A POCSO court in Bahraich, Uttar Pradesh, has sentenced a man named Garibe to 20 years' rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs 30,000 for sexually assaulting a 10-year-old boy in April 2024. The conviction followed a swift investigation and chargesheet filing.
Nida Khan, an accused in the alleged sexual harassment and religious conversion case at TCS Nashik, appeared before a family court on Friday for a divorce petition filed by her husband, Moin Khan. Both parties attended a counselling session, and the next hearing is set for November 20.
Gurpreet Kaur, wife of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, has sent a legal notice to a former Punjab and Haryana High Court judge. This action follows allegations that she sought Rs 5 crore to suppress a rape case. The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has also issued a notice to the Punjab government and police chief regarding the complaint, which has drawn criticism from opposition leaders like Amrinder Singh Raja Warring and Bikram Singh Majithia. The NHRC has directed an inquiry into the matter, citing potential human rights violations.
Abhinay Deo's Doosra attempts to weave together the cricketing triumphs of Sourav Ganguly's 2001 Indian team with the poignant coming-of-age narrative of a young woman navigating the suffocating patriarchy of Rajasthan, observes Deepa Gahlot.
IIT Delhi has reconstituted the external probe panel investigating the death of an MSc Physics student, appointing retired Delhi High Court judge Mukta Gupta as its head. This decision follows the recusal of the previous chair, Ashok Kumar, and ongoing student protests on campus. The panel includes medical experts and student representatives to examine the circumstances of the alleged suicide.
rediffGURU Ravi Mittal explains when your partner's past relationships may matter and why you should avoid judging someone solely by their romantic history.
Supreme Court Justice Ujjal Bhuyan critically examined police conduct in India, raising serious concerns about alleged assaults on protesters, custodial torture, and the urgent need for comprehensive police reforms to uphold human rights and the rule of law.
A Delhi court has acquitted seven men of murder and other serious charges in a 2020 Delhi riots case concerning a fatal assault, citing insufficient corroboration for the sole police witness testimony and poor video evidence. They were, however, convicted for disobeying a prohibitory order.
The Delhi High Court has refused to interfere with the judicial custody of Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, who were detained for protesting at a de-notified site and allegedly violating a 'peace' bond.
A rationing inspector in Thane, Vijaykumar Kacheshwar Waghwas, has been convicted in a 2016 bribery case and sentenced to one year rigorous imprisonment and a Rs 5,000 fine. He was found guilty of demanding a Rs 3,000 bribe from a fair price shop manager, with the court ruling he abused his public office for illegal gratification.
The Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on simultaneous elections had scheduled an "informal interaction" with Supreme Court judges, which was later cancelled by the apex court. The Supreme Court deemed the meeting inappropriate as the proposed constitutional amendment could become subject to judicial review. JPC Chairman PP Chaudhary defended the panel's initial decision, citing precedents, while DMK MP P Wilson, who mooted the idea, expressed disappointment and argued against the notion that such interactions violate separation of powers.
A fast-track court in Nashik, Maharashtra, has sentenced Vijay Sanjay Khairnar to death for the rape and murder of a four-year-old girl. The court described the crime as "rarest of the rare," stating that leniency would undermine public confidence in justice. The judge highlighted the extreme depravity of the act, committed on November 16, 2025, and ruled out life imprisonment, also directing Rs 10 lakh compensation to the victim's parents.
The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) Kashmir has filed a chargesheet against Junaid Ul Islam Baba in a Rs two crore investment fraud case. Baba allegedly defrauded complainants by promising high returns on investments in an e-commerce company, then absconded with the money. He was arrested in Bengaluru and is currently in Central Jail, Srinagar.
The Jammu and Kashmir Crime Branch's Special Crime Wing has filed a chargesheet against three public servants, including a retired officer, for alleged fraud and corruption involving the manipulation of service records to obtain undue benefits. The case centres on a forged date-of-birth certificate and the facilitation of its incorporation into official records.
