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Indian Express
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Punjab set to bring another legislation on sacrilege, special Assembly session likely next week
Seven years after former chief minister Amarinder Singh's government passed two Bills providing for stricter punishment against sacrilege, the Punjab government is slated to bring another legislation punishing acts of sacrilege in a two-day special session of Vidhan Sabha likely to be convened on July 10 and 11. Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) spokesperson Neel Garg said on Saturday that the government would bring a 'historic legislation' for stricter punishment against those guilty of sacrilege. He added, 'The Centre should have done it. However, the AAP government is bringing it in Punjab as it understands the emotions of the people of the state.' Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has already called a Cabinet meeting on Monday to summon the special session. The government's decision to bring legislation reportedly stems from a silent protest by Gurjeet Singh in Samana, who has been protesting atop an overhead water tank since October 2024. He has been demanding the death penalty for those found guilty of sacrilege. CM Mann had on Sunday announced that the state government will introduce legislation to ensure harsher punishment for acts of sacrilege against religious scriptures or holy granths (books). He made the announcement while he was chairing a meeting with officers and representatives of the Sarb Dharam Beadbi Rokko Kanoon Morcha at his official residence. Sources said that the government was concerned about Gurjeet Singh. It is learnt that Chief Secretary KAP Sinha told the CM that if something happened to Gurjeet Singh, it could create a law and order situation in the state. The issue of sacrilege at Bargari had snowballed into a major law and order situation during the SAD-BJP regime in October 2015. A source said that the government was making sure that Gurjeet Singh was being supplied food, water and other necessities atop the water tank. In the meeting, Mann had stated that Punjab is a 'sacred land' of great gurus, saints, and seers who have shown the path of 'mutual love and tolerance'. He claimed that the state government is firmly committed to ensuring 'exemplary punishment' for the perpetrators of sacrilege incidents. The government is bringing the legislation on sacrilege even as the two older Bills on sacrilege are pending with the Centre. These two Bills were passed by the Punjab Assembly in 2018, during former CM Amarinder Singh's regime. The Centre had termed Punjab's amendments to the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) to give life imprisonment to sacrilege accused as a 'harsher punishment'. Mann had written to Union Home Minister Amit Shah in 2023 for getting the President's assent on the two Bills. The chief minister had stated that the government would consult leading legal experts to ensure that a robust state legislation is enacted – one that prevents offenders from evading strict consequences, including the possibility of capital punishment for such crimes. He expressed concern over 'existing legal loopholes' that allow individuals guilty of such acts to walk free, calling it completely unwarranted and unacceptable. The CM had stated that every person involved in sacrilegious acts, either directly or indirectly, will face exemplary punishment. Mann said that it is the 'bounden duty' of the state government to ensure that these 'dreaded criminals' are held accountable for their actions. He added that the state government would consult all stakeholders, including religious organisations, in drafting the legislation. The CM had highlighted that while the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita provides clear provisions regarding religious places, it remains silent on holy granths. However, he said that as the subject falls under the concurrent list, the state has the authority to enact such legislation, and legal opinions will be sought accordingly. Mann had said that this process would be completed shortly to assuage the sentiments of the general public.
Time of India
4 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
Nehal Modi, fugitive Nirav Modi's brother wanted in PNB fraud case, arrested in the US
Nehal Modi , brother of fugitive diamond trader Nirav Modi , has been arrested in the United States in connection with the multi-billion-dollar Punjab National Bank ( PNB ) fraud case. His arrest was carried out on July 4 following extradition requests filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), according to the US Department of Justice. Indian authorities have been seeking Nehal Modi's extradition on serious charges of money laundering and criminal conspiracy linked to the country's largest-ever banking scam. He is alleged to have played a central role in helping Nirav Modi launder proceeds of the fraud, routing illicit funds through shell companies and offshore transactions. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like New Mobile Stair Lifts Require No Installation - Prices May Surprise You Stair Lift | Search Ads Learn More Undo According to the complaint filed by US prosecutors, the extradition is being pursued on two counts: one under Section 3 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, and another under Sections 120-B and 201 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) for criminal conspiracy and destruction of evidence. Nehal Modi is accused of aiding in concealing and transferring proceeds of crime through an international network of entities, in violation of Indian financial laws. His brother Nirav Modi, the primary accused in the PNB case, is currently facing extradition proceedings in the United Kingdom. Live Events The next hearing in Nehal Modi's extradition case is scheduled for July 17, 2025. A status conference will be held on that date, where he may seek bail — a move the US prosecution has already said it intends to oppose. The PNB scam, estimated at over $2 billion, involved fraudulent Letters of Undertaking issued by the bank to companies linked to Nirav Modi and his associates, sparking one of the largest crackdowns on financial crime in India's history.
