Terror Funding Accused MP Engineer Rashid Allowed to Attend Parliament Under Police Custody 2
The Delhi High Court has granted permission to jailed Jammu and Kashmir MP Abdul Rashid Sheikh, also known as Engineer Rashid, to attend the ongoing Parliament session while remaining in police custody. Rashid, who is facing trial under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) for a 2017 terror funding case, will be escorted by police to and from Parliament from March 26 to April 4.
A bench comprising Justices Chandra Dhari Singh and Anup Jairam Bhambhani ruled that Rashid can attend the Lok Sabha proceedings but with stringent conditions. During this period, he will not be allowed to use mobile phones, landlines, or have any interaction with the media.
Rashid had challenged a trial court order dated March 10, which had denied him custody parole or interim bail to attend Parliament. The High Court’s decision comes amidst growing political debates around allowing individuals facing serious charges to participate in legislative duties.
Sonia Gandhi Slams Centre for 'Severely Underfunding' Maternity Scheme in Rajya Sabha 4
Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday launched a scathing attack on the government in the Rajya Sabha, accusing it of “severely underfunding” the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY), which provides maternity benefits to pregnant women. She said this neglect has led to a drastic fall in entitlements and questioned why the government allowed such a situation to arise.
Raising the issue during Zero Hour, Gandhi reminded the House that under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) passed in 2013 during the UPA regime, pregnant women were entitled to Rs 6,000 per child. The PMMVY, launched in 2017 to fulfill this entitlement, only provides Rs 5,000 for the first child and extends benefits for a second child only if it is a girl.
Citing analysis from 2022-23, Gandhi highlighted that while 68% of pregnant women received at least one PMMVY instalment for their first child, the figure dropped alarmingly to just 12% the following year. She questioned the government’s silence on this sharp decline and demanded answers.
Gandhi also raised concerns over the lack of clarity in Union Budget documents. She pointed out that while a scheme named ‘Samarthya’ under the Ministry of Women and Child Development has five components, including PMMVY, the budget allocation of only Rs 2,521 crore for 2025-26 is far from the Rs 12,000 crore required for full implementation.
Calling this severe underfunding a violation of key provisions of a law passed by Parliament, Gandhi said it undermines the government’s responsibility to protect maternal welfare. This was the second time during the Budget session that Gandhi raised sharp concerns, having earlier questioned the dilution of employment guarantees under MGNREGA.
The Supreme Court on Wednesday stayed the controversial observations made by the Allahabad High Court regarding what constitutes rape, slamming the remarks as “insensitive” and “inhuman.” The apex court called the high court’s comments, stating that grabbing a woman’s breasts and pulling the drawstring of her pyjama did not amount to rape, completely alien to the principles of law.
A bench of Justices B R Gavai and Augustine George Masih, hearing the matter suo motu after it was flagged by the “We the Women of India” collective to Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna, described the observations as shocking and unacceptable. The bench remarked that while they are generally slow to grant stays at this stage, the gravity of the situation compelled intervention.
The Allahabad High Court had made these remarks in a March 17 verdict dismissing rape charges against two accused and instead summoning them for the lesser charge of assault with intent to disrobe. The verdict had come in response to a petition by two men challenging a special judge’s order summoning them under Section 376 of the IPC. The case involved an incident where the accused allegedly assaulted a 14-year-old girl and tried to pull her under a culvert after grabbing her breasts and pulling at her clothing.
The Supreme Court said that these observations cannot be used in any judicial proceedings going forward. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta and Attorney General R Venkataramani both expressed serious concern over the judgment, calling for corrective action. The apex court also noted that the high court judge had authored the verdict after months of deliberation, making the insensitivity even more concerning.
The Supreme Court has issued notices to the Centre, the Uttar Pradesh government, and the parties involved, seeking responses. It has also directed the registrar (judicial) to communicate its order to the registrar of the Allahabad High Court for urgent attention by the Chief Justice there. The matter will be heard again in two weeks.
Cash Row Sparks Chaos: Allahabad HC Lawyers on Indefinite Strike Over Justice Varma's Transfer 8
The Allahabad High Court Bar Association has launched an indefinite strike in protest against the proposed transfer of Delhi High Court judge Justice Yashwant Varma to the Allahabad High Court. The move comes amid controversy surrounding the alleged discovery of huge cash at Justice Varma’s official residence after a fire incident.
Bar Association President Anil Tiwari, leading the demonstration at gate number 3 of the court, clarified that the protest is not directed at any court or judge but at those who have, according to him, betrayed the judicial system. “Our fight is against corruption and lack of transparency. We demand a complete reconsideration and withdrawal of the transfer order,” he said.
