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Economic Times
15-07-2025
- Business
- Economic Times
Crypto currency may render recognised money untraceable: Delhi HC
The Delhi High Court on Monday said dealing in crypto currency has profound implications on the country's economy by way of "dissolution of recognised money into the dark, unknown and untraceable money". Justice Girish Kathpalia therefore denied bail to a businessman in a corruption case related to crypto currency. "Dealing in crypto currency has profound implications on economy of our country by way of dissolution of recognised money into the dark unknown and untraceable money. The allegations against the accused in this multi-victim scam are quite serious, more so in the light of his antecedents of involvement in as many as 13 more cases of similar nature," the court said. Umesh Verma was arrested in December 2020 and was currently out on interim bail in the matter. The judge directed Verma, accused in the case against Dubai-based crypto currency company, Pluto Exchange, to surrender before the investigating officer or the trial court. The judge said his act of collecting money even after de-recognition of crypto currency showed mala fide. The court prima facie noted that the accused duped 61 investors after "painting a rosy picture" of getting them returns of 20 per cent to 30 per cent on their investments in crypto currency, the process which he continued against the gullible persons even after derecognition of crypto currency. "The deep pockets of the accused, coupled with the nature and expanse of offence in the present case and 13 more cases with consequential possibility of long incarceration lends credence to the apprehension of prosecution that the accused is a flight risk," the judge added.
Time of India
14-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Crypto currency may render recognised money untraceable: Delhi HC
Academy Empower your mind, elevate your skills The Delhi High Court on Monday said dealing in crypto currency has profound implications on the country's economy by way of "dissolution of recognised money into the dark, unknown and untraceable money".Justice Girish Kathpalia therefore denied bail to a businessman in a corruption case related to crypto currency."Dealing in crypto currency has profound implications on economy of our country by way of dissolution of recognised money into the dark unknown and untraceable money. The allegations against the accused in this multi-victim scam are quite serious, more so in the light of his antecedents of involvement in as many as 13 more cases of similar nature," the court said. Umesh Verma was arrested in December 2020 and was currently out on interim bail in the judge directed Verma, accused in the case against Dubai-based crypto currency company, Pluto Exchange , to surrender before the investigating officer or the trial judge said his act of collecting money even after de-recognition of crypto currency showed mala court prima facie noted that the accused duped 61 investors after "painting a rosy picture" of getting them returns of 20 per cent to 30 per cent on their investments in crypto currency, the process which he continued against the gullible persons even after derecognition of crypto currency."The deep pockets of the accused, coupled with the nature and expanse of offence in the present case and 13 more cases with consequential possibility of long incarceration lends credence to the apprehension of prosecution that the accused is a flight risk," the judge added.
The Hindu
06-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Rising concern over conduct of lawyers in virtual hearings
NEW DELHI Born out of necessity during the COVID-19 lockdown five years ago, virtual courtrooms are now grappling with a different challenge – growing indiscipline among lawyers and litigants who flout decorum during online hearings. A virtual court hearing functions like a regular court proceeding but is conducted via video conferencing platforms. Once a matter is listed, parties and lawyers receive a secure video link to join the hearing remotely. The system was introduced during the pandemic, when physical courtrooms were shut to curb the spread of the virus, but the judiciary needed to continue functioning. The facility has proven a boon for lawyers, who can now attend multiple hearings across different courts, and even cities, within a single day, without the burden of travel. For litigants too, it has eased the hassle of appearing in person for each hearing. Screen-time shenanigans However, the system's flexibility has also led to blatant misuse. One egregious example involved a man attending a Gujarat High Court hearing from his toilet. In another case, also in Gujarat, a video went viral showing a senior advocate appearing to sip beer during a virtual session. In Delhi, the High Court recently took strong exception to a female lawyer who joined a hearing via mobile phone while walking through a public park. Though she claimed to be at the Agra court complex, the judge was unconvinced. 'Despite repeated directions, certain sections of the Bar have failed to understand the decorum of the court,' observed Justice Girish Kathpalia. He urged Bar Associations across Delhi to sensitise their members regarding proper conduct during virtual appearances. Justice Kathpalia reminded that the videoconferencing facility was extended to enable counsel to appear from their offices, thereby sparing them the ordeal of rushing between multiple court complexes. Former Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud, in February 2023, strongly supported the continued use of virtual hearings, saying, 'Technology is here to stay for the future, forever.' But recent developments underscore that its success depends not just on technical infrastructure, but equally on courtroom conduct. Senior advocate and Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) president Vikas Singh did not mince words: 'Online hearing, which started more like a necessity, is being misused by lawyers. It is trivialising a solemn court function. Court hearings cannot be argued from a car, a park, or while having a beer. Strict guidelines must be enforced,' he told The Hindu. Missing penalties While the Delhi High Court, a pioneer in institutionalising video conferencing, issued comprehensive rules in 2021, these mainly focus on behavioural expectations. They mandate that 'participants wear sober attire', with advocates in professional dress as per the Advocates Act, 1961. The rules also state that participants must look into the camera, remain attentive, and refrain from multitasking. 