
‘Russian woman may have left India with kid'
The two-judge Bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi called the situation 'unacceptable' and observed that it was 'gross contempt of court'. The Bench said in its order on Monday: 'Her passport is seized. How could she get a duplicate passport? It could not have been possible without the help of some officials at the Russian Embassy. It is a gross contempt of court. It is totally unacceptable. We will be passing some harsh orders and direct for issuing a Red Corner Notice.'
The Centre's submission that the woman had left India came as a surprise, as it had previously told the SC that she had not left the country, at least through legal means.

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Business Standard
16 minutes ago
- Business Standard
Centre calls death penalty clause in Aparajita Bill 'excessively harsh'
West Bengal Governor C V Ananda Bose has sent the Aparajita Bill back to the state government for consideration of the serious objections raised by the Centre over the proposed changes to the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita that the legislation seeks, a highly placed source in the Raj Bhavan said. The Centre, in its observation, found that the Aparajita Women and Child (West Bengal Criminal Laws Amendment) Bill, passed in the assembly in September 2024, seeks changes in punishment for rape under multiple sections of the BNS that are "excessively harsh and disproportionate," the source said. The state government, however, maintained it has no intimation so far from the central government or the governor's office regarding their "observations" on certain provisions in the Bill. The Bill proposes enhancement of punishment for rape from the existing minimum of 10 years under the BNS to life imprisonment for the remainder of one's life or death. "The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has flagged multiple provisions in the Bill as problematic. After taking note of the MHA observation, the Governor has referred those for appropriate consideration to the state government," the source told PTI. "The Centre has described the proposal of amendment to Section 64 of the BNS to increase the punishment for rape from a minimum of 10 years to life imprisonment for the remainder of the convict's life or the death penalty as excessively harsh and disproportionate," he said, referring to the MHA's observation. The other controversial change is the proposed deletion of Section 65, which currently provides stricter penalties for rape of girls aged under 16 and 12. "The removal of this classification undermines the principle of proportionality in sentencing and could reduce legal protections for the most vulnerable victims," he said. However, the clause drawing the sharpest criticism is the one under Section 66, which seeks to make the death penalty mandatory in rape cases where the victim either dies or is left in a persistent vegetative state. "The ministry has raised constitutional concerns, arguing that removing judicial discretion in sentencing violates established legal norms and Supreme Court rulings," the source said. The Bill was recently reserved by Governor Bose for the consideration of the President of India. "As of now, there is no communication from anyone with regard to the Aparajita Bill. We will consider taking suitable measures, as per requirements in the matter, if and when we receive such intimation," a senior bureaucrat of the state said. The West Bengal assembly had unanimously passed the Bill nearly a month after the alleged rape and murder of a postgraduate trainee doctor at Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9, 2024. Lashing out at the Centre for not giving its sanction to the Bill, Trinamool Congress leader and spokesperson Kunal Ghosh on Friday evening said crimes against women in Bengal have declined compared to the levels during the former Left Front regime. "Crimes against women is comparatively lower to what reported in BJP-ruled states. Here, police take action within 24 hours and ensure that the culprits are punished," Ghosh said. "We want the Bill to be approved. If it is denied approval, it will show that while Mamata Banerjee is committed to punishing culprits, the BJP stands in contrast — they oppose capital punishment. In fact, individuals accused of rape sit beside them in Parliament," Ghosh alleged. "We got information that the Centre after sitting idle on the Bill for months has returned it to the governor. The governor has returned it to the state. We will find out if this is true," Ghosh said. He added that party supremo Banerjee would speak on this at the appropriate time. BJP MLA Agnimitra Paul questioned the necessity of a separate Bill for West Bengal, pointing out that the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS) is already being implemented nationwide.


Hindustan Times
16 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
CISC Air Marshal Dixit to visit Australia to witness Exercise Talisman Sabre
New Delhi, Chief of Integrated Defence Staff , Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit will visit Australia on July 26–28 to witness the 11th edition of the ongoing Exercise Talisman Sabre, officials said on Friday. CISC Air Marshal Dixit to visit Australia to witness Exercise Talisman Sabre It is a premier multilateral training activity led by the Australian Defence Force and the United States Armed Forces and likely to see the participation from 19 nations, representing a wide spectrum of regional and global partners, the Indian defence ministry said in a statement. Six officers from the Indian armed forces are participating in Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025 as "staff planners at various levels of joint operations planning, control, safety and logistics", it said. Indian officers have earlier participated in 2021 and 2023 as "Observers". The Indian armed forces' participation in Exercise Talisman Sabre is a "testimony to India's growing role in multilateral defence diplomacy and its active contribution to a stable Indo-Pacific", the ministry said in a statement. The exercise presents an invaluable opportunity to deepen military-to-military ties, exchange strategic insights and bolster India's vision of collaborative security engagement. During his visit, the CISC is scheduled to engage with senior military leaders from armed forces of Australia and other participating nations, and witness various training activities planned under TS25, the officials said. The visit underscores India's commitment to enhancing defence cooperation and strengthening interoperability with friendly foreign nations. It also reflects the growing stature of the Indian armed forces as a trusted partner in fostering regional security and collective preparedness for future contingencies, it said. "TS25 will showcase extensive interoperability and joint warfare capabilities across air, land, maritime, space and cyber domains. It will feature complex live-fire drills, amphibious operations, integrated field training and realistic testbed for modern multi-domain operations in support of a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific," the ministry said. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
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First Post
16 minutes ago
- First Post
PM Modi, Prez Muizzu inaugurate Maldives defence ministry building
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu on Friday jointly inaugurated a state of the art building of the defence ministry of Maldives in Male. read more In this photo provided by the Maldivian President's Office, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi shakes hands with Maldivian president Mohamed Muizzu after his arrival in Male, Maldives, Friday, July 25, 2025.(Maldivian President's Office via AP) Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu on Friday jointly inaugurated a modern defence ministry building in Malé, in a ceremony that highlights the continuing defence cooperation between India and the Maldives. The new eleven-storey facility, built with financial assistance from India overlooks the Indian Ocean and is expected to boost the capabilities of the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) and other law enforcement agencies. Calling the structure a 'concrete building of trust,' Modi described it as a symbol of the 'strong partnership' between the two nations. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The prime minister also handed over 72 vehicles and equipment for use by the Maldives National Defence Force. The defence ministry building is a 'concrete building of trust' and it is a symbol of our 'strong partnership', Modi said. VIDEO | Prime Minister Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) and Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu (@MMuizzu) jointly inaugurate the building of Ministry of Defence in Maldives. (Source: Third Party)#Maldives — Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) July 25, 2025 'India will continue to support Maldives in the development of its defence capabilities. Peace, stability and prosperity in the Indian Ocean region is our common goal,' he said. In a social media post, Modi described it as 'yet another instance of strong India-Maldives cooperation.' 'Overlooking the Indian Ocean, the eleven-storey building is a symbol of the strong and long-standing defence and security cooperation between the two countries,' the Ministry of External Affairs said in a press release. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The MoD building has been constructed with India's financial assistance and will contribute towards enhancing the capabilities of the defence and law enforcement authorities of the Maldives, it added. The prime minister arrived here from London in the second and final leg of his two-nation trip. Modi was accorded a warm welcome with Muizzu and a number of top ministers of his government receiving him at the Velena International Airport. Hours later, Modi was accorded a colourful ceremonial welcome and a guard of honour at the iconic Republic Square. With inputs from agencies