Latest news with #AtrocitiesAct
The Hindu
6 days ago
- General
- The Hindu
‘Priyank Kharge must resign on moral grounds as law and order has failed in Kalaburagi'
Criticizing the misuse of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, members of the Kalaburagi Nagarikara Hithrakshana Vedike have termed the false case filed under the Atrocities Act against BJP MLC N. Ravikumar as politically motivated and vendetta politics by Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister Priyank Kharge and the Congress government. Vedike members and BJP leaders Avvanna Myakeri and Ambarayya Ashtagi, addressing a press conference here on Wednesday, said that Mr. Kharge is misusing legal provisions to target BJP leaders. Mr. Myakeri and Mr. Ashtagi said that the entire incident reported in Chittapur town on May 21, where the Congress workers and supporters of Mr. Kharge wrongfully confined Leader of Opposition in the Council Chalavadi Narayanaswamy for five hours in a guesthouse, was carried out on the directions of their leader [Mr. Kharge]. They also added that the protest rally against Mr. Narayanaswamy and Mr. Ravikumar organised by the Nagarika Horata Samiti in Kalaburagi on May 31 was a rally sponsored by Mr. Kharge himself. Mr. Ashtagi said that the district's deteriorating law and order situation and rampant rise in crimes have instilled fear among the public. Mr. Kharge should avoid using police officers wrongly but focus only on maintaining law and order. They demanded that those officials of the District Task Force Committee and Taluk Task Force Committee indulging in illegal extraction of sand should be suspended immediately. Mr. Kharge, who is also district in-charge Minister, has failed to maintain law and order in Kalaburagi district and he should own moral responsibility and resign from the Cabinet immediately, they said.
Hindustan Times
29-05-2025
- Hindustan Times
Minor girl dies by suicide after being refused marriage
In a shocking incident, a minor girl allegedly died by suicide on Tuesday after being mentally distressed in Phursungi, Pune district. As per the complaint lodged by the girl's mother at Phursungi Police Station on Tuesday, the victim and the accused, both minors, had been in a relationship since 2020, during which they were also allegedly physically involved. Over the past few months, the girl had been repeatedly urging the boy to marry her, but he allegedly kept avoiding the matter. During one such argument, the accused is said to have insulted the girl using casteist language, stating he cannot marry her as she belongs to a lower caste. Following this, the girl reportedly fell into depression and ended her life by hanging herself at her residence, police said. According to police officials, a case has been registered under the Atrocities Act as well as the Juvenile Justice Act. Since the accused is a minor, the proceedings will be carried out in a special juvenile court. Help is a call away Pune-based NGO - Connecting - works towards providing support to those in emotional distress using the philosophy of mindfulness-based active listening, thereby preventing suicide. Helpline numbers: 1800-209-4353 (toll-free) and 9922001122 all days, 12 pm to 8 pm. Walk-in facility: 12 pm to 5 pm, Monday – Saturday. Email: connectingngo@
News18
26-05-2025
- Politics
- News18
Karnataka BJP Leader Stirs Row After Calling IAS Officer ‘Pakistani', FIR Lodged
Last Updated: Karnataka BJP legislator N Ravikumar triggered a controversy after making a communal remark suggesting the Kalaburagi Deputy Commissioner was "from Pakistan." Karnataka BJP leader N Ravikumar stirred a controversy after he made a defamatory comment against Kalaburagi Deputy Commissioner Fouzia Taranum, a Muslim IAS officer. While protesting against the alleged mistreatment of Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council Chalavadi Narayanaswamy, who was reportedly locked inside a government guest house when Congress supporters surrounded it, in front of the DC's office, Ravikumar had questioned the nationality of the officer saying whether she was 'from Pakistan". On May 21, Narayanaswamy was reportedly confined inside a government guest house by Congress supporters during his visit to Chittapur. It was a backlash by Congress workers following his controversial comment comparing Karnataka minister Priyank Kharge to a dog. During the protest, Ravikumar had said, 'I don't know whether the Kalaburagi DC has come from Pakistan or is an IAS officer here. Looking at your applause, it seems like the DC has indeed come from Pakistan." Amid the backlash, the BJP MLC has apologised in a press release, saying that he regrets his inadvertent and intemperate remarks, and that he had no doubts about the DC's integrity or competency. Congress Slams Comment Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge slammed Ravikumar for his remark and called it 'highly distasteful". He said, 'Just look at BJP leaders across the country and the kind of speeches they make, it reflects a deeply disturbing mindset. To make such accusations against a respected officer is unacceptable." He further said, 'People who talk this way about their own fellow citizens, can we even call them real Indians? He himself is anti-social." The IAS Officers Association also condemned the BJP MLC's remarks, demanding an unconditional apology from the legislator and urging authorities to file a case under the appropriate legal provisions. Case Filed Against BJP MLC The Kalaburagi police have lodged a case against the legislator over his recent defamatory statement against Kalaburagi Deputy Commissioner. Based on a complaint filed by Dattatraya Ikkalaki, Kalaburagi Samudaya president, the Station Bazaar police have registered a case against Ravikumar. Police have confirmed that the FIR includes provisions under the Atrocities Act, and further investigation is underway. Location : Karnataka, India, India First Published:
Indian Express
15-05-2025
- Indian Express
HC acquits rape convict of charges under SC/ST Act; cites amendments in Act, Supreme Court judgment
