Latest news with #ProhibitionofImproperUse)Act
Indian Express
29-05-2025
- Indian Express
Non-existent crime wing, misuse of Union minister, ex-CJI's name: How duo defrauded job aspirants of Rs 25 lakh
Sometime in 2017-18, Chennai resident Na Vijayshankar received the news he had been waiting for. He was told that he had been 'appointed' as a director in the 'Karnataka State Anti-Corruption and Anti-Crime (ACAC) Wing'. For the purpose, Vijayshankar had made a payment of ₹1 lakh to two men, Reningston Sales and Vincent Raju, to 'facilitate' the appointment. While perusing his appointment letter, a particular line caught Vijayshankar's attention: It contained the name of a Minister for State purportedly 'intimating Chief Secretaries of all the States about the appointment of former CJI RM Lodha (Retired) as the President of ACAC Wing of India.' He ran a quick Google search. Turned out, no such wing existed. Realising that he had been duped, Vijayshankar reported the matter to the Central Vigilance Commission, which then forwarded the information to the CBI. Following a preliminary enquiry, an FIR was lodged against Sales and Raju in 2022. As per the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Vijayshankar was not the only one. With the same modus operandi, the accused had duped multiple people of a total amount of Rs 25 lakh. The duo, claimed the agency, also relied on a forged letter purportedly issued by a former President addressed to ex-CJI Lodha congratulating him for 'accepting the position of National President of ACAC Wing of India'. These forged documents were enough to coax multiple persons into giving the duo lakhs for the 'plum position' at ACAC, said officers. The officers said the accused, using forged documents, opened a bank account in which the money sent by various victims in the form of 'membership fee' of the wing was deposited. Officers said the accused took amounts ranging from Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,00,000 per membership for their victims. Rs 10.75 lakh from the total amount was withdrawn and diverted for personal use of the accused, they added. 'They had created a fake email ID in the name of which was used in commission of the offence. The recovery phone number in this email ID was found to belong to Mr. Reningston Sales (A-1). The information received from Google Inc also showed that fake email IDs were prepared from the same IP address of Mr. Reningston Sale (A-1),' alleged the CBI. A Zonal Office, at No. 44A, 18th Avenue, Ashok Nagar, Chennai, was given on rent to Raju, who had put up a board of 'ACAB' on his premises; Reningston Sales used to visit this address,' alleged the CBI as per the Court order. Their 'head office' in Paharganj existed only on paper. 'From the allegations in the charge sheet and the documents filed along with the charge sheet, there is sufficient material on record to take cognizance for commission of offences punishable under Section 120B r/w Section 420/471 IPC and Section 7 r/w Section 3 of the State Emblem of India (Prohibition of Improper Use) Act, 2005 and substantive offences thereof,' said Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Nishant Garg of Rouse Avenue Court in his order dated May 23. The court has summoned the accused persons to appear before it on August 22. Sales and Raju had earlier been granted anticipatory bail by the Delhi High Court.
Indian Express
26-04-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Karnataka High Court highlights misuse of flags and symbols, issues directions to implement regulations
The Karnataka High Court has taken note of the misuse of national symbols like the national flag by former parliamentarians and legislators, among others. The observations were made during an order passed by a division bench consisting of Chief Justice N V Anjaria and Justice M I Arun on April 4. The case in question was a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by the High Court Legal Services Committee. It sought the proper implementation of the Emblems and Names (Prevention of Improper Use) Act and the State Emblem of India (Prohibition of Improper Use) Act, along with the attendant rules, including those pertaining to motor vehicles. Observing the existing cases at the high court and Supreme Court levels, the bench observed that there was a tendency to misuse the symbols by former legislators and parliamentarians. The bench said, '…there is tendency amongst the constitutional authorities who are the former authorities no more in the office, the former Members of the Parliament or Ex-Legislators have been misusing the Emblem, Flags, Names, etc. by fixing them in their letter heads and the number plates of the vehicles. This conduct is both unfortunate and depreciable.' The bench also referred to the case of 'Mukachand Bothra vs Central Government', wherein an ex-MP had allegedly used a letter pad with the national emblem on it to file a police complaint. In this context, the high court issued directions to the State as well as the Ministries for Home Affairs, Road Transport, and Consumer Affairs to implement the relevant laws. The court also directed that a notice should be issued for the removal of unauthorised flags and emblems, while setting out programs to sensitise officials and authorities to prevent misuse. It was also recommended that schoolchildren and law students be involved in spreading awareness. The court also directed that the traffic police ought to be sensitised to spot such violations, and regulations framed to cancel driving licenses and impose fines on violators.
Time of India
24-04-2025
- Time of India
Karnataka high court orders crackdown on misuse of national emblems, symbols
Bengaluru: The Karnataka high court has directed both state and the central govts to strictly implement provisions of The Emblems and Names (Prevention of Improper Use) Act, 1950, and The Emblems and Names (Prevention of Improper Use) Rules, 1982, to prevent unauthorised use or misuse of national symbols and emblems at public places and on vehicles. Violators should be dealt with sternly by imposing fines, the court stated in a recent order. Disposing of a PIL filed by High Court Legal Services Committee, a division bench comprising Chief Justice NV Anjaria and Justice MI Arun ordered strict implementation of the State Emblem of India (Prohibition of Improper Use) Act, 2005, and The State Emblem of India (Regulation of Use) Rules, 2007, as well as the Rules of 2010 and all applicable provisions of the Central Motor Vehicle Rules, 1989, especially Rules 50 (pertaining to number plates) and 51 (provisions related to hire-purchase, lease, or hypothecation agreements), and Karnataka Motor Vehicle Rules, 1989, especially 145-A (prohibition of improper use of state emblem). You Can Also Check: Bengaluru AQI | Weather in Bengaluru | Bank Holidays in Bengaluru | Public Holidays in Bengaluru The bench said people and institutions are unauthorisedly using national emblems, govt and department names on roads and in other public spaces in contravention of Rule 10 of the State Emblem of India (Regulation of Use), 2007 and instructed law-enforcing agencies to immediately remedy the situation. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trade Bitcoin & Ethereum – No Wallet Needed! IC Markets Start Now Undo The bench said there is a tendency among former authorities, including former MPs and legislators, to misuse national emblems, flags and names, by fixing them on letterheads and number plates of vehicles. "This conduct is both unfortunate and depreciable. The misuse of symbols, seals, flags, emblems, and names must be countered for their illegal and unauthorised display at various places in various manners," the bench said. Authorities were told to issue notices through print and visual media, requesting people to remove unauthorised display of prohibited flags, emblems, names, symbols, stickers, seals, and logos of any kind within four weeks. It said implementing authorities must be directed to register cases under provisions of relevant Acts and rules wherever complaints regarding the misuse of national symbols and emblems are found correct. "Respondents should frame regulations to impose fines and cancellation of driving licences for violating the law on use of national emblems and symbols. Traffic police should be trained to observe and take penal action whenever they come across violations of this kind," the court stated while disposing of the PIL.
