Police in Latur, Maharashtra, have registered a case against three individuals for allegedly defrauding multiple people of Rs 1.13 crore by promising them jobs through a placement company. The fraud reportedly occurred between August 25 last year and October 9 of this year.
Former India opener Shikhar Dhawan has announced he will take legal action against the organisers of the World T20 Continent Cup for using his name as a participant without his permission. Dhawan urged media and fans to disregard any unauthorised announcements regarding his involvement in the tournament, which is scheduled for December in Hong Kong.
The Punjab government has established a three-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe a rape case in Anandpur Sahib involving former SGPC member Amarjit Singh Chawla. The SIT, headed by Gurbans Singh Bains, aims to answer critical questions surrounding the woman's arrival from Bahrain, her stay at an SGPC lodge, and the circumstances of the alleged incident. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann assured a transparent and time-bound investigation.
The Punjab government has constituted a three-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe a rape case in Anandpur Sahib involving former SGPC member Amarjit Singh Chawla. The SIT aims to address several unanswered questions regarding the alleged incident, including the complainant's arrival from Bahrain and her stay at an SGPC-managed lodge. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has assured a swift, transparent, and in-depth investigation.
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.
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 73-year-old man in Kota has been arrested for allegedly murdering his 70-year-old wife in July. He initially fabricated a story of an intruder attack, even self-inflicting minor wounds, but forensic evidence and police investigation, including call detail records and neighbour testimonies, exposed his deception and led to his arrest.
Seven individuals have been booked in Mumbai for allegedly orchestrating a Rs 3.63 crore cheating scheme. They defrauded 16 people by promising discounted MHADA flats meant for mill workers in Dadar, failing to deliver the properties, and issuing dishonoured refund cheques. The case has been registered at Bhoiwada police station.
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.
Maratha reservation activist Manoj Jarange has alleged a conspiracy to silence him, demanding a probe into a viral audio clip that claims Rs 500 crore was paid to him via Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde. Ruling Shiv Sena leaders have vehemently denied these allegations, calling them a 'conspiracy to defame' Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and the party, and have called for a forensic investigation into the audio clip, suggesting the speakers are from the BJP.
FIRs have been registered against BJP leader Ravi Patil and others in Karnataka for allegedly attempting to delete the names of minority community voters from electoral rolls using fraudulent Form-7 applications. Similar cases of alleged voter deletion have also emerged in Bidar and Mysuru, leading to political protests by the Chief Minister.
The Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) in Idukki, Kerala, has registered a case against three individuals, including two former office-bearers of Adimaly Grama Panchayat, for allegedly misappropriating Rs 68.62 lakh in a goat distribution scheme meant for 2018 flood-affected people. The accused are alleged to have conspired to award a contract for goat supply to an unlicensed individual, leading to a significant financial loss to the government.
NCP (SP) Beed Lok Sabha MP Bajrang Sonwane has alleged a politically motivated conspiracy to implicate his son, Saurabh Sonwane, in the murder of hotelier Vilas Ghule. The MP presented an audio clip purportedly showing a jailed accused instructing an aide to frame his son, and announced plans for a Rs 500 crore defamation suit and seeking FIRs against those involved.
RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat stated that regime-change agitations do not resolve fundamental problems and can become instruments of political interests, fuelling divisions rather than delivering solutions. He also called for discernment in consuming information, especially from OTT platforms, and stressed the importance of national unity based on emotional bonds.
Rediff Readers Nikhil V Damle and Dr Sunil Karamchandani pay tribute to that master teller of stories, Jeffrey Archer.
Uttarakhand Minister Rekha Arya has vehemently denied corruption allegations made by her husband, Girdhari Lal Sahu, calling them "100 per cent baseless." Sahu accused her of possessing illegal assets worth Rs 210 crore after Arya filed a complaint against him for domestic violence, harassment, and caste-based slurs. Arya asserted her life is transparent and welcomed any investigation, while also defending her decision to speak out against domestic violence.
India's Deepu Mallesh has advanced to the quarterfinals of the men's speed climbing event at the Asian Games, clocking a best time of 5.09 seconds. This marks his debut at the Games. Meanwhile, Joga Purty, who also qualified for the women's quarterfinals, was eliminated due to a false start. Sport climbing is a relatively new event at both the Asian Games and the Olympics.
Deepak Sandhu, an Indian-origin man, has been convicted of murdering his former partner, Xiaoqing Ke, in London. Sandhu, 23, was found guilty at the Old Bailey Court after a brief relationship ended, leading him to become "increasingly angry" and ultimately commit the fatal attack. He was arrested while attempting to flee to Mumbai.
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announced a fresh inquiry into Mamata Banerjee's alleged "false claims" of a leg injury during the 2021 assembly poll campaign. Adhikari presented a medical report suggesting no fracture or dislocation, asserting Banerjee faked the injury, which he claims insulted the people of Nandigram. The controversy surrounds an incident in Nandigram where Banerjee sustained injuries, leading to her campaigning in a wheelchair, and her party's subsequent victory.
This week's OTT releases offer a diverse selection across various streaming platforms.
