Fan murder case: SC adjourns hearing on plea challenging bail to Darshan to July 24
A bench comprising Justices J.B. Pardiwala and R. Mahadevan adjourned the hearing after Darshan's counsel, senior advocate Siddharth Dave, informed the court that senior counsel Kapil Sibal -- who was supposed to argue the matter -- was engaged in another trial where his presence was essential. Dave requested a day, stating that he received the case only on Monday night and would not be able to prepare and present arguments on such short notice.
Dave also clarified that he would not argue about the reasons behind Darshan's arrest but would focus on the merits of the case.
Earlier, the bench had expressed strong reservations about the manner in which the Karnataka High Court exercised its discretion in granting bail to the actor in connection with the fan murder case. The court had told senior counsel Kapil Sibal, "To be very honest, we are not convinced with the manner in which the High Court exercised its discretion. We will very honestly say this."
The Karnataka government has filed a plea seeking cancellation of bail granted to Darshan and other accused in the case. Senior counsels Siddharth Luthra and Anil C. Nishani are representing the state government and presenting their arguments.
Darshan, Pavithra, and 15 others were arrested on June 11, 2024, on charges of kidnapping and brutally murdering Renukaswamy, a fan from Chitradurga.
Renukaswamy had allegedly sent derogatory and obscene messages to Pavithra, angry over Darshan's continued relationship with her despite being married.
Sources close to Darshan revealed that Pavithra competed with Darshan's wife, Vijayalakshmi, over jewellery and luxury cars. She allegedly pressured Darshan to make public appearances with her after he had been seen with his wife. Pavithra and Vijayalakshmi also had public spats through social media, leading Darshan's fanbase to split into factions.
Renukaswamy, who supported Vijayalakshmi, had criticised Pavithra -- a move that ultimately led to his brutal murder, according to police findings.
Darshan is busy shooting for his upcoming film 'Devil'. Sources confirmed that he is in Thailand currently. Since his release from prison on October 30, 2024, after spending 131 days in custody, he has been participating in shoots.
In a major relief to Darshan earlier, the Karnataka High Court on February 28 allowed him to travel across the country. Previously, he had been restricted to Bengaluru and the jurisdiction of the sessions court.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
NDTV
37 minutes ago
- NDTV
"Lok Sabha To First Take Up Motion To Remove Justice Yashwant Verma": Kiren Rijiju
Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju stated that the motion to remove Justice Yashwant Verma, who remains in trouble after burnt wads of cash were recovered from his residence following a fire incident, will be moved in Lok Sabha first, as per the rules. He said that the removal of Justice Verma should be a joint decision. "The motion for the removal of Justice Yashwant Varma will be raised in the Lok Sabha, and then subsequently, it will be concurred by the Rajya Sabha. All political parties have agreed that the removal of Justice Yashwant Verma has to be a joint call," Rijiju told reporters here. He emphasised that initiating the impeachment process of Justice Verma was a collective responsibility of the Parliament, not just the government alone. "We have been making efforts in relation to the matter of Justice Yashwant Verma. We have clearly stated that it is not only the government's efforts, but the entire Parliament is responsible for addressing the issue of corruption in the judiciary and removing judges from the Supreme Court or High Court. We should not be divided on this issue," the Union Minister said. The centre is working to form a committee to probe allegations levelled against Justice Yashwant Verma, government sources said on July 23. This comes after Rijiju stated that signatures of over 100 MPs have been collected for the impeachment process against Justice Verma, who is currently under scrutiny following the discovery of burnt cash at his residence. "The signature (collection) is underway, and it has crossed 100 already," Rijiju said while responding to a question about the status of the requisite signatures of MPs for the impeachment exercise against Justice Verma. When asked about whether the Parliament will take up the issue in this monsoon session scheduled to start on July 21, the Union Minister had said, "In the Justice Varma case, the process will be undertaken together by all parties. This is not the move by the government alone." "I can't comment on any business in terms of priority until and unless the matter is passed by the BAC (Business Advisory Committee) with the approval of the chair. It is difficult to make an announcement outside," he added. On July 21, Members of Parliament submitted a memorandum to the Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to remove High Court Justice Yashwant Varma in connection with the cash discovery row. A total of 145 Lok Sabha members signed the impeachment motion against Justice Varma under Articles 124, 217, and 218 of the from various parties, including the Congress, TDP, JDU, JDS, Jan Sena Party, AGP, SS (Shinde), LJSP, SKP, and CPM, signed the memorandum. Notable signatories include MPs Anurag Singh Thakur, Ravi Shankar Prasad, Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi, Rajiv Pratap Rudy, PP Chaudhary, Supriya Sule, KC Venugopal, and others. Earlier, the sources had informed about the formation of a committee that is likely to include a judge of the Supreme Court, a chief justice from any of the High Courts and a distinguished jurist. The notices for the removal of Justice Varma were given on the first day of the monsoon session of Parliament.
