Bus services resume through Vadakadu post caste violence
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Time of India
5 hours ago
- Time of India
HC directs state police chief to set up SIT to probe Somnath Suryawanshi custodial death
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: The Bombay high court's Aurangabad bench on Thursday directed the state director general of police (DGP) to constitute a Special Investigation Team (SIT) within a week to investigate the alleged custodial death of 35-year-old law student Somnath Suryawanshi on Dec 15, 2024, in Parbhani. Suryawanshi was among those arrested during the violence that broke out on Dec 11, 2024, in Parbhani following reports of desecration of a replica of the Constitution of India. The HC bench of Justice Vibha Kankanwadi and Justice Sanjay Deshmukh also directed the DGP to inform the names of the officers, who will be part of the SIT, to Suryawanshi's family. While the HC's order was not uploaded on its official website till the time of going to press, Govt Pleader Amarjeetsingh Girase confirmed to TOI, "The bench has directed setting up of the SIT and the investigation to be monitored by a senior state police officer. " Suryawanshi's mother, Vijayabai, had filed a petition seeking registration of an FIR for murder and offences under the SC/ST Act against the police officers and their associates responsible for her son's custodial death. The HC was hearing this petition on Thursday. On Aug 2, the Parbhani police registered an FIR after the Supreme Court disposed of a petition by the state govt that challenged the HC's directive of July 4 to register the FIR based on Vijayabai's complaint application of Dec 18, 2024, and hand over the investigation to a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySP) rank officer. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like How Ken Koh revived ailing family business in S'pore to produce the 'Rolls-Royce' of soya sauce CNA Read More Undo The Apex court then modified the HC order to the extent that the FIR be registered against unidentified suspects and the names of individuals found responsible for the death may be added later when the investigation establishes the individual role of those involved in the matter. Lawyer Milind Sandanshiv, who is assisting senior advocate Prakash Ambedkar on behalf of the petitioner, told TOI, "The govt handed over investigation of the case to the CID's Pune head office which then assigned the probe to its Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar unit. It was our case right from the inception of the petition that an SIT be formed and the probe team should not involve any officer from the Parbhani police." "The police's case was that to ensure an impartial probe the matter was handed over to a CID Sambhajinagar team headed by a DySP rank officer. However, the team had a police sub-inspector from Parbhani police," Sandanshiv said. "The HC considered our plea for the setting up of an SIT and gave directions regarding the same," he added. The petitioner's lawyers brought to the court's notice, among other things, that the Parbhani police did not register the FIR despite the HC directives to do so within a week and an SIT was not constituted for the probe. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Happy Independence Day wishes , messages , and quotes !
Time of India
5 hours ago
- Time of India
Granting bail to Darshan depicts non-application of mind: SC to Karnataka HC
Bengaluru: Cancelling the bail granted to actor Darshan and his six aides in the Renukaswamy murder case, the Supreme Court on Thursday observed that the order of the Karnataka high court depicted "non-application of mind. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now " The apex court noted that courts are not expected to render findings on the merits of the case at the bail stage. On Dec 13, 2024, the high court single bench judge Justice S Vishwajith Shetty had granted regular bail to Darshan (accused number 2), Pavithra Gowda (accused no 1) along with other accused - R Nagaraju, Anu Kumar alias Anu, Lakshman M, Jagadeesh alias Jagga, and Pradoosh S Rao — on grounds of non-furnishing of a memo of grounds of arrest as per the mandate of CrPC, several inconsistencies in statements of witnesses etc. The state govt challenged the verdict. Now, after 244 days, the Supreme Court reversed the order. During the course of hearing the appeals, the SC bench of Justice JB Paridiwala and R Mahadevan even remarked that the high court had handed out "an acquittal order to the accused". The bench, in the 66-page order, stated: "In the present case, the high court failed to properly evaluate the nature of allegations, involving premeditated murder and conspiracy, attracting Section 302 IPC read with Section 120B IPC; the chain of circumstantial evidence, including CCTV footage, call records, and the forensic report showing a deliberate attempt to destroy evidence (e.g. , disposal of blood-stained clothes and vehicle cleaning); and the incriminating role of A2 (Darshan), who was in constant touch with A1 (Pavithra Gowda) and other co-accused before and after the incident, and who facilitated the conspiracy and cover-up. On the other hand, it simply recorded that A2 (Darshan) had 'no direct role' and there was 'no prima facie case', without discussing or analysing the incriminating material on record. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now This amounts to non-application of mind and renders the order unsustainable in law." By treating Darshan's stature as a mitigating factor, the high court committed a "manifest perversity" in the exercise of its discretion, thereby warranting the cancellation of bail. "A2 is not a common undertrial. He enjoys celebrity status, mass following, political clout, and financial muscle. His conduct inside the jail – including recorded instances of VIP treatment, violations of jail rules, and registered FIRs for misuse of facilities – reflects his capacity to defy the system even while in custody. If a person can subvert the prison system, the risk of interference with evidence, threatening or influencing witnesses, and tampering with the course of justice is both real and imminent," the top court observed. Misconduct & influence Moreover, Darshan's immediate return to social events sharing a stage with prosecution witnesses, and continued influence over police witnesses, despite being on bail, establish that his liberty is a threat to the integrity of the proceedings, the court noted. "Granting leniency to such persons despite grave charges of conspiracy and murder sends the wrong message to society and undermines public confidence in the justice system. Accordingly, the accused's antecedents, influence, jail misconduct, and the seriousness of the charges against him make him unfit for bail," the SC stated. It noted that on a cumulative analysis, it is evident that the high court court suffers from serious legal infirmities. The order fails to record any special or cogent reasons for granting bail in a case involving charges under Sections 302, 120B, and 34 IPC. Instead, it reflects a mechanical exercise of discretion, marked by significant omissions of legally relevant facts. Moreover, the high court undertook an extensive examination of witness statements at the pre-trial stage, highlighting alleged contradictions and delays – issues that are inherently matters for the trial court to assess through cross-examination. The trial court alone is the appropriate forum to evaluate the credibility and reliability of witnesses, the SC observed.
Time of India
5 hours ago
- Time of India
Meet & greet inside jail for Darshan fans?
Bengaluru: Over half a dozen Darshan fans, who were arrested for sending abusive and obscene messages to actress-cum-politician Divyaspandana, also known as Ramya, will now get a chance to spend time with their favourite star in the Central Prison. The central crime branch (CCB) sleuths have arrested seven people till now in a case related to posting vulgar messages against Ramya on social media platforms, including Instagram and X. All are hardcore fans of Darshan, and they reportedly voluntarily abused Ramya for her post on the developments in the Supreme Court on the Renukaswamy murder case. However, police sources maintained that they will not allow the fans to meet the accused actor. Darshan may not be allowed to step out of his room for the next few days, a senior officer said. But the fans who are lodged in the same prison may get a chance to greet Darshan in unavoidable circumstances. You Can Also Check: Bengaluru AQI | Weather in Bengaluru | Bank Holidays in Bengaluru | Public Holidays in Bengaluru | Gold Rates Today in Bengaluru | Silver Rates Today in Bengaluru Ramya's Instagram story Soon after the SC pronounced the verdict, Ramya posted an Instagram story: "The SC judgment today on setting aside bail to Darshan and others in the Renukaswamy murder case sends a strong message – ALL ARE EQUAL BEFORE LAW. To the rest of us, I'd like to say – follow due process, keep faith in the justice system – it's long and hard, but there is light at the end of the tunnel. Do not take law into your hands; justice will be served. Most importantly, stay true to your consciousness." Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Happy Independence Day wishes , messages , and quotes !
