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Time of India
2 days ago
- General
- Time of India
Narcotics case: Delhi HC grants bail to Ethiopian national, cites Customs' custody ‘illegal'
New Delhi: on Tuesday granted bail to an Ethiopian national who allegedly concealed narcotics in his body by swallowing capsules. The court ruled that his custody by the Customs department was illegal, as he was not presented before a magistrate within the legally mandated timeframe. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Justice Amit Sharma, presiding over a single-judge bench, observed: "Such custody without any authority and without producing him before the concerned Magistrate or Special Court within 24 hours in accordance with law is completely illegal. Even if the applicant was under medication for the procedure being carried out, the same cannot be a ground to keep him in custody. Magistrates exercising power of remand or otherwise in respect of persons in hospital is not unheard of and is a well-recognised procedure in law. " The accused, Habiob Bedru Omer, was intercepted at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in May 2023 by a Customs officer based on suspicion and passenger profiling. According to the prosecution, Omer admitted during questioning that he had concealed capsules containing narcotics inside his body. He voluntarily agreed to undergo a medical procedure for the removal of the concealed capsules and was taken to Safdarjung Hospital. There, 75 capsules allegedly containing contraband were recovered from his stomach. After being discharged on May 25, 2023, forensic analysis revealed the capsules contained 960 grams of methaqualone, and the samples tested positive for cocaine hydrochloride. Omer was formally arrested the following day, on May 26. However, the court raised serious concerns regarding procedural lapses. It noted that Omer was not produced before a magistrate before being taken to the hospital. Moreover, local police were not informed of his hospitalisation, nor were his family members or the Ethiopian Embassy notified. Rejecting the Customs department's defence, the court held that Omer had been in continuous custody since his interception on May 21, 2023, until his formal arrest on May 26, thus violating his legal rights.
Indian Express
27-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
‘Bribe for bail' case: Delhi HC turns down clerk's plea for interim relief, says ‘very, very serious allegations'
The Delhi High Court on Tuesday refused interim relief to a court ahlmad (clerk or official) who sought protection from arrest in a 'bribery for bail' case. While seeking a status report from the Delhi government's Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) in the matter, the High Court noted that he was facing 'very, very serious allegations'. The Indian Express on May 24 had reported that the ACB in January had sought permission from the Principal Secretary, Department of Law, Justice, and Legislative Affairs, to initiate a probe against a Special Judge in the Rouse Avenue Court and his court's ahlmad for the alleged demand and acceptance of bribes for granting bail to accused. The request, however, was passed on to the High Court. Even as the HC turned down the request on February 14, saying the ACB did not have 'sufficient material' against the Special Judge, it asked the ACB to continue its investigation. The judge was later transferred from Rouse Avenue Court to another court. On Tuesday, Justice Amit Sharma, while refusing to grant the clerk an interim protection from arrest, orally remarked, 'Very, very serious allegations… A person from our own staff, this is something very serious.' Senior advocates Mohit Mathur and Maninder Singh, appearing for the accused, told the court that the investigating officer in the case is the ACB officer against whom he had complained in January. 'What fairness can I expect?' he asked the court. The ACB had lodged an FIR against the clerk on May 16 under the Prevention of Corruption Act. The Special Judge of Rouse Avenue Court was transferred on May 20. Subsequently, the ahlmad filed for anticipatory bail in a Rouse Avenue court, which had rejected the plea on May 22. During the bail hearing, the ahlmad had argued that the ACB had filed a 'false fabricated FIR' against him and had 'tried to frame' the Special Judge to 'settle a score with' him. The prosecution, on the other hand, opposed the bail, underlining that the clerk was a prime offender and was likely to tamper with evidence. It was also argued that a handwritten slip was allegedly provided by him to the complainant, which indicated his involvement in the alleged offence. The High Court has posted the matter next for May 29.