Mint
3 hours ago
- Mint
Supreme Court acknowledges ‘mental health crisis in educational institutions', calls student suicides ‘systemic failure'
The Supreme Court on Friday described the ongoing loss of young lives to suicide as a 'systemic failure' that must not be overlooked. A bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta issued a series of nationwide directives aimed at addressing the crisis. Citing the 2022 National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) report titled 'Accidental Deaths and Suicides in India', the Court said the data reveals a 'deeply distressing picture' of the mental health landscape among youth, according to a report by PTI. "The continued loss of young lives, often due to preventable causes rooted in unattended psychological distress, academic overburden, social stigma, and institutional insensitivity, reflect a systemic failure that cannot be ignored," it said. India recorded 1,70,924 reported suicide cases in 2022, of which 7.6 per cent, approximately 13,044, were student suicides. The bench said notably, 2,248 of these deaths were attributed directly to failure in examinations. The NCRB data further reflected the suicides among students in the last two decades, increasing from 5,425 in 2001 to 13,044 in 2022. " of an increasing number of suicides in educational institutions, inter alia, including schools, coaching institutes, colleges, and training centres, we feel obliged to acknowledge and address the gravity of the mental health crisis afflicting students in educational institutions across the country," the bench said. The bench was acting on an appeal against an Andhra Pradesh High Court order rejecting the plea to transfer the investigation into the unnatural death of a 17-year-old National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test aspirant, preparing in Vishakhapatnam, to the CBI. The top court said the NCRB data revealed a distressing pattern of rising student suicides. It said mental health was an integral component of the right to life under Article 21 of the Constitution. The bench said given the pressing nature of the crisis, particularly in cities like Kota, Jaipur, Sikar, Vishakhapatnam, Hyderabad, and Delhi, where students migrate in large numbers, immediate interim safeguards are the call of the day. It issued 15 guidelines, which included that all educational institutions shall ensure optimal student-to-counsellor ratios. "Dedicated mentors or counsellors shall be assigned to smaller batches of students, especially during examination periods and academic transitions, to provide consistent, informal, and confidential support," it said. The bench said all educational institutions shall establish written protocols for immediate referral to mental health services, local hospitals, and suicide prevention helplines. "Suicide helpline numbers, including Tele-MANAS and other national services, shall be prominently displayed in hostels, classrooms, common areas, and on websites in large and legible print," it said. It said all teaching and non-teaching staff shall undergo mandatory training at least twice a year, conducted by certified mental health professionals, on psychological first-aid, identification of warning signs, response to self-harm, and referral mechanisms. The bench said all educational institutions shall ensure that all staffs are adequately trained to engage with students from vulnerable and marginalised backgrounds in a sensitive, inclusive, and non-discriminatory manner. "This shall include, but not be limited to, students belonging to Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), Other Backward Classes (OBC), Economically Weaker Sections (EWS), LGBTQ communities, students with disabilities, those in out-of-home care, and students affected by bereavement, trauma, or prior suicide attempts, or intersecting form of marginalisation," it said. The bench said every such institution shall constitute an internal committee or designated authority empowered to take immediate action on complaints about sexual harrasment, ragging and others and provide psycho-social support to victims. It said all educational Institutions shall regularly organise sensitisation programmes (physical or online) for parents and guardians on student mental health. It said mental health literacy, emotional regulation, life skills education and awareness of institutional support services shall be integrated into student orientation programmes and co-curricular activities. "All educational institutions shall maintain anonymised records and prepare an annual report indicating the number of wellness interventions, student referrals, training sessions, and mental health-related activities," the bench said. It said examination patterns shall be periodically reviewed to reduce academic burden and to cultivate a broader sense of identity among students beyond test scores and ranks. It said all educational institutions, including coaching centres and training institutes, shall provide regular, structured career counselling services for students and their parents or guardians. "All residential-based educational institutions, including hostel owners, wardens and caretakers, shall take proactive steps to ensure that campuses remain free from harassment, bullying, drugs....," the bench said. It asked the Centre to file a compliance affidavit before the court within 90 days. The continued loss of young a systemic failure that cannot be ignored. 'The affidavit shall also indicate the expected timeline for the completion of the report and recommendations of the National Task Force on mental health concerns of students,' it said.
