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Arms Act case: Salman Khan accused of misleading court, hearing on April 29

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Salman Khan

Jodhpur: An application has been moved in Jodhpur court against Salman Khan accusing him of misleading the court by seeking exemption from appearance on health grounds in an Arms Act case related to the black buck shooting though he was reportedly working in a film during the period.

Chief Judicial Magistrate Anupama Bijlani has admitted the application moved by Lalit Boda, the then forest officer who had registered the case against Khan for alleged poaching of black bucks in 1998.

The matter has been listed for hearing on April 29.

However, Khan’s counsel H M Saraswat said they had mentioned in the exemption application that Khan had a problem in his ear and has been recommended not to travel by air.

“This application is not maintainable as we had never said that he could not go for shooting. We only said that on account of some ear problem, he has been advised not to go for air travel,” said Saraswat

Boda in his application cited a news report showing Salman Khan shooting for his upcoming film, ‘Bajrangi Bhaijaan’, in Jammu and Kashmir.

He alleged that by seeking exemption on health grounds, Salman Khan has given wrong facts and has misled the court. Boda sought stringent action against Khan for misleading the court.

A case had been registered against Khan by the forest department under the Arms Act mentioning that licence of the arms used by Khan during alleged poaching of black bucks at village Kankani near Jodhpur on the intervening night of 1-2 October, 1998, had expired and hence the actor had been using the arms illegally.

(Agencies)

Good news for State Government; High Court cancels single bench order

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BBMP-BUILDING

Bengaluru: The Karnataka High Court’s division bench cancelled the order of single bench on BBMP polls giving state government six months time to conduct the BBMP elections.

The Court’s earlier order by a single judge bench, had asked government to hold elections before May 30. The Government then approached the division bench.

HC has given a seven days stay on the plea of the corporators against the dissolution of the the BBMP to enable them approach the Supreme Court

The order of the Division Bench has come as a huge relief to the state government who had superseded the BBMP just 4 days earlier.

(Agencies)

Government puts Ford Foundation on 'watch list', curbs on funding

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FF_LOGO

New Delhi: In a fresh crackdown on foreign fundings to NGOs, the Union Home Ministry has put the Ford Foundation of the USA on its “watch list” and ordered that all funds coming from the international organisation have to be routed only with its nod due to “national security concerns”.

The Home Ministry said it has decided to keep a watch on all activities funded by Ford Foundation and by exercising the powers conferred under Section 46 of Foreign Contribution Regulation Act 2010, directed Reserve Bank of India to ensure that funds coming from it be brought to the notice of the Home Ministry.

“RBI is requested to instruct all the banks and their branches to ensure that any fund flow from the above mentioned agency to any person, NGO, organisation in India may be brought to the notice of the (Home) ministry so that funds are allowed to be credited into the accounts of the recipient only after clearance of this ministry,” the order said.

The Ministry said it wanted to ensure that funds coming from Ford Foundation is utilised for “bonafide welfare activities without compromising on concerns of national interest and security”.

The move came after Gujarat government asked the Home Ministry to take action against Ford Foundation as it alleged that the US-based organisation was “interfering in the internal affairs” of the country and also “abetting communal disharmony” through an NGO run by social activist Teesta Setalvad.

There have been allegations that the recipient NGOs have not filed mandatory annual reports and balance sheets with the government.

The Home Ministry in its order also said that government organisations can avail of foreign funding from Ford Foundation only with the clearance of the Department of Economic Affairs.

“Any instance of government organisation receiving funds directly from this agency may be withheld and brought to the notice of this Ministry,” the order said.

Early this month, the Home Ministry has frozen seven bank accounts of Greenpeace India and barred it from receiving foreign funds for allegedly violating FCRA and “prejudicially” affecting the country’s public and economic interests.

(PTI)

Court drops charges against Abdul Karim Tunda in two blast cases

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Abdul Karim Tunda

New Delhi: A Delhi court on Thursday dropped charges against suspected Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) bomb maker Abdul Karim Tunda in connection with two separate blast cases here.

Additional Sessions Judge Reetesh Singh discharged Tunda in two blast cases — October 28, 1997 blast in Karol Bagh and October 1, 1997 explosion in Sadar Bazar.

Though Tunda got relief in both the cases but he has to remain in jail as he was named as an accused in 33 other bomb blast cases across India between 1994 and 1998, 22 of which occurred in Delhi.

