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Business Standard
28-06-2025
- Politics
- Business Standard
Efforts underway to form popular govt in Manipur: Ex-CM N Biren Singh
Former Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh on Saturday said efforts are underway for setting up a popular government in the state, which is now under the President's rule. Speaking at the sidelines of a programme at the BJP state headquarters here, Singh expressed hope that a new government will be formed in Manipur soon. "We are working to form a government at the earliest. We are a national party. I have faith that a government will be formed soon after looking into the ground situation. The BJP and its allies want a popular government as well. We are working for the formation of a popular government," he said. Singh said the BJP has not criticised anybody and is concentrating only on the present crisis. "We are approaching the central government and concerned persons to bring an amicable solution and peace in the state. In the meantime, we are also working to form a popular government with frequent gatherings of MLAs. Everybody wants the restoration of peace. Peace is compulsory. In the last seven or eight months, there have been no reports of fighting between communities," the former CM said. More than 260 people have been killed and thousands rendered homeless in ethnic violence between Meiteis and Kuki-Zo groups since May 2023. The Centre had on February 13 imposed President's rule in Manipur after Singh resigned as the chief minister. The state assembly, which has a tenure till 2027, has been put under suspended animation. Singh said the central government is trying to restore peace in the state. To a media query, he mentioned, "I have said earlier that illegal immigrants and drug cartels have affected the entire North East as well as the whole nation. Slowly, everyone has come to understand this issue. This change is a positive sign, and together we can fight these elements." Meanwhile, BJP Manipur unit president Adhikarimayum Sharda Devi, speaking at a book release function, said that it is not the time to discuss elections now, but it is the time to focus on peace initiatives. She told reporters, "The people want a popular government. The BJP is trying to bring a popular government and will work to realise the desire of the people. It is not the time to discuss for election now. We must focus on the process and progress of peace initiatives. I want to appeal to them to understand the pulse of the people and work accordingly." Sharda also said, "The question of whether the BJP is united or not will be known gradually. There is something called slow and steady wins the race." A book on the Emergency was released at the BJP Manipur state headquarters in Imphal on Saturday. Singh, in a post on X, said, "Pleased to release the book, 'The Emergency Diaries-Years that forged a leader" at Thambal Shanglen, Imphal today. The book offers a vivid account of Hon'ble Prime Minister, Shri @narendramodi ji's life during the dark period of Emergency and his resistance against tyrannical rule and oppression." Sharda, in another post, said, "This compelling work explores the untold stories of resistance during one of the darkest chapters in India's democratic history. It vividly captures the courage and conviction of Hon'ble PM, Adarniya Shri Narendra Modi ji, a young RSS pracharak then, his pivotal role in the fight against the Emergency." "A must-read for anyone who values democracy, resilience, and leadership forged in adversity," she said.
Time of India
21-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Wife's WhatsApp chats obtained via 'spy app' used as valid evidence about her extramarital affair in Divorce case, what Madhya Pradesh HC said
In a crucial ruling, the Madhya Pradesh High Court has reportedly permitted a husband to present his wife's private WhatsApp chats as evidence in a divorce case, even though they were obtained without her consent. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The court's decision, based on Section 14 of the Family Courts Act , 1984, allows Family Courts to consider evidence that may not be admissible under the Indian Evidence Act, 1872, to resolve disputes like divorce. The case arose when the husband, using a special app (spy app) installed on his wife's phone without her knowledge, accessed her private WhatsApp conversations. These chats allegedly revealed an extramarital affair, prompting the husband to seek divorce on grounds of cruelty and adultery. The wife's legal team objected, arguing that presenting the chats violated her under Article 21 of the Constitution and Sections 43, 66, and 72 of the Information Technology Act, 2000. They further contended that evidence obtained illegally should be inadmissible. Rejecting these arguments, the High Court emphasized that while the right to privacy is a fundamental right under Article 21, it is not absolute and is subject to limitations. Citing Supreme Court judgments, including the Sharda and Puttaswami cases, the court noted that statutory provisions like Section 14 of the Family Courts Act and Section 122 of the Indian Evidence Act permit limited invasions of privacy in the interest of justice. The court framed the issue as a conflict between two fundamental rights under Article 21: the wife's right to privacy and the husband's right to a fair trial. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now It ruled that the right to privacy must yield to the right to a fair trial, which has broader implications for public justice. 'A litigating party has a right to bring relevant evidence before the court,' the court stated, adding that denying this opportunity would undermine the Family Courts Act's intent. The High Court clarified that it was not ruling on the authenticity of the WhatsApp chats, leaving that determination to the Family Court. If the chats are deemed genuine, they could support the husband's case for divorce on grounds of cruelty and adultery. This ruling has sparked debate over the balance between privacy rights and the pursuit of justice in family disputes, with potential implications for how digital evidence is handled in Indian courts.
