the two convicts along with two other arrested accused and two absconders based in the United States â Pannun and his associate Rana Singh alias Harpreet Singh Both absconders were declared proclaimed offenders by the Mohali special court in 2021Further investigations in the case RC302020NIADLI had revealed that Harpreet Singh had facilitated payments to Inderjeet Singh and Jaspal Singh for carrying out the act The agency also pointed to a provocative video uploaded by Pannun between August 10 and 11 2020 in which he urged people in Punjab and Haryana to hoist Khalistani flags at government buildings He had allegedly announced monetary rewards including 125000 for hoisting such a flag at Delhiâs Red Fort and 2500 for similar acts elsewhereThe NIA said the conviction underscores continued efforts to curb activities linked to banned organisations and safeguard national integrity IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/nia-court-sentences-two-to-55-years-jail-for-hoisting-khalistani-flag-at-moga-dcs-office-671875.html Fri, 01 May 2026 16:29:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/delhi-court-grants-bail-to-i-pac-co-founder-vinesh-kumar-chandel-671758.html New Delhi April 30 A Delhi court on Thursday granted regular bail to Indian Political Action Committee IPAC cofounder Vinesh Kumar Chandel in a money laundering case linked to the alleged coal pilferage probe Additional Sessions Judge Amit Bansal of the Patiala House Courts passed the order in favour of Chandel who was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate ED under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act PMLAWhile allowing the bail plea the court recorded that the ED had been given an opportunity to oppose the application but chose not to do soOn April 23 a Delhi court had issued notice to the ED on Chandelâs regular bail plea and sought the federal antimoney laundering agencyâs responseSubsequently on April 28 the Patiala House Court had dismissed his interim bail plea which was filed on medical grounds citing the deteriorating health of his 74yearold mother who is suffering from dementiaRejecting the interim relief the court had then observed âIn view of the foregoing discussion this Court is of the considered opinion that the applicantaccused has failed to make out a case for grant of interim bail The grounds urged though sympathetic do not rise to the level of urgency or exceptionality required to justify such relief particularly in the context of an offence under the PMLAâThe court had further underlined that interim bail in PMLA cases cannot be granted routinely and must be based on âcompelling immediate and exceptional circumstancesâChandel was sent to 14 daysâ judicial custody on April 23 after the expiry of the ED remand in connection with an Enforcement Case Information Report ECIR registered on March 28 on the basis of an FIR lodged by the Economic Offences Wing EOWAccording to the ED Ms Indian PAC Consulting Pvt Ltd through its directors including Chandel was allegedly involved in the generation concealment and laundering of proceeds of crime through structured financial transactions involving unaccounted cash components bogus invoices and hawala channelsThe federal antimoney laundering agency has alleged that the company split receipts between formal banking channels and cash payments including funds purportedly received from political parties and used unaccounted money for electionrelated expenditure and influencing public perceptionThe ED has further claimed that Rs 1350 crore was introduced into the companyâs books in the guise of unsecured interestfree loans without commercial justification while bogus invoices were allegedly raised to justify suspicious fund inflows IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/delhi-court-grants-bail-to-i-pac-co-founder-vinesh-kumar-chandel-671758.html Thu, 30 Apr 2026 15:29:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/justice-anupinder-singh-grewal-appointed-as-new-nclt-president-671767.html New Delhi April 30 The Centre has approved the appointment of Justice Retd Anupinder Singh Grewal former judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court as President of the National Company Law Tribunal NCLT According to an official notification issued by the Department of Personnel and Training DoPT the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet cleared the Ministry of Corporate Affairsâ proposal for Justice Grewalâs appointment to the top post in the NCLTâThe Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the proposal of the Ministry of Corporate Affairs for appointment of Justice Retd Anupinder Singh Grewal former Judge of the High Court of Punjab amp Haryana to the post of President National Company Law Tribunal NCLT in the pay scale of Rs 80000 fixed prerevised for a period of five years with effect from the date of assumption of charge of the post or till attaining the age of 67 years whichever is earlierâ the notification statedJustice Grewal succeeds Justice Ramalingam Sudhakar who had served as NCLT President with effect from November 1 2021 and demitted office earlier this yearThe NCLT functions as a key adjudicatory body for corporate disputes in India dealing with matters related to the Companies Act and insolvency proceedings under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code IBCBorn on March 10 1964 into an agriculturist family from Punjabâs Ludhiana district Justice Grewal pursued his academic journey at St Stephenâs College Delhi where he completed his BA Honours in History in 1985 and MA in History in 1987 He later obtained his LLB degree from the University of Delhi in 1992He began legal practice at the Punjab and Haryana High Court in 1992 and went on to serve in several significant legal positions for the Punjab government including Assistant Advocate General Deputy Advocate General Senior Deputy Advocate General and Additional Advocate GeneralJustice Grewal was also appointed Senior Panel Counsel for conducting Central government cases in the Punjab and Haryana High Court in November 2009 and continued in that role till his elevation to the BenchHe was elevated as an Additional Judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court on September 25 2014 Later he was transferred to the Rajasthan High Court in December 2014 and was sworn in as a permanent judge there in May 2016Subsequently he was transferred back to the Punjab and Haryana High Court where he assumed charge in October 2016 IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/justice-anupinder-singh-grewal-appointed-as-new-nclt-president-671767.html Thu, 30 Apr 2026 15:43:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/sc-to-examine-pil-for-dedicated-revenue-judicial-service-for-land-disputes-671684.html New Delhi April 30 IANS The Supreme Court on Thursday agreed to examine a Public Interest Litigation PIL seeking directions to the Centre and states to establish a separate Revenue Judicial Service cadre and prescribe minimum legal qualifications for officers adjudicating land disputesnbspnbspA Bench of Chief Justice of India CJI Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi was hearing the plea filed by advocate Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay which contends that adjudication of title succession inheritance possession and other property rights by revenue and consolidation officers lacking formal legal education and judicial training violates Articles 14 21 and 50 of the ConstitutionDuring the hearing CJI Kantled Bench remarked The point is very interesting also But they will say it is for the legislatureAppearing inperson Upadhyay argued that the issue had emerged as one of the most pressing concerns raised by litigants across districts particularly in rural India No I travel to 23 districts every week Most requests concern this matter A case has been pending before a Chakbandi Adhikari consolidation officer for 40 years to determine which gift deed is valid This also touches on the separation of powers he saidWhile orally observing that the issues raised may largely fall within the legislative domain the CJI Surya Kantled Bench directed Issue notice returnable in four weeksAccording to the petition nearly 66 per cent of civil litigation in India relates to land and property disputes but such matters are frequently decided at the first instance by executive officers without formal legal training resulting in inconsistent delayed and legally flawed decisionsIt argued that vesting adjudicatory powers affecting valuable civil rights in nonjudicial officers under executive control undermines the constitutional mandate of separation of judiciary from executive under Article 50The PIL has sought directions to the Union and state governments to establish an independent judicial cadre for land disputes prescribe uniform legal qualifications and judicial training for adjudicating officers and ensure that such adjudication is supervised by the respective High CourtsIt referred to the principles laid down by the Allahabad High Court in Chandra Bhan vs Deputy Director of Consolidation 2005 which recommended the creation of a Revenue Judicial Service for the adjudication of complex land disputesThe petition further contended that the present framework rooted in colonial revenue administration causes systemic miscarriage of justice burdens constitutional courts with avoidable appeals and disproportionately harms citizens whose livelihoods depend on land rightsIANS https://dailyworld.in/law/sc-to-examine-pil-for-dedicated-revenue-judicial-service-for-land-disputes-671684.html Thu, 30 Apr 2026 12:59:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/sc-declines-fresh-guidelines-on-hate-speech-says-existing-criminal-law-framework-adequate--671603.html New Delhi April 29 IANS The Supreme Court on Wednesday declined to issue any additional directions or frame fresh guidelines to curb hate speech across the country holding that the existing criminal law framework is adequate to address such offencesnbspnbspA Bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta dismissed a batch of petitions seeking further judicial intervention against communal hate speeches including matters arising from incidents such as alleged Corona Jihad campaigns UPSC Jihad broadcasts and inflammatory speeches delivered at various religious gatheringsThe Justice Nathled Bench held that the creation of criminal offences and the prescription of punishments fall exclusively within the legislative domain and Constitutional courts cannot compel Parliament or state legislatures to enact new lawsWhile constitutional courts may interpret the law and issue directions to secure the enforcement of fundamental rights they cannot legislate or compel legislation the top court observed adding that at best courts may draw attention to the need for reform while the decision to legislate remains with Parliament and state legislaturesRejecting the argument that hate speech remains insufficiently addressed under current laws the Justice Nathled Bench said that provisions under substantive criminal law including the Indian Penal Code adequately cover acts promoting enmity outraging religious sentiments and disturbing public tranquillityThe field is therefore not unoccupied it said stressing that the real concern lies in effective enforcement rather than any legislative vacuumListing the remedies already available under the Code of Criminal Procedure CrPC and the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita BNSS 2023 the Supreme Court reiterated that registration of an FIR upon disclosure of a cognisable offence is mandatoryIt said that in cases where police fail to register FIRs aggrieved persons can approach the Superintendent of Police under Section 1543 CrPC or Section 1734 BNSS and thereafter seek recourse before the jurisdictional magistrate under Section 1563 CrPC or Section 175 BNSS or proceed through a private complaintWhile refusing to pass new directions the Justice Nathled Bench acknowledged the gravity of the issue observing that hate speech and rumour mongering directly impact fraternity dignity and constitutional orderWe deem it appropriate to observe that issues relating to hate speech and rumour mongering bear directly upon the preservation of fraternity dignity and constitutional order the Supreme Court saidIt added that the Union and state governments remain free to consider whether evolving societal challenges require additional legislative interventions including amendments suggested in the Law Commissions 267th Report of 2017The judgment was delivered in petitions tracing back to 2020 when multiple pleas were filed alleging the spread of communal narratives through broadcast media social media platforms and public religious assembliesIANS https://dailyworld.in/law/sc-declines-fresh-guidelines-on-hate-speech-says-existing-criminal-law-framework-adequate--671603.html Wed, 29 Apr 2026 12:33:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/sc-rejects-new-hate-speech-guidelines-says-existing-laws-are-enough-671605.html New Delhi April 29 IANS The Supreme Court on Wednesday declined to issue any additional directions or frame fresh guidelines to curb hate speech across the country holding that the existing criminal law framework is adequate to address such offencesnbspnbspA Bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta dismissed a batch of petitions seeking further judicial intervention against communal hate speeches including matters arising from incidents such as alleged Corona Jihad campaigns UPSC Jihad broadcasts and inflammatory speeches delivered at various religious gatheringsThe Justice Nathled Bench held that the creation of criminal offences and the prescription of punishments fall exclusively within the legislative domain and Constitutional courts cannot compel Parliament or state legislatures to enact new lawsWhile constitutional courts may interpret the law and issue directions to secure the enforcement of fundamental rights they cannot legislate or compel legislation the top court observed adding that at best courts may draw attention to the need for reform while the decision to legislate remains with Parliament and state legislaturesRejecting the argument that hate speech remains insufficiently addressed under current laws the Justice Nathled Bench said that provisions under substantive criminal law including the Indian Penal Code adequately cover acts promoting enmity outraging religious sentiments and disturbing public tranquillityThe field is therefore not unoccupied it said stressing that the real concern lies in effective enforcement rather than any legislative vacuumListing the remedies already available under the Code of Criminal Procedure CrPC and the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita BNSS 2023 the Supreme Court reiterated that registration of an FIR upon disclosure of a cognisable offence is mandatoryIt said that in cases where police fail to register FIRs aggrieved persons can approach the Superintendent of Police under Section 1543 CrPC or Section 1734 BNSS and thereafter seek recourse before the jurisdictional magistrate under Section 1563 CrPC or Section 175 BNSS or proceed through a private complaintWhile refusing to pass new directions the Justice Nathled Bench acknowledged the gravity of the issue observing that hate speech and rumour mongering directly impact fraternity dignity and constitutional orderWe deem it appropriate to observe that issues relating to hate speech and rumour mongering bear directly upon the preservation of fraternity dignity and constitutional order the Supreme Court saidIt added that the Union and state governments remain free to consider whether evolving societal challenges require additional legislative interventions including amendments suggested in the Law Commissions 267th Report of 2017The judgment was delivered in petitions tracing back to 2020 when multiple pleas were filed alleging the spread of communal narratives through broadcast media social media platforms and public religious assembliesIANS https://dailyworld.in/law/sc-rejects-new-hate-speech-guidelines-says-existing-laws-are-enough-671605.html Wed, 29 Apr 2026 12:37:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/delhi-hc-chief-justices-bench-virtual-hearings-disrupted-by-obscene-content-671641.html New Delhi April 29 IANS The Delhi High Courts video conferencing proceedings before the Chief Justices Bench were repeatedly disrupted on Wednesday after unidentified participants allegedly displayed obscene and pornographic content on screennbspnbspReportedly the disruption occurred multiple times during live virtual court proceedings when a participant allegedly gained access to the video conferencing platform shared explicit content and played disturbing music forcing the court administration to suspend the session repeatedlyDuring one such interruption an automated voice announcement was reportedly heard stating that the system had been hacked with the message warning You have been hackedThe video conferencing session was initially shut down following the first disruption However upon resumption the same participant allegedly returned this time playing music and again disturbing proceedingsAfter repeated interruptions the virtual hearing interface was disabled for some time before being restartedThe episode has triggered apprehensions of a possible cybersecurity compromise involving the Delhi High Courts virtual hearing interfaceMeanwhile the Delhi High Court administration has reportedly lodged a formal complaint with the Cyber Cell of Delhi Police seeking an investigation into the breach and appropriate action against those responsibleEarlier in September 2024 the Supreme Court had temporarily disabled its YouTube channel after it was allegedly hacked and used to broadcast videos promoting a cryptocurrencyIn that case the channel was renamed Ripple and unauthorised videos were streamed before corrective action was takenIndias higher judiciary has significantly expanded its digital and virtual hearing systems in recent years under the eCourts project with livestreaming and video conferencing becoming central to judicial accessibility particularly after the Covid19 pandemic accelerated adoption of virtual proceedingsThe Supreme Court in the landmark Swapnil Tripathi judgment had endorsed livestreaming of proceedings in cases of constitutional and national importance to improve transparency and public access to justiceIANS https://dailyworld.in/law/delhi-hc-chief-justices-bench-virtual-hearings-disrupted-by-obscene-content-671641.html Wed, 29 Apr 2026 15:07:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/rajasthan-hc-extends-asarams-interim-bail-till-may-25-on-medical-grounds-671664.html JodhpurAhmedabad April 29 The Rajasthan High Court on Wednesday extended the interim bail of selfstyled godman Asaram who is serving a life sentence in a rape case till May 25 on medical grounds A division bench of Acting Chief Justice SP Sharma and Justice Sangeeta Sharma passed the order while hearing an application seeking extension of his bail which was due to expire in early MayThe court directed that the interim relief would continue till May 25 or until the High Court delivers its judgment on his pending criminal appeal whichever is earlierAppearing for Asaram advocate Yashpal Rajpurohit submitted that the High Court had already completed hearings on the appeal pursuant to directions of the Supreme Court and had reserved its verdictHe said âAfter the Supreme Courtâs order the High Court has completed the hearing on the appeal and reserved judgment Asaramâs treatment is still ongoing so the bail period should be extended until the treatment is completedâThe plea was opposed by the state with Additional Advocate General Deepak Choudhary arguing against any further extension of interim bailAsaram 84 has been serving a life sentence since 2018 after being convicted of raping a minor girlHe was first granted interim medical bail by the Supreme Court in January 2025 and subsequently received a sixmonth bail from the Rajasthan High Court in October 2025 which was nearing expiryThe latest order comes amid parallel legal proceedings concerning land linked to his ashram in GujaratEarlier this week the Supreme Court stayed immediate eviction and forfeiture action initiated by the Gujarat government against land allotted to the ashram in the Motera area in Ahmedabad providing interim protection to the property while the matter is examined furtherThe land dispute has its origins in allegations that the ashram exceeded the terms of its original allotment and carried out unauthorised constructionEarlier rulings had upheld the stateâs move to reclaim portions of the land for public development including planned sports infrastructure near the Narendra Modi Stadium with authorities citing violations of allotment conditions and encroachment beyond permitted limits IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/rajasthan-hc-extends-asarams-interim-bail-till-may-25-on-medical-grounds-671664.html Wed, 29 Apr 2026 16:35:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/jharkhand-hc-rejects-suspended-ias-officer-vinay-chaubeys-bail-plea-in-hazaribagh-land-scam-671516.html Ranchi April 28 Suspended IAS officer Vinay Chaubey who has been in judicial custody for the past nearly 11 months in the highâprofile Sevayat land irregularities case in Jharkhand suffered a major setback on Tuesday as the Jharkhand High Court rejected his bail plea After the arguments were completed from both sides the court reserved its order on Thursday and the decision was pronounced on TuesdayThe case relates to ACB Case No 112025 Chaubey is accused of playing a role in the illegal purchase and sale of Sevayat land during his tenure as Deputy Commissioner of Hazaribagh As per the rules in Jharkhand Sevayat land cannot be sold or purchasedThe investigating agency has alleged that irregularities were committed in land transfers by disregarding established rules and norms resulting in violations of government provisionsThe bail plea was heard in detail by a bench of Justice Anubha Rawat ChoudharyOpposing the bail application Special Public Prosecutor Sumit Garodia appearing on behalf of the AntiâCorruption Bureau ACB argued that the case was of a serious nature and involved the complicity of several influential persons He maintained that granting bail at this stage could adversely affect the ongoing investigationOn the other hand senior advocate RS Mazumdar representing Chaubey submitted before the court that his client had been in jail for a long period of time and had been cooperating with the investigation and therefore deserved bailAfter considering the submissions of both sides the High Court declined to grant bail to ChaubeyApart from Chaubey the ACB has named a total of 73 accused in the case including his close associate Vinay Singh Singhâs wife Snigdha Singh Hazaribagh MLA Pradeep Prasad then Circle Officer Shailesh Kumar and broker Vijay SinghThe ACB is carrying out a detailed investigation into the matter and continues to probe landârelated documents and financial transactions linked to the case IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/jharkhand-hc-rejects-suspended-ias-officer-vinay-chaubeys-bail-plea-in-hazaribagh-land-scam-671516.html Tue, 28 Apr 2026 17:14:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/sc-to-hear-pil-challenging-reduction-in-qualifying-percentiles-for-neet-pg-today-671416.html New Delhi April 28 The Supreme Court on Tuesday will hear a batch of pleas challenging the reduction in the qualifying cutoff percentile for the NEETPG 2025â26 examination During a brief hearing senior advocate Gopal Sankarnarayanan appearing for the petitioners earlier submitted that a sufficient number of candidates had already qualified the NEETPG examination to fill all available postgraduate seats and that a reduction in the cutoff was unwarrantedHe argued that vacant seats persisted not due to a lack of eligible candidates but because many qualified aspirants were unable to take admission owing to high feesOn the other hand senior advocate DS Naidu appearing for a candidate supporting the cutoff reduction backed the Centreâs stand and contended that lowering the percentile would not dilute academic standards as all candidates are required to clear the MBBS qualification examinationHowever the bench of Justices PS Narasimha and Alok Aradhe did not go into the merits of the controversy and posted the matter for detailed hearing on TuesdayThe issue stems from a public interest litigation PIL challenging the decision to drastically reduce the qualifying cutoff percentiles for NEETPG 2025â26Earlier the Justice Narasimhaled Bench had issued notice to the Union government the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences NBEMS the National Medical Commission NMC and the Medical Counselling Committee MCCThe plea filed by advocate Satyam Singh Rajput contended that the decision to lower qualifying standards to abnormally low zero or even negative percentiles after declaration of results and completion of two rounds of counselling is arbitrary and unconstitutional violating Articles 14 and 21 of the ConstitutionIt cautioned that allowing candidates with such scores to enter postgraduate medical training could compromise patient safety public health and the integrity of medical educationDescribing the move as unprecedented and extreme the petition argued that NEETPG meant to act as a national screening mechanism had been reduced to an instrument certifying failure as eligibility and further contended that the rules of the game cannot be altered after the selection process has commencedDefending the decision the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare told the Supreme Court that the cutoff reduction was taken after detailed deliberations by expert bodies in view of a large number of vacant postgraduate seats and to ensure optimal utilisation of healthcare infrastructureIn an affidavit the Directorate General of Health Services DGHS said the challenge was misconceived as it pertained to an academic and policy decision taken within the statutory framework of the National Medical Commission Act 2019Placing data on record the Centre said that for the academic session 2025â26 around 70000 seats were available including 31742 under the AllIndia Quota AIQ of which 9621 remained vacant after the second round of counsellingIt added that nearly 20000 postgraduate seats were likely to remain unfilled nationwide prompting a review of the cutoffAccording to the Union government the decision rendered over one lakh additional candidates eligible for the third round of counselling without altering inter se merit or compromising standardsIt also highlighted that similar reductions had been undertaken in previous years including lowering the qualifying percentile to zero across categories in 2023Arguing that courts should refrain from interfering in academic and policy matters unless decisions are shown to be arbitrary or unconstitutional the Centre urged dismissal of the petition as devoid of merit IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/sc-to-hear-pil-challenging-reduction-in-qualifying-percentiles-for-neet-pg-today-671416.html Tue, 28 Apr 2026 09:33:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/salim-dola-deported-major-win-for-india-as-crackdown-tightens-on-underworld-networks-671462.html New Delhi April 28 The deportation of Salim Dola marks a significant breakthrough for Indian law enforcement agencies reinforcing an ongoing crackdown on organised crime and narcotics syndicates Dola a close aide of Dawood Ibrahim was arrested in Turkey and deported to India on Tuesday He was brought to New Delhi in a special aircraft and handed over to the Central Intelligence officials Following the initial interrogation the Mumbai Police which has registered multiple cases against him is expected to seek custodyAn official said that the quick deportation is a result of coordination between the Indian and international Intelligence agencies The official said that the deportation of Dola who ran a Rs 5000 crore drug business is a blow to the underworld and ISIbacked narcotics cartelsThe official added that the Central Intelligence agencies would subject Dola to an intense round of questioning He would be asked about his India operations and also links with international players An Intelligence Bureau official said that Dola would also be questioned about the Dawood Syndicate and his links to it This is important to break Dawoodâs supply chains in India the official addedThe extradition of Dola is a major victory for the Indian agencies The series of decorations and legal victories began with the extradition of Dolaâs son Taher Dola who was also a major player in the business Earlier Salim Mohamed Sheikh a close aide of Dola was deported from Dubai to India He is in the custody of Mumbaiâs antinarcotics cell Apart from the Mumbai police the Enforcement Directorate will also question Dola and all his associatesThe Dola network has been under intense scrutiny by the agency in several money laundering cases These decorations and developments clearly signal Indiaâs resolve in its battle against drugs The Narendra Modi government has aggressively pursued its vision for a drugfree India In the last couple of months several successful operations have been carried out against drug cartels The operations targeted the Dawood network heavily in various parts of the country Further operations have been carried out in the Andamans where massive quantities of drugs have been seizedIt was learned that Mexican cartels were handling these consignments They were trying to send in the consignment to India and then transport it to Thailand Further the Indian agencies are also closely following the cartels that are operating out of Myanmar These cartels are pushing drugs in large numbers into the northeastern statesAn official said that the money raised is being routed to fund insurgent groups in the northeast Another official said that drug cartels have a direct bearing on Pakistanâs terrorist groups The likes of Dawood have long been funding outfits such as the LashkareTaiba The ISI ensures that 40 per cent of the earnings from the drug trade is used to fund terror groupsThe questioning of Dola would be crucial He could provide information on the drug labs that he has set up Further his questioning would also focus on his links with Dawood and the ISI The ISIâs role in shaping the drug industry in India would also be part of the questioning of Dola and his close associates IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/salim-dola-deported-major-win-for-india-as-crackdown-tightens-on-underworld-networks-671462.html Tue, 28 Apr 2026 12:42:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/jharkhand-youth-hacked-to-death-victim-had-recently-been-released-from-jail-671470.html Giridih Jharkhand April 28 A 24yearold youth was allegedly murdered with a sharpedged weapon late Monday night under the Pachamba police station limits in Jharkhandâs Giridih district officials said on Tuesday The deceased has been identified as Taufiq Ansari who had recently been released from jail According to family members Taufiq named his attackers before succumbing to his injuries an alleged dying declaration they claim to have recorded on a mobile phonePolice said the incident occurred near Azad Nagar Chadra Bridge where Taufiq was allegedly lured under the pretext of a meeting as part of a premeditated plan A friend of the deceased said that around midnight Taufiq received a call from one Asif Ali a resident of Ambatand under the Muffasil police station area following which he went to the spot along with three friendsInvestigations suggest that the accused along with four to five accomplices were already waiting for him Eyewitnesses said that an argument broke out soon after Taufiq arrived following which the group attacked him with sharp weapons Though he attempted to flee the assailants chased him overpowered him and assaulted himFamily members who reached the spot found him critically injured and bleeding profusely They allege that in his final moments Taufiq named Sakib Arshad Monu Pathan and Asif Ali as those responsible for the attackUpon receiving information Pachamba police reached the spot sent the body for postmortem examination and recovered the victimâs mobile phone from a nearby drainPolice officials said preliminary findings indicate that the murder may be linked to a personal rivalry and a struggle for local dominance They also confirmed that the deceased had a criminal history and had served jail time in a previous caseThe Police have formed special teams and launched raids at suspected locations to apprehend the accused IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/jharkhand-youth-hacked-to-death-victim-had-recently-been-released-from-jail-671470.html Tue, 28 Apr 2026 13:18:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/justice-swarana-kanta-sharma-recuses-from-karti-chidambaram-plea-in-diageo-scotland-linked-cbi-case-671476.html New Delhi April 28 Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma of the Delhi High Court on Tuesday recused herself from hearing a plea filed by Congress MP Karti P Chidambaram seeking quashing of a CBI corruption case linked to alleged bribery involving Diageo Scotland When the matter came up Justice Sharma declined to hear the case which will now be placed before another Bench subject to the orders of the Chief Justice the master of the rosterChidambaram has sought the quashing of the FIR registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation CBI on January 1 2025 accusing him of influencing public servants to secure relief for Diageo Scotland over a ban on dutyfree sale of its whiskyIn his plea the Congress MP has contended that he was never called during the preliminary enquiry and denied an opportunity to present his stand before the registration of the FIRHe has also argued that there was an unexplained delay of nearly two decades as the allegations pertain to the period between 2004 and 2010 while the FIR was lodged only in 2025 Chidambaram has further submitted that there is no allegation that he either demanded or accepted any bribe or illegal gratification and therefore offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act are not made out against himThis is not the first time Justice Sharma has recused from a matter involving Chidambaram Earlier she had recused herself from hearing his plea challenging a trial court order framing charges in the alleged Chinese visa scam caseIn that matter Chidambaram has challenged the December 23 2025 order of a special CBI court which framed charges against him for criminal conspiracy and bribing a public servant over alleged irregularities in the issuance of visas to Chinese nationals in 2011 According to the CBI around 250 Chinese workers were allegedly granted project visas for a Punjabbased power project in violation of Ministry of Home Affairs normsJustice Sharma has also recently recused herself from hearing former AAP MLA Naresh Balyanâs bail plea in a case under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act MCOCA Balyan who was rearrested by the Delhi Police Crime Branch in December 2024 under MCOCA shortly after securing bail in an extortion case faces allegations of involvement in organised crime syndicates linked to extortion and arms traffickingSeparately Justice Sharma continues to hear the pending criminal revision petition filed by the CBI challenging a trial court order discharging all 23 accused including former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia in the corruption case linked to the nowscrapped excise policyKejriwal and Sisodia have both sought her recusal from the matterJustice Sharma had earlier rejected Kejriwalâs request observing that though the âeasier pathâ would have been to recuse without hearing the application she chose to decide it on merits in the interest of institutional integrity Subsequently Kejriwal wrote to the judge stating that he would neither appear personally nor through counsel in the proceedings saying he had lost hope of getting justiceA day later Sisodia sent a similar communication stating that he too would abstain from participating further and that the decision was guided by conscience rather than hostility towards the judiciary IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/justice-swarana-kanta-sharma-recuses-from-karti-chidambaram-plea-in-diageo-scotland-linked-cbi-case-671476.html Tue, 28 Apr 2026 14:53:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/cisf-jawan-arrested-for-molesting-minor-in-west-burdwans-kulti-671335.html Kolkata April 27 A Central Industrial Security Force CISF jawan has been accused of molesting a minor girl after offering her mangoes The police have arrested the jawan in connection with the incident The arrested jawan has been identified as Ramakant Vishwakarma said the police on Monday The incident took place in Kulti of West Burdwan district The jawan was arrested by the police of Sanktoria outpost of Kulti police station late on Sunday night It was learnt that the jawan has already been suspendedAccording to the police on Sunday afternoon the 10yearold child had gone to pick mangoes in the area adjacent to the CISF camp in ShitalpurCISF jawan Ramakant Vishwakarma working there allegedly lured the girl to his quarters by offering her ripe mangoes and molested her thereThe terrified child went home and told her grandmother about the incident Then the minors family went to the quarters of the CISF By then the accused Ramakant Vishwakarma had fled from there and his quarters were found lockedLater the family filed a written complaint with the Kulti police stationAs soon as the news spread there was widespread tension in the area Angry local residents blocked the road near Gate No 3 of Sitalpur on Sunday night and started protesting The district Trinamool leadership also was part of the protestThe police of Sanktoria outpost took quick action to bring the situation under control Later the accused jawan was arrestedTrinamool leader Chandan Acharya said that the police action made it possible to arrest the accused within a few hours of the incidentOn Monday accused Ramakant Vishwakarma will be produced before the Asansol court under police security The police have informed that an application will be made to take the accused into their custody in order to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident and collect evidenceA case has already been registered against the arrested person under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences POCSO Act 2012 Investigation is on said a senior officer of West Burdwan district policeThe Trinamool leadership said that such behaviour by a member of the central force on which the Central government is relying to conduct Assembly elections in West Bengal is extremely unfortunate IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/cisf-jawan-arrested-for-molesting-minor-in-west-burdwans-kulti-671335.html Mon, 27 Apr 2026 13:22:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/sc-rejects-antony-rajus-plea-to-suspend-conviction-in-underwear-tampering-case-671340.html New Delhi April 27 IANS The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed a petition filed by former Kerala Minister Antony Raju seeking suspension of his conviction in the sensational 1990 underwear evidence tampering casenbspnbspA Bench of Justices Dipankar Datta and Satish Chandra Sharma declined to grant relief to Raju who had challenged the Kerala High Courts order refusing to stay his conviction in the decadesold sensational caseWith the dismissal of his plea the conviction recorded by the trial court and affirmed in appeal continues to operate leaving his disqualification as a Member of the Kerala Legislative Assembly under the Representation of the People Act 1951 intactRaju a former Transport Minister and the lone legislator of the Janadhipathya Kerala Congress within the ruling Left Democratic Front LDF had ceased to be an MLA from January 3 2026 after the Nedumangad Judicial First Class Magistrate Court convicted and sentenced him to three years imprisonment in the longpending case involving tampering of crucial court evidenceEarlier in March the Kerala High Court declined to stay the conviction despite suspending the sentence rendering Raju ineligible to contest the ongoing Assembly elections from Thiruvananthapuram Central a seat he previously representedThe case dates back to 1990 when Australian national Andrew Salvatore Cervelli was arrested at Thiruvananthapuram airport for allegedly smuggling 615 grams of narcotic substances concealed in his underwearRaju then a young lawyer had represented Cervelli While the trial court convicted Cervelli the Kerala High Court later acquitted him after finding that the undergarment produced as material evidence was too small to belong to him casting serious doubt on the prosecutions caseSubsequent investigations triggered by information from Australian authorities led to allegations that the material evidence had been tampered with while in court custodyA criminal case was eventually registered against Raju and a court clerk in 1994 followed by a chargesheet in 2006 after prolonged investigationIn November 2024 the Supreme Court revived the prosecution by setting aside a Kerala High Court order that had quashed the criminal proceedings on technical grounds directing that the trial be completed within one yearFollowing trial Raju was convicted on charges including criminal conspiracy destruction of evidence fabrication of false evidence and related offencesWhile the Sessions Court refused to interfere with the finding of guilt it temporarily suspended the sentence of imprisonment and fine pending a detailed hearing of the appealIANS https://dailyworld.in/law/sc-rejects-antony-rajus-plea-to-suspend-conviction-in-underwear-tampering-case-671340.html Mon, 27 Apr 2026 13:48:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/mangaluru-blast-verdict-likely-today-will-act-based-on-outcome-ktaka-home-minister-671345.html Bengaluru April 27 Ahead of the verdict by the Special NIA court in the Mangaluru cooker bomb blast case Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara on Monday said he expects a fair judgment and that the government will take further action based on the outcome Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru the Minister said the court is expected to pronounce its verdict in the case today âThe police department has done everything required under the law They have collected the necessary evidence and submitted it I expect a just verdict Let us wait and watchâ he saidResponding to allegations made by the BJP regarding the case Parameshwara said two aspects must be kept in mind âOne is the political narrative where statements are made as part of public discourse We have observed the opposition making such remarksâ he notedHowever he stressed that the legal process remains paramount âWhat is important is what needs to be done legally The court will announce its verdict today and we will decide on further action based on the outcomeâ he addedThe Special NIA court for terrorism cases in Bengaluru has accepted a guilty plea filed by Mohammed Shariq the main accused in the Mangaluru cooker bomb blast case The blast occurred inside an autorickshaw in the coastal city on November 19 2022The accused No 1 Mohammed Shariq is known as Shariq aka Mohammed Sharik Premraj Hutagi aka Premraj aka Gowli Arun Kumar Shariq 27 who hails from Shivamogga admitted to the charges nearly three years after the explosion inside an autorickshaw on November 19 2022 He initially pleaded not guilty when the court framed charges on April 20 2024 but reversed his stand in December 2025 by submitting a fresh plea under Section 229 Conviction on plea of guilty of the Code of Criminal Procedure CrPCShariq suffered severe burns when the pressure cooker bomb he was allegedly transporting to be planted in Mangaluru detonated prematurely on his lap due to a faulty timer setting The NIA arrested him soon after he was discharged from a Mangaluru hospitalAccording to the NIA Shariq is part of an Islamic Stateinspired Shivamogga module connected to multiple terrorlinked incidents since 2020 At the time of the blast he was already wanted in a September 2022 Shivamogga case involving IED testing by the same module He was arrested in 2020 for writing antinational graffiti in MangaluruThe module is also accused of the March 1 2024 Rameshwaram Cafe blast in Bengaluru where investigators believe an IED similar to the one allegedly carried by Shariq was planted by founding member Mussavir Hussain along with the nowarrested Abdul Matheen Taha IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/mangaluru-blast-verdict-likely-today-will-act-based-on-outcome-ktaka-home-minister-671345.html Mon, 27 Apr 2026 14:08:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/jharkhand-hc-pulls-up-govt-over-coal-mine-safety-asks-chief-inspector-of-factories-to-appear-671373.html Ranchi April 27 The Jharkhand High Court on Monday took a strict stance on the safety health and rights of coal mine workers Taking suo motu cognisance of the issue a division bench of Justice Sujit Narayan Prasad and Justice Sanjay Prasad directed the stateâs Chief Inspector of Factories to appear in person at the next date of hearingThe Supreme Court in recent years has issued stringent directions concerning the safety of mine workers and their right to life The apex court had clearly stated that the life and health of those working in mines are of paramount importance and that negligence at any level would not be toleratedIn this context the Supreme Court had asked all High Courts across the country to monitor the issue following which the Jharkhand High Court initiated these proceedingsDuring the hearing on Monday the state government submitted a review report on inspections of major coal mines and factories along with an assessment of compliance with safety standards to the High CourtHowever the bench expressed deep dissatisfaction with the report observing that there remained a significant gap between conditions on the ground and compliance with prescribed safety normsIt sought details from the government on concrete steps taken so far to ensure workersâ safety during hazardous operations and to safeguard their healthThe court categorically directed that safety rules must be strictly enforced in mines adequate medical facilities must be ensured for workers and illegal mining must be completely curbedThe High Court further asked the state to provide comprehensive information on progress made towards the regularisation of contract workers payment of minimum wages and implementation of welfare schemes for mine workersTaking note of the seriousness of the matter the court directed the Chief Inspector of Factories to remain personally present on the next date of hearing and explain what measures have been taken so far to implement the courtâs directions IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/jharkhand-hc-pulls-up-govt-over-coal-mine-safety-asks-chief-inspector-of-factories-to-appear-671373.html Mon, 27 Apr 2026 16:52:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/maha-governor-releases-jgus-ai-governance-report-at-national-seminar-on-ai-law-and-society-671379.html Mumbai April 27 Maharashtra Governor Jishnu Dev Varma released the AI Governance Report 2026 by OP Jindal Global University in Mumbai âI congratulate the Cyril Shroff Centre for AI Law amp Regulation at OP Jindal Global University where members of industry and public institutions have come together in a spirit of shared values Such seminars demonstrate how innovation and partnerships can lead to impactful solutionsâ Varma said âToday we are talking about AI in governance and I would like to stress the importance of when we bring about change This is the age of research as we are heading towards Viksit Bharat which cannot be defined only in economic terms AI is going to solve a lot of problems but it also comes with challenges We need to use AI with compassion with delivery to the last mile and uplift the masses It becomes more important to preserve our values as technology without purpose is dangerous We must give governance with empathy The concept comes from the ancient Vedas which speak about happiness and peace for everyone for their upliftment It is particularly important to preserve Indian art and culture and schools of thought as it is part of our national identityâ Higher Education Institutions HEIs globally are undergoing structural transformation in response to the rapid integration of AI and evolving student expectations AI tools enable analysis of complex datasets modelling of social phenomena augmentation of qualitative inquiry and the generation of insights that contribute to the public good At an institutional level AI is being embedded into governance in ways that enhance transparency efficiency and evidencebased decisionmaking In her welcome address Dr Indu Shahani President ATLAS SkillTech University said âThe distinguished gathering adds immense value to the seminar and your journeys are deeply inspiringâAddressing the Governor Dr Shahani said âNot many leaders combine governance creativity and poetry I also thank OP Jindal Global University for its strategic and meaningful partnerships We at ATLAS SkillTech University blend design management technology entrepreneurship and law for futureready graduatesâ In his introductory remarks Prof Dr C Raj Kumar Founding Vice Chancellor OP Jindal Global University said âThis report is guided by a central question How can JGU build an education system that uses AI to genuinely enhance learning research and institutional efficiency while ensuring that human judgment creativity and agency remain at the core of the academic experience The university must stand at the frontier of knowledge not as a passive observer of change but as its principled architect AI constitutes one of the most consequential developments in the contemporary history of higher education Its implications extend beyond technological enhancement to the very architecture of knowledge creation and institutional governance Engaging with AI for JGU is therefore not merely a matter of adaptation but of intellectual leadership and normative responsibility The AI Governance Report 2026 articulates a coherent and futureoriented framework for embedding AI across our academic research and administrative domainsâ Contemporary research strongly supports active learning methodologies over purely lecturebased instruction âJGU should progressively embed experiential learning components across disciplines including law business engineering public policy and international relations Structured simulations interdisciplinary capstone projects and immersive learning environments can bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and applied competence Such reforms would align JGU with Education 40 principles ensuring that graduates are prepared not merely with conceptual understanding but with contextual and practical skills relevant to complex global challengesâ Dr Raj Kumar added The Cyril Shroff Centre For AI Law amp Regulation JGLS focuses on the concept that sustainable transformation requires more than policy directives It demands cultural change By embedding digital transformation within governance structures and institutional identity JGU can transition from incremental adaptation to proactive leadership in higher education reform Such a culture encourages faculty and students to view technology not merely as a tool but as a catalyst for new forms of knowledge creation It also strengthens the universityâs capacity to respond dynamically to emerging global academic and technological developments Other distinguished guests at the launch ceremony included Cyril Shroff Managing Partner Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas and Ronnie Screwvala CoFounder amp Chairman upGrad It was further discussed that immersive technologies such as augmented reality virtual reality digital twins and AIenabled tutoring systems represent the next frontier in higher education Higher education institutions should adopt a phased strategy to pilot such technologies in selected programmes where experiential learning offers high pedagogical value Implementation should be guided by costeffectiveness accessibility inclusivity and measurable learning impact Strategic partnerships with technology providers and global institutions may accelerate knowledge transfer and best practice adoption The launch was followed by a panel discussion on the theme of Governing AI Law Technology and Society in the Digital Age The participants included Paridhi Adani Partner Head Ahmedabad Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas Gaurav Bansal Founder amp Principal Counsel Equilibria Law Chambers Adheesh Nargolkar Partner Khaitan amp Co Ms Aprajita Rana Partner AZB amp Partners Richa Roy Partner Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas Anushree Saha General Counsel amp Company Secretary Qureai Siddharth Shahani Executive President ATLAS SkillTech University and was moderated by Prof Dr C Raj Kumar IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/maha-governor-releases-jgus-ai-governance-report-at-national-seminar-on-ai-law-and-society-671379.html Mon, 27 Apr 2026 17:07:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/srinagar-police-attach-drug-traffickers-assets-worth-rs-35-crore-671115.html Srinagar April 25 Jammu and Kashmirs Srinagar Police said on Saturday that in the intensified crackdown on drugs it has targeted assets worth Rs 35 crore belonging to a drug smugglers A police statement said that continuing its intensified crackdown against drug trafficking and under the aegis of the ongoing Nasha Mukt Jammu amp Kashmir Abhiyaan Srinagar Police has attached immovable properties worth Rs 35 crore belonging to narcotics smugglersPolice Station Sangam acting under the provisions of Section 68F of the NDPS Act attached two immovable properties linked to the accused persons involved in FIR No 562025 under Sections 820 and 29 of the NDPS ActThe details of the attached properties include a doublestorey residential house along with 1 kanal of land belonging to accused Shakeel Ahmad Ganie son of Ab Satar Ganie resident of Kreshbal Noorbagh Srinagar and a doublestorey residential house worth over Rs 2 crore along with 1 kanal of land belonging to accused Farooq Ahmad Mir son of Ab Rehman Mir resident of Kreshbal Noorbagh Srinagar and another doublestorey residential house with one kanal of land worth approximately Rs 15 crore owned by Farooq Ahmad Mir of the same areaThe Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir Manoj Sinha on Saturday participated in an antidrug campaign in Samba In a post on X he said Today in Samba a massive crowd joined the DrugFree JampK campaign amp pledged to eliminate drugs from society Addressing the gathering I reiterated that this 100day movement will inspire future generations amp stand as proof that when people rise together they can change historyI told Sambas youth that the solution to this grave problem lies in their hands Their dreams are powerful their potential limitless amp society must rally behind them to make those dreams real I urged them to stay firm on the right path with determination he added JampK police and the security forces are carrying out aggressive operations against drug smugglers drug peddlers and those involved in the hawala money racket These illegal activities are under the scanner of the security forces as it is believed that the funds generated by these activities are used to sustain terrorism in the Union TerritoryWhile police and the security forces carry out antidrug operations in the hinterland the army and the Border Security Force BSF prevent drug smuggling infiltration exfiltration and drone activities initiated by terror outfits backed by Pakistans ISI IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/srinagar-police-attach-drug-traffickers-assets-worth-rs-35-crore-671115.html Sat, 25 Apr 2026 13:51:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/sc-suspends-sentence-of-bihar-officer-questions-claim-of-rodents-destroying-bribe-money-671121.html New Delhi April 25 IANS The Supreme Court has suspended the sentence of a Bihar government officer convicted under the Prevention of Corruption Act and granted her bail while expressing serious concern over the prosecutions claim that seized bribe money was destroyed by rodentsnbspA Bench of Justices JB Pardiwala and KV Viswanathan was hearing a Special Leave Petition SLP filed by Aruna Kumari a former Child Development Programme Officer challenging a judgment of the Patna High Court which had reversed her acquittalThe trial court had earlier acquitted Kumari of charges under Sections 7 and 132 of the Prevention of Corruption Act 1988 However the Patna High Court convicted her and sentenced her to four years Rigorous Imprisonment under Section 132 and three years under Section 7 of the ActTaking note of the submissions made by senior advocate S Nagamuthu appearing for the petitioner the apex court issued a notice and ordered that the substantive order of sentence passed by the High Court is suspended directing that the appellant be released on bail subject to conditions to be imposed by the trial courtDuring the hearing the Justice Pardiwalaled Bench also flagged a troubling aspect of the prosecution case recorded in the Patna High Court judgment that the currency notes allegedly recovered as bribe were destroyed by rodents due to poor storage conditions in the police malkhanaWe are taken by surprise that the currency notes got destroyed by rodents the apex court observedRaising broader concerns the Justice Pardiwalaled Bench remarked We wonder how many such currency notes recovered in this type of offences get destroyed as they are not kept at a safe place Its a huge revenue loss for the StateThe top court also questioned the explanation offered for the destruction of the seized currency noting that it does not inspire any confidenceIndicating that the issue may have wider implications the Justice Pardiwalaled Bench said it would examine the aspect in detail at the stage of final hearing of the matterIANS https://dailyworld.in/law/sc-suspends-sentence-of-bihar-officer-questions-claim-of-rodents-destroying-bribe-money-671121.html Sat, 25 Apr 2026 14:24:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/security-forces-arrest-three-ulfa-i-members-in-nagaland-671124.html Kohima April 25 Security forces have apprehended three cadres of the banned United Liberation Front of Asom Independent ULFAI during a counterinsurgency operation in Nagalandâs Mon district officials said on Saturday According to officials the operation was launched on Friday based on specific intelligence inputs regarding the movement of ULFAI cadres in the regionThe cadres were reportedly active in the Phomching area and were attempting to move towards Shangnyu village when security forces initiated the operation Troops of the Assam Rifles carried out a targeted raid at Shangnyu village under the Phomching subdivisionActing swiftly on the intelligence inputs the forces managed to intercept the militants and apprehended all three without any exchange of fire officials addedThe arrested individuals have been identified as selfstyled Lieutenant Gajendra Asom 35 a resident of Tezpur in Assam selfstyled Lance Corporal Brojen Asom 27 from Jorhat district and selfstyled Sergeant Puhor Asom 26 from Golaghat districtPreliminary interrogation revealed that Gajendra Asom had been associated with the outfit since 2011 making him the most experienced among the trio Brojen Asom is believed to have joined the organisation in 2022 while Puhor Asom had been active since 2019Security forces also recovered four grenades from their possession indicating that the cadres were likely involved in planning disruptive activities in the regionThe recovery is being seen as a major success in preventing potential threats to civilian safety and maintaining stability in the border areasOfficials stated that the apprehended cadres are being further interrogated to gather more information about their network movement patterns and possible plansThe operation underscores the continued vigilance and coordination among security agencies in curbing insurgent activities in the NortheastThe region has witnessed sustained counterinsurgency efforts in recent years leading to a decline in militant activitiesHowever security forces remain on high alert to neutralise any residual threats and ensure peace and security in the area IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/security-forces-arrest-three-ulfa-i-members-in-nagaland-671124.html Sat, 25 Apr 2026 14:53:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/once-a-judge-always-a-judge-says-cji-surya-kant-in-jaipur-671126.html Jaipur April 25 Chief Justice of India CJI Surya Kant on Saturday emphasised the