Latest news with #FIR
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
16 hours ago
- General
- Business Standard
Calcutta HC refuses bail to Panoli for controversial remarks amid tensions
The Calcutta High Court on Tuesday refused to grant interim bail to social media influencer Sharmistha Panoli, who is accused of making controversial remarks against a community in the context of Operation Sindoor—coordinated missile strikes conducted by the Indian armed forces. According to a LiveLaw report, Panoli challenged a remand order issued by a trial court, which had placed her in judicial custody for 14 days. Court stresses caution in diverse society While denying bail, the court listed the matter before the next vacation bench and stated, 'This video was made on social media, it was heard, this incident has led to a section of people's sentiment being hurt. Look, we have freedom of speech, but that doesn't mean you will go on to hurt others. Our country is diverse, with people from different castes, creeds, religions, etc. We must be cautious by saying this. So, day after tomorrow. Heavens will not fall.' Panoli faces legal action for blasphemous content Panoli, a law student at Symbiosis Law School, allegedly made blasphemous remarks against Prophet Mohammad on her social media accounts. After facing backlash for the offensive video, she deleted it and issued a public apology. Despite this, she was arrested in Gurugram by Kolkata Police. Defence argues arrest violated due process under BNSS Her counsel argued that the arrest was illegal, stating the offences listed in the FIR were non-cognisable. The counsel also contended that Panoli had not been served a notice prior to arrest, which is required under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). The state counsel responded that a notice had been issued but could not be served because Panoli had fled with her family. Next hearing set for June 5; case diary requested The High Court directed the West Bengal government to produce the case diary related to Panoli's arrest at the next hearing, scheduled for 5 June. Operation Sindoor: military response to Pahalgam attack On 7 May, the Indian armed forces launched coordinated missile strikes on terrorist infrastructure at nine locations in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). The strikes were in retaliation for the 22 April terror attack in Pahalgam.
India Today
2 days ago
- Politics
- India Today
Case filed against 15 Hindu outfit members in Karnataka for ‘unlawful assembly'
The police in Dakshina Kannada have filed a case against 15 members of a pro-Hindu group for holding an unauthorised protest outside a police station in the district. The protest reportedly came in response to late-night visits by police to the homes of Hindu outfit leaders in Kadaba taluk, ordered by the new Superintendent of Police, Dr police, reportedly as part of an intensified surveillance drive, visited the residences of several individuals associated with various Hindu outfits in the region, took GPS-tagged photographs and collected personal details. The move drew sharp criticism from local leaders and community members, who allege that the actions were excessive and conducted without notice. In protest, several people held a demonstration outside the Kadaba police station in Dakshina Kannada. Following which police registered a case against the protestors, for assembling unlawfully without prior permission and staging a demonstration in violation of public order visited our homes at night and portrayed us like criminals. This has created fear and unrest in our families,' said Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) district joint secretary Pramod Rai, expressing outrage over the police operations. Rai further warned that continued harassment of members could provoke widespread protests in the region. The FIR names Pramod Rai, Tilak and Sharath from Nanduguri; Mohan from Kerekodi; Chandrashekhar, Deekayya, and Umesh from Nujibaltila; Mahesh and Sujith from Kutruppadi; Shreyas from Nanduguri; as well as Radhakrishna, Jayanth, and three development comes after the Karnataka government implemented a Communal Violence Prevention Task Force. The announcement, made by Home Minister G Parameshwara on May 29, was made in response to the unrest in coastal and central districts with a spate of violent murders reported in recent weeks. advertisementParameshwara told the media that the government had identified Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Shivamogga districts as sensitive zones. 'We will take action without delay. If this happens every time, we will not be able to sit idly by. We will tighten the law further,' he had said. IN THIS STORY#Karnataka
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
2 days ago
- Politics
- Business Standard
Anna University assault case: Convict gets 30 years in jail, fined ₹90k
The Chennai Mahila Court on Monday sentenced the convict in the Anna University sexual assault case to life imprisonment for at least 30 years and imposed a fine of ₹90,000, reported LiveLaw. The court had earlier found him guilty on all 11 charges levelled against him, based on substantial documentary and forensic evidence. Justice Rajalakshmi, who presided over the case, had reserved the sentencing for June 2 after holding that the prosecution had proved its case beyond a reasonable doubt. The government counsel later confirmed that the prosecution successfully established all charges, including those under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), the Information Technology Act, and the Tamil Nadu Prevention of Women Harassment Act. The case dates back to December 23, 2024, when a woman student from Anna University lodged a complaint with the All Women Police Station in Kotturpuram, Chennai. According to the complaint, A Gnanasekaran, a biryani vendor from Kottur, threatened her and her male friend before sexually assaulting her in a secluded area on the university premises. Police reports indicated that Gnanasekaran recorded a video of the incident and used it to blackmail the woman and her friend. He was later arrested by the Greater Chennai Police and remanded to judicial custody. FIR leak Following the initial investigation, the FIR was downloaded from the CCTNS website of the Tamil Nadu Police and widely circulated by certain sections of the media, sparking public outrage. The Madras High Court then transferred the investigation to a Special Investigation Team (SIT), which also probed the FIR leak. The SIT filed a chargesheet in February, after which the case was transferred to the Mahila Court. Throughout the trial, the prosecution sought maximum punishment, arguing that the case had been proven beyond reasonable doubt. The court concurred, stating that the documentary and forensic evidence provided by the prosecution was sufficient to establish Gnanasekaran's guilt. Political row over DMK allegations The case also ignited a political controversy after photographs of Gnanasekaran with functionaries of the ruling DMK surfaced online. While BJP leader K Annamalai alleged that Gnanasekaran was a DMK student wing office-bearer, Tamil Nadu Law Minister S Regupathi denied the claim, asserting, 'He is not a party office-bearer.' Chief Minister MK Stalin addressed the matter in the Legislative Assembly, stating, 'I assure you that the one arrested in the Chennai student case is not a member of DMK. He is a DMK sympathiser, we don't deny it.' Gnanasekaran had earlier filed a petition seeking discharge from the case, citing lack of evidence and claiming that his arrest was based on suspicion. The Tamil Nadu Police opposed this plea, and the court heard arguments from both sides before dismissing the petition.
