Allahabad: The Allahabad High Court has observed that the attempt to murder charge slapped against a Mau resident, who participated in the religious congregation organised by the Tablighi Jamaat at New Delhi in March, was reflective of “abuse of the power of law”.

The high court made the observation while staying the proceedings under section 307 (attempt to murder) of the Indian Penal Code against Mohammad Saad, who was accused of deliberately not informing the local authorities about taking part in the event and avoiding voluntary quarantine upon his return from Delhi.

Justice Ajay Bhanot passed the order while hearing a petition filed by Saad challenging the chargesheet filed against him in the case.

The petitioner pleaded before the court that earlier the chargesheet was filed under sections 269 and 270 of IPC for spreading deadly disease, but later it was recalled and a fresh chargesheet was filed under section 307 of IPC for ‘attempt to murder’.

The court after hearing the concerned parties observed, “From a perusal of the material, charge sheeting the applicant under Section 307 IPC prima facie reflects abuse of the power of law”.

The court also directed the state government, SSP Mau, and the concerned police officer to file their reply in the case.

“C.O. shall also file his personal affidavit indicating as to how the ingredients of Section 307 IPC are made out from the facts in the record from the material collected during the investigation and justify the amendment directed by him to the charge sheet,” the bench directed.

The court fixed December 15 as the next date of hearing in the case.

Mumbai, Dec 4: The police on Friday filed a charge sheet against Republic TV editor-in-chief Arnab Goswami and two others in a 2018 abetment of suicide case.

The charge sheet was filed before a court in Alibaug in neighbouring Raigad district, where the case for alleged abetment of suicide of interior designer Anvay Naik and his mother Kumud has been registered.

Besides Goswami, the other two accused named in the charge sheet are Firoze Sheikh and Nitish Sarda, said special public prosecutor Pradeep Gharat.

The trio has been charged under IPC sections 306 (abetment to suicide), 109 (punishment for abetment)and 34 (act done by several people in furtherance of common intention).

As many as 65 persons are named as witnesses in the charge sheet that runs into 1,914 pages.

Prosecution sources said that it relies on purported suicide noteas the `dying declaration’.

Naik’s handwriting has been matched with the writing in the suicide note and forensic report indicated that he was not under pressure while writing it, sources added.

Six statements recorded before a magistrate under section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure are also part of the charge sheet. Such statements can be used as evidence during trial.

Incidentally, Goswami had moved the Bombay High Court on Thursday seeking a stay to the filing of charge sheet, but the petition is yet to be heard.

Goswami, Sheikh and Sarda were arrested by Alibaug police on November 4 in the case, but they got bail from the Supreme Court on November 11.

Anvay Naik and his mother Kumud committed suicide in 2018, allegedly because of non-payment of dues by firms of Goswami and other two accused.

The case, closed for want of evidence in 2019, was reopened in May this year, with Goswami alleging that the Maharashtra government was pursuing a vendetta against him for his work as a TV journalist.

CHANDIGARH: Haryana Health Minister Anil Vij tweeted on Saturday that he has tested positive for COVID-19 and has been admitted to a hospital.

Vij (67), who is also the state’s home minister, urged all those who had come in contact with him recently to get tested.

“I have been tested Corona positive. I am admitted in Civil Hospital Ambala Cantt. All those who have come in close contact to me are advised to get themselves tested for corona (sic),” he tweeted.

Vij is a senior leader of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and is a legislator from Ambala Cantt assembly constituency.

He was stated to be the first cabinet minister of any state government who has volunteered to take the trial dose of a potential vaccine against COVID-19.

Adityanath had launched the ‘Mission Shakti’ campaign in October focusing on ensuring the safety and dignity of women and girls.

NEW DELHI: Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Wednesday alleged that the Yogi Adityanath government’s ‘Mission Shakti’ has “failed” as crimes against women are rising in Uttar Pradesh.

Chief Minister Adityanath had launched the ‘Mission Shakti’ campaign in October focusing on ensuring the safety and dignity of women and girls, with a stern warning that perpetrators of crimes against women will be dealt with an iron hand.

Attacking the BJP government, Gandhi said in a tweet in Hindi, “When the government’s aim is hypocrisy and false propaganda, then missions are bound to fail.”

“Mission Shakti launched by the BJP government to cover up the rising crimes against women in UP has failed. Case is being registered against those responsible for burning a woman after one month. Crimes are rising,” the Congress general secretary in-charge of UP alleged.

She also tagged a media report which claimed that a 21-year-old woman in Bhadohi was burnt inside her house by bullies, but a case was registered only after a month.

The Congress has been attacking the UP government over the state of law and order, alleging that criminal activities are rampant, a claim denied by the Adityanath dispensation.

The 64-year-old bollywood actor had undergone a shoulder surgery at Mumbai and was recuperating at a farmhouse near Manali in Kullu district.

 BJP MP and actor Sunny Deol on Wednesday said he has tested positive for coronavirus and appealed to those who have come in close contact with him to test themselves for the infection.

He also said that he has isolated himself after his COVID-19 test results came out positive.

“I have tested positive for coronavirus. I appeal to the people who came in contact with me recently to isolate themselves and go for the COVID test,” Deol tweeted in Hindi.

Earlier, Himachal Pradesh health secretary Amitabh Awasthi had on Tuesday revealed that the actor was planning to leave for Mumbai but his COVID-19 test result came out positive.

The 64-year-old actor had recently undergone a shoulder surgery at Mumbai and was recuperating at a farmhouse near Manali.

“Sunny Deol got tested himself for COVID-19 yesterday in Manali, Himachal Pradesh, before coming back to Mumbai. He has been tested positive but is asymptomatic and feeling absolutely alright,” Deol’s spokesperson told PTI.

The actor is under home quarantine in Manali till he recovers completely.

 “He is following all the instructions given by the authorities and taking necessary precautions,” the spokesperson added.

On the work front, Deol will next be seen in the sequel to his 2007 family-drama “Apne”.

The sequel will see three generations of the Deol family working together on screen for the first time as it stars legendary actor Dharmendra, his actor sons Sunny and Bobby Deol, and grandson Karan Deol.

Directed by Anil Sharma, the second instalment of the film will be produced by Deepak Mukut.

The film will go on floors in March 2021 and will release around Diwali 2021.