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Gujarat govt reply in Bilkis Bano case ‘very bulky’, says SC

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The Supreme Court on Tuesday said that Gujarat government’s response to petitions challenging the remission granted to 11 convicts in the Bilkis Bano case is “very bulky”, where, instead of factual statements, a series of judgments have been cited.

A bench, headed by justice Ajay Rastogi, orally observed that he has not come across a counter affidavit where a series of judgments have been quoted.

“A very bulky counter. Where is the factual statement, where is the application of mind?” he asked.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Gujarat government, agreed with the observation made by the court and said it could have been avoided. “The judgments were mentioned for easy reference, it could have been avoided,” he said.

Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, representing petitioners, submitted that he needed time to file the response in the matter.

Justice Rastogi observed that even before he could go through the state government’s counter-affidavit, it was visible in the newspapers. Mehta vehemently argued that strangers and third parties cannot raise the challenge to the release of the convicts.

The bench, also comprising Justice C.T. Ravikumar, granted time to petitioners to file their response to the state government’s counter affidavit and scheduled the matter for further hearing on November 29.

In an affidavit, the Gujarat government told the Supreme Court that it decided to release the 11 convicts in the Bilkis Bano case as they had completed 14 years and above in prison and their behaviour was found to be good and also the Centre had also conveyed its “concurrence/ approval”.

The state government also added that the Superintendent of Police, CBI, Special Crime Branch, Mumbai, and the Special Civil Judge (CBI), City Civil and Sessions Court, Greater Bombay, had, in March last year, opposed premature release of the convicts.

The CBI official, in letters to the Superintendent of Godhra sub-jail, said the offence committed by the convicts was heinous, grave and serious, hence they cannot be released prematurely.

In an affidavit, the state Home Department’s Under Secretary said: “I say that the state government considered all the opinions and decided to release 11 prisoners since they have completed 14 years and above in prisons and their behaviour was found to be good.”

“The Government of India conveyed the concurrence/ approval of the Central Government under section 435 of the CrPC for premature release of 11 prisoners vide letter dated July 11, 2022,” it added.

The affidavit said the state government considered the opinions of seven authorities –the Inspector General of Prisons, Gujarat, the Jail Superintendents, the Jail Advisory Committee, the District Magistrate, the Police Superintendent, the CBI, the Special Crime Branch, Mumbai, and the sessions court, Mumbai.

“After approval of the state government, orders have been issued on August 10, 2022 to release the prisoners. Hence, in instant case, the state has considered the proposals under policy of 1992 as directed by this court and not granted under the circular governing grant of remission to prisoners as part of celebration of ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’,” added the affidavit.

The Gujarat government’s response came on a plea has been filed by CPI-M’s former MP Subhasini Ali, journalist Revati Laul, and Prof Roop Rekha Verma, challenging the release of 11 men convicted for the gang-rape of Bilkis Bano and multiple murders during the 2002 Gujarat riots. Petitions challenging the release of the convicts have been filed by Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra and others.

Crime

Palghar: Vasai-Virar Police Nab Gang Stealing Mobile Tower Batteries; ₹6 Lakh Worth Goods Recovered

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Vasai: A gang specializing in stealing mobile tower batteries has become active in the Vasai-Virar region. The Crime Detection Branch team of the Pelhar Police has successfully arrested members of this gang. Stolen goods worth ₹6 lakhs have been confiscated from them.

While incidents of house burglaries, mobile thefts, vehicle thefts, and chain snatching are occurring in Vasai-Virar, the area is now seeing cases of theft of mobile tower batteries installed for networking purposes.

Recently, twenty-four batteries belonging to the Indus Company’s mobile phone tower, valued at ₹50,000, were stolen by unknown thieves from the Arshad Compound area within the jurisdiction of the Pelhar Police Station. A case was filed at the police station regarding this incident.

Taking the seriousness of the crime into account, Senior Police Inspector Sachin Kamble instructed the Crime Detection Branch team to investigate the matter.

Accordingly, the detection team, led by Assistant Police Inspector Ramesh Waghchaure, Police Sub-Inspector Tukaram Bhople, and their team, started the investigation. It was discovered that a pickup Bolero vehicle was being used for the crimes and that the accused were employed at ARC Company (related to mobile phone towers).

