Latest news with #PreventionofAtrocities)Act
Time of India
12 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Accused cops in Ambasamudram case in active duty; fast-track cases, say activists
Madurai: Human rights activists in Madurai have condemned the continued service of police personnel, including a serving IPS officer, who were allegedly involved in the 2023 Ambasamudram custodial torture case. Under the banner of Joint Action Against Custodial Torture (JAACT) - Tamil Nadu, the activists on Saturday pointed out that unlike the recent Ajith Kumar custodial death case, where swift action was taken, no arrests were made in the Ambasamudram case, and all accused officers remain in active duty. They demanded fast-tracking of all pending custodial torture and death cases and sought compensation for victims and their families. Henri Tiphagne, advisor, JAACT, noted that Balveer Singh IPS and 13 other police personnel in his team were booked in four different cases of custodial torture and all are pending before court. "After placing Balveer Singh under compulsory wait and then suspended, in Jan 2024, the Tamil Nadu govt revoked his suspension. Now, he receives his full salary and since March 2024, he has been serving as assistant commandant (ASP), Tamil Nadu Special VIII Battalion in Tihar Jail, New Delhi. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like No annual fees for life UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo He is being protected and kept safe in a place away from Tamil Nadu," he said. Tiphagne also pointed out that since the first hearing in the JM court No 1, Tirunelveli, held on Dec 13, 2023, Singh has appeared for only 10 of the 22 hearings held so far, with the trial yet to begin. The JAACT also condemned that IAS officer P Amudha's interim report on the case was made public and submitted in court but her final report has not yet been furnished despite a Sept 2023 high court order. "We are to initiate contempt proceedings against Amudha regarding the matter. We also want to point out that the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act which was there in the original FIR, was removed in the charge sheet, merely because Balveer Singh belongs to the scheduled tribe status though his other co-accused are from the backward castes. The SC/ST Act can still be invoked against other accused. This clearly amounts to 'institutional cheating and suppression of material facts' in an investigation by the CBCID," added Tiphagne. The JAACT also demanded for all victims to be provided compensation and apology as they are victims of gross police torture. "The high court must fast-track all pending cases of custodial torture and custodial deaths and in turn ensure that its registrars and the Legal Services Authority also periodically monitor such cases of custodial torture and deaths. There can be a special court for all cases of torture, namely, in the designated district human rights court, under the Protection of Human Rights Act with day to day trials being foreseen so that speedy trial assured in practice," they stated.
Time of India
16 hours ago
- Time of India
Man held for dowry torture, assault in S'garh
Rourkela: A man was arrested in Sundargarh district on Friday night on charges of torturing his wife for dowry and assaulting her. The accused was identified as Prasant Maharana (36) of Bileigarh Bheluapada village. Police said Prasant's wife came to know about his relationship with another woman which triggered marital discord. Prasant had developed a relationship with a 34-year-old tribal woman from Kutra area four years ago. The couple got married on Feb 16, 2022. However, after marriage, the woman continued to live at her parents' home while Prasant stayed separately. Recently, Prasant's wife came to know that her husband was having an affair with another girl of Rourkela. When she confronted Prasant, he avoided her. Subsequently, she lodged an FIR against her husband in Kutra police station on Thursday night. Acting on the FIR, Kutra police detained Prasant on Friday and interrogated him. Police arrested him on Friday night on charges of dowry torture, assault and under SC & ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
India.com
a day ago
- India.com
Lucknow School Van Driver Held For Alleged Digital Rape Of 4-Year-Old Girl
A 4-year-old girl was allegedly digitally raped by her school van driver in Lucknow's Indiranagar area, police said on Saturday. What is digital rape? 'Digital rape' refers to the non-consensual penetration of a person's private parts with fingers or toes. In this context, 'digital' means the digits of the hand or foot, rather than having any connection to technology. Police Action The accused, identified as Mohd Arif, has been arrested, ANI reported, quoting DCP (East) Shashank Singh. The incident reportedly took place on July 14. According to the FIR, Arif also threatened the child's family with death if they approached authorities. Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh | A 4-year-old girl was digital raped allegedly by her school van driver in Lucknow. DCP (East) Shashank Singh says that FIR has been registered and accused driver, Mohd Arif has been arrested. Picture of the accused, Mohd Arif released by the Police. — ANI (@ANI) July 19, 2025 School manager Sandeep Kumar has also been named as an accused, and sections of the BNS, POCSO Act, and the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act have been invoked. The FIR also states that the driver threatened the child's family with death if they approached the Police. Mother's Account of the Incident According to the child's mother, she discovered the crime after her daughter complained of pain. "The school had provided me with the van... My child complained of pain in her private parts... On examination, I found that she had suffered an injury," the mother of the child said. The child's mother alleged that the school administration initially tried to downplay the incident and discouraged complaints, claiming it would harm the child's future and the school's reputation. "I complained to the principal, who said she would talk about it. When I took the child to the doctor, the doctor said that whatever the child had said was done to her and something was inserted in her private parts. The school said that complaining would ruin the child's future and the school's reputation, after which they suggested of collectively complaining about the driver," ANI quoted the child's mother as saying. #WATCH | Lucknow | On 4-year-old girl digital raped by school van driver, mother of the victim says, "The school had provided me with the van... My child complained of pain in her private parts... On examination, I found that she had suffered an injury. I complained to the… — ANI (@ANI) July 19, 2025 The child's mother alleged that her family was threatened with abduction and subjected to caste-based abuse when they confronted the driver and the school management. "I waited for two days but no action was taken by the school and the driver called again to pick the child for school. When we confronted him, he harassed us in front of the school and made casteist remarks. We were threatened with abduction, even the school also asked us not to complain. I have all the proof," the mother of the child said. The victim's mother said that the police have registered an FIR and conducted a medical examination of her child. She added that the case will be heard in the High Court today.
