Former Goa Minister Pacheco accused in death of Nadia still at large

June 11, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Panaji, June 11 (ANI): The prime suspect in Nadia Torrado”s mysterious death case, Goa’s former Tourism Minister Mickky Pacheco is still on the run.

On Thursday, a sessions court in Goa rejected Pacheco”s anticipatory bail petition.

The Goa Police is seeking Pacheco”s custody to question him on the charges of destroying evidence and culpable homicide not amounting to murder.

Police have registered a case against Pacheco under sections 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) and 201(causing disappearance of evidence of offence) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

Pacheco is now likely to approach the Bombay High Court with the anticipatory bail plea. (ANI)

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Tees Hazari Court dismisses Madhuri Gupta”s bail plea

May 21, 2010 By Leave a Comment

New Delhi, May 21 (ANI): A Tees Hazari Court on Friday dismissed the bail plea of Indian Diplomat Madhuri Gupta, who was arrested on charges of spying for Pakistan”s intelligence agencies.

She was earlier sent to 14-day judicial custody on May 1.

Gupta, who was posted in Indian High Commission in Pakistan, faces serious charges of having links with Pakistan”s ISI.

She is believed to have leaked the names of India”s undercover agents in Pakistan to the ISI.

However, sources say she might not have leaked any sensitive information, as she did not have access to it. (ANI)

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Jharkhand court rejects Koda’s bail plea

May 14, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Ranchi, May 14 (ANI): A special vigilance court rejected a bail petition of former Jharkhand Chief Minister Madhu Koda here on Friday.

Koda is currently in judicial custody.

He was arrested on November 30, 2009 in connection with a disproportionate assets case.

Judge Binoy Kant Khan has dismissed the petition filed by Koda.

Koda’s arrest came following a report filed by social worker Durga Oraon.

Oraon moved vigilance cell accusing Koda and some of his ex-cabinet members of acquiring wealth beyond their known sources of income.

He has also named former Jharkhand ministers–Enos Ekka, Harinarayan Rai and Kamlesh Singh.

All of these are under judicial custody along with Koda.

Koda is also facing illegal investment and money laundering charges running into several crores of rupees.

The Income Tax (IT) Department and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) are jointly investigating the case.

On Tuesday, the Supreme Court has stayed vigilance and enforcement inquiries against Binod Kumar, a businessman alleged to be involved along with Koda in the Rs 2,000-crore hawala and illegal investments scam.

A three judge Bench of the apex court also issued notice to the Jharkhand Government in this regard.

The order came on a petition filed by Kumar challenging the Jharkhand High Court’s refusal, through separate orders passed from May 2009 to April 2010, to delete his name from the list of accused persons under investigation for their suspected roles in the scam and their disproportionate assets. (ANI)

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Ex-Karnataka minister Halappa”s bail plea in court today

May 11, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Shimoga, May 11 (ANI): The bail plea of former Karnataka minister Hartal Halappa who was arrested on charges of rape, will come up for hearing in the High Court today.

On Monday, his judicial custody was extended till May 24.

After his arrest on Sunday, Halappa was moved to a hospital after he complained of chest pain.

The charges against him include rape, intimidation, unlawful restraint and confinement. Halappa has denied the charges, accusing his political rivals of trying to malign him.

Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa had on May 3 announced a CID probe after Halappa resigned on May 2 following a Kannada media report on the alleged incident that took place in November 2009.

Chandravati, the alleged rape victim, filed the complaint. She, her husband Venkatesh Murthy and a lawyer called on State Director General of Police Ajay Kumar Singh at his residence and filed a report against the minister.

She filed a complaint under Section 376 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

Murthy also released a CD to media, which contains visuals of Halappa in his house. (ANI)

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Ruchika case: Chandigarh court to take up Rathore bail plea

May 3, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Chandigarh, May 3 (ANI): The bail plea of former Haryana Police chief SPS Rathore, will come up before sessions court in Chandigarh on Monday.

