Latest news with #BharatiyaNyayaSanhitaAct
Hindustan Times
02-06-2025
- Hindustan Times
Anna University sexual assault convict, a biryani vendor, gets life term: What was the case?
A Mahila Court in Tamil Nadu's Chennai on Monday was awarded a life sentence for a minimum period of 30 years without remission to the accused, Gnanasekaran, who has been convicted of rape of a girl student on the Anna University campus in December last year. The 37-year-old accused, Gnanasekaran, was convicted on May 28 and on Monday given life imprisonment without remission for the offence of rape, which falls under section 64 (1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Act (BNS). The judge also imposed a total fine of ₹90,000 on him. The case pertains to a second-year student of Anna University who was sexually assaulted on the campus in December last year. After an investigation, the Chennai Police arrested Gananesekaran in connection with the case. Gnanasekaran, who was reportedly a roadside biryani vendor with a long criminal history -- including 15 previous cases of theft, robbery, and a past sexual assault on the same campus in 2011 -- was found to have entered the university premises unnoticed, an Indian Express report said. On the night of December 23, 2024, he allegedly filmed the survivor and her male friend without consent, chased the friend away, and then raped the woman. Also Read | AIADMK vs ruling DMK over Anna University case: Opposition asks 'who saved sir'; MK Stalin responds The conviction came five months after the crime and followed an intense probe that included scrutiny of CCTV footage, survivor testimony, and previous criminal records. During the proceedings, the Madras High Court also stepped ordering a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the incident and criticising the university and local authorities for lapses in campus security. According to public prosecutor Mary Jayanth, an SIT was formed to enquire into the incident. Also Read | Hospitals to not insist on ID proof of rape survivors seeking abortion, says Delhi HC The incident sparked widespread outrage and led to political debates, with opposition parties accusing the ruling DMK of attempting to cover up the matter due to alleged political connections. However, Tamil Nadu chief minister MK Stalin commended the swift investigation and conviction, crediting the police and legal teams for securing justice within five months. (with PTI inputs)
Hindustan Times
24-05-2025
- Hindustan Times
UP: College professor arrested for sexually harassing female student in Muzaffarnagar
A local college professor was arrested on Saturday for allegedly sexually harassing a female student of the institution, police said. Station House Officer (SHO) Ashutosh Kumar Singh said a case has been registered against the accused, Dushyant Kumar under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Act sections including Section 75 (sexual harassment). The student, a final year student of Bachelor of Science, alleged that she was sexually harassed by the accused, according to the complaint lodged at the Civil Line police station. She further alleged that the professor threatened to fail her in practical examinations if she did not comply with his demands, police said. An investigation is underway in the matter, the SHO said.
Hindustan Times
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Sonepat court dispose of laptop cloning plea of Ashoka varsity professor, assures SOP compliance
The Sonepat court on Monday disposed of the petition filed by the lawyer of Ashoka University professor Ali Khan Mahmudabad, urging it to direct the police to make a clone of the professor's laptop, assuring that all the standard operating procedures will be fulfilled while recovering the laptop from his house in Lucknow. The plea was filed by his lawyer Kapil Balyan. Speaking to HT over phone, Balyan said that the court sent the associate professor on two-day police remand on Sunday evening based on an FIR lodged by the chairperson of the Haryana state commission for women, Renu Bhatia, and granted him judicial custody on another FIR lodged by Jatheri village sarpanch Yogesh Jatheri. 'The arguments went on for around five hours on Sunday evening. The police had sought his remand to recover his laptop from Lucknow. We have also apprised the court that his wife is due for delivery, and then the court directed the police to co-operate with him on humanitarian grounds in case his wife was admitted to the hospital during remand time. We suspect that the police can tamper with Khan's laptop, and so we filed an application in the court today. The judicial magistrate Azad Singh has disposed of the application and assured us that the police will recover the laptop in the presence of Khan's lawyers. He will be produced again in the court on Tuesday,' he added. The Sonepat police had produced the associate professor Ali Khan Mahmudabad in the court on Sunday evening and demanded a five-day police remand on an FIR lodged by Renu Bhatia. But the court granted a two-day remand. On May 16—Friday— late night, the associate professor was booked under sections 353 (1) (Statements conducing to public mischief), 79 (word, gesture or act intended to insult modesty of a woman), 152 (act endangering sovereignty and integrity of India) and 196(1) (promoting enmity between different groups on ground of religion) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Act, on a complaint filed by Renu Bhatia at Rai police station. Meanwhile on May 17—Saturday, police booked him under sections 152 (Act endangering sovereignty and integrity of India), 196(1) (Promoting enmity between different