continued importance of retired judges in strengthening the judiciary likening them to Rajasthans traditional bawris stepwells that serve as vital reservoirs during times of drought Addressing a oneday seminar titled The Bench Beyond Retirement in Jaipur the CJI said former judges act as a dependable resource during institutional stress much like stepwells that sustain communities in arid regionsDrawing from his roots in Churu he noted how people rely on bawris where rainwater accumulates over time and is used during droughtsOur former judges are like those bawris the CJI said noting that their wisdom and experience are often sought in courts Lok Adalats mediation and arbitration during crisisA judge never truly retires Once a judge always a judge he remarked underscoring that their experience cannot be replicated through committees or training programmesWe organise a farewell garland them speak warmly of their service and then quietly assume that the system will move on just fine without them Their chambers are vacated files are handed over and we move ahead But this assumption in my view is not just incorrect it is a wasteful tradition Because a judge never truly retires Once a judge always a judge The experience a judge carries cannot be replicated by any committee nor compressed into any training programmeThey do not carry merely the knowledge of law they carry the knowledge of people They have seen the struggles of a rural farmer whose life savings are at stake the anxieties of a firstgeneration entrepreneur the silent battles of families and individuals at their most vulnerable moments CJI Surya Kant said highlighting that retired judges bring not just legal expertise but also deep understanding of human issues having witnessed a wide range of societal challenges from rural distress to entrepreneurial struggles and personal disputesHe stressed that the trust earned by judges over decades is a national resource and warned that leaving it underutilised amounts to a public lossSuggesting a more structured role for former judges the CJI outlined four key areas where they could contribute significantly as mediators and arbitrators legal educators prelitigation counsellors and institution builders mentoring the next generation of legal professionalsLet me suggest four key roles where former judges can transform our justice system First as mediators and arbitrators where their stature and impartiality can resolve disputes efficiently Second as legal educators reaching schools colleges and even gram panchayats explaining rights in simple language to those who may not even know they possess them Third as prelitigation counsellors helping resolve conflicts before they turn into long exhausting legal battles And fourth as institution builders mentoring young mediators training legal aid lawyers and preserving institutional memory for future generationsWhile noting progress through initiatives like Lok Adalats and emerging arbitration centres the CJI called for a formal framework to engage retired judges with dignity and accountability instead of adhoc arrangementsReferring to poet Dushyant Kumar CJI Surya Kant underlined the enduring faith of common citizens in the judiciary and stressed the responsibility of strengthening that trustWoh aadmi nahin mukammal bayan hai Mathe pe uske chot ka gehra nishaan hai Fatehaal hai par jhole mein ek Samvidhaan haiQuoting lines about resilience in the face of adversity the CJI said that a robust system built on experience and wisdom can withstand even the toughest challengesLet us not allow our bawris to dry up in neglect he added urging preservation and meaningful engagement of retired judges to ensure accessible and enduring justiceHe concluded his address by saying Jisko toofanon se uljhne ki aadat ho Aisi kashti ko samandar bhi dua deta hai IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/once-a-judge-always-a-judge-says-cji-surya-kant-in-jaipur-671126.html Sat, 25 Apr 2026 14:55:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/congress-to-challenge-gauhati-hc-order-denying-relief-to-pawan-khera-in-supreme-court-671127.html New Delhi April 25 The Congress said on Saturday that it will challenge the Gauhati High Court order rejecting anticipatory bail to party leader Pawan Khera before the Supreme Court Congress General Secretary Communications Jairam Ramesh said that the party stands solidly in solidarity with Khera and expressed confidence that relief would be granted and justice would prevail over the politics of threat intimidation and harassmentThe entire Indian National Congress stands solidly in solidarity with Pawan Khera the Chairman of its Media and Publicity Department The verdict of the Guwahati High Court is in the process of being challenged in the Supreme Court We are confident that justice will prevail over the politics of threat intimidation and harassment Ramesh said in a post on social media platform XThe reaction comes a day after the Gauhati High Court rejected Kheras plea for anticipatory bail in connection with an FIR lodged in Assam over his alleged remarks against Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarmas wife Riniki Bhuyan SharmaA singlejudge bench of Justice Parthivjyoti Saikia held that Khera does not deserve to be given the privilege of anticipatory bail and said the case could not be treated as one of defamation simpliciterThe case cannot be termed as a case of defamation simpliciter There are materials for a prima facie case under Section 339 of the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita BNS 2023 Justice Saikia said while rejecting Kheras anticipatory bail pleaThe case stems from statements made by Khera during a press conference in Guwahati earlier this month where he alleged that Riniki Bhuyan Sharma held multiple foreign passports and had financial dealings abroadFollowing the remarks Riniki Bhuyan Sharma filed an FIR denying the allegations and asserting that she is solely an Indian citizenAppearing for Khera senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi said that the statements were part of political rhetoric made in the context of electoral discourse and at best could amount to defamationHe also alleged political vendetta and apprehended harassment in the event of arrestHowever opposing the plea Assam Advocate General Devajit Lon Saikia said that the allegations were based on documents later found to be false attracting serious offences beyond mere defamation under the Bharatiya Nyaya SanhitaIn its order the Guwahati High Court underlined the need for custodial interrogation to ascertain the source and authenticity of the documents relied upon by KheraThis Court is of the opinion that custodial interrogation is necessary to find out who are the associates of Mr Khera who had collected those documents for him and how and from where they had collected those documents the High Court order saidRejecting the argument of political motivation Gauhati High Court said that the accusations appeared to stem from a motive of furthering the ends of justice and found no material to suggest that the proceedings were intended to injure and humiliate the petitionerEarlier the Supreme Court had refused to grant Khera protection from arrest and declined to extend his transit anticipatory bail directing him to approach the competent court in Assam IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/congress-to-challenge-gauhati-hc-order-denying-relief-to-pawan-khera-in-supreme-court-671127.html Sat, 25 Apr 2026 15:27:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/main-accused-in-abduction-robbery-case-arrested-in-karnataka-671062.html PanajiBengaluru April 24 Goa Police arrested the main accused in a highprofile abduction and robbery case involving Rs 3 lakh following sustained technical surveillance The accused identified as 53yearold Nilesh Bhimrao Jadhav a resident of Akola in Maharashtra was traced to Davangere in Karnataka and apprehended while attempting to travel towards Bengaluru said the official statementAccording to police the case was registered at Maina Curtorim Police Station under Crime No 212026 on April 1 2026 under Sections 205 impersonating a public servant 1403 kidnapping or abducting someone specifically to wrongfully and secretly confine them 3513 criminal intimidation 3085 extortion 3094 read with 35 robbery of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita BNS 2023 The complaint was filed by Ashok Kumar 56 a resident of Borda Fatorda in GoaThe complainant alleged that on March 24 2026 at around 230 PM he was abducted by a group of individuals including Nilesh Jadhav Balram Shetty Ajit Kumar Kattimani and others from outside Canara Bank at Macazana in Salcete Goa The accused allegedly forced him into his own Hyundai Venue car and drove him to an isolated location in Karwar KarnatakaPolice said the accused threatened the victim with dire consequences including death and extorted money They also allegedly robbed him of â¹3 lakhDuring the investigation one of the accused Ajit Kumar Kattimani a resident of Aquem Margao and originally from Bidar district in Karnataka had earlier been arrested and later released on bailOn Friday acting on technical inputs police tracked the location of the main accused to Davangere Investigators revealed that Jadhav had impersonated an Enforcement Directorate ED officer during the commission of the crimeA special police team was formed and dispatched to Karnataka where Jadhav was successfully apprehended He was subsequently brought to Goa and produced before the Judicial Magistrate First Class Court in Margao which remanded him to six days of police custodyPolice said further investigation is underway under the supervision of senior officers IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/main-accused-in-abduction-robbery-case-arrested-in-karnataka-671062.html Fri, 24 Apr 2026 21:42:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/jaipal-poonia-murder-case-9-including-ex-mlas-brother-convicted-2-acquitted-671063.html Jaipur April 24 In a major development in the highprofile Jaipal Poonia murder case a local court on Friday convicted nine of the eleven accused while acquitting two due to lack of evidence The verdict was delivered by the court of Additional District and Sessions Judge Sundarlal Kharol amid tight security arrangements The court premises in Kuchaman City were heavily guarded resembling a police cantonment with a large deployment of personnel to maintain law and order during the proceedingsThe court found nine accused guilty based on the evidence presented by the prosecution Those convicted include Moti Singh Chaudhary Ranjit Firoz Khan Sandeep Tejpal Rajesh Krishna Kumar Haroon and RajeshAmong them Moti Singh Chaudhary is the elder brother of former MLA Mahendra Singh Chaudhary who had served as Deputy Chief Whip in the Congress governmentMeanwhile the court acquitted Kuldeep and Hanuman Saini granting them the benefit of the doubt due to insufficient evidence While delivering the verdict the court reserved its decision on sentencingThe quantum of punishment and the specific legal provisions under which the convicts will be sentenced are scheduled to be announced on SaturdayLegal experts and observers are closely watching the case as the sentencing phase is expected to take into account multiple factors including the gravity of the offence the role of each accused and the broader impact of the crime on public orderThe case has remained under sustained public and political scrutiny and the sentencing is likely to be seen as a decisive moment in determining the extent of accountability fixed on those found guiltyThe murder dates back to May 14 2022 when Jaipal Poonia a local leader associated with the Bharatiya Janata Party Kisan Morcha in Nawa tehsil was shot dead in broad daylight by assailants who arrived in an SUV The brazen nature of the attack carried out in a public setting had sent shockwaves across the region and raised serious concerns over law and order Eyewitness accounts at the time had indicated that the attackers executed the crime swiftly before fleeing leaving behind a trail of panic and confusion among local residentsThe attackers fled the scene immediately after carrying out the shooting and the incident triggered widespread outrage across Rajasthan drawing attention at both the state and national levels Political leaders community groups and civil society organisations had demanded swift and transparent action to bring those responsible to justice Fridayâs verdict is being seen as a significant milestone in the protracted legal process marking progress after nearly two years of investigation and trialHowever with the sentencing still pending attention now remains firmly fixed on the final outcome which will ultimately determine the full course of justice in this highprofile case IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/jaipal-poonia-murder-case-9-including-ex-mlas-brother-convicted-2-acquitted-671063.html Fri, 24 Apr 2026 21:50:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/andhra-acb-once-again-grills-suspended-official-in-disproportionate-assets-case-670960.html Vijayawada April 24 The AntiCorruption Bureau ACB of Andhra Pradesh is once again questioning a suspended Assistant Commissioner in the Endowments Department in a Disproportionate Assets case The ACB officials on Friday took Kalingiri Shanti into custody from Vijayawada district jail and took her to Vijayawada Government General Hospital for medical examination They later began questioning herThe ACB court had Thursday sent Shanti to police custody for two daysThis is the second time that the court had sent her to police custody Earlier the court had allowed questioning of Kalingiri Shanti on April 15 and 16However the antigraft agency told the court that she did not cooperate during the investigation and sought her custody once againShanti arrested on April 7 after simultaneous raids at premises linked to her is currently lodged in Vijayawada district jail She filed a petition seeking permission to meet her twoandahalfyearold son After hearing arguments the court posted the matter for orders on April 16During the raids on April 7 the ACB found that she had amassed assets worth Rs 137 crore disproportionate to her known sources of income Officials conducted searches for 10 hours in different locations including Tadepalli Undavalli and VisakhapatnamThey seized incriminating documents and unearthed assets including a residential flat in Visakhapatnam a G2 building at Kunchanapalli 776 grams of gold ornaments nearly 3 kg of silver articles cash worth Rs 115 lakh bank balances of about Rs 3 lakh a car a motorcycle and electronic gadgetsFollowing the searches the ACB registered a Disproportionate Assets case against the Assistant Commissioner under the Prevention of Corruption Act The same day the ACB court sent her to judicial custody till April 21 Later her custody was further extendedFollowing the arrest the government suspended her This is the second time Shanti has been suspended in two yearsShe was appointed as Assistant Commissioner in the Endowments Department through the Andhra Pradesh State Public Service Commission in 2020 and worked in Visakhapatnam and VijayawadaAfter the TDPled coalition government came to power in 2024 Shanti was suspended over allegations of irregularities She remained under suspension from July 2024 to March 2026 The suspension was lifted last month and she was awaiting a posting IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/andhra-acb-once-again-grills-suspended-official-in-disproportionate-assets-case-670960.html Fri, 24 Apr 2026 14:50:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/bengaluru-social-media-influencer-booked-for-allegedly-blackmailing-clinic-owner-demanding-rs-15-cr-670834.html Bengaluru April 23 A female social media influencer has been accused of blackmailing a citybased clinic owner for Rs 15 crore after allegedly befriending him under the pretext of promoting his clinic police said on Thursday According to police the complaint was filed by 31yearold Karthik Putha owner of HK Permanent MakeUp Clinic at the Jayanagar Police Station in BengaluruIn his complaint he stated that he came into contact with influencer Sadhana Shetty in connection with promotional activities for his clinic The two later developed a friendship and reportedly met frequentlyAccording to the complaint the two went on several dates during which Sadhana allegedly recorded private photos and videos of Karthik without his consent She is accused of later using these videos to blackmail himKarthik alleged that Sadhana extorted large sums of money from him and demanded Rs 15 crore He further claimed that she sent the videos to his family members after he refused to meet her demandsUnder alleged threats Karthik said he transferred Rs 5 lakh online and paid another Rs 5 lakh in cash He also claimed to have given her a gold ring worth Rs 30000 a gold chain worth Rs 70000 and an iPhone worth Rs 15 lakhDespite receiving these items and money Sadhana allegedly continued to demand Rs 15 crore When he failed to pay she is said to have sent messages to his wife on WhatsApp leading to disputes within his familyBased on the complaint police have issued a notice to Sadhana Shetty and initiated a preliminary enquiry During questioning she reportedly denied all allegationsPolice have asked her to appear again for further enquiry and have issued another notice in connection with the caseAn FIR has been registered under Sections 3082 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita BNS and Sections 66E and 67 of the Information Technology ActAccording to the FIR Karthik first met the accused at a cafà after which she grew close to him She allegedly threatened that if he failed to pay Rs 15 crore she would send their private videos to his wife She had also told him that she would delete the videos once she received the moneyThe FIR further states that after paying a substantial amount when Karthik informed her that he could not pay more the accused allegedly sent audio and video clips to his wife Following this marital discord reportedly arose between Karthik and his wifeAmid this the accused is said to have frequently visited his clinic and continued to demand money Karthik has urged the police to initiate action against her The police have taken up further investigation IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/bengaluru-social-media-influencer-booked-for-allegedly-blackmailing-clinic-owner-demanding-rs-15-cr-670834.html Thu, 23 Apr 2026 14:02:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/sc-to-launch-samadhan-samaroh-to-settle-over-45-000-pending-cases-670842.html New Delhi April 23 IANS The Supreme Court is set to launch an ambitious mediationdriven initiative Samadhan Samaroh Supreme Court Action for Mediated Adjudication and Dispute Harmonisation Across Nation under the guidance of Chief Justice of India CJI Surya Kant aimed at promoting amicable resolution of pending casesnbspnbspThe programme scheduled to be held from August 21 to 23 is designed to ensure doorstep delivery of justice by facilitating settlement of suitable cases through mediation and Lok Adalat mechanismsAccording to a circular issued by the Supreme Court Bar Association SCBA the initiative marks a significant step towards reducing pendency by encouraging consensual dispute resolution in appropriate matters identified by the apex courtThe Supreme Court of India under the guidance of Honble the Chief Justice of India has undertaken a significant initiative for doorstep delivery of justice through SAMADHAN SAMAROH aimed at facilitating amicable resolution of suitable pending cases the circular statedHighlighting the scale of the exercise the circular said that as many as 45098 cases across various categories have been identified by the top court for potential settlement under the initiativeThe Bar body has urged advocates to actively participate in the process and assist in identifying matters that can be resolved through mediation stating that their cooperation would be crucial to ensure the success of the initiativeThe cooperation and proactive participation of the Bar will be instrumental in making this initiative a meaningful success it addedUrging advocates to wholeheartedly participate in the settlement process the SCBA requested members to share details of their cases or indicate categories of matters fit for settlement with its office via email along with relevant particularsIt further stated that a Google Form link would soon be circulated to enable advocates to submit details of cases for consideration under the initiativeThe SCBA said that a highlevel meeting was convened on April 21 under the chairmanship of the CJI Surya Kant in the presence of judges of the top court including Justices Vikram Nath JK Maheshwari PS Narasimha Sandeep Mehta Prashant Kumar Mishra and Joymalya Bagchi The meeting was also attended by the Attorney General for India R Venkataraman Solicitor General Tushar Mehta SCBA President Vikas Singh and representatives of the Supreme Court AdvocatesonRecord Association among othersIANS https://dailyworld.in/law/sc-to-launch-samadhan-samaroh-to-settle-over-45-000-pending-cases-670842.html Thu, 23 Apr 2026 15:26:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/kaleshwaram-commission-telangana-hc-bars-govt-from-taking-action-against-kcr-670661.html Hyderabad April 22 In a huge relief to former Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao and former Minister T Harish Rao the Telangana High Court barred the state government from taking any action against them and two other petitioners on the basis of the report of the Justice PC Ghose Commission which enquired into alleged irregularities in the execution of the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme The High Court observed that the Ghose Commission did not follow the procedure under the Commission of Inquiry ActA Bench of Chief Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh and Justice GM Mohiuddin on Wednesday pronounced the orders on the batch of writ petitions filed separately by Bharat Rashtra Samithi BRS President K Chandrasekhar Rao KCR Harish Rao retired IAS officer and former Chief Secretary SK Joshi and serving IAS officer Smitha Sabharwal challenging the reportThe petitioners had sought a direction to set aside and quash the report of the CommissionThe petitioners had also challenged the constitution of the Commission but the court held that the government has the power to constitute the Commission However the court found that the findings of the Commission canât be a basis for action against any of the petitioners a lawyer saidDuring the hearing counsels for the four petitioners rebutted the findings of the Commission and contended that their clients were not served the mandatory notices under Section 8B and 8C of the Commission of Inquiry ActAfter hearing the arguments on the petitions the court had reserved its orders last month The orders were to be pronounced on April 8 but the same were postponed to April 22The Bench directed the government not to initiate any coercive action against all four petitioners based on the findings of the Ghose Commission reportSupreme Court senior counsel Dama Sheshadri Naidu had argued for KCR while Advocate General A Sudershan Reddy and senior counsel S Niranjan Reddy had appeared for the state government and the Ghose Commission respectivelyThe Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme KLIS said to be the worldâs largest multistage lift irrigation project was started by the then BRS government in May 2016 Its main component was inaugurated by the then CM KCR in 2019In March 2024 the Congress government constituted a commission headed by former Supreme Court judge Pinaki Chandra Ghose to probe alleged irregularities in planning design construction quality control operation and maintenance of Medigadda Annaram and Sundilla Barrages of the Kaleshwaram projectThe commission submitted its report to the Telangana government on July 31 2025The Commission held KCR directly and vicariously accountable for irregularities in planning execution completion operation and maintenance of the Kaleshwaram project It also indicted Harish Rao then Chief Secretary Joshi and then Secretary to Chief Minister Smitha Sabharwal IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/kaleshwaram-commission-telangana-hc-bars-govt-from-taking-action-against-kcr-670661.html Wed, 22 Apr 2026 11:55:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/ktaka-home-minister-denies-promoting-betting-says-remark-misinterpreted-respects-law-670681.html Bengaluru April 22 Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara has responded to a court order directing the registration of an FIR against him in connection with allegations that he placed a Rs 500 bet during a kabaddi match saying that his remarks have been misinterpreted and that he respects the legal process Speaking to reporters on Wednesday in Bengaluru Parameshwara said it was not appropriate to comment extensively on the issue He clarified that his earlier statement was made casually in the context of a kabaddi game in a lighthearted manner similar to how people speak in rural settingsâThe context in which I spoke is very important If I had promoted betting that would have been wrong But I am in a responsible position it is completely false to say that I promoted bettingâ he saidHe added that interpretations of his statement were being taken out of context and stressed that he had not encouraged or supported betting in any formReferring to the legal development the minister said a private individual had approached the court in the matter and that neither he nor his office had received any notice before the courtâs orderâNo notice was served to us If we had received a notice we could have explained the context and requested that they not take it seriously But no notice came suddenly an order was passedâ he saidParameshwara further stated that he respects the law and would examine the court order in detail before taking any further steps âI have not fully understood the order yet I will look into itâ he addedThe court has reportedly directed police to register an FIR and conduct an investigation into the allegationsA Special Court in Bengaluru on Tuesday ordered the registration of a First Information Report against Parameshwara over an allegation that he placed a Rs 500 bet during a Kabaddi sports tournamentâTaking serious note of the development and the message it would send to society the court directed the Kodigehalli police in Tumakuru to register an FIR and carry out a comprehensive probe into the matterâThe directive follows a private complaint filed by HR Nagabhushan who argued that even a small bet made or publicly acknowledged by a person holding a constitutional position amounts to promoting an illegal activityResponding to the cabinet reshuffle Parameshwara stated That is entirely up to the Chief Minister and the high command It would be inappropriate for us to comment We will act according to whatever decision they take IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/ktaka-home-minister-denies-promoting-betting-says-remark-misinterpreted-respects-law-670681.html Wed, 22 Apr 2026 13:29:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/sc-denies-maintenance-for-child-after-dna-test-disproves-paternity-670691.html New Delhi April 22 IANS The Supreme Court has dismissed an appeal filed by a woman seeking maintenance for her minor daughter after a DNA test established that the respondent was not the biological father holding that such scientific evidence would prevail over the statutory presumption of legitimacy under the lawnbspA Bench of Justices Sanjay Karol and NK Singh dismissed an appeal filed by a woman challenging a Delhi High Court order which had refused maintenance for her daughter while remanding her own claim for reconsiderationnbspThe case arose from a dispute where the appellant alleged that the respondent for whom she had worked as a domestic help had established a relationship with her on the pretext of marriagenbspThe parties later married in March 2016 and a child was born the following month Following matrimonial discord the woman sought interim maintenance under the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act 2005 During the proceedings the respondent denied paternity and sought a DNA test which was allowed by the trial courtnbspThe report concluded that he was not the biological father of the child Relying on the DNA report the trial court had rejected the plea for maintenance for the child a decision subsequently upheld by the appellate court and the High CourtnbspBefore the apex court the primary contention revolved around the presumption of legitimacy under Section 112 of the Indian Evidence Act which treats a child born during a valid marriage as legitimate unless nonaccess is provennbspExamining the legal position the apex court observed that while such a presumption exists to protect children from the stigma of illegitimacy it is not absolute in cases where scientific evidence is available and has attained finalitynbspThe legislative intent is clear Despite technological advancements by leaps and bounds this presumption has been retained to save any child from the stigma of illegitimacy the Justice Karolled Bench observednbspAt the same time the apex court said that where conclusive scientific evidence is available it cannot be ignored Citing precedent it said When there is a conflict between a conclusive proof envisaged under law and a proof based on scientific advancement accepted by the world community to be correct the latter must prevail over the formernbspIn its order the Justice Karolled Bench noted that in the present case the DNA test had been conducted with the consent of the parties and was never disputed thereafter It has in other words attained finality the apex court recordednbspOn this basis the apex court held that the Delhi High Court was justified in denying maintenance to the child and concluded that the appeal was bereft of merit However the Supreme Court expressed concern over the welfare of the child whose parentage dispute had reached the highest court of the landnbspAs such in the interest of wanting to ensure the security and wellbeing of the child in question the Justice Karolled Bench directed the Delhi governments Department of Women and Child Development to assess the childs living conditionsnbspIt ordered that an officer be deputed to visit the appellants residence and evaluate the childs education nutrition health as also the availability of basic material goods required to maintain a minimum standard of livingnbspIt would be expected that wherever the said childs situation is found to be lacking the Department would step in to take remedial measures the Justice Karolled Bench addednbspWhile upholding the denial of maintenance to the child the apex court noted that the issue of maintenance payable to the appellant herself had already been remanded by the Delhi High Court to the trial court for fresh consideration The appeal was accordingly dismissedIANS https://dailyworld.in/law/sc-denies-maintenance-for-child-after-dna-test-disproves-paternity-670691.html Wed, 22 Apr 2026 14:21:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/bombay-hc-quashes-charges-against-four-accused-in-2006-malegaon-blast-case-670692.html Mumbai April 22 In a significant relief to four accused in the 2006 Malegaon bomb blast case the Bombay High Court on Wednesday quashed and set aside a special court order framing charges against them A division bench led by Chief Justice Shree Chandrashekhar delivered the verdict while allowing appeals filed by Rajendra Chaudhary Lokesh Sharma Dhan Singh and Manohar Ram Singh NarwariaThe High Court had earlier observed that a prima facie case existed for interference with the order of the special National Investigation Agency NIA courtThe four had been charged with offences including murder and criminal conspiracy under the IPC along with provisions of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act following a September 30 2025 order by the special court Wednesdayâs ruling effectively halts proceedings against them at this stageThe case pertains to the September 8 2006 blasts in Malegaon where explosions near the Hamidia Masjid and adjoining areas shortly after Friday prayers left 37 people dead and over 300 injuredThe investigation has witnessed multiple twists over the years Initially the Maharashtra AntiTerrorism Squad ATS arrested nine Muslim men who spent several years in jail before being granted bail in 2011 A special court later discharged all nine in 2016 citing insufficient evidenceSubsequently the probe was taken over by the NIA which pursued a different line of investigation The agency arrested the present four accused after alleged disclosures by Swami Aseemanand pointing to the involvement of rightwing elements The four were granted bail by the High Court in 2019The Malegaon blast probe has been marked by conflicting findings between agencies with the NIA diverging from earlier conclusions of the ATS and the Central Bureau of Investigation CBIWith the High Court now setting aside the framing of charges the case takes yet another turn in a long and complex legal trajectory IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/bombay-hc-quashes-charges-against-four-accused-in-2006-malegaon-blast-case-670692.html Wed, 22 Apr 2026 14:31:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/telangana-hc-verdict-exposes-political-conspiracies-of-congress-says-harish-rao-670696.html Hyderabad April 22 Bharat Rashtra Samithi BRS leader and former Minister T Harish Rao said on Wednesday that the Telangana High Courtâs order barring the state government from taking any action against him and BRS president and former Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao on the basis of the PC Ghose Commission report has exposed the political conspiracies of the Congress party Truth always prevailsâ was how Harish Rao reacted to the High Court orders on their petitions challenging the report of the Ghose Commission which probed the alleged irregularities in the Kaleshwaram lift irrigation project constructed during the BRSâNo matter how many conspiracies anyone hatches it has once again been proven today that in the end justice prevails in the courts and truth resoundsâ said Harish Rao who is also the nephew of K Chandrasekhar Rao KCRA Bench of Chief Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh and Justice GM Mohiuddin on Wednesday pronounced the orders on the batch of writ petitions filed separately by KCR Harish Rao retired IAS officer and former Chief Secretary SK Joshi and serving IAS officer Smitha Sabharwal challenging the reportThe High Court observed that the Ghose Commission did not follow the procedure under the Commission of Inquiry ActHarish Rao stated that the High Court has struck down the trial conducted while disregarding fundamental rights and principles of natural justice âIt has clearly ruled that the remarks made by the commission which hurt personal prestige are invalid and no actions should be taken based on that report With this the political conspiracies of the Congress government have been exposedâ he saidThe BRS deputy leader in the Telangana Assembly remarked that Chief Minister A Revanth Reddys true colours setting aside public issues to stage dramas have been laid bare by the High Court judgment âEven now we appeal to him to immediately cease baseless complaints and political smear campaigns complete the repairs to the two piers right away and safeguard the interests of Telanganas farmers Whether anyone praises it or not Kaleshwaram will forever remain Telanganas lifelineâ he added Said to be the worldâs largest multistage lift irrigation project the Kaleshwaram project was started by the then BRS government in May 2016 Its main component was inaugurated by the then CM KCR in 2019In March 2024 the Congress government constituted a commission headed by former Supreme Court judge Pinaki Chandra Ghose to probe the alleged irregularities in planning design construction quality control operation and maintenance of Medigadda Annaram and Sundilla Barrages of the Kaleshwaram projectThe commission submitted its report to the Telangana government on July 31 2025The Commission held KCR directly and vicariously accountable for irregularities in planning execution completion operation and maintenance of the Kaleshwaram project It also indicted Harish Rao then Chief Secretary Joshi and then Secretary to Chief Minister Smitha Sabharwal IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/telangana-hc-verdict-exposes-political-conspiracies-of-congress-says-harish-rao-670696.html Wed, 22 Apr 2026 14:34:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/karnataka-youth-assaulted-over-harassment-allegation-video-goes-viral-case-filed-670705.html Raichur Karnataka April 22 A young man was allegedly assaulted in Raichur city of north Karnataka after being accused of harassing a woman at a private hospital police said on Wednesday A video of the assault which happened on Tuesday has since gone viral on social media drawing public attentionAccording to reports the youth identified as Mehboob was allegedly confined inside a house and subjected to assault by the womanâs family membersIt is alleged that he was first taken from his residence and later locked inside a room in a house located in the IDSampT Layout in Raichur city where the assault took placeThe incident is said to have stemmed from allegations that Mehboob had harassed the woman at a private hospital Following this members of the womanâs family reportedly confronted him and took him to their residenceIn the viral video the womanâs sister is heard confronting the youth saying that she had been watching his activities at the hospital The video also shows the youth allegedly pleading for forgiveness while being assaultedDespite his repeated apologies the assault reportedly continued The video has sparked discussion on social media after it went viralPolice have registered a case at the Sadar Bazar police station in Raichur and further investigation is underwayIn a similar incident that happened last year on August 11 2025 villagers had beaten up a 25yearold man following allegations against him of harassing a woman Videos of the incident were shared widely on social mediaVithal Naikar was tied to a tree and beaten up by some villagers including the relatives of the woman They complained that the man was teasing the woman and stalking her They tried to counsel him but he refused to pay heedHe was picked up by a friend taken to Godchi village and beaten up in front of a crowd police sources said IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/karnataka-youth-assaulted-over-harassment-allegation-video-goes-viral-case-filed-670705.html Wed, 22 Apr 2026 15:11:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/daring-midnight-heist-in-bihars-vaishali-armed-gang-loots-jewellers-house-670552.html Patna April 21 In a daring midnight heist around half a dozen armed robbers targeted the house of a jewellery shop owner in Vaishali district of Bihar looting over 50 grams of gold ornaments along with cash The incident took place at around 1230 am in Khanpur village under the jurisdiction of Mahnar police station on Tuesday police officials saidAccording to the police the robbers climbed over the boundary wall of the house belonging to Ranjit Kumar Shah and cut through the main gate to gain entry As the gang attempted to break in the family members raised an alarm and neighbours gatheredHowever no one dared to confront the attackers as they were heavily armed To spread panic and deter resistance the robbers reportedly detonated a crude bomb The assailants remained inside the house for nearly half an hour thoroughly searching the premises before escaping with valuables and cashRanjit Shah stated that despite informing the local police immediately officers reached the spot only around 3 am by which time the robbers had already fledâAs soon as we realised that the robbers were approaching we locked all the doors However they came equipped with ladders climbed onto the rooftop and cut the gate to enter the house They assaulted us during the incident My son was injured in the attack They searched every nook and corner and took away gold and cashâ he saidPraveen Kumar the SDPO of Mahnar confirmed the incident âWe have received information about the robbery from the house owner Ranjit Kumar Shah The robbers detonated at least one bomb during the incident A forensic science laboratory FSL team has been called in to collect evidence and the district police are scanning CCTV footage from the area The robbers failed to take away the DVR which will aid in the investigation The case will be cracked very soonâ Kumar saidâPreliminary investigation suggests that one or two local individuals may be involved in the incident We are probing all angles and the accused will be arrested soonâ he added IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/daring-midnight-heist-in-bihars-vaishali-armed-gang-loots-jewellers-house-670552.html Tue, 21 Apr 2026 13:19:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/authorities-raze-illegal-structures-in-ahmedabads-dhandhuka-disconnect-power-to-accused-670562.html Ahmedabad April 21 Administrative action intensified in Dhandhuka town of Ahmedabad district on Tuesday as authorities launched a demolition drive against illegal structures and disconnected electricity supply to two accused historysheeters days after a fatal stabbing triggered violence and unrest in the area Bulldozers were deployed to clear encroachments across key stretches while the power company disconnected electricity to the residences of Shabbir Chopda an accused in the Kishan Bharwad murder case in 2022 and Imtiyaz PathanOfficials said the process to register cases under Section 135 of the Electricity Act 2003 has been initiated with further legal action underwayAhmedabad Rural DySP Aastha Rana told IANS âThe demolition drive is currently underway in the area and sufficient police personnel have been deployed to assist the process As of now the only action taken against the two accused is that their electricity supply has been cut However this is not going to be the only action in the long run We will verify everythingâA large police contingent was deployed as teams from the Roads and Buildings RampB department revenue authorities police municipality city survey department UGVCL and fire and medical services carried out the operationThe heavy security presence led to parts of the town resembling a policecontrolled zone Encroachments are being removed along the stretch from the railway station to the Ranpur crossroads where around 14 roadside shop sheds have been identifiedIn the Khatkiwad area five residential properties are also being cleared Notices had earlier been issued to multiple units including around 12 along the FedaraâDhandhuka highwayDhandhuka Municipality Chief Officer Raju Sheikh told IANS âAt present the demolition drive is targeting around 15 to 20 illegal structures The structures linked to the two accused are not being razed in this drive the action is focused on properties associated with history sheetersâThe administrative measures follow the recent killing of Dharmesh Gamara who was fatally stabbed after a dispute reportedly triggered by a minor road incident involving motorcycles which escalated into a confrontation in a residential areaThe incident invoked widespread unrest including arson and vandalism with several shops set ablaze and properties damaged in DhandhukaPolice said two accused Samir and Rizwan were arrested in connection with the murder while at least 20 people were detained for their alleged role in the violenceTwo FIRs have been registered one for murder and related offences and another against more than 120 individuals for rioting unlawful assembly and damage to propertyInvestigators have since reconstructed the crime scene to establish the sequence of events taking the accused to multiple locations including the site of the stabbingAuthorities have also formed a Special Investigation Team SIT to probe both the murder and the subsequent unrest and said the situation in the town is now under control with normalcy gradually returning IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/authorities-raze-illegal-structures-in-ahmedabads-dhandhuka-disconnect-power-to-accused-670562.html Tue, 21 Apr 2026 13:57:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/sc-rejects-umar-khalids-review-plea-in-delhi-riots-case-670466.html New Delhi April 20 The Supreme Court has dismissed a review petition filed by student activist Umar Khalid challenging its January 5 judgment that had denied him bail in the alleged larger conspiracy case linked to the 2020 Delhi riots After considering the material placed on record a Bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and N V Anjaria rejected the plea observing that no valid ground for review was made outâHaving gone through the review petition and also the documents enclosed we do not find any good ground and reason to review the judgment dated 05012026 Accordingly the review petition is dismissedâ the Justice Kumarled Bench saidThe top court also declined the request for an oral hearing of the review plea stating âPrayer for oral hearing in the review petition is rejectedâEarlier on April 13 senior advocate Kapil Sibal appearing for Khalid had mentioned the matter before the Justice Kumarled Bench urging that the review petition be heard in open courtâI wanted to make a mention my lords are hearing the review petition in Umar Khalidâs case It is listed on Wednesday I believe My request is it is only for your consideration if you could have it in an open courtâ Sibal had submittedThe Justice Kumarled Bench had responded that it would examine the request stating âWe will look into the paper and if required we will call itâOrdinarily review petitions are decided in chambers on limited grounds such as errors apparent on the face of the record and are rarely listed for open court hearingIn January this year the Supreme Court refused to grant bail to Khalid and coaccused Sharjeel Imam in the alleged larger conspiracy case arising out of the 2020 Delhi riotsHowever the apex court granted bail to five other accused Gulfisha Fatima Meeran Haider Shifa Ur Rehman Mohd Saleem Khan and Shadab Ahmed while declining relief to Imam and KhalidPronouncing the verdict the Justice Kumarled Bench had held that the prosecution material disclosed a prima facie case against the duo attracting the statutory bar on bail under Section 43D5 of the Unlawful Activities Prevention ActThe apex court had observed that the prosecution material and evidence on record did not justify Khalidâs release on bail and indicated his involvement at the level of planning mobilisation and issuance of strategic directionsRejecting the contention that no overt act of violence was attributed to Khalid the top court had said that in conspiracy cases âthe law does not demand that every conspirator execute the terminal act but demands a prima facie nexus between the accused and the unlawful design to be inferred from cumulative conductâThe Supreme Court had clarified that its observations were confined to the question of bail and would not influence the trial IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/sc-rejects-umar-khalids-review-plea-in-delhi-riots-case-670466.html Mon, 20 Apr 2026 21:10:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/cbi-nabs-key-conspirator-in-sim-based-cyber-fraud-network-under-operation-chakra-v-670379.html Guwahati April 20 IANS The Central Bureau of Investigation has intensified its nationwide crackdown on cybercrime infrastructure under Operation ChakraV arresting a key conspirator in Guwahati for his role in a largescale SIM card fraud racketnbspThe accused identified as Ubaid Ullah was apprehended in the early hours of April 19 after remaining absconding since August 2025 an official statement said on MondaynbspHe is alleged to have played a pivotal role in procuring and distributing illegally issued SIM cards which were subsequently used by cybercriminal networks to execute a range of financial and socialengineering scamsAccording to investigators the case centres on the misuse of Point of Sale POS agents who fraudulently issued SIM cards without proper verification thereby enabling organised cybercrimenbspThese SIM cards CBI said were reportedly used in offences such as digital arrest scams fraudulent loan schemes and fake investment operations targeting unsuspecting victims across the countryThe CBIs probe revealed that Ubaid Ullah functioned as a key aggregator in Guwahati coordinating the supply chain of illicit SIM cards He is suspected of having transferred nearly Rs 67 lakh through multiple bank accounts to POS agents in exchange for approximately 10000 fraudulently obtained SIM cards Evidence also points to the use of courier services to transport these SIM cards indicating a wellorganised and structured networkAs part of the ongoing investigation the agency has conducted searches at around 45 locations across eight states leading to the arrest of 10 POS agents allegedly involved in the racketnbspCBI Officials believe this network forms a critical backbone of organised cybercrime by providing anonymous communication channels to fraudstersOperation ChakraV is aimed at dismantling such enabling infrastructure that supports cybercriminal activities The agency said the operation reflects a strategic shift towards targeting facilitators and logistics networks rather than just end perpetratorsThe CBI reiterated its commitment to combating organised cybercrime through coordinated action intelligencedriven operations and interagency collaboration Efforts are underway to identify and apprehend other key conspirators linked to the networkIANS https://dailyworld.in/law/cbi-nabs-key-conspirator-in-sim-based-cyber-fraud-network-under-operation-chakra-v-670379.html Mon, 20 Apr 2026 14:02:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/ncw-suggests-free-reconstructive-surgeries-disability-benefits-zero-fir-for-acid-attack-survivors-670434.html New Delhi April 20 A provision of free lifelong medical treatment including reconstructive surgeries disability benefits and Zero FIR are among the key recommendations made by the National Commission for Women NCW to the government to strengthen rehabilitation care and justice for acid attack survivors an official said on Monday The NCW recommendations based on the Round Table Consultation titled Navjeevan A Consultation on Care Justice amp Dignity for Acid Attack Survivors held in January also talk of recognising acid attack survivors under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016The Commission suggested issuance of disability certificates integration into the Unique Disability ID system and automatic linkage with welfare schemes reservations and social protection benefitsThe Commission also called for expediting the Victims of Acid Attacks Bill 2022For better medical treatment the NCW suggested the mandatory implementation of the Golden Hour Protocol across all hospitals institutionalised psychosocial support for survivors and fasttrack investigation and trial with defined timelines and simplified FIR proceduresThe NCW has submitted the recommendations to the Ministry of Home Affairs Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Ministry of Women and Child Development and the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment said an official statementThe Commission has suggested mandatory Zero FIR registration â a facility that will enable a survivor to file a case in any part of the country irrespective of the location of the acid attackThe NCW also wants deployment of dedicated legal officers strengthening of legal provisions including improved evidence protocols and expediting the Victims of Acid Attacks Bill 2022Underscoring the need for compensation and financial security of the survivors the NCW suggested establishment of a uniform national compensation framework with timebound disbursal Direct Benefit Transfer linked to FIR registration enhanced compensation based on severity provision of monthly pensions and transparent online grievance redressal mechanismsFor livelihood and economic empowerment the NCW recommended promotion of skill development digital literacy and support for entrepreneurship under government schemes for the survivorsBesides recommending stronger regulation of acid sale through strict licencing the NCW recommended the creation of a National Acid Attack Case Tracking Registry integration of FIR medical and compensation systems development of realtime dashboards and periodic public reporting to ensure transparency and accountability said the statement IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/ncw-suggests-free-reconstructive-surgeries-disability-benefits-zero-fir-for-acid-attack-survivors-670434.html Mon, 20 Apr 2026 17:19:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/jharkhand-hc-gives-state-two-weeks-in-2018-missing-girl-case-warns-of-cbi-probe-670449.html Ranchi April 20 The Jharkhand High Court on Monday took a stern view on the slow pace of investigation into the case of a girl who went missing from Gumla district in 2018 It granted the state government two weeks to show tangible progress failing which the probe may be handed over to the CBIDuring the hearing a division bench headed by Justice Sujit Narayan Prasad expressed dissatisfaction over the lack of meaningful results even after more than seven years since the girls disappearance The court warned that if no concrete outcome emerges within the stipulated time it would consider transferring the investigation to the CBIJharkhand DGP Tadasha Mishra appeared before the court through video conferencing and apprised the bench of the present status of the investigationThe court questioned why the girl could not be traced despite such a long time having passed and sought clarity on the direction in which the probe was progressingThe court also sought details from the Gumla SP regarding the investigation After examining the submissions the bench observed that the inquiry had failed to make expected headway and directed the state government to file a detailed and satisfactory response within two weeksThe court reiterated that if no substantial progress is reported by the next hearing it would consider handing over the case to the CBIThe missing girlâs mother had moved the High Court with a habeas corpus plea In earlier hearings the court had not only questioned the pace of the investigation but had also stressed the need for effective use of technology in tracing missing childrenIt had also underlined the requirement for a clear standard operating procedure SOP for using Aadhaarârelated data in such casesA Special Investigation Team SIT had been constituted to probe the matter and conducted investigations at various locations but the girlâs whereabouts remain unknownThe High Court has earlier too emphasised the need to treat missing children cases with utmost seriousness and ensure prompt action IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/jharkhand-hc-gives-state-two-weeks-in-2018-missing-girl-case-warns-of-cbi-probe-670449.html Mon, 20 Apr 2026 18:29:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/foreign-linked-narcotics-arms-module-busted-in-punjab-670458.html Chandigarh April 20 In a major breakthrough Punjab Police have busted a major interstate foreignlinked narcotics and illegal arms module with the arrest of four operatives and recovered 9925 kg of heroin two 30 bore foreignmade pistols along with eight magazines and 40 cartridges from their possession said Director General of Police DGP Gaurav Yadav here on Monday Those arrested have been identified as Manjinder Singh alias Sonu a resident of Pathralian village in Hoshiarpur Shivam Bhandari a resident of Dhina in Jalandhar Sahil Masih alias Monu of Pakhoke Tahli village in Gurdaspur and Ramel Roger of Garhshankar in HoshiarpurDGP Yadav said preliminary investigations have revealed that the accused were in direct contact with foreignbased gangsters and were acting as their local handlers facilitating drug trafficking and the supply of illegal weapons in the regionHe said further investigation is underway to establish forward and backward linkages in this case to dismantle the entire networkSharing operational details Senior Superintendent of Police Hoshiarpur Sandeep Kumar Malik said that following a reliable input police teams have set up a special checkpoint in the jurisdiction of GarhshankarDuring the operation a car was intercepted on suspicion basis leading to the apprehension of the four accused and the subsequent recovery of the heroin and weapons consignment from their vehicle he saidThe SSP further said that one of the arrested accused Sahil Masih is a habitual offender and is also part of a firing case involving a police party in Batala district of the stateMore arrests and recoveries are likely in coming days as the investigation progresses he added In this regard a First Information Report was registered on April 19 under Sections 21 and 29 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act and Section 25 of the Arms Act at the police station in Garhshankar in Hoshiarpur IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/foreign-linked-narcotics-arms-module-busted-in-punjab-670458.html Mon, 20 Apr 2026 19:50:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/cji-surya-kant-to-launch-ai-powered-notice-verification-chatbot-abhay-designed-by-cbi-tomorrow-670287.html New Delhi April 19 IANS Chief Justice of India CJI Surya Kant will deliver the 22nd DP Kohli Memorial Lecture at the Bharat Mandapam here on Monday with a focus on the growing challenges of cybercrime and the evolving role of police and the judiciary in addressing themnbspThe lecture organised by the Central Bureau of Investigation CBI will centre on the theme Challenges of Cyber Crime Role for Police and Judiciary reflecting the increasing intersection of technology crime and justice delivery systemsOn the occasion CJI Surya Kant will also launch an AIpowered notice verification chatbot ABHAY designed to enable citizens to verify the authenticity of notices purportedly issued by the CBIThe initiative comes amid a rise in socalled digital arrest frauds and is expected to provide a crucial safeguard against impersonation and cyberenabled deceptionAs many as 24 Medals for Meritorious Service will also be presented during the event recognising distinguished contributions by CBI personnelThe CBI organises the annual lecture series in honour of its founder Director Dharamnath Prasad Kohli whose leadership laid the institutional foundation of the agency Established by a Union government resolution dated April 1 1963 the CBI was mandated to investigate cases of bribery and corruption violations of central fiscal laws and other serious crimes evolving over the decades into Indias premier investigative bodyKohli who led the Delhi Special Police Establishment DSPE before becoming the first Director of the CBI is credited with strengthening investigative processes and institutional integrityWhile delivering the 20th DP Kohli Memorial Lecture on the CBIs Raising Day in 2024 then CJI DY Chandrachud had stressed the need for adequate safeguards to prevent the misuse of artificial intelligence and emerging technologies He had observed that AI systems are not free from bias and may due to skewed data lead to profiling of marginalised communities potentially infringing privacy rights and resulting in disproportionate targetingAt the same time then CJI Chandrachud had highlighted the transformative potential of AI in law enforcement remarking that agencies such as the CBI can leverage algorithms to analyse vast volumes of data identify patterns and generate actionable intelligence with greater efficiency including in complex cases such as human traffickingIANS https://dailyworld.in/law/cji-surya-kant-to-launch-ai-powered-notice-verification-chatbot-abhay-designed-by-cbi-tomorrow-670287.html Sun, 19 Apr 2026 16:25:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/dual-citizenship-row-allahabad-hc-likely-to-hear-rahul-gandhis-stand-tomorrow-670293.html Lucknow April 19 IANS Leader of Opposition LoP in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi is likely to present on Monday his stand in the Allahabad High Court on a petition filed by a Bharatiya Janata Party BJP worker alleging that the Congress leader is a British national enjoying dual citizenshipThe crucial hearing before the singlejudge bench of Justice Subhash Vidyarthi will come ahead of the operation of the High Courts direction to the Uttar Pradesh Police to inquire into the complaint by BJP worker from Karnataka Vignesh ShishirOn Friday the High Court in an oral order had given a goahead to police to initiate a probe and consider filing an FIR if needed against LoP GandhiOn Saturday