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.
The Allahabad High Court has stayed the conviction and sentence of Nandlal Rai, a BJP worker, in a 2017 murder case, allowing him to contest the 2027 Uttar Pradesh assembly election. The court cited his right to contest elections and referenced a Supreme Court precedent regarding public representatives.
Delhi Police apprehended Ajay Jarwal Torela, a convicted drug offender, who had been absconding since failing to surrender after his COVID-19 parole expired in 2021. Torela, convicted in a 2011 cannabis recovery case, was tracked and arrested in Chander Vihar, Delhi, where he was working as an auto-rickshaw driver to evade arrest.
Ravita and Amardeep, sentenced to death for the snakebite murder of Ravita's husband, have been moved to separate barracks in Meerut district jail. Prison authorities noted their restlessness, and no visitors have come since the sentencing. The case, decided under 'Operation Conviction', involved strangulation disguised as a snakebite.
The Uttarakhand High Court has set aside a death sentence for a man convicted of triple murder, citing his mental illness. The court directed the state government to provide treatment and release him upon recovery, noting that the trial court had overlooked his mental condition.
A Delhi court has convicted Fazruddin alias Nanwa for the murder of his wife Shamina in 2020, despite key witnesses turning hostile. The conviction was based on strong circumstantial evidence, including medical findings, DNA evidence, and the accused's inability to explain his wife's death by strangulation while they were together in the room.
A special PMLA court in Bengaluru has convicted a retired Karnataka Excise Department guard, M Ramchandra, and his daughter, R Yurekha, on money laundering charges. Ramchandra received five years rigorous imprisonment and a Rs 5 lakh fine, while Yurekha received three years rigorous imprisonment and a Rs 3 lakh fine. Five immovable properties were also confiscated. The case stemmed from a 2009 ED investigation based on a Lokayukta Police complaint regarding disproportionate assets.
The Allahabad High Court has overturned a 1988 conviction of a man named Subhash in a 1986 rape and kidnapping case, citing the prosecution's failure to establish proof beyond reasonable doubt. The court observed that the woman, who was over 19 at the time, appeared to be a consenting party, and found glaring inconsistencies in the prosecution's case, which was not corroborated by medical or oral evidence, leading to the acquittal.
The Patna High Court has set aside a man's conviction for attempted rape of a widow due to insufficient evidence, but upheld his conviction for assaulting her with intent to outrage her modesty and house trespass. The court directed him to pay a Rs 25,000 fine to the victim as compensation.
Muskan Rastogi and Sahil Shukla, sentenced to death for the murder of Muskan's husband Saurabh Rajput, spent a distressed first night in Meerut jail. Both are preparing to appeal the verdict in the Allahabad High Court. Jail authorities are providing counselling and medical support, while the victim's family has expressed satisfaction with the verdict but refused to adopt Muskan's infant daughter.
The Supreme Court has acquitted a man previously convicted under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act for allegedly sexually assaulting a minor girl with intellectual disability. The apex court cited "woefully short" evidence, including the mother's "unnatural conduct," delayed FIR, and the victim's failure to identify the accused, as reasons for overturning the conviction and setting aside judgments from the Meghalaya High Court and a trial court.
A Delhi court has upheld the conviction of Yatin Sharma in a 2013 fatal road accident case in Hauz Khas, rejecting his appeal and plea for probation. The court emphasised that high-speed vehicular negligence resulting in death warrants custodial sentences to ensure public safety and deterrence, directing Sharma to surrender within 30 days.
Muskan Rastogi and Sahil Shukla, sentenced to death for the murder of Muskan's husband Saurabh Rajput, spent a distressed first night in jail and are now preparing to challenge the verdict in the Allahabad High Court.
The Kerala High Court has upheld the conviction and life-term sentence of a 55-year-old autorickshaw driver for sexually assaulting a minor girl he used to ferry to school back in 2012-13. The court dismissed his appeal, even after his death, affirming the trial court's findings based on the child's consistent testimony.
Muskan Rastogi and Sahil Shukla, convicted in the sensational Blue Drum murder case of Merchant Navy officer Saurabh Rajput, are undergoing counselling in jail after becoming emotional and refusing food post-verdict. Their sentencing is scheduled for October 14, and the case continues to impact properties in Meerut.
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.
A Deputy Inspector General (Prisons) in Karnataka, M Somashekar, has been arrested for allegedly facilitating the release of a life convict in 2018 by forging a Supreme Court order. The convict's wife, also arrested, accused Somashekar of sexual exploitation. The case came to light after a complaint from the Bengaluru Central Prison Superintendent, revealing a complex conspiracy involving a prison assistant who forged the order.
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.
A Delhi court has convicted a man, Girdhari Lal, for insulting a woman's modesty with the sexually-derogatory remark "Kaun se wale papa?". The court ruled that the comment, made in response to the woman pacifying her child, insinuated infidelity and questioned the child's paternity, thus affronting her dignity and leading to a conviction under IPC section 509.
The Meerut district court has found Muskan Rastogi and Sahil Shukla guilty of the murder of merchant navy officer Saurabh Rajput in the infamous 'Blue Drum' case. The verdict concludes a 13-month trial, with sentencing scheduled in 15 days. The prosecution successfully presented evidence detailing how the couple killed Rajput and concealed his dismembered body in a cement-filled drum.
