Politics
Allahabad High Court dismisses petition on Taj Mahal, sharply pulls up petitioner
The Allahabad High Court’s Lucknow bench on Thursday dismissed the petition seeking opening of 22 rooms in the Taj Mahal premises.
The two-judge bench ripped into the petitioner who sought opening of the 22 locked rooms, stating that the truth about the iconic monument needs to come out, and that he has filed multiple PILs for the same.
“Tomorrow you will ask for permission to see our chambers. Please, don’t make mockery of the PIL system,” the bench said during the hearing.
The writ petition, seeking to “find the truth” behind the 22 locked rooms in the Taj Mahal, was filed last week before the Lucknow bench by Rajneesh Singh, who is the media in-charge of the BJP’s Ayodhya unit.
The petition cited the claims of some historians and Hindu groups about the mausoleum actually being an old Shiva temple. The petition has sought the Archaeological Survey of India form a special committee to examine the locked rooms and release the report to the public.
Singh said that the demand is not to make the Taj Mahal a temple but to bring out the truth of the matter for the sake of social harmony. He said that the only way to end such controversy is by examining closed rooms.
Justices D.K. Upadhyay and Subhash Vidyarthi questioned the petitioner on what his plea is. Pointing out that the petitioner wants the court to issue a writ of mandamus, they stated it can only be issued in case of infringement of rights.
“What judgment do you want us to pronounce? Who built the Taj Mahal? Don’t go into historical facts… Mandamus can only be issued when rights have been infringed. What rights of yours have been infringed?” the bench asked.
The petitioner said he is asking for a fact-finding committee to be constituted to get to the bottom of the issue and reiterated his demand to be allowed access to the 22 rooms as the “truth” needs to emerge about the Taj Mahal. Citizens need to know why multiple rooms in the monument are said to be locked due to “security reasons”, he said.
The bench responded sharply, saying: “Who are you asking the information from? If you are not satisfied that the rooms have been closed for security reasons, use your remedies in law to challenge that. Do some research first — do MA, Ph.D, enroll yourself somewhere. Don’t make a mockery of this.”
Several right-wing organisations claim Taj Mahal to be Tejo Mahalaya, a Hindu temple.
Maharashtra
Shiv Sena UBT Leader Mahesh Kotiyal Assaulted By Two Women In Front Of Cops In Navi Mumbai Turbhe

Mumbai: Shiv Sena UBT leader Mahesh Kotiyal was allegedly assaulted by two women on Friday within the premises of the Turbhe Police Station in Navi Mumbai. A video of the altercation has gone viral on the internet, which also shows cops intervening in the fight.
In a video that has surfaced on X, Kotiyal can be seen engaged in a physical altercation with two women. The individuals involved were also heard exchanging verbal abuses during the confrontation. A cop can be seen jumping into the fight to separate both parties and de-escalate the chaos.
The exact cause of the dispute remains unclear. However, videos of the incident have gained attention on social media, prompting discussions among political observers and local residents.
According to reports, the incident took place while Kotiyal was present at the police station in connection with an ongoing matter. The footage appears to show a heated argument escalating into a physical confrontation within the police station premises.
Meanwhile, the incident has raised questions regarding security arrangements and the circumstances that led to the clash inside the police station.
Authorities are expected to investigate the matter and take appropriate action based on their findings. Meanwhile, no official statement regarding the cause of the altercation has been issued so far.
In another disturbing story from Navi Mumbai, a 32-year-old man was arrested by the Ulwe Police for allegedly assaulting his elderly parents, subjecting them to continuous mental and physical harassment, and forcing them out of their home in Ulwe.
The accused, identified as Pramod Abhiman Shinde, was booked following a complaint lodged by his father, Abhiman Bhanudas Shinde (64), an autorickshaw driver residing in Unnati Society along with his wife, Chandani Shinde (62).
According to police, the accused is unemployed and has a criminal background. He had previously faced action under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) and was later externed from Raigad district. Despite the externment order, he allegedly continued to stay at the family residence in Ulwe.
“Instead of supporting his aged parents, the accused allegedly subjected them to repeated harassment and assaults. He would frequently demand money from them and allegedly threaten them whenever they opposed his behaviour,” an Ulwe police officer said.
Police said the elderly couple largely depended on the father’s earnings as an autorickshaw driver to manage household expenses and medical needs. Whenever his father asked him to take up employment and contribute to the family, the accused allegedly assaulted him.
Following the complaint, Ulwe Police registered a case and arrested the accused. Further investigation is underway.
Crime
CBI court sentences firm partner to three years RI in Rs 4 crore bank fraud case

