Latest news with #Iyer-Mitra
Scroll.in
26-05-2025
- Climate
- Scroll.in
Rush Hour: Mumbai rains break 107-year record for May, Delhi HC summons Abhijit Iyer-Mitra, and more
We're building a brand-new studio to bring you bold ground reports, sharp interviews, hard-hitting podcasts, explainers and more. Support Scroll's studio fund today. Mumbai has received its highest rainfall for the month of May in 107 years. The India Meteorological Department has issued a red alert warning of extremely heavy rains in the city. The southwest monsoon arrived in Maharashtra on Sunday, in what was the earliest onset of the season in the state in 35 years. The department's Colaba observatory in South Mumbai has logged 295 mm so far this month, surpassing the previous high of 279.4 mm recorded in May 1918. Operations on Mumbai Metro Line 3, the city's first fully underground Metro corridor, were partially suspended after heavy rains flooded the under-construction Acharya Atre Chowk underground station. The second phase of the Metro line had been inaugurated just 17 days earlier. Heavy rainfall also lashed Kerala, prompting the weather agency to issue a red alert for 11 districts. The rains led to several residents being evacuated to relief camps and safer areas in the districts of Wayanad and Kozhikode. A holiday for educational institutions was declared in 10 districts of Kerala as a precautionary measure. Read on. The Assam Police detained several Muslim residents of the state on suspicion of being undocumented migrants from Bangladesh. Many of them were released more than 15 hours later, once their documents were verified. The detention drive was carried out mostly in the Muslim neighbourhoods of Guwahati, including Hatigaon, Sijubari, Ghoramara and Sonapur. While the police are yet to confirm the number of detentions, a senior official told Scroll that the 'number of people picked up is well below 100'. One of those detained, Hannan Ahmed, has a voter identity card and his name, along with those of his parents, is in the 2019 National Register of Citizens. Hannan was released by the police around 7 pm. This came against the backdrop of reports alleging that Indian authorities had forced persons, including Rohingya refugees, into Bangladesh and Myanmar. Read on. Newslaundry filed against him for making sexually abusive remarks about them. On May 21, Iyer-Mitra took down the remarks he had posted on social media between February and April after the High Court reprimanded him. Nevertheless, the plaintiffs told the court that they wanted to go ahead with the case, after which the summons were issued. Nine Newslaundry employees have filed a defamation suit seeking a public apology and Rs 2 crore in damages from Iyer-Mitra, a columnist at pro-Bharatiya Janata Party outlet OpIndia. Their lawyer told the court on Monday that although he took down the social media posts, he had shown 'absolutely no remorse'. More on Scroll. The National Investigation Agency has arrested a member of the Central Reserve Police Force for allegedly sharing sensitive information with Pakistani intelligence officials. A court in Delhi sent him to the custody of the agency till June 6. The National Investigation Agency accused the CRPF member, Assistant Sub-Inspector Moti Ram Jat, of passing on classified information to Pakistani intelligence officers, since 2023 in exchange for money. The Central Reserve Police Force dismissed the assistant sub-inspector from service following the allegations.