On October 28, 1997 a bomb had exploded in Bedanpura area of Karol Bagh in central Delhi resulting in the death of a woman. During a subsequent search operation, a live bomb was recovered by investigators and defused.

Police have chargesheeted Tunda for various offences dealing with murder, attempt to murder and provisions of the Explosive Substances Act.

In the 1997 Sadar Bazar blast, Delhi Police have chargesheeted Tunda under an offence dealing with voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapon, attempt to murder and criminal conspiracy.

Tunda’s counsel M.S. Khan claimed that Tunda was innocent and that the other two co-accused Mohammad Shakeel alias Hamza and Mohammad Amir were either acquitted or discharged.

He contended that there was no evidence against Tunda in the cases.

Another court on March 10 also discharged the 72-year-old Tunda, accused under the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act, the Explosive Substances Act, the Arms Act and criminal conspiracy.

(IANS)

Gowda talks of retirement, says his family never fought for personal gain

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deve-GOWDA

Bengaluru: The former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda, who is keen on strengthening Janata Parivar in the nation, has said that he would retire from politics by next parliamentary elections.

“I am 87 and will retire from politics by next Parliament election,” the veteran leader said in an interview.

He also said that his family neither fought for personal gain nor did it come in the way of leaders taking up issues.

Mr Gowda describes the yet-to-be officially formed political entity Janata Parivar as “Third Force”, an alternative to the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party.

Asked about his role in the new political dispensation at the national level, he said that he was not bothered about his position, as his dream of creating an alternative to the Congress and the BJP at the national level is finally realized.

“I have made it clear to the leadership that the power to take decisions concerning Karnataka and Kerala units remains with me, just as Mulayam Singh Yadav, Nitish Kumar or Lalu Prasad Yadav enjoy the powers in their respective States,” he said.

(Agencies)

Shouldn't have gone ahead with the rally, says Kejriwal

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Arvind Kejriwal

New Delhi/Jaipur: Admitting his “mistake” of going ahead with his speech at the rally where a farmer from Rajasthan committed suicide, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal today tendered an apology, which was “rejected” by the family of the deceased, who demanded a CBI probe into the incident.

“I was to deliver an hour-long speech but I wrapped it up in 10-15 mins. I think that was my mistake. Probably I should not have spoken. If that has hurt anynone’s sentiments I would like to apologise,” an under-fire Kejriwal said.

He, however, insisted that the focus should not deviate from the “real” issues being faced by the farmers.

“I am guilty. Blame me. I feel the rally should have been called off. But please focus on the real issue of the farmers and desist from politicking. Whoever is guilty hang him but the focus of the debate should be on why the farmers are committing suicide,” Kejriwal told a news channel.

Still bitter, the family of Gajendra Singh, 41, who ended his life by hanging from a tree at an AAP rally on Wednesday, refused to accept Kejriwal’s apology.

“What will happen now after this apology? My brother has died. Kejriwal did not stop the rally for even two minutes after the incident,” the farmer’s sister Rekha told reporters at his native Nangal Jhamarwada village in Dausa district of Rajasthan.

Backing the conspiracy theory behind her brother’s tragic death, she said, “He might have been provoked… some conspiracy may be behind this.”

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh had yesterday said AAP supporters “clapped and raised slogans” as Singh stood atop a tree with a towel fashioned as noose tied around his neck. The Delhi police’s FIR too alleged they “instigated” the farmer to commit suicide and thwarted their attempts to save him.

Gajendra’s uncle, Gopal Singh, the village Sarpanch, demanded a CBI probe into the incident.

“We have doubts about this incident and demand a CBI inquiry in the case. We have asked (state) minister Rajendra Rathore to take up this matter with Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh,” Gopal Singh told PTI.

Referring to the turf war between Delhi police and his government over a parallel magisterial probe, Kejriwal said he was prepared to file his statement to the police, if needed.

The Delhi police had yesterday claimed a magistrate had no jurisdiction to investigate the case already being probed by the police. District Magistrate Sanjay Kumar had, however, said it was incumbent upon the police to cooperate in the inquiry as CrPC provided for the police informing the nearest executive magistrate in case of a suicide who will then hold a parallel probe.

“District Magistrate has the jurisdiction to investigate under the CrPC and the police does criminal investigation based on FIR…if police calls me I will go to file my statement,” Kejriwal said, striking a conciliatory note.