the High Court modified its final order saying that the prospective accused must be given an opportunity of hearing before any such direction is issuedEarlier in 2019 a petition seeking disqualification of Rahul Gandhi from contesting the Lok Sabha elections over the issue of alleged dual citizenship was dismissed by a bench led by Chief Justice of India Ranjan GogoiOn Saturday Justice Vidyarthi withheld the order after it had already been dictated in open court noting that the judgment could not be finalised without addressing the requirement of issuing notice to the proposed accusedIn the decision uploaded on the High Courts official website on Saturday Justice Vidyarthi recorded that during the hearing all parties had submitted that there is no requirement of issuance of a notice to the proposed accused while deciding an application under Section 528 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita BNSSHowever before the judgment could be typed and signed the singlejudge bench came across a full bench ruling in Jagannath Verma vs State of Uttar Pradesh which held that an order rejecting a plea for registration of an FIR is not interlocutory and is amenable to revision and that the prospective accused is entitled to an opportunity of being heard before a decision is takenIn view of the aforesaid legal position it appears that the application under Section 528 of the BNSS should not be decided without issuing notice to the opposite party no1 Rahul Gandhi Justice Vidyarthi said adding that the parties need to address this aspectThe development assumes significance as the singlejudge bench had earlier directed the Uttar Pradesh Police to conduct an inquiry and consider registration of an FIR into the allegations that Rahul Gandhi holds dual citizenship while hearing a challenge to a January 28 order of a special MPMLA court in Lucknow that had refused to order an FIRThe petitioner has alleged that LoP Gandhi is a British citizen and therefore ineligible to contest elections or continue as a Member of Parliament relying on purported documents and communications from the UK authoritiesHe has sought action under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita the Official Secrets Act the Foreigners Act and the Passport ActThe complaint was initially filed before a special MPMLA court in Raebareli before being brought before the Allahabad High CourtIANS https://dailyworld.in/law/dual-citizenship-row-allahabad-hc-likely-to-hear-rahul-gandhis-stand-tomorrow-670293.html Sun, 19 Apr 2026 17:01:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/another-student-dies-by-suicide-at-iit-kharagpur-670076.html Kolkata April 18 Another student allegedly died by suicide at the Kharagpur IIT campus in West Midnapore district According to the police the student Jaibir Singh Dodia 21 jumped from the eighth floor of the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Hall on Saturday morning On receiving the news police personnel from Hijli police station under Kharagpur Town police station went to the spotThe 21yearold youth was taken to BC Roy Hospital where doctors declared him brought dead IIT Kharagpur authorities have informed the family of the deceased student about the tragedyAccording to police officers the deceased students home is in Ghuma area of ââAhmedabad He was studying in the third year of the Mechanical Engineering department and lived in Nehru Hall at the IIT Kharagpur campusHe was found lying on the ground after allegedly jumping from the eighth floor of the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Hall by other students on Saturday morning He was rushed to the hospital by security guards and other studentsThe police have started investigating all the aspects of the case such as how he went from Nehru Hall to Atal Bihari Vajpayee Hall and how he got to the roof thereThe police have started investigating the CCTV footage to find out when the student left Nehru HallQuestions have been raised about the repeated deaths of students on the IIT campus However there has been no official response from the IIT Kharagpur authorities on this tragic incidentConcerns have once again been raised in the education community about the security on the campus and the mental health of the studentsIn 2025 seven students of IIT Kharagpur died and shockingly five of them were found hangingThat year Shoaan Malik died by suicide on January 12 Aniket Walkar on April 21 Mohammad Asif Qamar on May 4 Ritam Mandal on July 18 Chandradeep Pawar on July 22 and Harsh Kumar Pandey on September 20On December 7 the body of Bhattaram Sharan Kumar was recovered from the Puri railway gate in Kharagpur He was run over by a train IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/another-student-dies-by-suicide-at-iit-kharagpur-670076.html Sat, 18 Apr 2026 14:27:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/congress-bjp-playing-blame-game-k-kavitha-on-womens-quota-defeat-670098.html New Delhi April 18 In the aftermath of the Constitution 131st Amendment Bills defeat in the Lok Sabha Telangana Jagruthi President K Kavitha on Saturday blamed both the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party BJP saying they are playing a blame game over the failure of the Womens Reservation Bill Speaking to IANS Kavitha said In the history of India yesterday will be remembered as the black day for women empowerment in this nationHolding both the ruling NDA alliance and the Opposition responsible she added BJP is blaming the Congress and the Congress is blaming the BJP But the point is that the women of this nation have seriously lost out a very long fought battleWomen were a part of Indias freedom movement but they never happened to make in the same proportion into the Parliament or assemblies of the nation Kavitha saidShe said in 2006 it was the Congress which cheated the womenNow after 20 years in 2026 the BJP has again cheated the women of the nation she allegedTerming the Bills failure as unfortunate Kavitha said It is unfortunate that Womens Reservation Bill is time and again being linked with either census caste census or delimitation or something or the other But women are being blockedShe appealed the women that despite the blow to the reservation attempt they should contest the elections without thinking about whether they will win or notI appeal to the women of the nation we need to stand on our own feet and get empowered by ourselves We need to come out and contest Kavitha saidMeanwhile Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra told reporters outside Parliament that the Womens Reservation Bill was passed in 2023 and that all opposition parties were of the view that the Bill will be implemented during 2024 Lok Sabha polls and women would be granted onethird of the 540 seatsBut the BJP didnt do that she allegedMoreover Moitra alleged that this was the Delimitation Bill dressed in the Womens Reservation BillSamajwadi Party MP Dimple Yadav added that those who came to power with guarantees of womens security job opportunities and social justice are trying to spread mistruthsThey BJP are attempting this again since they had lost badly in Uttar Pradesh during the 2024 Lok Sabha polls she told reportersYadav alleged They BJP didnt give reservation to OBC women They want to create differences among the women too If they are talking about half of the countrys population they should also include OBC minority and Dalit women too IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/congress-bjp-playing-blame-game-k-kavitha-on-womens-quota-defeat-670098.html Sat, 18 Apr 2026 16:36:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/courts-must-identify-points-for-determination-even-in-ex-parte-proceedings-sc-669967.html New Delhi April 17 IANS The Supreme Court has held that while framing of issues in an ex parte civil suit is not mandatory courts are nevertheless obligated to identify and adjudicate the points for determination and deliver a reasoned judgment in conformity with the provisions of the Code of Civil Procedure CPCnbspnbspA bench of Justices Sanjay Karol and AG Masih set aside concurrent findings of the trial court and the Calcutta High Court which had dismissed a suit for specific performance of an agreement to sell holding that the proceedings stood vitiated due to failure to frame issues and consequent prejudice to the plaintiffThe apex court was dealing with a civil appeal filed by Pramod Shroff challenging the dismissal of his suit seeking specific performance of a 1977 agreement to sell a flat in KolkataClarifying the legal position the Justice Karolled Bench said Though the framing of issues where the defendant does not present a defence is not mandated still the importance of framing of issues cannot be underscoredIt added that even in ex parte proceedings courts must structure their judgments around clearly defined questions requiring adjudicationThe court should identify the points for determinationand proceed to construct the ex parte judgment dealing with the points at issue one by one the apex court observedThe Supreme Court said that a valid judgment must reflect compliance with Order XX Rule 42 CPC which requires a concise statement of the case the points for determination the decision thereon and the reasons for such decisionWhether it is a case which is contested or a case which proceeds ex parte the court has to write a judgment which must be in conformity with the provisions of the Code it said cautioning that failure to do so would amount to a material irregularityIn the present case the suit was dismissed by the trial court on the ground that the plaintiff failed to establish the defendants title over the property despite no issue having been framed on that aspectAccepting the appellants contention the apex court said that the absence of such an issue deprived the plaintiff of an opportunity to lead evidenceIn the absence of any issues and especially in the absence of any pleading contesting title the Appellant could not be expected to prove such title the judgment said adding that omission to frame issues had caused prejudice to the plaintiffThe Justice Karolled Bench laid down that while omission to frame issues does not automatically vitiate proceedings the test is whether the parties were aware that a particular question was in issue and had an opportunity to adduce evidence on itThough framing of issues is not mandatory if the omission to frame the same causes prejudice to the parties then the same can vitiate the trial it heldSetting aside the judgments of the courts below the Supreme Court remanded the matter to the trial court for fresh consideration It directed that issues be framed parties be given an opportunity to complete pleadings and lead evidence and the suit be decided expeditiously noting that the matter dates back to 2007The court shall frame issues and accord opportunity to the parties to lead evidence and proceed to decide the same at the earliest the bench directedIANS https://dailyworld.in/law/courts-must-identify-points-for-determination-even-in-ex-parte-proceedings-sc-669967.html Fri, 17 Apr 2026 19:19:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/scs-road-safety-committee-reviews-traffic-measures-in-mps-jabalpur-669901.html Jabalpur April 17 Supreme Court Committee on Road Safety Chairman Justice Abhay Manohar Sapre reviewed road safety measures in Madhya Pradeshâs Jabalpur stressing stricter enforcement and sustained awareness to reduce accidents and fatalities At a meeting with senior district officials late on Thursday data presented by Jabalpur traffic ASP Anjana Tiwari showed that 3372 road accidents were reported in 2025 claiming 666 lives and leaving 2471 seriously injuredA comparison of JanuaryMarch figures indicated improvement in 2026 with accidents dropping by 341 per cent to 962 fatalities declining by 901 per cent to 154 and injuries falling by 1389 per cent to 1091During the meeting officials highlighted progress in addressing accidentprone âblack spotsâ Their number has reduced from 47 in 2025 to 41 with no accidents reported at six locations after corrective measuresSo far in 2026 a total of 22 accidents at 12 black spots resulted in six deaths and 10 injuries according to an official statement from Jabalpur district administrationYoung people aged 2535 and twowheeler riders were identified as the most vulnerable groups while rural areas recorded more accidents than urban regions Authorities emphasised helmet and seat belt use as critical to reducing fatalitiesDuring the meeting Justice Sapre directed agencies to improve signage remove encroachments strengthen highway patrolling and expedite black spot rectificationHe also called for road safety audits of new infrastructure installation of cameras to check overspeeding and stricter action against repeat offenders including licence suspensionOfficials informed that action has been initiated against 264 motorists so far in 2026Proposals to mandate helmets for government employees and students were also discussed alongside stricter checks on licences insurance and drunk driving with a focus on wider public awareness campaignsJabalpur Collector Raghavendra Singh said regular monitoring is being carried out through District Road Safety Committee meetingsSuperintendent of Police SP Sampat Upadhyay noted that enforcement has been intensified with over 109 lakh challans issued in 2025 and 28555 till March 2026 along with counselling of violatorsThis review is being held by the Supreme Court vide its April 2014 order to measure and monitor the implementation of various laws relating to motor vehicles Its committee coordinates with all state governments and UTs to monitor the road safety scenario IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/scs-road-safety-committee-reviews-traffic-measures-in-mps-jabalpur-669901.html Fri, 17 Apr 2026 12:03:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/asg-seeks-harshest-punishment-for-congress-mla-vinay-kulkarni-in-bjp-leader-murder-case-669814.html Bengaluru April 16 Additional Solicitor General ASG SV Raju appearing for the CBI urged the Special Court for MLAsMPs in Bengaluru on Thursday to award the harshest punishment to accused MLA Vinay Kulkarni and the other accused in the murder case of BJP leader and Zilla Panchayat member Yogesh Gowda âThe Special Court for MLAsMPs in Bengaluru on Wednesday held senior Congress MLA and former minister Vinay Kulkarni guilty in the murder case of the BJP leader âThe court delivered its final verdict after a prolonged trial Vinay Kulkarni has been named as accused number 15 in the case He is currently serving as the Chairman of the Karnataka Urban Water Supply and Drainage Board The court found him guilty of criminal conspiracy The court is hearing arguments over the quantum of punishment todayPresenting his arguments before the court Additional Solicitor General ASG Raju submitted that the accused should be given the harshest punishment stating that they had hatched a conspiracy and carried out a coldblooded murder He further argued that the deceased Yogesh Gowda was a public figure who was killed due to political rivalry He told the court that initially other individuals had surrendered before the police in connection with the case but the truth emerged only after the CBI investigationASG Raju contended that the accused being a legislator expected to uphold the law had instead orchestrated the killing He alleged that the accused misused the police machinery and violated constitutional principlesHe also stated that Yogesh Gowda was brutally murdered after chilli powder was thrown into his eyes He added that documents were fabricated and attempts were made to destroy evidence According to him the accused misused his position as an MLA and minister and manipulated the entire systemMeanwhile the caseâs approver witness Basavaraj Muttagi had visited the Ganesh temple located at KCD Circle in Dharwad city earlier in the day Muttagi who arrived at the temple under CRPF security offered special prayers and prayed to God to give him greater strength for his fightSpeaking to the media he said that the real struggle would begin now He also stated that he had been haunted by a sense of guilt as he too had been part of the conspiracy when Yogesh Gowda was murderedA total of 21 persons were named as accused in the case by the Central Bureau of Investigation Among 21 accused persons 17 were found guilty and two have turned approvers In this background the court has delivered its verdict holding 19 accused guiltyâAccused number one Basavaraj Muttagi had turned approver and given his statement while accused number 17 Shivanand even after turning approver gave a hostile statement Hence the Central Bureau of Investigation has filed an application to reaccuse accused number 17âThe accused number two Vikram accused number three Keerthi Kumar accused number four Sandeep accused number five Vinayak accused number six Mahabaleshwar alias Mudaka accused number seven Santosh accused number eight Dinesh accused number nine Ashwath accused number ten Sunil accused number eleven Nazeer Ahmed accused number twelve Shanawaz accused number thirteen Nutan accused number fourteen Harshit accused number fifteen Vinay Kulkarni accused number sixteen Chandru Mama accused number eighteen Vikas Kalaburagi and accused number nineteen Channakeshava Tingarikar have been declared guiltyâMeanwhile the court ordered the release of accused numbers 20 and 21 Vasudev Nilekani and SomashekarâThe case dates back to 2016 and the court will also decide the fate of 21 other accused in connection with the incidentâ The case was handed over to the CBI by the state government At the time the allegations surfaced Kulkarni was serving as a minister and district incharge ministerâYogesh Gowda was hacked to death by a group of assailants at a gym in Dharwad city on June 15 2016 He had challenged Kulkarni politically and the incident soon took a turn for the worseâKulkarni was arrested in 2020 and released on bail in 2021 He was accused of influencing witnesses following which the CBI sought cancellation of his bail alleging violation of bail conditions The court accepted the plea and revoked his bailâ Subsequently Kulkarni surrendered before the authorities and was recently released on bail againâKulkarni was accused of conspiring in the murder of Yogesh Gowda At the time he was a Cabinet minister in the Siddaramaiahled government Although his name surfaced no action was taken against him initiallyâThe BJP later made it a major issue with former Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa vowing at election rallies that Kulkarni would be sent to jail if the BJP came to powerâThe case was subsequently handed over to the CBI and Kulkarni was arrested He spent more than nine months in jail before securing bail from the Supreme Courtâ IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/asg-seeks-harshest-punishment-for-congress-mla-vinay-kulkarni-in-bjp-leader-murder-case-669814.html Thu, 16 Apr 2026 15:58:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/engineer-caught-redhanded-accepting-rs-10-000-bribe-in-bihars-purnea-669818.html Patna April 16 An Assistant Engineer in Bihars Purnea district has been arrested while allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 10000 officials said on Thursday The accused Bhushan Prasad posted with the Bihar Education Project was caught redhanded by the Vigilance team The arrest followed a complaint filed by Nandan Kumar Jha a resident of Hemnagar village under Sarsi police station limits in PurneaAccording to the complaint Nandan Kumar Jha had undertaken the construction of a school building in Minapur under the Dagrua block The engineer allegedly demanded a 6 per cent commission on the Measurement Book MB value He had reportedly already taken money in instalments and this time he demanded Rs 10000 and refused to sign the Measurement Book without paymentActing on the complaint the Vigilance team registered a case under the provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act at its police station in Patna and laid a trap The accused was caught while accepting the bribeOfficials confirmed that Bhushan Prasad is currently being interrogated and further legal proceedings are underway The arrested engineer will be produced before the Vigilance Court in Patna on FridayThe Vigilance Investigation Bureau has intensified its campaign against corruption with frequent raids and arrests across the state Authorities have reiterated their commitment to taking strict action against officials involved in bribery and misuse of powerEarlier on March 13 the Bihar Vigilance Investigation Bureau arrested a government official in a bribery case in Bettiah of West Champaran district The vigilance team caught Anurag Abhishek a Field Officer at the District Dairy Development Office redhanded while allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 30000 inside his office premisesThe action was taken following a complaint lodged by Bablu Kumar a resident of Gaunaha Acting on the complaint a special vigilance team from Patna conducted a raid in the Banuchhapar area and arrested the accused official IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/engineer-caught-redhanded-accepting-rs-10-000-bribe-in-bihars-purnea-669818.html Thu, 16 Apr 2026 16:00:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/ktaka-bjp-leader-murder-case-court-reserves-verdict-on-quantum-of-sentence-for-friday-669826.html Bengaluru April 16 The Special Court for MLAsMPs in Bengaluru on Thursday completed the proceedings of recording the final statements on the quantum of punishment in the BJP leader Yogesh Gowda murder case and reserved the verdict for Friday The final counterarguments by the counsels representing the Central Bureau of Investigation CBI and those of the convicted Congress MLA Vinay Kulkarni were completed Judge Santosh Gajanana Bhat then adjourned the matter for the pronouncement of the verdict against the MLA and 16 othersEmotional scenes prevailed on the court premises as family members of the convicts gathered and were seen in tears throughout the proceedings Some of the convicts including MLA Vinay Kulkarni were seen consoling their family members while they themselves were also in tearsIt can be recalled that in a major development the Special Court for MLAsMPs in Bengaluru on Wednesday held senior Congress MLA and former Minister Vinay Kulkarni guilty in the murder case of BJP leader and Zilla Panchayat member Yogesh Gowda âThe court delivered its final verdict after a prolonged trial Vinay Kulkarni has been named as accused number 15 in the case He is currently serving as the Chairman of the Karnataka Urban Water Supply and Drainage Board The court found him guilty of criminal conspiracy Presenting his arguments before the court Additional Solicitor General ASG V Raju submitted that the accused should be given the harshest punishment stating that they had hatched a conspiracy and carried out a coldblooded murder He further argued that the deceased Yogesh Gowda was a public figure who was killed due to political rivalryHe told the court that initially other individuals had surrendered before the police in connection with the case but the truth emerged only after the CBI investigationASG Raju contended that the accused being a legislator expected to uphold the law had instead orchestrated the killing He alleged that the accused misused the police machinery and violated constitutional principlesHe also stated that Yogesh Gowda was brutally murdered after chilli powder was thrown into his eyes He added that documents were fabricated and attempts were made to destroy evidence According to him the accused misused his position as an MLA and minister and manipulated the entire systemConvicted Congress MLA Vinay Kulkarni pleaded before the Special Court for MLAsMPs in Bengaluru stating that he has been in politics for 26 years and has not harmed anyoneRecording his statement before the court pronounced the quantum of punishment convict Kulkarni said âThe case has been filed for political reasons I have two daughters who have reached marriageable age and a son I contested the Lok Sabha election as well I am an agriculturist and take care of 3500 cows I have not troubled anyone in my constituencyâSenior counsel Shyam Sundar arguing on behalf of the accused submitted that awarding life imprisonment would be the maximum punishment and would be equivalent to a death sentence He urged the court to impose a sentence that allows scope for reformation He added that Kulkarni is a legislator elected by the people rears more than 3000 cows and is also an industrialistHe further submitted that thousands of people have placed their trust in Kulkarni and that these factors should be considered while determining the punishment This background he said reflects Kulkarniâs good character IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/ktaka-bjp-leader-murder-case-court-reserves-verdict-on-quantum-of-sentence-for-friday-669826.html Thu, 16 Apr 2026 16:40:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/court-rejects-lokayukta-closure-reports-in-mp-scholarship-cases-kamal-nath-flags-lapses-669525.html Bhopal April 15 Veteran Congress leader and former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath on Wednesday raised concerns about alleged irregularities in the states scholarship schemes He raised apprehensions over the functioning of the Lokayukta of Madhya Pradesh after a court rejected closure reports in multiple cases linked to the misuse of scholarshipsIn a statement on Wednesday Kamal Nath said that the rejection of closure reports in 34 cases points to âserious lapses in investigationâ and demanded a transparent probe to ensure accountability He added The courtâs observations clearly indicate that crucial evidence was not collected This raises apprehensions about how these cases were being handledThe cases pertain to alleged irregularities in scholarship schemes in which students were found to have secured admissions to two different colleges simultaneously to avail benefits Colleges and nodal institutions involved in the process were also named as accused parties in the matterOver the past three and a half months the Lokayukta had submitted closure reports in all 34 cases according to reports However the court rejected each of them citing a lack of proper investigation and insufficient evidenceOn April 13 the court also rejected a closure report in a separate bribery case involving a former Additional Commissioner of a Municipal Corporation In its observations the court pointed out that the investigating agency failed to collect key documents from the institutions involvedThese included attendance registers enrollment records of students in various courses examination attendance lists and result sheetsThe court noted that despite clear directions recorded in the official case file to gather such evidence the Lokayukta did not comply adequately As a result the available material could not conclusively establish whether the students were actually enrolled and studying in both institutions simultaneouslyAdditionally the court observed that records related to the disbursal of scholarships were not thoroughly examined further weakening the investigationKamal Nath stressed that such lapses not only undermine the credibility of the investigation but also raise concerns about the misuse of public funds meant for deserving studentsâScholarship schemes are designed to support the underprivileged Any misuse or negligence in probing such matters is unacceptableâ he said He urged the state government to take cognisance of the courtâs remarks and ensure a fair and comprehensive reinvestigation into the cases IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/court-rejects-lokayukta-closure-reports-in-mp-scholarship-cases-kamal-nath-flags-lapses-669525.html Wed, 15 Apr 2026 14:53:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/rajasthan-sc-denies-bail-to-suspended-ras-officer-in-exam-scam-669585.html Jaipur April 15 IANS The Supreme Court on Wednesday rejected the bail plea of suspended Rajasthan Administrative Service officer Hanumanaram in connection with an alleged examination scamA bench comprising Justices Dipankar Datta and Satish Chandra Sharma heard the matter on Wednesday and declined to grant reliefDuring the hearing the state government strongly opposed the bail application arguing that the accuseds actions strike at the very foundation of public administration and the integrity of competitive examinationsThe government submitted that individuals occupying responsible positions if found to be involved in such misconduct pose a serious threat to the system and should not be granted bail at this stageTaking note of the submissions and the nature of allegations the court observed that no relief could be granted at presentHanumanaram a resident of Bisaraniya village in Barmer district is accused of appearing as a dummy candidate proxy in multiple recruitment examinations including the SubInspector Recruitment2021 and the Patwari Recruitment Examination2021Investigators allege that he appeared on behalf of other candidates during various stages of these examinations indicating involvement in a larger organised racketHe was arrested on April 9 2025 after his role surfaced during the investigation despite his name not being mentioned in the initial First Information Report He was suspended from service the following dayRepresenting the state senior law officers argued that the case is not an isolated instance but reflects a pattern of misconductThey informed the court that the accused had a strong academic record having secured the 22nd rank in the Rajasthan Administrative Service examination but was allegedly involved in facilitating unfair means in competitive examinationsHanumanaram had joined service as a SubDivisional Magistrate in February 2023 and held postings in Chitalwana Bagoda Shiv and Fatehgarh before his arrestThe Supreme Courts refusal to grant bail underscores the seriousness of the allegations as investigations into the wider examination scam continueIANS https://dailyworld.in/law/rajasthan-sc-denies-bail-to-suspended-ras-officer-in-exam-scam-669585.html Wed, 15 Apr 2026 19:58:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/chhattisgarh-police-bust-cyber-crime-racket-arrest-four-from-rajasthan-669347.html Raipur April 14 The Dantewada police in Chhattisgarh have dismantled a large interstate cyber fraud gang involved in the wholesale trading of mule bank accounts officials said Four key accused were arrested from Rajasthan and brought to Dantewada on transit remandThe arrests mark a significant success in the fight against rising cyber crimes that have affected victims across multiple statesThe gang was primarily engaged in buying and selling hundreds of bank accounts used as mule accounts to siphon off money from cyber fraud victims The accused created WhatsApp accounts using international mobile numbers to facilitate these illegal transactionsFunds obtained through various cyber scams were deposited into these accounts and later withdrawn in cash from ATMs abroad using debit cards with high transaction limitsDantewada Superintendent of Police Gaurav Rai Additional SP RK Barman and Cyber Cell Nodal Officer DSP Gaurav Singh led the operation A joint team from Barsur Bacheli and Gidam police stations headed by Inspector Sanjay Ursa was dispatched to Rajasthan earlier this monthAfter meticulous tracking through financial transaction analysis and advanced cyber forensic tools the team successfully nabbed the accused The arrested individuals have been identified as Archit Gujarati 20 resident of Nakas Gate Nagaur Adil Hussain 24 from Bachchakhada Nagaur Amit Verma 21 from Village Kariri Jaipur and Bhupendra Jangid 23 from Balaji Nagar Jodhpur all in RajasthanFrom their possession police seized mobile phones SIM cards ATM cards and cash amounting to Rs 118500 earned through fraudulent means More than 20 cyber fraud complaints have been registered against the gang in states including Chhattisgarh Andhra Pradesh Delhi Uttar Pradesh Gujarat Kerala Maharashtra Tamil Nadu Telangana and KarnatakaThe investigation revealed that the racket was being operated mainly from the Nagaur region in Rajasthan Dantewada police are actively conducting awareness campaigns in towns and villages educating people about various cyber threats such as banking frauds parttime job scams and the dangers of sharing OTPs or suspicious links IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/chhattisgarh-police-bust-cyber-crime-racket-arrest-four-from-rajasthan-669347.html Tue, 14 Apr 2026 17:22:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/man-found-shot-dead-in-closed-flat-girlfriend-another-man-arrested-669180.html Kolkata April 13 The bulletriddled body of a young man was recovered from a closed flat in Narendrapur area on the southern outskirts of Kolkata on Monday morning The deceased mans alleged girlfriend and a man have been arrested by the police A pistol and bullets were recovered from beside the body The deceased has been identified as Arup MandalAn investigation into the incident has already begun and Arup Mandals girlfriend and another person have been arrested The police are investigating whether the murder was due to a dispute in their relationshipAccording to the police 37yearold Arup Mandal was found shot dead and two firearms and six rounds of bullets were recovered from the flatThe police are investigating when how and why Arup was shot dead and they are also trying to find out who killed the young manThe family of the deceased claims that they received the news of the death on Sunday midnightArups maternal uncle Shankar Naskar said that an acquaintance informed him of his nephews death That night they went to Arups flat and saw him lying in a bloody stateThe family also claims that Arup used to stay in the flat in Narendrapur due to work No one in the family knew whether he was in a romantic relationship with anyoneHowever some people in Arups family knew a young man named Raju They knew him as Arups friend The police have arrested the young manAlong with this they have also arrested a young woman named Priyanka Das Initial speculation is that the murder was committed due to a relationship dispute as the preliminary investigation has revealed that Arup was close to PriyankaA police officer said that there were injury marks on the head of the deceased Both Raju and Priyanka have been arrested The police have sent the body for autopsy and an investigation has also been startedOn the other hand the shooting incident in the Assembly election atmosphere has created a stir in the area IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/man-found-shot-dead-in-closed-flat-girlfriend-another-man-arrested-669180.html Mon, 13 Apr 2026 14:14:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/petition-in-sc-seeks-cancellation-of-tamil-nadu-assembly-polls-alleging-rampant-vote-buying-668909.html New Delhi April 11 IANS A petition has been filed before the Supreme Court seeking cancellation of the upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly elections alleging largescale voter bribery through cash gifts liquor and other inducements by major political parties and accusing the Election Commission of India ECI of failing to ensure free and fair pollsnbspThe writ petition filed by Tamil Nadu resident KK Ramesh seeks a direction to the Election Commission of India and the Tamil Nadu Chief Electoral Officer to cancel the 2026 Assembly election in the state on the ground that the electoral process has been vitiated by rampant votebuyingIn the plea the petitioner alleged that major political parties including the DMK BJP AIADMK TVK and the Congress were indulging in bribing voters through distribution of cash and freebies such as laptops colour televisions grinders mixers fans goats and cowsClaiming that the ECI had failed to curb such practices despite being aware of the situation the petition stated Bribery in elections destroys the very basis of a democracy It is necessary to protect the purity and sanctity of the polls which can be ensured only by taking stringent action against those indulging in such bribing activitiesThe plea contended that Tamil Nadu has been categorised by the ECI as an expendituresensitive State due to recurring highvalue seizures during elections but alleged that the poll body has not taken adequate preventive steps to stop voteforcash practicesReferring to past election seizures the petition said that during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections enforcement agencies seized cash precious metals drugs and liquor worth Rs 132483 crore in the state while seizures during the 2021 Assembly polls stood at around Rs 1000 croreAlleging systemic voter inducement the petitioner claimed that in several constituencies voters were paid between Rs 5000 and Rs 10000 per vote and that political parties had devised methods to distribute cash in a manner making refusal difficultThe atmosphere in Tamil Nadu Assembly constituencies is seriously vitiated due to the use of money the plea said adding that candidates elected through such a process would not be true representatives of the electorsSeeking judicial intervention the petitioner has prayed for directions to cancel the Assembly Election of Tamil Nadu and grant any other relief deemed fit in the interest of preserving democratic valuesThe petition further sought any other appropriate orders or directions that the Supreme Court may deem fit in the interest of justiceNotably the broader issue of poll freebies is already under consideration before the apex court in a pending petition filed by advocate Ashwini Kumar UpadhyayIn its 2013 judgment in the Subramanian Balaji case the top court had held that the distribution of free colour television sets by the DMK government after winning the Tamil Nadu Assembly polls could not be treated as a corrupt practice under the Representation of the People ActIANS https://dailyworld.in/law/petition-in-sc-seeks-cancellation-of-tamil-nadu-assembly-polls-alleging-rampant-vote-buying-668909.html Sat, 11 Apr 2026 15:13:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/cash-row-justice-yashwant-varma-withdraws-from-impeachment-proceedings-668773.html New Delhi April 10 IANS Justice Yashwant Varma of the Allahabad High Court has withdrawn from the ongoing inquiry proceedings instituted against him alleging grave procedural irregularities denial of a fair opportunity to defend himself and a complete absence of evidence linking him to the alleged discovery of burnt currency at his official residencenbspnbspIn a detailed communication addressed to the inquiry committee on Thursday Justice Varma said he was constrained to write with profound anguish and a heavy heart asserting that the case against him rested on presumptions rather than evidenceThe controversy stems from a fire incident on March 14 2025 at his official residence in Delhi during his tenure as a judge of the Delhi High Court where videos recorded by firefighters purportedly showed the presence of burnt currency in a storeroomJustice Varma said he was constrained to conclude that the proceedings rested merely on the undisputed existence of a storeroom within the premises and the allegation that cash was found there without any foundational evidence establishing his culpabilitynbspI would be doing myself and the institution the greatest disservice by continuing to participate in the present proceedings thereby legitimising a process that calls upon me to answer the unanswerable where did the money come from he stated announcing his withdrawal with immediate effectJustice Varma claimed that the burden of proof had been impermissibly reversed requiring him to disprove assumed facts and innumerable presumptions despite the prosecution failing to establish even a prima facie case This has resulted not only in a reversal of the burden of proof as we commonly understand but also in placing upon me the onerous obligation of proving multiple negatives he saidJustice Varma maintained that no evidence had been led to show that the alleged cash discovered in the storeroom belonged to him or was placed there with his knowledge or consent No charge was ever made and no evidence whatsoever was led to show that any cash was placed in the storeroom by me or at my instance he saidnbspDetailing the circumstances of the March 14 2025 fire incident Justice Varma reiterated that he was not present at the premises at the time and had no knowledge of the alleged cash until after the incident He said that the storeroom in question was a detached structure accessible from an unmanned rear gate and routinely used by domestic staff and maintenance personnelIt defies ordinary logic and common sense to suggest that I would have chosen such a location to store cash Justice Varma said Raising serious objections to the conduct of the inquiry Justice Varma highlighted that the selective reliance on material from a prior inhouse committee IHC probe alleging that exculpatory evidence including the statutory fire report which made no mention of cash was excluded without explanationHe further claimed that several key witnesses including senior officials from the Delhi Fire Services and Delhi Police were dropped after crossexamination revealed inconsistencies in the case against himnbspRaising further concerns about the fairness of the proceedings Justice Varma alleged that key evidence including CCTV footage was withheld despite repeated requests This best evidence that could shed light on the entire incident has been kept away he said adding that even requests for a cloned copy were declinedThe conclusion in the CFSL Extraction Report that data from the CCTV hard drive could not be accessed is highly suspect he stated adding that the DVR itself was never subjected to forensic examinationnbspOn the charge of tampering with evidence Justice Varma said there was simply no material to suggest that he or anyone acting on his behalf interfered with the scene He stated that decisions not to seize or report the alleged cash were taken by senior officials before he was even informed about the fireSimilarly he rejected allegations of giving an evasive explanation asserting that he had consistently maintained that the cash did not belong to him or his family and that they had no knowledge of its presence The charge evidently proceeds on a misreading of my letter he saidnbspExpressing profound disappointment with the conduct of the inquiry Justice Varma said the proceedings had failed to adhere to principles of fairness and due process A rational and fair inquiry would have recognised the complete absence of a prima facie case he remarkedMeanwhile in a parallel development Justice Varma has tendered his resignation with immediate effect to President Droupadi Murmu bringing an abrupt end to his tenure amid ongoing impeachment proceedingsnbspIn his resignation letter he said I do not propose to burden your august office with the reasons which have constrained me to submit this missive adding that it is with deep anguish that he was stepping down It has been an honour to serve in this office the letter readA copy of the resignation was also marked to the Chief Justice of India Surya KantnbspJustice Varma has been at the centre of controversy since burnt cash was allegedly discovered on March 14 2025 at his official residence during his tenure as a judge of the Delhi High CourtImpeachment notices backed by 145 Lok Sabha members and 63 Rajya Sabha members were moved in July 2025 leading to the constitution of an enquiry committee under the Judges Inquiry Act 1968nbspEarlier this year the Supreme Court rejected a plea filed by Justice Varma challenging the Lok Sabha Speakers decision to constitute the enquiry committeenbspPronouncing the operative part of the verdict a Bench of Justices Dipankar Datta and Satish Chandra Sharma of the apex court held We hold that the petitioner is not entitled to any relief in the present caseJustice Varma had questioned the constitution of the enquiry panel on procedural grounds contending that impeachment notices moved simultaneously in both Houses required joint consultation between the Lok Sabha Speaker and the Rajya Sabha Chairman before constituting the probe committeenbspJustice Varma had earlier also challenged the findings of a threemember inhouse enquiry committee constituted by the Supreme Court which concluded that he exercised secret or active control over the cash allegedly recovered from the premisesnbspThe apex court dismissed that challenge as well concluding that the inhouse procedure was fair and just and did not compromise judicial independencenbspBased on the inhouse enquiry report then Chief Justice of India CJI Sanjiv Khanna had recommended initiation of removal proceedings leading to the constitution of a parliamentary enquiry committeeIANSpdsuk https://dailyworld.in/law/cash-row-justice-yashwant-varma-withdraws-from-impeachment-proceedings-668773.html Fri, 10 Apr 2026 13:06:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/hyderabad-cops-begin-conducting-drug-tests-on-rowdy-sheeters-668791.html Hyderabad April 10 Hyderabad cops have started conducting drug tests on all rowdy sheeters in the Hyderabad Police Commissionerate limits The Hyderabad Narcotics Enforcement Wing HNEW decided to crackdown on persons with criminal records or rowdy sheetersThe police have identified 1300 rowdy sheeters across the commissionerate sources said on FridayTo start with the officials conducted tests on 250 rowdy sheeters and of them 190 tested positive Majority of them were found to be using ganja cannabis Those tested positive were sent to deaddiction centresHNEW took the step as it believed that there is strong link between drug abuse and rising crime Many repeat offenders are said to be addicted to drugs This is seen as a major contributing factor to the rise in crimesOfficials believe that drug tests will help the police identify the sources of supply to repeat offendersHNEW is conducting a thorough probe to trace the sources of psychotropic substances Officials hope to identify suppliers and distribution networksThis drive is part of the efforts by the authorities to make Telangana drugsfreeThe Elite Action Group for Drug Law Enforcement EAGLE Force a special wing of the Telangana police has been conducting raids at various places to curb the menace of drugsPolice had already initiated measures to keep a close watch on the history sheetersRecently Hyderabad Police Commissioner VC Sajjanar took everyone by surprise with a midnight visit to the houses of rowdysheeters to check their criminal record current lifestyle and serve them a warning against indulging in crimesWithout a police siren or any noise he went directly to the houses of rowdy sheeters in MD Lines Hashim Nagar and Defence ColoniesThe top cop woke up the rowdy sheeters and enquired about their criminal history current lifestyle livelihood and social behaviourThe Police Commissioner warned them that strict action would be taken if they resort to crimes again They were advised to give up their criminal tendencies and come to the right path IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/hyderabad-cops-begin-conducting-drug-tests-on-rowdy-sheeters-668791.html Fri, 10 Apr 2026 13:51:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/cbi-files-charge-sheet-in-rs-23-crore-digital-arrest-cyber-fraud-case-668796.html New Delhi April 10 IANS The Central Bureau of Investigation CBI has filed a chargesheet against a Siliguribased accused and a company incorporated by him in connection with a major digital arrest cyber fraud case involving the cheating of a senior citizen in Delhi of nearly Rs 23 crore an official statement said on FridaynbspThe case which was transferred to the CBI following directions from the Supreme Court of India pertains to a sophisticated cyber fraud in which the victim was allegedly intimidated through fake legal notices and impersonation of law enforcement and judicial authorities via video callsAccording to the agency the accused identified as Sagnik Roy has been arrested and is currently in judicial custody The charge sheet also names a company Securing World Social and Economic Development Council which was allegedly used as a front to facilitate the fraudulent transactionsCBI investigations revealed that the bank account operated by the accused and his company was used to receive the defrauded amount from the Delhibased senior citizen The victim was coerced into transferring funds under the pretext of a socalled digital arrest a tactic used by cybercriminals to instil fear by falsely claiming that the target is under legal scrutiny or detentionOfficials said the accused persons posed as law enforcement and judicial officers during video calls creating a sense of urgency and fear which ultimately led the victim to transfer substantial sums of moneyFurther probe has uncovered that the same bank account was also linked to at least two other cyber fraud cases registered in different parts of the country The account was allegedly used to receive proceeds of crime which were later siphoned off through a network of mule accounts to obscure the money trailThe agency issued an advisory to the public urging citizens to remain vigilant against such fraudulent schemes particularly those involving digital arrest tactics It clarified that there is no legal concept of a digital arrest and cautioned people against panicking or complying with such fraudulent callsCitizens have been advised not to share personal or financial information with unknown callers and to verify the authenticity of any such claims with the concerned authorities The agency also warned against fraudulent investment schemes and impersonation calls made in the name of law enforcement or regulatory bodiesThe public has been urged to promptly report any suspicious activity to the national cybercrime portal or local law enforcement agencies to prevent such crimes and assist in timely actionIANS https://dailyworld.in/law/cbi-files-charge-sheet-in-rs-23-crore-digital-arrest-cyber-fraud-case-668796.html Fri, 10 Apr 2026 14:00:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/afterthought-delhi-hc-quashes-fir-against-lakshmibai-college-professor-over-scst-act-668834.html New Delhi April 10 IANS The Delhi High Court has quashed an FIR lodged against an Associate Professor of Lakshmibai College over allegations of assault and castebased abuse observing that allegations of castebased humiliation were introduced as an afterthought and lacked the essential ingredients required to invoke provisions of the SCST ActnbspAllowing a writ petition filed by Ranjit Kaur a singlejudge Bench of Justice Neena Bansal Krishna set aside an FIR registered in 2021 at Bharat Nagar police station under Sections 323 and 504 of the IPC and Section 3 of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Prevention of Atrocities Act 1989 along with all consequential proceedingsThe case arose from an incident dated August 16 2021 during a departmental meeting concerning NAACrelated work where an altercation allegedly took place between the petitioner and the complainant Dr Neelam both serving as Associate Professors in the same collegeThe complainant alleged that she was slapped and humiliated in the presence of colleaguesIn its order the Delhi High Court noted that the complainants initial handwritten complaints made on the same day to both the college principal and the police contained no allegation of castebased remarks or humiliation on account of her Scheduled Caste identityThe caste element appears for the first time only in the complaint dated 17082021 to the Principal as a belated addition to an already narrated version of events Justice Krishna observedExamining the statutory requirements under the SCST Act the Delhi High Court said that for an offence to be made out there must be a clear and specific allegation that the accused intentionally insulted or humiliated the victim on account of her caste identityIt is not sufficient that the complainant belongs to a Scheduled Caste and that she was subjected to illtreatment or a physical altercation The nexus between the alleged act and the caste identity of the victim must be clearly and unequivocally established from the very face of the complaint the order saidIt further stated that even in subsequent complaints and statements including the one recorded under Section 164 CrPC the allegations of casteist remarks remained vague and general without attribution of specific wordsThe Delhi High Court also found that only one witness in her statement under Section 161 CrPC had attributed specific casteist remarks to the petitioner which remained uncorroborated by other witnessesA statement of a single witness attributing specific casteist remarks which the complainant herself never once specifically corroborated cannot form the basis of a charge under the SCST Act it heldOn the IPC offences Justice Sharma observed that Sections 323 and 504 are noncognisable in nature and an FIR could not have been registered without prior approval of the Magistrate as required under Section 1552 CrPCThe FIR therefore cannot sustain itself on the basis of these offences either the order addedIn conclusion the Delhi High Court held that continuation of the criminal proceedings would not be legally sustainable and allowed the petitionIn light of the observations made above the petition is allowed and the FIR and all proceedings emanating therefrom are hereby quashed it orderedIANS https://dailyworld.in/law/afterthought-delhi-hc-quashes-fir-against-lakshmibai-college-professor-over-scst-act-668834.html Fri, 10 Apr 2026 17:58:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/accused-in-andhra-govt-employees-rape-remanded-to-judicial-custody-668601.html Amaravati April 9 A court in Andhra Pradeshâs Palnadu district sent the accused in the rape of a government employee to judicial custody for 14 days Namala Srinu who was arrested by Macherla town police on Wednesday night was produced before a judge on Thursday morningAfter the judge sent the accused to judicial custody he was shifted to Gurazala subjailA 32yearold woman was assaulted and raped by the accused at her home in Macherla town on April 2The assailant allegedly raped the victim at knifepoint beat her up and inserted an iron rod in her private partsThe victim works as an attender in the Panchayat Raj Department She was separated from her husband and shifted to Macherla from Sattenapalli last year According to police she lives with her young nephew However as her nephew had gone to Sattenapalli to spend school holidays with his family she was alonePolice quoted the victim as saying that the assailant entered the house by asking for some drinking water He tied the woman with a scarf gagged her with a piece of cloth and raped herThe assault came to light after her nephew alerted his friends after he could not contact her on the phone She was found unconscious with her hands and legs tiedPolice shifted the victim to hospital The police investigation revealed that the accused was known to the victimThe accused was identified as Srinivas a daily wage worker from Rajupalem mandal They first connected through Instagram and later developed a close acquaintancePolice had formed special teams to arrest the accused Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu had also directed the police department to ensure justice for the victim and establish the truthThe police managed to nab the accused on Wednesday night and produced him before a court the next day IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/accused-in-andhra-govt-employees-rape-remanded-to-judicial-custody-668601.html Thu, 09 Apr 2026 12:20:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/haryana-has-turned-into-crime-state-under-bjp-govt-says-aap-668631.html Chandigarh April 9 The BJP has turned Haryana into a crime state said AAP national media incharge Anurag Dhanda on Thursday Highlighting a horrific murder in Haryanaâs Jhajjar on Wednesday Dhanda said three or four assailants barged into a house in broad daylight fired 14 bullets and walked away while the police and state government slept through it âWhats surprising is that the Congress which never misses a chance to wail about law and order over any incident in Punjab is staying mum despite being the main Opposition party in Haryanaâ the AAP leader wrote on XâWhy does the Congress have such an attachment to the BJP government in Haryana What do you call this kind of relationshipâ he askedThe shooting incident has taken place in the village of Dighal in Jhajjar district on Wednesday where a financier who was smoking a hookah outside his house was shot deadCCTV footage of the incident has surfaced capturing the armed assailants in the crimeMeanwhile upon receiving information about the incident a police team promptly arrived at the scene and has initiated an investigationAccording to reports the deceased has been identified as 26yearold Sahil alias Sonu a resident of Dighal villageCritically injured by the gunfire Sahil was rushed to a hospital in Rohtak where doctors declared him dead It is reported that the attackers arriving in a Scorpio SUV fired between 10 and 15 rounds several of which struck SahilThe sound of the gunfire triggered panic and chaos within the villageVideo footage of the incident has also emerged It showed three or four assailants travelling in a black Scorpio entering the premises through the gateThey proceed to fire continuously at Sahil who was seated in the courtyard of the houseSahil seen wearing a white shirt is struck by the bullets and collapses to the ground Subsequently one of the assailants steps further inside through the gate before all the attackers flee the scene in their vehicleSeveral bystanders rushed towards the spot upon hearing the sound of the gunshots IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/haryana-has-turned-into-crime-state-under-bjp-govt-says-aap-668631.html Thu, 09 Apr 2026 13:54:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/rajasthan-judges-turn-teachers-to-raise-cybersecurity-awareness-in-schools-668274.html Jaipur April 7 In a unique initiative judges across Rajasthan stepped into classrooms on Tuesday to educate students on cybersecurity highlighting the growing risks in the digital age The judicial officers from districts including Jaipur Kota and Ajmer visited schools to explain common cyber fraud techniques and preventive measures The programme is part of the statewide campaign Empowering Rajasthan Youth A Legal Literacy Initiative 2026This is a firstofitskind initiative for the state in which judges across Rajasthan will join teachers in classrooms to educate students on cybersecurity and legal awarenessUnder the âTransformative Tuesdayâ campaign nearly 1400 judicial officers will conduct sessions in as many selected schools across the state Students will be sensitised to issues such as cyberbullying digital arrest scams online fraud and safe use of social mediaThe campaign is part of the broader programme Empowering Rajasthan Youth A Legal Literacy Initiative 2026 aimed at strengthening legal awareness among young citizens According to Hariom Attri Member Secretary of the Rajasthan State Legal Services Authority the campaign was conceptualised on the initiative of the Acting Chief Justice Justice Sanjeev Prakash Sharma It was formally launched on February 20 during a statelevel cyber law conference attended by Supreme Court Chief Justice Surya KantThe sessions are designed for students from Classes 8 to 12 with the aim of reaching over four lakh students in a single dayThe initiative will continue throughout the year with programmes scheduled every Tuesday covering a wide range of legal topics In addition to cyber safety students will be educated on laws related to daily life constitutional rights legal aid child rights womenâs rights and responsible citizenshipAs part of the campaign a unique âCourt Wali Didi Complaint Boxâ will be placed in participating schools Students can anonymously submit their grievances which will later be reviewed by teams from the Legal Services Authority for appropriate action and resolutionThe initiative aims not only to raise awareness but also to instil a sense of responsibility legal literacy and respect for the law among students IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/rajasthan-judges-turn-teachers-to-raise-cybersecurity-awareness-in-schools-668274.html Tue, 07 Apr 2026 13:03:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/sc-grants-bail-in-up-religious-conversion-case-terms-15-years-in-custody-unfortunate-668282.html New Delhi April 7 IANS The Supreme Court has granted bail to an accused booked under provisions of the IPC and the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Religious Conversion Act 2021 observing that the Allahabad High Court had overlooked crucial aspects while rejecting his pleanbspA Bench of Justices JB Pardiwala and KV Viswanathan directed that the petitioner Vishal Rana alias Tabish Asghar be released on bail forthwith subject