'All proceedings conducted by a court via video conferencing shall be judicial proceedings, and all the courtesies and protocols applicable to a physical court shall apply to these virtual proceedings,' the rules say. However, no specific penalties are prescribed. Courts may invoke the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971, or exercise their inherent powers in egregious cases. Senior advocate Sanjoy Ghose, whose post about the toilet incident went viral, advocated for clear penalties and their strict enforcement. 'There should be penalties prescribed, and they should be strictly enforced,' he told The Hindu. He also called for better awareness: 'Dos and don'ts must be clearly listed on court websites. Litigants may lack familiarity, but lawyers have no excuse.' Sharanya Tripathi, associate advocate at Jotwani Associates, called the trend 'deeply disrespectful to the court's dignity'. 'Everyone attending a virtual hearing, whether lawyer or litigant, must understand that appearing through a screen does not reduce the formality of the courtroom,' she asserted. 'If someone joins from an unsuitable location or behaves disrespectfully, the court should act promptly by removing the participant, imposing costs, or initiating contempt proceedings in serious cases,' Ms. Tripathi said. Courts could also hold legal representatives accountable for ensuring that their clients maintain proper decorum during virtual hearings, she added.
Time of India
19-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Delhi High Court to examine appeal of Bhoomiheen Camp residents on rehabilitation rejection
New Delhi: Delhi High Court has agreed to examine next month an appeal filed by individual residents challenging the rejection of their claim for rehabilitation after being removed from Bhoomiheen Camp in south Delhi following a demolition drive by DDA. Justices Girish Kathpalia and Tejas Karia directed that the appeals be listed on July 7 before the designated roster bench for hearing. The petitions also challenged the green signal given to DDA by a single-judge bench of HC to remove encroachments and clear the land near Kalkaji area. However, by the time the appeals could be taken up last week, DDA had already razed several single and double-storey structures. "At the outset, learned counsel for appellants submits that these applications have become infructuous because the respondent demolished the premises. Accordingly, the applications are disposed of as infructuous," the bench recorded, disposing of the plea that sought urgent relief. In their appeal, many of those removed from the camp and adjoining slums questioned their exclusion from the list of residents found eligible for rehabilitation by DDA. They also challenged the rejection of their documentary proof by the land-owning agency, due to which they were found ineligible for rehabilitation. DDA carried out a demolition drive in Bhoomiheen Camp after HC, in orders on May 26 and June 6, dismissed a batch of petitions of over 400 petitioners. According to DDA, based on DUSIB policy, which includes dwellers staying in JJ colonies before Jan 1, 2015, 1,862 households from the camp were found eligible and allotted EWS category flats at Kalkaji Extension.
Indian Express
17-06-2025
- Indian Express
‘Not stereotyped matrimonial dispute': Delhi HC denies bail to man accused of forcing wife into ‘partner swap'
The Delhi High Court recently denied bail to a man who had allegedly forced his wife into 'partner-swapping' and asked people on social media to have sex with her for money. 'The allegations in the FIR are not the stereotyped matrimonial dispute…the accused/applicant (husband) started compelling her (his wife) to agree for wife swapping and for that purposes.. he took her to a hotel where his friends molested her, so she ran away; and that the accused or applicant created her fake Insta ID and started sending her pictures on the social media, soliciting people to make sexual relations with her for money,' noted Justice Girish Kathpalia in his order dated June 9. The woman had recorded her statement before a magistrate court in Delhi alleging that her partner had raped her on multiple occasions. As per the FIR, the woman had also alleged that her brother-in-law used to sexually harass her by touching her inappropriately. It had also been alleged that when she informed his husband of this incident, she was asked to 'ignore the humiliation' and had allegedly resorted to hurting her hands with a blade and forced her to do kitchen work with wounded hands. The man, who had applied for a bail had been booked for rape, gangrape, sexual harassment, cruelty and criminal breach of trust, among other offences. 'Further, it appears that earlier, when granted anticipatory bail, the accused admittedly got in touch with the prosecutrix (wife) and exchanged text chats, copies whereof are on record. It would be significant to note that those text chats were made by the accused under a fictitious name through a new SIM card, but in the investigation, the said SIM was found to be registered in his name,' the court added.
