The Bombay High Court has dismissed Congress MP Rahul Gandhi's petition challenging a 2019 summons issued by a magistrate court in a defamation complaint. The complaint, filed by a BJP member, pertains to Gandhi's alleged defamatory comments against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The High Court found no illegality in the magistrate's order but extended the deferment of the lower court hearing by six weeks to allow Gandhi to appeal to the Supreme Court.
A heated exchange occurred in the Supreme Court between senior advocate S Muralidhar and Solicitor General Tushar Mehta over Mehta's use of the term "Naxalites" during a hearing on the national song Vande Mataram. Muralidhar strongly objected to the remark, demanding its withdrawal, while Mehta defended his statement, referring to an ideology rather than individuals. The bench intervened, emphasising decorum and constitutional issues.
Three nuns in Kerala, who supported a nun accusing a Catholic bishop of rape, have launched a clothing venture called 'Stand By Me'. Facing financial hardship after their assistance was stopped, they revived tailoring skills to earn a livelihood. This initiative provides them with independence and a new purpose, expanding from local orders to online sales and employing workers.
The Supreme Court has formally acquitted former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in a high-profile coal block allocation case, setting aside a summoning order against him and accepting the CBI's closure report.
The National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) has dismissed a plea by Jet Airways' liquidator seeking a Rs 500 crore refund from Boeing, ruling that the matter involves a complex contractual dispute requiring detailed adjudication and evidence beyond the tribunal's insolvency jurisdiction.
A US federal judge has permanently dismissed the criminal securities-fraud case against Adani Group chairman Gautam Adani and his nephew Sagar, closing nearly two years of prosecution without a trial. Gautam Adani stated, "Truth has prevailed," in response to the ruling.
A Kottayam Vigilance Court has sentenced former Kerala DGP Tomin J Thachankary to four years of rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 30.84 lakh in a disproportionate assets case. This marks the first time a DGP-rank officer in Kerala has been convicted for such an offence, with the court finding him guilty of amassing wealth 135.80 per cent in excess of his known income between 2003 and 2007.
The Allahabad High Court has awarded Rs 26.65 lakh as compensation to a man who lost both his hands in an electrical accident 29 years ago, holding the Uttar Pradesh State Electricity Board liable for negligence.
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.
A CBI court in Dehradun has acquitted Acharya Balkrishna, general secretary of Patanjali Yogpeeth, in a 15-year-old passport forgery case. Co-accused Naresh Chandra Dwivedi was also acquitted. The case, initiated in 2011 by the CBI, alleged Balkrishna obtained an Indian passport using forged documents, claiming he was a Nepali national.
Tarun Tejpal's lawyer, Advocate Aabad Ponda, presented arguments before the Bombay High Court, challenging the victim's statements in the 2013 sexual assault case. Ponda highlighted contradictions between the victim's police complaint and court deposition, using hotel lift video footage and expert testimony to dispute her claims regarding the alleged incident. The High Court is hearing the state government's appeal against Tejpal's 2021 acquittal.
Olympian Vinesh Phogat has moved the Delhi High Court challenging two show-cause notices issued by the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) and subsequent disciplinary proceedings.
The Supreme Court has ruled that mere swear words, profanities, and vulgar expletives, however offensive, do not amount to obscenity under Section 294 of the Indian Penal Code. The court clarified that for an utterance to be considered obscene, it must be lascivious, appeal to prurient interests, and have the tendency to deprave and corrupt minds. This ruling came while hearing a plea challenging a high court order confirming a conviction under IPC Section 294.
The Delhi High Court has directed the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) to make a decision within two weeks on the show-cause notice issued to grappler Vinesh Phogat concerning alleged indiscipline and anti-doping rule violations. The court closed proceedings on Phogat's petition after her Asian Games selection trial grievance became infructuous, but she may file a fresh petition on broader selection policy issues.
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.
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has overturned the death sentences of two men convicted in the 2019 rape and murder of a seven-year-old girl in Ludhiana, citing procedural errors during the trial.
A Delhi court has remanded the building owner's son, a PG operator, and a contractor in police custody following the collapse of a five-storey structure in Satya Niketan that resulted in seven deaths. The arrests are part of an ongoing investigation into the Sunday incident, with authorities probing the role of alleged illegal constructions.
The Supreme Court has directed the Uttar Pradesh DGP to form an all-women SIT to investigate the rape and murder of a four-year-old girl in Ghaziabad, following concerns about the local police's handling of the case and allegations of denial of treatment by private hospitals.
A special court in Mumbai has denied Indrani Mukerjea, an accused in the Sheena Bora murder case, permission to travel to Spain and the United Kingdom, citing concerns about her being a flight risk and the trial nearing its conclusion.