The Supreme Court collegium, headed by Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna, confirmed its recommendation to transfer Justice Varma, whose judicial work was withdrawn following the cash allegations, to his parent Allahabad High Court. This recommendation was made public in a resolution on the apex court’s website.
The alleged cash recovery occurred after a fire broke out at Justice Varma’s Lutyens Delhi residence on March 14. Although judicial work has been withdrawn from him, Justice Varma has “unequivocally” denied any involvement and called the accusations a conspiracy aimed at tarnishing his reputation.
Tiwari stressed that the lawyers are prepared for a prolonged battle, declaring, “Until a resolution is reached, we will not resume work, no matter the consequences.”
Eknath Shinde Slams Kunal Kamra, Calls His Jibe a 'Supari' Attack 10
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has compared comedian Kunal Kamra’s jibe at him to taking a “supari” (contract) to speak against someone and warned that action leads to reaction. Speaking at a BBC Marathi event, Shinde emphasized that while freedom of speech exists, it must have boundaries, and satire should be respectful.
Kunal Kamra stirred controversy with a parody performance of a song from Dil Toh Pagal Hai, labeling Shinde a “gaddar” (traitor) and mocking Maharashtra’s recent political turbulence, including the splits in the Shiv Sena and NCP.
In response, enraged Shiv Sena members vandalized the Habitat Comedy Club in Mumbai’s Khar area, where Kamra’s show was staged, and also damaged property at a nearby hotel.
Shinde defended the Shiv Sainiks’ reaction, saying, “The other person should also maintain limits; otherwise, action causes reaction.” He accused Kamra of having a pattern of targeting prominent figures, stating, “This same person has commented on the Supreme Court, the Prime Minister, Arnab Goswami, and industrialists. This is not free speech; it’s acting on someone’s behalf.”
Despite the backlash and damage to the venue, Kamra has refused to apologize, standing by his remarks and condemning the vandalism.
Mumbai Teacher Booked for Brutally Beating Class 5 Girl Over False Accusation 12
Police have registered an FIR against a woman teacher for allegedly thrashing an 11-year-old girl in a Mumbai school for merely turning around in class.
According to the complaint filed by the girl’s father, the incident took place on March 21 at a school in Chembur. The teacher reportedly hit the class 5 student multiple times with a cane on her wrist, back, and waist, causing injuries.
The teacher accused the student of talking in class, but the girl’s father claims his daughter was only looking behind, not speaking. Acting on the complaint, police have registered a case under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Juvenile Justice Act. Authorities confirmed that an investigation into the matter is currently underway.
Fadnavis Blames 4 Seats for 2014 BJP-Sena Split; Sanjay Raut Says Break-Up Was Pre-Planned 14
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has revealed that the 2014 split between the BJP and the then-undivided Shiv Sena happened over a disagreement on just four assembly seats. Speaking at a felicitation event for Sikkim Governor Om Prakash Mathur, who was the BJP’s Maharashtra in-charge in 2014, Fadnavis said the Shiv Sena insisted on contesting 151 seats, rejecting BJP’s offer of 147.
According to Fadnavis, the BJP was prepared to contest 127 seats in the 288-member assembly and even offered Sena the chief minister’s post if they agreed to 147 seats. However, the Sena remained firm on 151 seats, citing a declaration made by their ‘yuvaraj’ — a reference widely seen as pointing to Aaditya Thackeray, though Fadnavis did not name him directly.
Fadnavis also recalled discussions with senior BJP leader Amit Shah and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, indicating that despite their willingness to continue the alliance, circumstances led him to become the state’s chief minister.
However, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut responded sharply, claiming that the split was not about seat numbers but a pre-planned move by senior BJP leaders. He admitted that Fadnavis personally wanted to maintain the alliance but alleged that the BJP leadership deliberately engineered the break-up.
Despite the split in 2014, Shiv Sena joined hands with the BJP post-elections to form the government under Fadnavis. But in 2019, the two parties again fell out, this time over sharing the chief minister’s post. The Shiv Sena eventually split in 2022 after Eknath Shinde led a rebellion against Uddhav Thackeray’s leadership, further deepening the rift between the once-allied parties.
"Husband Has No Ownership Over Wife's Privacy": Allahabad HC Slams Man for Uploading Intimate Video 16
The Allahabad High Court has delivered a strong message, refusing to quash criminal proceedings against a man accused of uploading an intimate video of himself and his wife on Facebook. The court asserted that marriage does not grant a husband ownership or control over his wife’s privacy and autonomy. Justice Vinod Diwakar, dismissing the plea to quash the charge sheet, remarked that the act of sharing intimate content without consent is a severe breach of marital sanctity and trust.
The judge stated that such actions violate the core confidentiality between husband and wife, undermining the foundation of their relationship. “A wife is not an extension of her husband but an individual with her own rights, desires, and agency. Respecting her bodily autonomy and privacy is not just a legal obligation but a moral imperative,” the court said.