Chandigarh, June 5: A Special CBI Court in Mohali, Punjab, has convicted and sentenced Samir Dua, a partner of M/s G.D. Ispat Udyog, Mandi Gobindgarh, to three years of rigorous imprisonment (RI) along with a fine of Rs 15,000 in connection with a multi-crore bank fraud case, an official statement said on Friday.
The sentence was pronounced on June 4, following the conclusion of trial proceedings in the case investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
According to the CBI, the case was registered against Dalip Dua and Samir Dua, partners of M/s G.D. Ispat Udyog, along with other accused, for allegedly entering into a criminal conspiracy to defraud Indian Overseas Bank’s Mandi Gobindgarh branch in Punjab.
The investigation revealed that the accused had fraudulently secured a cash credit limit of Rs 4 crore from the bank by submitting false and fabricated information and documents.
The loan facility was allegedly obtained through misrepresentation, causing a wrongful loss to the bank and corresponding unlawful gain to the accused, the agency said.
Following a detailed investigation, the CBI filed a charge sheet against the accused persons before the competent court. During the trial, the prosecution presented evidence establishing the fraudulent nature of the transactions and the conspiracy behind obtaining the credit facility.
After examining the evidence and hearing the arguments, the Special CBI Court found Samir Dua guilty and sentenced him to three years of rigorous imprisonment. The court also imposed a monetary penalty of Rs 15,000.
Proceedings against co-accused Dalip Dua were abated due to his death during the pendency of the case.
The conviction marks the culmination of the CBI’s investigation into the bank fraud, underscoring the agency’s efforts to prosecute financial crimes and hold those responsible for defrauding public sector banks accountable.
Maharashtra
Bombay HC Grants Anticipatory Bail To Scrap Trader In ₹3 Crore Cheating Case Linked To Weighing Machine Tampering

Mumbai: The Bombay High Court has granted pre-arrest bail to a Tamil Nadu-based scrap trader accused of cheating a Pune sugar factory of nearly Rs 3 crore by allegedly tampering with weighing machines used to measure scrap material.
Justice Farhan Dubash, on Wednesday, granted pre-arrest protection to Surya Prakash, proprietor of Winmin Metals, while hearing his anticipatory bail plea in connection with an FIR registered at Daund Police Station.
According to the prosecution, Daund Sugar Pvt. Ltd. had awarded scrap disposal contracts to Winmin Metals. The company allegedly lifted scrap material from the factory between April and December 2025. Later, the factory suspected that the weighing scales had been manipulated, causing substantial financial losses.
The FIR alleges that electronic chips were secretly installed in weighing machines and operated through a remote device. This allegedly resulted in lower weights being displayed, enabling the accused to pay less than the actual value of the scrap material lifted from the factory.
The complainant claimed that the alleged fraud came to light after receiving information from another sugar mill in Satara, where a similar case had been registered against the applicant.
Opposing the bail plea, the prosecution argued that three separate complaints involving a similar modus operandi had been filed against the applicant in Satara, Osmanabad and Pune districts. The State contended that custodial interrogation was necessary to investigate the alleged conspiracy and recover evidence.
However, the defence argued that the allegations were based largely on information received from a third party and that no direct proof had been produced. It also pointed out that the applicant had already received interim protection in two similar cases and had cooperated with investigators.
While granting relief, the HC observed that the transactions were commercial in nature and that Winmin Metals had paid over Rs 1.22 crore to the factory under the contract. The court noted that no specific material had been placed on record to show why custodial interrogation was indispensable.
“Custodial interrogation of the Applicant is not warranted at this stage,” Justice Dubash said.
The court directed the applicant to cooperate with the investigation, appear before police as required, and refrain from influencing witnesses or tampering with evidence.
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