The Delhi Chief Minister also softened his party’s stand that the police personnel at the rally venue were mute spectators to the tragic incident and made no efforts to save Singh.

“We should not say that all policemen are bad. Should not indulge in blame game. I believe if police had the slightest inkling they would have tried to save him. They must have genuinely thought nothing of that sort was taking place,” he said.

The incident, Kejriwal said, caused him to lose sleep. “I am saying this happened in front of the Delhi CM. I couldn’t sleep the whole night,” he said.

Meanwhile, Rajasthan health minister Rajendra Rathore handed over a cheque for Rs 4 lakh to the family on the behalf of BJP.

Gajendra’s uncle told journalists that the family has demanded the status of a ‘Shaheed’ (martyr) for him and sought the scheme for providing relief to distressed farmers to be named after him.

The family also discussed with the state minister arrangements for providing good education to Gajendra’s children and a government job to one of his family members. Gopal Singh said the minister assured the distraught family that he would take up the issue with Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje. Gajendra is survived by his wife and three children.

 (PTI)

Misuse of social media with photos of children comes to light

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social-media

Thiruvananthapuram: Police are probing a case of misuse of social media after a complaint was registered with them against a Facebook page which had photographs of children with ‘vulgar and sexually explicit’ comments on it, a Cyber Cell official said today.

Following the complaint last month, police informed Facebook authorities and the profile page pointed out by the complainant was removed. It was also found that the user ID was located in Saudi Arabia, the senior official said.

A couple who noticed the Facebook page, lodged a complaint with the Cyber Cell on March 24 after discovering photographs of children from various profiles were being uploaded with ‘vulgar and sexually explicit comments’, and that they were also ‘liked’ by some people, according to the complaint.

Police said they are investigating the matter.

According to the complainants, finding the pictures of underaged children and the disgusting comments were shocking as it could be misused by child porn pages. The comments were both in English and Malayalam and had sexual undertones.

‘We decided to file the complaint with screen shots of the page,’ they said.

(PTI)

When poetry is held unlawful . . . JTSA in solidarity with artists and poets of Kabir Kala Manch

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Kabir Kala Manch

by Jamia Teachers’ Solidarity Association

On April 10, 2015 Bombay High court refused bail to Sachin Mali, Sagar Gorkhe and Ramesh Gaichor of Kabir Kala Manch (KKM), who have remained in jail for two years without a trial. They are not charged with committing violence, or possessing weapons or contraband; it was their singing and their songs that were found unlawful. The KKM poets and artists had been forced to go into hiding in 2011 following the arrest and torture of two of their members by the Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS). They were charged with collaborating with Naxalites; their art was branded ideologically Maoist. In January 2013, the two arrested members of KKM were given bail which prompted Sachin, Sagar, Ramesh and Sheetal Sathe to come out of hiding. In April 2013 the four sang in front of the Maharashtra Assembly in a peaceful, musical satyagraha and were arrested. Since then, Sheetal Sathe has got bail.

In its order, the Bombay High Court found no merit in the bail application and denied bail to the three applicants merely because ‘they are charged for offence under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act’. As if being charged of a crime is in itself the proof of guilt. Denying bail on grounds of the accusations alone amounts to a perversion of the first principle of justice — that one is innocent until proven guilty. JTSA has, in fact, documented many cases where under-trials charged with the most heinous crimes have spent years in jail, only to be acquitted later. In our view, the denial of bail in this case is in line with the way the UAPA has been unleashed by the State over people to silence any dissent and to instill fear into all of us.

The entire KKM case is a story of hounding of a group of Ambedkarite artists and poets performing for those people who the powerful think have no use of art; indeed have no claim to humanity. To be sure, it is not the first instance of its kind when poetry in defence of the powerless has been held to be illegal. Neither is it the first time when artists have been held criminal for producing art. Poets like Pablo Neruda, Faiz Ahmed Faiz, Fredrico Garcia Lorca, Nazim Hikmet have been hounded by repressive regimes. In India, we appear to have reached the stage when the recital of life as it is, has become a criminal act that must be brutally silenced. The UAPA by including within its definition of an ‘unlawful activity’ as “any action taken by individual or association (whether by committing an act or by words, either spoken or written, or by signs or by visible representation or otherwise)”, institutionalizes the silencing of art that speaks of life, and every thought and idea that challenges the dominant narratives of caste and social inequality. Even though the Bombay High Court while granting bail to four members of KKM in 2013 had unequivocally held that mere membership of banned organizations cannot be grounds for incarceration, nor can speaking, writing or singing about socio-economic injustices be criminalized – it even held section 20 of UAPA to be in conflict with Article 19 of the Indian Constitution – in reality, on the ground, UAPA is invoked regularly to intimidate and jail those who dissent.