Rathore was sentenced to six months in jail for molesting 16-year-old Ruchika Girhotra.

He had moved the plea against the sentence and his conviction.

Sixty-eight -year-old Rathore, a 1965 batch IPS officer, who retired in 2002, was awarded the sentence by a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court on December 22, 2009, for molesting Ruchika, a budding tennis player, in 1990.

Ruchika committed suicide three years later on December 28, 1993, and died the following day.

Subsequently Rathore was booked in two other criminal cases after Ruchika”s father Subhash Chander Girhotra and his son Ashu filed two fresh complaints against Rathore accusing him of attempt to murder, wrongful confinement and forging of the post-mortem report of the victim.

In April, Rathore returned his Police Medal, almost three weeks after he was ordered by the Centre to do so. (ANI)

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Tainted godman resigns as ”Dhyanapeetam Ashram” head

March 30, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Bangalore, Mar 30 (ANI): Self-proclaimed godman Swami Nityananda, who was reportedly under the scanner ever since a video of him in a compromising position with Tamil actress Ranjitha surfaced, on Tuesday announced his decision to step down as the chief of the ”Dhyanapeetam Ashram” and all other trusts associated with it.

Addressing his followers on his official website, Nityananda said, “I have decided to live a life of spiritual seclusion, for some indefinite time and to enable the Dhyanapeetam to function with such amended agenda as may be necessary.”

“I am resigning as the head of the Dhyanapeetam and from all the trusts associated with it,” he added.

Swami Nityananda, who is facing criminal cases including that of rape further said, “In view of the developments in the last three weeks following the media reports about me as the head of Dhyanapeetam, I had met some of the leading acharyas of Hindu Dharma at Haridwar Kumbh Mela,” adding that he had briefed them about the truth.

“Candidly discussing what had happened, I had sought their spiritual and moral support, guidance for me, and their views on the future course of Dhyanapeetam. I had also undertaken that I would act entirely in accordance with their counsel,” he claimed.

The Karnataka High Court has turned down the godman”s bail plea for anticipatory bail.

The court had on March 24 ordered the state police to produce all documents relating to the cases filed against Swami Nithyananda, who is facing allegations of involvement in a sex scandal.

Following a petition by the swami seeking to quash the cases, justice Arali Nagaraj issued a notice to the Bidadi police, directing them to produce all documents and records concerning the various criminal cases, including rape, registered against the godman.

The swami had filed a writ petition in the high court, challenging the first information report (FIR) registered against him by the Bidadi police. Besides asking the court to quash the FIR, he had also sought a stay on all the other proceedings against him. Nithyananda had contended that as per the provisions of the law, only the sufferers could file complaints, and not a third party.

The petition contended that Karuppa Lenin, a former disciple and driver of the swami, had conspired to defame the religious institution by levelling charges against him.

The Chennai police had lodged various cases against the godman, including rape, under the Indian Penal Code after Lenin filed a complaint against him on March 3. The Ramanagaram police had, in turn, handed over the case to the CID.

In his petition, Nithyanananda submitted that prima facie, no complaint had been filed by any victim or aggrieved person and Lenin”s complaint was governed by an ulterior motive. It was unfortunate that an act aimed at assassinating the character of the swami had been glorified by the media, it added. (ANI)

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Shopian Case: J and K High court grants bail to four cops

September 12, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Srinagar, Sep.11 (ANI): The Jammu and Kashmir High Court on Friday granted bail to four policemen who were accused of having a role in the controversial Shopian murder case.

The policemen-Former Superintendent of Police of Shopian Javed Iqbal Mattoo, Deputy Superintendent of Police Rohit Baskota, Station House Officer Shopian Shafiq Ahmed and Sub-inspector Gazi Abdul Rehman-were released on payment of a bond of Rs.50, 000 each. The four had been accused of destroying evidence related to the case.