A 50-year-old man, Mahavir Yadav, has been sentenced to life imprisonment for the gang rape of a 14-year-old Dalit girl in Mainpuri, Uttar Pradesh. The co-accused, Navi Chand Yadav, was acquitted due to insufficient evidence. The incident occurred on September 15, 2025, and the verdict was pronounced on Monday.
A special court in Muzaffarnagar has sentenced a man named Bittu to life imprisonment for raping a six-year-old girl in 2024. The court also imposed a fine of Rs 60,000, which will be given to the survivor. The incident occurred on November 10, 2024, when the girl was abducted and raped at her home, leading to Bittu's conviction under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and POCSO Act.
A Thane court has acquitted a 35-year-old man accused of rape under the pretext of marriage, ruling that the relationship was consensual. The court cited a Supreme Court precedent, noting that a promise of marriage made after the first sexual encounter does not constitute a false promise.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was acquitted by a special MP-MLA court in Sultanpur on Monday in a defamation case stemming from his 2018 remarks against then BJP president Amit Shah. The court ruled that Gandhi's statement was not defamatory and the complainant, Vijay Mishra, was not an aggrieved person. Mishra's lawyer plans to challenge the verdict.
The Kerala High Court on Tuesday questioned the state government's decision to order a preliminary enquiry into the alleged CMRL bribery case, despite information from the ED regarding corruption offences against former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and others. The court is hearing appeals from Vijayan, his daughter Veena T, and son-in-law P A Mohamed Riyas, who argue they were not heard before an FIR was directed to be lodged. The ED alleges fraudulent payments of Rs 2.78 crore were made to Veena's company.
A Delhi court rejected the bail plea of Hariom, accused under the stringent MCOCA, stating that prolonged incarceration alone is not sufficient grounds for bail under special laws. The court emphasised balancing individual liberty with societal protection and legislative objectives.
Muskan Rastogi and Sahil Shukla, convicted in the sensational blue drum murder case, have appealed their death sentence in the Allahabad High Court. They argue the trial court's verdict, based on circumstantial evidence, was illegal and arbitrary, citing lack of concrete proof and procedural lapses. The High Court is expected to hear the matter next week.
A court in Ballia, Uttar Pradesh, has sentenced four individuals Rohit Yadav, Shekhar Yadav, Jawaharlal Gond, and Om Prakash to life imprisonment for the murder of 20-year-old Rohit Pandey in 2024. The court also imposed a fine of Rs 1.85 lakh on each convict. The victim was attacked with sharp-edged weapons on July 20, 2024, and later succumbed to his injuries, leading to a complaint and chargesheet.
A Meerut court has sentenced Muskan Rastogi and her partner Sahil Shukla to death for the brutal murder of her husband, merchant navy officer Saurabh Rajput, whose dismembered body was found concealed in a blue drum filled with cement.
The Supreme Court registry has identified over 10 defects in the petition filed by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and other opposition leaders concerning alleged large-scale voter deletions and irregularities in electoral rolls. Issues include missing ID cards, illegible pages, and a court fee shortfall. The petition seeks an independent audit of the Special Intensive Revision process.
A Delhi court has denied anticipatory bail to a university professor accused of raping a former student and threatening to circulate her objectionable videos. The court cited WhatsApp chats indicating coercion and the risk of witness tampering and evidence destruction if bail were granted. The investigation has been assigned to a senior police officer.
An additional district and sessions judge in Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh, has sentenced 22 individuals to death across 10 different cases within the last four months. These verdicts cover serious offences including murder, abduction, and highway robbery, highlighting the court's rigorous approach to severe crimes.
A Delhi court has granted bail to Nigerian national Nwachukwu Benjamin Odinaka, who was arrested for allegedly possessing forged passports and visas. The court noted he had been in jail for 13 months, the investigation was complete, and no charges under the stringent NDPS Act were applicable to him.
