Latest news with #SpecialCourt
New Indian Express
4 days ago
- New Indian Express
Former ED officer in Bengaluru gets three-year jail for Rs 5 lakh bribe
BENGALURU: The Special Court for CBI Cases has sentenced a former Enforcement Officer of the Directorate of Enforcement (ED), Lalit Bazad, to three years of simple imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 5 lakh. Bazad was found guilty of extorting a bribe of Rs 5 lakh in exchange for defreezing the bank account of a finance firm under ED investigation for links to Chinese loan apps. 'While awarding the sentence, this court should bear in mind the expectations of society to prevent corruption in public office by providing prompt conviction and stern sentence,' observed Judge Manjunath Sangreshi, Principal Special Judge for CBI Cases. At the time of sentencing, Bazad was serving as an inspector in GST and Central Excise, Chennai Zone. The CBI had filed a charge sheet against him under Section 384 of the IPC and Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act. According to the CBI, on January 20 and 28, 2021, Mikhil Innani, Managing Director and CEO of M/s Apollo Finvest India Ltd., along with Diksha and Harish Innani, visited the ED office in Bengaluru. During this time, Bazad allegedly demanded Rs 50 lakh from Mikhil to close the case against Apollo Finvest. He also threatened to drag the case for at least 10 years and ruin the company's name and business if the amount was not paid. Eventually, Bazad managed to extort Rs 5 lakh, which was delivered by Manavendra Bhati on the night of February 9, 2021, at a pub in J.P. Nagar. The transaction was captured on CCTV.
The Print
6 days ago
- Politics
- The Print
Mumbai blasts acquittal must not set a precedent. It'll hurt both agencies and judiciary
The Mumbai train blasts case had been dismissed primarily on technical grounds, such as flawed identification of the accused by eyewitnesses and procedural irregularities in identification. The Bombay High Court also dismissed the evidence recovered from the accused, including RDX and other material like chemicals, books, maps, mobile phones, circuit boards, pressure cookers, Saudi currency, computer discs, cassettes, wires and other components like detonators. The material was found to have 'no evidentiary value' due to a complete failure to follow standard procedures. Ironically, the Bombay High Court chose to overlook important evidence only because 'standard procedures' were not followed. The Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) Special Court had sentenced five of the accused to death and seven to life imprisonment in 2015. Ten years later, the Bombay High Court acquitted all 12 convicted in the case. The court heard depositions by over 142 witnesses, including personnel from the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) and survivors of the bombing. It also studied voluminous reports before arriving at the verdict. Seven blasts ripped through Mumbai's crowded suburban railway network at peak hour on 11 July 2006, leaving 187 dead. The bombing also left hundreds maimed for life. Duty toward citizens The acquittal by the Bombay High Court exposes serious chinks in India's anti-terrorism armour. The Maharashtra government's appeal could lead to justice for the victims' families. On Thursday, the Supreme Court stayed the high court order since it could impact pending cases under MCOCA. However, the acquitted men are not required to return to prison. Both the investigation agencies and the courts have a duty towards the citizens. The motive, modus operandi, and the choice of the target must be thoroughly investigated. Terrorists often choose 'soft targets' with large crowds, ensuring greater damage and chaos. This also generates maximum media attention. Besides civilian and military targets, terrorists also target areas of economic importance like the stock market, banks, and industrial clusters. The attacks on the World Trade Centre, the London Underground, and the Taj Mahal Palace fall into this pattern. The choice may also depend on the demographic profile, aimed at targeting one particular community, triggering communal conflicts, and creating a schism in the social fabric. By targeting the busy train compartments, the terrorists' strategy in the Mumbai train blasts case was to draw maximum media attention and create a psychological impact. Also read: Pakistani accomplices, shootouts, sealed chargesheet—how the 7/11 blasts case fell apart Build a strong case What's unfortunate in the 2006 terror attack acquittals is how the court ruled the evidence presented by the Maharashtra ATS as unreliable, stating that the entire case was built on eyewitness accounts, recoveries of explosives, and confessional statements. Several other terror attack cases have been concluded by following these methods. So, it is surprising that the high court didn't find them worthy of legal scrutiny. At the same time, the court's observation on the shoddy handling of evidence should be taken note of, and the personnel responsible for this negligence should be penalised. Now that the Maharashtra government's challenge has led to a stay on the order, it should now see that the agencies build a foolproof case and put up a strong defence. Legal and procedural loopholes must not be allowed to frustrate its attempt to punish the culprits. It will be a huge blow to the country's anti-terrorism mechanism if this case becomes a precedent to decide other terror attack cases. Not only will it affect the morale of the agencies, but it will also hurt the judiciary's credibility. Seshadri Chari is the former editor of 'Organiser'. He tweets @seshadrichari. Views are personal. (Edited by Prasanna Bachchhav)
Washington Post
6 days ago
- Politics
- Washington Post
The next Iranian massacre is unfolding in plain sight
Stephen J. Rapp was chief of prosecutions at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda and the prosecutor of the Special Court for Sierra Leone. He served as U.S. ambassador at large for war crimes issues from 2009 to 2015. As a former international prosecutor, I am compelled to speak out against a pattern of escalating human rights violations in Iran, a pattern that evokes the darkest chapters of that country's history and demands a sustained international response. At stake is not only justice for the victims, but also the world's credibility in preventing mass atrocities.
Washington Post
21-07-2025
- Politics
- Washington Post
Albanian court begins corruption trial against former Prime Minister Sali Berisha
TIRANA, Albania — An Albanian court on Monday started the trial on corruption charges of former Prime Minister Sali Berisha , who leads the opposition Democratic Party. The trial for Berisha, 80, at the Special Court for Corruption and Organized Crime, which covers cases involving senior officials and politicians, also includes his son-in-law and three other people.
Time of India
19-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
ED begins Rs 63.52 crore restitution in Lamjingba Finance case
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel Directorate of Enforcement (ED), Imphal Sub Zonal has successfully started the process of restitution of confiscated properties in the case of Lamjingba Finance to the tune of Rs 63.52 Crore after getting the order from Special Court (PMLA), Imphal said order the claims of approximately 5000 gullible investors have been taken on record for restoration from attached properties, through auctioning and restituting the same to this case the ED has also filed a supplementary Prosecution Complaint before the Special Court (PMLA) praying for confiscation of Rs.1.87 Crore in movable and immovable properties which were earlier initiated investigation on the basis of seven FIRs registered by Manipur Police against Sanasam Jacky Singh , and other officials of Lamjingba Group of investigation revealed that Lamjingba Group of Companies headed by Sanasam Jacky Singh were operating a fraudulent 'investment/deposit scheme', that promised investors very high returns and as a result, cheated numerous gullible funds were used for acquisition of several properties. Sanasam Jacky Singh was arrested and his movable and immovable properties were attached. A Prosecution Complaint was filed on 20.03.2023 before the Special Court (PMLA) against Sanasam Jacky Singh, M. Robindro Singh and Lamjingba group ED in the complaint also prayed for confiscation of properties to the tune of Rs 63.52 Crore. Charges were framed against the this case, earlier 60 investors have filed petition before the Special Court (PMLA),Imphal East praying for restoration of attached Special Court (PMLA), Imphal East was pleased to pass an order on 21.03.2025 directing to publish notice in two newspapers inviting claims from interested persons for restitution of attached properties, as per 3(A) of Prevention of Money Laundering (Restoration of Property) Rules, 2016 and the same was published. Subsequently, approximately 5000 investors have submitted their claims before the Court. Further investigation is under progress.
