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The Wire
27-05-2025
- Politics
- The Wire
2020 Delhi Riots: Court Says WhatsApp Chats Cannot be Substantive Evidence in Murder Cases
Representative image of gavel and hammer. Photo: Sora Shimazaki/Pexels. Real journalism holds power accountable Since 2015, The Wire has done just that. But we can continue only with your support. Contribute Now New Delhi: A Delhi court has ruled that WhatsApp chats cannot be 'substantive evidence' and said that at best, such chats can be used as 'a corroborative piece of evidence'. The court made the ruling in relation to five murder cases lodged during the 2020 northeast Delhi riots. In all five cases, 12 accused were common and the prosecution had relied heavily on WhatsApp chats as evidence, reported Indian Express. The five cases are among nine cases which were filed for the murder of nine men, whose bodies were recovered a week after the riots. Till now, of the remaining four cases, one has ended in acquittal while trial is ongoing in the rest three. The Delhi Police had primarily relied on the chats of a WhatsApp group named 'Kattar Hindu Ekta' in all five cases. Multiple chargesheets also named this group. According to the chargesheet, one of the accused, Lokesh Solanki, allegedly wrote on the WhatsApp group: 'Your brother has killed 2 Muslim men at 9 o'clock.' Solanki's questioning had led to the arrest of other persons, who were eventually accused of the nine murders. 'Such posts may be put in the group solely with the intention of becoming a hero in the estimation of other members of the group. It could be a boast, without truth. Therefore, the relied upon chats cannot be substantive evidence to show that the accused… had actually killed two Muslim persons. These chats at the most could be used as a corroborative piece of evidence,' said additional sessions judge Pulastya Pramachala of Karkardooma Court while acquitting the accused. Earlier, the court had said in another judgement on April 30 that in connection with a case pertaining to the murder of one Hashim Ali, there were no eyewitnesses to the murder, and subsequently acquitted 12 accused. 'They (WhatsApp chats) cannot form the sole basis for conviction due to their inherent weaknesses and they must be supported by independent, reliable evidence,' the court had said. It added that except for one witness, no one else claimed to have seen the incident.
Borneo Post
17-05-2025
- Business
- Borneo Post
Velesto, SEDC to hold VIBES Innovation Challenge finals at Unimas May 20
The hackathon-style competition encourages students to develop innovative solutions addressing critical challenges in technology, sustainability, and industrial development. – Photo by Sora Shimazaki/Pexels KUCHING (May 17): Velesto Energy Berhad (Velesto) and the Sarawak Economic Development Corporation (SEDC) are set to host the highly anticipated VIBES Innovation Challenge semi-final and finals from May 20 to 21 at the Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Hall, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas). According to a statement, the hackathon-style competition encourages students to develop innovative solutions addressing critical challenges in technology, sustainability, and industrial development. Since its launch on March 24, the competition has attracted 151 participants forming 35 teams, all tasked with applying their academic knowledge to solve real-world problems. The VIBES Innovation Challenge offers a dynamic platform for students to transform their ideas into practical, actionable solutions. The initiative reflects Velesto's and SEDC's commitment to elevating educational quality, nurturing future workforce capabilities, and supporting Sarawak's vision for sustainable, knowledge-driven economic growth. Participants have benefited from ideation workshops, mentorship sessions, and expert assessments led by professionals from Velesto, SEDC, and Unimas, enhancing their skills in innovation and problem-solving. This competition is part of the broader VIBES initiatives, designed to cultivate local talent and foster innovation through hands-on STEM learning experiences. It aligns with Velesto's and SEDC's shared goal to strengthen Sarawak's innovation ecosystem by equipping future generations with the skills to tackle tomorrow's challenges. The closing ceremony will be officiated by Deputy Premier and Minister for International Trade, Industry, and Investment Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan. Also expected to attend are Velesto President Ir Ts Megat Zariman Abdul Rahim, SDEC General Manager Datu Abdul Hadi Datuk Abdul Kadir, and Unimas Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Ahmad Hata Rasit. This initiative, formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Dec 5, 2023, contributes to Sarawak's knowledge-driven growth. It also aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 4: Quality Education and Goal 17: Partnerships, emphasising the importance of multi-stakeholder collaboration in achieving impactful, sustainable outcomes. hackathon lead SEDC Unimas Velesto VIBES Innovation Challenge