Last month, the Jammu and Kashmir Government had decided to hand over the controversial rape and murder case involving two women to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

The State Cabinet unanimously took the decision hours after opposition parties created an uproar in the State Assembly alleging tampering of DNA test reports in the case.

Friday’s granting of bail came almost a month after the same court rejected an earlier bail plea.

The court had then rejected their plea under the Section 497 of CRPC (discretionary powers of the judge to grant bail or not).

The four had also moved a petition in the Supreme Court against the ruling of J and K High Court, to arrest these officers and also to collect blood samples to prepare the DNA mapping of these officers.

An apex court bench headed by the Chief Justice K.G. Balakrishnan had asked the Shopian sessions court to expeditiously consider the bail pleas.

During the hearing, the bench had said the High Court should have left it to the superior police officers to investigate the case and should have entitled the police officers to move for bail before the appropriate court.

The bench had also expressed surprise that only because of agitation the investigation was handed over to the Special Investigation Team (SIT).

The J and K High Court, hearing a Public Interest Litigation Petition (PIL) filed by J and K High Court Bar Association in connection with alleged rape and murder of Neelofar and Aasiya Jan in Shopian ordered for the arrest of four police officers who were suspended in the same the case. The court also ordered to constitute SIT and DNA mapping of these officers. (ANI)

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Arrest warrant issued against ex-Pak diplomat for issuing fake passport to Indian

September 12, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Islamabad, Sep.11 (ANI): An arrest warrant has been issued against Pakistan’s former Consul General in Houston (US) on charges of issuing a Pakistani passport to an Indian national.

Assistant Consul General Muhammad Naeem, who is under the National Accountability Bureau’s (NAB) custody for the last 17 months, told a three member Supreme Court bench that former Pakistani Consul General, Ghulam Rasool, has been asked to appear before the court while issuing an arrest warrant against him.

It may be recalled that Naeem was also arrested for issuing a forged Pakistani passport to an Indian national named Aziz Moosa.

The passport issued by Naeem was in the name of Sayyed Ali.

After the hearing the court rejected Naeem’s bail plea and disposed of the case with directions to the NAB to decide the case within three months, The Daily Times reported. (ANI)

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Shiney Ahuja’s bail plea rejected

July 8, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Mumbai, July 8 (ANI): A Sessions Court here on Wednesday rejected the bail plea of Bollywood actor Shiney Ahuja, who was arrested for allegedly raping his domestic maid.huja, who is currently lodged at the Arthur Road jail, will continue to remain in judicial custody till July 16.

The decision came after the prosecution asked for more time to investigate the case and gather evidence.

Earlier, the DNA test report of Ahuja confirmed that he had sexual relations with the victim. Medical reports had suggested that Ahuja’s maid was raped.

The actor has been charged under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) Section 376 with rape, along with wrongful restraint and intimidation.

The police arrested Ahuja on June 15 after preliminary medical tests on the girl confirmed sexual assault.

Mumbai police said the actor had admitted to making a mistake by having consensual sex with the maid who has levelled allegations of rape against him. (ANI)

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Shiney Ahuja’s bail plea hearing today

July 7, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Mumbai, July 7 (ANI): A local Mumbai court will today hear a bail plea of Bollywood actor Shiney Ahuja.

On July 3, a court had deferred the hearing of the bail plea till today.

Meanwhile, the judicial custody of Ahuja, who was arrested for allegedly raping his domestic maid, was extended till July 16. He is lodged at the Arthur Road jail.

The DNA test report of Ahuja confirmed that he had sexual relations with the victim. Earlier, medical reports had suggested that Ahuja’s maid was raped.

The actor has been charged under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) Section 376 with rape, along with wrongful restraint and intimidation.

The police arrested Ahuja on June 15 after preliminary medical tests on the girl confirmed sexual assault.

Mumbai police said the actor had admitted to making a mistake by having consensual sex with the maid who has levelled allegations of rape against him. (ANI)

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Bollywood actor Shiney Ahuja’s bail plea deferred to July 7

July 3, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Mumbai, July 3 (ANI): Bollywood actor Shiney Ahuja’s bail plea was on Friday deferred till July 7 by a local Mumbai court.