The Supreme Court on Friday said the trial court's finding that Aam Aadmi Party leader Manish Sisodia was responsible for delaying the trial in the Delhi excise policy cases was not supported by the record.
A special NIA court in Jammu has rejected the bail plea of Insha Jan alias Insha Tariq, an accused in the 2019 Pulwama suicide attack that killed 40 Central Reserve Police Force personnel, observing that sufficient material existed on record to presume that the accusations against her were prima facie true.
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.
The Supreme Court was informed that AIIMS experts have concluded self-styled godman Asaram does not require hospitalisation but needs round-the-clock medical assistance, as he seeks interim bail on health grounds.
A Delhi court has upheld an interim maintenance order, directing a man to pay Rs 7,500 per month to his estranged wife and minor daughter in a domestic violence case.
The Supreme Court has directed the Delhi government to assess the well-being of a child in a disputed paternity case, ensuring access to basic necessities and a minimum standard of living.
A Delhi court has expressed its dissatisfaction with the slow progress in the Shraddha Walkar murder case, noting significant delays over the past three months. The court urged lawyers to expedite the proceedings after the summer vacation.
A Delhi court has convicted a 26-year-old habitual offender, Manoj alias Monu, in a mobile phone snatching case within 19 days of the trial's commencement, demonstrating a fast-tracked judicial process.
'If the intention was simply to replicate what's already been done elsewhere, there was no need for a committee at all -- there's already an Act passed there (in Uttarakhand); just copy it, paste it, and you're done. Why waste everyone's time convening a panel for that?'
Supreme Court Justice V Mohana recused herself from a 2016 Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking directions for the speedy disposal of criminal cases against lawmakers. This development follows a report by amicus curiae Vijay Hansaria, which revealed over 4,000 pending criminal cases against Members of Parliament (MPs) and Members of Legislative Assemblies (MLAs), including chief ministers from 14 states. The Supreme Court has previously issued directives to high courts to establish special benches to monitor and fast-track these trials.
The Jharkhand High Court has issued comprehensive directives for handling rape cases, mandating swift investigations, prohibiting the two-finger test, ensuring victim rehabilitation, and protecting victim identity. The court also directed support for children born out of rape incidents.
The Supreme Court has denied interim bail to self-styled godman Asaram, who is serving a life sentence for sexually assaulting a minor. While rejecting his plea for bail on health grounds for now, the court permitted him to engage a trained caretaker for round-the-clock assistance. The court noted that Asaram's counsel had previously moved for parole, and his health condition will be monitored.
The Supreme Court will hear a plea from the Meghalaya government challenging the bail granted to Sonam Raghuvanshi, accused of murdering her husband during their honeymoon. The case hinges on a legal question regarding a typographical error in the arrest memo and whether it justifies bail in a murder case.
The Supreme Court has directed the Election Commission to provide details on the disposal of appeals by tribunals concerning deletions from West Bengal's electoral rolls during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR). The court emphasised the need to track the progress of these appeals, which were set up to address irregularities. It also clarified that grievances regarding the denial of PDS benefits due to voter deletion should be taken up with the Calcutta High Court.
A court in Kerala dismissed a petition filed by the accused in the Mattannur Shuhaib murder case, seeking to transfer the trial to another court. The Thalassery Additional Sessions Court also rejected a separate plea to stay the trial proceedings in the high-profile 2018 murder case of Youth Congress leader S P Shuhaib.
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has rejected bail for Shubham Sangra, the main accused in the 2018 rape and murder case of a minor nomad girl in Kathua, Jammu and Kashmir, citing the heinous nature of the crime.
Former footballer Aditi Chauhan and ex-hockey captain M M Somaiya will observe Vinesh Phogat's Asian Games trial, representing the IOA and Sports Ministry.
The Asian Games, a major multi-sport event, has a long history of controversies extending beyond the sporting arena. From diplomatic disputes and selection rows to doping scandals and disputed decisions, these incidents have often highlighted the intersection of politics, national interests, and sports.
The Delhi Police have appealed to the Delhi High Court to cancel the bail granted to a teacher in a case involving the alleged rape of a three-year-old girl at a private school in Janakpuri, west Delhi. The court has also granted time for the main accused to respond to the police's plea against his bail.
The Allahabad High Court's Lucknow bench ordered the immediate release of a minor, criticising the police and a judicial magistrate for illegally detaining him without verifying his age and failing to follow Supreme Court guidelines on juvenile justice. The court has sought affidavits from the officials involved.
The Delhi High Court has approved wrestler Vinesh Phogat's participation in the Asian Games trials, criticising the Wrestling Federation of India's exclusionary selection policy.