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Business Standard
19-06-2025
- Business Standard
Wife's WhatsApp chats can be used as evidence in divorce: MP High Court
The Madhya Pradesh High Court has held that a woman's private WhatsApp chats, accessed without her consent, can still be admissible as evidence in divorce proceedings under Section 14 of the Family Courts Act, 1984, LiveLaw reported. The court emphasised that while the right to privacy is enshrined as a fundamental right under Article 21 of the Constitution, it is not absolute and can be subject to reasonable restrictions—particularly when it clashes with another constitutional guarantee: the right to a fair trial. What is the case? The case involved a couple from Gwalior who got married on December 1, 2016. They had a daughter the following year. But the relationship soon soured. In 2018, the husband moved court, seeking divorce under Section 13 of the Hindu Marriage Act. He alleged cruelty and adultery, backing his claims with WhatsApp chats retrieved from his wife's phone via an app he had installed without her knowledge. These chats, he claimed, proved that she was involved in an extramarital affair. The family court in Gwalior allowed the chats to be admitted as evidence in April 2024. Meanwhile, the wife challenged this order in the high court, arguing that her fundamental right to privacy had been breached and that the chats were gathered illegally, violating Sections 43, 66, and 72 of the Information Technology Act. Her counsel argued that the husband's act of installing spyware on her phone was unlawful and that evidence collected through such methods should be deemed inadmissible. The high court, however, disagreed. What did the court say? While recognising the wife's right to privacy, the bench stated that in matters of legal dispute, the right to a fair trial holds equal—if not greater—weight. The court leaned on important Supreme Court verdicts, including Sharda v Dharmpal and Justice KS Puttaswamy v Union of India, to make its point. 'It is a settled concept of fair trial that a litigating party gets a fair chance to bring relevant evidence before the court… the right to privacy may have to yield to the right to fair trial,' the court said in its judgement. The bench explained that Section 14 of the Family Courts Act was purposefully created to allow more flexibility in admitting evidence in family-related disputes, even if such evidence would not be admissible under the Indian Evidence Act, 1872. The court clarified that merely admitting such material as evidence does not imply that its content is accepted as true. That responsibility lies with the family court, which must examine the authenticity, relevance, and credibility of the chats. 'Merely admitting evidence on record is not proof of a fact-in-issue,' the high court said. 'The family court is free to either accept, discard, or assign weight to any piece of evidence during the adjudication process.' The bench further said that allowing such chats to be presented in court does not absolve the person who obtained them of legal liability. 'Such evidence must be received and treated with caution and circumspection, and the possibility of tampering must be ruled out,' it added.
NDTV
18-06-2025
- Automotive
- NDTV
Oben Electric Secures Rs. 50 Crore In Extended Series A Round
Oben Electric, the Bengaluru-based electric motorcycle startup, has raised Rs. 50 crore in fresh capital as part of an extended Series A round concluded in May 2025. This follows the initial Rs. 50 crore raised in January this year, bringing the company's total Series A funding to Rs. 100 crore and overall funding to Rs. 200 crore. The latest round saw participation from a mix of new and existing investors, including Helios Holdings, the Sharda family office, the Kay family, and several other strategic backers. The continued investor interest underscores strong confidence in Oben Electric's product performance, financial metrics, and its emerging leadership in India's electric motorcycle segment. The company plans to utilise the fresh capital to accelerate its retail expansion to over 150 showrooms across 50+ cities by the end of FY26. A significant portion of the funds will also be directed towards fast-tracking development of its upcoming 'O100' platform, which will underpin a new range of electric motorcycles priced under Rs. 1 lakh - targeting the mass market segment. Additionally, Oben will scale up its manufacturing operations at its Bengaluru facility and invest further in strengthening its after-sales service infrastructure. Following its initial Series A raise earlier this year, Oben Electric swiftly expanded its footprint to 37 outlets across 26 cities in 13 states, including key markets such as Punjab, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Odisha. This rapid expansion highlights both robust consumer demand and Oben's strong execution capability. Looking ahead, the company is preparing for a Series B funding round aimed at raising $30 million later in 2025. The upcoming round will support Oben Electric's international foray and further scaling of its production and product portfolio.
Time of India
18-06-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
Oben Electric bags ₹100 crore in Series A funding
Oben Electric , homegrown electric motorcycle manufacturer , has announced the completion of its Series A funding round with a total raise of ₹100 crore. In January 2025, it secured ₹50 crore, followed by additional ₹50 crore in May 2025, taking the total Series A funding to ₹100 crore and overall funding to ₹200 crore. The round saw participation from both new and existing investors, including Helios Holdings, the Sharda family office, the Kay family, and others. The company stated that the new funds would be used to scale manufacturing capacity, expand its presence to over 150 showrooms across more than 50 cities by FY26, and support development of a new product platform named 'O100' targeting motorcycles under ₹1 lakh. Madhumita Agrawal, Founder & CEO of Oben Electric, said: 'The extended Series A funding is a strong vote of confidence from our investors and comes at a time when our momentum is accelerating nationwide. We're expanding not just our retail footprint but also our innovation roadmap with platforms like O100 that aim to democratize electric motorcycles for the mass market. Backed by full vertical integration and a resilient supply chain, this funding prepares us for a new phase of scale, impact, and growth opportunities.' Following the initial Series A raise, Oben Electric rapidly scaled with 37 retail outlets across 26 cities in 13 states, entering key markets like Punjab, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Odisha. Oben Electric designs and manufactures both electric motorcycles and their critical components, including Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) batteries, motors, vehicle control units, and home fast chargers. The Bengaluru-headquartered firm's current lineup includes the Oben Rorr and Rorr EZ. It is also planning a $30 million Series B funding round later in 2025 to support international expansion and further product development.
