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Time of India
13-07-2025
- Time of India
Foul language doesn't mean stalking, rules Karnataka high court
Bengaluru: Using swear words at each other in private messaging between two individuals could be indecent, but it does not necessarily mean 'stalking', Karnataka high court has ruled, striking down charges of stalking against an Allahabad man who faced allegations of voyeurism and criminal intimidation. Justice M Nagaprasanna, who delivered the ruling, emphasised that for a charge of stalking to be legally valid, it must meet specific criteria laid out in Section 354D of IPC. The section defines 'stalking' as a man following or contacting a woman repeatedly to foster personal interaction, despite clear disinterest from the woman; or monitoring her use of electronic communication. You Can Also Check: Bengaluru AQI | Weather in Bengaluru | Bank Holidays in Bengaluru | Public Holidays in Bengaluru "In the present case, the allegation is loosely laid," the judge noted, adding: "The exchange of messages, even those containing profanity, does not by itself constitute stalking." Background The case involves a Bengaluru-based woman and the accused, who had met in 2022 while preparing for their UPSC exams in Delhi. Their interaction, which was initially based on sharing study materials, gradually blossomed into an intimate relationship. The woman used to stay at a rented accommodation in Delhi, arranged by the accused. However, following a breakup, the woman filed a police complaint in Bengaluru in October 2023, alleging that the man had secretly recorded private footage of her and threatened to circulate it on social media. The case invoked multiple charges under the IPC and Information Technology Act, with additional sections added under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, as the complainant belongs to a Scheduled Tribe community. The complainant even filed a rape case against the accused in Prayagraj on November 2, 2023. The accused man, though, insisted they were in a consensual relationship. Despite the allegations and counter-allegations, the couple's marriage was registered on November 10, reportedly facilitated by their families. However, the complainant later alleged that her consent was obtained under duress and she filed another complaint on December 14, 2023, in Prayagraj. Courtroom drama Partially allowing the petition, the court upheld multiple charges against the accused, including voyeurism and offences under the Atrocities Act, given the accused's awareness of the complainant's ST status. The disputed facts, though, required trial resolution. "The complaint details several serious allegations against the accused, reportedly committed under the promise of marriage. The consensual sexual relationship between both the parties is documented. Regarding the stalking charges, the complainant's allegations primarily concern sexual acts under marriage promises," the judge noted in his order while pointing that the offence of stalking was loosely laid against the petitioner.
Time of India
26-06-2025
- Time of India
Kashmiri man gets 5-yr jail term for anti-national activities, fraud in Odisha
Jajpur: A court in Jajpur district on Thursday sentenced a 37-year-old Kashmiri man to five years of rigorous imprisonment for anti-national activities and fraud, two years after his arrest. Sayed Isham Bukhari from Kupwara district in Jammu & Kashmir, was convicted by the judicial magistrate first class (JMFC), Chandikhol, under multiple sections of the IPC and Information Technology Act. The charges include cheating, forgery, impersonation, and links with anti-national elements. Bukhari was arrested on Dec 15, 2023, by the special task force (STF) and district police from Millatnagar village under Dharmasala police limits. He had been posing as a doctor and living intermittently in the area since 2017 when he married a local woman after meeting her on Facebook. "During investigation, police seized fake medical degrees allegedly from the USA, Canada, and Vellore," said public prosecutor Jagannath Mallick. The court's verdict was based on testimonies from 18 witnesses and 130 documents. Local residents had previously reported Bukhari's suspicious activities during the 2019 Covid-19 pandemic. Although police questioned him, he was released for lack of evidence. This case follows a 2018 incident where the National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested another person from the region, Habibur Rahman of Kendrapada district, for alleged links with Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). Bukhari had been staying in Odisha since 2018 by masquerading as a doctor in the PMO and Army. Bukhari, who married multiple women in different states, has a wife and a daughter in Odisha.
Time of India
19-06-2025
- Time of India
Two arrested for illegal SIM card sale to cybercrime gangs
Lucknow: The UP special task force (STF) on Thursday arrested two wanted criminals from an organised gang that supplied illegally activated SIM cards to cybercrime syndicates across the country. The arrests were made in the Lal Gopalganj area under Nawabganj police station limits of Prayagraj district. The accused operated in connivance with telecom company officials to activate SIM cards using fraudulent means and forged documents. Those arrested have been identified as Sandeep Pandey (35) and Mohammed Naufeel (34). Sandeep is son of Raghvendra Pandey, resident of Suniyawan Ghasi ka Purwa, Hathigwan, Pratapgarh. He had a Rs 25,000 bounty declared against him by Chitrakoot police. Naufeel is the son of Hussain Arif, a resident of Kilhanapur Malaka Rajakpur, Hathigwan, Pratapgarh. He operates a mobile shop, 'Marshal Mobile', in Lal Gopalganj, Prayagraj. The STF seized four mobile phones, 239 blank SIM cards, 36 Aadhaar cards, three ATM cards, one driving licence, a voter ID card, two PAN cards and three biometric fingerprint scanners. Earlier, on May 15, STF had arrested six members of the gang from Chitrakoot, including its mastermind. During interrogation, Sandeep emerged as a key associate, following which a cash reward was declared for his arrest. Under the supervision of additional SP STF Vishal Vikram Singh, a cyber team developed technical intelligence. Based on human and technical inputs, Sandeep and Naufeel were apprehended on June 18 at 1:05pm in Prayagraj. Singh said that investigations revealed that the gang operated by forging customer identities to register multiple SIMs through POS IDs. Telecom officials, including territory sales executives (TSEs), were complicit in the racket. For each customer, two SIMs were activated: one handed to the customer, the other retained and sold to cybercrime syndicates. "Fake Aadhaar cards and forged documents were used for digital KYC. Once a batch of 200-300 pre-activated SIMs was ready, they were sold at rates ranging from Rs150-Rs 250 per SIM to various clients, including known cybercriminals," he said. Sandeep, who previously worked at a telecom recharge firm, connected with Naufeel, a mobile shop owner, and began supplying SIMs sourced from one Shiv Dayal and some telecom employees. Naufeel, in turn, sold the SIMs to buyers such as Sihan Sheikh, currently residing in Mumbai. STF said the gang illegally activated over 10,000 SIM cards over the past 2-3 years. A case has been registered at Rajapur police station in Chitrakoot district under IPC and Information Technology Act.
