Survivor and family ‘satisfied' with probe
2
3
Kolkata: The survivor's counsel on Thursday informed Calcutta High Court that the family was satisfied with Kolkata Police's probe in the law college gan-grape case. They, however, wanted to see the progress report in the ongoing probe.
Multiple PILs have been filed seeking the court to order a court-monitored probe or transfer it to CBI. The survivor's counsel, during the last hearing, told the court that "she was getting all support from the SIT".
The division bench of justices Soumen Sen and Smita Das De allowed the family to see the progress report but were verbally asked not to share it with anyone else. The judge directed the state to serve the copy of the report to the survivor but warned that it cannot be divulged to any agency or media and is only for her information.
You Can Also Check:
Kolkata AQI
|
Weather in Kolkata
|
Bank Holidays in Kolkata
|
Public Holidays in Kolkata
Pursuing the court's direction, the state submitted the progress report in a sealed cover. The survivor's statement under section 164 of CrPC was also submitted before the division bench. The state was directed to submit a progress report on the probe after four weeks.
The OC also submitted a report in response to the allegations of past police cases against prime accused Monojit Mishra (31).
The HC directed the college and state to file their affidavits before the next hearing, which is July 17. Senior advocate Phiroze Edulji, representing the litigants, raised the question of violation of the accused persons' human rights as they were being taken to a correctional home with ropes around their waist 'like cats and dogs'. Survivor's counsel, Arindam Jana, stated that the accused was being represented by 50 advocates in lower court but no one has raised the question of rights violation.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Indian Express
an hour ago
- New Indian Express
Court abates DA case against ex-Himachal CM Virbhadra Singh
NEW DELHI: A Special Court in Delhi has abated all criminal proceedings against former Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Virbhadra Singh in the disproportionate assets (DA) case, following his death on July 8. Special Judge Geetanjali Goel stated, 'An application has been filed by counsel for Virbhadra Singh stating that he has expired. So, the proceedings against him stand sabated.' The order applies to both the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Enforcement Directorate (ED) cases pending against him. The DA case had alleged that Singh amassed wealth disproportionate to his known sources of income during his tenure in public office. However, the case continues against other accused in the matter, including LIC agent Anand Chauhan and Virbhadra Singh's close associates Chunni Lal, Joginder Singh Ghalta, Prem Raj, Lawan Kumar Roach, Vakamullah Chandrashekhar, and Ram Prakash Bhatia. The court has ordered charges related to abetment and forgery against them.
Hindustan Times
7 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
‘Making undertrials stand with raised arms is not legal'
Days after four undertrials were held guilty of contempt of court and given a bizarre punishment of standing with their hands raised in the air, a sessions court has called the action illegal, asking the magistrate to first understand legal provisions before using its discretionary powers. (Getty Images/iStockphoto) Additional sessions judge Anju Bajaj Chandna of Dwarka court passed the order on Friday. The judge set aside the July 15 order passed by judicial magistrate first class Saurabh Goyal. Magistrate Goyal, who was presiding over a complaint case of alleged land grab and forgery in Dwarka's Palam village, had held the four guilty of contempt of court for wasting the court's time and causing delay in payment of bail bonds. The judge made them stand with their hands raised up in the air till noon. Two of the accused, Kuldeep and Rakesh, moved the sessions court, seeking setting aside of the previous order on grounds that it was a gross misuse of law and an act of judicial overreach. Terming the punishment as illegal, the court said, 'The order cannot qualify the test legality and propriety. The order passed by Ld. Magistrate is not only illegal but even the legal procedure has not been adopted'. The court observed that non-furnishing of bail bonds by the accused persons cannot be termed as a contemptuous by any stretch of interpretation. The court observed that the magistrate had failed to take note of the fact that new criminal laws had come into effect from July 1, 2024, and proceedings conducted under the older IPC was an 'incorrect application of law'. The judge added that even if the proceedings are viewed through the IPC and CrPC sections, the order passed is 'absolutely against the substantive and procedural law'. The court said that the accused persons not furnishing the bail bonds did not fall within the ambit of IPC Section 228 (intentional insult or interruption to a public servant sitting in judicial proceedings) and in no manner be taken as an insult or interruption. 'It is also clear that the magistrate did not afford any opportunity to the accused persons to show cause as to why they should not be proceeded against…without hearing, the accused were asked to stand in the court till the rising of the court with their hands straight in the air. The kind of sentence is not contemplated in law,' the court remarked. Explaining that it was the duty of the court to ensure that no person can be detained without proper legal justification, the court said that the Magistrate completely failed in his duty and responsibility to conduct judicial proceedings legally and properly. 'The order is not sustainable…the Ld. Magistrate is advised to properly read and understand the legal provisions before using his discretionary powers,' the court observed.
Hindustan Times
9 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Dera castration case: CBI court allows whistleblower to testify via video link from US
The special judicial magistrate of CBI court Anil Kumar Yadav, on Saturday allowed the application of a complainant in the Dera Sacha Sauda castration case, permitting his cross-examination through video conferencing from the United States. Gurmeet Ram Rahim, the main accused in the case, had previously objected to this application. Gurmeet Ram Rahim, the main accused in the case, had previously objected to complainant's application. (File) The court allowed the application for cross-examination via VC, subject to the witness's cooperation and stringent safeguards to be implemented by the prosecution. This includes coordinating with officials of the Indian Consulate in the USA to maintain the integrity of the deposition. The CBI's investigating officer is directed to approach the ministry of external affairs for assistance from the Indian Consulate in the USA to ensure a secure place for recording evidence at a predetermined time, in compliance with high court rules. The New Delhi CBI had registered this case under Sections 120-B, 326, 417, and 506 of the IPC on January 7, 2015. The complainant had moved an application in the CBI special court, seeking permission for his cross-examination to be recorded via video conferencing (VC). His counsel argued that as a material witness and the whistleblower in this case, he is currently residing in the USA. Given the substantial 'clout' enjoyed by Gurmeet Ram Rahim, the applicant expressed a reasonable apprehension of danger to his life if he were to appear physically in court for his testimony from the USA. The complainant also cited the immense distance of over 13,000 kilometers, coupled with prohibitive travel expenses and extreme inconvenience, as reasons for seeking the VC option. The counsel further highlighted that accused Gurmeet Ram Rahim is frequently being released on parole, despite being a habitual criminal convicted in several cases, including rape and murder. This situation, they argued, poses a continued threat to the applicant's life, who had moved to the USA in 2024. Senior public prosecutor for CBI Jaswinder Kumar Bhatti stated that the CBI had no objection to the witness's cross-examination being recorded via VC. His counsel further said that he is a victim of castration, alleging that Gurmeet Ram Rahim, in connivance with doctors, orchestrated the removal of his testicles and those of around 400 other 'sadhus' in the name of 'realisation of God.' It's pertinent to note that the applicant had initially approached the high court, which, in December 2014, directed the CBI to investigate the matter. Subsequently, an FIR was registered, an investigation was carried out, and a challan was filed against three accused. The case is currently fixed for prosecution evidence. Claim submitted regarding withdrawal of security without reason The counsel for the applicant submitted a crucial claim, stating that due to a persistent threat perception, the applicant and his family had been provided security for the past 10-12 years. However, when the evidence in this case resumed in 2025, the security provided to his family was inexplicably withdrawn on May 24, 2025, without assigning any reason.