groups on ground of religion), 197(1) ( Assertions prejudicial to national integration ) and 299 (Malicious act, intended to outrage religious activities) of the BNS on a complaint filed by Yogesh Jatheri, who is also general secretary of BJP Yuva Morcha in Haryana. The Haryana State Commission for Women had sent a notice to Mahmudabad on May 12, saying that a prima facie review of his social media posts reveal various concerns which include 'Disparaging of women in uniform, including Colonel Sofiya Qureshi and Wing Command Vyomika Singh, undermining their role as professional officers in the Indian Armed forces..' The women's commission's notice said that it has taken suo motu cognisance of the 'Public statements' made 'On or about May 7' by Mahmudabad. An excerpt from Mahmudabad's social media post said, 'I am very happy to see so many right-wing commentators applauding Colonel Sophia Qureshi, but perhaps they could also equally loudly demand that the victims of mob lynchings, arbitrary bulldozing, and others who are victims of the BJP's hate mongering be protected as Indian citizens. The optics of two women soldiers presenting their findings is important, but optics must translate to reality on the ground, otherwise it's just hypocrisy.' Following his arrest, the faculty association of Ashoka University condemned Mahmudabad's arrest. Issuing a statement, the association said, 'We condemn the calculated harassment to which Professor Mahmudabad has been subjected: after being arrested early in the morning from his home in New Delhi, he was taken to Sonipat, not allowed access to necessary medication, and driven around for hours without any communication about his whereabouts.' The faculty of Ashoka University vowed their support for their colleague, whom they called an invaluable member of the university community, a deeply responsible citizen, and a friend to his students. 'Professor Mahmudabad is well-versed in diverse literary and linguistic traditions and is a widely acclaimed expert and scholar of history and political science in South Asia and beyond. In all of his writing, both for academic and wider public fora, he has emphasised the importance of justice, pluralism, and solidarity, and has always advocated a profound respect for Constitutional values and morality,' the association added.
Hindustan Times
18-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Haryana travel blogger arrested for spying, linked to Pak intelligence network
A Hisar woman travel blogger was arrested for allegedly spying and passing sensitive information to Pakistani operatives, marking the third arrest from Haryana this week after India and Pakistan agreed to a ceasefire. Travel blogger Jyoti Malhotra, a resident of Hisar, was arrested after she confessed to sharing sensitive information with Pakistani operatives. She was booked under Sections 3 and 5 of the Official Secrets Act, 1923, and Section 152 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Act. She has been sent to a five-day police remand. Confirming her arrest, Hisar police spokesman Vikas Kumar said that Jyoti Malhotra was taken into custody and officials are questioning her to gather more details. An FIR was registered at Hisar Civil Lines police station based on a complaint lodged by sub-inspector Sanjay. According to the FIR, the blogger visited the Pakistan High Commission in Delhi in 2023, where she came into contact with Ehsan-ur-Rahim, alias Danish, a staffer at the Pakistan High Commission (PHC) in New Delhi. India has since then expelled the Pakistan official. A statement from the external affairs ministry said the government had declared the staffer of the Pakistani mission 'persona non grata for indulging in activities not in keeping with his official status in India'. The statement did not give further details of the matter. 'The woman revealed that she remained in touch with Ehsan-ur-Rahim alias Danish and during her Pakistan visit in 2023, she met Ali Ehwan, who ensured my staying and travelling in Pakistan. Ehwan introduced her to Pakistani security and intelligence officials, where she also met with Shakir and Rana Shahbaz,' the FIR reads. 'The blogger had saved Shakir's name with 'Jatt Randhawa' so that no one could create doubt on her. After returning from Pakistan in 2023, she remained in touch with all the operatives on encrypted platforms like WhatsApp, Telegram, and Snapchat,' the police FIR added. The woman blogger had visited Pakistan twice in 2023. Jyoti Malhotra ran the YouTube channel 'Travel with Jo.' She is part of a network that spanned across Haryana and Punjab, with key operatives acting as agents, financial conduits, and informants. Danish, who has since been declared persona non grata by the Indian government and expelled on May 13, 2025, allegedly introduced Jyoti to multiple Pakistani Intelligence Operatives (PIOs). She allegedly shared sensitive information concerning Indian locations and was actively used to project a positive image of Pakistan on social media. Investigators say she also entered into an intimate relationship with a PIO and even travelled to Bali, Indonesia with him. During Danish's stay in Delhi, she continued coordinating with him, further raising suspicions. Haryana chief minister Nayab Singh Saini said that the investigation agencies are on the job. 