Scroll.in
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Scroll.in
Delhi HC summons commentator Abhijit Iyer-Mitra in ‘Newslaundry' defamation case
The Delhi High Court on Monday issued summons to commentator Abhijit Iyer-Mitra in a defamation case filed by women employees of digital news outlet Newslaundry for making sexually abusive remarks about them, Live Law reported. On May 21, Iyer-Mitra took down the remarks he had posted on social media between February and April after the High Court reprimanded him. On Monday, the court briefly put the matter on hold to allow the plaintiffs' lawyer to confirm whether they wanted to go ahead with the case. Once the lawyer said that they did, the court formally issued a summons to the commentator, Live Law said. The court was hearing the defamation suit filed by nine employees of Newslaundry seeking a public apology and Rs 2 crore in damages from Iyer-Mitra, a columnist at pro-Bharatiya Janata Party outlet OpIndia. The nine staff members that have filed the defamation plea are: Manisha Pande, Ishita Pradeep, Suhasini Biswas, Sumedha Mittal, Tista Roy Chowdhury, Tasneem Fatia, Priya Jain, Jayashree Arunachalam and Priyali Dhingra, Live Law said. Newslaundry is also one of the plaintiffs in the suit. During the hearing on Monday, Senior Advocate Percival Billimoria, representing Iyer-Mitra, informed the court that the posts in question had been taken down. However, Advocate Bani Dikshit, appearing for the Newslaundry journalists, argued that there was " absolutely no remorse," adding that Iyer-Mitra was still engaging with the post and "writing poetically." Billimoria also urged the court to dismiss the defamation suit with costs and called for an investigation into Newslaundry, Bar and Bench reported. However, the court made it clear that the matter at hand was limited to Iyer-Mitra's social media posts. 'We are only confined to the posts. If you have any other grievance, please take it up elsewhere,' the High Court said. Billimoria also criticised the news platform, calling it 'one of the most insidious news channels' and accused it of making comments about the Prime Minister's relationship with his Italian counterpart. The court responded, 'You must understand where the Laxman Rekha lies. When a post becomes defamatory, they have the right to return to court.' During the earlier hearing, the Delhi High Court had refused to hear Iyer-Mitra until he took down the social media posts in question. Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav warned that he would order a first information report against Iyer-Mitra if he fails to remove the posts. Case against Iyer-Mitra In its suit, Newslaundry has said that Iyer-Mitra, through a series of social media posts, had 'falsely and maliciously' targeted the news outlet's women employees using derogatory language and slurs. The complainants argued that Iyer-Mitra's posts were made 'knowingly and deliberately' with the intent to harm the dignity and reputation of the employees. Iyer-Mitra's comments are 'not an aspect of free speech or journalistic criticism', said the employees. 'They are sexist slurs aimed at humiliating women professionals,' they added. 'They directly attack their dignity and right to work without fear or sexual harassment.'
Scroll.in
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Scroll.in
Rush Hour: Ashoka professor granted interim bail, Tamil Nadu moves SC against Centre and more
We're building a brand-new studio to bring you bold ground reports, sharp interviews, hard-hitting podcasts, explainers and more. The Supreme Court has granted interim bail to Ashoka University Associate Professor Ali Khan Mahmudabad for his comments about the press briefings on Operation Sindoor. The court also instructed the Haryana Police to form a special investigation team to look into the meaning of the words used by Mahmudabad. The associate professor, who heads the political science department at the university, was arrested on Sunday after being booked in two cases for his social media posts highlighting the apparent irony of Hindutva commentators praising Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, who represented the Army during the media briefings about the Indian military operation. Mahmudabad suggested that they should also call for justice for victims of mob lynching and 'others who are victims of the Bharatiya Janata Party's hate mongering'. The top court has barred him from posting or publishing any content related to the social media posts under scrutiny. Read on. After being reprimanded by the Delhi High Court, commentator Abhijit Iyer-Mitra has said that he will take down social media posts in which he made allegedly sexually abusive remarks about women employees of digital news outlet Newslaundry. The court warned that it would order a first information report against Iyer-Mitra if he failed to remove the posts. The women employees of Newslaundry have filed a defamation suit against Iyer-Mitra, a columnist at pro-Narendra Modi outlet OpIndia. They have sought a public apology and Rs 2 crore in damages, alleging that Iyer-Mitra had 'falsely and maliciously' targeted the news outlet's women employees using derogatory language and slurs through a series of social media posts between February and April. Read on. The Tamil Nadu government has approached the Supreme Court, accusing the Union government of blocking funds under the Samagra Shiksha Scheme for the financial year 2024-'25. In its petition, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam-led state government alleged that the Centre's move was linked to its refusal to implement the 2020 National Education Policy, the PM SHRI Schools scheme and its opposition to the three-language formula, which includes Hindi. The state has argued that the Union government's actions violate constitutional principles on the right to equality, right to life and the right to free and compulsory education, among others, as well as the statutory framework of the Right to Education Act. Read on. Twenty-seven suspected Maoists were killed in a gunfight with security forces in Chhattisgarh's Abujhmad region, the police said. A member of the District Reserve Guard was also killed in the exchange of fire. The gunfight took place near Boter village in the hilly Abujhmad forest, which spans the Narayanpur, Bijapur and Dantewada districts. According to the police, several senior Maoist leaders are believed to be among those killed or seriously injured. This pushes the toll of suspected Maoists killed in security operations this year to over 185. In 2024, 217 suspected Maoists were killed by security forces.