The Meerut district court has found Muskan Rastogi and Sahil Shukla guilty of the murder of merchant navy officer Saurabh Rajput in the infamous 'Blue Drum' case. The verdict concludes a 13-month trial, with sentencing scheduled in 15 days. The prosecution successfully presented evidence detailing how the couple killed Rajput and concealed his dismembered body in a cement-filled drum.
The Meerut district court has found Muskan Rastogi and Sahil Shukla guilty of the murder of merchant navy officer Saurabh Rajput in the 'Blue Drum' murder case. The court will announce the punishment after 15 days, with the prosecution seeking the maximum penalty for the heinous crime.
A Delhi court has convicted a couple, Hareena Ray alias Reena and Jeetu Kumar, for abandoning their premature and medically vulnerable infant in a hospital. The court rejected their defence that leaving the child in a medical facility implied an intention for treatment, ruling that their actions demonstrated a clear intent to wholly abandon the child, who later died.
Muskan Rastogi and Sahil Shukla have been found guilty by a Meerut district court in the sensational "Blue Drum" murder case, involving the killing of merchant navy officer Saurabh Rajput. The court, citing a Supreme Court order on strict punishment for serious crimes, will announce the sentence after 15 days. The prosecution presented 22 witnesses and sought maximum punishment for the accused.
Muskan Rastogi and Sahil Shukla have been found guilty by a Meerut district court in the sensational "Blue Drum" murder case, involving the killing of merchant navy officer Saurabh Rajput. The court, citing a Supreme Court order on strict punishment for serious crimes, will announce the sentence after 15 days. The prosecution presented 22 witnesses and sought maximum punishment for the accused.
The British government has announced the rollout of specialist courts for rape and serious sex offences across England and Wales. Backed by significant funding, these courts aim to accelerate conviction rates, prioritise cases, and provide better support for victims, addressing the current low prosecution rates and long delays in the justice system.
A special NIA court in Chhattisgarh's Bastar district has sentenced all 10 convicts in the 2013 Jhiram Valley Maoist attack to death. The attack, which occurred on May 25, 2013, resulted in the deaths of 29 people, including prominent Congress leaders.
Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh has returned to Sunaria jail in Rohtak after his 21-day furlough concluded. This marks his 17th temporary release since his 2017 conviction for rape. Singh, who is serving a 20-year sentence, recently saw acquittals in two separate 2002 murder cases by the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
A special NIA court in Chhattisgarh's Bastar district has convicted all 10 accused, including two women, in the 2013 Jhiram Valley Maoist attack case. The attack resulted in the deaths of 29 people, including senior Congress leaders, and was one of the deadliest incidents of Left Wing Extremism. The quantum of punishment will be announced on September 16.
A court in Kottayam has found former state DGP Tomin J Thachankary guilty of amassing wealth disproportionate to his known sources of income under the Prevention of Corruption Act. The sentence will be pronounced later, with the prosecution arguing against leniency despite Thachankary's health plea.
The appeal against the August 6 order of the Bombay high court has been filed through advocate Aditya Samaddar.
A special POCSO court in Thane has convicted a 20-year-old man for sexually assaulting a 16-year-old girl, sentencing him to three years of rigorous imprisonment. The court relied heavily on the victim's "clear and cogent" testimony and rejected the plea for probation, citing the fear and insecurity caused by the accused's actions.
The US District Court for the Eastern District of New York has revoked the naturalisation of Gurmeet Singh, an Indian-origin man, after he was convicted of rape and kidnapping. Singh had concealed these serious criminal acts during his naturalisation process, leading to the federal court's decision to strip him of his US citizenship.
Amardip 'Amo' Dhariwal, a 55-year-old Indian-origin former British Airways cabin crew manager, has been convicted of sexually assaulting a female colleague at his home in Berkshire, UK. The conviction followed a nine-day retrial after a previous hung jury. Dhariwal is awaiting sentencing on October 29. Two other women also provided "bad character evidence" regarding alleged assaults outside the UK, though those charges were discontinued due to jurisdiction issues.
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.
The Supreme Court has waived the remaining life sentence of 105-year-old murder convict Rasik Chandra Mondal, allowing him to live as a free man. The decision was made considering his advanced age and health issues, making his interim bail absolute.
A forensic examination of a mobile phone seized from former MP Prajwal Revanna's prison cell revealed numerous explicit videos, while a pen drive contained movies and web series. Revanna, who was found using a smartphone in prison, denied ownership of the device and downloading explicit content, despite call logs showing unauthorised communication. Five individuals have been arrested for allegedly smuggling the phone and SIM card into the Parappana Agrahara Central Prison.
Bangladesh has launched a diplomatic inquiry, seeking comprehensive details from Saudi Arabia regarding the recent execution of two Bangladeshi citizens in Makkah.
The Allahabad High Court has set aside the life sentences of two men convicted in a 1980 murder case, finding they were minors at the time of the crime. While upholding their conviction, the court referred the matter to the Juvenile Justice Board for appropriate punishment, acknowledging their juvenile status.
Former snooker world champion Graeme Dott has been convicted of sexually abusing two children several decades ago following a trial in a Scottish court, with sentencing scheduled for next month.