to terms and conditions to be imposed by the trial courtThe apex court was hearing a special leave petition SLP challenging a November 14 2025 order of the Allahabad High Court which had denied bail to the accused in a case registered at Sector 113 police station in Gautam Buddha Nagar NoidaThe FIR was registered under Sections 323 506 and 313 of the IPC as well as Sections 3 and 51 of the UP Prohibition of Unlawful Religious Conversion Act 2021Taking note of the stage of the trial the Justice Pardiwalaled Bench observed that the charge sheet had already been filed and the case was pending before a sessions court in Noida with only one witness examined so farIt further noted that the petitioner had been in custody since December 3 2024 It is unfortunate that the petitioner is in judicial custody as an undertrial prisoner for more than one and a half years in this type of matter the top court remarkedThe Justice Pardiwalaled Bench found that certain material aspects had not been considered by the Allahabad High Court while rejecting bail It highlighted that the complainant had visited the accused in jail on three occasions during the period of incarceration This speaks for itself the apex court observed adding that the parties had also filed a joint petition before the Allahabad High Court seeking protection due to apprehension for their lives and liberty which had been grantedThe order further took note of a Facebook conversation placed on record suggesting that the complainant was aware of the accuseds religious identity The aforesaid was also not looked into by the High Court while considering the overall matter the Justice Pardiwalaled Bench saidIn its impugned decision the Allahabad High Court had refused bail observing that prima facie the involvement of the accused in the present case cannot be ruled out and that no case for bail is made out considering the gravity of the allegationsThe Allahabad High Court had also recorded the prosecutions case that the accused allegedly concealed his religious identity entered into a relationship and marriage with the complainant and later pressured her to convert to Islam along with allegations of forced abortion and threats to her lifeOn the other hand the defence argued that the relationship was consensual and that the allegations were motivated by personal disputes after differences arose between the partiesAllowing the appeal the Supreme Court clarified that the petitioner be released on bail forthwith if not required in any other case leaving it to the trial court to impose appropriate terms and conditionsThe top court disposed of the petition while making it clear that it was not expressing any opinion on the merits of the case which would be decided during trialIANS https://dailyworld.in/law/sc-grants-bail-in-up-religious-conversion-case-terms-15-years-in-custody-unfortunate-668282.html Tue, 07 Apr 2026 13:21:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/sc-grants-bail-in-up-religious-conversion-case-terms-15-years-in-custody-unfortunate-668285.html New Delhi April 7 The Supreme Court has granted bail to an accused booked under provisions of the IPC and the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Religious Conversion Act 2021 observing that the Allahabad High Court had overlooked crucial aspects while rejecting his plea A Bench of Justices JB Pardiwala and KV Viswanathan directed that the petitioner Vishal Rana alias Tabish Asghar be released on bail forthwith subject to terms and conditions to be imposed by the trial courtThe apex court was hearing a special leave petition SLP challenging a November 14 2025 order of the Allahabad High Court which had denied bail to the accused in a case registered at Sector 113 police station in Gautam Buddha Nagar NoidaThe FIR was registered under Sections 323 506 and 313 of the IPC as well as Sections 3 and 51 of the UP Prohibition of Unlawful Religious Conversion Act 2021Taking note of the stage of the trial the Justice Pardiwalaled Bench observed that the charge sheet had already been filed and the case was pending before a sessions court in Noida with only one witness examined so farIt further noted that the petitioner had been in custody since December 3 2024 âIt is unfortunate that the petitioner is in judicial custody as an undertrial prisoner for more than one and a half years in this type of matterâ the top court remarkedThe Justice Pardiwalaled Bench found that certain material aspects had not been considered by the Allahabad High Court while rejecting bail It highlighted that the complainant had visited the accused in jail on three occasions during the period of incarceration âThis speaks for itselfâ the apex court observed adding that the parties had also filed a joint petition before the Allahabad High Court seeking protection due to apprehension for their lives and liberty which had been grantedThe order further took note of a Facebook conversation placed on record suggesting that the complainant was aware of the accusedâs religious identity âThe aforesaid was also not looked into by the High Court while considering the overall matterâ the Justice Pardiwalaled Bench saidIn its impugned decision the Allahabad High Court had refused bail observing that âprima facie the involvement of the accused in the present case cannot be ruled outâ and that âno case for bail is made outâ considering the gravity of the allegationsThe Allahabad High Court had also recorded the prosecutionâs case that the accused allegedly concealed his religious identity entered into a relationship and marriage with the complainant and later pressured her to convert to Islam along with allegations of forced abortion and threats to her lifeOn the other hand the defence argued that the relationship was consensual and that the allegations were motivated by personal disputes after differences arose between the partiesAllowing the appeal the Supreme Court clarified that the petitioner be released on bail âforthwith if not required in any other caseâ leaving it to the trial court to impose appropriate terms and conditionsThe top court disposed of the petition while making it clear that it was not expressing any opinion on the merits of the case which would be decided during trial IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/sc-grants-bail-in-up-religious-conversion-case-terms-15-years-in-custody-unfortunate-668285.html Tue, 07 Apr 2026 13:37:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/raipur-police-bust-gambling-racket-seize-assets-including-mercedes-car-668328.html Raipur April 7 In a swift and decisive operation against illegal gambling Raipur rural police arrested two persons and seized assets worth approximately Rs 4214 lakh including a luxury Mercedes car an iPhone and cash officials said on Tuesday Acting on a specific tipoff received on Monday night a police team from Abhanpur police station raided fields near Tokro village located on the border of Raipur rural and Dhamtari districtsThe informant had revealed that a group was engaged in highstakes gambling at the secluded spot The raiding team reached the location and conducted a surprise checkThe two accused who were actively involved in the gambling activity were apprehended on the spot The police recovered a MercedesBenz car one highend iPhone and a substantial amount of cash during the raid The total value of the seized assets stands at Rs 4214 lakh police saidAll recovered items have been taken into custody as case property The arrested individuals have been identified and booked under relevant sections of the Public Gambling Act and other applicable provisions of the Indian Penal CodeâWe received credible information about illegal gambling activities in the border area Our team acted promptly and conducted a successful raid The seizure of a luxury car and significant cash shows that the accused were running a wellorganized gambling operation Such activities not only promote illegal betting but also lead to financial ruin for many families We are committed to making Raipur Rural district free from gambling racketsâ a police officer saidThe raid was executed smoothly due to timely intelligence The accused tried to escape but were nabbed before they could fleeFurther investigation is underway to determine if more persons are involved in the network We appeal to citizens to inform police about any suspected gambling or betting activities in their areasâ Police officials statedThey said strict action will continue against all forms of organized gambling to maintain law and order and protect society from its harmful effects IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/raipur-police-bust-gambling-racket-seize-assets-including-mercedes-car-668328.html Tue, 07 Apr 2026 16:50:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/all-pillars-of-democracy-must-work-with-mutual-respect-says-telangana-cm-668031.html Hyderabad April 5 Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy said on Sunday that all pillars of democracy must work with mutual respect and avoid confrontations He stated that his government gives the highest respect not only to all court verdicts and judgments but also to various observations and feedbackHe was speaking at the foundationlaying of ZoneII of the new building of Telangana High Court in the presence of Chief Justice of India Justice Surya KantâIn our democracy the three branches operate with autonomy interdependence and respect for each other legislature executive and judiciary For a common citizen the court represents the final door to knock the last resort Therefore it is a great opportunity for me maybe of a lifetime that my government could initiate the project to build a new High Court complex for Telanganaâ he saidRevanth Reddy said many governments and Chief Ministers in the past could have taken up this project but for some reason it was left for his government to undertake this noble taskâThe new High Court will become an icon a functional lifeline for society and democracy This will be the platform where the poor and weak will come seeking justice For the next 100 years the poor the weak the voiceless and the oppressed will come to this temple of justice seeking to be heard and will hope to find justiceâ said the Chief MinisterHe noted that the current High Court a building of great historical significance was no longer able to physically support the needs of all stakeholdersâBeyond legacy this building shows my governmentâs view and values of democracy We believe that all pillars must work collaboratively with mutual respect My government gives the highest respect for the judiciaryâ he saidHe believes that it is the duty of the political executive to provide the judiciary with the best modern facilities to perform to their highest level of capabilitiesâWhat we are building here will not only be one of the largest High Court buildings in India but a benchmark of modernity and excellence in public infrastructure When we formed our government in December 2023 one of the first decisions was to create this new High Court complex at Rajendranagar We handed over 100 acres of land for the projectâ he saidHe mentioned that work is in progress for Zone I for the institutional buildings The ZoneII comprises residential buildings and the government aims to finish this in record time by December next yearThe Chief Minister revealed that across the state his government was working on several new projects for 49 courts and many residential quarters in various towns and districts IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/all-pillars-of-democracy-must-work-with-mutual-respect-says-telangana-cm-668031.html Sun, 05 Apr 2026 18:35:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/madhya-pradesh-cong-mla-rajendra-bharti-loses-assembly-seat-following-conviction-667755.html Bhopal April 3 The membership of Congress MLA from Datia Rajendra Bharti has been cancelled from the Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly following his conviction in a cooperative bank fraud case by a Delhi court âAs a consequence of his Congress MLA Rajendra Bharti conviction resulting in a threeyear term of imprisonment and a monetary fine of Rs 100000 on April 2 2026 and in compliance with the order of the Supreme Court dated July 10 2013 Rajendra Bhartiya stands disqualified from the membership of the Legislative Assembly with effect from the said date ie April 2 2026 pursuant to Section 8 of the Representation of the People Act 1951 read with Article 1911e of the Constitution consequently a seat in the Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly has become vacantâ a notification issued by the Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly dated April 2 readThe development came late on Thursday hours after the Rouse Avenue Court in Delhi pronounced the quantum of punishment against Bharti and a coaccused in the caseMadhya Pradesh Congress president Jitu Patwari and senior party leader PC Sharma visited the office of the Assembly secretary late Thursday night They raised objections to the secretariats latenight functioningPatwari alleged that the Assembly Secretariat was opened specifically to facilitate the cancellation of Bhartiâs membershipDelhiâs Rouse Avenue Court found Bharti guilty under Sections 120B criminal conspiracy 420 cheating 467 forgery of valuable security 468 forgery for cheating and 471 use of forged documents of the Indian Penal CodeThe case pertains to charges of forgery cheating criminal breach of trust and criminal conspiracy under Sections 420 467 468 471 409 and 120B of the IPC It relates to alleged irregularities in a bank fixed deposit held in the name of Bhartiâs mother Savitri Devi Shyam dating back to 1998While holding Bharti and coaccused Raghuvir Sharan Prajapati guilty the court observed that they along with Savitri Devi and possibly other unknown persons entered into a criminal conspiracy to cheat the complainant bank the Zila Sahkari Krishi Aur Gramin Vikas Bank Datia by continuing to draw interest at a higher rate beyond 2011 despite the original fixed deposit tenure being only three yearsIt was Bharti himself who had approached the Supreme Court seeking to transfer his trial from the MPMLA Court in Gwalior to DelhiNotably Bharti had won the Datia seat in the 2023 Assembly elections by defeating threetime BJP MLA and the stateâs highprofile Home Minister Narottam Mishra Earlier he had finished runnerup to Mishra in the 2008 2013 and 2018 electionsThe development came two months before the Rajya Sabha elections for three seats are scheduled to take place as the tenure of three Rajya Sabha MPs from the state Digvijaya Singh Congress Union Minister George Kurian BJP and Sumer Singh Solanki BJP is expiring on June 21 2026 IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/madhya-pradesh-cong-mla-rajendra-bharti-loses-assembly-seat-following-conviction-667755.html Fri, 03 Apr 2026 12:12:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/cbi-nabs-4-including-2-asi-officials-red-handed-in-twin-bribery-stings-in-delhi-667771.html New Delhi April 3 IANS The Central Bureau of Investigation CBI arrested four public officials in two separate bribery cases in the national capital exposing alleged corruption within civic and heritage bodies the agency said on FridaynbspThe CBI officials laid traps on April 1 resulting in the arrest of a junior engineer JE and a Beldar from Municipal Corporation of Delhis MCD Shahdara North Zone alongside a conservation assistant and a monument attendant from the Archaeological Survey of Indias ASI Jantar Mantar subcircle in the national capital the agency addedIn the first case the agency registered a complaint on March 31 against a Beldar posted with the Municipal Corporation of Delhi in Shahdara North Zone in DelhiThe accused allegedly demanded a Rs 80000 bribe from a complainant in exchange for not demolishing a recently renovated house the CBI said quoting the complaintActing on the complaint the CBI sleuths laid a trap on April 1 and caught the Beldar redhanded while accepting the initial sum of Rs 5000 The investigators said the accused was also seeking Rs 70000 on behalf of a junior engineer in the same zoneDuring the operation the involvement of the junior engineer came to light leading to his arrestIn a separate case the CBI registered a case on March 30 against two officials of the ASI posted at the Jantar Mantar subcircleA monument attendant was accused of demanding Rs 35 lakh on behalf of a conservation assistant to revoke an official notice issued on March 24 and allow the continuation of certain worksFollowing negotiations the accused allegedly agreed to Rs 310 lakh and instructed the complainant to pay Rs 1 lakh as an initial instalmentThe CBI laid a trap on April 1 and apprehended the monument attendant while accepting the part paymentOfficials said further probe during the operation confirmed the role of the conservation assistant who was subsequently arrestedAll four accused have been taken into custody and further investigation is in progress to examine the extent of the alleged corruption and identify any wider network involved the agency saidIANS https://dailyworld.in/law/cbi-nabs-4-including-2-asi-officials-red-handed-in-twin-bribery-stings-in-delhi-667771.html Fri, 03 Apr 2026 13:06:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/delhi-high-court-bar-association-to-abstain-from-work-on-first-third-saturdays-667651.html New Delhi April 2 The Delhi High Court Bar Association DHCBA has resolved to abstain from work on the first and third Saturdays of every month in protest against the decision mandating court sittings on these days In a notice issued on Thursday the DHCBA said that its Executive Committee in a meeting held on March 27 unanimously decided to abstain from work on the first and third Saturdays which have been notified as working days for the Delhi High CourtThe decision will come into effect from April 4The Bar body said the resolution was taken after noting that multiple representations had been made to the Delhi High Court seeking reconsideration of the notification dated January 15 2026 but no change had been madeâThe Executive Committee arrived at the above decision after duly noting that though multiple representations had been made to the Honâble High Court seeking reconsideration of the said decision however no reconsideration had taken placeâ stated the notice issued by DHCBA President N Hariharan and Honorary Secretary Vikram Singh PanwarIt added that several members of the Bar had flagged âserious practical difficultiesâ arising from Saturday sittings including clashes with appearances before tribunals arbitrations mediation proceedings and courts outside DelhiThe notice further said that the revised schedule adversely impacts preparation time client conferences and overall professional efficiency of advocatesâAs such all members of the Delhi High Court Bar Association are requested to cooperate and abstain from work on the 1st and 3rd Saturdays of every month starting from 04042026â the notice stated adding that proxy counsels would be designated for each court on those daysReiterating its demand the Bar body urged the Delhi High Court to reconsider its decision mandating Saturday functioning expressing hope that the concerns raised by the legal fraternity would receive due consideration IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/delhi-high-court-bar-association-to-abstain-from-work-on-first-third-saturdays-667651.html Thu, 02 Apr 2026 14:50:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/police-in-jampks-baramulla-district-attach-vehicle-purchased-from-drug-proceeds-667660.html Srinagar April 2 Police in Jammu and Kashmirâs Baramulla district said on Thursday that it has attached a vehicle purchased from drug proceeds during its continuing antidrug operation A police statement said on Thursday âBaramulla Police today attached a vehicle linked to a drug trafficking case as part of its ongoing action against narcoticsrelated offences in the districtâThe vehicle an Maruti Alto800 bearing registration number JK05K7701 was seized in connection with cases registered at Police Station Kunzer under provisions of the NDPS Act and Excise ActAccording to officials the action was taken during the course of investigation into cases registered as FIR No 552014 under Sections 815 of the NDPS Act and 48 of the Excise Act and FIR No 742024 under Sections 81829 of the NDPS ActThe development is part of a broader effort by law enforcement agencies to target not only drug trafficking activities but also assets allegedly acquired through illegal proceeds in a bid to disrupt the financial networks behind narcotics tradePolice said investigation revealed that the vehicle had been purchased using proceeds from the illicit sale of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances Officials added that the vehicle was registered in the name of a family member to conceal ownershipThe accused identified as Abdul Ahad Magray a resident of Sharai in Baramulla has been named in the cases and is accused to be involved in repeated instances of drug peddlingAuthorities said the attachment was carried out under legal provisions aimed at depriving accused persons of assets linked to unlawful activitiesBaramulla Police said such measures are intended to curb the spread of drug abuse and dismantle networks operating in the region Further investigation in the cases is underwayJampK Police and the security forces have been carrying out operations against drug smugglers drug peddlers and those involved in hawala money racketsIt is believed that funds generated by these unlawful activities are finally used to sustain terrorism in JampK IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/police-in-jampks-baramulla-district-attach-vehicle-purchased-from-drug-proceeds-667660.html Thu, 02 Apr 2026 15:34:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/karnataka-police-ensuring-peace-among-best-in-country-home-min-parameshwara-667664.html Bengaluru April 2 Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara on Thursday said that the Karnataka Police have been successful in creating an atmosphere of peace and harmony in the state and have earned recognition as one of the best police systems in the country He was speaking at the Police Flag Day celebrations and the Chief Ministerâs Medal award ceremony held at the KSRP Parade Ground in Koramangala in Bengaluru where he addressed the medal recipientsHe said that Police Flag Day is observed to commemorate the enforcement of the Police Act on April 2 1965 which unified and disciplined the state police forceThe minister noted that the police have been working tirelessly to maintain peace law and order in the state and have been successful in doing so Citing the India Justice Report he said Karnataka ranks first in the country in delivering justice to citizens and particularly appreciated the role of the police department in ensuring justiceHe also mentioned that the Union Home Ministry has recognised Kavital Police Station in Raichur district as the thirdbest police station in the country He expressed hope that all police stations in the state would strive to reach similar standardsParameshwara said the police department faces challenges every day but despite these under the leadership of the Chief Minister the government has succeeded in maintaining peace in the state over the past three years He added that investors prefer a peaceful environment and the police have played a key role in creating such a conducive atmosphereHe praised police officers and personnel for their efficiency and promptness in detecting crimes without compromising departmental integrityThe minister said the government is committed to completely dismantling the drug network in the state in line with Chief Minister Siddaramaiahâs vision of making Karnataka a drugfree state Over the past three years narcotics worth thousands of crores of rupees have been seized and strict action has been taken against those involvedHighlighting the growing menace of cybercrime he said Karnataka was the first state in the country to establish a Cyber Command Unit and appoint a Director Generallevel officer to lead it He added that strengthening this unit has helped in curbing cyber offencesReferring to national security he said that while the Union Home Minister has declared the country Naxalfree Karnataka had already achieved this status years ago by establishing an AntiNaxal ForceHe emphasised that modern challenges require continuous training at all levels to enhance efficiency and effectiveness in policingParameshwara also said that modern methods will be adopted in transfers and recruitment within the police department He noted that the Chief Minister has made provisions in the budget for the recruitment of 8000 Constables and 600 PSI posts and has also announced a permanent Police Recruitment BoardHe added that further reforms would be introduced in the police department in the coming days IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/karnataka-police-ensuring-peace-among-best-in-country-home-min-parameshwara-667664.html Thu, 02 Apr 2026 16:14:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/mp-hc-to-hold-regular-hearings-in-bhojshala-kamal-maula-dispute-from-april-6-667667.html Indore April 2 The Madhya Pradesh High Court on Thursday fixed April 6 as the date to commence detailed regular hearings in the longstanding Bhojshala TempleKamal Maula Mosque dispute in Dhar district Due to paucity of time as the division bench was scheduled to sit only till 130 pm the matter could not be taken up in detail on ThursdayA division bench comprising Justice Vijay Kumar Shukla and Justice Alok Awasthi passed the order stating clearly âWe fix all the matters for the hearing and the hearing will commence from April 6 2026 at 230 pmâOn March 16 the bench decided to personally inspect the disputed site The Maulana Kamaluddin Welfare Society approached the Supreme Court seeking the production of video and photographs of the survey On April 1 the Supreme Court observed that it did not doubt that the High Court would duly consider all objections raised by the parties including those recorded during the ASI videographyWith the regular hearings now set to begin next week the court is expected to examine the ASI findings partiesâ objections and then decide the next course in this decadesold disputeThe development is being closely watched across the state for its potential impact on communal harmony and heritage preservationThe 11thcentury monument protected by the Archaeological Survey of India ASI is at the centre of a sensitive religious dispute Hindus regard Bhojshala as an ancient temple dedicated to Goddess Vagdevi Saraswati while the Muslim community considers it the Kamal Maula MosqueSince 2003 the ASI has maintained an arrangement allowing Hindus to perform a puja on Tuesdays and Muslims to offer namaz on FridaysIn a significant step forward the High Court on March 11 2024 directed the ASI to conduct a comprehensive scientific survey using modern techniques to ascertain the true character of the siteThe survey was to be carried out by a committee of at least five seniormost ASI officers accompanied by detailed photography and examination of locked or sealed areas within the complexThe Supreme Court while permitting the survey on April 1 2024 had imposed restrictions directing that no physical excavation altering the siteâs character should take place and that no action be taken on the survey findings without its approvalIn January 2026 the apex court disposed of related matters and allowed the sealed ASI report to be opened and shared with all parties Subsequently the High Court asked all stakeholders to submit their objections and suggestions regarding the survey report IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/mp-hc-to-hold-regular-hearings-in-bhojshala-kamal-maula-dispute-from-april-6-667667.html Thu, 02 Apr 2026 16:17:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/freezing-entire-bank-account-unjustified-says-raj-hc-giving-relief-to-filmmaker-vikram-bhatts-wife-667234.html Jaipur March 30 In a significant ruling the Rajasthan High Court has held that investigating agencies cannot freeze an individualâs entire bank account and must restrict action only to the disputed amount The order came in a case involving filmmaker Shwetambari Vikram Bhatt whose accounts had been frozen fully during a fraud investigation The court observed that freezing a bank account is an âextraordinary measureâ and should be used sparingly with due legal safeguardsIt ruled that debit restrictions should apply only to the alleged disputed amount around Rs 30 crore in this case and not the entire account âBlocking an account in a mechanical manner without establishing a direct link to the alleged offence violates fundamental rightsâ the Court noted citing Articles 21 and 191g of the Constitution The case stems from an FIR filed by Udaipurbased Dr Ajay Murdia against filmmakers Shwetambari Bhatt and Vikram Bhatt alleging fraud and criminal conspiracy According to the complaint a film production agreement was signed in May 2024 with an initial budget of Rs 40 croreIt is alleged that the budget was later inflated and additional funds were sought under the pretext of producing more films The complainant claims to have invested approximately Rs 4428 crore out of which nearly Rs 30 crore was allegedly misappropriated through fraudulent billing Despite the investment only one film was released while others remain incomplete or unstartedActing on instructions from the investigating officer in Udaipur banks had frozen all accounts of the Bhatt couple Their counsel argued that the funds were legitimate professional earnings and that due process was not followed It was also submitted that the freeze had paralysed their financial life affecting daily expenses salaries loan repayments and medical needs Justice Farzand Ali who heard the matter directed that such blanket restrictions are unjustified The order was uploaded on March 28 The SHO of Bhupalpura Police Station has been instructed to promptly share the order with the concerned banks IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/freezing-entire-bank-account-unjustified-says-raj-hc-giving-relief-to-filmmaker-vikram-bhatts-wife-667234.html Mon, 30 Mar 2026 16:17:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/v-p-radhakrishnan-stresses-on-inclusive-timely-amp-tech-driven-justice-for-citizens-667087.html New Delhi March 29 VicePresident CP Radhakrishnan on Sunday stressed on affordable inclusive and timely justice for citizens stressing on the need for strengthening access to justice through technologyenabled legal services Speaking at a National Consultation organised by the Department of Justice under the Ministry of Law and Justice the VicePresident said Legal empowerment depends on three priorities inclusivity quality and accountability and innovation or use of technology in a usercentric mannerHe added that the success of our legal system will depend on its inclusivity and its ability to reach the last mile to empower the marginalised sections of societyVicePresident Radhakrishnan cautioned that the use of technology should not compromise on the quality and accountability in dispensation of justiceIndia stands today at a defining moment with Prime Minister Narendra Modi sharing the vision for Viksit Bharat2047 For this the dismantling of the colonial laws which were designed to rule and not serve was needed The recent transmission to the new three criminal laws marked a big step towards citizencentric justice system he saidVicePresident Radhakrishnan said the Telelaw initiative is an example of technology being used to democratise the legal servicesThe prelitigation aspect of Telelaw initiative also helps in resolution of matter and reducing the burden of litigation he said highlighting the Union governments decision to make available the laws in regional languagesThe consultation provided a platform for deliberations policy dialogue and stakeholder engagement an official said in a statementThe National Consultation 2026 under the TeleLaw initiative of the Designing Innovative Solutions for Holistic Access to Justice DISHA Scheme a central sector scheme is being implemented under the Access to Justice DivisionMinister of State Independent Charge for Law and Justice Arjun Ram Meghwal highlighted the importance of Telelaw initiative in making access to lawToday going to cities is not necessary to access justice or contacting a lawyer he said adding that the Telelaw initiative is serving well for delivering doorstep justiceHe also stressed on probono service by lawyers to make the justice accessibleThe event also saw the launch of the Voice of Beneficiaries Booklet 2025â26 which captures compelling stories of individuals whose lives have been positively impacted through TeleLaw services reflecting the transformative potential of digital access to justiceA comprehensive presentation on the progress of the DISHA Scheme across India including live interactions with TeleLaw Panel Lawyers Village Level Entrepreneurs and beneficiaries showcasing realtime experiences and the grassroots impact of technologyenabled legal aid was given at the consultationA special segment commemorated 150 years of the National Song Vande Mataram performed by local artists celebrating its historic and cultural significance the statement saidThe consultation featured the release of a white paper emerging from a technical session held prior to the event which brings together insights recommendations and best practices from experts policymakers and practitionersAn AIpowered chatbot Nyaya Setu was also launchedIt has been developed to act as a digital bridge between citizens and legal servicesDesigned to provide instant userfriendly legal information and guidance the chatbot will assist users in understanding their legal rights accessing TeleLaw services and navigating dispute resolution mechanismsA series of legal awareness comic books developed in collaboration with the National Law University in Delhi were launched during the eventThe event was attended by 1200 participants including officials from the Supreme Court eCommittee National Legal Services Authority members of the Bar Government counsels TeleLaw Panel Lawyers and Village Level Entrepreneurs the statement said IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/v-p-radhakrishnan-stresses-on-inclusive-timely-amp-tech-driven-justice-for-citizens-667087.html Sun, 29 Mar 2026 19:38:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/dr-reddys-labs-to-change-drug-name-to-olymra-amid-court-scrutiny-report-666813.html New Delhi March 27 Major drug maker Dr Reddyâs Laboratories on Friday told the Delhi High Court that it will change the brand name of its semaglutide drug from Olymviq to Olymra a report said on Friday The company informed the court that it would propose a new brand name following the judgeâs observation that the existing name could lead to confusion in a pharmaceutical settingThe dispute comes as India opens up to generic versions of semaglutide following patent expiry triggering competition among drugmakers and disputes over brandingThe company also said it is the first Indian firm to receive approval from the Drugs Controller General of India for generic semaglutideThe case centres on whether Olymviq is too similar to Ozempic a widely used drug for diabetes and weight management as per NDTV ProfitThe company earlier announced that it has launched its injectable semaglutide under the brand name Obeda marking an important step in expanding access to GLP1 receptor agonistbased therapy for the management of Type 2 diabetes in IndiaWith this launch we aim to expand access to advanced diabetes therapies and address unmet patient needs in India said Erez Israeli Chief Executive Officer of Dr Reddyâs LaboratoriesDuring the hearing the court flagged the phonetic and visual similarity between the two names noting that such resemblance could lead to confusion among patients doctors and pharmacists the report addedEarlier the court had directed the company to halt the rollout and sale of the product over concerns of similarity with Novo Nordiskâs âOzempicâNovo Nordisk markets semaglutide under multiple brands including Ozempic Wegovy and RybelsusShares of Dr Reddyâs Laboratories traded around 2 per cent lower at Rs 127475 an intraday low on the BSE as of 2 pm IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/dr-reddys-labs-to-change-drug-name-to-olymra-amid-court-scrutiny-report-666813.html Fri, 27 Mar 2026 15:30:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/kerala-hc-asks-eci-to-decide-on-plea-against-bjp-candidate-in-two-months-666822.html Kochi March 27 The Kerala High Court on Friday directed the Election Commission of India ECI to consider within two months a representation alleging communal remarks made by BJP leader B Gopalakrishnan during the ongoing Assembly election campaign in Guruvayur Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas issued the directive while disposing of a writ petition filed by Kerala Studentsâ Union KSU leader GokulThe petitioner had sought action against the NDA candidate accusing him of violating election laws through alleged communal social media postsGopalakrishnan contesting from Guruvayur Assembly constituency had reportedly posted content claiming that rival parties had failed to field Hindu candidates in the constituencyThe remarks triggered legal action with the Guruvayoor Temple Police Station registering a case under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita as well as the Representation of the People ActDuring the hearing the Court noted that a First Information Report FIR had already been registered in connection with the incident and that the controversial video had been taken downIt also observed that the petitioner has already approached the Election Commission of India with a formal complaint which remains pendingIn its order the Court emphasised that since the statutory remedy before the Election Commission had not yet been exhausted it would be appropriate for the ECI to take a considered view on the matterThe bench refrained from making any substantive observations on the merits of the allegations citing the ongoing election processâSince the election has already commenced it is not appropriate for the Court to make any observation that would have a bearing on the proposed electionâ the Court said while directing the ECI to decide the representation within two months of receiving the orderWith this direction the petition was disposed of leaving the Election Commission to determine the course of action in the politically sensitive case IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/kerala-hc-asks-eci-to-decide-on-plea-against-bjp-candidate-in-two-months-666822.html Fri, 27 Mar 2026 16:13:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/three-children-murdered-in-bihars-aurangabad-uncle-suspected-666828.html Patna March 27 Three children of a family were brutally murdered in Biharâs Aurangabad district on Friday allegedly by their uncle police said According to police the incident occurred in Khuthatan village under the Haspura police station area on Friday The accused identified as Amant Pal attacked his two nephews and niece after entering the house He allegedly slit the throats of the victims using a sharpedged weaponThe deceased have been identified as 10yearold Anish Kumar 7yearold Ayush Kumar and 5yearold Anushka Kumari all children of Guddu PalThe brutal nature of the incident has sent shockwaves across the entire region leaving villagers in fear and disbelief The police said that the accused came home on Friday morning around 11 am knocked on the door and after gaining entry allegedly turned on a loudspeaker and carried out the attackThe children cried out in terror but could not be savedAfter the incident the accused also attempted to commit suicide He slit his own throat He was initially admitted to the Sadar Hospital in Aurangabad Due to his critical condition he has been referred to Patna for advanced treatmentPolice officials have stated that prima facie the accused who is the younger brother in the family appears to be responsible for the crime A case has been registered and an investigation is underway to determine the exact motive behind the murderThe incident has created an atmosphere of grief and panic in the locality with the family members devastated by the tragic loss of the three innocent childrenProviding details on the shocking incident from Aurangabad Daudnagar SDPO Ashok Kumar Das stated that police acted swiftly upon receiving information He said that teams from Hasanpur police station along with him immediately reached the spot and began an investigationThe officer also mentioned that the father of the deceased children Guddu Pal works as a cook in a train pantry car IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/three-children-murdered-in-bihars-aurangabad-uncle-suspected-666828.html Fri, 27 Mar 2026 16:57:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/437-custodial-deaths-in-jharkhand-since-2018-hc-flags-gaps-in-mandatory-probes-666738.html Ranchi March 26 The Jharkhand High Court on Thursday expressed serious concern over 437 deaths reported in judicial and police custody across the state since 2018 flagging major gaps in mandatory judicial probes The figure was disclosed in an affidavit filed by the Principal Secretary Department of Home Prisons and Disaster Management Vandana Dandel during the hearing of a Public Interest Litigation PIL in the High Court on custodial deathsA division bench of Chief Justice MS Sonak and Justice Rajesh Shankar while taking the affidavit on record noted that a large number of cases lacked clarity on compliance with statutory requirementsAccording to the affidavit judicial inquiries could be conducted in only 202 of the deaths that occurred in prisons In the case of police custody deaths 39 incidents were reported of which inquiries are still pending in 11 casesThe court underlined that a magisterial inquiry is mandatory in every instance of death disappearance or alleged sexual assault in police or judicial custody The absence of such inquiries in several cases it observed raises serious concerns about accountability and adherence to due processThe bench sought specific suggestions from the petitioner on further reliefs and directions required in the matter while reiterating that ensuring compliance with legal provisions rests squarely with the State governmentThe issue had also come up during an earlier hearing in February when the court had sought comprehensive data on custodial deaths and the status of inquiries At that time the state had reported the same figure of 437 deaths between 2018 and 2025 but did not clearly indicate whether mandatory probes had been conducted in most casesThe High Court had then emphasised that independent judicial inquiries are essential to ensure transparency and accountability and had directed the State to clarify whether magisterial probes were carried out in each case and if the guidelines laid down by the National Human Rights Commission NHRC were followedThe matter is now slated for further hearing on April 30 IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/437-custodial-deaths-in-jharkhand-since-2018-hc-flags-gaps-in-mandatory-probes-666738.html Thu, 26 Mar 2026 21:05:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/bomb-threats-target-courts-govt-offices-in-jharkhand-ranchi-dhanbad-sahibganj-on-high-alert-666750.html Ranchi March 26 A fresh wave of bomb threats sent through emails targeting key government offices and court complexes in Jharkhand triggered panic across the state on Thursday In view of this security has been beefed up in Ranchi Dhanbad and SahibganjAccording to officials threatening emails warning of explosions were sent to the Ranchi Collectorate and the Dhanbad and Sahibganj Civil Courts This set off a statewide alert Police and security agencies swiftly moved in and turned the affected premises virtually into a fortressIn Ranchi a threat received on the Deputy Commissionerâs official email led to a thorough search operation at the Collectorate by the bomb disposal squad which continued for several hoursSimilar scenes unfolded in Dhanbad and Sahibganj also where court proceedings were disrupted amid panic In Sahibganj police teams led by SP Amit Kumar Singh evacuated the Rajmahal and Sahibganj court complexes with dog squads conducting thorough searches of the premisesThis is the second such threat to the Dhanbad Civil Court within a fortnight heightening anxiety among lawyers and litigantsEarlier on March 10 a threat email had warned of blowing up the Ranchi Civil Court using cyanide bombs while another message on February 28 mentioned RDX explosives Similar emails have also been reported from the Bokaro Civil Court and a Passport Seva KendraPreliminary technical investigations by Ranchi police point to an interstate link Officials said the emails are suspected to have originated from Tamil Nadu with a person identified as Uday Reddy emerging as a key suspectPolice sources indicated that the accused may have been motivated by grievances related to a legal dispute and is allegedly targeting judicial and administrative institutions Authorities are probing whether he acted alone or as part of a larger networkA special Jharkhand Police team will be travelling to Tamil Nadu to apprehend the suspectMeanwhile security has been tightened across sensitive installations in Jharkhand with additional deployment of forces and installation of metal detectors as a precautionary measure IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/bomb-threats-target-courts-govt-offices-in-jharkhand-ranchi-dhanbad-sahibganj-on-high-alert-666750.html Thu, 26 Mar 2026 21:15:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/sc-directs-cbi-mp-govt-to-file-details-on-probe-charge-sheets-in-vyapam-scam-666754.html BhopalNew Delhi March 26 In a sharp rebuke the Supreme Court on Thursday criticised the Central Bureau of Investigation CBI and the Madhya Pradesh government in a case linked to the Vyapam scam The apex court has directed both the CBI and the state government to submit complete details of the investigation carried out so far and provide information about all charge sheets filed in the matterThe court has asked for an affidavit explaining how and to what extent the 320page complaint filed by the petitioner Paras Saklecha was included in the probe and subsequent charge sheetsThe Supreme Court expressed strong displeasure over the failure of the CBI and the state government to file a satisfactory reply despite earlier noticesA bench comprising Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra and Justice NV Anjaria has now directed both parties to file detailed affidavits on the progress of the investigationThe next hearing in the case has been scheduled for April 16Paras Saklecha had approached the apex court challenging the decision of the Indore bench of the Madhya Pradesh High CourtHe said that important facts and documents related to the Vyapam scam were ignored during the investigationThe Madhya Pradesh High Court had earlier dismissed his petition saying that he was not a directly affected partyIn 2014 Saklecha had filed a detailed complaint along with supporting documents highlighting irregularities in the PreMedical Test PMT and other examinations conducted by Professional Examination Board also known as Vyapam an acronym in HindiFollowing a Supreme Court order in 2015 Saklecha submitted a comprehensive 320page complaint to the CBIAlthough the CBI and the Special Task Force recorded his statements the petitioner alleged that no meaningful action was taken on his complaintDue to inaction by the investigating agencies Saklecha moved the Madhya Pradesh High Court in 2023His petition was dismissed in April 2024 after which he filed an appeal in the Supreme CourtThe Vyapam scam which came to light in 2014 exposed largescale irregularities in recruitment examinations in Madhya PradeshIt started with the use of impersonators in the PMT examination and later spread to several other recruitment tests including those for police and transport departmentsThe case was later transferred from the State Special Task Force to the CBIIn an attempt to improve its image the name Vyapam was changed three times and is now known as the Madhya Pradesh Employees Selection Board IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/sc-directs-cbi-mp-govt-to-file-details-on-probe-charge-sheets-in-vyapam-scam-666754.html Thu, 26 Mar 2026 21:18:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/bengal-polls-eci-to-publish-1st-supplementary-list-of-judicial-adjudication-cases-today-666019.html Kolkata March 23 The first supplementary list for judicial adjudication of voters classified under the âlogical discrepancy categoryâ will be published later on Monday As per statistics available from the office of the Chief Electoral Officer CEO West Bengal till Sunday night the judicial adjudication process had been completed for 2806000 cases and all these cases will be mentioned in the first supplementary under the âapprovedâ and ârejectedâ categoriesAn insider from the CEOâs office said that roughly 34 per cent of cases whose judicial adjudication process has been completed have been found excludable However the voters whose names will be found excludable would have the liberty to challenge that in 19 Appellate Tribunals especially constituted for that purposeTo recall the final votersâ list in West Bengal minus those 60 lakh odd names which were referred for judicial adjudication was published on February 28 As per the order of the Supreme Court supplementary lists will be published periodically on the basis of the progress of the judicial adjudication the first of which will be published on MondayIt is learnt that the list will reach the district magistrates as well as the district election officers by afternoon Voters will be able to see the additional list by going online to the Election Commission of India ECIâs website from this evening The additional list will be displayed at the booths BDO SDO offices and DM officesAlready the state police administration as per the instruction of the ECI has taken all possible security measures to prevent instances of tension or violence over grievances following the publication of the first supplementary listA securityrelated meeting was held on Sunday at the office The CEO of West Bengal Manoj Kumar Agarwal met with the Joint Force Deployment Committee on this count The meeting discussed the deployment of Central forces in the upcoming Assembly electionsThe CEOâs office insiders said that a plan was made on where and how many forces personnel will be deployed as well as how the units will operate The meeting was attended by state police nodal officer Anand Kumar special police observer NK Mishra central force nodal officers Shalav Mathur and Gaurav SharmaMeanwhile the ECIâs top brass at the Commissionâs headquarters in New Delhi will hold a highlevel virtual meeting with the district magistrates district police superintendents and the commissioners of different police commissariats in the afternoonPolling for the West Bengal Assembly elections will be held in two phases on April 23 and April 29 Voting will take place in 152 constituencies in the first phase and in the remaining 142 constituencies in the second phase IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/bengal-polls-eci-to-publish-1st-supplementary-list-of-judicial-adjudication-cases-today-666019.html Mon, 23 Mar 2026 14:10:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/cyber-crime-cases-rising-rapidly-in-india-stronger-coordination-needed-gauhati-hc-judge-665831.html Aizawl March 20 Cyber crime is rapidly increasing in India with more than 86000 cases registered in 2023 Gauhati High Court Judge Justice Nelson Sailo said here on Friday Addressing a oneday training programme on cyber crime Justice Sailo noted that in 2017 the Supreme Court recognised the Right to Privacy as a Fundamental Right under Article 21 of the Indian ConstitutionHe said that following this landmark development Parliament enacted the Digital Personal Data Protection Act DPDP Act in 2023 to safeguard citizens data rights and strengthen privacy protections in the digital eraHighlighting the situation in Mizoram the judge said that 361 cyber crime cases were recorded in the state between 2022 and 2026 with five cases already registered up to March this yearHe added that the most common offences include financial fraud social media impersonation and online sexual harassmentJustice Sailo also advised the public to adopt precautionary measures such as using antivirus software avoiding opening or downloading unknown files and promptly reporting suspicious activities to the policeThe training programme was held at the Gauhati High Court Aizawl Bench Conference Hall and was jointly organised by the Mizoram State Legal Services Authority MSLSA and Mizoram PoliceAnother High Court judge Justice Michael Zothankhuma in his address shared his personal experience as a victim of cyber crime and appreciated the initiative of organising such a relevant training sessionHe said that in todays rapidly evolving and interconnected technological landscape cyber crime has emerged as a global threat transcending geographical boundariesHe noted that laws often take time to adapt to technological advancements creating gaps between emerging crimes and the legal frameworks designed to address themTo bridge this gap and effectively combat cyber crime he emphasised the need for close cooperation among law enforcement agencies the police and the judiciaryJustice Zothankhuma also stressed that public awareness is the first line of defence against cyber crime and encouraged participants to use the knowledge gained from the training to educate societyMizoram Director General of Police Sharad Agarwal also addressed the gathering and said that the rapid rise in cyber crime has posed significant challenges to law enforcement agenciesHe highlighted that modern technologies including Artificial Intelligence AI are increasingly being misused for phishing attacks creating deepfake images and videos stealing passwords and spreading malwareTo tackle such threats Mizoram Police has established a Technical Support Cell and is deploying digital forensic tools to ensure secure analysis of dataDistrict and Sessions Judge Helen Dawngliani in her speech has elaborated on various forms of cyber crimeShe noted that while technological advancements have improved convenience in daily life they have also expanded opportunities for criminal activitiesShe emphasised that preserving the rule of law in the digital domain requires stronger collaboration between the police and the judiciaryFollowing the inaugural session a series of technical sessions were conducted as part of the training programmeThe event was attended by officials from multiple departments including Home Excise and Narcotics Finance and others IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/cyber-crime-cases-rising-rapidly-in-india-stronger-coordination-needed-gauhati-hc-judge-665831.html Sat, 21 Mar 2026 07:39:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/sc-condemns-hooliganism-by-lawyers-in-ups-barabanki-grants-bail-to-toll-staff-665550.html New Delhi March 18 IANS The Supreme Court has strongly condemned acts of violence by members of the Bar in Uttar Pradeshs Barabanki district and ordered the immediate release on bail of toll plaza employees who had approached the apex court alleging denial of legal representation and threats from local lawyersnbspA Bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta while allowing a writ petition filed under Article 32 of the Constitution observed that the custodians of justice had themselves turned perpetrators of violence creating an atmosphere of fear that deprived the accused of effective legal representationnbspThe custodians of justice Members of the District Bar Association Barabanki have turned into perpetrators of violence which has led the petitioners to knock the doors of this court to protect their Fundamental Rights the Justice Vikram Nathled Bench saidnbspThe petitioners contractual employees of Ms Skylark Infra Engineering Pvt Ltd and posted on toll collection duty at the Gotona Bara Toll Plaza on the LucknowSultanpur highway in Barabanki district have been in custody for over two months following a scuffle with an advocate over payment of toll chargesnbspAccording to the FIR an advocate allegedly refused to pay toll charges on January 14 leading to a verbal altercation that escalated into a scuffle between the complainant and toll staffnbspA criminal case was subsequently registered against the employees at Police Station Haidergarh under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita BNS The employees contended that they were arrested without being informed of the grounds of arrest and were sent to judicial custody on January 16 They further alleged that members of the local bar association began violent protests following the incidentnbspThe Supreme Court noted that a resolution was circulated within the local bar calling upon lawyers not to represent the accusednbspWhen one advocate filed a bail application on their behalf members of the Bar allegedly resorted to arson and vandalised his office furniturenbspDescribing the episode as deeply disturbing the bench said The legal profession which was once regarded as a noble profession has clearly been tainted and tarnished by the acts of hooliganism perpetrated pursuant to the fracas which took place at the toll plazanbspIt added that while a sense of fraternity among lawyers is understandable it by no means can justify the acts of violence and lawlessness which ensued when a brave lawyer came forward to defend the accused These deplorable acts of hooliganism deserve to be deprecated The disciplinary body ie the Bar Council of India is expected to take appropriate steps in this regard the apex court saidnbspNoting that the petitioners had remained in custody for over two months the apex court held that the denial of bail in the circumstances was unjustified and violative of their fundamental right to personal liberty under Article 21 of the ConstitutionnbspA bare perusal of the FIR is sufficient to satisfy us that it was not a case wherein the accusedpetitioners could have been denied bail it observednbspThe Supreme Court directed that the petitioners be released on bail upon furnishing personal bonds to the satisfaction of the magistrate concernednbspTo ensure fair trial and proper legal representation the apex court also ordered that the criminal proceedings arising out of the FIR be transferred from Barabanki to the Tis Hazari Courts in DelhinbspIn order to ensure that the accused get proper legal representation and a fair trial we direct that the proceedings arising out of the FIR No152026 shall stand transferred to the Tis Hazari Courts New Delhi for all further actions the order saidnbspThe top court further directed the Director General of Police DGP of Uttar Pradesh to ensure the safety and security of the petitioners and to escort them to a safe location upon their releasenbspBefore parting with the case the Justice Vikram Nathled Bench again condemned the conduct of the lawyers involved in the incident observing that members of the Bar in Barabanki had indulged in hooliganism by damaging the furniture of the advocate who had filed the bail application for the accused The apex court also directed that a copy of its order be forwarded to the Uttar Pradesh DGP and the Bar Council of India for appropriate actionnbspIANS https://dailyworld.in/law/sc-condemns-hooliganism-by-lawyers-in-ups-barabanki-grants-bail-to-toll-staff-665550.html Wed, 18 Mar 2026 15:56:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/attorney-general-calls-for-new-framework-for-plea-bargaining-at-seminar-on-delivering-justice-in-time-665371.html New Delhi March 16 R Venkataramani Attorney General for India has called for a new framework for plea bargaining based on social cultural economic theories and practices at the inaugural session of the seminar on âDelivering Justice in Time Global Practices and Indian Experiencesâ jointly organised by OP Jindal Global University and the National Law University Delhi âPlea bargaining is becoming universal Thereâs a new need for a national protocol for plea bargaining a national protocol that can be evolved and which can in a very healthy way advise guide and counsel practitioners as well as victims of justice so that the protocol can work more transparently and objectively The legal and civil authorities should be prepared to play important roles The Chief Justice of India has consented to have a strong internal discussion on it Existing legal mechanisms will also be made ready to look through a new lens and there is a concession for the defense and the resource management for the state The resource management for the state is not only relevant for the plea