NDTV
21-05-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
Abhijit Iyer-Mitra Given 5 Hours To Delete Defamatory Newslaundry Posts
New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Wednesday warned political commentator Abhijit Iyer-Mitra that it would order an FIR against him if he failed to take down allegedly defamatory posts targeting Newslaundry Executive Editor Manisha Pande and eight other women journalists. The court granted him five hours to comply. The posts, made on X (formerly Twitter) between February and May 2025, were described by the court as "not permissible in any civilised society". The court said it was inclined to pass an interim order but paused proceedings after Mr Iyer-Mitra's counsel assured that the tweets would be removed within the specified time. A single-judge bench made the observations during the hearing of a civil defamation suit filed by the journalists. The complainants have alleged that Mr Iyer-Mitra referred to them as "prostitutes" and described their workplace, Newslaundry, as a "brothel". The posts are at the centre of a legal action demanding a written apology and Rs 2 crore in damages. "These kind of languages, whatever may be background, can these kind of language against women be permissible in the society?" the court remarked during the proceedings. "We perhaps as a constitutional court, may direct suo motu registration of a criminal FIR against the defendant and take him into custody," the court warned, adding, "If this is the kind of language, then why are you not removing it?" The court expressed dissatisfaction that the offensive material had not been removed by the time of the hearing, despite earlier notices and the nature of the content. The submissions made in court on behalf of Mr Iyer-Mitra came from advocate Jai Anant Dehadrai, who stated that his client had points to raise. At the same time, Mr Dehadrai conceded that "the choice of words could have been avoided". Mr Dehadrai told the court that the defendant would take down the offensive posts within five hours.
Scroll.in
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Scroll.in
Commentator Abhijit Iyer-Mitra agrees to take down posts about women employees of ‘Newslaundry'
Commentator Abhijit Iyer-Mitra on Wednesday said that he will take down social media posts in which he made allegedly sexually abusive remarks about women employees of digital news outlet Newslaundry, after being reprimanded by the Delhi High Court, Live Law reported. Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav warned that it would order a first information report against Iyer-Mitra if he fails to remove the posts that were made between February and April. The court said that it will not proceed with hearing Iyer-Mitra's arguments in the matter unless the posts were taken down. In response, Iyer-Mitra's counsel said the posts would be removed within five hours. During the hearing, the court asked verbally: 'These kind of languages, whatever may be background, can these kind of language against women permissible in society?' The matter will be heard again next week. The High Court was hearing a defamation suit filed by employees of Newslaundry seeking a public apology and Rs 2 crore in damages from Iyer-Mitra, a columnist at pro-Narendra Modi outlet OpIndia. In their suit, they stated that Iyer-Mitra, through a series of social media posts, had 'falsely and maliciously' targeted the news outlet's women employees using derogatory language and slurs. The complainants argued that Iyer-Mitra's posts were made 'knowingly and deliberately' with the intent to harm the dignity and reputation of the employees. Iyer-Mitra's comments are 'not an aspect of free speech or journalistic criticism', said the employees. 'They are sexist slurs aimed at humiliating women professionals,' they added. 'They directly attack their dignity and right to work without fear or sexual harassment.' Advocate Bani Dixit, representing the complainants, said that the plaintiffs were journalists from all walks of life, Bar and Bench reported. 'These are defamatory articles outside the bounds of criticism,' Dixit argued. 'These are all working women."