Ahuja was arrested on June 15 after his domestic help accused him of raping her while they were alone at his house.

Despite the actor’s wife denying the incident, police officials said DNA and medical reports of the victim and Ahuja had corroborated the allegations made by the maid in the FIR.

Ahuja’s defence counsel asked the court for time to go through the reports filed by the police in connection with the case.The actor continues to remain in judicial custody.

On Thursday, the court had extended the judicial custody of Shiney till July 16, even as the actor informed he was not keeping well.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan has said the case would be committed to a fast track court soon to ensure speedy justice. He also said rehabilitation would be provided to the rape victim. (ANI)

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Shiney Ahuja’s bail plea hearing deferred till July 7

July 3, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Mumbai, July 3 (ANI): A local Mumbai court on Friday deferred the hearing of the bail plea of Bollywood actor Shiney Ahuja till July 7.

On Thursday, the judicial custody of Ahuja, who was arrested for allegedly raping his domestic maid, was extended till July 16. He is lodged at the Arthur Road jail.

The DNA test report of Ahuja confirmed that he had sexual relations with the victim. Earlier, medical reports had suggested that Ahuja’s maid was raped.

The actor has been charged under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) Section 376 with rape, along with wrongful restraint and intimidation.

The police arrested Ahuja on June 15 after preliminary medical tests on the girl confirmed sexual assault.

Mumbai police said the actor had admitted to making a mistake by having consensual sex with the maid who has levelled allegations of rape against him. (ANI)

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Rejection of Sarabjeet’s mercy plea in Pakistan saddens family at home

June 27, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Amritsar, June 24 (ANI): A pall of gloom descended over the family of Sarabjeet Singh, the Indian national facing gallows in Pakistani jails for 18 years, on Wednesday after learning that the Pakistan’s apex court has rejected his mercy plea.

Pakistan’s Supreme Court on Wednesday dismissed an appeal by Sarabjeet Singh’s lawyer seeking a review of a death sentence imposed on him for spying and carrying out bombings in the 1990s in Pakistan.

A three-member Bench upheld the sentence, saying they had found no reason to reconsider the original ruling.

Meanwhile, the distraught family of Sarabjeet in Punjab wants the Government of India should intervene and save him.

“Yesterday we came to know that our father’s bail would be heard on Wednesday. We were really hoping for a positive outcome but today when we heard that his bail plea has been rejected, we are in a state of shock because results disappointed our expectations. It has saddened us,” said Poonam, Sarabjeet Singh’s daughter.

Also Sarabjeet Singh’s sister Dalbir Kaur on this occasion appealed countrymen to come forward and help her brother gain freedom.

“I will again appeal to the Government of India and plead them but this time I will need the support of my countrymen so that our government wakes up from its slumber and take up the prisoner’ cause especially Sarabjeet’s case and I know that my countrymen would not disappoint us and support us,” said Dalbir Kaur, Sarabjeet’s sister.

Meanwhile, former chief minister of Punjab Amarinder Singh said in the national capital that the decision would further worsen the already strained relationship between India and Pakistan.

“This is a really sensitive issue. We had taken the matter with the Government of India and the Government had taken the matter with the Pakistani Government. But we are really sad that his (Sarabjeet) mercy has been rejected and that will unfortunately not lead to good relationship with our neighbouring states as so many issue are pending. Also I think it was for the Pakistani Government to take into consideration the larger perspective and to take a decision in that regard,” said Amarinder Singh, former chief minister of Punjab.

Sarabjeet Singh was sentenced to death in 1991 for spying and bombings that killed 14 people. His family said he was innocent and had crossed the border into Pakistan accidentally in 1990 in a drunken state.

However, authorities in Pakistan contended that Sarabjeet Singh was arrested while trying to slip back into India after the bomb blasts.

