Mumbai: A 21-year-old collegian suffered burn injuries after his friend set him ablaze during his birthday revelry in Kurla area of Mumbai on Tuesday, leading to the arrest of five of his friends, police said.

A friend of Abdul Rehman Khan called him up in the morning and asked him to come down to meet them. When Khan arrived at the spot, his five friends made him cut a cake and threw eggs and stones at him.

One of them, identified as Ayaz Malik, brought a bottle of petrol he had kept in his scooter and poured it on Khan. Despite protests by Khan, Malik started a fire using a lighter, police said.

Khan ran towards the watchman’s cabin and asked him to pour water on him. He was rushed to a hospital, where he is undergoing treatment for burn injuries he received on his face, hands, and chest.

Based on Khan’s complaint, police registered an FIR under section 110 (attempt to commit culpable homicide) of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita.

All five individuals, including the main accused Ayaz Malik, Ashraf Malik, Kasim Chowdhary, Huzaifa Khan, and Sharif Shaikh, have been arrested and remanded in police custody.

Kannur (Kerala), Nov 25: V.K. Nishad, the CPI-M candidate contesting from Ward 46 of Kerala’s Payyannur Municipality, now faces a serious legal roadblock to becoming a people’s representative after a court here on Tuesday sentenced him to 20 years in prison in an over-decade-old bomb attack case.

If he wins the upcoming local body polls, his ability to assume office will be severely restricted due to this conviction.

The Thaliparamba Additional District Sessions Court sentenced Nishad and fellow CPI-M worker T.C.V. Nandakumar to 20 years’ rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 2.5 lakh each.

However, the court observed that serving 10 years would be sufficient to execute the sentence.

The verdict has sent shockwaves through local political circles, particularly as Nishad is actively campaigning as the CPI-M-backed LDF nominee.

The case dates back to August 1, 2012, when police personnel were reportedly targeted with country-made bombs in Payyannur town.

The attack occurred following heightened tensions over the arrest of senior CPI-M leader P. Jayarajan in connection with the Shuhaib murder case.

According to the prosecution, Nishad and his associates hurled bombs at the police with the intent to kill, prompting charges under IPC Section 307 (attempt to murder) and Sections 3 and 4 of the Explosive Substances Act.

The court, presided over by Additional Sessions Judge K.N. Prashanth, held both accused guilty of attempted murder and illegal use of explosive materials.

The judge noted that the attack was not merely an act of protest, but a deliberate attempt to cause grievous harm to law enforcement officers.

With the local elections approaching, the ruling has thrown up a serious dilemma for the LDF camp.

If Nishad secures a win, legal and procedural challenges could prevent him from officially taking charge as a municipal councillor due to disqualification norms linked to criminal convictions.

As the political and legal ramifications unfold, Payyannur and Kerala watch closely.

Kochi, Nov 25: A Kerala court on Tuesday announced that it will pronounce its verdict on December 8 in the sensational 2017 actress abduction and assault case, in which popular Malayalam actor Dileep stands as the eighth accused, charged with criminal conspiracy.

The Ernakulam Principal Sessions Court has directed all 10 accused to be present in the Court on December 8.

Dileep was arrested and spent several weeks in jail before getting bail in 2017.

The case stems from one of the most shocking incidents in Kerala’s recent history.

On February 17, 2017, a leading Malayalam actress was abducted and sexually assaulted inside a moving car while travelling from a film set in Thrissur to Kochi.

The prime accused, Sunil Kumar alias Pulsar Suni, was arrested soon after, along with his close associates, all alleged to be part of the assault plan.

After spending seven years in jail, Suni was recently granted bail by the Supreme Court.

Investigators state that Suni had been working on film shooting sets as a driver since 2010 and had known Dileep personally.

According to the police charge sheet, Dileep allegedly harboured deep personal resentment against the actress, accusing her of informing his former wife about his alleged relationship with another actor — a development that reportedly caused friction and led to marital upheaval.

The prosecution claims this strained personal equation led to a conspiracy, with Dileep purportedly seeking revenge by using Suni and his associates to intimidate and humiliate the actress.

Dileep, however, has consistently denied all allegations, claiming he has been framed.

The case, unprecedented for its combination of cinema and crime, has seen prolonged legal proceedings, high-stakes witness testimonies, multiple forensic examinations, allegations of evidence tampering, and intense media scrutiny over the years.

As the court moves toward the long-awaited verdict, the Malayalam film industry, legal observers, and the public are preparing for a judgment that could have far-reaching implications not just for the high-profile accused but for questions of justice, accountability, and the rights of survivors in India’s entertainment sector.