Latest news with #CodeofCriminalProcedure
Indian Express
6 hours ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Punjab CM announces legislation to ensure harsher punishment for sacrilege of holy granths
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Saturday announced that the state government will introduce legislation to ensure harsher punishment for acts of sacrilege against religious scriptures or holy granths. Chairing a meeting with officers and representatives of the Sarb Dharam Beadbi Rokko Kanoon Morcha at his official residence, the Chief Minister (CM) said that Punjab is a 'sacred land' of great gurus, saints, and seers who have shown the path of 'mutual love and tolerance'. He emphasised that it is a matter of immense pride that Punjab stands as a 'unique blend of socialism and secularism, as well as an epitome of communal harmony, peace, and brotherhood'. Mann reiterated that the state government is firmly committed to ensuring 'exemplary punishment' for the perpetrators of sacrilege incidents. Mann's announcement came even as two of the state's Bills on sacrilege are pending with the Centre. These two Bills were passed by Punjab Assembly in 2018, under former CM Amarinder Singh. The Centre had termed Punjab's amendments to the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) to give life imprisonment to sacrilege accused as a 'harsher punishment'. Mann had written to Union Home Ainister Amit Shah in 2023 for getting the President's assent on the two Bills. The Chief Minister stated that the government would consult leading legal experts to ensure that a robust state legislation is enacted — one that prevents offenders from evading strict consequences, including the possibility of capital punishment for such heinous crimes. He expressed concern over existing legal loopholes that allow individuals guilty of such unpardonable acts to walk free, calling it completely unwarranted and unacceptable. Reaffirming his government's commitment to justice, the CM stated that every person involved in these sacrilegious acts, either directly or indirectly, will face exemplary punishment. Mann said that it is the 'bounden duty' of the state government to ensure that these 'dreaded criminals' are held accountable for their actions. He said that the state government would consult all stakeholders, including religious organisations, in drafting the legislation. The CM highlighted that while the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) provides clear provisions regarding religious places, it remains silent on holy granths. However, he said that as the subject falls under the Concurrent List, the state has the authority to enact such legislation, and legal opinions will be sought accordingly. Mann said that this process will be completed shortly to assuage the sentiments of the general public and very soon a Cabinet meeting will be convened on the issue.
2 days ago
- Politics
Hanging of Zama Killer is Japan's First Execution Since 2022
Shiraishi Takahiro became the first person to be executed in Japan for nearly three years on June 27, 2025. He murdered nine people in 2017 in Zama, Kanagawa. From August to October 2017, Shiraishi lured victims to his apartment after getting to know them via social media. He sexually assaulted and strangled them before taking their money and dismembering the bodies. While his defense counsel initially appealed the first death sentence verdict, Shiraishi withdrew the appeal himself and the sentence was finalized in January 2021. The execution is the first since that of Katō Tomohiro on July 26, 2022, for a 2008 stabbing spree in Akihabara, Tokyo. Japan's Code of Criminal Procedure stipulates that the death penalty should be implemented within six months of the issuing of the sentence, but in fact this is almost never the case. From the beginning of 2000 to July 26, 2022, 98 death sentences were carried out. The shortest time span from sentencing to execution was 1 year, while the longest was 19 years and 5 months. The Ministry of Justice does not clarify any of the criteria on which the decision to execute a prisoner is based. In fact, in the past it was policy to not even publicly announce that an execution had been carried out. Disclosure of information on executions and the number of those executed only began in October 1998, under the direction of Minister of Justice Nakamura Shōzaburō. In September 2007, the justice minister of the time, Hatoyama Kunio, instructed the ministry to also release the name of each executed convict and the place of execution. Decisions about executions seem to reflect the thoughts and feelings of the minister of justice of the time. Sugiura Seiken, upon being appointed to that post in October 2005, for instance, openly declared that he would not issue an execution order on religious and philosophical grounds. Although he soon retracted the statement, amid criticism questioning his right as justice minister to refuse to carry out a duty stipulated by law, he did not end up signing an execution order during his tenure of roughly 11 months. Contrasting with Sugiura's attitude were the cases of those ministers who signed execution orders at the rapid pace of one every few months. Only nine people were executed from September 2009 to December 2012 under the administrations of the Democratic Party