Rush Hour: SC limits SIT probe to Ashoka professor's posts, stay on ‘Udaipur Files' upheld and more

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16-07-2025

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The Supreme Court told the Haryana Police's Special Investigation Team that its probe should be limited to the two social media posts made by Ashoka University Associate Professor Ali Khan Mahmudabad about the press briefings on Operation Sindoor. The investigation team only 'requires a dictionary' and not further custody of Mahmudabad, said the bench.
This came after Mahmudabad's counsel told the bench that the SIT had gone against the court's previous order and seized his electronic devices, in addition to questioning him about trips he had made abroad in the last 10 years.
The court directed the police to complete their probe within four weeks. It also clarified that the bail conditions on Mahmudabad only restrain him from commenting publicly about the matter, not other topics. Read on.
The Supreme Court refused to lift the stay on the release of the film Udaipur Files, which is reportedly based on the 2022 killing of Udaipur tailor Kanhaiya Lal. On June 10, the Delhi High Court stayed the film's release and directed the Union government to examine its contents.
On Wednesday, the court said that it expects the Union government to take its decision 'immediately, without loss of time' and listed the matter for further hearing on July 21.
In June 2022, Lal was killed for purportedly sharing a social media post in support of suspended BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma. She had made disparaging remarks about Prophet Muhammad during a television debate in May 2022. The High Court's stay on the release came on a batch of petitions that had alleged the film was communally provocative and vilified the Muslim community. Read on.
North Atlantic Treaty Organization chief Mark Rutte has warned that countries such as India, China and Brazil could face secondary sanctions if they continue to trade with Russia amid its war on Ukraine. 'So please make the phone call to [Russian President] Vladimir Putin and tell him that he has to get serious about peace talks, because otherwise this will slam back on Brazil, on India and on China in a massive way,' Rutte added.
NATO is a military alliance of 32 countries, including the United States and several members of the European Union.
India and China are among the countries whose imports of cheaper fuel from Russia have increased since 2022. This has raised concerns in Washington that high volume purchases are undermining the attempts to squeeze the Russian economy and thus, indirectly, helping finance its military operations in Ukraine. Read on.
Two suspected Maoists have been killed in a gunfight with security forces in Jharkhand's Bokaro district. Central Reserve Police Force member Parneswar Koch was also killed in the exchange of fire.
The gunfight between the suspected Maoists and the security forces took place at about 5.30 am in the Birhordera forest in the Gomia police station area.
This year, 21 suspected Maoists have been killed across Jharkhand in 14 gunfights with security forces. The Union government has repeatedly vowed to end Maoism by March 31, 2026. Read on.