The Delhi high court has ordered social media companies and online service providers to remove 'false' information circulating online about Indian judges and Union ministers allegedly participating in a badminton tournament in London at taxpayers' expense. The court deemed the content malicious and a systematic misinformation campaign aimed at undermining the judiciary and executive.
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.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has filed a chargesheet against FIITJEE and its directors, Dinesh Kumar Goel and Monila Goel, on money laundering charges. The case involves the alleged misappropriation of over Rs 85 crore collected from students for coaching programmes. The ED seeks their conviction under the PMLA and confiscation of properties worth Rs 71.88 crore.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has strongly defended the recent World Cup, accusing critics of spreading 'hate and false narratives' and overlooking the tournament's success in promoting unity, safety, and inclusion.
'My daughter was raped and killed, but CBI and the double engine government failed to find any accused.'
Students at Lovely Professional University (LPU) in Phagwara are facing abuse and harassment after the university released a video featuring them, allegedly without their consent, to dismiss claims of a student's rape. The students involved claim the video was cropped and they were not consulted before its release, leading to further distress amidst campus protests and highway blockage.
The Jammu and Kashmir Crime Branch has filed a chargesheet against 15 individuals in the Kishtwar minor's rape and death case. The chargesheet alleges a criminal conspiracy to conceal the sexual assault, intimidate the victim's family, and illegally terminate her advanced pregnancy. The 15-year-old tribal girl died on August 20 following an alleged abortion attempt after being repeatedly sexually assaulted by a teacher, resulting in pregnancy. Accused include the main perpetrator, health workers, and community elders involved in the cover-up and pressure tactics.
Police in Surat have arrested a third resident doctor, Anuj Maheshwari, in connection with the alleged ragging and harassment of a first-year postgraduate medical student, Harsh Pandya, who died by suicide in August. Two other doctors, Dikshita Ghewaria and Hina Bhut, were arrested earlier. The accused face charges under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the SC/ST Act, based on an anti-ragging committee report which found evidence of mental harassment and humiliation.
The CBI has filed its 21st chargesheet in an alleged homebuyer fraud case related to the 'Acme Boulevard' housing project in Mumbai. Five former promoters/directors of Acme Realties Private Limited and Acme Housing India Private Limited are accused of inducing homebuyers through false assurances and fraudulent representations. The agency is also investigating 32 other similar cases involving various builder companies and financial institutions.
The Supreme Court has issued a landmark directive against immediate arrests in Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act cases where the accused is a parent or family member living with the child, and a matrimonial dispute exists. The ruling mandates psychological evaluation of the child by experts before police or courts form an opinion to arrest, aiming to prevent the misuse of the law in estranged couple cases.
The Allahabad High Court has ruled that an Arya Samaj marriage certificate alone does not prove a valid Hindu marriage unless essential ceremonies under the Hindu Marriage Act are performed. This decision led to the reinstatement of an SSB officer who was dismissed for allegedly falsely declaring his marital status, as the court found no evidence of the required rituals in his disputed marriage.
A man named Fayaz Ahmad has been arrested in Maharajganj, Uttar Pradesh, for allegedly creating and sharing a digitally edited video on social media that depicted a fake explosion at a Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) camp along the India-Nepal border. The video, which targeted a sensitive security installation, led to an investigation and his subsequent arrest for breach of peace.
The Jammu Crime Branch has filed a chargesheet against an education consultant, Lalit Sharma, for allegedly duping multiple individuals of over Rs 37 lakh by falsely promising to arrange work visas abroad, particularly to Canada. The investigation confirmed the receipt of funds and established an offence under Section 420 of the IPC.
Police in Surat have arrested two senior resident doctors, Dikshita Ghewaria and Hina Bhut, in connection with the suicide of first-year PG medical student Harsh Pandya. The doctors are accused of systemic harassment and ragging Pandya and nine other first-year students, leading to Pandya's death by suicide on August 9. Two other accused are still at large.
Avinash Arun's Prahaar: The Untold Story of Ujjwal Nikam emerges as a rare honest film in contemporary Bollywood, skillfully navigating the sensitive narrative of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks and the prosecution of Ajmal Kasab without succumbing to propaganda, observes Prasanna D Zore.
'If Gyanesh Kumar had some shame he would have resigned and would have taken agni pariksha.'
From Shahid to Prahaar: The Untold Story of Ujjwal Nikam, these films bring real-life lawyers, landmark courtroom battles and extraordinary fights for justice to the screen.
The father of an IIT Bombay student who died by suicide has alleged that his son faced relentless caste-based mocking and torture from a professor and the administration. A police complaint has been filed, and an FIR registered against a professor for abetment of suicide and under the SC/ST Act. IIT Bombay has removed a Dean from his post following the allegations.
Madhya Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Jagdish Devda removed his Officer on Special Duty (OSD), Deepam Raichura, following allegations of accepting a Rs 1 crore bribe related to liquor contracts in Bhopal. The allegations were made by Mohit Gogiya, an accused in a large fraud case, who claimed Raichura facilitated liquor contracts and helped secure a fake bank guarantee. Devda has ordered a probe into the matter.
