Sharavathi pumped storage project: Karnataka mum on KPCL 'violations'
Documents show that the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) nodal officer last month raised a specific question on any violation of the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980.
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News18
an hour ago
- News18
‘Popularity No Shield From Law': Allahabad HC Refuses To Quash Case Against Elvish Yadav
Last Updated: Elvish Yadav had sought to quash criminal proceedings against him in a case involving the use of snakes during a music video shoot, and alleged drug and wildlife offences. The Allahabad High Court has dismissed a petition by social media influencer Elvish Yadav seeking to quash criminal proceedings against him in a high-profile case involving the use of snakes during a music video shoot, and alleged drug and wildlife offences. Yadav had moved the court under Section 528 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), challenging the charge-sheet filed on April 5, 2024, the subsequent summoning order dated April 8, 2024, and the entire criminal proceedings in Case Crime No. 461 of 2023. The case, which began with an FIR registered at Sector-49 Police Station in Noida, accuses Yadav and others of violating provisions of the Wildlife Protection Act, IPC, and the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. Yadav's counsel, senior advocate Naveen Sinha, argued that the FIR itself was flawed, having been lodged by an Animal Welfare Officer — a person not authorized under Section 55 of the Wildlife Protection Act to initiate prosecution. He also alleged that the proceedings were motivated by media sensationalism stemming from the applicant's celebrity status, and that the snakes featured in the controversial video were non-poisonous pets used during the shoot without any harm caused. Further, it was contended that there was no substantive evidence linking Yadav to any offence under the NDPS Act or the Indian Penal Code, and that sections 27 and 27A of the NDPS Act were hastily invoked by police in a bid to sensationalise the arrest. However, the Additional Advocate General for the State and counsel for the complainant argued that a detailed investigation had been carried out, and a prima facie case had emerged against Yadav warranting a trial. They emphasised that the points raised by the applicant are matters of defense and ought to be considered during trial rather than at the pre-trial stage. After hearing all parties, the bench of Justice Saurabh Srivastava observed that the trial court had rightly taken cognizance after the investigating officer filed a charge-sheet based on new evidence that went beyond the original FIR. The judge remarked that 'popularity or position of the accused cannot be basis of extension of protection" and reiterated that every individual stands equal before the law. 'The popularity or position of the accused cannot be basis of extension of protection and as per law of this land each and every person irrespective of his popularity or personality are equal in the eye of law," court observed. Holding that the issues raised by Yadav's counsel could be appropriately examined during the course of trial, the high court dismissed the application stating that it lacked merit. First Published: June 06, 2025, 14:17 IST
New Indian Express
3 hours ago
- New Indian Express
‘Inhumane' Cuttack municipal body forces workers to clean drain without safety gear
CUTTACK: The Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC) has continued engaging sanitary workers in manual scavenging of drains without providing them any protective gear, in blatant violation of the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act-2013. One such incident came to light on Thursday when a man, holding a motor tube, was seen swimming bare body in the main storm water channel (MSWC-I) stretching from Matru Bhawan to Nuabazar, cleaning the weeds with the help of a bamboo stick. Not only that, some minor boys were also allegedly engaged at the site to remove the weeds from the banks of the drain in violation of the Child Labour(Prohibition and Regulation) Act. 'Venturing into drains bare body for manual cleaning work is not just risky but also life-threatening as the channels contain dirty, polluted water. They are laden with sharp items like broken glasses, metals and spikes besides poisonous snakes in the waterbodies. Also, there was no one present at the spot to supervise the work,' alleged city-based activist Jitendra Kumar Sahoo. Even though manual scavenging has already claimed many lives in the past, the civic body has seemingly not yet learnt its lesson and openly violating the law. In April 15, 2021, two workers had died of asphyxiation and another had become critical while cleaning a sewerage system of 15-ft depth at CDA-sector-10.
New Indian Express
3 hours ago
- New Indian Express
Two cops dismissed for role in Hyderabad drug trafficking case
TIRUPATI: Tirupati Armed Reserve Constables M. Guna Sekhar (ARPC 1501) and P. Ramachandra (Armed Head Constable 1425) have been dismissed from service for their involvement in a major drug trafficking case registered under the Kukatpally Police Station limits in Hyderabad. Guna Sekhar, who was on casual leave from May 31 to June 9, was arrested on June 4 in Crime No. 725/2025. He faces serious charges under the NDPS Act, including Sections 8(c) r/w 21(c), 25A, and 29, which relate to possession, trafficking, and conspiracy involving commercial quantities of narcotics and precursor chemicals. Investigations revealed that both constables maintained close links with drug smugglers and facilitated the transport of narcotics using insider knowledge. Their dismissal orders were issued under Article 311(2)(b) of the Constitution and Rule 25(11) of the APCS (CC&A) Rules, 1991, which permits termination without a full inquiry when it is not reasonably practicable. Guna Sekhar's dismissal was ordered late Wednesday night by Tirupati SP V. Harshavardhan Raju, IPS, while Ramachandra's order followed on Thursday. The SP's report termed Guna Sekhar's conduct as gross misconduct, involving moral turpitude and a breach of integrity, in violation of Rule 3(1) of the AP Civil Services Conduct Rules, 1964. The report also cited national security concerns and the risk of interference with evidence and witnesses as reasons to forego a departmental inquiry.