Police tracked down and arrested three individuals: Aurangzeb Sarwar Ansari (19), Parvez Ghulam Rasul Shah (24), and Rafiq Aminsab Sheikh (38). Police reported seizing property worth ₹6 lakh 12 thousand from them.

The operation was conducted by the team comprising Senior Police Inspector Sachin Kamble, Police Inspector (Crime) Shivaji Patil, Crime Detection Team Assistant Police Inspector Ramesh Waghchaure, Police Sub-Inspector Tukaram Bhople, Faujdar Yogesh Deshmukh, Police Constables Tanaji Chavan, Valmik Patil, Abhijit Nevare, Ravi Wankhede, Ashok Parjane, Anil Waghmare, Wasim Sheikh, Amol Masse, and others.

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Crime

One killed, five injured in Trinamool factional clash in Birbhum

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Kolkata, Dec 6: A Trinamool Congress leader was killed, and five others were seriously injured in a violent clash between two factions of the ruling party in West Bengal’s Birbhum district, police said on Saturday.

The incident occurred in the Nanoor area of Birbhum district late on Friday night. The deceased Trinamool leader, who was beaten to death, has been identified as Rashbehari Sardar alias Dodan (50).

According to police, the deceased is known to be a follower of Trinamool Birbhum Zilla Parishad president Faizul Haque alias Kajal Shaikh. The injured were taken to Mangalkot Block Hospital in East Burdwan district. The body of the deceased Trinamool leader has been taken to Mangalkot Sub-divisional Hospital for post-mortem examination.

The clash broke out while villagers were gathered at the Natmandir in Patichhara village in ​​Nanoor during Nabanna festivities. As the group was chatting, another group allegedly launched an unprovoked assault, leading to the fatal attack.

Those who carried out the attack are known to be followers of former Zilla Parishad corporator Abdul Karim Khan, who is close to Trinamool Congress strongman and former Birbhum district president Anubrata Mondal.

The Trinamool factional conflict ahead of the upcoming 2026 state Assembly elections is a matter of concern for the party leadership, sources in the Trinamool Congress said.

Following the incident, there has been widespread tension in the area. A large police force, including a combat force, has been patrolling the villages to ease the tension. Locals alleged that the death was due to Trinamool factional conflict. However, no top leader of the Birbhum district Trinamool Congress has officially spoken about the incident so far.

“One person was killed, and five others were injured in a clash last night. The injured are being treated at a hospital. Some of them have serious head injuries. An investigation has started. Extensive patrolling is being conducted to prevent any further escalation,” said a senior officer of the Birbhum district police.

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Crime

Mumbai Anti-Narcotics Crackdown: 10 Peddlers Held, Heroin & MD Worth Over ₹4 Crore Seized In 6 ANC Raids

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Mumbai: In a major anti-narcotics crackdown, the Anti-Narcotics Cell (ANC) of the Mumbai Police has carried out six coordinated operations across the city — Borivali, Khar, Bandra West, Dharavi East and Goregaon — resulting in the arrest of 10 drug peddlers and the seizure of heroin and mephedrone (MD) worth more than ₹4 crore.

A total of 739 grams of heroin, 452 grams of mephedrone, and ₹5,87,000 in cash were recovered during the operations.

ANC Kandivali Unit has arrested a duo for selling heroin illegally in Borivali with 511 g of heroin worth approx. ₹2.04 crore, along with a mixer grinder and drug-processing equipment.

In a second action near Devipada Subway on Western Express Highway, two more persons were arrested with 123 g of heroin worth approx. ₹49 lakh.

In Goregaon East, one man was arrested while selling MD; police seized 230 g of MD worth approx. ₹57.5 lakh. All three cases are being further investigated by the Kandivali Unit.

ANC Bandra Unit has arrested two peddlers for selling heroin and seized 105 g of heroin worth approx. ₹15.75 lakh. Investigation is underway under the Bandra Unit.

Whereas ANC Azad Maidan Unit has booked two persons in Goregaon West for selling MD and seized 122 g of MD worth approx. ₹36.6 lakh. Further probe by the Azad Maidan Unit.

ANC Worli Unit arrested one person in Dharavi for MD trafficking with 100 g of MD worth approx. ₹25 lakh. The case is under investigation by the Worli Unit. With these seizures, the ANC has successfully intercepted a major distribution chain operating across different suburban pockets of Mumbai.

Police officials said the Mumbai Police is committed to building a drug-free society and will continue tracking and dismantling narcotics networks across the city.

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