bargaining aspect It is a resource value for the state essentially like an economic principle that should run through the entire administration of justice This is why I have been thinking about a National Institute for Criminal Justice Administration which will also have an everyday index where we watch the measurement and performance Those who practice in the trial court will find out how painful it is for people to simply waste their resources for governments institutions people lawyers and judges as well as timeâ Venkataramani saidâA Legal Health Index is important for our country The Legal Health Index will probably identify factors that will include preventative and predictable procedures the ease of justice what roles each one of us can play and what kind of resource investment we require Therefore a Legal Health Index should be properly conceived identified and then operationalized And who should do that I do not think it needs to be necessarily in the hands of governance institutions but it is a role for law schools and universities in conceiving and maintaining the Legal Health Index Itâs important also for the community to get intellectually involved and to give a different point of viewâ the Attorney General addedIn his Keynote Address Dr Abhishek M Singhvi Senior Advocate Supreme Court of India amp Member of Parliament spoke about the large pendency of cases in India âIt is the paradox of Indiaâs legal system capable of producing some of the worldâs most sophisticated jurisprudence while simultaneously struggling with a massive backlog of cases We need to deal with the âABCDâ the access backlog cost and delay issues and the obvious step is to appoint court judges We need to fill judicial vacancies adopt multitrack case management systems resolve very old cases through dedicated mechanisms strengthen mediation and revive Gram Nyayalayas and improve coordination across courts police and prisons We need synergy and focus to deal with the high number of pending cases which is also holistic We need a curative and preventive approach and an unconventional bold new methodology to address the issue The other extreme which is a big failure is arbitration Arbitration has become prelitigation litigation which is just adding one more separate limb to the process but the reality is that there are not enough trained mediators and this needs to be addressed on a war footing There is also the issue of human infrastructure The criminal law justice system includes the criminal hearing judge the police and the prison staff and all these have to be synergically coordinatedâHe also called for reconsidering the retirement age disparity between the High Courts and the Supreme Court and emphasized longterm consistency in reform implementationIn his Welcome Address Prof Dr C Raj Kumar Founding Vice Chancellor OP Jindal Global University emphasized that the rule of law depends not only on constitutional design or legal doctrine but on the ability of institutions to deliver justice in a timely fair and effective mannerâI highlight Indiaâs pendency crisis with over 5 crore pending cases where there is a need for systemic reforms and I propose five pillars for transforming justice delivery These include strengthening judicial capacity procedural reform and active case management technology and artificial intelligence in courts expansion of plea bargaining and pretrial mechanisms and datadriven justice governanceâDr Raj Kumar lauded the collaboration between National Law University Delhi Jindal Global Law School and OP Jindal Global University He expressed the intention to expand the seminar into a nationwide series of discussions across multiple cities and states to build collective consciousness and momentum around the urgent need for timely and effective justice delivery in IndiaA message was also conveyed from the Minister of State for Law and Justice Arjun Ram Meghwal who was unable to attend due to official responsibilities along with his keen interest in the outcomes of the seminar It was noted that a comprehensive report of the deliberations would be shared with him for possible followup discussionsProf Dr GS Bajpai Vice Chancellor National Law University Delhi reflected on the deeper meaning of the seminarâs theme âJustice in Timeâ He cautioned that speed alone does not equal justice True legitimacy in the justice system he noted depends on fairness transparency and procedural integrity He called for an empirical evaluation of the timelines introduced in Indiaâs new criminal laws and emphasized the need to strengthen victim justice frameworks continuous legal aid from early stages and a coherent national sentencing policyThe event led to a daylong seminar with several sessions which included Institutional amp Procedural Reforms Improving Efficiency In Court Systems Technology amp Timely Justice Digital Courts AI And Data Governance and Plea Bargaining amp PreTrial Mechanisms Efficiency Without Compromising JusticeSenior lawyers legal experts and academics participated in the sessions including Dr Pinky Anand Tanveer Ahmed Mir Sanjiv Sen Maninder Singh Senior Advocates Supreme Court of India with Professor Shireen Moti Associate Professor Jindal Global Law School and Dr Garima Tiwari Associate Professor National Law University DelhiOther sessions included Dr Aprajita Bhatt Associate Professor National Law University Delhi Aryan Grover Founder amp CEO Vetoai Technologies Bharat Ltd Prof Paavni Jain Assistant Director Cyril Shroff Centre For AI Law amp Regulation Jindal Global Law School Geeta Luthra Senior Advocate Supreme Court of India Parth Maniktala Chief Legal Officer Adalat AIThe final session saw the participation of Prof Dr GS Bajpai Vice Chancellor National Law University Delhi who delivered the keynote address Other speakers included Vrinda Bhandari Advocate Supreme Court of India Prof Vaibhav Chadha Associate Professor Jindal Global Law School Prof Dr Khagesh Gautam Professor Jindal Global Law School and Satvik Varma Senior Advocate Supreme Court of India moderated by Priyanshi Singh Academic Fellow National Law University Delhi The introductory remarks were given by Prof Aparna Babu George Assistant Professor Jindal Global Law School and the Vote of Thanks was delivered by Prof Dabiru Sridhar Patnaik Registrar OP Jindal Global University IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/attorney-general-calls-for-new-framework-for-plea-bargaining-at-seminar-on-delivering-justice-in-time-665371.html Mon, 16 Mar 2026 13:39:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/civic-volunteer-arrested-in-howrah-for-molestation-abetment-to-suicide-of-minor-664892.html Kolkata March 12 A civic volunteer has been arrested in Howrah on charges of allegedly molesting a teenage girl who later died by suicide police said on Thursday According to a senior police officer the accused civic volunteer was arrested following the incident that took place in Amta under the Howrah Rural Police District on WednesdayPolice said the girl had gone to attend a Kali Puja event in Amta with her mother on Tuesday night The accused a civic volunteer attached to Penro Police Station was also present at the event He allegedly molested the minor during the programmeFollowing the incident a commotion broke out at the venue and several locals gathered there The girl reportedly felt humiliated after the incident became known in the areaWhile returning home the girl informed her mother about the molestation Later that night she had dinner and went to sleep On Wednesday morning her family members found her hanging inside their houseThe incident triggered tension in the area after news of the girls death spread An agitated crowd staged protests and demanded the immediate arrest of the accused civic volunteerLater in the night police arrested the accused after the victimâs family lodged a written complaint at Penro Police Station A case has been registered against him under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences POCSO Act 2012 and for abetment to suicideâThe civic volunteer has been arrested based on the complaint lodged by the family of the minor A case has been registered and further investigation is underwayâ a senior officer of the Howrah Rural Police District saidCivic volunteers in the state have often faced criticism over alleged lapses in recruitment and instances of misconduct including involvement in criminal activitiesIn an attempt to curb such incidents especially ahead of the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections the state police last year initiated training programmes for civic volunteers including sessions on legal awareness and conduct IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/civic-volunteer-arrested-in-howrah-for-molestation-abetment-to-suicide-of-minor-664892.html Thu, 12 Mar 2026 13:21:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/sc-grants-bail-to-kashmiri-separatist-leader-in-terror-funding-case-664906.html New Delhi March 12 The Supreme Court on Thursday granted bail to Kashmiri separatist leader Shabir Ahmed Shah in a terror funding case A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta granted relief to the 74yearold leader noting his prolonged period of incarceration and the delay in the completion of the trial Shah had challenged the Delhi High Courtâs order rejecting his bail plea He was arrested by the National Investigation Agency NIA in 2019 in connection with the terror funding caseIn his plea before the top court Shah contended that he had been in custody for more than six years and that the trial was progressing at a slow pace with only 15 out of about 400 witnesses examined so farEarlier the Delhi High Court had rejected Shahâs bail application observing that the allegations against him were serious and that the possibility of his influencing witnesses or engaging in similar activities could not be ruled outâAlthough the appellant Shah has been in custody for five years the charges have already been framed and the trial is underway There is no delay on the part of the prosecution for not examining its witnessesâ it saidShah had filed a special leave petition SLP before the Supreme Court challenging the Delhi High Courtâs decisionAccording to the NIA Shah played a key role in strengthening separatist networks in Jammu and Kashmir and allegedly received funds through hawala channels and Line of Control LoC trade to support subversive and militant activitiesHis name was included in the second supplementary charge sheet filed by the NIA on October 4 2019During earlier hearings before the apex court senior advocate Colin Gonsalves appearing for Shah had argued that the case against him was based on a single speech and that he had already spent a substantial period in custody Opposing the plea the NIA had argued that Shah and others were involved in funding street protests aimed at paralysing the administration and supporting separatist activitiesEarlier in September 2025 the Supreme Court had declined to order Shahâs immediate release on interim bail on medical grounds but sought the NIAâs response on his bail plea At the time the Justice Nathled Bench had appeared unconvinced by Gonsalvesâs submission that Shahâs deteriorating health warranted interim relief IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/sc-grants-bail-to-kashmiri-separatist-leader-in-terror-funding-case-664906.html Thu, 12 Mar 2026 14:28:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/ngt-transfers-case-on-alleged-felling-of-90-trees-in-rajasthans-dholpur-to-bhopal-bench-664706.html Jaipur March 10 The National Green Tribunal NGT has transferred a case related to the alleged illegal cutting of nearly 90 trees in Dholpur Rajasthan to its Central Zone Bench in Bhopal The case concerns accusations that several mature and fruitbearing trees were uprooted using heavy machinery in a residential area raising serious environmental concernsThe matter was initially heard by the NGTâs Principal Bench in New Delhi and registered as Original Application No 1242026 It originated from a letter petition filed by Ram Naresh Sharma a resident of Housing Board Colony on Bari Road in DholpurThe Tribunal treated the complaint as an original application under its suo motu jurisdiction following the principles laid down by the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai vs Ankita SinhaAccording to the petition around 90 green and mature trees located in a garden adjacent to Housing Board Colony were allegedly cut and uprooted on October 15 2025 using JCB machines The trees reportedly included several species known for their ecological and medicinal value such as mango peepal banyan amla lemon guava coconut date palm and kadamba along with other medicinal plantsThe complainant claimed that the trees had been planted and nurtured over a period of more than 21 years and formed an important green cover for the locality He alleged that officials of the Rajasthan Housing Board in alleged collusion with local authorities and land mafia elements removed the trees after the land was allotted for residential developmentThe case was heard by a Bench comprising Justice Arun Kumar Tyagi Judicial Member and Dr A Senthil Vel Expert Member on Monday During the proceedings the Bench noted that the applicant did not appear before the Tribunal on the scheduled date of the hearingInstead of dismissing the matter due to nonappearance the Tribunal granted an adjournment to allow the applicant another opportunity to participate in the proceedings Since the incident occurred in Rajasthan which falls under the jurisdiction of the NGT Central Zone Bench the Tribunal directed that the case be transferred to the Bhopal Bench for further hearingThe Registry has been instructed to place the matter before the Bhopal Bench on March 27 2026 after obtaining necessary administrative orders from the Chairperson The case is expected to examine allegations of environmental violations and determine whether proper permissions were obtained before the trees were removed IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/ngt-transfers-case-on-alleged-felling-of-90-trees-in-rajasthans-dholpur-to-bhopal-bench-664706.html Tue, 10 Mar 2026 15:37:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/unnao-rape-case-sc-adjourns-hearing-on-cbi-plea-against-sengars-bail-allows-survivors-application-664496.html New Delhi March 9 IANS The Supreme Court on Monday adjourned the hearing on a plea filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation CBI challenging the bail granted to expelled Bharatiya Janata Party leader Kuldeep Singh Sengar in the 2017 Unnao rape casenbspDue to the nonavailability of Solicitor General SG Tushar Mehta a Bench of Chief Justice of India CJI Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi deferred the hearing and said that the matter would be taken up after two weeksAt the same time the apex court allowed the impleadment application filed by the rape survivor observing that she has a right to be heard in the CBIs special leave petition SLPnbspHowever the CJIled Bench declined to entertain an intervention application filed by the survivors cousin seeking protection on the ground of threat to his life and liberty if Sengar were granted bailnbspObserving that the applicant ought to avail an independent remedy the Supreme Court remarked that the plea seeking protection could be pursued before the jurisdictional High CourtnbspAvail your independent remedy before the High Court for protection of life and liberty the bench said while disposing of the intervention application filed by the minor son of the brother of the father of the Unnao rape victimnbspDuring the brief hearing senior advocate N Hariharan appearing for Sengar urged the top court to list the matter for hearing at the earliest stating that the liberty granted to his client by the Delhi High Court had been curtailed following the Supreme Courts earlier interim ordernbspIn response the CJI said that a date for the final hearing would be fixed soonnbspThe CJI Surya Kantled Bench was hearing the CBIs plea challenging the December 2025 order of the Delhi High Court which had suspended Sengars life sentence and granted him conditional bail during the pendency of his appeal The bail order had triggered protests by the survivors family and womens rights activists who said it had shaken public faith and sent a wrong message on crimes against womennbspIn December last year the Supreme Court had stayed the operation of the Delhi High Courts order and clarified that Sengar would not be released pursuant to the impugned judgmentnbspIn December 2019 a trial court had convicted Sengar of kidnapping and raping a minor girl and sentenced him to imprisonment for the remainder of his natural life along with a fine of Rs 25 lakh The Supreme Court had earlier transferred all cases related to the incident from Uttar Pradesh to Delhi and directed that the trial be conducted on a daytoday basisnbspIANSnbsp https://dailyworld.in/law/unnao-rape-case-sc-adjourns-hearing-on-cbi-plea-against-sengars-bail-allows-survivors-application-664496.html Mon, 09 Mar 2026 14:55:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/self-styled-godman-ram-rahim-singh-acquitted-in-scribes-murder-case-664195.html Chandigarh March 7 The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Saturday acquitted selfstyled godman and Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh for the murder of journalist Ram Chander Chhatrapati in 2002 Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh is serving a 20year jail sentence for raping two of his disciples and a life term for the murder of journalist ChhatrapatiHis acquittal comes seven years after a special CBI court had convicted him and sentenced him to life imprisonment However he would remain behind bars for his conviction in the rape caseThe verdict was delivered by a Division Bench of Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Vikram Aggarwal while hearing appeals challenging the 2019 conviction in the caseHowever the Bench dismissed the appeals filed by two other accusedThe selfstyled godmans acquittal comes weeks after the Bench scrutinised the evidence following controversy over the bullets allegedly used in the crimeA special CBI court in Haryanaâs Panchkula town in 2019 convicted Rahim Singh for the murder of Sirsabased journalist Chhatrapati Three others Krishan Lal Kuldeep Singh and Nirmal Singh who were close aides of the sect chief were also convicted by the courtChhatrapati was shot at in October 2002 and died later The CBI had registered the case on the orders on November 10 2003 of the High Court and took over the investigation of the case which was earlier registered at the police station in SirsaIt was alleged that Chhatrapati a journalist from Sirsa who was running a newspaper called âPoora Sachâ was shot at on October 24 2002 in the evening by Kuldeep Singh and Nirmal Singh both carpenters in Dera Sacha Sauda in Sirsa at his residence in Sirsa He died on November 21 2002The state police arrested Kuldeep Singh and Nirmal Singh and a walkietalkie belonging to the Dera and a revolver belonging to accused Krishan Lal was recoveredA chargesheet was filed against Kuldeep Singh Nirmal Singh and Krishan Lal by the police in the Court of Chief Judicial Magistrate in Sirsa on December 5 2002The son of the victim moved the High Court alleging involvement of the selfstyled godman in the murder of his father and prayed for transfer of the investigation to the CBIAfter a thorough investigation the CBI found the role of Rahim Singh and other accused Kuldeep Singh Nirmal Singh Krishan Lal and filed a chargesheet against themIn January 2019 the special CBI court held Ram Rahim and the coaccused guilty of conspiring to murder the journalist and sentenced them to life imprisonment IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/self-styled-godman-ram-rahim-singh-acquitted-in-scribes-murder-case-664195.html Sat, 07 Mar 2026 11:34:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/odisha-vigilance-raids-7-places-linked-to-irrigation-engineer-in-da-case-664221.html Bhubaneswar March 7 The Odisha Vigilance Department on Saturday carried out coordinated searches at multiple locations linked to Pramod Ray an assistant executive engineer of the Derabish Irrigation SubDivision following allegations that he possessed assets far beyond his known sources of income The raids began early in the morning and covered seven premises across five districts including Bhubaneswar Cuttack Kendrapara Bhadrak and DhenkanalThe searches were conducted on the basis of warrants issued by the Special Judge Vigilance in Cuttack after preliminary inquiries indicated large scale accumulation of wealth by the engineerA big Vigilance team is leading the operation The search squad included two additional superintendents of police nine deputy superintendents of police nine inspectors and four assistant subInspectors supported by technical staff responsible for examining documents and assessing property valuesOfficials searched several properties associated with Ray and his relatives In Bhubaneswar investigators examined a fourstorey building at Johala in Balianta and another residence in the Patia areaIn Cuttack a doublestorey house at Jajabhairab in Chaudwar and Rayâs ancestral home in Ragadi under Banki were inspectedSearches were also conducted at the engineerâs office chamber and temporary residence inside the Derabish Irrigation Office premises in KendraparaHouses belonging to relatives in Budanga in Bhadrak district and Sanasathiebatia in Dhenkanal district were also covered in the search Vigilance officials said the searches were still underway and experts were calculating the market value of the land buildings and investments discovered during the operationA detailed report on the assets and documents seized will be released after the investigation is completedIn recent months the Vigilance wing has stepped up action against corruption among government officials in the state Several officers from departments such as rural development works and revenue have faced raids over allegations of disproportionate assetsEarlier this year Vigilance teams carried out raids on engineers and blocklevel officers across multiple districts leading to the registration of criminal cases and suspension of officials pending inquiry IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/odisha-vigilance-raids-7-places-linked-to-irrigation-engineer-in-da-case-664221.html Sat, 07 Mar 2026 14:41:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/us-lawmakers-clash-over-immigrant-truck-drivers-663917.html Washington March 5 The US lawmakers clashed during a congressional hearing over whether immigrants should be allowed to hold commercial driverâs licences with Republicans warning of safety risks on highways and Democrats arguing the move could harm the economy and disrupt supply chains The House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Oversight Investigations and Accountability convened the hearing on Wednesday to examine what Chairman Rep Josh Brecheen described as âthe issuance of nondomiciled commercial drivers licenses to illegal aliens unlawfully present in the United StatesâBrecheen said commercial truck drivers are vital to the American economy and transport essential goods across the country every dayâCommercial truck drivers are the backbone of the American economyâ he said âEvery day they transport food fuel medicine and other critical supplies all across the United StatesâBut he argued that federal audits have exposed failures by some states to properly enforce licensing standardsâRecent Department of Transportation audits have revealed alarming failures by many states to comply with these requirementsâ Brecheen saidHe cited federal findings showing that in Illinois âOne in 5 nondomiciled CDLs failed to meet federal standardsâ He also said the Department of Transportation found California had âillegally issued 17000 nondomiciled CDLsâ while a 2025 audit concluded that âover 50 per cent of the nondomiciled CDLs issued by the State of New York were in Violation of federal lawâRepublican lawmakers repeatedly warned that heavy commercial vehicles can pose serious risks if driven by unqualified operatorsâYou do not have to be a scholar to understand what a bad actor could do with a 40ton tractortrailerâ Brecheen said âThat vehicle is not just a truck its a weapon capable of threatening public safety and national securityâLaw enforcement officials appearing before the panel described enforcement actions that uncovered drivers operating commercial vehicles while violating immigration rulesTim Tipton commissioner of the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety said joint operations between state troopers and federal immigration authorities had resulted in hundreds of arrestsHe said inspections had revealed broader concerns about licensing oversightâMany of these drivers struggle with even basic English language proficiency and likely received their licenses from an unscrupulous CDL millâ Tipton told lawmakersSheriff Richard Del Toro of Saint Lucie County Florida described a fatal crash in his jurisdiction involving a commercial truckâThree innocent people in my county lost their lives in a catastrophic crash on the Florida Turnpike involving a commercial motor vehicleâ Del Toro said âFor the families of those victims this is not a policy debate its a permanent lossâDemocrats on the panel rejected claims that immigrants holding commercial licences pose a safety threat and warned that restrictions could worsen a shortage of drivers in the trucking industryIndian American Congressman Shri Thanedar the ranking member said immigrants make up a significant share of the workforceâNearly 20 per cent of truck drivers in the US are immigrantsâ he saidWendy Liu an attorney with Public Citizen Litigation Group testified that banning immigrants with legal work authorisation from holding commercial driverâs licences would not improve road safetyâBarring people with lawful work authorisation who have obtained their commercial drivers licenses by completing the required training and passing the required tests will not make our roads saferâ Liu saidShe warned that the policy could remove thousands of experienced drivers from the industryâThe Trump administrations exclusion of documented immigrants from the truck driver workforce would force 200000 experienced drivers out of the marketâ Liu saidâThat will disrupt supply chains delay the delivery of goods and materials and increase rates for freight operationsâLawmakers also referred to a fatal highway crash involving a truck driver who had previously entered the United States illegally and later obtained a commercial licence in another state a case cited by Republicans as an example of regulatory gaps IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/us-lawmakers-clash-over-immigrant-truck-drivers-663917.html Thu, 05 Mar 2026 13:18:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/delhi-police-enforces-traffic-rules-maintains-vigil-during-holi-festivities-663852.html New Delhi March 4 The Delhi Police maintained a strict vigil across the national Capital on Wednesday as Holi festivities were celebrated with enthusiasm Unwilling to take any chances with the safety of citizens Delhi Police personnel stopped darktinted vehicles conducting drunkdriving checks and issuing challans to traffic violators in several areas In Paschim Vihar elaborate security arrangements were put in place to ensure peaceful celebrations Police Commissioner Satish Golcha reviewed the groundlevel security measures and interacted with personnel deployed on duty He also greeted officers and distributed sweets appreciating their efforts in maintaining law and order during the festivalSimilar security enforcement was visible in Govindpuri where police teams carried out special drives against drunk driving Vehicles with darktinted windows were stopped and checked and fines were imposed on violators as part of the preventive measuresIn Laxmi Nagar in East Delhi strict action was taken against traffic rule violations Police personnel stopped bikers riding without helmets those carrying three or more riders and individuals flouting other traffic norms Vehicles belonging to those unable to produce valid documents were also seized on the spotIn the Shakarpur police station area challans were issued near Laxmi Nagar Metro Station against motorists violating traffic regulations Officials said the checks were aimed at preventing accidents and ensuring public safety during the highspirited celebrationsThe steppedup enforcement comes a day after the Delhi Police intensified security arrangements across the city ahead of Holi On Tuesday senior officials had said that elaborate measures including additional deployment in sensitive areas and border checking were put in place to ensure the festival was observed peacefullyPolice had also identified proclaimed bootleggers and taken preventive action while meetings were conducted with local security committees to review preparedness based on last yearâs incidentsHoli the festival of colours marks the triumph of good over evil and the arrival of spring While people across Delhi celebrated by smearing colours on each other and exchanging greetings the police presence remained visible to ensure that the festivities concluded without any untoward incidents IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/delhi-police-enforces-traffic-rules-maintains-vigil-during-holi-festivities-663852.html Wed, 04 Mar 2026 19:27:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/alert-kolkata-cops-arrest-over-300-during-dol-yatra-for-indecent-behaviour-drunkenness-663860.html Kolkata March 4 Kolkata Police arrested 330 people on charges of indecent behaviour and drunkenness on the day of Dol Yatra said the police on Wednesday Strict security arrangements were made across the city since Tuesday morning to avoid any untoward incident Police picketing was increased at various placesIt is learnt that the arrests were made on the basis of specific complaints from different parts of the city said sources in city police headquartersAlong with this the police also confiscated 25 litres of liquor Not only Dol Yatra Tuesday but strict surveillance is being maintained by the Kolkata Police since morning today on the occasion of HoliSources in the police said that about 4000 policemen have been deployed across the city to ensure that there is no disturbance during the festival of coloursJoint Police Commissioner and DCrank police officers are also present on the streets About 400 police pickets were set up on the streets during this time Out of these there are special police pickets at 86 important places where 6 police officers and police personnel are deployedApart from this three police personnel are on picket at 312 other places Also today on the day of Holi a heavy radio flying squad is patrolling the roads About 62 PCR vans along with a quick response team will patrol the city throughout the dayPolice bikes will patrol the vast roads of each police station area The police have given special importance to the fact that no one goes to take a bath in the river Hooghly or water bodies across the city in a drunken stateSince Tuesday there has been special police security at 66 ghats and various water bodies in Kolkata At least 24 of them have been deployed by Disaster Management Groups of Kolkata PoliceOn the other hand city police headquarters is alerting each police station so that the force reaches the spot within a short time if any disturbance is reportedIf there is a complaint of molestation in the name of playing with colours the police station have been asked to take legal action immediately At the same time the police said that searches are underway to find illegal liquor IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/alert-kolkata-cops-arrest-over-300-during-dol-yatra-for-indecent-behaviour-drunkenness-663860.html Wed, 04 Mar 2026 20:32:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/excise-team-attacked-during-raid-on-illegal-liquor-unit-in-jharkhands-chaibasa-officer-injured-663745.html Chaibasa Jharkhand March 3 An officer of the excise department was injured after a mob attacked the team during a raid in West Singhbhum district of Jharkhand officials said on Tuesday The excise department team had gone to raid an illicit liquor manufacturing unit in the area when the attack took placeThe incident occurred in Argundi village along the ChaibasaChakradharpur road where the department had received specific information about illegal liquor being produced in a houseActing on the tipoff eight to ten members of the excise department team reached the village to verify the information and conduct a search operation at the premises However the situation escalated dramatically during the raidAccording to officials a man inside the house allegedly attacked the team with a sharp weapon Assistant SubInspector Mantu Agarwal was reportedly targeted in the assault and sustained serious injuries to his neck and backThe sudden attack created panic among the officials As the news of the raid spread a large number of villagers gathered at the spot armed with bows and arrows and other traditional weapons The agitated mob reportedly chased the excise personnel forcing them to retreat to avoid further escalationIn the chaos other members of the team managed to escape safely The injured officer was immediately rushed to Chaibasa Sadar Hospital where he is currently undergoing treatment Doctors attending to him said his condition is stableExcise Commissioner Niranjan Tiwari visited the hospital after receiving information about the incident and met the injured officerFollowing the attack the Chaibasa Mufassil police swung into action A police team led by Station House Officer Vinod Kumar reached Argundi village and launched an investigation Security has been tightened in the area to prevent further unrestPolice sources said that one suspect involved in the attack has been detained for questioning though an official confirmation is awaitedFurther investigation into the illegal liquor operation and the assault on government officials is underway IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/excise-team-attacked-during-raid-on-illegal-liquor-unit-in-jharkhands-chaibasa-officer-injured-663745.html Tue, 03 Mar 2026 17:56:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/mha-writes-to-states-uts-urging-caution-as-middle-east-tensions-escalate-663543.html New Delhi March 2 In view of the escalating conflict in the Middle East the Ministry of Home Affairs MHA on Monday wrote to all states and Union Territories advising them to exercise caution and remain alert to any law and order issues arising from demonstrations In its communication the MHA has asked state governments and UT administrations to closely monitor any protests organised either in support of or against Iran and to ensure that such gatherings do not disrupt public orderThe Ministry has emphasised that adequate preventive measures should be put in place and intelligence inputs closely tracked to preempt any untoward incidentsThe advisory is based on concerns that certain elements may attempt to exploit the situation to incite unrest It cautions that protests could potentially be used as a cover for deliberate attempts to disturb communal harmony or destabilise the law and order situation States have been urged to act swiftly and decisively in case of any signs of escalationThe alert comes against the backdrop of a sharp flareup in the Middle East following joint military strikes by the United States and Israel on Iran which have heightened regional tensionsAmid rising concerns authorities in the Kashmir Valley imposed restrictions on Monday as a precautionary measure to maintain peace and stability All educational institutions including schools colleges and universities have been ordered to remain closed for two daysOfficials said the preventive steps were taken to ensure that miscreants and antinational elements do not exploit public sentiment in the wake of the reported killing of Iranâs Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei The restrictions aim to prevent any potential escalation and safeguard communal harmonyProtests have been reported from the Valley with demonstrators expressing grief and anger over developments in Iran A separate protest was also held at Aligarh Muslim University where students gathered on campus to express their anguish Some local residents reportedly joined the demonstration inside the university premisesAuthorities across states have been directed to remain vigilant strengthen coordination between law enforcement agencies and ensure that peace is maintained at all costs in the wake of the developments IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/mha-writes-to-states-uts-urging-caution-as-middle-east-tensions-escalate-663543.html Mon, 02 Mar 2026 14:42:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/cji-surya-kant-offers-prayers-at-tirumala-temple-663330.html Tirupati March 1 Chief Justice of India Surya Kant offered prayers at Sri Venkateswara Temple on Sunday The Chief Justice who had reached Tirumala on Saturday evening had darshan in the morningOn his arrival at the temple he was received by Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam TTD Chairman BR Naidu Executive Officer Muddada Ravi Chandra Additional Executive Officer CH Venkaiah Chowdhury and District Superintendent of Police L Subbaraidu On this occasion the priests traditionally welcomed the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court amidst the chanting of Vedic mantrasAfter the darshan the priests presented âShesha Vastraâ to the Chief Justice Vedic scholars gave him âVeda Shirvachanaâ in the Ranganayakula MandapamTTD officials offered Theertha Prasadam and a portrait of the deity The CJI later visited the Sri Varahaswami Temple Meanwhile TTD has announced that in view of the lunar eclipse on March 3 Slotted Sarva Darshan tokensSSD will not be issued in Tirupati on March 1 and 2 for darshan on March 2 and 3 respectivelyThe SSD tokens for darshan on March 4 will be issued on March 3VIP Break Darshan also remains cancelled on March 3 and as such No recommendation letters will be accepted on March 2 the TTD said in a releaseIt requested the devotees to take note of the changes and cooperate with temple authoritiesThe TTD has already announced that in view of the lunar eclipse the Tirumala temple will remain closed for approximately 10 hours and 30 minutes on March 3The temple will be shut from 9 am to 730 pmThe lunar eclipse will commence at 320 pm and conclude at 647 pm on March 3 As per tradition the temple doors will be closed six hours prior to the commencement of the eclipseThe temple doors will reopen at 730 pm followed by purification rituals and Punyahavachanam Darshan for devotees will resume from 830 pm onwardsThe TTD announced that Arjitha Sevas and VIP Break Darshans will remain cancelled IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/cji-surya-kant-offers-prayers-at-tirumala-temple-663330.html Sun, 01 Mar 2026 12:18:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/neet-suspicious-death-case-patna-court-raps-cbi-adjourns-hearing-till-march-2-663170.html Patna Feb 28 In the NEET student death case a court in Patna pulled up the CBI over its functioning and posted the matter for hearing till March 2 After a lengthy hearing that lasted nearly two and a half hours the court adjourned the matter until March 2The entire team of the Central Bureau of Investigation CBI was present during the proceedingsDuring the hearing the court raised serious questions regarding the functioning of the CBI and reprimanded it over the legal provisions applied in the caseThe court specifically questioned why the POCSO Act has not yet been invoked in what it termed a sensitive matterIt was observed that the CBI is currently proceeding primarily under the relevant section of attempt to murder which according to the court does not appear proportionate to the gravity of the allegationsThe judge sought a clear explanation from the investigating agency regarding the legal basis of the ongoing investigationIn sharp remarks the court asked âDo you really need Manish Ranjan Why is the accused still in jail when the POCSO Act isnt even involved in your caseâThe court further asked what concrete findings had emerged against the accused in the past 15 days of investigation and questioned the justification for his continued incarceration if sufficient evidence had not yet been gatheredThe Special Investigation Team SIT which had earlier probed the case also presented its position before the courtSIT representatives stated that Manish Ranjan had initially been arrested because he was considered an influential individualHowever they clarified that since the matter is now being investigated by the CBI they no longer require his custodyThis submission has added a new dimension to the debate surrounding the accuseds bail prospectsThe mother of the deceased student who was present in court made an emotional appeal to the judge seeking justice for her daughterThe case timeline shows that it was initially investigated by a local police officer Roshni Kumari the SHO of the Chitragupt Nagar police station until January 17 after which it was handed over to the SIT The CBI formally registered the case on February 12 and began its independent investigationWith the court demanding written responses to its pointed questions all eyes are now on the next hearing scheduled for March 2The CBI will be required to clarify its legal stance and investigative findings which could significantly impact the accuseds bail application and the future course of the case IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/neet-suspicious-death-case-patna-court-raps-cbi-adjourns-hearing-till-march-2-663170.html Sat, 28 Feb 2026 19:33:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/ed-attaches-rs-1463-crore-properties-in-sai-surya-developers-real-estate-fraud-case-663180.html Hyderabad Feb 28 The Directorate of Enforcement ED Hyderabad Zonal Office has provisionally attached immovable properties worth Rs 1463 crore belonging to Ms Sai Surya Developers under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act PMLA 2002 The action is linked to largescale cheating where victims were duped under the pretext of buying plots in real estate projects The attached assets include land parcels registered in the firms nameâThe EDâs investigation was triggered by several FIRs lodged by the Telangana Police against Sathish Chandra Gupta proprietor of Sai Surya Developers and others âAccording to the police chargesheet Gupta collected money from numerous complainants but failed to register the promised land in their names thereby defrauding them âThe probe revealed that Gupta orchestrated a scheme involving unauthorised land layouts selling the same plots to multiple buyers collecting payments without valid agreements and issuing false assurances of registrationâThese acts caused significant financial losses to investors while generating wrongful gains for Gupta and his entitiesâFurther scrutiny uncovered that Gupta and his associates operated multiple bank accounts in their own names as well as in the names of family members and related firms âThe proceeds of crime totalling Rs 1463 crore were collected through cheques bank transfers and cash payments Investigators found the funds were layered through a web of interaccount transfers to conceal their origin and natureâThe diverted amounts were used for various purposes ultimately cheating investors who had trusted the developerâs promisesâThe EDâs attachment of properties marks a significant step in curbing fraudulent real estate practices and safeguarding depositorsâ interestsed that the investigation is ongoing with efforts focused on tracing additional assets and unravelling the full extent of the money laundering network âThe case underscores the growing vigilance of enforcement agencies against real estate scams which have left many buyers vulnerable to financial exploitation IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/ed-attaches-rs-1463-crore-properties-in-sai-surya-developers-real-estate-fraud-case-663180.html Sat, 28 Feb 2026 20:48:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/us-courts-grant-bond-relief-to-indians-held-in-immigration-detention-662988.html Washington Feb 27 Federal courts across the United States this week have ordered bond hearings or immediate release for several Indian nationals held in immigration detention The rulings came from district courts in California Michigan New York and Oklahoma Judges said immigration authorities either applied the wrong detention law or failed to provide adequate due processIn California a federal judge in San Diego granted a habeas petition filed by Harbeet Singh The court ordered an âindividualised bond hearingâ within seven daysThe judge wrote that prolonged detention without a bond hearing âhas become unreasonable and violates due processâ The government must prove by âclear and convincing evidenceâ that he is a flight risk or danger to the communityIn Michigan a federal judge in the Western District conditionally granted relief to Sagar Ram The court ordered a bond hearing under section 1226a within five business days or immediate release The judge rejected the governmentâs claim that mandatory detention appliedIn Oklahoma a federal court reached a similar conclusion in the case of Karandeep Singh The judge held that his detention is governed by section 1226a which allows bond not by the mandatory detention provision in section 1225b2 The court ordered a prompt bond hearingIn New York a federal judge in Brooklyn granted habeas relief to Harmanpreet Singh The court ordered a new bond hearing The government must show by clear and convincing evidence that he is a flight risk or danger The judge said continued detention without proper safeguards violated the Fifth AmendmentIn another California case a federal judge ordered the immediate release of Bhawandeep Singh Dhaliwal The court said he âSHALL be released IMMEDIATELY from DHS custodyâ The judge also barred authorities from rearresting him without constitutionally adequate processIn a separate San Diego case the court ordered that Singh Vikrant âbe released forthwith from immigration custody under the same terms and conditions as his previous releaseâNot all detainees won reliefIn Michigan a federal judge denied a habeas petition filed by Gurpreet Walia Singh The court found that he had already received a redetermination of custody The judge ruled that his detention did not violate the law or the ConstitutionIn Oklahoma another federal court adopted a magistrate judgeâs recommendation and denied a petition challenging the denial of bondThe cases centre on which section of the Immigration and Nationality Act applies Section 1225 requires mandatory detention for certain applicants for admission Section 1226 allows the release of noncitizens already in the country on bondFederal courts in recent years have closely examined prolonged immigration detention The Supreme Court has recognised that noncitizens in the US are entitled to due process protections But disputes continue over how bond hearings must be conducted and who bears the burden of proof IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/us-courts-grant-bond-relief-to-indians-held-in-immigration-detention-662988.html Fri, 27 Feb 2026 14:31:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/beldanga-unrest-case-nia-to-make-4th-attempt-today-to-produce-7-in-bengal-court-662846.html Kolkata Feb 26 After three failed attempts the NIA will again try to produce the seven accused arrested in West Bengals Beldanga unrest case in a city court on Thursday This would be the fourth attempt to produce the accused in court as on the previous three occasions the state police did not provide the necessary escort to bring the accused from Murshidabad district to KolkataThe National Investigation Agency NIA which has been probing the Beldanga unrest as per the Calcutta High Court order has said that if the state government fails then it will itself arrange an escort to bring the accused to the court However it has to be seen whether the state police will provide an escort to bring the accused to the court this timeSources said that NIA would seek the custody of the seven accused for an investigation into the unrest However it has to be seen whether the accused are produced in the city sessions court on Thursday and the NIA gets the custodyIt may be noted that NIA on last Friday approached the Calcutta High Court seeking its intervention in directing the West Bengal Police to submit the case diary of last months violence to the Central agency officials probing the matterIn its petition the NIA counsel had argued that the state police were refusing to hand over the case diary in the matter despite the Supreme Courtâs Division Bench of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi last month refusing to entertain the plea of the state government opposing the NIA probeIncidentally the court had asked the state to hand over the case diary by February 26 It has to be seen whether the case diary is handed over to the NIALast month Beldanga in Murshidabad district became the centre of unrest after the news of the death of Alauddin Sheikh a migrant worker from Murshidabad in Jharkhand reachedWhen Alauddins body arrived there on January 16 local people took to the streets The protesters blocked the national highway on January 16 burning tyres and pelting stones Even train services on the SealdahLalgola route were disrupted by the violent protests A female journalist was attacked in Beldanga that day Although the police cleared the protests on the first day Beldanga erupted again on January 17A total of 36 people including an AIMIM leader were arrested in connection with their involvement in the unrestThe Calcutta High Court had stated that if the Central government wished it could have the National Investigation Agency NIA investigate the Beldanga incident Following this the Ministry of Home Affairs handed over the investigation to the Central agencyThe Supreme Court did not grant any stay on the NIA investigation in accordance with the states demand during the hearing of the case However the court said in its order that the NIA will submit a report to the division bench of the Calcutta High Court in a sealed envelope stating whether there is a prima facie basis for the application of UAPA during the investigation IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/beldanga-unrest-case-nia-to-make-4th-attempt-today-to-produce-7-in-bengal-court-662846.html Thu, 26 Feb 2026 11:28:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/pocso-case-registered-against-karnatakas-yadgir-godman-after-distressing-video-goes-viral-662859.html Yadgir Karnataka Feb 26 A selfproclaimed godman based in Yadgir has been accused of misbehaving with a minor girl after a video of the incident went viral on social media In response the Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights KSCPCR has registered a suo motu case on Thursday and filed a formal complaint with the Superintendent of Police SP of Yadgir The accused Mallikarjun Mutya who is in the age group of 2526 fled his residence and is currently absconding to evade arrest following the filing of a First Information Report FIRThe viral footage which has sparked widespread public outrage reportedly shows Mallikarjun Mutya misbehaving with a child sitting on his lap The video further depicts Mallikarjun Mutya violently dragging the child across a table in the presence of others before forcefully hugging and kissing herBased on a complaint filed by the Child Development Project Officer CDPO of Shahapur taluk a case has been registered under the POCSO Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act at the Gogi Police StationIn a letter to the SP Commission Chairman Shashidhar Kosambe stated A video featuring the accused misbehaving with a minor girl is circulating on social media leading to public demand for immediate action The Commission has registered a suo motu case based on this footage Consequently you are directed to take cognizance of this development conduct a thorough investigation and submit a detailed report to the CommissionResponding to the development the family of the accused maintained that the godman is innocent They claim the child is a distant relative and that his actions were merely a display of paternal or brotherly affectionAccording to the family the girls father originally recorded the video to capture a moment of showering love on the child They allege that after the video was posted as a mobile status the public misinterpreted the context and twisted the narrative to implicate himThe police have taken up further investigationIt can be recalled that in a joint operation a citybased NGO and officials of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence DRI in January arrested a 45yearold selfstyled godman in Bengaluru for allegedly selling monitor lizard genitals claiming to resolve the problems of their clients through magical powers to control their partner IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/pocso-case-registered-against-karnatakas-yadgir-godman-after-distressing-video-goes-viral-662859.html Thu, 26 Feb 2026 12:24:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/pocso-case-registered-against-yadgir-godman-after-distressing-video-goes-viral-662860.html Yadgir Karnataka Feb 26 A selfproclaimed godman based in Yadgir has been accused of misbehaving with a minor girl after a video of the incident went viral on social media In response the Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights KSCPCR has registered a suo motu case on Thursday and filed a formal complaint with the Superintendent of Police SP of Yadgir The accused Mallikarjun Mutya who is in the age group of 2526 fled his residence and is currently absconding to evade arrest following the filing of a First Information Report FIRThe viral footage which has sparked widespread public outrage reportedly shows Mallikarjun Mutya misbehaving with a child sitting on his lap The video further depicts Mallikarjun Mutya violently dragging the child across a table in the presence of others before forcefully hugging and kissing herBased on a complaint filed by the Child Development Project Officer CDPO of Shahapur taluk a case has been registered under the POCSO Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act at the Gogi Police StationIn a letter to the SP Commission Chairman Shashidhar Kosambe stated A video featuring the accused misbehaving with a minor girl is circulating on social media leading to public demand for immediate action The Commission has registered a suo motu case based on this footage Consequently you are directed to take cognizance of this development conduct a thorough investigation and submit a detailed report to the CommissionResponding to the development the family of the accused maintained that the godman is innocent They claim the child is a distant relative and that his actions were merely a display of paternal or brotherly affectionAccording to the family the girls father originally recorded the video to capture a moment of showering love on the child They allege that after the video was posted as a mobile status the public misinterpreted the context and twisted the narrative to implicate himThe police have taken up further investigationIt can be recalled that in a joint operation a citybased NGO and officials of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence DRI in January arrested a 45yearold selfstyled godman in Bengaluru for allegedly selling monitor lizard genitals claiming to resolve the problems of their clients through magical powers to control their partner IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/pocso-case-registered-against-yadgir-godman-after-distressing-video-goes-viral-662860.html Thu, 26 Feb 2026 12:25:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/rajasthan-govt-moves-sc-seeking-postponement-of-elections-to-113-urban-bodies-662869.html Jaipur Feb 26 The Rajasthan government has approached the Supreme Court seeking a postponement of elections to 113 municipal bodies citing the need to redo the ward delimitation process after it was struck down by the High Court A Special Leave Petition SLP filed by the state government states that the Rajasthan High Court had quashed the ward delimitation exercise carried out for 113 of the 309 urban local bodiesAs a result the Rajasthan government has sought additional time to complete the process afresh before conducting electionsAs per the SLP there are many reasons for the government seeking more time According to the SLP the High Court found the delimitation exercise in 113 urban bodies to be flawed While the total number of wards in these civic bodies remained unchanged their internal boundaries were alteredThe court cancelled these revised ward boundaries necessitating a fresh delimitation exerciseThe Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharmaled government has argued that conducting polls without completing the revised delimitation process would not be legally sound and therefore the election schedule should be extendedOn November 14 last year the Rajasthan High Court while disposing around 439 petitions directed the state government to complete the delimitation process by December 31 and conduct panchayat and municipal elections by April 15Subsequently while hearing related petitions challenging the High Courtâs order the Supreme Court also directed that elections be held by April 15The Supreme Court will now consider the state governmentâs plea seeking more timeThe outcome of the hearing will determine whether the April 15 deadline for holding elections remains in place or is extended said sourcesThe matter is significant as it affects election timelines for over one hundred urban local bodies across RajasthanIncidentally the last ward reorganisation in Rajasthan was carried out in 2019 when the state had 196 urban local bodies In the past six years 113 new bodies have been created where elections will be held for the first time IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/rajasthan-govt-moves-sc-seeking-postponement-of-elections-to-113-urban-bodies-662869.html Thu, 26 Feb 2026 13:07:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/sc-seeks-centre-states-response-on-pil-to-curb-false-cases-662876.html New Delhi Feb 26 IANS The Supreme Court on Thursday issued notice on a Public Interest Litigation PIL seeking directions to the Union government and all states and Union Territories to instal display boards at police stations and public offices highlighting the penal consequences of filing false complaints fabricated charges and false evidencenbspnbspA Bench of Chief Justice of India CJI Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi passed the order after hearing submissions made by petitioner advocate Ashwini Kumar UpadhyayDuring the hearing the CJIled Bench observed that the constitutional principle of fraternity must guide societal conduct warning that the misuse of criminal law through false cases has serious consequences for innocent citizensThe problem arises when false complaints are lodged The poor complainant does not even know that a false case has been registered in his name and is being exploited the apex court addedThe plea seeks installation of display boards at police stations tehsil offices district courts panchayat bhawans municipal offices and educational institutions informing citizens about the legal consequences of filing false complaints false charges false statements and fabricated evidenceIt contends that such preventive measures are necessary to safeguard the Right to Life liberty and dignity of innocent citizens guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution and to deter misuse of criminal law provisions for settling personal or political scoresThe PIL has also sought a direction to state authorities to inform complainants about the legal consequences of filing false complaints before registering an FIR or accepting any complaintThe authorities must inform the complainant about punishment for false complaints false charges false statements false information and false evidence before accepting the complaint in order to secure freedom of speech and expression of innocent citizens the petition statedIn addition the petitioner has sought directions to obtain an undertaking or affidavit from complainants affirming that the averments made in the complaint information statement evidence and charges are true and correct with the objective of curbing frivolous litigation and malicious prosecutionRelying on empirical data compiled from National Crime Records Bureau NCRB reports the plea claimed that there is a stark disparity between cases registered and convictions under several special criminal laws with acquittals running into disproportionately high numbersThis