The Government suspended his death sentence in May last year after his family visited Pakistan and appealed for a pardon.

Former Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf had also rejected Sarabjeet Singh’s mercy plea in March last year but deferred his execution after a request from the Indian government. (ANI)

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Mafatlal Luxury – Mafatlal Industries – Sheetal Mafatlal – Sheetal Mafatlal Arrested – Sheetal Mafatlal arrested with Rs One Crore Diamonds – Atulya Mafatlal

June 9, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Mumbai, Jun 8 Businesswoman Sheetal Mafatlal was today remanded in judicial custody till June 12 after she was arrested for allegedly trying to evade duty by not declaring Rs 51 lakh worth jewellery in what is being claimed as a result of a tip-off by her “disgruntled opponent”.

Sheetal, a prominent socialite and the president of Mafatlal luxury who was arrested at the airport yesterday on her return from London, might have to spend one more day in jail as a local court deferred her bail plea until tomorrow.

Normally, an accused is entitled to bail in judicial custody unless it is opposed by prosecution. However, it is ultimately the court’s discretion to grant bail to an accused, legal sources said.

Attired in a peach salwar suit and wearing sunglasses, Sheetal, who her husband and lawyer said is a Non-Resident Indian, was in the court sitting near the dock. At one stage, she was gestured by a court staff to remove her glasses and she promptly did so.

Sheetal’s husband, Atulya Mafatlal, the scion of Mafatlal Industries, was standing during the entire court proceedings which lasted for two hours.

Sheetal’s arrest followed a tip-off to police and other authorities by some “disgruntled” opponents of the Mafatlal family and industry, Defence lawyer Satish Maneshinde claimed outside a local court where she was to be produced.

Prosecutor Arun Gupte contended that Sheetal was guilty of offences under Customs Act which were non-bailable. He alleged that she had smuggled goods including jewellery worth Rs 53.67 lakh. She had not declared goods and walked through the green channel, he said.

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Key events in Binayak Sen case since his arrest

May 25, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Raipur, May 25 (IANS) The following is a timeline of events since the May 2007 arrest of civil rights activist Binayak Sen on unproven charges of links with Maoists in Chhattisgarh.

May 14, 2007 – Binayak Sen arrested in Chhattisgarh’s Bilaspur town on charges of acting as a courier between jailed Maoist leader Narayan Sanyal and businessman Piyush Guha, also accused of having links with Maoists.

May 15, 2007 – Sen remanded to judicial custody by a local court. Bail denied.

May 18, 2007 – Sen produced in sessions court. Court orders a search of Sen’s house at Katora Talab in Raipur in presence of independent witnesses and his wife, Ilina Sen. The search was conducted the next day.

May 22, 2007 – Sen produced in sessions court along with Piyush Guha. Judicial remand extended to June 5. Court orders search of Sen’s personal computer.

May 25, 2007 – Sen denied bail again as Chhattisgarh police claim he was a threat to state security.

May 26-June 4, 2007 – Series of rallies and meetings in support of Sen held across India and abroad, including Raipur, Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai London, Boston and New York. Various delegations of physicians and human rights activists meet chief secretary and law secretary to appeal for Sen’s release.

June 5, 2007 – Sen produced in court, rebuts allegations by police.

June 6-June 11, 2007 – Sen’s computer analysed by Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL), Hyderabad in the absence of defence lawyers.

July 23, 2007 – Chhattisgarh High Court rejects Sen’s bail plea after police claim incriminating evidence found in hard disc belonging to him.

Aug 3, 2007 – Police file charge-sheets under the Chhattisgarh Special Public Security Act and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in the court of Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Satyabhama Dubey against Sen.

Dec 10, 2007 – Sen denied bail by two-judge bench of Supreme Court.

Dec 31, 2007 – Sen awarded R.R. Keithan Gold Medal by the Indian Academy of Social Sciences in recognition of “his outstanding contribution to the advancement of science of Nature-Man-Society for improvement of quality of life of the poor, the downtrodden and the oppressed people of Chhattisgarh”.