of Japan, whose justice ministers showed reluctance to carry out the penalty. Chiba Keiko, the DPJ's first justice minister, was originally opposed to the death penalty and had been one of a group of Diet members who called for its abolition. In July 2010, however, she signed the order to execute two death-row prisoners. Chiba witnessed the executions—a first for a Japanese justice minister—and expressed her desire that they should serve as an opportunity for a national debate over the death penalty. Toward that end, she set up a study group within the ministry to consider whether it should continue. In August of the same year, Chiba opened the Tokyo Detention House's execution chamber to the media for the first time, as well as the room it provides for prisoners to meet with religious representatives. Eda Satsuki, who was appointed justice minister in January 2011 under the DPJ government of Prime Minister Kan Naoto, stated at a press conference soon afterward that 'capital punishment is a flawed penalty'—although he later retracted the statement. In July of that year, Eda expressed his intention to not sign any execution orders for the time being since the study group on the issue established by Chiba was still meeting. That year no executions were carried out. The study group continued to meet under the next justice minister as well, but it convened for the last time in March 2012 without reaching any final conclusion, merely registering the various opinions expressed on both sides of the issue. When Japan introduced trial by jury in 2009, members of the public became involved in capital punishment decisions. In 2017, there was a string of executions of prisoners who were petitioning for retrial. Criticism was also raised inside and outside Japan in 2018 over the execution of 13 prisoners connected to the Aum Shinrikyō cult in the space of a few weeks. A recent high-profile case concerned Hakamata Iwao, who was sentenced to death in 1980 for the killing of four people in 1966. He maintained his innocence from prison and in 2014, Shizuoka District Court released him and granted him a retrial. The retrial began in 2023 and concluded in September 2024, with the court acquitting Hakamata after finding that investigators had fabricated evidence. The ruling came 58 years after his original arrest and 44 years after he was sentenced to death. Having been incarcerated for so many years with the death penalty hanging over him, Hakamata still has difficulty communicating with others. This story put the spotlight on capital punishment, sparking calls for reform. A panel including lawmakers, a former prosecutor general, and a former commissioner general of the National Police Agency released a statement in November 2024 calling for a halt on executions until authorities rethink the government's approach to capital punishment and institute fundamental changes to the system. (Translated from Japanese. Banner photo: The Tokyo Detention House, which contains an execution facility. © Jiji.)
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Hindustan Times
Yupia court sentences man to life for rape and robbery in 2016 case
Itanagar: The district and sessions court in Arunachal Pradesh's Yupia has sentenced a 44-year-old man to life imprisonment for raping a woman and robbing her of ₹ 35,000 in 2016, and said that the severity of the crime and the convict's past criminal record left no room for leniency (Representative photo) Sessions judge Hirendra Kashyap on Thursday awarded life sentence to Aftab Sheikh, a resident of Ambiri Village in Assam's Sonitpur district, along with a fine of ₹ 20,000. The court was hearing a 2016 case in which Sheikh allegedly offered a lift to the woman at night and took her to an isolated location, where he raped her and attempted to orchestrate a gang-rape by summoning an accomplice. The attempt was foiled after the woman's family members arrived at the spot. Before fleeing the scene, Sheikh reportedly robbed the victim of ₹ 35,000 — her earnings from selling traditional ornaments that day. Rejecting the defence plea for leniency on the grounds of his wife's ill health, the court said that the convict's conduct demonstrated 'involvement in organised crime' and a tendency to 'change identity to mislead investigations.' Sheikh was absconding during trial proceedings in the current case and was arrested after repeated non-bailable warrants were issued. The court said that Sheikh, who also went by the alias Aryan Sharma, was acquitted in a separate bike theft case only on benefit of doubt due to lack of CCTV evidence. He was also found involved in another pending sessions case related to alleged conspiracy for a bank robbery. 'The conduct of the convict does not inspire this court for any leniency in sentencing,' the judge observed, ruling out any relief under Section 360 Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) or the Probation of Offenders Act. The court also ordered that the period of nearly 3 years and 11 months already spent in custody during investigation and trial be set off from the sentence under Section 428 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC). Additionally, the case has been referred to the district legal services authority for providing compensation to the woman under the Arunachal Pradesh Victim Compensation Scheme, 2011.