statistical pattern reveals a structural problem of false complaints false charges and fabricated evidence clogging the criminal justice system the petition submittedReferring to the Law Commissions 277th Report the petition contended that false charges wrongful prosecutions and fabricated evidence remain primary causes of miscarriage of justice and violation of Article 21The plea further submitted that despite the enactment of Chapter XIV of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023 the absence of administrative or preventive mechanisms has rendered the provisions largely ineffectiveThe PIL claimed that unchecked misuse of criminal law creates a chilling effect on freedoms guaranteed under Article 19 including free speech movement and the right to carry on trade and profession as fear of malicious prosecution suppresses legitimate dissent and enterpriseFalse complaints and malicious prosecutions convert the criminal process itself into punishment resulting in loss of liberty social stigma mental trauma and irreversible damage to reputation even in cases ending in acquittal the plea stated adding that speedy trial and presumption of innocence become meaningless when false cases proliferate uncheckedStating that the judiciary is overburdened due to false complaints false charges and fabricated evidence the petitioner submitted that neither the Centre nor the states have taken effective steps to control the menace necessitating judicial intervention by the Supreme CourtIANS https://dailyworld.in/law/sc-seeks-centre-states-response-on-pil-to-curb-false-cases-662876.html Thu, 26 Feb 2026 13:47:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/three-held-in-howrah-promoter-murder-probe-two-main-shooters-still-at-large-662881.html Kolkata Feb 26 The Howrah City Police arrested three persons for allegedly aiding those who are involved in the murder of promoter Shafiq Khan in the Peelkhana area of Howrah officials said The two main accused identified as Harun Khan and Rohit Hossain who allegedly shot the 27yearold in close range on Wednesday morning are still at largeThe police said the three suspects were arrested from the Jorasanko area of north Kolkata late at night following specific inputs The arrested accused have been identified as Mohammad Bilal 36 a resident of Kalabagan and Mohammad Wakil alias Munna 32 along with Dildar Hossain both residents of the Boubazar areaInvestigators believe that after the shooting the two main accused took shelter at Bilalâs residence in Jorasanko Police sources said the arrested men were in regular contact with the shooters The Howrah City Police detectives are questioning them to trace the whereabouts of Harun Khan and Rohit HossainA murder case has been registered at Golabari Police StationThe police are yet to trace the two main assailants Harun Khan and Rohit Hossain who were captured on CCTV during the killing of 27yearold promoter Shafiq Khan Multiple teams are conducting searches in different locationsA video showing Harun Khan riding pillion on the motorcycle of Howrah Uttar MLA Gautam Chowdhuri along with a photograph of the two walking together has circulated widely on social media Citing these visuals the Opposition has questioned whether the suspectsâ alleged proximity to ruling party figures is hindering police efforts to locate and arrest them despite the available footageThe police have not commented on these allegationsOn Wednesday the 27yearold promoter was shot dead at close range by unidentified assailants in Howrah with the entire incident captured on CCTV The killing triggered tension in the locality where residents blocked roads and set tyres ablaze in protestIn a related development the police have arrested six persons for allegedly assaulting a video journalist who was covering the incident The reporter was attacked by an angry mob and sustained a fractured nose after being beaten A case was registered soon after the assault leading to the arrests IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/three-held-in-howrah-promoter-murder-probe-two-main-shooters-still-at-large-662881.html Thu, 26 Feb 2026 13:54:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/mumbai-sessions-court-acquits-sanjay-raut-in-medha-somaiya-defamation-case-662892.html Mumbai Feb 26 A Mumbai Sessions Court on Thursday acquitted Shiv Sena UBT leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut in a criminal defamation case filed by Medha Somaiya wife of BJP leader Kirit Somaiya The Special Sessions Court pronounced its verdict after reserving the order in Rautâs appeal challenging his conviction by a Magistrates Court last yearWith Thursdayâs ruling Raut has been granted relief and stands acquitted in the caseThe dispute stemmed from allegations made by Raut in the media in which he accused Medha Somaiya of involvement in an alleged Rs 100 crore scam related to the construction of public toilets under the MiraBhayander Municipal Corporation Somaiya had strongly refuted the charges terming them false and defamatoryIn September last year a Mazagaon Metropolitan Magistrate Court had found Raut guilty of defamation and sentenced him to 15 daysâ simple imprisonment along with a fine of Rs 25000 The sentence however was stayed after Raut filed an appeal before the Sessions CourtMedha Somaiya a professor of Organic Chemistry at Mumbaiâs Ruia College had approached the court claiming that Rautâs public statements had damaged her and her husbandâs reputation Prior to filing the complaint in court the Somaiyas had lodged a complaint at Mulund Police Station They maintained that ânot even a single rupee scam has been committedâ and sought legal action against what they described as baseless allegationsRaut on the other hand consistently argued that his statements were based on certain official documents and that he had merely raised questions regarding the alleged irregularities in the toilet construction project He maintained that the issue had also been discussed in the Maharashtra AssemblyWith the Sessions Court overturning the Magistrate Courtâs conviction it is a significant legal victory for Raut in a matter involving leaders from rival parties in Maharashtra IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/mumbai-sessions-court-acquits-sanjay-raut-in-medha-somaiya-defamation-case-662892.html Thu, 26 Feb 2026 15:06:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/father-son-duo-arrested-in-kolkatas-tiljala-shootout-case-662682.html Kolkata Feb 25 Two persons including a father and his son have been arrested in connection with the recent shootout in Kolkataâs Tiljala area police said on Wednesday The accused Mohammad Salman and his father Mohammad Anwar were arrested in the early hours of Wednesday while allegedly attempting to flee the city Police seized a firearm a magazine and two live cartridges from their possessionAccording to police the duo had gone underground following the incident Acting on a tipoff received late Tuesday night that they were planning to escape under the cover of darkness a police team conducted a raid near Tiljala Railway Gate No 2 At around 3 am officers swooped down on a rickshaw stand in the area and apprehended the two accusedThe arrested persons will be produced before a court later in the day where police are likely to seek their custody for further investigationThe shootout took place late on Monday night on Tiljala Road under the Beniapukur police station area Salman is accused of calling a local youth Mohammad Niaz alias Raja out of his house and opening fire on him following a neighbourhood dispute reportedly linked to the alleged theft of cold drink bottlesNiaz a garage worker sustained two bullet injuries to his leg and was rushed to SSKM Hospital where he underwent surgery His condition is reported to be stablePolice said the dispute began on Monday afternoon when an elderly shopkeeper noticed that two bottles of cold drinks were missing from the refrigerator kept outside his shop He accused a local youth of theft but the youthâs mother denied the allegation and protestedThe shopkeeper reportedly called a young man named Suraj from a neighbouring locality to mediate Niaz objected to the involvement of someone from another area in the matter leading to tensionsThe argument resurfaced in the evening Salmans father allegedly supported the decision to call Suraj for arbitration triggering a heated exchange with Niaz Salman is said to have threatened Niaz during the altercationAccording to Niazâs family Salman later called him out of his house around 1 am under the pretext of holding talks Moments after he stepped outside gunshots were heardPolice are continuing their investigation into the incident IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/father-son-duo-arrested-in-kolkatas-tiljala-shootout-case-662682.html Wed, 25 Feb 2026 13:16:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/youtuber-dies-by-suicide-over-break-up-of-affair-with-another-vlogger-a-year-ago-662684.html Hyderabad Feb 25 A young YouTuber died by suicide after alleged failure in love with another YouTuber in Hyderabad They had a breakup a year ago and she was reportedly under emotional stress after that and had allegedly attempted suicide six months ago also Komali 21 who hails from Visakhapatnam hanged herself at her uncleâs house in Chitrapuri colony in Manikonda under the limits of Raidurgam Police Station police said on WednesdayThe incident came to light after Komaliâs family lodged a complaint with the policeKomali was a BSc at student Mallareddy University and was making YouTube videos parttimeShe had been in love with Nikhil Reddy a successful YouTuber while doing a software job for three years Nikhil also hails from VisakhapatnamThey had a breakup a year ago due to some differences She was reported to have been under severe emotional stress after the breakup and had allegedly attempted suicide six months ago alsoNikhil had reportedly called her two days ago and they had an argument She hanged herself with a saree when no one was at homeKomali made a name for herself on social media by making YouTube videos on lifestyle daily vlogs and personal experiencesHer recent video on her Tirumala padyatra had gone viral She walked up to the hill shrine to fulfil her personal wish It became her last postOn a complaint by Komaliâs family Raidurgam police registered a case The police were questioning family members Nikhil and other friends as part of investigation into the reasons that led to the suicideIn another incident in Hyderabad a man was stabbed to death by unknown assailants The incident occurred early on Wednesday near Bharatnagar flyover under the limits of Sanathnagar Police StationThe victim had been identified as Shankar 48 a native of Karnataka He was working at a hotel in Moosapet for the last two yearsPolice registered a case and shifted the body for postmortem examination The murder is suspected to be a result of an extramarital affair IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/youtuber-dies-by-suicide-over-break-up-of-affair-with-another-vlogger-a-year-ago-662684.html Wed, 25 Feb 2026 13:18:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/sc-permits-deputation-of-officials-from-jharkhand-orissa-high-courts-in-west-bengal-sir-exercise-662494.html New Delhi Feb 24 IANS The Supreme Court on Tuesday permitted judicial officers from the neighbouring High Courts of Jharkhand and Orissa to be deputed to West Bengal to expedite the adjudication of voter claims and objections arising from the ongoing Special Intensive Revision SIR of electoral rolls in the pollbound statenbspnbspA Bench of Chief Justice of India CJI Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipin Pancholi issued the directions after the Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court informed the Apex Court about the massive pendency of cases involving logical discrepancy and unmapped category votersAs per the communication placed before the Top Court nearly 80 lakh applications require adjudication while only about 250 judicial officers primarily District Judges and Additional District Judges are currently engaged in the exerciseThe Calcutta High Court estimated that even if each officer disposes of 250 matters daily the process would take around 80 days to concludeTaking note of the deadline for the final electoral roll scheduled for February 28 2026 the CJI Kantled Bench allowed the Calcutta High Court to additionally deploy Civil Judges Senior Division and Civil Judges Junior Division with at least three years of experience to assist in the SIR workIt further permitted the Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court to seek assistance from neighbouring High Courts if additional manpower is requiredThe Supreme Court said that judicial officers serving as well as retired from the Jharkhand and Orissa High Courts may be deputed to West Bengal for the limited purpose of completing verification of pending claimsIt directed that expenses towards travel boarding lodging and honorarium of such officers would be borne by the Election Commission of India ECIThe CJI Kantled Bench clarified that the ECI may proceed with publication of the final electoral roll on February 28 even if adjudication of certain cases remains pendingInvoking its powers under Article 142 of the Constitution the Supreme Court ordered that voters whose names are included in subsequent supplementary electoral lists would be deemed to be part of the final electoral roll published on February 28IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/sc-permits-deputation-of-officials-from-jharkhand-orissa-high-courts-in-west-bengal-sir-exercise-662494.html Tue, 24 Feb 2026 13:52:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/big-relief-for-vijayan-govt-as-sc-stays-hc-order-clears-way-for-nava-kerala-survey-662498.html New Delhi Feb 24 IANS In a significant relief to the Government of Kerala the Supreme Court on Tuesday stayed the interim order of the Kerala High Court that had halted the states proposed Nava Kerala Survey allowing the government to proceed with the exercisenbspNew Delhi Feb 24 IANS In a significant relief to the Government of Kerala the Supreme Court on Tuesday stayed the interim order of the Kerala High Court that had halted the states proposed Nava Kerala Survey allowing the government to proceed with the exerciseThe High Court had last week restrained the survey following petitions filed by leaders of the Kerala Students Union KSU who alleged that the data collection drive undertaken ahead of elections amounted to a politically motivated exercise funded by public moneyThe High Court struck down the controversial Nava Kerala Survey calling it unlawful and questioning how it was funded and executed The Court had made it clear that there was neither a proper budget allocation nor a financial sanction for the programmeChallenging the High Courts stay the state government moved an appeal in the Supreme CourtAppearing for the state senior advocate Kapil Sibal contended that the government has the authority to assess how effectively welfare schemes are reaching beneficiaries and to collect data for administrative evaluationAccepting the broad thrust of this argument the apex court observed that governments are entitled to undertake such surveys to evaluate the impact of schemes on which crores of rupees are spentThe Bench questioned the basis for halting the exercise asking what was wrong with gathering information to determine whether welfare programmes were yielding the intended resultsIt underlined that political criticism of a survey cannot be the sole ground to restrain a state from performing governance functionsThe court also made pointed remarks against unwarranted judicial interference in administrative matters stressing the need for restraint unless there is a clear constitutional violationWhile permitting the survey to continue the Supreme Court directed the state government to submit a report detailing the expenditure involved estimated at around Rs 20 croreThe case has been posted for further hearing on April 13The ruling marks a crucial legal victory for the Pinarayi Vijayan government and reinforces the executives authority to undertake policy evaluation exercises even in politically sensitive periodsIANS https://dailyworld.in/law/big-relief-for-vijayan-govt-as-sc-stays-hc-order-clears-way-for-nava-kerala-survey-662498.html Tue, 24 Feb 2026 15:42:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/delhi-hc-dismisses-pil-challenging-1980-waqf-board-notification-on-jahangirpuri-mosques-662501.html New Delhi Feb 24 IANS The Delhi High Court has dismissed a Public Interest Litigation PIL challenging a 1980 notification of the Delhi Waqf Board declaring certain mosques in Jahangirpuri as Waqf properties observing that the petition sought to unnecessarily rake up the past after a lapse of 46 years and was not filed with bona fide intentnbspA Bench of Chief Justice CJ Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia refused to entertain the plea filed by Save India Foundation which had questioned the validity of a notification dated March 24 1980 published in the Delhi Gazette on April 10 1980 listing several Waqf properties including mosques locally known as Jama Masjid Moti Masjid and Masjid JahangirpuriThe petitioner organisation contended that the land on which the mosques stand had already been acquired by the Delhi government in 1977 for planned development of the Jahangirpuri area under the Land Acquisition Act 1894 and compensation had been paid to landownersIt alleged that the structures were illegal encroachments on public land and that the Waqf notification violated the lawRejecting these submissions the Delhi High Court observed that the petitioner failed to produce any material establishing the identity of the land allegedly acquired or proving that the acquired land and the Waqf properties were the sameWe are of the considered opinion that the petitioner has unnecessarily attempted to rake up the past The motive behind filing the writ petition also does not appear to be bona fide the CJ Upadhyayaled Bench observedIt further held that any notification made about 46 years ago cannot be permitted to be challenged on flimsy grounds particularly when statutory remedies had long expiredReferring to the scheme of the Muslim Wakfs Act 1954 the Delhi High Court said disputes regarding inclusion of properties in the Waqf list could have been raised before a competent civil court under Section 6 of the Act within one year of publication of the notificationIf an ordinary civil remedy is barred entertaining a writ petition seeking declaration that the certain properties enlisted in the impugned notification are not Waqf properties that too after 46 years in our opinion would legally be impermissible the CJ Upadhyayaled Bench saidThe judgment also took note of the petitioner organisations litigation history observing that it appeared to be habitual of filing the petitions describing them as Public Interest Litigation petitionsStressing that PILs must not be allowed to become a tool for private gain or publicitydriven causes the Delhi High Court observed that a litigant invoking PIL jurisdiction must approach the court with clean hands clean heart clean mind and clean objectiveThe purity of the stream of Public Interest Litigation in the country should not at any cost be permitted to be undermined by any litigant the Bench said adding that courts must ensure that frivolous petitions styled as PILs are nipped in the budThe Delhi High Court warned that the attractive brand name of Public Interest Litigation should not be used for suspicious products of mischief and emphasised that only genuine causes involving substantial public interest deserve judicial interventionConcluding that the PIL neither disclosed bona fide public interest nor legal grounds to reopen a decadesold notification the CJ Upadhyayaled Bench dismissed the writ petitionFor the reasons aforesaid we are not inclined to entertain the instant petition which is hereby dismissed along with pending applications it orderedIANS https://dailyworld.in/law/delhi-hc-dismisses-pil-challenging-1980-waqf-board-notification-on-jahangirpuri-mosques-662501.html Tue, 24 Feb 2026 15:46:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/manhunt-launched-after-two-shot-dead-at-reception-party-in-patna-662293.html Patna Feb 23 No arrests have been made so far in connection with the deadly shooting at a reception party in Patna that claimed two lives The incident occurred around 1145 pm in Shahpur village under the jurisdiction of Gopalpur Police Station on SundayAccording to police two brothers Manish Kumar 32 and Manjeet Kumar 23 were shot dead following a dispute during the reception party of the son of a local resident Daulat Rai Both victims sustained critical injuries and were rushed to a nearby hospital where doctors declared them deadEyewitnesses said the brothers got into an argument with some people at the function During the altercation one of the assailants allegedly pulled out a pistol and opened fire before fleeing the scene The sudden gunfire triggered panic and chaos at the venue with guests scrambling for safetyPolice were immediately alerted and a team from Gopalpur Police Station reached the spot secured the area and began an investigation A case has been registered under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita BNS at Gopalpur Police Station Statements of those present at the party are being recordedParichay Kumar City SP East Patna said crucial evidence has been recovered from the scene Three empty cartridges were seizedSources said police have also obtained CCTV footage from the area and videos from the reception venue Although the accused have been identified their names have not yet been disclosedâTwo brothers were shot dead at a reception party under the Gopalpur Police Station limits Preliminary investigation suggests a prior dispute as the motive behind the incident Three empty cartridges have been recovered from the spot The accused have been identified and raids are underway to arrest themâ Kumar saidPolice teams are conducting searches at multiple locations to apprehend the accused Further investigation is in progress IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/manhunt-launched-after-two-shot-dead-at-reception-party-in-patna-662293.html Mon, 23 Feb 2026 12:27:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/sadhvi-prem-baisa-death-case-compounder-arrested-released-on-bail-the-same-day-662301.html Jodhpur Feb 23 The compounder who was arrested in connection with the death of Sadhvi Prem Baisa was released by the police the same day The accused compounder Devi Singh Rajpurohit was held for administering the injections to the Sadhvi after which her condition reportedly worsened She died soon after being rushed to hospital Devi Singh Rajpurohit was later released on bail on February 19 as the case falls under bailable sections of the lawAccording to police sources a case of rash and negligent medical conduct was registered against the compounder at Boranada Police Station on February 16 nearly 20 days after the Sadhviâs deathFollowing the registration of the case Devi Singh Rajpurohit was arrested on February 19 and released after furnishing a bail bondThe information about his arrest and release came to light on Sunday DCP West Vineet Bansal confirmed that the charges were bailable and said the arrest and release were carried out in accordance with legal procedures If the allegations are proven the compounder could face a punishment of up to two years in prisonSadhvi Prem Baisa died on January 28 at her Aarti Nagar ashram in the Boranada area of Jodhpur According to family members she was suffering from cold symptoms and breathing difficulties following which compounder Devi Singh Rajpurohit was called for treatmentDevi Singh Rajpurohit administered two injections after which her condition reportedly worsened She was rushed to Preksha Hospital on Pal Road where doctors declared her dead after examinationHer father Veeram Nath later brought the body back to the ashram After police intervention the body was shifted to the Mahatma Gandhi Hospital mortuary and a postmortem was conducted on January 29The body was handed over to the family the same evening and the Sadhvi was buried on January 30 in Pareu village BarmerViscera samples were sent for forensic testing on February 2 and the Forensic Science Laboratory FSL completed its investigation within 11 daysBased on the postmortem and FSL reports police sought expert medical opinions to determine the cause of deathA Special Investigation Team SIT questioned the Sadhviâs father social media staff cook compounder and hospital staff as part of the probeJodhpur Police Commissioner Om Prakash stated that the primary cause of death was cardiopulmonary arrest due to a severe lung conditionHowever the investigation also found that the compounder allegedly ignored medical protocols during treatment indicating possible negligencePolice officials said the compounderâs actions during treatment violated established medical procedures leading to the registration of a negligence caseThe investigation is ongoing and further legal action will depend on court proceedings and expert medical opinions IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/sadhvi-prem-baisa-death-case-compounder-arrested-released-on-bail-the-same-day-662301.html Mon, 23 Feb 2026 12:57:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/political-leaders-in-india-decry-talibans-new-penal-code-legalising-domestic-violence-662329.html New Delhi Feb 23 The Talibanâs new domestic violence code which permits women to be beaten as long as their bones do not break has sparked widespread outrage in India Critics describe it as an assault on basic human dignityâ and a chilling reminder of the dangers when power and religious edicts override basic rights The move has been condemned as a stark violation of womenâs rights an affront to justice and a signal that oppressive policies can be formalised under the guise of law Speaking to IANS BJP National Spokesperson Syed Shahnawaz Hussain reacted sharply saying âThe Taliban are not going to refrain from such actions They have returned to power and an atmosphere has formed that their actions can never be right The fatwa they have issued and the law they have made allows women to be beaten severely and these lawmakers should be held accountableâJDU Spokesperson Neeraj Kumar called the law a stark violation of democratic and human rights principlesâWhere democratic values are not protected and policies are driven by religion injustice is inevitable The mistreatment of women under religious pretexts is unacceptable No religion permits disrespecting daughters denying them education or discriminating against themâ he saidCongress MP Imran Masood criticised the Talibanâs justification for the penal code âI cannot understand which Islamic text they referred to while framing this According to the status of women in Islam this is not justifiedâ he addedJDU National Spokesperson Rajeev Ranjan Prasad noted the broader diplomatic implications âThis concerns relations between countries We support the central governmentâs decisions and policy measures regarding such international developmentsâThe Talibanâs 90page code signed by Supreme Leader Hibatullah Akhundzada also abolishes the 2009 law on the Elimination of Violence Against Women EVAW and imposes punishments based on social status allowing lighter penalties for the elite and harsher measures for lowerclass individualsHuman rights organisations including the UN Special Rapporteur on violence against women have called for immediate international intervention to halt the lawâs implementation IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/political-leaders-in-india-decry-talibans-new-penal-code-legalising-domestic-violence-662329.html Mon, 23 Feb 2026 14:50:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/indian-muslim-clerics-javed-akhtar-condemn-taliban-over-code-allowing-wife-beating-662351.html Lucknow Feb 23 Prominent Muslim clerics in India have sharply condemned the Talibanâs new penal code in Afghanistan that reportedly legalises domestic violence calling it a blatant misuse of religion and a violation of Islamic principles The law which allows husbands to beat wives âwithout causing bone fractures or open woundsâ and punishes women with imprisonment if they visit their parents without permission has sparked outrage among religious leaders and civil society All India Muslim Jamaat President Maulana Shahabuddin Razvi Barelvi said âThe Taliban has come to power in Afghanistan for the second time The Talibans image has always been one of terror We have never accepted the Taliban and have always considered them involved in terrorist activities Now even if they claim to have changed their methods beating and violence are against Islamic principles Taliban authorities should ensure that such decrees are not issued that harm interpersonal relationsâMaulana Mohammad Mirza Yasoob Abbas cleric and speaker of the AllIndia Shia Personal Law Board AISPLB said âIt is very unfortunate that the Taliban are creating turmoil in the name of religion This new law is very wrong and should be strongly condemnedâShia religious leader Maulana Saif Abbas also criticised the Taliban stating âThe Talibanâs character is double standard On one hand they speak about Islam but on the other the law they have created allows beating wives and children There is no justification for domestic violence and we strongly condemn this Taliban lawâFormer Babri Masjid litigant Iqbal Ansari said âViolence is considered wrong in all societies regardless of religion We do not consider violence to be right we too are Muslims connected to our faith but violence should not be directed at anyoneâVeteran lyricist and poet Javed Akhtar taking to X called on Indian muftis and mullahs to unconditionally denounce the measure pointing out that the Taliban law reportedly allows wife beating âwithout any bone fractureâ and punishes women with three monthsâ imprisonment if they visit their parents without their husbandâs permission His post sparked widespread discussion on social mediaâThis is being carried out in the name of religion but it is completely unacceptableâ Akhtar saidThe remarks from Indian Muslim leaders come amid global criticism of the Talibanâs policies towards women highlighting concern over the misuse of religion to justify violence IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/indian-muslim-clerics-javed-akhtar-condemn-taliban-over-code-allowing-wife-beating-662351.html Mon, 23 Feb 2026 15:40:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/narcotic-crops-worth-rs-1092-crore-seized-in-gujarats-bhavnagar-two-arrested-662359.html Bhavnagar Feb 23 The Sihor Police in Bhavnagar district have seized narcotic crops and related materials valued at more than Rs 1092 crore after uncovering illegal cultivation in the boundary area of Sakhvadar and Sar villages officials said on Monday The seizure was made from an orchard situated on a slope in Sihor taluka following a specific tipoffThe local police received information that opium and ganja were being cultivated at an orchard owned by two brothersActing on the input a police team conducted an early morning raid on SundayDuring the operation officers seized 108752 kilograms of green opium poppy plants valued at Rs 108698000 and 26 kilograms of dried poppy husk worth Rs 390900 and 19 kilograms of green ganja plants valued at Rs 191400Two mobile phones worth Rs 5000 were also recovered Other items seized included three mats Aadhaar cards copies of Village Form 8A land records relating to two survey numbers a light bulb a saree and a plastic bagThe total estimated value of the seized narcotics is Rs 109285300The accused have been identified as Sanjaybhai Chauhan 55 and Boghabhai Chauhan 53 both agriculturists and residents of Sakhvadar village boundary of Sihor talukaAn offence has been registered against them under Sections 8B 8C 15B 18B 20A 20BII and 29 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances NDPS Act Further legal proceedings are underwayThe seizure comes amid a series of recent antinarcotics operations in GujaratOn February 18 the Gujarat AntiTerrorism Squad and the Indian Coast Guard intercepted an Iranianregistered speedboat about 140 nautical miles off Porbandar during a joint maritime operationOfficials said around 203 kilograms of suspected narcotic substances were recovered and two Iranian nationals were arrestedIn another case the Anti Narcotics Task Force of the CID crime unit in Ahmedabad seized 3060 grams of mephedrone valued at approximately Rs 91800 during a raid in the Khadia area on February 17One person was arrested at the scene while two others were named in the complaint as investigations continue to trace the source and distribution network of the contraband IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/narcotic-crops-worth-rs-1092-crore-seized-in-gujarats-bhavnagar-two-arrested-662359.html Mon, 23 Feb 2026 16:25:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/centre-examining-rising-airfares-at-highest-level-sc-told-662382.html New Delhi Feb 23 The Central government on Monday informed the Supreme Court that the issue of volatile airfares and addon fees charged by private airlines during festive seasons and holidays is being examined at the highest level A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta was hearing a public interest litigation PIL challenging the opaque exploitative and algorithmdriven pricing practices in Indiaâs civil aviation sector as well as the reduction in complimentary checkin baggage limits for passengers Appearing for the Union government Additional Solicitor General ASG Anil Kaushik submitted that consultations are underway at the highest levels of the government to address the concerns raised in the petition The Solicitor General has also called a meeting We have taken the matter to the highest level We are in discussion with the highest authority Four weeksâ time may be granted and we will come up with a counter the Centreâs law officer said Taking note of the submission the apex court granted four weeksâ time to the Centre to file its response and listed the matter for further consideration on March 23 During the hearing the Justice Vikram Nathled bench observed that fluctuations in airfare and imposition of additional charges during peak travel periods raise a matter of very serious concern This is a very serious concern Otherwise we donât entertain Article 32 petitions the apex court remarked It also declined to entertain the Federation of Indian Airlinesâ FIA plea seeking to be impleaded in the proceedings observing that the Union government would engage with stakeholders before taking any policy decision The Union government will deal with you They will call you before making a decision They will constitute a committee and make a decision It is for the Ministry to decide If they donât we will consider that later the bench said In November 2025 the Supreme Court issued notice on a plea filed by social activist S Laxminarayanan who contended that air travel recognised as an essential service under the Essential Services Maintenance Act has become increasingly unaffordable due to unregulated unpredictable and exploitative fare mechanisms The petition filed through advocate Charu Mathur contended that sudden fare spikes sometimes doubling or tripling within hours during emergencies festivals or peak travel periods disproportionately affect passengers compelled to undertake urgent travel for medical educational or employmentrelated reasons It further argued that airlines have reduced complimentary checkin baggage allowance from 25 kg to 15 kg without adequate justification effectively converting a previously included service into an additional revenue stream through excessbaggage charges Terming such practices arbitrary and violative of Article 21 of the Constitution the plea urged the apex court to direct the Centre to frame a regulatory framework or establish an independent aviation tariff regulator with quasijudicial powers to oversee airfare structures monitor compliance and adjudicate passenger grievances IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/centre-examining-rising-airfares-at-highest-level-sc-told-662382.html Mon, 23 Feb 2026 18:29:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/patna-court-rejects-transit-remand-of-bihar-fire-dept-ig-questions-andhra-police-662383.html Patna Feb 23 In a major legal setback for the Andhra Pradesh Police the Patna Civil Court on Monday refused to grant transit remand of Bihar Home Guard and Fire Service Inspector General IG M Sunil Nayak The court sharply questioned the procedure adopted by the Andhra Pradesh Police and termed the action legally flawedThe matter was heard in the court of Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate where the Andhra Pradesh Police sought transit remand to take IG Sunil Nayak to Andhra Pradesh in connection with a criminal caseDuring the hearing the court said that the Andhra Pradesh Police did not have a valid arrest warrant no updated case diary was produced before the court and mandatory legal procedures were not followedTaking strong exception to these lapses the court outright rejected the transit remand applicationEarlier on Monday a team of Andhra Pradesh Police reached IG Sunil Nayaks official residence located in the Shastri Nagar police station area of PatnaThe team conducted a search and preliminary investigation inside the IGs residence in the presence of local police officialsFollowing news of the action security around the residence was increased and a large number of Home Guard personnel reached the spotThe personnel alleged that the action against their senior officer was being taken in violation of established rulesAfter being produced in the Patna Civil Court advocate Rishikesh Narayan said the courts position saying that arrests must strictly follow legal proceduresAny arrest has a prescribed legal process Transit remand cannot be granted without proper documents In the case of IAS or IPS officers prior permission from the Central government is mandatory That permission was not sought in this case he addedHe said that IG Sunil Nayak now has the option to approach the Patna High Court for bail calling the courts decision a major interim relief for the IPS officerAccording to sources the court also objected to the fact that some Andhra Pradesh Police personnel appeared during the court hearing without uniformThe court reportedly expressed strong displeasure over this lapse and directed the concerned officers including three Andhra Pradesh Police personnel to remain present in the courtroom while making strict observations about their conduct and procedureA case has been registered against IG Sunil Nayak under Section 307 attempt to murder of the Indian Penal CodeThe matter is reportedly linked to K Raghurama Krishna Raju a former Member of Parliament from Andhra PradeshSources claim the case pertains to the alleged misuse of serious penal sections in a previous incidentWith the Patna Civil Court denying transit remand IG Sunil Nayaks immediate transfer to Andhra Pradesh has been stalled for nowHowever the case is expected to move forward through higher judicial forumsThe incident has triggered intense discussion within administrative and police circles raising serious questions about interstate police coordination arrest protocols and procedural compliance IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/patna-court-rejects-transit-remand-of-bihar-fire-dept-ig-questions-andhra-police-662383.html Mon, 23 Feb 2026 18:30:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/calcutta-hc-pulls-up-state-over-illegal-constructions-in-east-kolkata-wetlands-662399.html Kolkata Feb 23 The Calcutta High Court on Monday ordered that the Union Ministry of Home Affairs be made a party in the case relating to illegal constructions in the East Kolkata Wetlands court sources said Justice Amrita Sinha of the Calcutta High Court expressed dissatisfaction with the role of the state government and the Kolkata Municipal Corporation in addressing the issue The court observed that if necessary central forces might have to be deployed to demolish the illegal constructions in the wetlandsThe matter came up following allegations that more than 500 illegal constructions had come up in the East Kolkata Wetlands reportedly after filling up ecologically sensitive wetland areas in violation of environmental normsJustice Sinhaâs Bench has conducted multiple hearings in the matter in the past and had earlier raised concerns regarding the alleged inaction and inadequate response of the state administration and municipal authoritiesThe court had previously directed the municipal authorities to identify and demolish illegal constructions in the wetlands with the assistance of the police However it was reported before the court that demolition work remained incomplete and several illegal structures were yet to be identifiedDuring Mondayâs hearing the District Magistrate of South 24 Parganas submitted a status report before the court outlining the current situation in the affected areasAfter examining the report Justice Sinha expressed strong displeasure observing that despite repeated reports being submitted there was little visible progress on the ground She remarked that she did not want further reports but wanted to see concrete action taken in compliance with the courtâs directivesThe court made it clear that its primary concern was the effective implementation of its earlier orders and the removal of illegal constructions from the protected wetland areaJustice Sinha observed that if the state authorities failed to carry out the demolition exercise the court would seek the cooperation of the central government and consider involving central forces to ensure complianceThe court also noted that despite repeated judicial directions the state government and the municipal corporation had failed to take adequate and timely action in removing the illegal constructionsJustice Sinha further warned that if the situation did not improve the court would not hesitate to direct the deployment of central forces to carry out demolition of the illegal structuresDuring the proceedings counsel representing the East Kolkata Wetlands informed the court that notices had been issued in connection with illegal constructions and that formal orders for demolition had also been passedHowever the court emphasised that issuance of notices alone was not sufficient and that actual demolition and restoration work must be carried out without delayThe court subsequently directed that the Union Ministry of Home Affairs be impleaded as a party in the case observing that if the state government was unable to effectively enforce the courtâs orders responsibility could be entrusted to the Centre to ensure complianceThe next hearing in the matter has been scheduled for March 16 IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/calcutta-hc-pulls-up-state-over-illegal-constructions-in-east-kolkata-wetlands-662399.html Mon, 23 Feb 2026 21:01:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/calcutta-hc-questions-ssc-over-fees-for-raising-objections-to-exam-questions-662408.html Kolkata Feb 23 The Calcutta High Court on Monday directed the West Bengal School Service Commission SSC to disclose through an affidavit details of the money collected from candidates who sought review of allegedly incorrect questions in last yearâs recruitment examination Hearing a petition in the matter Justice Amrita Sinha of the Calcutta High Court sought clarification on whether the questions flagged by candidates were indeed incorrect and how much money had been charged from candidates for raising objectionsThe court also asked the SSC to specify in accordance with its rules and procedures how much money if any was refunded to candidates in cases where questions were subsequently found to be incorrectJustice Sinha further sought details on the total number of questions that were ultimately found to be incorrect and the number of complaints received by the Commission regarding alleged errors in the examinationThe court directed the SSC to submit a detailed affidavit within four weeks addressing all the queries raised during the hearingThe High Court also questioned the legal basis for collecting such fees observing that if there was no specific provision in law permitting such charges the Commission would have to explain under what authority the money was collected from candidatesThe matter relates to allegations that around 24 questions in the second State Level Selection Test SLST conducted by the SSC in September last year were incorrectBased on these allegations a group of candidates including one Chandan Dhar filed a petition before the Calcutta High Court challenging the validity of the questions and the fee charged for raising objectionsThe petitioners alleged that the SSC had charged Rs 100 per question from candidates seeking review or raising objections despite there being no clear legal provision permitting such chargesCounsel for the petitioners Firdous Shamim argued before the court that while a fee may be charged for accessing or viewing answer scripts there was no legal basis for charging candidates to raise objections regarding errors in question papersThe petitioners further contended that such charges restricted the rights of examinees to challenge potentially incorrect questions and seek fair evaluationTaking note of the submissions the High Court directed the SSC to place its response on record through an affidavit and clarify the legal and procedural basis for collecting objection feesThe court has scheduled the next hearing in the matter after four weeks IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/calcutta-hc-questions-ssc-over-fees-for-raising-objections-to-exam-questions-662408.html Mon, 23 Feb 2026 21:15:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/delhi-hc-grants-injunction-in-favour-of-kajol-in-personality-rights-case-661971.html New Delhi Feb 20 IANS The Delhi High Court on Friday passed an adinterim injunction protecting the personality and publicity rights of Bollywood actress Kajol Devgan restraining various entities from unauthorised use of her name image and likeness for commercial gains and directing the removal of obscene and pornographic content published against hernbspA singlejudge Bench of Justice Jyoti Singh issued notice in the suit filed by the actress and granted interim protection restraining the defendants from using Kajols photographs and other personality attributes while selling commercial merchandise without her authorisationJustice Singh further directed the immediate takedown of pornographic and objectionable material circulated on different online platforms in her nameThe Delhi High Court observed that prima facie the plaintiff had made out a case for protection of her personality and publicity rights against unauthorised commercial exploitation and misuseA detailed order would be passed restraining the misuse of Kajols personality traits including her name image voice and other identifiable attributes through Artificial Intelligence AI tools or Deepfake technologyThe interim relief was granted in a plea seeking protection against the misuse of Kajols personality rights including unauthorised sale of merchandise bearing her image and the circulation of morphed obscene and defamatory material on the InternetThe Delhi High Court observed that no entity can commercially exploit the actress identity without her consent and that social media platforms and other online intermediaries are required to act promptly upon being notified of infringing contentThe Kajol case adds to a growing list of highprofile personalities invoking their personality and publicity rights before the Delhi High CourtIn recent months former India captain Sunil Gavaskar actor Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao Jr NTR spiritual leader and Art of Living founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar actors Nagarjuna Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Abhishek Bachchan filmmaker Karan Johar and podcaster Raj Shamani have secured court protection against the unauthorised use of their identity likeness or AIgenerated imitationsIANS https://dailyworld.in/law/delhi-hc-grants-injunction-in-favour-of-kajol-in-personality-rights-case-661971.html Fri, 20 Feb 2026 14:15:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/what-culture-are-we-developing-sc-questions-growing-trend-of-election-time-freebies-661906.html New Delhi Feb 19 IANS The Supreme Court on Thursday made strong oral observations against the growing trend of political parties and state governments announcing freebies ahead of electionsnbspA bench of Chief Justice of India CJI Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi made the remarks while hearing a writ petition filed by Tamil Nadu Power Distribution Company Ltd challenging Rule 23 of the Electricity Amendment Rules 2024 relating to tariff subsidies and recovery of power costsCautioning that indiscriminate welfare distribution could adversely impact the countrys longterm economic development the CJIled Bench questioned the practice of states absorbing electricity bills and extending blanket subsidies without distinguishing between those who can afford to pay and those who are genuinely marginalisedIs it in the public interest that the state is absorbing all these We are not talking of Tamil Nadu in particular We are talking of panIndia Because of freebies what kind of culture are we developing the apex court askedIt is understandable that as a welfare state you want to provide relief to the marginalised But without drawing any distinction between those who can afford and those who cannot afford if you start giving will it not amount to a sort of appeasing policy it further saidThe CJI Surya Kantled bench said the top court was really disturbed by the nationwide trend of announcing welfare schemes shortly before electionsWhy are schemes suddenly announced near elections It is high time that all political stalwarts leaders parties and all social engineers revisit everything it saidThe Supreme Court noted that even revenuesurplus states are under an obligation to prioritise development expenditureEven if a state is revenue surplus should that money not be used for roads hospitals and schools Instead food clothes and other benefits are distributed near elections What is happening in this country it remarkedIt stressed that governments must prioritise creating employment opportunities rather than expanding unconditional benefitsYou should create avenues for employment so that people can earn with dignity and selfrespect If everything becomes free food electricity cash transfers why would people work the bench saidAt the same time the Supreme Court clarified that genuine welfare measures for those who cannot afford basic services remain the governments responsibility Notably the broader issue of poll freebies is already under consideration before the apex court in a pending petition filed by advocate Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay in which the Supreme Court has observed that lucrative promises by political parties may push states towards imminent bankruptcy and has referred the matter to a threejudge BenchIn its 2013 judgment in the Subramanian Balaji vs Tamil Nadu case however the SC held that the distribution of free colour television sets by the DMK government after winning the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections could not be termed a corrupt practice under the Representation of the People ActIANS https://dailyworld.in/law/what-culture-are-we-developing-sc-questions-growing-trend-of-election-time-freebies-661906.html Thu, 19 Feb 2026 16:15:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/i-pac-raid-row-ed-tells-sc-it-has-been-terrorised-in-bengal-661791.html New Delhi Feb 18 IANS The Enforcement Directorate ED told the Supreme Court on Wednesday that it has been terrorised in West Bengal as the apex court adjourned hearing on its plea accusing the state government and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of interfering in recent search operations at the office of political consultancy firm Indian Political Action Committee IPAC and the residence of its cofounder Pratik Jain in KolkatanbspnbspDuring the hearing Additional Solicitor General SV Raju appearing for the federal antimoney laundering agency strongly refuted the submission that the ED had weaponised its powersThe remarks came after senior advocate Siddharth Luthra contended that the ED must justify the weaponisation of its authorityIt ED has not been weaponised it has been terrorised ASG Raju saidAfter Solicitor General Tushar Mehta the Centres secondhighest law officer stated that the ED is likely to file its rejoinder during the day a Bench of Justices Prashant Kumar Mishra and KV Viswanathan posted the matter for further hearing on March 18The hearing was adjourned last week following a request made due to the ill health of senior advocate Kapil SibalDuring the brief hearing SG Mehta representing the ED informed the apex court that he had been apprised about Sibals inability to appearI cant oppose on this ground If it can be kept on 18th February the Centres secondhighest law officer submittedAcceding to the request the Justice Mishraled Bench had deferred the matter for further hearing on February 18The ED has approached the top court seeking directions to register FIRs against Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee the state Director General of Police DGP and the Kolkata Police Commissioner alleging obstruction of lawful duties during the federal agencys simultaneous search operationsIn her counteraffidavit Chief Minister Banerjee has denied all allegations of interference and obstruction asserting that her limited presence on the premises was solely to retrieve confidential and proprietary data belonging to her Trinamool Congress AITCAccording to the affidavit CM Banerjee visited Pratik Jains residence at Loudon Street and IPACs office in Bidhannagar on January 8 2026 after receiving information that sensitive political data of the Trinamool was being accessed during the searches She maintained that the data was vitally linked to the AITCs strategy for the upcoming Legislative Assembly electionThe affidavit stated that when she reached the premises she politely requested the officials of the Enforcement Directorate to be allowed to retrieve the Partys data and the devices they were stored in and files containing prints of the sameIt further claimed that the officers of the Enforcement Directorate present thereat did not object to this request and permitted her to retrieve some of these devices and physical filesAfter she had done so the Answering Respondent CM Banerjee left the premises so as not to inconvenience the officials of the Enforcement Directorate in any way the counter affidavit said adding that the EDs own panchnamas record that the searches continued thereafter and were conducted peacefully and in an orderly mannerCM Banerjee has also argued that neither the Trinamool nor its officials are accused in the alleged coal scam and therefore the ED cannot claim any right to the partys proprietary dataThe counter affidavit has further accused the ED of acting with mala fide intent alleging that the searches were carried out in the runup to the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections and after a prolonged period of inactionIt has questioned the timing of the operations claiming they coincided with IPAC possessing critical documents including a proposed list of candidates for the upcoming pollsAlleging violations of statutory safeguards under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act PMLA the affidavit also states that the ED failed to produce any audio or video recordings of the searches This it claimed raises a strong presumption that the searches were clandestine and aimed at accessing confidential political dataEarlier on January 15 the Supreme Court had stayed the FIRs registered by the West Bengal Police against ED officials in connection with the searches and had also directed the preservation of CCTV footage and other digital storage devices containing recordings of the searched premises and the surrounding areasIANS https://dailyworld.in/law/i-pac-raid-row-ed-tells-sc-it-has-been-terrorised-in-bengal-661791.html Wed, 18 Feb 2026 13:55:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/mp-five-held-in-shivpuri-lawyer-murder-case-lawyers-to-observe-symbolic-strike-today-661650.html Shivpuri Madhya Pradesh Feb 15 The police made a major revelation in connection with the murder case of lawyer Sanjay Saxena in Karaira in Madhya Pradeshs Shivpuri district officials said According to the police Kamlesh Sharma and Sunil Sharma were the masterminds who designed and conspired the murder by hiring three sharpshooters for a sum of nearly 10 lakh rupeesMeanwhile the Madhya Pradesh Bar Council has condemned the incident and announced a symbolic strike on MondayThe Madhya Pradesh Bar Council has demanded strict punishment for the accused and has also said that the lawyers will not represent the accused in connection with the murder caseThis decision has also caused a stir across judicial circlesThe state lawyers have decided to stay away from courtrelated work on Monday in protest and have demanded a Advocate Protection ActThe Madhya Pradesh Bar Association have urged the Chief Justice of the High Court to ask registry to tag the cases listed on Monday as not reachedThey also have demanded a compensation of Rs 1 crore to the victim lawyers familyLawyer Sanjay Saxena a resident of nearby Sigdaua village who was leaving home in Karaira in his uniform for court on Saturday afternoon was stopped midway and shotThis incident which took place in broad daylight spread panic throughout the areaWe have arrested five accused in the case and one is still absconding but he will soon be taken under custody Shivpuri Superintendent of Police SP Aman Singh Rathore told media persons on SundayPolice have registered a murder case against teacher Kamlesh Sharma his uncle former Sarpanch Sunil Sharma Neeraj Sharma and Ashish Parihar in connection with the murder of lawyer Sanjay SaxenaThe pistol and bike used in the incident have been seizedPolice are questioning the accused to determine who else was involved in the conspiracyInitial investigations indicate that more than one person may have been involved in the murderSharpshooters failed to escape due to a tight police cordon the SP said adding We have arrested them within 18 hours of the crimePolice have arrested key shooters Papendra Rawat Golu Rawat and their associates Sunil Zahir and Kamlesh after a short encounterPolice are now investigating who provided shelter to the accused locally and whether anyone else provided logistical supportThe investigation revealed that the murder stemmed from a land dispute case which lawyer Sanjay Saxena had wonThe deceased lawyer had contested the 2015 Panchayat elections directly challenging Sunil SharmaPolice say this old rivalry fueled the murder plot the SP said and added that further probe is underwayIn their initial statements family members accused Sunil Sharma and his relatives as well as residents of the village of harbouring a grudge and orchestrating the murder IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/mp-five-held-in-shivpuri-lawyer-murder-case-lawyers-to-observe-symbolic-strike-today-661650.html Mon, 16 Feb 2026 08:45:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/sc-to-commence-hearing-sabrimala-review-case-on-entry-of-all-women-from-april-7-661651.html New Delhi Feb 16 IANS A ninejudge Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court will commence hearing the issues referred in the Sabarimala review matter from April 7nbspA Bench headed by Chief Justice of India CJI Surya Kant while dealing with a batch of review petitions against its September 2018 judgment permitting entry of women of all ages into the Lord Ayyappa temple at Sabarimala fixed a detailed schedule for the conclusion of arguments by April 22nbspIt directed all parties to file their written submissions on or before March 14Objections were earlier raised regarding maintainability of the reference which was conclusively determined by this court in February 2020 whereby the 9judge Bench opined that this Court can refer questions to a larger Bench even in reviewnbspAccordingly the issue of the maintainability of reference has attained finality and need not detain us at this stage said the Bench also comprising Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M PancholinbspReferring to the order dated February 10 2020 the apex court added that seven questions of law had already been framed for consideration by a ninejudge BenchIn this light and with a view to finally laying to rest the questions of law that remain pending in these