March 15-April 11, 2008 – Sen kept in solitary confinement. Prison authorities claim it is for his security.

April 21, 2008 – Sen awarded Jonathan Mann Award by the Global Health Council.

May 30, 2008 – Sen’s trial begins in Raipur.

Aug 11, 2008 – Second bail petition filed in Chhattisgarh High Court in Bilaspur.

May 4, 2009 – Supreme Court issues notice to Chhattisgarh government on Sen’s bail plea. Asks state government to provide “best medical aid” to Sen, who is suffering from a heart ailment.

May 25, 2009 – Sen granted bail by a vacation bench of the Supreme Court comprising Justice Markandey Katju and Justice Deepak Verma.

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Supreme Court notice to Chhattisgarh govt. on bail plea of activist

May 4, 2009 By Leave a Comment

New Delhi, May 4 (ANI): Acting on a bail petition filed by civil rights activist Binayak Sen, in jail for the last 22 months on charges of aiding and abetting naxalite activities in the state, the Supreme Court on Monday issued notice to Chhattisgarh government.

A Bench headed by Justice D. K. Jain also directed the state government to provide medical aid to Sen, who has been suffering from heart ailments.

Sen, who has been in custody since May 14, 2007, has contended that there was no evidence against him to be booked under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.

Sen has also sought bail on medical ground, saying that he had been suffering from a heart ailment and needs treatment at Christian Medical College, Vellore in Tamil Nadu.

Sen, a doctor by profession, has sought bail on the ground that the chargesheet against him has already been filed and he has remained in jail during the investigation of the case registered against him.

The Chhattisgarh Government has accused Sen, who is the vice-president of the People’s Union of Civil Liberties (PUCL), of acting as a courier for an alleged naxalite who is in jail. (ANI)

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Supreme Court releases Varun Gandhi for two weeks

April 16, 2009 By Leave a Comment

New Delhi, Apr.16 (ANI): The Supreme Court on Thursday ordered the release of Bharatiya Janata Party leader Varun Gandhi on parole for a period of two weeks after it received an undertaking from him that he would not indulge in communally sensitive and hate speeches.

The apex court, however, said that Gandhi would have to give a new undertaking to the District Magistrate of Etah.

Gandhi was booked under the National Security Act (NSA) for an alleged hate speech delivered in his parliamentary constituency of Pilibhit in Uttar Pradesh last month.

The release of Gandhi came even as the Uttar Pradesh Government, which is headed by Chief Minister Mayawati, said that it would go ahead with a hearing of the NSA case against Gandhi. The State Government said that it has instructed an advisory board to take the matter up. The advisory board is scheduled to meet on April 18.

The BJP welcomed the Supreme Court order. Party spokesman Balbir Punj said that imposing the NSA on Gandhi was a blatant misuse of the law and government by the BSP administration in the state.

On Wednesday, a lawyer representing Varun Gandhi revealed that his client has given an undertaking to the Supreme Court that he will not make any more hate speeches, raising prospects of his early release on bail from the Etah District Jail where he has been lodged under the National Security (NSA) Act.

According to the lawyer, an affidavit has been submitted to Etah District Magistrate Gaurav Dayal in this regard. The affidavit will be forwarded to the Supreme Court that had adjourned the hearing of Varun’s bail plea till April 16.

Varun had moved the Supreme Court seeking relief to allow him to contest the Lok Sabha elections from Pilibhit, and according to Dayal, has promised not to give provocative speeches that violate the Constitution or lead to any law and order problem.

“In his affidavit Varun had promised that he will not deliver any hate speech and that he will follow the model code of conduct,” news reports quoted Varun”s lawyer Prashant Singh Atal, as saying.

The apex court had said on Monday said Varun”s plea for bail could be accepted only if he comes out with a promise that he will not make provocative speeches during his campaign.