Indian Express
2 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Karnataka High Court recalls order quashing caste atrocity case against Infosys co-founder Kris Gopalakrishnan, IISc officials
The Karnataka High Court Thursday recalled its earlier order that had quashed proceedings under the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, initiated against Infosys co-founder S Kris Gopalakrishnan and several Indian Institute of Science (IISc) officials, including Director Govindan Rangarajan and Registrar Sridhar Warrier. Justice S R Krishna Kumar passed the recall order after the complainant, Dr D Sanna Durgappa, a former IISc professor, submitted that the earlier ruling was passed without hearing his side. The court observed that the complainant and his counsel were not present – either physically or via video conferencing – on April 16, when a co-ordinate bench had allowed the petition by the accused and quashed the First Information Report (FIR). 'Learned senior counsel for petitioners would not dispute that… the respondent no 1 or his counsel were not present… and that they were not heard on that day,' the court noted. 'In that view of the facts and circumstances, without expressing any opinion… and in order to provide one more opportunity to respondent no 1 to make submissions on the merits of the matter, I deem it just and appropriate to recall the final order,' Justice Krishna Kumar stated. The matter has been restored for hearing on August 7, with the interim stay on proceedings extended until then. The case involves allegations of caste-based discrimination, wrongful dismissal, and threats made by senior IISc officials and members of its Governing Council. Apart from Gopalakrishnan – Chairman of the IISc Council since 2022 – others named in the FIR include Sandya Vishwswaraih, Hari K V S, Dasappa, Balaram P, Hemalata Mhishi, Chattopadyaya K, Pradeep D Sawkar, and Manoharan. The matter stems from a private complaint filed by former IISc assistant professor Dr Durgappa, who hails from a Scheduled Caste group. He alleged that he was falsely implicated in a 2014 honey trap case, following which he was terminated from service in 2015. He also claimed caste-based abuse and threats by IISc faculty and legal representatives. The termination was legally challenged, but a settlement was reached, converting it into a resignation. Dr Durgappa received terminal benefits and agreed to withdraw related complaints pending before bodies like the National Commission for Scheduled Castes. Despite this, he filed two more complaints in 2016 and 2017 under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, which the high court quashed, noting that the allegations were an attempt to give a 'criminal colour to a civil dispute.' In 2025, he filed a third complaint with similar charges and fresh allegations against two IISc legal representatives. This led to the registration of an FIR, which the high court had quashed on April 16, stating the claims did not constitute offences under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and amounted to 'vexatious litigation.' Justice Hemant Chandangoudar had termed the FIR 'an abuse of the legal process' and permitted the petitioners to approach the Advocate General for initiating criminal contempt proceedings against Dr Durgappa. With Thursday's order, the matter is now restored for fresh hearing, giving the complainant an opportunity to present his case.
Hans India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Hans India
Telangana High Court dismisses SC/ST Atrocity case against CM Revanth Reddy
In a significant legal development, the High Court has dismissed the SC and ST atrocity case filed against Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy. The case was opened at the Gachibowli police station following a complaint lodged in 2016 by a man named Peddiraju, who alleged that Reddy and his relatives attempted to encroach on society land. The case, which also included charges against Reddy's brother, Kondal Reddy, and another individual named Lakshmaiah, was initiated under the SC and ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Revanth Reddy filed a petition in the High Court in 2020, seeking to have the case dismissed. Following a comprehensive hearing on the matter, the court reserved its judgment after concluding arguments from both parties on 20 June. The final ruling was delivered on Thursday, 17 July. In his remarks, the presiding judge stated that investigations revealed Reddy was not present at the scene of the alleged incident and noted a lack of substantial evidence to corroborate the complainant's allegations. Consequently, the court dismissed the case against the Chief Minister.