The case was filed by the man’s wife in Mirzapur district under Section 67 of the IT Act, alleging that her husband, Pradumn Yadav, recorded an intimate act without her consent and uploaded the video on Facebook before sharing it with her cousin and others in their village.
The defense argued that the complainant was his legally wedded wife and hinted at a possible compromise. However, the Additional Government Advocate rejected this defense, stating that being married does not entitle a husband to record and distribute such content. The court’s firm stance reinforces the message that marital relationships are built on mutual respect and trust, and violations of privacy, even within marriage, are punishable by law.
Recklessness in Garb of Freedom of Speech Won't Be Tolerated: Fadnavis on Kamra Row 18
Amid a row over stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra’s alleged defamatory remarks against Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, CM Devendra Fadnavis on Monday said the “reckless” misuse of the freedom of speech will not be tolerated.
Speaking in the state assembly after the issue figured in the House, Fadnavis said Kamra has a history of making low-level comments on the prime minister, Chief Justice of India and the judiciary.
“His modus operandi is to create a controversy for publicity,” the chief minister said.
During his performance at the Habitat Studio at the Unicontinental hotel in Mumbai’s Khar area, Kamra had referred to Shinde as a “traitor” and went on to sing a parody on him.
Kamra used a modified version of a Hindi song from the movie ‘Dil Toh Pagal Hai’ to describe the 2022 rebellion of Shinde against his then boss Uddhav Thackeray.
Fadnavis said Kamra has now targeted Deputy CM and Shiv Sena leader Shinde, and the people of Maharashtra showed through the 2024 assembly polls mandate that who is “khuddar” (self-respecting) and who is “gaddar” (traitor).
“Is Kamra bigger than the people of Maharashtra?” he asked.
The people of Maharashtra have shown that Shinde is the true inheritor of Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray’s ideology.
“Kamra’s aim was to belittle Shinde in the eyes of the people. The opposition is supporting such a talk and one wonders whether Kamra is hand-in-glove with the opposition. He has posted a picture of himself with a red copy of the Constitution book which Rahul Gandhi carries,” Fadnavis said.
“When you attack the freedom of others, your freedom is restricted. If you insult people on constitutional posts to create disturbances by taking supari (contract) to get publicity, it will not be tolerated. No one will object to stand-up comedy and satire. If we behave recklessly in the garb of freedom of speech and expression, it will not be tolerated. Strict action will be taken as per law,” the CM said.
Nagpur Violence: Civic Authorities Demolish Illegal Portions of Fahim Khan House 20
Civic authorities demolish the illegal portions of the house of Fahim Khan, a key accused in the Nagpur violence.
Khan, a leader of the Minority Democratic Party (MDP), has been booked for sedition. He is among the over 100 persons arrested for the violence in Maharashtra’s Nagpur city on March 17.
A few days back, the Nagpur Municipal Corporation issued a notice to Khan, citing various lapses and lack of the building plan approval (for his house), sources said.
At around 10.30 am on Monday, three JCB machines of the Nagpur Municipal Corporation started demolishing the house, located at Sanjay Bagh Colony in Yashodhara Nagar area here, amid heavy security and drone surveillance in the entire area.
The area where the demolition work was being done was completely barricaded.
The house, registered in the name of Khan’s mother, was located on a plot of Nagpur Improvement Trust (Lease) and the lease ended in 2020, a civic source said.
There was no sanction plan for the building and the entire construction was unauthorised, the source said, adding the action was being taken under the MRTP Act.
A notice of demolition was given 24 hours prior to the action, the source said.
MDP city chief Khan is currently lodged in a jail.
The violence erupted in Nagpur on March 17, after rumours spread that a ‘chadar’ with religious inscriptions had been burnt during protests led by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) demanding the removal of Aurangzeb’s tomb in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar.
The clashes resulted in widespread stone-pelting and arson across several parts of the city, leaving 33 police personnel, including three Deputy Commissioner of Police-rank officers, injured.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday said the cost of properties damaged during the violence will be recovered from rioters and the failure to pay up would lead to the seizure and selling of their properties to recover losses.
“My government will not rest until those responsible for attacking the police are found and dealt with sternly,” said Fadnavis, who also heads the Home Ministry.
The CM said those who circulated inflammatory content would be charged as co-accused for their role in inciting violence.
Fadnavis also said it was too early to comment on a foreign or Bangladeshi link to the riots as the probe was underway.
“However, the Malegaon connection can be seen (in violence) as one of the accused belongs to a political party from Malegaon who could be seen helping rioters,” he said without taking the name of Fahim Khan, arrested for sedition.