matters we direct the parties to file their written submissions on or before 14032026 the order statednbspAs per the schedule fixed by the Supreme Court parties supporting the review petitions will be heard from April 7 to April 9 Those opposing the review will advance arguments from April 14 to April 16nbspejoinder submissions if any will be heard on April 21 followed by final submissions by the amicus curiae which are expected to conclude on April 22The parties shall adhere to the above schedule The nodal counsels in consultation with arguing counsel of the parties shall prepare the internal arrangement so that oral submissions from both sides can be heard within the stipulated timeline the CJI Kantled Bench directednbspDuring the hearing the top court remarked that the Constitution Bench proceedings were more important than anything else and asked both sides to keep their calendars clear for the scheduled datesnbspSolicitor General Tushar Mehta the Centres secondhighest law officer informed the apex court that the Union government was supporting the review petitionsWe are supporting the review SG Mehta submittednbspThe top court appointed advocateonRecord Shivam Singh to assist amicus curiae K Parmeswar and to prepare the written submissions reflecting the stand taken by all partiesnbspThe composition of the ninejudge Constitution Bench will be notified separately by the Chief Justice of India who is the master of the roster through an administrative ordernbspApart from the Sabarimala issue the matters tagged with the reference include questions relating to the entry of Muslim women into mosques and dargahs rights of Parsi women to enter Fire Temples after marrying outside the community the validity of the practice of excommunication and the legality of female genital mutilation in the Dawoodi Bohra communityIANS https://dailyworld.in/law/sc-to-commence-hearing-sabrimala-review-case-on-entry-of-all-women-from-april-7-661651.html Mon, 16 Feb 2026 14:00:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/sc-to-commence-hearing-sabarimala-review-case-on-entry-of-all-women-from-april-7-661685.html New Delhi Feb 16 A ninejudge Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court will commence hearing the issues referred in the Sabarimala review matter from April 7 A Bench headed by Chief Justice of India CJI Surya Kant while dealing with a batch of review petitions against its September 2018 judgment permitting entry of women of all ages into the Lord Ayyappa temple at Sabarimala fixed a detailed schedule for the conclusion of arguments by April 22It directed all parties to file their written submissions on or before March 14âObjections were earlier raised regarding maintainability of the reference which was conclusively determined by this court in February 2020 whereby the 9judge Bench opined that this Court can refer questions to a larger Bench even in reviewAccordingly the issue of the maintainability of reference has attained finality and need not detain us at this stageâ said the Bench also comprising Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M PancholiReferring to the order dated February 10 2020 the apex court added that seven questions of law had already been framed for consideration by a ninejudge BenchâIn this light and with a view to finally laying to rest the questions of law that remain pending in these matters we direct the parties to file their written submissions on or before 14032026â the order statedAs per the schedule fixed by the Supreme Court parties supporting the review petitions will be heard from April 7 to April 9 Those opposing the review will advance arguments from April 14 to April 16ejoinder submissions if any will be heard on April 21 followed by final submissions by the amicus curiae which are expected to conclude on April 22âThe parties shall adhere to the above schedule The nodal counsels in consultation with arguing counsel of the parties shall prepare the internal arrangement so that oral submissions from both sides can be heard within the stipulated timelineâ the CJI Kantled Bench directedDuring the hearing the top court remarked that the Constitution Bench proceedings were âmore important than anything elseâ and asked both sides to keep their calendars clear for the scheduled datesSolicitor General Tushar Mehta the Centreâs secondhighest law officer informed the apex court that the Union government was supporting the review petitionsâWe are supporting the reviewâ SG Mehta submittedThe top court appointed advocateonRecord Shivam Singh to assist amicus curiae K Parmeswar and to prepare the written submissions reflecting the stand taken by all partiesThe composition of the ninejudge Constitution Bench will be notified separately by the Chief Justice of India who is the master of the roster through an administrative orderApart from the Sabarimala issue the matters tagged with the reference include questions relating to the entry of Muslim women into mosques and dargahs rights of Parsi women to enter Fire Temples after marrying outside the community the validity of the practice of excommunication and the legality of female genital mutilation in the Dawoodi Bohra community IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/sc-to-commence-hearing-sabarimala-review-case-on-entry-of-all-women-from-april-7-661685.html Mon, 16 Feb 2026 15:11:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/sc-declines-petitions-against-assam-cm-asks-petitioners-to-approach-gauhati-hc-661686.html New Delhi Feb 16 IANS The Supreme Court on Monday declined to entertain petitions seeking action against Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma over his alleged remarks targeting Muslims and a nowdeleted controversial video purportedly showing him targeting members of a particular communitynbspnbspAsking the petitioners to approach the Gauhati High Court a Bench headed by Chief Justice of India CJI Surya Kant observed that the issues raised could be effectively adjudicated by the jurisdictional High Court and cautioned against the growing trend of directly invoking Article 32 of the Constitution before the apex courtAll these issues can be effectively adjudicated by the jurisdictional High Court We see no reason to entertain this here and thus we relegate the petitioners to the jurisdictional High Court We request the High Court Chief Justice to prioritise the hearing since the counsel have cited urgency in the matter ordered the Bench also comprising Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul PancholiSenior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi appearing for the petitioners seeking registration of an FIR and a Special Investigation Team SIT probe against CM Sarma for alleged hate speech argued that the Chief Minister as a constitutional functionary had violated his oath of officeHe further submitted that CM Sarma had made objectionable statements not only in Assam but also in Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh thereby warranting the Supreme Courts interventionIf the constitutional and social fabric of this country is threatened shouldnt Article 32 be invoked He is brazenly speaking against one entire community Singhvi submitted describing CM Sarma as a habitual offenderHowever the CJI Kantled Bench expressed strong disapproval of attempts to bypass the High Courts You have not even gone to the High Court In our anxiety to invoke one jurisdiction we cannot undermine the jurisdiction of another This court cannot become a playground for all this it observedDont undermine the authority of the High Courts It has become a trend now that every matter lands in the Supreme Court Dont demoralise the High Court judges the apex court said adding that there appeared to be a very calculated move to undermine High CourtsWhen Singhvi suggested that the petitioners be permitted to approach a High Court other than the one in Assam the CJI Kantled Bench termed the submission very unfortunate and said We outrightly reject thisPlease go through the channel trust the High Court and let them decide We are absolutely confident that the High Court will deal with the matter in accordance with the principles it saidThe controversy relates to a video allegedly shared by the Assam BJPs official social media handle which was later deleted depicting the Chief Minister armed with a firearm and accompanied by phrases such as Point blank shot and No MercyThe matter has also sparked political reactions AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi had earlier lodged a complaint with the Hyderabad Police Commissioner seeking criminal action against CM Sarma alleging that the video promoted enmity between religious communitiesResponding to the complaint CM Sarma had said he was prepared to face arrest I am ready to go to jail What can I do I do not know anything about any video If he has filed a case against me arrest me What objection do I have he had told reporters in DibrugarhIANS https://dailyworld.in/law/sc-declines-petitions-against-assam-cm-asks-petitioners-to-approach-gauhati-hc-661686.html Mon, 16 Feb 2026 15:26:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/delhi-hc-grants-interim-bail-to-rajpal-yadav-in-cheque-bounce-cases-661700.html New Delhi Feb 16 IANS The Delhi High Court on Monday granted an interim suspension of sentence to Bollywood actor Rajpal Yadav in connection with multiple cheque bounce casesnbspnbspPaving the way for his release from jail until March 18 a singlejudge Bench of Justice Swarna Kanta Sharma passed the order after being informed that a sum of Rs 15 crore had been deposited in the complainant companys bank accountTaking note of the payment made by the actor the Delhi High Court suspended the sentence on the condition that Yadav furnish a personal bond of Rs 1 lakh along with one surety of the same amount It also directed him to surrender his passportIt was further submitted that Yadavs niece is scheduled to be married on February 19 in Shahjahanpur for which interim relief was sought Interim suspension of sentence till the next date of hearing You should be present in the court or remain present through video conferencing We do not want any discrepancy Justice Sharma observedThe matter is now slated for further hearing on March 18 and Yadav will remain out of custody till thenThe relief comes days after the Delhi High Court had taken a stern view of the actors conduct In an order passed on February 2 Justice Sharma had directed Yadav to surrender before the concerned Jail Superintendent by 4 pm on February 4 noting his repeated failure to honour settlement commitments despite being granted several opportunitiesObserving that considerable leniency had already been shown the Delhi HC had said there was no justification to continue the indulgence granted to the actor It had noted that no payment was made for nearly a year despite specific timelines and assurances given from time to timeYadav had subsequently surrendered before the jail authorities in compliance with the courts directionThe actor was convicted and sentenced in 2024 in cheque bounce cases under the Negotiable Instruments ActHis sentence had earlier been suspended after he expressed willingness to amicably settle the dispute with the complainant company and the matter was even referred to mediationIANS https://dailyworld.in/law/delhi-hc-grants-interim-bail-to-rajpal-yadav-in-cheque-bounce-cases-661700.html Mon, 16 Feb 2026 17:10:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/kerala-hc-orders-continued-probe-into-death-of-deported-indian-citizen-661467.html Kochi Feb 11 The Kerala High Court on Wednesday refused to close the habeas corpus petition filed in connection with the disappearance and death of Suraj Lama an Indian citizen deported from Kuwait A division bench of Justice Devan Ramachandran and Justice MB Snehalatha directed the Special Investigation Team SIT to continue its probeThe court said the entire sequence of events from Lamaâs arrival in India to the recovery of his body must be examined and properly documentedLama was deported from Kuwait and sent to Kochi under official ordersThe court noted that he appeared vulnerable and may have had cognitive or other impairments Despite this he was cleared by immigration and airport authorities and allowed to leave the airport without assistanceAfter a missing complaint was filed police took him into protective custody and admitted him to Kalamassery Medical College HospitalHe was later discharged as doctors reportedly found no apparent medical issuesSubsequently a body was recovered from KalamasseryA forensic report confirmed it was LamaThe Government Pleader informed the court that an interim postmortem report dated December 1 2025 stated that the cause of death could not be determined due to advanced decompositionThe court observed that the case remains wide open as the cause of death is still unknownIt said the petition cannot be closed merely because the body has been identifiedThe bench directed the investigating officer to produce the missing case file and the postmortem reportIt also asked the SIT led by the City Police Commissioner or an officer of equivalent rank to continue the investigationThe court noted allegations of lapses at multiple stages including immigration clearance police handling and medical careIt also recorded the petitionerâs claim that the possibility of murder cannot be ruled outWe are not investigating the murder We are investigating the sequence until the body was found the court clarifiedThe matter has been posted for hearing after three weeks IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/kerala-hc-orders-continued-probe-into-death-of-deported-indian-citizen-661467.html Thu, 12 Feb 2026 00:54:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/most-shocking-and-disappointing-sc-cancels-bail-of-husband-accused-in-dowry-death-case-661476.html New Delhi Feb 12 IANS The Supreme Court has set aside a bail order granted by the Allahabad High Court to a man accused in a dowry death case terming it as one of the most shocking and disappointing orders it has come across in recent timesnbspA Bench of Justices JB Pardiwala and KV Viswanathan allowed the appeal filed by the father of the deceased woman and directed the accused the husband of the deceased to immediately surrender before the trial court and be sent to judicial custodynbspThe dowry death case was registered at Kotwali Bhinga Police Station in Uttar Pradeshs Shrawasti district for offences under Sections 85 and 802 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023 and Sections 3 and 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act 1961nbspAs per the prosecution the deceased woman aged about 22 years was married to the accused on March 1 2025 and died within three months of her marriage under mysterious circumstances at her matrimonial homenbspThe FIR lodged by her father alleged that despite giving Rs 35 lakh in cash and other dowry articles at the time of marriage the accused and his family were dissatisfied and demanded a fourwheeler as additional dowry It further alleged that the woman was subjected to physical and mental harassment and was found dead on April 25 2025 with injury marks on her neck The postmortem report revealed that the cause of death was asphyxia due to strangulationnbspExpressing strong disapproval of the Allahabad High Courts approach the apex court said The impugned order is one of the most shocking and disappointing orders that we have come across over a period of timenbspThe Justice Pardiwalaled Bench observed that the Allahabad High Court while granting bail had merely recorded the submissions of the defence counsel and granted bail on the ground that the accused was in jail since April 27 2025 and had no criminal historynbspWe fail to understand on plain reading of the impugned order as to what the High Court is trying to convey What weighed with the High Court in exercising its discretion in favour of the accused for the purpose of grant of bail in a very serious crime like dowry death the order saidnbspThe Supreme Court stressed that the Allahabad High Court ought to have considered several crucial factors including the nature of the alleged crime the punishment prescribed under the BNS 2023 the marital relationship between the accused and the deceased the place of occurrence and the postmortem findings indicating death by strangulationnbspThe impugned order has led to a travesty of justice the Justice Pardiwalaled Bench said adding that it was unsustainable in lawnbspWhile clarifying that it was not expressing any opinion on the merits of the case as the trial is in progress the apex court directed the accused to surrender immediately before the trial court and ordered that he be sent to judicial custody upon surrenderIt further directed the trial court to proceed with the case expeditiously and clarified that the innocence or guilt of the accused would be determined on the basis of evidence led during the trial The bench further directed the top court registry to forward a copy of the order to the Registrar General of the Allahabad High Court who shall place it before the Chief Justice of the High Court for appropriate considerationnbspIANSnbsp https://dailyworld.in/law/most-shocking-and-disappointing-sc-cancels-bail-of-husband-accused-in-dowry-death-case-661476.html Thu, 12 Feb 2026 13:45:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/one-nation-one-election-does-not-violate-the-basic-structure-of-the-constitution-ex-cji-gavai-661492.html New Delhi Feb 12 IANS Former Chief Justice of India CJI BR Gavai on Thursday told the Joint Parliamentary Committee JPC on One Nation One Election ONOE headed by BJP MP PP Chaudhary that the proposed Constitutional Amendment Bill on simultaneous elections does not violate the Basic Structure of the ConstitutionnbspMaking a detailed representation before the parliamentary panel the exCJI argued that the Basic Structure doctrine encompasses the federal framework and the democratic form of governance and neither of these features would be altered by the proposed legislationThrough the enactment of this Bill neither of these federalism and democracy will be changed or affected Hence the amendment is in consonance with the Basic Structure he told the JPCnbspThe ONOE only brings about a change in the manner of conducting elections at one point The structure of elections and voter rights remains the same Thus the amendment would be constitutional he addednbspOn the competence of Parliament to bring such legislation the exCJI said that the Constitution empowers the Parliament to carry out amendments necessary to synchronise elections to the Lok Sabha and state ssembliesAddressing concerns regarding governmental accountability under a simultaneous election framework former CJI Gavai argued that since instruments like the noconfidence motion remain intact there will be no impact on the accountability of either the Union or the state governmentsnbspOn the constitutional viability of ONOE he pointed out that India had successfully conducted simultaneous elections until 1967Justice Gavais views come amid ongoing deliberations by the JPC examining the Constitution 129th Amendment Bill 2024 and the Union Territories Laws Amendment Bill 2024nbspSince its constitution in December 2024 the panel has held extensive consultations with constitutional experts economists and the 23rd Law Commission Chairman among othersThe two Bills introduced by Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal in December 2024 and subsequently referred to the parliamentary panel seek to align Lok Sabha and Assembly elections by curtailing the terms of certain state legislatures elected after a particular Lok Sabha so that their tenures conclude together Once the election cycles are synchronised future Lok Sabha and state Assembly polls would be conducted simultaneouslynbspThe 23rd Law Commission has also recently affirmed that the proposed legislation does not violate the Constitutions Basic Structure including principles relating to federalism and voter rights lending further weight to the governments push for electoral reformIANS https://dailyworld.in/law/one-nation-one-election-does-not-violate-the-basic-structure-of-the-constitution-ex-cji-gavai-661492.html Thu, 12 Feb 2026 21:50:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/sc-asks-calcutta-hc-to-examine-nias-invocation-of-uapa-in-beldanga-violence-case-661448.html New Delhi Feb 11 IANS The Supreme Court on Wednesday asked the Calcutta High Court to independently examine whether the invocation of provisions of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act UAPA by the National Investigation Agency NIA was justified in connection with the recent violence at Beldanga in West Bengals Murshidabad districtnbspA Bench of Chief Justice of India CJI Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi was hearing a petition filed by the West Bengal government challenging the Calcutta High Court order which had granted liberty to the Union government to consider an NIA probe into the Beldanga violence along with the subsequent notification by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs entrusting the probe to the antiterror agencynbspDismissing the state governments plea the apex court directed the NIA to submit its status report whether postinvestigation or during the course of investigation before the Calcutta High Court in a sealed cover indicating whether a prima facie case under the UAPA was made out on the basis of material gatherednbspSince there are only passing observations in the impugned order of the High Court without any definite opinion in relation to the attraction of the UAPA we request the High Court to consider the status report of the NIA independently and issue consequential directions the CJI Kantled Bench orderednbspThe apex court clarified that it has not expressed any opinion on the merits of the matter and directed that the West Bengal governments plea be heard by a Division Bench headed by the Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court before whom a related petition is already pendingnbspDuring the hearing the CJI Kantled Bench orally questioned the basis on which the NIA had invoked the UAPA while registering the FIR in the matternbspWithout looking into documents you have said Section 15 UAPA is justified The case diary was not placed before you This is a predecisional conclusion arrived at it observednbspThe Supreme Court cautioned that every emotional outburst cannot be packaged as a threat to economic securitynbspSenior advocate Kalyan Banerjee appearing for the West Bengal government submitted that no scheduled offence under the NIA Act had been committed to warrant the Central agencys interventionnbspHe argued that the West Bengal Police had already registered FIRs and made arrests in connection with the violence and questioned how the offence of terrorism under Section 151 of the UAPA was attracted particularly in the absence of explosivesnbspAt this the CJI Kantled Bench remarked that these submissions could be made before the Calcutta High Court while seeking reconsideration of the earlier ordernbspAdditional Solicitor General ASG SV Raju representing the Centre informed the apex court that the Union Ministry of Home Affairs had on January 28 directed the NIA to take over the investigationnbspThe Centres law officer argued that the incident occurred near the Bangladesh border involved the use of deadly weapons and raised concerns relating to national security This is a porous border near Bangladesh There was violence and deadly weapons were used We are doing an independent investigation They are not handing over probe papers to us Please direct them to do so ASG Raju submitted alleging noncooperation by the West Bengal PolicenbspThe Supreme Court observed that while the state government had challenged an order giving liberty to the Centre to entrust the probe to the NIA the question whether the antiterror agencys invocation of UAPA provisions was justified would have to be assessed by the Calcutta High Court upon perusal of the material placed before itnbspIn an order passed on January 20 a Division Bench of the Calcutta High Court headed by Chief Justice Sujoy Paul had granted liberty to the Union government to order an NIA probe into the violence and that prevailed for two days in Beldanga a minoritydominated area of Murshidabad district following protests over the alleged murder of a migrant worker in JharkhandnbspActing on a public interest litigation PIL filed by the Leader of Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly Suvendu Adhikari the Calcutta High Court also directed the deployment of Central Armed Police Forces CAPF in the troubled area till normalcy was restored Subsequently the Union Ministry of Home Affairs handed over the probe to the NIA prompting the West Bengal government to move the Supreme CourtnbspIANSnbsp https://dailyworld.in/law/sc-asks-calcutta-hc-to-examine-nias-invocation-of-uapa-in-beldanga-violence-case-661448.html Wed, 11 Feb 2026 14:57:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/nothing-alarming-sonam-wangchuk-cannot-be-released-on-medical-grounds-centre-tells-sc--661451.html New Delhi Feb 11 IANS The Centre on Wednesday told the Supreme Court that Ladakhbased social activist Sonam Wangchuk who is under preventive detention under the National Security Act NSA is fit hale and hearty and cannot be released on health groundsnbspAppearing for the Union government Solicitor General SG Tushar Mehta submitted before a Bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and Prasanna B Varale that Wangchuks medical condition has been periodically reviewed and there was nothing alarming warranting his releasenbspOpposing any relaxation on medical grounds SG Mehta told the apex court It will not be possible to release him on health grounds It may not be desirable either We have given utmost considerationnbspnbspWe have examined his health periodically 24 times He is fit hale and hearty He had some digestive issues he is being treated There is nothing to worry about nothing alarming We cannot make exceptions like this added the Centres secondhighest law officernbspThe submissions were made during the hearing of a habeas corpus petition filed by Dr Gitanjali J Angmo challenging her husbands detention under the NSA as illegal and an arbitrary exercise violating his fundamental rightsnbspnbspIn an earlier hearing the Supreme Court had orally asked the Union government to reconsider the continued preventive detention of Wangchuk particularly in view of his not very good health and advancing agenbspThe Justice Kumarled Bench had observed that Wangchuk has been in custody since September 26 2025 and suggested that the government give it a thought on whether his detention needed to continuenbspEarlier this week the top court had cautioned against granting further adjournments in the matter and had declined a request for more time from the governments law officer Directed that the matter be listed for hearing at 2 pm on Wednesday it had told Additional Solicitor General ASG KM Nataraj You must understand it is a habeas corpus matternbspIANSnbsp https://dailyworld.in/law/nothing-alarming-sonam-wangchuk-cannot-be-released-on-medical-grounds-centre-tells-sc--661451.html Wed, 11 Feb 2026 15:36:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/woman-with-special-needs-allegedly-raped-by-neighbour-in-bengals-baduria-661258.html Kolkata Feb 9 A neighbour has been accused of raping a young woman with special needs in West Bengalâs Baduria area of North 24 Parganas district police said on Monday The incident triggered shock and outrage among locals in the area The police said the incident took place on Sunday night The police are searching for the absconding accused The incident took place in Chandipur village panchayat under the Baduria police station areaAccording to locals on Sunday night the young woman with special needs was sitting on the verandah of her house The accused neighbour who is over 50 years old was passing by her at that time Seeing her sitting alone he lured her away by offering her food Then he took her to a nearby gourd garden It is alleged that he then raped the young woman and fled the spotMeanwhile family members grew worried when the girl did not return home late at night and began searching for herThey also went to the gourd garden where they found the victim lying unconscious After regaining consciousness she narrated the ordeal and gave details of the incident They then approached the Baduria police station and filed a rape complaint against the accused neighbour The victims medical examination has already been conductedA senior officer of Basirhat Police District said The accused is absconding The police are searching for him A case has been registered against the accused We are investigating the matter thoroughly and with utmost seriousnessThe victims sisterinlaw told local reporters He lured her to the garden by offering her food He also threatened to kill her if she spoke up He committed this heinous act after taking her to the gourd garden We want strong punishment for the accused He should be hanged We want justice for her IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/woman-with-special-needs-allegedly-raped-by-neighbour-in-bengals-baduria-661258.html Tue, 10 Feb 2026 01:59:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/bomb-threats-in-two-patna-courts-probe-on-661279.html Patna Feb 9 Widespread panic gripped Patna on Monday after the district court located at the Sabji Bagh area received a bomb threat Later in the day another threat was reported at the Civil Court located at Gai Ghat in Patna as wellFollowing the threats both the court premises were immediately evacuated and police teams rushed to the spotsBomb disposal squads dog squads and security agencies launched intensive searches in these two court premisesAccording to officials the threat at the Gai Ghat Civil Court was received directly on a judgeâs mobile phone raising serious security concernsEarly in the morning information emerged that Parliament House and around nine schools in Delhi had received threatening emails warning of bomb explosionsSources said the emails sent to Delhi schools and Parliament contained objectionable and provocative languageOne such email reportedly stated âDelhi will become Khalistan Punjab is Khalistan In memory of Afzal GuruâThe email further claimed that a bomb would explode inside Parliament at 111 pm on February 13Security agencies have noted that February 13 holds symbolic significance as the 2001 Parliament attack also took place on the 13th of December heightening concern over the threatâs intentFollowing the threats security was intensified at Parliament courts and educational institutions and students were sent home from affected schoolsPolice and intelligence agencies launched coordinated investigations to trace the origin of the emails and phone threatsOfficials have not yet confirmed whether the threats are hoaxes or linked to any organised group but authorities say no risk is being taken lightlyThe situation remains under close watch as central and state security agencies continue their probeEarlier on January 8 the Patna civil court received a bomb threat via email triggering panicBomb threats were received at the Siwan Muzaffarpur Samastipur and Bhagalpur Civil Courts on January 28 IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/bomb-threats-in-two-patna-courts-probe-on-661279.html Tue, 10 Feb 2026 03:07:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/sc-cautions-against-further-adjournments-in-petition-challenging-wangchuks-detention-661283.html New Delhi Feb 9 The Supreme Court on Monday cautioned against granting further adjournments in the habeas corpus petition filed by Gitanjali J Angmo wife of detained Ladakhbased climate activist Sonam Wangchuk challenging his detention under the National Security Act NSA After Additional Solicitor General ASG KM Nataraj appearing for the Union government and the Union Territory of Ladakh sought more time on the ground of his engagement in another case and suggested that the matter be taken up next week the apex court declined remarking âYou must understand it is a habeas corpus matter It was our fault we could not take it on Friday February 5âThe Bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and Prasanna B Varale asked ASG Nataraj whether any steps had been taken pursuant to its earlier suggestion to reconsider Wangchukâs detention on health groundsIn response the law officer submitted that Wangchuk was receiving the âbest of treatmentâ adding that AIIMS Jodhpur offered better medical facilities than LadakhAfter repeated requests the Supreme Court agreed to list the habeas corpus petition filed by Dr Gitanjali J Angmo which terms her husband Sonam Wangchukâs detention âillegalâ and an âarbitrary exercise violating his fundamental rightsâ for hearing on Wednesday at 2 pmIn an earlier hearing the apex court had orally asked the Union government to reconsider the continued preventive detention of WangchukDuring the hearing the Justice Aravind Kumarled Bench observed that Wangchuk had been in custody since September 26 2025 and that the medical reports placed before the apex court indicated that his health was âcertainly not very goodâIt was suggested to ASG Nataraj that the government should âgive it a thoughtâ as to whether there was a possibility of rethinking the continuation of Wangchukâs detention At that time ASG Nataraj had assured the Supreme Court that he would seek instructions from the authorities IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/sc-cautions-against-further-adjournments-in-petition-challenging-wangchuks-detention-661283.html Tue, 10 Feb 2026 03:12:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/ed-seizes-rs-262-crore-in-trans-arunachal-highway-compensation-scam-661317.html Itanagar Feb 9 The Enforcement Directorate ED conducted search operations at six residential premises in Arunachal Pradesh and Assam under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act PMLA in connection with the TransArunachal Highway land compensation scam an official statement said on Monday The searches were carried out on Friday by the EDâs Itanagar unit at six locations across the two Northeastern states Of these four premises are located in and around Itanagar one at Likhabali near Dibrugarh in Assam and one at Aalo close to the MechukaChina border in Arunachal PradeshAccording to ED the search locations spanned from western to eastern Arunachal Pradesh covering borderadjacent areas and difficult hill terrain including remote and sensitive locations thereby ensuring comprehensive geographic coverage of the investigation the central probe agency saidDuring the search operations the ED seized cash amounting to Rs 262 crore Of this Rs 240 crore was recovered from the residential premises of Likha Maj a private beneficiary and key conduit while Rs 22 lakh was seized from the residence of Tadar Babin another private beneficiaryAdditionally bank balances amounting to approximately Rs 177 crore pertaining to Tadar Babin and Bharat Lingu former District Land Records and Settlement Officer DLRSO Ziro have been frozenThe ED statement said it also recovered incriminating documents and immovable propertyrelated records suspected to have been acquired using misappropriated compensation funds These were seized from the residential premises of Kemo Lollen former Deputy Commissioner Ziro and his family members as well as from Bharat Lingu ExDLRSO Ziro Toko Taje Junior Engineer PWD and Likha Soni private beneficiaryEarlier in the investigation the ED had identified and frozen funds amounting to approximately Rs 395 crore lying in bank accounts fixed deposits and recurring deposits linked to accused persons including accounts connected with Kabak Bhatt Junior Engineer PWD and Ms T amp G EnterprisesThe probe further revealed that fixed deposits aggregating to approximately Rs 175 crore were opened out of government compensation funds without authorisation Interest amounting to approximately Rs 279 crore generated from such deposits was allegedly diverted in violation of financial rules Of this Rs 2157 lakh was transferred to the personal bank account of Kabak BhattThe ED has already filed a charge sheet under the PMLA against Kabak Bhatt before the designated Special Court for the offence of money laundering The investigation pertains to largescale irregularities in the assessment and disbursement of land acquisition compensation under the TransArunachal Highway PotinâBopi stretch from 000 km to 15770 km project undertaken for road upgradation The stretch was administratively divided into Yachuli Ziro and Raga sectorsInvestigators found that although a compensation estimate of about Rs 28940 crore was initially proposed it was later restricted to approximately Rs 188 crore However the disbursement was carried out in a nontransparent manner allegedly enabling wrongful gains to private individualsVerification by the State FactFinding Committee revealed largescale deviations between estimated admissible and actual disbursed compensation In the Yachuli sector against admissible compensation of about Rs 3818 crore payments of approximately Rs 6625 crore were made resulting in excess disbursement of around Rs 28 croreSimilar irregularities and excess disbursements were identified in the Ziro and Raga sectors Overall these irregularities resulted in a wrongful loss of approximately Rs 4498 crore to the government exchequerThe ED stated that proceeds of crime were generated through the creation of fictitious beneficiaries manipulation of assessment records diversion of government funds through unauthorised bank accounts and fixed deposits and routing of funds through private individuals and entitiesEvidence also indicates payment of illegal gratification to public servants and subsequent layering of proceeds of crime through bank accounts investments and acquisition of assets Further investigation is underway IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/ed-seizes-rs-262-crore-in-trans-arunachal-highway-compensation-scam-661317.html Tue, 10 Feb 2026 04:07:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/plea-in-sc-seeks-guidelines-on-statements-made-by-constitutional-functionaries-661338.html New Delhi Feb 9 A group of former civil servants academics and social activists have moved the Supreme Court seeking the framing of guidelines to regulate statements and remarks made by constitutional functionaries that do not comport with constitutional morality The writ petition filed under Article 32 of the Constitution through advocate Fuzail Ahmad Ayyubi contended that repeated discriminatory and derogatory utterances by holders of public office undermine the core values of the ConstitutionRecalling the Constituent Assembly Debates the petition referred to Acharya JB Kripalaniâs warning that the principles enshrined in the Preamble were not merely legal constitutional and formal principles but moral principles which must be lived in political administrative and public lifeMore than seven decades later we find ourselves in a political climate where the preambular principles remain in the text but actions of administrators and constitutional functionaries often betray their intent the plea said adding that living the principles as Acharya Kripalani would have asked for has been lost both in thought and practiceThe petition alleged that this failure to adhere to constitutional morality has resulted in a series of troubling public statements by constitutional authorities and senior public officials across the country in recent yearsIt referred to remarks attributed to Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath BJP leader Nitesh Rane and National Security Adviser Ajit Doval among others and claimed that nearly 30 such statements have been identified during researchWhile acknowledging that political actors may subscribe to different ideologies the petition asserted that constitutional functionaries and holders of public office are bound by the Constitution to ensure fairness in action and restraint in speechConstitutional functionaries holders of public office and officials of the government are bound by the Constitution to ensure fairness in action This would also mean that statements which are discriminatory or derogatory in nature even if not amounting to hate speech should be impermissible to be uttered by such persons it addedClarifying the scope of the relief sought the petition stressed that it does not seek to curtail free speech or demand penal action for hate speech which is governed by existing lawThe present petition does not seek to limit free speech or seek punishments for hate speech it said adding that the limited prayer is for the apex court to evolve guidelines either through judicial examination or a dialogic process to ensure that public officials adhere to constitutional morality in their conduct and public discourseThe plea has arrayed the Union of India and the states of Assam Uttar Pradesh Uttarakhand and Madhya Pradesh as respondents IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/plea-in-sc-seeks-guidelines-on-statements-made-by-constitutional-functionaries-661338.html Tue, 10 Feb 2026 06:24:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/former-rg-kar-official-akhtar-ali-fails-to-surrender-before-court-661340.html Kolkata Feb 9 Days after saying that he would surrender before the Special CBI Court former Deputy Superintendent of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital Akhtar Ali on Monday did not show up at the court Even after the scheduled time of 1100 am there was no sign of himMeanwhile the CBI investigating officers and lawyers waited for Akhtar in the court premises but he was nowhere to be seen After Mondays absence it is not clear whether he will surrender before the court on TuesdayAs the stipulated time for surrender passed without the accused appearing questions about the future course of the case have been raisedOn Saturday Ali had appeared before the same court a day after a special court of the Central Bureau of Investigation CBI issued an arrest warrant against him However as the court closed at 1230 pm that day he could not surrender before the courtAkhtar did not take his lawyer with him even though he went to the court from the hospital on Saturday He also did not inform the court in advance He had promised that he would surrender before the court on MondayI am still sick I was in the hospital I did not have my mobile So I did not know that the court would be closed today I came But bad luck The court has told me to surrender on Monday I will take action accordingly If I get into trouble they will arrest me If they drag me to the court then that will happen he had saidA special court of the CBI on Friday issued an arrest warrant against Akhtar Ali who had been the first whistleblower in the multicrore financial irregularities case in staterun RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata also infamous for the ghastly rape and murder of a woman junior doctor within the hospital premises in August 2024Ali the former Deputy Superintendent of RG Kar was the first one to raise an alarm over the involvement of former and controversial RG Kar principal Sandip Ghosh in the financial irregularities case at the staterun medical college and hospitalIn fact based on his petition a Division Bench of the Calcutta High Court ordered a CBI probe into the case of RG Kars financial irregularities Later the Enforcement Directorate ED also started a parallel probe into the matter IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/former-rg-kar-official-akhtar-ali-fails-to-surrender-before-court-661340.html Tue, 10 Feb 2026 06:31:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/sc-to-hear-plea-by-wasifuddin-dagar-against-ar-rahman-over-ponniyin-selvan-ii-song-tomorrow-661348.html New Delhi Feb 9 The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear on Tuesday a plea filed by renowned classical vocalist Ustad Faiyaz Wasifuddin Dagar against music composer AR Rahman alleging that the song Veera Raja Veera featured in the Tamil film Ponniyin Selvan II is inspired by his familyâs traditional composition Shiva Stuti As per the cause list published on the website of the apex court the matter is listed before a bench headed by Chief Justice of India CJI Surya Kant and comprising Justices Joymalya Bagchi and NV Anjaria for hearing on February 10Earlier the Delhi High Court in a judgment passed on September 24 2025 had set aside an interim order directing Rahman and the filmâs producers to deposit Rs 2 crore and to modify song credits in favour of the Junior Dagar BrothersA division bench of Justices C Hari Shankar and Om Prakash Shukla had held that there was no prima facie material to establish that the late Ustad N Faiyazuddin Dagar and Ustad N Zahiruddin Dagar â popularly known as the Junior Dagar Brothers â were the authors or composers of Shiva StutiThe Delhi High Court drew a clear distinction between a performerâs rights and authorship observing that mere performance or fixation of a musical piece does not by itself confer copyright in the underlying compositionSetting aside the singlejudge Benchâs order the Justice Hari Shankarled Bench had ruled that the materials relied upon by Wasifuddin Dagar including recordings of performances and album inlay cards at best demonstrated performance rights under the Copyright Act and could not be treated as proof of authorshipIt further observed that the Shiva Stuti forms part of the broader Dagarvani or Dhrupad tradition of Hindustani classical music which has historically evolved through oral transmission across generations and allowing exclusive copyright claims over such compositions could have serious implications for the gurushishya paramparaAggrieved by the setting aside of interim relief Wasifuddin Dagar has now approached the Supreme Court seeking restoration of recognition and protection of the moral and copyright interests of the Junior Dagar Brothers IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/sc-to-hear-plea-by-wasifuddin-dagar-against-ar-rahman-over-ponniyin-selvan-ii-song-tomorrow-661348.html Tue, 10 Feb 2026 07:01:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/sc-cautions-against-further-adjournments-in-petition-challenging-wangchuks-detention-661226.html New Delhi Feb 9 IANS The Supreme Court on Monday cautioned against granting further adjournments in the habeas corpus petition filed by Gitanjali J Angmo wife of detained Ladakhbased climate activist Sonam Wangchuk challenging his detention under the National Security Act NSAnbspnbspAfter Additional Solicitor General ASG KM Nataraj appearing for the Union government and the Union Territory of Ladakh sought more time on the ground of his engagement in another case and suggested that the matter be taken up next week the apex court declined remarking You must understand it is a habeas corpus matter It was our fault we could not take it on Friday February 5The Bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and Prasanna B Varale asked ASG Nataraj whether any steps had been taken pursuant to its earlier suggestion to reconsider Wangchuks detention on health groundsIn response the law officer submitted that Wangchuk was receiving the best of treatment adding that AIIMS Jodhpur offered better medical facilities than LadakhAfter repeated requests the Supreme Court agreed to list the habeas corpus petition filed by Dr Gitanjali J Angmo which terms her husband Sonam Wangchuks detention illegal and an arbitrary exercise violating his fundamental rights for hearing on Wednesday at 2 pmIn an earlier hearing the apex court had orally asked the Union government to reconsider the continued preventive detention of WangchukDuring the hearing the Justice Aravind Kumarled Bench observed that Wangchuk had been in custody since September 26 2025 and that the medical reports placed before the apex court indicated that his health was certainly not very goodIt was suggested to ASG Nataraj that the government should give it a thought as to whether there was a possibility of rethinking the continuation of Wangchuks detention At that time ASG Nataraj had assured the Supreme Court that he would seek instructions from the authoritiesIANS https://dailyworld.in/law/sc-cautions-against-further-adjournments-in-petition-challenging-wangchuks-detention-661226.html Mon, 09 Feb 2026 15:36:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/ed-seizes-9-properties-worth-rs-139-crore-of-railway-official-earlier-posted-in-guwahati-661016.html New Delhi Feb 5 In a case related to alleged corruption involving a former Guwahatibased railway official the ED has attached nine residential flats and plots worth Rs 139 crore said an official from the probe agency Visakhapatnam SubZonal Office on Thursday Alladaboina Satish who was earlier employed as Dyputy Chief Engineer Design North Frontier Railway Maligaon Guwahati could not give satisfactory explanation with respect to acquisition of properties in his name in the name of his family membersrelatives and also could not provide any evidencedocumentary proof to show the source of the same said the statement issued by the Directorate of Enforcement ED Visakhapatnam SubZonal OfficeThe statement said the ED has provisionally attached movableimmovable properties having a value of Rs 139 Crore under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act PMLA 2002The case is linked to Satish acquiring disproportionate assets in his name and in the name of his family members The attached properties are in the form of nine residential flats and plots as well as three fixed deposits in the name of Alladaboina Satish his wife and his parentsinlaw the ED saidThe probe agency initiated an investigation on the basis of an FIR registered by CBI ACB Visakhapatnam under Sections 132 read with 131e of the Prevention of Corruption Act 1988 against SatishAs per the chargesheet filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation in this case Satish had acquired disproportionate assets to the tune of Rs 139 crore which were 8330 per cent in excess of his known sources of income during the check period April 1 2008 to January 24 2016The ED investigation revealed that Satish fraudulently and dishonestly amassed immovable properties disproportionate to the known sources of his incomeThe Proceeds of Crime POC in the form of cash were directly used to acquire immovable properties in his and his family members namesHuge cash deposits were also made in his his wifes and his fatherinlaws bank accounts to camouflage the illicit origin of funds the ED saidThe said POC through bank transfers were also used to acquire immovable properties POC in the form of cash were also handed over to his known person in place of bank transfers to acquire immovable properties the ED said IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/ed-seizes-9-properties-worth-rs-139-crore-of-railway-official-earlier-posted-in-guwahati-661016.html Fri, 06 Feb 2026 00:39:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/bengal-escort-shortage-delays-court-appearance-of-beldanga-unrest-accused-661020.html Kolkata Feb 5 The accused in the unrest case in Beldanga in Murshidabad district could not be produced before a court in Kolkata on Thursday The National Investigation Agency NIA pointed the finger at the state police in this matter and informed the court that it has not yet received the case diaryThe judge ordered that the accused must be produced in court on February 12On that day the investigating officer of the state police in the Beldanga case must appear in court in person to explain the reasonsAt the same time the Superintendent of Police of Murshidabad district has been directed to submit a detailed report on the matterThe Beldanga unrest case came up for hearing at the Kolkata court on Thursday but the accused could not be producedThey are currently lodged in judicial custody in MurshidabadThe NIA lawyer argued in court âThe jail superintendent has stated that the accused could not be brought to court due to the lack of an escortâThe NIA also said that it has not received the case diaryThe NIA further pointed out that it had informed the jail authorities to provide security and bring the accused to the Kolkata courtThe jail authorities had requested an escort from the state policeFollowing this the jail superintendent informed the agency that the Superintendent of Police had stated that he could not arrange a vehicle and escortTherefore the accused could not be produced in courtThe NIA also said that the investigating officer is unable to proceed with the investigation without the case diaryFollowing this the judge stated that the Superintendent of Police of Murshidabad must submit a detailed reportIt further directed that the investigating officer must also appear in court in person to explain the reasonsThe judge ordered that the accused be produced in court on February 12 and stated that the police must provide an escort on that dayLast month Beldanga in Murshidabad district became the centre of prolonged unrest after the news of the death of Alauddin Sheikh a migrant worker from Murshidabad in Jharkhand reached the areaWhen Alauddinâs body arrived on January 16 local people took to the streetsProtests erupted against the deaths of migrant workers from West Bengal in other statesIn protest against his death demonstrators blocked the national highway on January 16They burnt tyres and staged demonstrationsTrain services on the SealdahLalgola route were also disrupted by the protestsA female journalist was attacked in Beldanga that dayAlthough the police cleared the protests on the first day Beldanga became tense again from the next morningThe police later claimed in court that the first dayâs protest in Beldanga was somewhat spontaneous but the unrest on the second day was plannedA total of 36 people including an AIMIM leader were arrested in connection with their alleged involvement in the unrestThe High Court had stated that if the Central government wished it could have the National Investigation Agency investigate the Beldanga incidentThe state could also request additional forces from the Central government if needed to maintain law and orderFollowing this the Ministry of Home Affairs handed over the investigation to the central agency IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/bengal-escort-shortage-delays-court-appearance-of-beldanga-unrest-accused-661020.html Fri, 06 Feb 2026 00:46:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/evening-llb-graduates-of-1999-2000-or-earlier-batches-can-practice-law-meghwal-661040.html New Delhi Feb 5 Minister of State for Law and Justice Arjun Ram Meghwal said on Thursday that only those evening law college graduates who passed the LLB course in the academic year 19992000 or earlier are entitled to be enrolled as an advocate as per the Bar Council of India BCI rules Meghwal in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha said that only those LLB degree holders who did not complete their law degree through the evening classes till the academic year 19992000 were ineligible to practice lawHe said no statewise recognition of evening nightschool parttime weekend holiday online or distance LLB courses exists or has existed since 2000â2001 a position reiterated by the Bar Council of India through statutory rules circularsMeghwal said the BCI has informed that under the earlier Rules of Legal Education 1989 the Council had permitted and recognised evening LLB courses offered by certain universities and law colleges including institutions in Delhi and some other States subject to compliance with the thenprevailing standardsHowever with effect from the academic year 2000â2001 the Bar Council of India through the Rules of Legal Education 1999 referred to that time as Standards of Legal Education and Recognition of Degrees in Law Rules discontinued the recognition of evening law degree courses across all States he saidThe BCI has consistently maintained this position under its Rules of Legal Education 2008 which mandate that LLB is a regular fulltime professional course requiring prescribed daily and weekly classroom hours minimum attendance and a fixed academic teaching window between 8 am and 7 pmIn reply to another question the MoS said the Government of India has taken various initiatives to promote and strengthen Alternative Dispute Resolution mechanisms including institutional arbitrationTo enable preferred recourse to institutional arbitration the India International Arbitration Centre Act 2019 has been enacted leading to the establishment of the India International Arbitration Centre thereby creating an independent and autonomous body for facilitating institutional arbitration said MeghwalThe Centre since its establishment has conducted workshops conferences and seminars relating to domestic and international arbitrations for awareness and training and CPSEsPSUs have participated in it IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/evening-llb-graduates-of-1999-2000-or-earlier-batches-can-practice-law-meghwal-661040.html Fri, 06 Feb 2026 01:13:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/custodial-death-case-cbi-finds-man-innocent-mother-demands-action-661056.html Madurai Feb 5 The mother of B Ajith Kumar a temporary temple security guard who died following alleged custodial torture last year has demanded the immediate arrest of the woman whose theft complaint led to his detention after the Central Bureau of Investigation CBI concluded that her son was innocent Addressing reporters on Thursday B Malathy said the family had finally received some measure of justice after the CBI informed the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court that Ajith Kumar had not stolen any jewellery However she insisted that those responsible for falsely implicating him must also be held accountable That woman Nikitha should be arrested first We need to know who told her to file such a complaint and why she gave a false report My son was innocent yet he died like a criminal Those five policemen should never come out of jailâ Malathy said breaking down during the press meet The case dates back to June 27 2025 when Nikitha a resident of Thirumangalam visited the Madapuram temple with her elderly mother She allegedly asked Ajith Kumar to help park her vehicle Later that day she lodged a complaint at the Thirubuvanam police station claiming that 10 sovereigns of gold jewellery were missing from a bag inside her car Ajith was subsequently picked up for questioning He later died with the family alleging brutal custodial torture Malathy claimed her son was treated âlike a terroristâ alleging he was hung from a tree beaten and tortured and even denied water âThey used chilli powder and tortured him mercilessly Is there any law that allows thisâ she asked The familyâs counsel said Justice Srimathi has directed the CBI to submit a detailed status report by February 17 The agency has reportedly prepared a 90page chargesheet confirming Ajithâs innocence and examining the role of police officials and the complainant The counsel further alleged that the theft complaint was a âpreplanned fabricationâ meant to extort jewellery Four other youths Naveen Kumar Praveen Kumar Arun and Vinoth were also allegedly detained and assaulted One suffered a ruptured eardrum while another lost his livelihood due to stigma Six police personnel including a driver are currently facing legal proceedings The family has urged the government to provide employment to Ajithâs brother and safer rehabilitation support IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/custodial-death-case-cbi-finds-man-innocent-mother-demands-action-661056.html Fri, 06 Feb 2026 01:31:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/calcutta-high-court-puts-stay-on-order-declaring-hooghly-dpsc-illegal-661003.html Kolkata Feb 5 In a case concerning teacher transfers the Calcutta High Court had declared the District Primary School Council DPSC in Hooghly district illegal The division bench of Justice Tapabrata Chakraborty has now issued an interim stay on this singlebench order court sources said on ThursdayThe court said that the Primary School Council can continue its work for the time being However the division bench has directed the council to submit relevant documents regarding the matterEarlier a single bench of the Calcutta High Court had ruled that the council was not formed in accordance with the rules and laws governing its operation and formationTherefore since the council is illegal it has no existence It further said that the council had no authority to issue instructions to the chairman or other officebearers of the district primary councilEven if any instructions had been issued they were not validThe primary council challenged this order before the High Courtâs division benchOn Wednesday in the case related to the matter the division bench ordered that the council can continue its work for the time beingThe copy of the order was uploaded on the