Business Recorder
2 days ago
- Business
- Business Recorder
Key amendments made to Finance Bill: Tax fraud arrests only post-inquiry
ISLAMABAD: The government has introduced major amendments to the Finance Bill (2025-26), barring Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) from arrest of persons involved in tax fraud at the stage of inquiry and accused arrested may approach the competent court for release on bail. In cases of payment intermediaries and couriers in respect of digitally ordered goods from within Pakistan, the persons supplying digitally ordered goods from within Pakistan through online market place, website, software applications, the 2% of gross value of supplies would be deducted. The FBR will issue a Negative List of services exempt from sales tax under Islamabad Capital Territory (Tax on Services) Ordinance, 2001. FBR redrafts Sec 37A: Amended Finance Bill sets conditions for tax fraud arrests The amended bill revealed that no arrest under this section shall be made before the completion of inquiry. The accused arrested may approach the competent court for his release on bail under the provisions contained in sections 497 and 498 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898. The purpose of prosecution under the provision of section 37A and 37B of this Act shall remain to create sufficient deterrence against tax fraud and provide for retribution for commission of tax fraud. A three-member committee of the FBR would authorise the Commissioner to issue warrant of arrest against a person involved in tax fraud in cases where tax loss exceeds Rs 50 million. The said arrest would be made in a situation where the accused is intentionally or wilfully not joining the investigation after three notices; accused attempting to abscond or there are sufficient grounds that the accused would temper with the evidence. The amended Finance Bill (2025-26) has also revised penalty regime for committing tax fraud and non-filing of monthly statements by intermediaries or courier companies collecting payments from online marketplaces. In case the person failed to obtain sales tax registration, notwithstanding anything contained in this Act or any other law for the time being in force, the Commissioner shall have the powers to direct banking companies, scheduled banks and other financial institutions, through an order in writing, to intermittently suspend the operation of the bank account of such any person for three working days. The Commissioner shall repeat suspension specified in sub-section (2), for two more times with an interval of one week between the suspensions. The amendments in Finance Bill have reduced sales tax on solar panels from 18 to 10 percent and Federal Excise Duty of 10 percent on Day old Chicks (DOC) of poultry sector. The rate of tax increased from 25 percent to 29 percent on dividend received by a company from mutual fund deriving income from profit on debt. The withholding tax has been increased from 15 to 20 percent on profit on government securities paid to any person (institutional investors) other than an individual. The amended Finance Bill has given tax exemption to Beaconhouse National University; Federal Ziauddin University; Punjab Police Welfare Organization, Lahore and Army Officers Benevolent Fund/Benevolent Fund/Bereaved Family Scheme. The tax exemption would be available on any monetary award received from the Federal or Provincial Government or from a Public Office holder by a sportsperson winning a medal in international Olympic Games representing Pakistan. Provided that this clause shall be applicable from tax year 2025. To bar on transfer of Immoveable Property of non-filers, the committee after affording a personal hearing to the person, shall either recommend for imposition of bar on transfer of immovable property or recommend the Commissioner to remove the bar imposed under section 14AC. The amended Finance Bill revealed that Federal Government may, by notification in the official Gazette, subject to such conditions and restrictions as may be specified therein, exempt any country, any class of goods or services and class of persons from the chargeability under this Act, as deemed appropriate. The amended Bill (2025) further elaborated that where an individual is deriving income under the head 'income from other source' on account of any annuity or pension, such individual shall be charged to tax on his annuity or pension income received at the rate provided in proviso to clause (2) of this Division. According to the amended Finance Bill (025-26), the committee after affording a personal hearing to the person, shall either recommend for imposition of bar on transfer of immovable property or recommend the Commissioner to remove the bar imposed under section 14AC. For imposition of bar on transfer of immovable property, the Committee shall recommend the Commissioner for imposition of bar on transfer of immovable property: Provided that the Committee shall provide an opportunity to obtain registration within fifteen days prior to the recommendation. The amended Bill 2025 revealed that where an individual is deriving income under the head 'income from other source' on account of any annuity or pension, such individual shall be charged to tax on his annuity or pension income received at the rate provided in proviso to clause (2) of this Division.' The amended Bill revealed that a foreign vendor shall have significant digital presence in Pakistan under this Act, where the foreign vendor