A stampede at a Durga Puja pandal in Kolkata on Saturday evening resulted in 19 deaths and 25 injuries. The Chief Minister announced compensation and a SIT probe, while officials have been detained and crowd-pulling pujas advised to close.
A Delhi court has rescinded a Look-Out Circular (LOC) against Akash Gupta, an accused in a Rs 247-crore Punjab National Bank fraud case, stating that the seriousness of an allegation cannot be the sole reason for its continued operation. The court noted Gupta's cooperation and previous adherence to travel conditions.
A special court in Latur, Maharashtra, has sentenced Chumbalya alias Ritesh Rajnand Kasbe to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment for sexually assaulting an eight-year-old girl last year. The verdict was delivered under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and POCSO Act, with the court also imposing a Rs 5,000 fine.
Congress leader Jinto John criticised the UDF government for opting for a preliminary inquiry instead of an FIR against LoP Pinarayi Vijayan and his family in the alleged CMRL bribery case. This comes after the Kerala High Court dismissed petitions challenging an order to register an FIR. The Enforcement Directorate alleges fraudulent payments to Vijayan's daughter's company.
A Delhi court has acquitted five men accused of rioting and attempted murder during the 2020 northeast Delhi riots. The court criticised the investigating agency for trying to "fill the lacuna" in the case and failing to establish the accused's presence at the crime scene, citing weak evidence from CCTV footage and lack of identification by witnesses.
A Meerut court has sentenced Muskan Rastogi and Sahil Shukla to death for the murder of Muskan's husband, merchant navy officer Saurabh Rajput. Rajput's dismembered body was found concealed in a cement-filled blue drum. The verdict, delivered after a 13-month trial, was welcomed by the victim's family, though it raises questions about the future of Muskan's infant daughter, Radha, who is currently in jail with her mother.
Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde has been fined Rs 1,000 by a city court for her repeated non-appearance in a 10-year-old assault case. The court warned that failure to appear at the next hearing on November 2 for framing of charges could lead to a warrant and cancellation of bail bonds. The case stems from a 2016 incident at a BMC school.
A POCSO court in Muzaffarnagar has sentenced a man named Papu to life imprisonment for raping a six-year-old girl. The court also imposed a fine of Rs 25,000, to be given to the survivor. The incident occurred on April 19, 2026, and the chargesheet was filed on June 5, 2026.
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has initiated an investigation into the role of temporary home guards following a stampede at a Kolkata Durga Puja pandal that killed 19 people. Adhikari criticised the previous administration and highlighted issues with crowd management and the conduct of home guards during the incident. The probe will also include puja organisers and licensing authorities, while a Special Investigation Team (SIT) will be formed. Seven people, including organisers, have been arrested.
The Kerala High Court dismissed pleas by former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, his daughter Veena T, and son-in-law P A Mohamed Riyas, challenging an order to register an FIR against them in the alleged CMRL bribery case. Current Chief Minister V D Satheesan defended the government's actions, stating they followed legal advice, while political parties reacted sharply, with BJP welcoming the verdict and CPI(M) alleging political motivation.
Navi Pillay, a South African jurist of Indian origin, has been awarded the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize for her efforts to promote peace and international law. The announcement came as she was in Nuremberg, a symbolic location given her career's focus on international justice. Pillay dedicated the prize to survivors and those working for justice, warning against political attacks on international law and institutions like the ICC. Her extensive career includes roles in the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, the International Criminal Court, and as UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.
A Delhi court has convicted former AAP councillor Tahir Hussain for abetment to rioting in a case related to the 2020 northeast Delhi riots in the Dayalpur area. While Hussain was convicted, 12 other co-accused were acquitted of all charges. Sentencing for Hussain is scheduled for November 16.
Amidst opposition protests, the Lok Sabha has successfully passed a crucial bill to expand the Supreme Court's judicial strength from 34 to 38 judges.
