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SC junks Maha govt plea seeking direction to Centre to share raw caste Census data

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The Supreme Court on Wednesday junked a petition by Maharashtra government seeking a direction to the Centre to provide Socio-Economic Caste Census on Other Backward Classes (OBCs), after taking into consideration Centre’s contention that data collected is flawed. The Maharashtra government sought raw data collected in the Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC) held in 2011.

The Centre told the apex court that the SECC was resorted to by way of separate decision by Cabinet, which was not an OBC survey but to ascertain caste status of all households in the country. A bench headed by Justice A.M. Khanwilkar noted that as per Union of India the information collated in the exercise is unusable.

The top court recorded Centre’s contention that the data is fraught with mistakes and the information collated during Census was specific to SC and ST only. The Maharashtra government sought the raw Census data for implementing reservation for OBC in the local body elections.

The bench also comprising Justice C.T. Ravikumar dismissed the petition filed by the Maharashtra government, after considering Centre’s submission that SECC-2011 was not an exercise to enumerate the data of backward classes. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta represented the Centre in the matter.

Mehta submitted that SECC-2011 was not a Census exercise undertaken under the Census Act 1948, rather it was done on the basis of executive instructions of the concerned ministry to enumerate the caste status of households in the country for delivery of targeted benefits.

After hearing detailed arguments in the matter, the top court said it cannot issue a direction to the Centre to share the raw caste data of SECC-2011 with Maharashtra, as it will further create confusion.

In the order, the top court said: “The fact remains that the affidavit filed before this court by the Union of India emphatically states that data which is collated is not accurate and not usable.”

The bench added that if that is the stand taken by the government, then “we fail to understand how mandamus can be issued to the respondent to permit the State of Maharashtra to use the date for any purpose”.

Dismissing the Maharashtra government petition, the bench added, “Such direction will lead to confusion and uncertainty, which cannot be countenanced.”

Crime

‘Will take her back to Odisha after she records statement’: Durgapur gang-rape victim’s father

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Kolkata, Oct 13: The father of the second-year medical student said on Monday that he will take the victim back to Odisha once she records her statement before a judicial magistrate.

The father of the victim also met the West Bengal Leader of the Opposition, Suvendu Adhikari, on Monday afternoon.

Adhikari told the victim’s father that he would arrange the transport facility for the victim. A video of the conversation between the two was also shared on Adhikari’s official Facebook account.

In the video, Adhikari first inquired about the physical condition of the victim. The father said that his daughter was more stable than before. Then the BJP leader advised him that if there was a need for better treatment, then the victim should be taken to Odisha. The father responded by saying that he plans to take the victim to Odisha once she records her statement before a judicial magistrate under section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC).

Adhikari told him that he would talk to the Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and other BJP leaders and Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan to ensure that all necessary arrangements are made in Odisha.

The BJP leader further asked the victim’s father whether West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had called him.

In response, the victim’s father said, “We spoke to the Chief Minister of Odisha. But there was no talk with the Chief Minister of West Bengal.”

Meanwhile, Governor C.V. Ananda Bose expressed concern over the Durgapur incident. On Monday, he left Howrah station for Durgapur in a car.

At the station, he said, “I have taken stock of the entire incident. I am going to talk to the victim. Strict action will be taken against those who did this.”

On Friday, the second-year medical student from Odisha was allegedly gang-raped outside the campus in Durgapur after she went out with her male friend for dinner.

The police have arrested all five accused in the Durgapur gang-rape case.

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Crime

Mumbai: Terrorist Angle Rules Out In Navy Nagar Rifle Theft Case; Police Say ‘Brothers Stole Weapon For…’

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The Mumbai Crime Branch has ruled out any Maoist or terrorist links from the case pertaining to an Agniveer and his brother involved in the stealing of an INSAS rifle, 40 live cartridges, two loaded magazines from Colaba’s Navy Nagar.

The incident took place last month, where both brothers were arrested within 48 hours of the theft from Asifabad in Telangana, a region which is known for its Naxal activity.

The brothers stole the weapon for their own protection as their is Maoist scare in their village. Speaking of the investigation, a senior officer TOI, “They said since Rakesh had only a four-year service tenure, they wanted to keep the weapon for their own protection as their village in Telangana’s Kumuram Bheed Asifabad is Maoist-affected. The officer also added that Rakesh’s brother Umesh wanted to indulge in extortion activities using the weapon.

A chargesheet will be filed for the two brothers for the theft while the sources revealed that currently Alok Singh who handed the rifle to Rakesh has not been given any important duty and is at a detention center.

The report added that police suspect that Umesh, who runs a ration shop in Telangana’s Adilabad district, reportedly instigated his brother to commit the theft. Moreover, the police stated that they believe Umesh has connections to local Maoist through an illegal liquor trade.

On September 6, Rakesh allegedly entered Navy Nagar impersonating a Quick Reaction Team (QRT) member. He then approached Alok Singh, a 20-year-old jawan on radar protection duty at AP Towers, and convinced him that he was sent to relieve him. He convinced him to hand over his rifle along with two loaded magazines.

Rakesh then threw the stolen weapon and magazines over a wall to Umesh, after which the two fled to Lokmanya Tilak Terminus and boarded a train to Telangana.

Later the same day, Alok returned to the radar post around 7 pm to collect his wristwatch, find that the unidentified man had vanished with the rifle and ammunition.

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Crime

Mumbai Police File FIR Against Agent Who Issued Fraudulent Dubai Job Offer To Retired Navy Chief Petty Officer Rakesh Kumar Yadav

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Mumbai: The Sahar police have registered an FIR against manpower agent Vinayak Koli for allegedly providing a fake appointment letter to a retired Navy Chief Petty Officer, Rakesh Kumar Yadav, 56, in an attempt to send him to Dubai.

Yadav, who retired in 2008 and previously worked as a seaman, had connected with Koli in 2021 while they were both working for the same company in Nigeria. In August 2025, while seeking a new job, Yadav responded to a WhatsApp job advertisement for an Electro Technical Officer. He discovered one of the contact numbers belonged to Koli, who then assured Yadav of an overseas position with Prayati Shipping Company.

Koli collected Yadav’s documents and, on October 9, provided him with an offer letter, an invitation, and a flight ticket from Mumbai to Dubai for the following day. However, on October 10, when Yadav presented the documents at Mumbai International Airport, immigration officers grew suspicious. An inquiry confirmed the offer letter was fraudulent.

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