Varun”s affidavit also states that his actions were not in violation of Constitution and that he has obeyed the law. (ANI)

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Varun Gandhi gives undertaking not to make any more hate speeches

April 15, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Etah (Uttar Pradesh), Apr.15 (ANI): A lawyer representing Pilibhit and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Lok Sabha candidate Varun Gandhi on Tuesday revealed that his client has given an undertaking to the Supreme Court that he will not make any more hate speeches, raising prospects of his early release on bail from the Etah District Jail where he has been lodged under the National Security (NSA) Act.

According to the lawyer, an affidavit has been submitted to Etah District Magistrate Gaurav Dayal in this regard. The affidavit will be forwarded to the Supreme Court which has adjourned the hearing of Varun’s bail plea till April 16.

Varun had moved the Supreme Court seeking relief to allow him to contest the Lok Sabha elections from Pilibhit, and according to Dayal, has promised not to give provocative speeches that violate the Constitution or lead to any law and order problem.
“In his affidavit Varun had promised that he will not deliver any hate speech and that he will follow the model code of conduct,” news reports quoted Varun’s lawyer Prashant Singh Atal, as saying.

The apex court had said on Monday said Varun’s plea for bail could be accepted only if he comes out with a promise that he will not make provocative speeches during his campaign.

Varun’s affidavit also states that his actions were not in violation of Constitution and that he has obeyed the law. (ANI)

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Arundhati slams Binayak Sen’s detention in Chhattisgarh

April 7, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Raipur, April 6 (IANS) Booker winner Arundhati Roy Monday slammed the Chhattisgarh government for the continuous detention of Binayak Sen, a doctor-turned-human rights activist, who has been in jail for the last 22 months for his alleged Maoist links.

Sen was arrested May 14, 2007 under the Chhattisgarh Special Public Security Act (CSPSA), which Roy said ‘has a vague, diffused definition of ‘unlawful activity’.

‘It (the act) renders every person guilty unless he or she can prove their innocence,’ Roy told reporters at Raipur Press Club.

Sen was held in Bilaspur town and is facing treason and other charges in a court after the Chhattisgarh High Court and the Supreme Court rejected his bail plea. Sen has been lodged at the Raipur Central Jail here since his arrest.

‘There is very little doubt that Sen is in prison because he spoke out against the policy of the state government, because he opposed the formation of the Salwa Judum. His incarceration is meant to silence dissent, and criminalise democratic space,’ the writer-activist said.

‘It is meant to create a wall of silence around the civil war in Chhattisgarh. It is meant to absorb all our attention so that the stories of the hundreds of other nameless, faceless people – those without lawyers, without the attention of journalists – who are starving and dying in the forests, go unnoticed and unrecorded.

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Delhi court rejects bail plea of 2 POTA accused

April 6, 2009 By Leave a Comment

NEW DELHI: A Delhi court has dismissed the bail plea of two brothers, suspected to be members of the banned Pakistan-based militant organisation
Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), facing trial under the POTA.

A special judge for POTA here refused the plea of Raees-uz-Zama and Atique-uz-Zama who sought release on bail for two months to attend marriage of their younger brother.

“Keeping in view the circumstances coupled with the gravity of the offences with which the accused were charged with, their plea for interim bail was declined,” the court said.

In their bail applications, the Zama brothers submitted that they were required to make arrangements for the marriage of their brother to be solemnised on April 17 as their mother was an old woman. The brothers also said they have been languishing in jail for more than five years.

The Special Cell of Delhi Police, however, opposed their plea on the ground that the accused were not supposed to perform any religious ceremonies in the marriage, while their parents and other members of the family could look after the arrangements.

The two brothers were arrested from Sikandrabad in Uttar Pradesh upon disclosure by suspected JeM terrorists from Kashmir — Noor Mohammed Tantray, Pervez Ahmed Mir and Farooz Ahmed — following their arrest from a place here on August 30, 2003 allegedly with 10 hand grenades, two grenade shells and one grenade launcher.

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