The bench of Justice Ilesh Vora and Justice Sandeep Bhatt passed the judgment on May 9 while acting on a criminal appeal filed by the accused, Kanu alias Kishanbhai Machhi-Patel from Bharuch district, who, in 2016, was convicted by a sessions court for committing abduction, rape and unnatural sex on a tribal girl in 2013. He was convicted under the provisions of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, and Atrocities Act. The victim was a minor at the time while Machhi-Patel was a van driver who used to drop her to school. The HC bench observed that the victim did not state in her testimony that the accused raped her because she was from SC/ST community. The court also observed that the victim's parents nowhere stated that the accused committed rape upon their daughter intentionally because of her caste. Besides, the court took note of the investigating officer's testimony and stated that it, '…does not throw any light on the issue whether the offence was committed upon the victim because she belongs to SC/ST Caste.' It further stated that the investigating officer did not properly investigate to prove that the accused does not belong to the SC/ST community. The HC bench observed, 'The court below (Sessions court), while convicting the appellant under Section 3(2)(v) of SC/ST Act (Atrocities Act), has not properly appreciated the evidence and failed to assign sound and cogent reasons of his conclusion that why the offence under the provision of SC/ST Act is proved.' The accused's lawyer had argued that, '… the charge under Section 3(2)(v) of the SC/ST Act has not been substantiated by the prosecution, in as much as, there is no evidence to prove that the accused was aware about the caste of the victim…' The HC also reproduced the Section 3(2)(v) of Atrocities Act which reads, 'commits any offence under the Indian Penal Code (45 of 1860) punishable with imprisonment for a term of 10 years or more against a person or property [knowing that such person is a member of a Scheduled Caste or a Scheduled Tribe or such property belongs to such member], shall be punishable with imprisonment for life and with fine.' The court further pointed out in the judgment that Section 3(2)(v) of the Atrocities Act was amended in 2016. As per the amendment, the words, '….on the ground that such person is a member of a Scheduled Caste or a Scheduled Tribe' have been substituted with the words '…knowing that such person is a member of Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe'. The HC stated that in the present case, the unamended Section 3(2)(v) is applicable as the alleged offence was committed on January 19, 2013. The court then stated, 'In such circumstances, in order to establish an offence under Section 3(2)(v) of the SC/ST Act (Atrocities Act), the prosecution is required to prove that the offence is committed on the ground that such person is a member of Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe.' The HC bench cited a Supreme Court judgment of 2017, deciding a criminal appeal of 2015, in which the apex court interpreted unamended Section 3(2)(v) and said, '…the statute laid stress on the intention of the accused in committing such offence and provisions can be pressed into service only (if) it is proved that the offence has been committed on the ground that the victim belonged to SC/ST community and in absence of evidence proving intention of the accused in committing the offence, upon the victim only because she belongs to SC/ST community, the conviction cannot be sustained.' The HC bench, eventually, partly allowed the appeal and set aside the trial court's judgment that convicted the accused under Section 3(2)(v) of the Atrocities Act. The court also ordered to refund the amount of fine, if deposited by the accused under Section 3(2)(v) of the Atrocities Act. Before that, the court observed, '…in view of the settled legal position of law, there is nothing on record to show that the offence was committed because the victim belonged (sic) to SC/ST caste.' As per the complaint, Machhi-Patel took the girl to a secluded place on January 19, 2013, and raped her. Later, he dropped her home. The victim's parents approached the police and an FIR was registered on January 21, 2013, at Bharuch City Police Station. A Sessions court eventually convicted the accused for offences levelled against him such as abduction, rape, unnatural sex under the provisions of the IPC, POCSO Act and Atrocities Act. Under IPC and POCSO Act, the convict was sentenced to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs 9,000 was imposed on him. Under the provisions of Section 3(2)(v) of Atrocities Act, Machhi-Patel was awarded life imprisonment and a fine of Rs 5,000 was imposed on him. Machhi-Patel challenged the conviction before the HC. But his counsel did not press the appeal as far as his conviction under the provisions of the IPC and POCSO Act since he had already undergone the imprisonment for the same. However, the accused's lawyer argued that the trial court had committed a serious error in holding him guilty of offence under Section 3(2)(v) of the Atrocities Act.
Time of India
06-05-2025
- Time of India
Contractor held after official alleges threats & substandard work
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar : A contracting firm's distribution head was arrested on Tuesday after a senior official of Maharashtra Jeevan Pradhikaran (MJP) accused him of obstructing govt work, issuing threats and attempting to frame her in false charges following disagreements over the quality of work on an urban water supply project . Tired of too many ads? go ad free now MJP's chief engineer Manisha Palande (50), posted at the MJP's regional division in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, filed a formal complaint in this regard with the Vedantnagar police on Monday. She alleged that contractor Vishal Yedke engaged in deliberate substandard work and resorted to intimidation after she intervened to stop faulty construction practices. Palande took charge as the chief engineer on Sept 6, 2024. She is overseeing the ambitious Jal Jeevan Mission and urban water supply schemes under MJP in the region. According to her complaint, the contracting firm was given the work to execute the city's water distribution network, including laying 2,000km of pipelines. Palande alleged that during departmental review meetings, she found serious quality lapses in the road restoration and paver block works carried out after laying the pipelines. Despite strict directions to adhere to hydraulic testing norms and proper standards, she claimed Yedke bypassed protocols to expedite restoration, leading to poor-quality work. In her complaint, Palande stated that Yedke verbally abused her, issued threats and even tried to intimidate her by saying that he would trap her in false Atrocities Act charges. The Vedantnagar police have registered a case against Yedke under sections 132 (criminal force to deter a public servant from duty), 126(2) (wrongful restraint), 221 (obstruction of duty), 224 (threat of injury), 237 (false declaration), 248 (false charge with intent to harm), 351(2) and 351(3) (criminal intimidation), and 352 (intentional insult with provocation) of BNS.