'If such elements are caught, action will be taken accordingly,' he added. Meanwhile in Nuh, police arrested a 23-year-old Arman on Saturday for allegedly providing SIM cards to Pakistani operatives in India. The police recovered a mobile phone from him and took him on a six-day police remand. According to police officials, he was in touch with Pakistani operatives since 2023. Sixth espionage arrest in region PUNJAB On May 8, Malerkotla residents Guzala and Yameen Mohammad, a passport and visa agent, were arrested for their involvement in espionage activities linked to the staffer at the Pakistan High Commission. Both have been booked under Section 152 of the BNS and Sections 3, 4 and 5 of the Official Secret Act at Police Station City-1, Malerkotla. Malerkotla SSP Gaganajit Singh said Guzala had visited the Pakistani embassy on February 27 and April 23 this year. 'Though she never visited Pakistan, she started passing information relating to Indian Army's movements in return for money paid via UPI.' SSP said Yameen had travelled to Pakistan twice, in 2018 and 2022. Both accused were sent to judicial custody on May 15. On May 12, a civilian identified as Raquib, working as a tailor at the military station in Bathinda, was caught on suspicion of spying. His mobile phone was sent for forensic analysis. On April 29, Sunil Kumar, who was working as a cobbler in the Bathinda cantonment, was caught on similar suspicion. The police, on Saturday, said that the mobile phones of both the accused, Raquib and Sunil, were examined and no evidence was found. 'Both were thoroughly questioned by a police team and their property details were examined. But nothing suspicious has been found yet linking them with an espionage racket,' said a senior police official requesting anonymity. On May 4, Punjab Police arrested two persons — Falak Sher Masih and Suraj Masih— both residents of Balarhwal village, for their alleged role in leaking sensitive information and photographs of army cantonment areas and air bases in Amritsar to Pakistan's ISI, officials said. 'An FIR has been registered at the Ajnala police station under Sections 3, 5, and 9 of the Official Secrets Act, Section 67 of the Information Technology Act, and Section 61(2) of the BNS,' said SSP Maninder Singh. Both were in contact with Pakistan's intelligence agency, the SSP added. The accused are in judicial custody now, and the investigations are ongoing, an official privy to the probe said, pleading anonymity. HARYANA On May 12, Nauman Elahi, 24, who worked as a private security guard at a blanket manufacturing factory in Panipat, was arrested for sharing sensitive information with his Pakistan-based handlers. Elahi belongs to Kairana in Uttar Pradesh's Shamli district. Elahi, who is in six-day police remand, had also visited Pakistan in the past. On May 12, Devendra Singh Dhillon, 25, of Guhla in Kaithal district was arrested for spying and passing on sensitive information to Pakistan. Dhillon, who is a student of political science at Khalsa College, Patiala, was arrested from Kaithal. During questioning, it emerged that he went to Pakistan in November last year through the Kartarpur Corridor and was sharing sensitive information with officers of Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency. Police have seized his phone and sent it for forensic investigation. His bank account is being probed to ascertain the money trail.
Hindustan Times
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Haryana-based travel blogger arrested for spying, linked to Pakistani intelligence network
A Hisar-based woman travel blogger was arrested for allegedly spying and passing sensitive information to Pakistani operatives, marking the third arrest from Haryana this week after India and Pakistan agreed to a ceasefire. Travel blogger Jyoti Malhotra, a resident of Hisar, was arrested after she confessed to sharing sensitive information with Pakistani operatives. She was booked under Sections 3 and 5 of the Official Secrets Act, 1923, and Section 152 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Act. She has been placed under five-day police remand. Confirming her arrest, Hisar police spokesman Vikas Kumar said that Jyoti Malhotra was taken into custody and officials are questioning her to gather more details. An FIR was registered at Hisar Civil Lines police station based on a complaint lodged by sub-inspector Sanjay. According to the FIR, the blogger visited the Pakistan High Commission in Delhi in 2023, where she came into contact with Ehsan-ur-Rahim, alias Danish, a staffer at the Pakistan High Commission (PHC) in New Delhi. 'The woman revealed that she remained in touch with Ehsan-ur-Rahim alias Danish and during her Pakistan visit in2023 , she met Ali Ehwan, who ensured my staying and travelling in Pakistan. Ehwan introduced her to Pakistani security and intelligence officials, where she also met with Shakir and Rana Shahbaz,' the FIR reads. "The blogger had saved Shakir's name with ' Jatt Randhawa' so that no one could create doubt on her. After returning from Pakistan in 2023, she remained in touch with all the operatives on encrypted platforms like WhatsApp, Telegram, and Snapchat,' the police FIR added. The woman blogger had visited Pakistan twice in 2023. Jyoti Malhotra ran the YouTube channel 'Travel with Jo.' She is part of a network that spanned across Haryana and Punjab, with key operatives acting as agents, financial conduits, and informants. Danish, who has since been declared persona non grata by the Indian government and expelled on May 13, 2025, allegedly introduced Jyoti to multiple Pakistani Intelligence Operatives (PIOs). She allegedly shared sensitive information concerning Indian locations and was actively used to project a positive image of Pakistan on social media. Investigators say she also entered into an intimate relationship with a PIO and even travelled to Bali, Indonesia with him. During Danish's stay in Delhi, she continued coordinating with him, further raising suspicions