JTSA expresses solidarity with poets and artists of Kabir Kala Manch who participate in people’s struggles by writing and singing about structural and caste violence. We laud their role as the voice of the voiceless. We condemn the gagging of their art whose content is made up of the most common concerns of humanity. We assert that their role is to not just sympathise eloquently with people’s plight but that their voice is an appeal to the conscious of the wider society. To suppress this voice is the worst form of oppression.

Modi, who once refused to wear a skull cap, now sends 'chaadar' to Ajmer Sharif dargah

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Modi Ajmer dargah

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday pitched for harmony among all religions, citing the “great message” of Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti as he sent a ‘chaadar’ to be offered at his dargah in Ajmer.

Greeting people on the occasion of the annual ‘Urs’ of Khwaja Chishti, Modi said in a message that India has been a land of sages, saints and prophets for thousands of years.

He recalled Khwaja Chishti’s message of amity to his followers and said it is relevant even today.

“Khwaja had given a great message to his followers from all religions to live in harmony, keeping with the tradition of sufis and saints. That message is relevant even today,” the Prime Minister said.

He handed over the ‘chaadar’ to be offered at the dargah to Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, minister of state for minority affairs.

(PTI)

Cabinet nod for trial of juveniles as adults for rape, murder

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Calls have been growing louder for stricter punishment for minors ever since the 2012 Delhi gang rape

Calls have been growing louder for stricter punishment for minors ever since the 2012 Delhi gang rape

New Delhi: Overruling the recommendations of a parliamentary panel, government on Wednesday went ahead with a proposal to try juveniles in the age group of 16 to 18 years accused of heinous crimes under laws for adults.

“The Cabinet has approved amendments to the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, whereby juveniles in the age group of 16-18 can be tried under Indian Penal Code (IPC) if they are accused of heinous crimes,” I T and Communication Minster Ravi Shankar Prasad told reporters after the Cabinet meeting.

The issue was brought before the Cabinet a fortnight ago but was dropped from the agenda at the last moment and it was decided that an informal group of ministers will examine the issue.

Rejecting the recommendations of a Parliamentary Standing Committee, the Women and Child Development Ministry had decided to go ahead with the proposal. The Supreme Court had also recently observed that there was a need to relook at the provisions of Juvenile Justice Act in cases where the accused have committed crimes like rape, murder dacoity and acid attacks.

Several ministers in the Cabinet meeting supported the proposal saying a person accused of crimes like rape should be treated as an adult, a senior minister said after the meeting.

“The new proposed Act (the amendment bill) provides that in case a heinous crime has been committed by a person in the age group of 16-18 years it will be examined by the Juvenile Justice Board to assess if the crime was committed as a ‘child’ or as an ‘adult’.

“Since this assessment will be made by the Board which will have psychologists and social experts, it will ensure that the rights of the juvenile are duly protected if he has committed the crime as a child. The trial of the case will accordingly take place as a juvenile or as an adult on the basis of this assessment,” an official statement said.

The amended bill also proposes to streamline adoption procedures for orphaned, abandoned and surrendered children. It establishes a statutory status for the Child Adoption Resources Authority (CARA).

The legislation proposes several rehabilitation and social integration measures for institutional and non-institutional children. It also provides for sponsorship and foster care as completely new measures.

Mandatory registration of all institutions engaged in providing child care is also in the offing.

New offences, including illegal adoption, corporal punishment in child care institutions, use of children by militant groups and offences against disabled children have also been incorporated in the proposed legislation.

The major amendments include removal of Clause 7 that relates to trial of a person above the age of 21 years as an adult for committing any serious or heinous offence when the person was between the ages of 16-18 years; enhancing the period of preliminary inquiry by the Juvenile Justice Board in case of heinous offences committed by children in the age group of 16-18 years; increasing the reconsideration period for surrender of children by parents or guardians; enhancing the period for inter-country adoption in case the child is not given for domestic adoption; assigning the role of designated authority to monitor the implementation of the Bill to the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights and making the central and state governments responsible for spreading awareness on the provisions of the bill.

The amended bill will be brought before parliament again in the ongoing budget session, official sources said.

(PTI)

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