India Gazette
27-05-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
Delhi HC seeks status report in bribery case against court staff
New Delhi [India], May 27 (ANI): The Delhi High Court on Tuesday directed the Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) to submit a status report regarding its ongoing investigation into bribery allegations against an ahlmad (record keeper) of the Rouse Avenue Court. During the hearing, Justice Amit Sharma declined to grant interim protection from arrest to the accused, Kumar, whose anticipatory bail plea was listed before the High Court. 'The allegations are extremely serious. There is concrete evidence on record. This involves a member of our own staff, which makes the matter even more grave,' the High Court observed when Kumar's counsel sought protection from arrest. The plea has been scheduled for hearing on May 29, the same date as Kumar's petition seeking quashing of the FIR. 'We will dispose of it,' remarked the judge while refusing to issue an interim relief order. Meanwhile, an audio recording submitted to the HC allegedly reveals a senior ACB official discussing attempts to frame a judge in response to judicial orders that were critical of the agency's conduct. These revelations have intensified concerns regarding alleged misuse of power within the ACB. It has been alleged that the FIR against the court staff handling cases related to the Special Judge was filed in retaliation for unfavourable rulings against ACB officials. Amidst the controversy, the Delhi High Court has recently ordered the transfer of a Special Judge from Rouse Avenue Court over allegations of demanding bribes in exchange for granting bail to accused individuals in a GST-related case registered in 2023. The FIR against the court staff (record keeper) was filed on May 16, 2025, under provisions related to corruption. The High Court issued the transfer order for the concerned Special Judge on May 20. Following this, the accused court staff sought quashing of the FIR, but the High Court did not grant immediate relief, though it did issue a notice to the State. During proceedings before Justice Amit Mahajan on May 20, the additional counsel for the State informed the Court that relevant material had been sent to the Principal Secretary of Law, Government of NCT Delhi, in January 2025. This information was later submitted to the Administrative Committee of the High Court via the Registrar General. The State argued that sufficient material exists to justify the allegations in the FIR, necessitating further investigation. Senior advocate Mohit Mathur, representing the petitioner, contended that the FIR was registered following an order on May 16, 2025, by the Special Judge (PC Act) (ACB)-02 at Rouse Avenue Courts. That order had issued a show-cause notice to the Joint Commissioner of the ACB, questioning why contempt proceedings should not be initiated against him. The petitioner, who was posted as an ahlmad (record keeper) in the concerned court, maintains that the FIR against him was registered on the same day. The High Court has scheduled the matter for hearing on May 29. The petitioner has requested the High Court to transfer the case from the ACB to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for a fair and impartial probe. Additionally, he has sought the clubbing of allegations against him so that they may be investigated by the same CBI officer, in accordance with Supreme Court directives. The petitioner has further urged the Court to order a departmental inquiry against two ACB officials--Joint Commissioner Madhur Verma and ACP Jarnail Singh--over allegations of corruption, blackmail, intimidation, misuse of office, forgery, document fabrication, witness intimidation, and destruction of official records. Additionally, he has sought protection from victimization by ACB officers under Section 11(2) of the Whistle Blowers Protection Act, 2011. Meanwhile, the accused court staff sought anticipatory bail from the trial court, but the plea was dismissed on May 22 by Special Judge Deepali Sharma. However, the Court directed the ACB to issue prior notice under Section 41A CrPC (Section 35 of BNSS) in case of an arrest. (ANI)
India Gazette
16-05-2025
- India Gazette
Delhi Police nabs individual for duping a Defence personnel
New Delhi [India], May 16 (ANI): Delhi Cyber Police Station on Friday nabbed an individual who duped a Defence personnel on various pretexts, as per officials. The individual has been identified as Om Prakash Sanwaria and has been involved in 10 cases, as per the Delhi Police. Meanwhile, the Delhi Police IFSO unit of Special Cell busted a module responsible for providing, handling, and using mule/fake bank accounts in connection with IVR scam (Digital Arrest scam). The accused were operating mule accounts to siphon off the proceeds of crime abroad. According to a release, Rs 2.2 crores, three mobile phones, SIM cards, and other digital documents were recovered and restored to the victim. According to Delhi Police, on March 15, 2025, a complaint was filed with the Intelligence Fusion & Strategic Operations (IFSO) Unit of the Special Cell by a 92-year-old retired surgeon. The complainant alleged that on March 12, 2025; he received multiple unsolicited calls from various numbers. The callers impersonated themselves as the officials from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) and the Maharashtra Police, falsely claiming that several First Information Reports (FIRs) had been registered against the victim. The victim was threatened with arrest and was subsequently subjected to 'Digital Arrest' through video calls. He was shown forged court orders and coerced into participating in what the accused termed as a virtual hearing, which was actually an overwhelming fake and manipulative series of incidents. The fraudsters thus trapped him into liquidating all his fixed deposits and transferring the funds to three specified bank accounts under the threat of severe legal consequences and harm to his family. Subsequently, a case was registered under Sections 308(2), 318(4), 319(2), 61(2), and 3(5) BNS and investigation was taken up. The team obtained and analysed details of the alleged bank accounts involved in the scam. Through exhaustive analysis of digital footprints and technical surveillance, the accused persons operating the fraudulent bank accounts were identified. Subsequently, a raid was conducted in Ghaziabad and one accused, 42-year-old Amit Sharma alias Rahul, was arrested. During further investigation, one more accused (account handler), 27-year-old Hari Swargiary, was arrested from Guwahati, Assam. The syndicate impersonated as officials from the Police, CBI, Customs, and other government bodies. They would inform victims that multiple FIRs were registered against them. Initially, they threatened the victims with arrest and severe penalties, but later shifted to a more sympathetic tone, suggesting it could be a case of mistaken identity. To resolve the issue, they instructed the victims to lodge a formal complaint and transfer their savings into specified accounts for 'verification,' falsely promising that the funds would be refunded after the verification process. We have zeroed in on other associates of the accused, and the investigation is going on. (ANI)
India Gazette
15-05-2025
- India Gazette
Delhi Police busts syndicate running digital arrest scam module; 2 held, Rs 2.2 crore recovered
New Delhi [India], May 15 (ANI): Delhi Police IFSO Unit of Special Cell busted a module responsible for providing, handling, and using mule/fake bank accounts in connection with IVR scam (Digital Arrest scam). The accused were operating mule accounts to siphon off the proceeds of crime abroad. According to a release, Rs 2.2 crores, three mobile phones, SIM cards, and other digital documents were recovered and restored to the victim. According to Delhi Police, on March 15, 2025, a complaint was filed with the Intelligence Fusion & Strategic Operations (IFSO) Unit of the Special Cell by a 92-year-old retired surgeon. The complainant alleged that on March 12, 2025; he received multiple unsolicited calls from various numbers. The callers impersonated themselves as the officials from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) and the Maharashtra Police, falsely claiming that several First Information Reports (FIRs) had been registered against the victim. The victim was threatened with arrest and was subsequently subjected to 'Digital Arrest' through video calls. He was shown forged court orders and coerced into participating in what the accused termed as virtual hearing which was actually an overwhelming fake and manipulative series of incidents. The fraudsters thus trapped him into liquidating all his fixed deposits and transferring the funds to three specified bank accounts under the threat of severe legal consequences and harm to his family. Subsequently, a case was registered under Sections 308(2), 318(4), 319(2), 61(2), and 3(5) BNS and investigation was taken up. The team obtained and analysed details of the alleged bank accounts involved in the scam. Through exhaustive analysis of digital footprints and technical surveillance, the accused persons operating the fraudulent bank accounts were identified. Subsequently, a raid was conducted in Ghaziabad and one accused, 42-year-old Amit Sharma alias Rahul, was arrested. During further investigation, one more accused (account handler), 27-year-old Hari Swargiary, was arrested from Guwahati, Assam. The syndicate impersonated as officials from the Police, CBI, Customs, and other government bodies. They would inform victims that multiple FIRs were registered against them. Initially, they threatened the victims with arrest and severe penalties, but later shifted to a more sympathetic tone, suggesting it could be a case of mistaken identity. To resolve the issue, they instructed the victims to lodge a formal complaint and transfer their savings into specified accounts for 'verification,' falsely promising that the funds would be refunded after the verification process. We have zeroed in on other associates of the accused, and the investigation is going on. (ANI)