supplies digitally ordered services and goods from outside Pakistan to any user in Pakistan, if the aggregate amount exceeds one million rupees in a financial year along with one of the following additional factors – (a) existence of a user base and the associated data input. (b) billing or collection in local currency or with a local form of payment. (c) responsibility for the final delivery of goods and services to Pakistani consumers. (d) responsibility for the provision by the foreign vendors of other support services (after sales services, repairs and maintenance) and (e) continued marketing and sales promotion activities, online or not, to attract customers.' For the tax treatment to NLC, the amended Finance Bill further specified that the rate of tax under clauses (b) and (c) of sub-section (1) of section 153 and sub-section (1) of section 236A to be deducted and collected from the National Logistics Corporation shall be 3% of the gross amount of payment and gross sale price of a lease of the right to collect tolls, respectively: Provided that the tax so deductible and collected shall be minimum tax and in case the normal income tax, chargeable under Division II of Part I of First Schedule on the taxable income of the taxpayer, is higher than the amount of tax under this clause, the taxpayer shall be liable to pay the normal income tax, amended Finance Bill added. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Morocco World
3 days ago
- Politics
- Morocco World
Moroccan NGOs Sound Alarm over Legal Reforms, Threaten UN Action
A coalition of Moroccan civil society organizations has raised alarm over proposed legal amendments that they say would weaken their role in fighting corruption and defending public funds. In response, the coalition has announced plans to escalate the issue to the United Nations. At a press conference held Wednesday at the headquarters of Transparency Maroc, the group denounced two articles — Article 3 and Article 7 — of a draft reform to the Code of Criminal Procedure. The changes, already approved by the first chamber of Parliament– House of Representatives– would restrict NGOs from filing legal complaints in financial crime cases and set new conditions for launching public legal actions in cases involving public funds. The associations warned that these measures amount to a serious threat to democratic transparency and public accountability. They announced a sit-in protest to be held in front of Parliament on July 1st and vowed to bring the matter before the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) if the second chamber — the House of Councillors – does not amend the proposed law. 'This is a dangerous regression,' said Ahmed Bernoussi, deputy secretary general of Transparency Maroc. 'It aims to neutralize the essential role civil society plays in fighting impunity and protecting public resources.' Another prominent voice, Abdelilah Benabdeslam, coordinator of the Moroccan Collective of Human Rights Organisations, said they are preparing a formal complaint to the UNODC, the body that oversees the UN Convention against Corruption, ratified by Morocco. 'If all national options are exhausted, we will escalate it to the UN's regional office for the Middle East and North Africa,' he said. The group also warned of broader risks if the amendments pass—including damage to Morocco's international reputation, reduced investor confidence, and rising unemployment. In the meantime, they are urging members of the second chamber of Parliament to reject the bill and are appealing to 'responsible voices within the majority' to intervene. At the heart of the controversy are Articles 3 and 7 of the proposed reform. Article 3 introduces strict conditions for initiating legal action in cases involving public funds—effectively limiting the ability of prosecutors to investigate financial crimes unless referrals come from high-level institutions like the court of auditors. Article 7 imposes new hurdles for associations, requiring them to meet restrictive criteria before they can act as civil parties in corruption cases. Critics say this would block NGOs from filing complaints in the public interest, stripping them of a crucial oversight role they have long played in exposing embezzlement and illicit enrichment. The Moroccan government insists that the proposed reforms are designed simply to streamline and clarify judicial procedures, specifically by centralizing the authority to initiate corruption investigations within designated official bodies like the Attorney General at the Court of Cassation and the Court of Auditors. In defence of the proposal, Justice Minister Abdellatif Ouahbi explained that the aim is not to sideline civil society, but to restore legal order and prevent misuse of the justice system by ensuring that legal action must be based on a credible foundation. 'This is not a ban, it's a regulation,' said Ouahbi to Parliament. '[This] helps strengthen the effectiveness of public action and avoid reckless prosecutions.' NGOs strongly disagree, asserting that the true aim is to silence civil society and diminish oversight. They argue the restrictions effectively shield public officials from accountability and mark a worrying move away from transparency. The new legal changes risk going against Morocco's commitment to strengthen public oversight and support the role of civil society in fighting corruption—commitments it adopted in 2007 by ratifying the United Nations Convention against Corruption.
