Crime
Gujarat govt reply in Bilkis Bano case ‘very bulky’, says SC
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
Trinamool-linked woman panchayat chief among 3 arrested in Bengal Cong leader murder case (Lead)

Kolkata, Aug 16: The police on Sunday arrested three persons, including one Trinamool Congress village panchayat chief, in connection with the murder of a Congress leader, Anisur Rahman, and his 24-year-old son Abu Sufian at Bethuadahari under Nakashipara Police Station in West Bengal’s Nadia district.
The incident had happened late Saturday night. Fatema Bibi, the head of Haranagar village panchayat in Nadia district, was one of the three persons arrested here. Her husband, Jubbar Sheikh, an influential Trinamool leader in the area, has been in judicial custody, and the local Congress leadership accused him of being the mastermind behind the murders of Anisur Rahman and Abu Sufian.
In addition, two of Fatema’s associates, namely Ali Mandal and Mithun Sheikh, have also been arrested. They have already been produced in the court after a medical examination in the morning. The police have sought custody for three of them.
It is learnt that Anisur Rahman and Abu Sufian were returning home in a four-wheeler on Saturday night. At that time, the miscreants blocked their road and allegedly fired several rounds of bullets. The car was forcibly stopped, and the father and son were beaten with sharp weapons. According to sources, both died on the spot due to excessive bleeding.
After receiving information about this incident, the police from the Nakashipara police station reached the spot.
The Congress leadership in the Nadia district has claimed that the country’s oldest national party was fast occupying the principal opposition space in the district after the landslide defeat of the previous ruling party, Trinamool Congress, in the recently concluded Assembly polls.
“Anisur Rahman and his son were playing the key role in regaining our party’s space as the principal opposition force in the state. That is exactly why the father and the son became an eyesore for the local Trinamool Congress leadership, especially Fatema Bibi and his currently jailed husband, who had always been involved with all sorts of notorious and anti-social activities in the district. But no one expected that the sequence of events would take such a nasty turn. It was not just a simple murder. The assassin rather wanted to leave a message through the ghastly manner in which the father and his son were killed,” said a local Congress leader.
West Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee was observing a ‘black day’ throughout the state as a mark of protest against the assassination. Both the current and former state Congress presidents, Suvankar Sarkar and Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, have demanded a speedy probe in the matter and the strictest punishment for those involved in the murder.
Crime
MCD sanitation worker stabbed to death in Delhi Kalyanpuri; accused at large

New Delhi, Aug 16: A sanitation worker employed by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) was stabbed to death while on duty in Delhi’s Kalyanpuri area on Sunday morning.
CCTV footage reportedly shows the accused attacking the sanitation worker with a knife. A Delhi Police team is currently examining the footage and other evidence to trace the assailant.
The deceased has been identified as 24-year-old Anil Kumar, an MCD sanitation worker. According to preliminary information, Anil was performing his duties in Kalyanpuri around 7 a.m. on Sunday when he was attacked with a knife, officials said.
The accused fled the scene after the incident.
Upon receiving the information, the police arrived at the scene and initiated an investigation. Officials said that multiple teams have been formed to apprehend the accused using the CCTV footage.
Following the incident, BJP Trilokpuri MLA Ravi Kant visited the site and condoled the death of the worker.
Speaking to media , he described it as a “deeply tragic” event. “While the rest of Delhi sleeps, it is these workers who perform the task of waking the city up. We stand in solidarity with the victim’s family,” he said.
The BJP MLA stated that the perpetrator has been identified and that strict action will be taken against him.
Kant further said, “I have seen the CCTV footage. Anil was doing his job when the accused suddenly approached and attacked him.”
Meanwhile, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Kondli MLA Kuldeep Kumar spoke to media, stating, “A sanitation worker was brazenly murdered in Kalyanpuri. Has Kalyanpuri become the crime capital? Murders are taking place all over Delhi.”
“Think about the plight of the family of a sanitation worker who performs his job. When he collects garbage, it is not because he enjoys the work; due to financial circumstances and the inability to find other employment, he is compelled to collect garbage. He has been murdered,” Kumar said.
He further demanded a police encounter of the accused to “set a precedent and ensure no one else commits such a crime”.
The AAP MLA also demanded that the victim’s family be provided with compensation and that a family member be given a job.
Crime
Indian Navy sailor, wife and two children found dead at Mumbai residence

Mumbai, Aug 16: An Indian Navy sailor, his wife and their two minor children were found dead at their residence in Navy Nagar, Colaba, in south Mumbai, police said.
The incident was reported on August 15. According to preliminary information from the police, the sailor is suspected to have died by suicide, while the deaths of his wife and two children, aged two months and three years, are suspected to have resulted from poisoning. The exact circumstances surrounding the deaths are yet to be established.
Police said a post-mortem examination is being conducted and further investigation is underway. The findings of the post-mortem and other aspects of the investigation are expected to help establish the cause and sequence of the deaths.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Manish Kalwaniya said a prima facie investigation indicated that the sailor had died by hanging, while poisoning appeared to be the cause of death of his wife and children.
The Indian Navy has also confirmed the incident and said it is extending assistance to the investigation.
“In an unfortunate incident at Navy Nagar, Colaba, an Indian Navy sailor along with his wife and 2 children have been found dead at their residence on 15 Aug 26. Investigation is in progress by the Police and the Indian Navy is extending all possible assistance towards the same,” the Indian Navy said in a statement.
The incident has prompted an investigation by both the police and the Navy. Officials are examining the circumstances that preceded the deaths and other relevant evidence as part of the probe.
The identities of the deceased have not been disclosed in the information available so far.
Authorities are continuing their investigation, while the post-mortem examination is underway to determine the precise causes of death.
Further details are expected as the investigation progresses.
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