Hindustan Times
5 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
1984 anti-Sikh riots: CFSL couldn't decipher 40-yr-old illegible FIR in Kanpur, UP tells SC
New Delhi: The Uttar Pradesh government informed the Supreme Court (SC) on Friday that the Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL) has been unable to decipher the contents of an over 40-year-old illegible FIR linked to the Kanpur 1984 anti-Sikh riots case. The Uttar Pradesh government informed the Supreme Court (SC) on Friday that the Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL) has been unable to decipher the contents of an over 40-year-old illegible FIR linked to the Kanpur 1984 anti-Sikh riots case. A bench comprising justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi took note of the affidavit filed by the state government and directed the investigating agencies to bring the matter back before the court once they are able to obtain a decipherable copy of the FIR. The court observed that if an expert body like the CFSL could not decode the FIR, no further action could be taken. However, it added that if the agencies were able to procure a clear copy of the document, the court would issue further directions. In its order, the bench noted that the CFSL report revealed the FIR in question was highly fragmented, with only two Hindi words partially legible. 'Except for these two words, the rest of the content is indecipherable,' the report stated. The bench added: 'No effective action in furtherance of the FIR can be taken at this stage. However, as and when the agencies are able to obtain a material copy, the matter shall be brought to the notice of this court without delay.' This FIR is part of a set of nine FIRs being investigated by the special investigation team (SIT), which has been revisiting the cases after 35 years. These cases were initially closed due to a lack of evidence. The Supreme Court was hearing a plea to reopen investigations into the killings of around 130 Sikhs in Kanpur during the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. Previously, the court had directed for the expedited trial of 11 cases related to the riots, in which chargesheets were filed following the reinvestigation of the cases. On Friday, the court was also informed that the Allahabad high court had stayed proceedings in several of these cases, causing delays in the trial process and denying timely justice to the victims' families after more than three decades. The bench expressed concern over the high court's decision to stay proceedings in three of the 11 cases, noting that the trials had begun only after chargesheets were filed by the SIT. 'While we do not wish to impact the right of a suspect or accused to avail their remedy, including quashing of the chargesheet, we request that the high court may take up these matters out of turn for adjudication in accordance with the law,' the bench said. The court emphasised that the 1984 tragedy occurred four decades ago and it was only through the Supreme Court's repeated interventions that the investigations were revived. The bench further pointed out that as time passed, securing key witnesses had become increasingly difficult. Ruchira Goel, standing counsel for the Uttar Pradesh government, informed the court that in four criminal appeals against acquittals in the Allahabad High Court, the delay in proceedings had been condoned. The appeals are now being actively pursued by the advocate general's office. The SC urged the Uttar Pradesh government to assign experienced criminal law officers to assist the high court in the pending criminal appeals. 'We wish to impress upon the advocate general to deploy the best state law officers for this purpose,' the bench stated. The state counsel was directed to ensure the high court receives a copy of the Supreme Court's order, and the matter was adjourned until September 15.