Time of India
4 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
Nehal Modi arrested in US: Fugitive Nirav Modi's brother held on ED, CBI plea; wanted in PNB scam case
Nehal Modi Nirav Modi's brother Nehal Modi, who is also implicated in the PNB scam case, has been taken into custody in the USA following extradition requests submitted by the ED and CBI on counts of money laundering and criminal conspiracy. The brother of fugitive economic offender Nirav Modi was arrested by US authorities on July 4, according to information given by the United States Department of Justice. The arrest occurred pursuant to an extradition request jointly submitted by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). According to the complaint filed by the US prosecution, extradition proceedings are being pursued on two counts: one count of money laundering under Section 3 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) 2002, and one count of criminal conspiracy under Sections 120-B and 201 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Nehal Modi is sought by Indian authorities in connection with the multi-billion-dollar Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud case, one of the largest banking scams in the nation's history. Investigations conducted by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) identified Nehal Modi as a key figure in laundering criminal proceeds on behalf of Nirav Modi, who is also facing extradition from the UK. Nehal is alleged to have assisted in concealing and transferring substantial illicit funds through a network of shell companies and overseas transactions, violating Indian laws. The next hearing date for the extradition proceedings is scheduled for 17 July 2025, when a status conference will be held. He may apply for bail during this session, which the US prosecution has stated it will oppose.
New Indian Express
10 hours ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Ajithkumar custodial murder exposes systemic brutality and impunity: Advocate
Legal vacuum and inadequate safeguards A core reason for the escalation of custodial violence is the glaring lack of comprehensive anti-torture legislation in India, which is yet to ratify the United Nations Convention Against Torture. The Prevention of Torture Bill, 2010, introduced to specifically punish torture by public servants, languishes, unpassed by Parliament. Critically, Indian law, including the new BNS, lacks a proper legal definition of 'torture,' relying on broader offences under the IPC which are often insufficient. While Article 21 of the Constitution (Right to Life) has been interpreted by the courts to include protection from torture, and landmark guidelines were issued by the Supreme Court in the D K Basu case (mandating procedures during arrest and detention and addressing custodial crimes and compensation, etc.), judicial intervention often culminates only in monetary compensation, falling short of complete justice and criminal accountability.
Hindustan Times
10 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Undressing woman for sexual assault amounts to attempt to rape: Allahabad HC
The Lucknow bench of the Allahabad high court has observed that undressing a woman in a bid to rape her amounts to the offence of attempt to rape under Section 511 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The court noted that it was proved by the prosecution that the victim was forcibly kidnapped by the appellant with the intention of raping her. (REPRESENTATIVE IMAGE) Justice Rajnish Kumar passed the judgment on July 1, rejecting an appeal filed by a convict in the offence of attempt to rape a victim. Since the case is from 2004, it was decided as per IPC and now the appeal has been adjudicated by the high court. Also Read | Kolkata gang rape: Crime scene reconstruction done over 4 hours as accused taken to law college In this case, one Pradeep Kumar in 2004 had forcibly abducted the victim and kept her confined to a house for nearly 20 days. Later, he had attempted to rape her by undressing her. He was convicted by the trial court and sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment. The convict had filed an appeal against the verdict but the high court upheld the decision of the trial court. The prosecution had alleged that the accused Pradeep Kumar forcibly took the victim in a van, confined her to a relative's house for about 20 days and during that time, he undressed her and attempted to sexually assault her. However, he failed to commit the offence of rape due to her resistance, the prosecution added. The court noted that it was proved by the prosecution that the victim was forcibly kidnapped by the appellant with the intention of raping her. Also Read | Pune techie's rape accused was her friend; she took selfie, typed threat: Police 'He with the said motive kept her at the residence of his relative for about 20 days, where he not only outraged the modesty of the victim but also attempted rape by undressing her. However, he could not commit intercourse on account of her protest. The victim has stated that the appellant had done bad work with her. The victim reiterated and supported the statement given under Section 164 CrPC before the magistrate in her evidence during trial also,' the court observed. The court relied on several Supreme Court judgments in which it was held that the removal of the victim's clothes by the accused constitutes an attempt to rape. Also Read | 'Forced to undergo sex change' by friend, man alleges rape, extortion, 'black magic' in MP It also dismissed the appellant's contention that the delay in filing the complaint weakened the prosecution's case, noting that the delay had been adequately explained. The high court further rejected the argument that the accused was falsely implicated due to enmity, stating that the appellant had failed to substantiate this claim.