courtâs website on ThursdayDuring the hearing Bishwabrata Basu Mallick the lawyer for the Hooghly district primary council said âThe DPSC handles all aspects of primary education from recruitment to transfersâThis entire process has been halted Not only that the council is unable to perform any of its other functions The employees of the council are also facing difficultiesâAccording to legal experts this order from the division bench has resolved the deadlock that was about to complicate primary councils across the stateThe council which was suffering from an existential crisis has now been freed from that predicamentIncidentally the Hooghly DPSC had issued a transfer order for a teacher named Chandana BhuiClaiming her transfer to be illegal she challenged the order in courtIn that case the single bench of the High Court not only cancelled the teacherâs transfer but also declared the council itself illegal IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/calcutta-high-court-puts-stay-on-order-declaring-hooghly-dpsc-illegal-661003.html Thu, 05 Feb 2026 19:30:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/kerala-hc-dismisses-pil-against-multi-fold-hike-in-prisoners-wages-661004.html Kochi Feb 5 The Kerala High Court on Thursday dismissed a public interest litigation challenging the state governments decision to enhance the wages paid to convicted prisoners A Division Bench comprising Justice Soumen Sen and Justice VM Syam Kumar rejected the petition filed by advocate A K Gopi which questioned the legality of the governments executive order dated January 9The order revised daily wages for prison labour from the earlier range of Rs 63 â Rs 168 to between Rs 530 and Rs 620The petitioner contended that the revision amounted to a multifold increase and in certain categories nearly a ninefold rise in wages at one timeIt was argued that the revised structure would result in prisoners earning approximately Rs 15000 to Rs 18600 per month while all essential living expenses including food accommodation clothing and medical care continue to be fully borne by the StateThis the petitioner submitted created a constitutionally impermissible economic inversion where prisoners would enjoy a financial advantage over free workersReliance was placed on the Supreme Court judgment in State of Gujarat v High Court of Gujarat 1998 7 SCC 392 which held that prison labour is not employment in the conventional legal sense and that wages paid to prisoners are intended to be equitable and incentivebased rather than equivalent to statutory minimum wagesThe Apex Court had cautioned that prison wages should not place inmates in a better economic position than free labour once Stateprovided facilities are taken into accountThe petition also referred to minimum wage notifications issued by the Kerala government under the Minimum Wages Act 1948 noting that unskilled workers are entitled to a basic monthly pay of Rs 15000 while semiskilled and skilled workers receive Rs 15720 and Rs 18000 respectively without subsidised living costsIt was further argued that the honorarium paid to elected representatives in local selfgovernment institutions is lower than the revised prison wagesRejecting these arguments the Court observed that the nonrevision of pay scales for other categories of workers cannot prevent the State from revising prison wagesThe Bench noted that other sections are free to seek revision of their pay scales through appropriate channelsThe Court further observed that prison wages form part of the rehabilitation processThe judges noted that prisoners are not receiving wages without work and that the scheme is intended to aid their rehabilitation and reintegrationThe petition had also challenged the authority of prison officials to fix wages at such levels under the Prisons Act 1894 and State Prison Rules and alleged procedural lapses including the nonpublication of the government order in the official Gazette or on the government website in violation of the Right to Information Act 2005After hearing the matter the High Court dismissed the petition IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/kerala-hc-dismisses-pil-against-multi-fold-hike-in-prisoners-wages-661004.html Thu, 05 Feb 2026 19:31:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/delhi-hc-rejects-rajpal-yadavs-plea-for-more-time-to-surrender-660831.html New Delhi Feb 4 The Delhi High Court on Wednesday rejected Bollywood actor Rajpal Yadavâs plea seeking extension of time to surrender before jail authorities in connection with multiple cheque bounce cases Holding that there was no ground left to show any further leniency a singlejudge Bench of Justice Swarna Kanta Sharma observed that the order directing Yadav to surrender was passed only after he repeatedly failed to comply with assurances and undertakings given earlier to the Delhi High Court âYou were granted two daysâ time to surrender as you said you were in Bombay I donât think there is any ground There is no ground to show leniency anymore Today you have to surrender at 4 pmâ Justice Sharma observedIn an order passed on Monday the Delhi High Court had directed the actor to surrender before the concerned Jail Superintendent by 4 pm on February 4 noting his repeated failure to honour settlement commitments despite being granted several opportunitiesRajpal Yadav was convicted and sentenced in 2024 in cheque bounce cases under the Negotiable Instruments Act His sentence had been suspended earlier after he expressed willingness to amicably settle the dispute with the complainant company and the matter was even referred to mediationHowever the Delhi High Court had noted that no payment was made for nearly a year despite specific timelines and assurances given from time to timeObserving that âconsiderable leniencyâ had already been shown Justice Sharma had said there was no justification to continue the indulgence granted to the actorWhile directing him to surrender the Delhi High Court had allowed him time till February 4 accepting the submission that Rajpal Yadav was engaged in professional work in Mumbai The matter is listed on February 5 for reporting compliance by the concerned jail authorities IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/delhi-hc-rejects-rajpal-yadavs-plea-for-more-time-to-surrender-660831.html Thu, 05 Feb 2026 01:25:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/dalit-woman-nude-parade-case-karnataka-court-sentences-12-to-five-years-imprisonment-660835.html Belagavi Feb 4 A local court on Wednesday convicted 12 people in connection with the Dalit woman nude parade case that was reported from Vantamuri village of Karnatakas Belagavi district On December 10 2023 the 42yearold woman was dragged out of her house stripped and paradedShe was later tied to an electric pole and assaulted reportedly because her son had eloped with a girl from the villageThe violence was allegedly unleashed on the boys mother by the family members of the girlThe Karnataka High Court had strongly criticised the state government for the failure of the Police Department to prevent the incidentThe 10th Additional District and Sessions Court Judge Belagavi H S Manjunath sentenced all 12 accused to five years of rigorous imprisonmentThe court convicted the accused under 12 sections and imposed a fine of Rs 1000 under each sectionThe convicted people have been identified as Basappa Nayaka Raju Nayaka Kempanna Nayaka Parvathi Nayaka Yallavva Nayaka Lakkappa Nayaka Gangavva Sangeetha Hegganayaka Santhosh Nayaka Shobha Nayaka Lakkavva Nayaka and Shivappa VannurAfter the pronouncement of the verdict family members of the convicted people gathered in large numbers became emotional and broke down The convicted persons also broke into tears inside the courtroomThe incident had proved to be a major embarrassment to the ruling Congressled government as it occurred during the Winter Session of the Karnataka Assembly in BelagaviA Division Bench of the Karnataka High Court headed by the then Chief Justice PB Varale and Justice Krishna S Dixit had expressed strong outrage over the incident and observed Imagine the fear among other women They will feel unsafe in the country Such an incident did not even take place in the Mahabharata Draupadi had Lord Krishna who came to her rescue but in the modern world no one came to help this woman Unfortunately this is a world of Duryodhanas and DushasanasThe High Court had taken suo motu cognisance of the matter and registered a PIL It was noted that while a few villagers attempted to prevent the crime the majority watched the atrocity as mute spectatorsThe Karnataka Police later felicitated police personnel and locals who had made courageous attempts to prevent the stripping and parading of the Dalit woman at Vantamuri village in Belagavi districtPSI Manjunath Hulakunda and five other police personnel were also felicitated for rushing to the spot promptly and initiating actionThe state government had also awarded two acres of land to the victim IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/dalit-woman-nude-parade-case-karnataka-court-sentences-12-to-five-years-imprisonment-660835.html Thu, 05 Feb 2026 01:39:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/ed-attaches-rs-19-crore-properties-in-vuenov-groups-cloud-rupees-money-laundering-probe-660861.html New Delhi Feb 4 The Enforcement Directorates Jalandhar Zonal Office issued a provisional attachment order on January 30 attaching assets valued at Rs 1910 crore in connection with an ongoing money laundering investigation against the Vuenov group of companies under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act 2002 an ED statement said on Wednesday The latest attachment identifies proceeds of crime worth Rs 1910 crore in the form of immovable properties fixed deposits and listed shareholdings These assets belong to Sukhvinder Singh Kharour Vuenov Infratech Private Limited Nitin Srivastava and his wife Ruchi Srivastava as well as family members of Vijay an accountant linked to the Kharour group the statement said Earlier actions included a provisional attachment of properties worth Rs 17812 crore on February 6 2025 and freezing of Rs 7372 crore during searches on August 14 2025 Sukhvinder Singh Kharour and Dimple Kharour were arrested on February 28 2025 at Delhis IGI Airport while attempting to flee and Arif Nisar was apprehended on February 24 2025 All remain in judicial custody A prosecution complaint was filed before the PMLA Special Court on April 24 2025 The probe stems from multiple FIRs registered under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023 by Gautam Budh Nagar Noida Police and Punjab Police involving a largescale investment fraud dubbed the Cloud Rupees Scam or Cloud Particle Scam Sukhvinder Singh Kharour the CEO and founder of the Vuenov Group allegedly orchestrated the scheme in collusion with other accused persons and entities siphoning off hardearned money from thousands of general public investors for personal gains it said The fraudulent operation relied on a sale and leaseback model for purported cloud particlesâclaimed to be data centre serversâpromising attractive monthly rental returns Investigations revealed the underlying business was largely nonexistent or grossly overstated with insignificant or no actual rental income from data centre clients The entire setup functioned as a money rotation scheme where funds from new investors were used to pay partial returns to earlier ones creating an illusion of legitimacy Out of approximately Rs 3558 crore collected from investors through the sale of cloud particles around Rs 1800 crore was returned as fake rent while the remaining proceeds of crime were diverted These funds supported lavish expenditures including high commissions to channel partners purchases of luxury vehicles gold diamonds routing through shell entities and investments in properties worth hundreds of crores The ED continues its investigation to uncover the full extent of the fraud trace additional diverted funds and safeguard investor interests in this multithousandcrore deception that exploited trust in emerging tech investments IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/ed-attaches-rs-19-crore-properties-in-vuenov-groups-cloud-rupees-money-laundering-probe-660861.html Thu, 05 Feb 2026 02:41:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/punjab-ed-attaches-rs-407-crore-linked-to-crown-credit-cooperative-society-ponzi-scam-660875.html New Delhi Feb 4 The Enforcement Directorates Jalandhar Zonal Office has provisionally attached movable properties in the form of four bank accounts of Crown Credit Cooperative Society Limited amounting to approximately Rs 407 crore in connection with a largescale Ponzi scheme that duped thousands of depositors across Punjab a statement of ED said The attachment order was issued on February 4 2026 under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act 2002 The probe was initiated based on multiple FIRs registered by Punjab Police against the cooperative society its PresidentcumManaging Director Jagjeet Singh Vice President Gurmeet Kaur and their associates the statement said further These cases allege criminal breach of trust cheating and criminal conspiracy for inducing members of the general public to deposit hardearned money with false promises of high returns and quick doubling of investments it said Investigations revealed that Jagjeet Singh Gurmeet Kaur and their agents misled depositors through dishonest representations and assurances of lucrative profits Funds collected from investors were not used for legitimate business purposes but were diverted for personal use by the accused and to pay returns to earlier investors a classic hallmark of Ponzi operations it further said This created an illusion of profitability encouraging more people to invest and thereby expanding the scale of the fraud Deposits gathered from victims across Punjab were consolidated into four specific bank accounts maintained in the name of Crown Credit Cooperative Society Limited These accounts have now been provisionally attached to prevent further dissipation of the proceeds of crime and to safeguard whatever remains for potential restitution to affected depositors The EDs ongoing inquiry continues to map the full flow of funds identify additional beneficiaries and trace any other assets acquired through the illicit proceeds Such cooperative society scams have proliferated in Punjab in recent years exploiting trust in communitybased financial institutions and luring middleclass and lowerincome families with promises of unrealistic returns often leading to significant financial distress when the schemes collapse IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/punjab-ed-attaches-rs-407-crore-linked-to-crown-credit-cooperative-society-ponzi-scam-660875.html Thu, 05 Feb 2026 03:03:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/sc-suggests-govt-reconsider-sonam-wangchuks-detention-under-nsa-660877.html New Delhi Feb 4 The Supreme Court on Wednesday orally asked the Union government to reconsider the continued preventive detention of Ladakhbased social activist Sonam Wangchuk under the National Security Act NSA A bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and PB Varale was hearing a habeas corpus petition filed by Wangchukâs wife Dr Gitanjali Angmo terming his detention illegal and an arbitrary exercise violating his fundamental rightsDuring the hearing the Justice Aravind Kumarled bench observed that Wangchuk had been in custody since September 26 2025 and that the medical reports placed before the apex court indicated his health was certainly not very goodIt was suggested to Additional Solicitor General ASG KM Nataraj that the government should give it a thought as to whether there was a possibility of rethinking the continuation of Wangchukâs detentionIn response ASG Nataraj assured the Supreme Court that he would seek instructions from the authoritiesDefending the detention he argued that the NSA is a special law enacted for preventive purposes The NSA is meant to prevent a person from acting in a manner prejudicial to public order or the security of the state Preventive detention is not punishment It is based on the discretion of the detaining authority he told the apex court adding that the District Magistrate had passed the order after objectively assessing the materials placed before himASG Natraj submitted that Wangchukâs speech delivered on September 24 2025 was provocative in nature and triggered violent protests in Leh resulting in four deaths and injuries to 161 people He further contended that while Wangchuk had challenged the original detention order he had not assailed subsequent ordersHowever the Justice Aravind Kumarled Bench indicated that if the very foundation of the detention order was found to be legally deficient including on grounds of nonapplication of mind subsequent approvals would not independently sustain itThe Supreme Court remarked that if the detention order is quashed all subsequent actions would stand invalidated In an earlier hearing the bench noted Wangchukâs health concerns and ordered a specialist from a government hospital to examine him with the medical report submitted in a sealed cover IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/sc-suggests-govt-reconsider-sonam-wangchuks-detention-under-nsa-660877.html Thu, 05 Feb 2026 03:04:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/govt-employees-oppn-parties-in-west-bengal-hail-sc-verdict-on-pending-da-660933.html Kolkata Feb 5 IANS The joint forum of state government employees and also Opposition parties in West Bengal on Thursday welcomed the Supreme Courts verdict on the Dearness Allowance DAnbspBhaskar Ghosh convenor of the Join Forum of State Government Employees hailed the verdict saying it was an outcome of their relentless protest movements demanding pending DA from the Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee governmentIt is a victory for all state government employees who have been denied their legitimate dues in form of Dearness Allowance Today the Supreme Court has clearly stated that the West Bengal government will now have to pay the pending DA It is a result of our sustained movement We have been protesting on this issue for more than 1100 days said GhoshnbspWe would like to thank all our lawyers organisations Leader of Opposition in state Assembly Suvendu Adhikari and lawyer Bikash Bhattacharya for standing by us and supporting out movement The state government without causing any further delay must abide by the order of the Supreme Court and release the DA to government employees he addedThe Supreme Court on Thursday ordered the Mamata Banerjee government to clear 25 per cent of the DA due to the state government employees by March 31nbspThe Division Bench of Justice Sanjay Karol and Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra also ordered the state government to constitute a fourmember committee to decide on the remaining 75 per cent of DAnbspThe same Bench had in August last year reserved its judgment in the casenbspIn an interim order passed on May 16 last year the apex court had directed the state government to pay 25 per cent of the Dearness Allowance to its employees within three months The Mamata Banerjee government later pleaded with the SC to extend the deadline by six months citing funds constraintFollowing todays verdict LoP Adhikari said the SC order has secured the fundamental rights of state government employeesnbspThe honourable Supreme Court has upheld the fundamental rights of state government employees in the DA case Today Mamata Banerjee has been proven wrong as she repeatedly claimed that DA is not an entitlement of the employees to evade her responsibility Today the countrys highest court has declared that DA is a legitimate right of the employees not a mere grant said Adhikari in a social media postAfter a long wait and years of struggle state government employees are finally going to receive their rightful Dearness Allowance as per the order of the Honourable Court added the BJP leadernbspUnion Minister of State for Education and DoNER Sukanta Majumdar also welcomed the DA verdictnbspAfter a prolonged struggle marked by unwavering resolve state government employees are finally poised to receive Dearness Allowance in accordance with their lawful entitlements following the directive of the Supreme Court This historic achievement stands as a testament to the unity patience and steadfast determination of the states government employees said MajumdarnbspHailing the Apex Courts order senior CPIM leader Bikash Bhattacharya said It is a big setback for the state government If they have any shame then they must release the pending DA without wasting much time They have unnecessarily wasted time and money to fight this case and delay the processEchoing similar sentiments state Congress leader Ashutosh Chatterjee told IANS Congress always supported the state government employees in their fight to seek pending DA Todays Supreme Court verdict comes as a lesson for the Mamata Banerjee government They must rectify their mistakenbspThe Trinamool Congress on the other hand claimed that it is a partial victory for the state government as the Supreme Court did not ask it to pay 100 per cent DAnbspSupreme Court did not order the state government to pay 100 per cent DA but just 25 per cent It goes to show that the Supreme Court sensitively reviewed the matter The central government despite the Supreme Courts order refused to pay the state government the pending funds for welfare projects such as MGNREGA and Awas Yojana If the Centre pays our dues then the government will not have any financial crunch to release the DA The BJP must be held accountable for causing complications in this regard said Trinamool spokesperson Arup ChakrabortyIt may be recalled that since 2022 onwards there have been 18 adjournments on the issue after the Mamata Banerjee government filed an appeal against a contempt proceedings initiated by the Calcutta High Court over DAnbspSince April 1 2025 the Dearness Allowance for Bengal government employees was fixed at 18 per cent of the basic salary in last years state budget proposals The gap between the central employees and the state is around 40 per centIANS https://dailyworld.in/law/govt-employees-oppn-parties-in-west-bengal-hail-sc-verdict-on-pending-da-660933.html Thu, 05 Feb 2026 15:04:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/civil-services-exam-2023-delhi-hc-dismisses-plea-against-csat-questions-660984.html New Delhi Feb 5 The Delhi High Court has dismissed a writ petition filed by unsuccessful civil services aspirants challenging certain questions in the Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2023 particularly PaperII CSAT holding that courts cannot sit in appeal over the opinion of subject experts or interfere in academic matters in the absence of arbitrariness mala fides or patent illegality A bench of Justices Amit Mahajan and Anil Kshetarpal upheld the order of the Central Administrative Tribunal CAT which had earlier rejected the aspirantsâ plea alleging that around 11 questions in the Civil Service Aptitude Test CSAT paper were beyond the prescribed syllabus The scope of judicial review in matters relating to competitive examinations is extremely limited The court does not sit in appeal over the decision of an examining body nor does it substitute its own opinion for that of subject experts the Justice Mahajanled Bench observed The petitioners who were unsuccessful candidates in the Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2023 had contended that the impugned questions were drawn from Class XI and XII NCERT syllabi despite the examination rules stipulating that CSAT questions should be of Class X level They argued that the inclusion of such questions resulted in an uneven playing field and vitiated the entire selection process Rejecting the contention the Delhi High Court noted that the Union Public Service Commission UPSC had placed before it the report of an Expert Committee constituted to examine objections raised by candidates which categorically concluded that all the questioned items were within the prescribed syllabus and that the mathematical questions did not exceed the Class X level Once the Committee of Experts who have expertise and wisdom exclusively over the subjectmatter has opined that the questions were within the syllabus and found that the objections are not sustainable the very basis of compensatory or corrective reliefs does not survive the bench said adding that it lacked the institutional competence to reexamine the nature or standard of questions It further stated that mere disagreement with the academic assessment of experts without demonstrating perversity or manifest error cannot furnish a ground for judicial interference Apart from merits the Delhi High Court accepted the preliminary objection on nonjoinder of necessary parties highlighting that the reliefs sought including preparation of a revised merit list or fresh examinations would directly affect candidates who had already been selected and appointed but were not impleaded in the case Admittedly none of the selected candidates have been impleaded It is settled that no adverse order can be passed affecting the rights of a person without affording an opportunity of hearing it observed Noting that the entire Civil Services Examination 2023 process had long concluded and subsequent examinations had already been held the Delhi High Court held that it would not exercise writ jurisdiction to grant infructuous reliefs in matters involving largescale public examinations Finding no infirmity in the CATâs decision the Delhi High Court dismissed the writ petition and disposed of all pending applications IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/civil-services-exam-2023-delhi-hc-dismisses-plea-against-csat-questions-660984.html Thu, 05 Feb 2026 18:12:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/odisha-nine-bangladeshi-immigrants-sentenced-under-foreigners-act-660760.html Bhubaneswar Feb 3 A local court in Bhubaneswar on Tuesday sentenced nine Bangladeshi nationals to undergo rigorous imprisonment for two years for entering into India without a passport visa or any other valid travel documents The court has also asked the convicted illegal immigrants to pay a fine of Rs 10000 each failing which they will have to undergo an additional three months of rigorous imprisonmentPolice sources claimed that on March 8 2025 acting upon reliable information the Special Task Force STF of Odisha Police apprehended ten Bangladeshi nationals including one juvenile at Bhubaneswar Railway StationDuring interrogation they gave prevaricatory statements and tried to escape from the clutches of the raiding team On being asked they failed to produce Pass Port Visa or any other valid travel document They also confessed that they have come to India in a clandestine manner without any valid authority like valid Pass Port Visa and other travel document through a jungle area of Assam during night time informed the special public prosecutor RR BrahmaAs the Bangladeshi nationals had entered India secretly without any valid travel documents and came to Bhubaneswar to reside here while suppressing their real identity they were arrested by the STF after registering a case in this matterAfter a successful investigation a charge sheet was submitted on May 5 last year against the accused persons under Section 14 of the Foreigners Act 1946 relating to the violation of Indiaâs immigration laws During the trial the prosecution examined six witnesses and exhibited 14 relevant documentsMeanwhile the juvenile detained in the case was sent to a correctional home in Berhampur following the orders of the Juvenile Justice Board BhubaneswarNotably the Odisha government has of late intensified the identification and deportation of Bangladeshi nationals who have been illegally staying in different parts of the stateWhile responding to a query in the Odisha Assembly Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi in December 2025 stated that 51 Bangladeshi immigrants living illegally in Odisha have been identified since the BJPled government assumed office in June 2024 IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/odisha-nine-bangladeshi-immigrants-sentenced-under-foreigners-act-660760.html Wed, 04 Feb 2026 02:20:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/sc-issues-notice-on-pil-challenging-reduction-in-qualifying-percentiles-for-neet-pg-660786.html New Delhi Feb 4 IANS The Supreme Court on Wednesday issued notice on a public interest litigation PIL challenging the decision of the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences NBEMS to drastically reduce the qualifying cutoff percentiles for the NEETPG 202526 examinationnbspnbspA Bench of Justices PS Narasimha and Alok Aradhe sought responses from the Union of India NBEMS the National Medical Commission NMC and the Medical Counselling Committee MCC and posted the matter for further hearing on February 6The PIL challenged the impugned notification dated January 13 issued by NBEMS whereby the qualifying cutoff percentiles for postgraduate medical admissions were reduced to abnormally low zero and even negative levels after the declaration of results and completion of two rounds of counsellingnbspAccording to the petition the cutoff for General and EWS candidates was lowered from the originally prescribed 50th percentile 276 marks out of 800 to the 7th percentile approximately 120 marks while for SC ST and OBC candidates the qualifying percentile was reduced from the 40th percentile 235 marks to zero percentile permitting eligibility even with negative scoresThe plea filed by advocate Satyam Singh Rajput contends that the impugned reduction is arbitrary unconstitutional and violative of Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution and poses a serious threat to patient safety public health and the integrity of postgraduate medical educationnbspIt argues that permitting candidates with zero or negative scores to enter specialist training dilutes merit at the apex level of medical education and undermines minimum standards of professional competenceTerming the move unprecedented and extreme the petition states that NEETPG which is meant to function as a national screening mechanism has been converted into an instrument certifying failure as eligibilitynbspThe petitioners have also challenged the reduction on the ground that the rules of the game cannot be altered after the selection process has commenced and results have been declaredIt further alleges that the decision amounts to impermissible executive interference in academic standards asserting that under the National Medical Commission Act 2019 the responsibility to maintain professional standards lies with the NMC as an expert body and cannot be subordinated to administrative or seatfilling considerationsSeeking quashing of the impugned notification the petitioners have urged the apex court to restore constitutionally permissible minimum qualifying standards and issue appropriate directions to safeguard patient safety public health and the rule of lawIANS https://dailyworld.in/law/sc-issues-notice-on-pil-challenging-reduction-in-qualifying-percentiles-for-neet-pg-660786.html Wed, 04 Feb 2026 13:46:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/sc-notice-to-eci-on-mamatas-plea-against-sir-cm-tells-court-process-creating-fear--660803.html New Delhi Feb 4 IANS The Supreme Court on Wednesday issued notice to the Election Commission of India ECI on a plea filed by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee challenging the ongoing Special Intensive Revision SIR of electoral rolls in the pollbound state and alleging largescale disenfranchisement of genuine votersnbspA bench headed by Chief Justice of India CJI Surya Kant and comprising Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi sought the poll bodys response and posted the matter for further hearing on MondaynbspIn her plea Banerjee has sought urgent interim directions to restrain the ECI from deleting the name of any voter during the SIR exercise particularly those placed under the logical discrepancy category while the matter remains under judicial considerationnbspnbspAppearing for the West Bengal Chief Minister senior advocate Shyam Divan contended that the revision exercise is being carried out in undue haste with only 11 days remaining for the final publication of the electoral rolls scheduled for February 14 while barely four days are left to complete hearings of objectionsnbspDivan submitted that around 32 lakh voters are unmapped and over 136 crore voters have been placed in the logical discrepancy listnbspThe senior counsel alleged that nearly 70 lakh notices have been issued merely on account of minor spelling mismatches in names a common occurrence when Bengali names are transliterated into EnglishnbspDomicile certificates Aadhaar OBC certificates none of these are being accepted People are standing in queues for four to five hours and yet reasons for flagging names are not being published Divan arguednbspAt this the CJIled Bench remarked that spelling variations due to local dialects are panIndia phenomena and cannot become a ground to exclude bona fide votersnbspDuring the hearing Banerjee sought and was granted permission to address the apex courtnbspI can explain the problem I belong to this state she said claiming that repeated representations to the ECI had gone unanswerednbspnbspI am from a common family I am not important But I am fighting for everyone Banerjee told the bench alleging that the SIR process is creating discrimination and fearnbspShe claimed that women who change surnames after marriage and people who shift residences are being disproportionately affectednbspCM Banerjee alleged that West Bengal is being selectively targeted ahead of elections pointing out that similar exercises are not being conducted in northeast states like Assam She further claimed that more than 100 Booth Level Officers BLOs have died or fallen ill due to stress caused by the process and accused the ECI of acting in violation of earlier top court directionsnbspnbspResponding to the submissions the CJIled Bench assured that the Supreme Court would find a practical solution adding that no genuine voters right can be taken awaynbspWe will not shy away from our responsibility We will ensure a solution the top court said while clarifying that the broader challenge to the validity of the SIR process is being heard separatelynbspAppearing for the ECI senior advocate Rakesh Dwivedi submitted that the poll body was compelled to appoint microobservers due to the West Bengal governments failure to provide an adequate number of ClassB officers to act as Electoral Registration Officers EROs despite repeated requestsnbspAt this the bench remarked that if the state government furnishes a list of officers who can be spared for SIR duties the role of microobservers could be reconsidered The apex court also indicated that it would ask the ECI to examine complaints relating to name mismatches and refrain from issuing notices for minor spelling errorsnbspUltimately the apex court issued notice to the ECI on Banerjees plea and directed the poll body to file its response by Monday the next date of hearingnbspIANSnbsp https://dailyworld.in/law/sc-notice-to-eci-on-mamatas-plea-against-sir-cm-tells-court-process-creating-fear--660803.html Wed, 04 Feb 2026 15:19:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/delhi-hc-orders-actor-rajpal-yadav-to-surrender-in-cheque-bounce-case-660694.html New Delhi Feb 3 The Delhi High Court has directed Bollywood actor Rajpal Yadav to surrender before the concerned Jail Superintendent by 4 pm on February 4 in connection with multiple cheque bounce cases A singlejudge Bench of Swarana Kanta Sharma deprecated the actorâs conduct after noting his repeated failure to honour settlement commitments despite being granted several opportunitiesâThis Court is of the view that the conduct of the petitioner no 1 Rajpal Yadav deserves to be deprecated Despite repeatedly giving assurances and seeking indulgence of this Court he has failed to comply with the orders passed from time to timeâ Justice Sharma observedThe Delhi High Court was dealing with a batch of petitions filed by Yadav and his wife challenging their conviction and sentence under the Negotiable Instruments ActTaking a stern view of the conduct of the petitioners Justice Sharma observed that despite âconsiderable leniencyâ shown over a prolonged period the settlement amount was not paid in terms of undertakings given to the courtâThis Court finds no justification to continue the indulgence granted to the petitioner no1 earlierâ the Delhi High Court said adding that the actor had ârepeatedly breached undertakings given before this CourtâIn its order Justice Sharma noted that the sentence awarded by the trial court had been suspended as early as June 28 2024 after the petitioners expressed willingness to amicably settle the dispute with the complainant company and the matter was even referred to mediationThe order further recorded that no payment was made for nearly a year despite assurances and specific timelines fixed by the Delhi High Court from time to timeWhile directing the release of the amount already deposited with the Registrar General to the complainant company Justice Sharma granted limited indulgence by allowing time till February 4 for surrender accepting the submission that the actor was presently engaged in professional work in MumbaiâHowever in the interest of justice the petitioner no1 is directed to surrender before the concerned Jail Superintendent by 04022026 at 400 PM to serve the sentence awarded to him by the learned Trial Courtâ the Delhi High Court saidThe matter was listed on February 5 seeking compliance from the concerned jail authorities IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/delhi-hc-orders-actor-rajpal-yadav-to-surrender-in-cheque-bounce-case-660694.html Wed, 04 Feb 2026 00:49:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/kerala-hc-declines-to-stay-release-of-film-based-on-venjaramoodu-murder-case-660705.html Kochi Feb 3 The Kerala High Court on Tuesday questioned a plea seeking to block the theatrical release of Malayalam film Kaalam Paranja Katha which is said to be based on the Venjaramoodu mass murder case The petition was filed by the father of the accused who argued that the release of the film would affect his sonâs right to a fair trialWhen the matter came up for admission Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas made it clear that the court was not inclined to restrain the release of the movieHow a film could interfere with a criminal trial especially when the case is heard by a judicially trained judge who relies only on evidence placed before the court the judge askedThe court questioned the basis on which the petitioner claimed that the movie was directly linked to the murder caseIt observed that the plea was filed at the eleventh hour and noted that the film had already received certification from the Censor BoardThe judge said the court cannot rely on social media posts or assumptions to conclude that a movie is identical to a pending criminal caseThough the petitionerâs counsel argued that witnesses could be influenced by the movieâs narrative the court however found this argument difficult to acceptIt pointed out that there was no material to show that the film would sway witnesses or prejudice the trialThe judge also remarked that the media regularly reports on criminal cases and that such reporting has not been restrained on the grounds of a fair trialJustice Thomas further noted that cinema is an art form and a creative expressionHe said that merely because a film draws inspiration from a crime it does not automatically interfere with the administration of justiceThe court recalled a similar plea filed earlier by Jolly Joseph an accused in the cyanide murder case seeking to stop the release of a web seriesThat request was also rejectedObserving that the balance of convenience favoured the filmmakers the court said it was not inclined to grant any interim orderNotices were issued to the respondents and the case was posted for further hearing on February 5The Venjaramoodu mass murder case relates to the alleged killing of five family members and the attempted murder of the accusedâs motherThe accused is facing trial before the Principal Sessions Court in Thiruvananthapuram IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/kerala-hc-declines-to-stay-release-of-film-based-on-venjaramoodu-murder-case-660705.html Wed, 04 Feb 2026 01:04:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/ed-attaches-assets-of-ex-indore-civic-officer-under-pmla-660730.html Indore Feb 3 The Enforcement Directorate ED on Tuesday said that it has provisionally attached the properties worth Rs 3991 lakh belonging to a former employee of Indore Municipal Corporation IMC Chetan Patil and his wife Jyoti Patil under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act PMLA The federal probe agency in a statement said that the properties provisionally attached âare in the form of a plot and a residential building located in Indore which are registered in the name of Chetan Patil and his wife Jyoti PatilThe ED said that action was taken based on an FIR registered by the Economic Offence Wing EOW Indore under the Prevention of Corruption Act which are scheduled offences under the PMLA for accumulating the assets disproportionate to his known sources of incomeThe EDâs investigation revealed that Patilâs sources of income during the period between 1998 and March 12 2023 during his service period were estimated at up to Rs 5511 lakh however he possessed the disproportionate assets of Rs 138 croreâIt was found that the proceeds of the crime were allegedly laundered through multiple bank accounts held in the name of Chetan Patil and a proprietorship concern Nagrodh Architect Engineers and Infrastructure in the name of his wifeâ it saidThe investigation also revealed that the firm had no genuine activity and was allegedly used for routing unexplained cash deposits and layering of fundsâThe tainted funds were further utilised for acquisition of immovable properties repayment of housing loans LIC premium and other personal expenditures indicating placement layering and integration of Proceeds of Crimeâ EDâs statement further saidIndore Municipal Corporations Assistant Garden Officer Chetan Patil has been dismissed from service following serious allegations of corruption and possession of assets disproportionate to his known sources of incomeNotably Chetan Patil who was serving in the horticulture department in the IMC was dismissed from the post after the EOW filed an FIR and initiated an investigation in 2024The Initial findings revealed fraudulent procurement worth Rs two crore during Patils tenure as incharge of the garden department IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/ed-attaches-assets-of-ex-indore-civic-officer-under-pmla-660730.html Wed, 04 Feb 2026 01:32:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/shivraj-singh-chouhan-congress-mp-settle-defamation-dispute-sc-told-660621.html New Delhi Feb 3 IANS The Supreme Court on Tuesday recorded that the defamation dispute between Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Congress Rajya Sabha MP and senior advocate Vivek Tankha has been amicably settlednbspA bench of Justices MM Sundresh and NK Singh was hearing a special leave petition SLP filed by former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Chouhan former Minister Bhupendra Singh Yadav and exState BJP President VD Sharma seeking quashing of the criminal defamation proceedings initiated on Tankhas complaintnbspAppearing for the petitioners senior advocate Mahesh Jethmalani told the apex court that the parties had resolved their differences after meeting in ParliamentnbspnbspWe are happy to inform the court that my client and Mr Tankha met in Parliament and settled the matter Mr Tankha will withdraw his civil suit for defamation as well as the criminal complaint Jethmalani submittednbspTaking note of the submission the Justice Sundreshled Bench orally observed that politicians are expected to have a higher degree of tolerance See they are parliamentarians they are more thickskinned The language of politicians is different and being overly sensitive should be avoided as it is part of their job the apex court remarkednbspDisposing of the SLP the apex court in its order said We have been informed that the matter has been amicably resolved We are expressing our appreciation All pending disputes between the parties stand terminated including both the criminal complaint and the defamation casenbspOn November 11 2024 the Supreme Court granted interim relief to the trio of BJP leaders directing that they need not be subjected to bailable warrants subject to their effective participation before the trial court through counselnbspThe petitioners had approached the Supreme Court after the Madhya Pradesh High Court had refused to quash the trial courts order taking cognisance of the defamation complaint filed by TankhanbspnbspTankha accused the three senior BJP leaders of making a baseless allegation against him in connection with a case related to 27 per cent reservation for the Other Backward Classes OBCs in Madhya Pradesh During the panchayat elections in the state in 2022 the BJP and Congress indulged in a race for political gain by pushing for 27 per cent reservation to OBCsnbsp https://dailyworld.in/law/shivraj-singh-chouhan-congress-mp-settle-defamation-dispute-sc-told-660621.html Tue, 03 Feb 2026 14:14:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/cant-play-with-right-to-privacy-sc-flags-concerns-over-whatsapp-privacy-policy-data-sharing-660679.html New Delhi Feb 3 IANS The Supreme Court on Tuesday expressed serious concern over WhatsApps 2021 privacy policy and the sharing of user data by its parent company Meta Platforms observing that the platform cannot be allowed to play with the right to privacy of Indian usersnbspThe courts remark came as a bench of Chief Justice of India CJI Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul Pancholi was hearing appeals filed by Meta Platforms and WhatsApp LLC against a National Company Law Appellate Tribunal NCLAT order which had upheld a Rs 21314 crore penalty imposed by the Competition Commission of India CCIThe CCI has also filed a crossappeal challenging the NCLAT decision insofar as it allowed WhatsApp to share user data for advertising purposesnbspAgreeing to admit the appeals the CJI Kantled Bench made sharp observations on the nature of WhatsApps privacy policy describing it as a take it or leave it arrangement that leaves consumers with no real choicenbspWhat is the choice You have complete monopoly in the market and you are saying you are giving a choice It is either you walk out of WhatsApp or we will share your data the apex court remarkedDuring the hearing the CJIled Bench repeatedly flagged concerns about the fairness of the privacy policy particularly for ordinary usersnbspA poor woman selling fruits on the street will she understand the terms of your policy The language is so cleverly drafted that even some of us may not understand it the top court saidnbspDescribing the alleged data practices as deeply problematic the Supreme Court observed This is a decent way of committing theft of private information You cannot play with the right to privacy of this country You are making a mockery of constitutionalismIt also expressed concern over instances of targeted advertisements appearing soon after personal communications even as WhatsApp reiterated that its messaging services are endtoend encrypted and that it cannot read user conversationsnbspSolicitor General Tushar Mehta appearing for the Centre supported the apex courts concerns stating that personal data today has clear monetary value and is being commercially exploitedAfter an extensive hearing the CJI Kantled Bench directed Meta and WhatsApp to file an affidavit explaining their privacy policy and datasharing mechanisms including how user consent is obtained and communicated The apex court also impleaded the Union government as a party to the proceedings The matter has been posted for further hearing next weekIANS https://dailyworld.in/law/cant-play-with-right-to-privacy-sc-flags-concerns-over-whatsapp-privacy-policy-data-sharing-660679.html Tue, 03 Feb 2026 17:51:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/cctv-footage-contradicts-police-timeline-in-patna-neet-aspirant-death-case-660577.html Patna Feb 2 The alleged rape and death of a NEET aspirant at a girlsâ hostel in Patna has taken a dramatic turn with the emergence of CCTV footage from Shambhu Girlsâ Hostel The footage has cast serious doubt on the policeâs initial timeline and raised questions about the conduct of the investigationThe CCTV clip lasting 10 minutes and 54 seconds reportedly shows a man carrying the unconscious student out of the hostel amid visible chaos inside the premises Several female residents are seen running peeping into corridors and reacting in panic indicating confusion and urgency at the time Sources said the footage was recorded when the student was being taken to the hospitalThe student a resident of Jehanabad district was staying at the Shambhu Girlsâ Hostel in Patnaâs Chitraguptnagar area while preparing for the NEET medical entrance examination She was found unconscious in her room and rushed to a private hospital where she died during treatment on January 11Soon after the incident the victimâs family alleged sexual assault However senior police officials including station house officer SHO Roshni Kumari and Patna Senior Superintendent of Police Kartikeya Sharma initially ruled out rape citing the absence of conclusive evidenceThe newly surfaced CCTV footage has now placed the police version under scrutiny While police had earlier stated that the student was taken to the hospital around 2 pm on January 6 the footage reportedly shows activity outside the room beginning at 350 pm The hostel gate is seen opening at 35855 pm and the student being carried out in an unconscious state at 40130 pmThis apparent discrepancy of nearly two hours between the official timeline and the visual evidence has raised serious concernsThe footage has also contradicted the policeâs earlier claim that the hostel room door had to be broken open Instead it reportedly shows a girl climbing onto a table and unlocking the door from above suggesting there was no forced entryThis has raised further questions over whether the room was locked from inside or outside whether others were aware of the locking mechanism and whether anyone accessed the room between 930 pm on January 5 and 4 pm on January 6No forensic examination of the door latch locking mechanism or handle height has been cited so farQuestions have also been raised about delays in police response SHO Roshni Kumari reportedly visited the hostel three days after the incident by which time the crime scene may have been compromised The room was allegedly not sealed no entry log was maintained and the victimâs clothes crucial evidence in cases of alleged sexual assault were not seized immediatelyIt has also been alleged that instead of the SHO visiting the scene on the first day a driver was sentFurther concerns relate to the policeâs reliance on the report from Prabhat Hospital the absence of immediate treatment at Patna Medical College and Hospital PMCH and the early projection of a theory involving sleeping pills even before postmortem findings were available The case was later transferred to AIIMS after questions were raised over the handling of the medical examinationThe CCTV footage reportedly shows that after the room was opened several individuals entered some bringing water and blankets others appearing to issue instructionsDespite the student being unconscious no immediate call to the police or an ambulance is visible in the footageNow a crucial piece of evidence the CCTV clip is being seen as a silent witness that challenges not only individual actions but the credibility of the investigation itselfAs legal proceedings continue the footage has intensified demands for accountability transparency and an independent scientific probe Public attention remains firmly focused on whether the numerous questions thrown up by the visuals will be conclusively addressed IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/cctv-footage-contradicts-police-timeline-in-patna-neet-aspirant-death-case-660577.html Mon, 02 Feb 2026 19:14:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/pune-porsche-crash-sc-grants-bail-to-3-accused-in-blood-sample-tampering-case-660584.html New Delhi Feb 2 The Supreme Court on Monday granted bail to three persons alleged to have conspired in swapping blood samples to shield minors involved in the highprofile Pune Porsche hitandrun case Observing that they had been incarcerated for nearly 20 months a Bench of Justices BV Nagarathna and Ujjal Bhuyan ordered the release of Ashish Satish Mittal Aditya Avinash Sood and Amar Santhosh Gaikwad subject to conditions set by the trial courtThe three are accused of having played a role in swapping blood samples of two minor occupants of the Porsche car other than the alleged minor driver who were allegedly under the influence of alcohol at the time of the fatal accidentThey are booked under various provisions of the IPC and the Prevention of Corruption Act for offences including forgery evidence tampering and briberyThe fatal crash occurred in the early hours of May 19 2024 when a Porsche car allegedly driven by a 17yearold boy under the influence of alcohol mowed down two IT professionals Anis Awadhiya and Ashwini Koshta in Puneâs Kalyaninagar area triggering nationwide outrageMittal is a friend of the father of one of the minors seated in the back of the car while Sood is the father of the other minor occupantGaikwad is alleged to have acted as a middleman who received Rs three lakh for facilitating the replacement of the blood samples of the two juvenilesAfter dictating the order granting bail the Justice Nagarathnaled Bench made strong oral observations on parental responsibility describing the incident as reflective of a larger social problemâCelebration on the basis of substance and then going at top speed resulting in the killing of innocent people on the roadâ the law has to catch up with these people Most importantly parents are responsible for handing over the vehicle to children and providing them with sufficient means to have a gala timeâ the apex court remarked while clarifying that it was refraining from detailed findings to avoid prejudicing the ongoing trialEarlier a Pune Sessions Court had rejected the bail applications of several accused observing that evidence tampering in the case appeared to be âin the genesDNA of the modus operandi of commission of the crimeâ and that granting bail would send a âwrong message to societyâ IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/pune-porsche-crash-sc-grants-bail-to-3-accused-in-blood-sample-tampering-case-660584.html Mon, 02 Feb 2026 19:22:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/jampk-crime-branch-files-charge-sheet-against-accused-in-international-prize-scam-case-660462.html Srinagar Feb 1 A charge sheet has been filed against two accused in the fake international prize scam case the JampK Crime Branch said on Sunday The Economic Offences Wing EOW Kashmir of Crime Branch JampK has produced a charge sheet in Case FIR No 242017 under Section 420 RPC read with Section 66d of the IT Act against two accused persons before the Honâble Court of City Munsif Srinagar after establishing their involvement in a prize money fraud case the Crime Branch Kashmir said in a statementIt said that the investigation was initiated following the receipt of a complaint by the agency wherein the complainant stated that he was lured by a fraudulent phone call claiming that he had won a prize of Rs 235 crore along with a car from Ms Chevrolet Motors Promotion Limited UKIn order to claim the said prize the caller directed the complainant to communicate through an email ID chepromlivcouk During subsequent email correspondence the complainant was asked to deposit an amount as customs duty into a bank account maintained in the name of Jitu Raj Johari at SBI Branch Sarai Khawja it saidAfter depositing the said amount the complainant received another email instructing him to open an account in the Royal Bank of Scotland and to deposit an additional amount as Charges of Transfer COT through an NSG agency The complainant arranged the required amount from various sources and deposited the same as instructed However no prize money was ever transferred to his account The caller identifying himself as Frank Ban and using the email ID frankbandiplomatscom continued to mislead the complainant the statement addedThe Crime Branch said that the probe conclusively revealed that Johari son of Anand Kumar Johari resident of H No A71 Second Floor Front Side Ashoka Enclave Sector37 Amarnagar Faridabad Haryana and Suresh Thakur son of Ramesh Thakur resident of H No 63 Akhara Ghat Giromail Muzaffarabad and presently residing at H No 58 NBlock JJ Colony Shakurpur Delhi were actively involved in the commission of the offence and had fraudulently and dishonestly duped the complainant of lakhs of rupeesBased on oral documentary and corroborative evidence collected during the course of investigation offences under the relevant provisions of law were established against the accused persons Accordingly the case has been proved and the chargesheet has been presented before the competent court for judicial adjudication the statement added IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/jampk-crime-branch-files-charge-sheet-against-accused-in-international-prize-scam-case-660462.html Sun, 01 Feb 2026 11:40:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/law/zubeen-garg-death-probe-singer-amritprabha-mahantas-bail-plea-rejected-660265.html Guwahati Jan 30 A local court in Guwahati on Friday rejected the bail petition of Amritprabha Mahanta accused in the death probe of Assamâs cultural icon Zubeen Garg Mahanta who was a cosinger of Garg was slapped with murder charges by the state governmentappointed Special Investigation Team SIT and she has been in jail for the past few months The singer approached the Court seeking bail however it was turned down by the CourtThe governmentappointed prosecutor claimed that Amritprabha Mahanta was directly involved in the conspiracy to murder Zubeen Garg The bail pleas of two Personal Security Officers PSOs were also rejected by the CourtReacting to the Court hearing Garima Garg wife of the late singer told reporters here âI have complete faith in the judicial system I am hopeful the culprits behind the untimely demise of Zubeen will face harsh punishmentâNotably Singapore Police recently told the court that Garg was severely intoxicated on board a yacht shortly before the incident in which he drownedAccording to witness testimonies Garg had been drinking liquor while being present on the yacht with one witness saying that he consumed several cups of alcohol including gin and Whisky and also took sips of Guinness StoutThe investigating officer told the court that Garg had initially gone for a swim returned to the yacht and was heard saying he was tired before entering the water again a few minutes laterThe inquiry also examined Gargs medical history The court was told that he had a known history of hypertension and epilepsy with his last reported epileptic episode occurring in 2024 Forensic analysis detected medication for both conditions in his bloodHowever investigators said it could not be conclusively determined whether Garg had taken his epilepsy medication on the day of the incident as eyewitness accounts on this aspect were inconclusiveA forensic pathologist testified that there were no physical indicators such as a bitten tongue that could establish whether Garg had suffered an epileptic seizure before entering the waterThe captain of the yacht named Crazy Monkey also gave evidence before the court He said that Garg had to be physically supported by two friends while boarding the vessel as he was unable to walk properlyThe captain added that some passengers had begun drinking even before boarding and that he conducted two safety briefings during the voyageIn his testimony the captain said that when he saw Garg entering the water for the second time without wearing a life jacket he warned one of the singers friends that Garg appeared intoxicated and should not enter the water without safety gearThe captain also added that he jumped into the water and swam towards Garg after noticing him floating facedown Police told the court that witness statements indicated Garg had entered the water voluntarily and showed no signs of suicidal intent IANS https://dailyworld.in/law/zubeen-garg-death-probe-singer-amritprabha-mahantas-bail-plea-rejected-660265.html Sat, 31 Jan 2026 00:12:00 +0530