NDTV
2 days ago
- NDTV
Life Term For Man Who Sexually Assaulted 19-Year-Old In Anna University
Chennai: Gnanasekaran, a biryani vendor convicted in the high-profile sexual assault case at the Anna University, has been sentenced to life imprisonment. He has also been fined Rs 90,000, a Mahila Court in Chennai read out the punishment for sexually assaulting a 19-year-old student last December. The convict must remain in prison for at least 30 years, said Judge M Rajalakshmi. The judge found Gnanasekaran guilty on all 11 charges last week, including sexual assault, rape, intimidation, and kidnapping. At least 29 witnesses testified in the case, and the police filed a 100-page chargesheet. He had earlier pleaded for minimum punishment, citing his need to be at home to look after his elderly mother and eight-year-old daughter. But in view of his conviction on all the charges, he must get the maximum punishment, the judge had said. On December 23, Gnanasekaran entered the university campus and attacked a friend of the teenager, and then sexually assaulted her. He had also filmed the act with an intention to blackmail her. He was arrested the same day. The sexual assault case that found closure after five months of trial had also sparked a massive row in December. Welcoming the conviction, Leader of Opposition Edappadi K Palaniswami had raised that the convict had spoken to a certain "sir" during the sexual assault. The identity of this alleged person remains unknown, with the police saying he had only pretended to speak to someone, and no one else was involved. During his questioning, the convict had also confessed to carrying out thefts at several houses in Chennai, sources had said, after over 100 sovereigns of gold and a luxury SUV were seized from him. The probe also sparked concerns over the survivor's identity being revealed through the FIR that was easily accessible online. Indian law protects the identity of sexual assault survivors to prevent social stigma. The police had denied leaking the details and blamed the centrally administered police website for not restricting sensitive information. Slamming the police investigation, the court had formed a women-only Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the sexual assault case as well as the alleged FIR leak. Calling the leak a serious lapse, it had directed the government to provide Rs 25 lakh as interim assistance to the survivor for the trauma. The sexual assault case had given the opposition AIADMK a fresh arsenal to target the ruling DMK over women's safety and declining law and order in Tamil Nadu. The DMK had then vowed to fast-track the probe and ensure justice. BJP state chief K Annamalai had flogged himself in public in a symbolic act over the incident, for what he had described as the deteriorating law and order situation. He had also announced a 48-day fast and a mega pilgrimage as part of his protest. Mr Annamalai had also shared a photo of the convict with Chief Minister MK Stalin's son, Udhayanidhi Stalin, claiming that Gnanasekharan was a DMK member. The DMK had trashed the charge, with MK Stalin asserting he was just a supporter, not a member.
Hans India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Hans India
CID sleuths grill ex-MLA Alla
Guntur: The CID sleuths grilled former MLA and YSRCP leader Alla Rama Krishna Reddy at the CID regional office in Guntur city on Saturday , in connection with the attack on TDP State party office in Mangalagiri on October 19, 2021. Police mentioned his name as 127th accused in the attack on TDP State party office and took up investigation. Responding to the notice issued by the CID police, Alla Rama Krishna Reddy appeared for questioning at the CID Regional office in Guntur city. They questioned him in presence of his advocate. After the questioning, speaking to the media, the former MLA alleged that the TDP-led NDA government intentionally mentioned his name in the FIR to take revenge on him. He said there was no CC camera footage proof that he had participated in the attack.
