Crime
Gyanvapi case now posted for Thursday
The hearing in the Varanasi Gyanvapi Mosque case will now be held from Thursday.
In accordance with the Supreme Court’s orders, the court will take up the Muslim side’s application on the maintainability of the suit under order 7, rule 11.
The process of hearing in the case will start on Thursday (May 26), with the ‘maintainability’ issue coming first. The court also ordered the two sides to file affidavits with their objections to the survey report within a week.
The mosque committee says that filming at the mosque violates a 1991 law that prevents the alteration of the character of any place of worship in the country. It wanted the ‘maintainability’ case to be heard first, which the court has agreed to.
The Supreme Court had asked the Varanasi court to decide on priority whether the survey at the Gyanvapi mosque and the petition that led to the survey was ‘maintainable’ or not.
“I told the court that it is a mandate of the Supreme Court that our application saying the case is not maintainable should be heard first. I read out my application and also the Supreme Court order. The opposing counsel said he needed more documents and time to file objections to our application, but I said the maintainability must be decided first,” said Abhay Nath Yadav, a lawyer for the Mosque committee.
The court also said that both the sides be given copies of the video survey and one week’s time to file their objections, if any.
Early last week, lawyers representing the Hindu petitioners claimed that a ‘Shivling’ was found during the videography survey of the Gyanvapi mosque-Shringar Gauri complex.
The claim was disputed by the mosque committee members who said it was part of the water fountain mechanism in the wuzukhana reservoir, used by devotees to perform ritual ablutions before offering namaz. The district court had then ordered the sealing of the ‘wuzukhana’.
This application relates to whether the reliefs sought by the five Hindu petitioners can even be granted by a court of law. The Muslim side is expected to argue that the suit is barred by the 1991 Place of Worship Act.
There are no specific orders yet on whether the matter will be heard on a day-to-day basis from May 26 onwards. Preliminary arguments will begin on May 26.
The district judge Dr A.K. Vishvesha has also asked for objections to the Gyanvapi mosque survey report filed by the commission from both parties.
It may be recalled that a petition filed in 1991 in a Varanasi court claimed that the Gyanvapi Mosque was built on the orders of Aurangzeb by demolishing a part of the Kashi Vishwanath Temple during his reign in the 16th century.
The petitioners and local priests sought permission to worship in the Gyanvapi Mosque complex.
The Allahabad High Court in 2019 ordered a stay on an ASI survey that was requested by the petitioners.
The current controversy started when five Hindu women sought to routinely worship Shringar Gauri and other idols within the Gyanvapi mosque complex.
Last month, a Varanasi court ordered a videographed survey of the Gyanvapi Masjid complex after the five Hindu women filed pleas, seeking to worship behind the western wall of the premises.
Crime
SC urged to initiate suo motu contempt action over social media post targeting CJI, INDIA bloc protest

New Delhi, Oct 13: A Supreme Court lawyer has approached Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant seeking consideration of suo motu criminal contempt proceedings over a now-deleted social media post by Congress Kerala targeting the CJI and the Opposition’s protest march to the apex court.
In his complaint-cum-representation, advocate Vineet Jindal urged the CJI to examine whether the post and the reported demonstration and slogan-shouting inside the apex court premises raised issues warranting action under the law, particularly in view of concerns over the security and orderly functioning of the Supreme Court.
The Congress Kerala unit had posted on X: “Dear Surya Kant, If law and order is not your domain, resign now. We will find your replacement who can handle it.”
Jindal submitted that the publication should be examined in its complete factual and legal context to determine whether it fell within the bounds of permissible political criticism or warranted consideration under Section 2(c) of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971.
He referred to Article 129 of the Constitution, which empowers the Supreme Court to punish for contempt of itself, and sought consideration of suo motu proceedings, if warranted.
The advocate further sought an examination of the reported demonstration during the filing of a petition by Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and other INDIA bloc leaders to ascertain whether any restricted area was entered without authorisation, security instructions were violated, or the functioning of the top court was obstructed.
Jindal urged the preservation and examination of relevant CCTV footage, access-control logs, security deployment records and other evidence before any conclusion is drawn.
Earlier, the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) and the Supreme Court Advocates-on-Record Association (SCAORA) had separately condemned statements calling for the CJI’s resignation, cautioning that such remarks risk undermining judicial dignity and interfering with the administration of justice.
The INDIA bloc’s march on Monday was held to protest alleged electoral irregularities and the SIR exercise.
A delegation of Opposition leaders subsequently approached the Supreme Court with a joint petition challenging the electoral roll revision process.
Meanwhile, lawyers have approached the Supreme Court in connection with Monday’s incident at the apex court registry, when Opposition leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, arrived to file a petition challenging the SIR exercise.
When senior advocate Gaurav Bhatia mentioned the matter before the top court on Tuesday, the CJI asked, “Is it in the mentioning list?” After Bhatia replied in the negative, the CJI said, “Just mention tomorrow.”
Delhi Police have also registered four FIRs in connection with the INDIA bloc’s protest march, police sources said. The cases were registered at the Tilak Marg, Mandir Marg and Barakhamba police stations for alleged violations of Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS).
Two FIRs were registered at Tilak Marg police station and one each at Mandir Marg and Barakhamba police stations. Separately, several protesters, including Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) members Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das, were detained at Jantar Mantar during a flash protest.
Crime
Bihar East Champaran police raid land mafia’s house; seize Rs 27 lakh cash, arms

Patna, Oct 13: East Champaran Police raided the residence of an alleged land mafia in Bihar’s Motihari and seized Rs 27 lakh in cash, four firearms, around 100 cartridges and more than 65 land-related documents, officials said on Tuesday.
Sharma’s son, Sahil Sharma, was arrested during the operation, while Rakesh Sharma was reportedly not present in the house. The raid was conducted on Monday night on the instructions of East Champaran SP Swarna Prabhat.
The team included three deputy superintendents of police (DSPs) and personnel from five police stations. The search continued for approximately four hours, during which officers examined cash, weapons and documents found at the premises.
During the search, police recovered Rs 27 lakh in cash, two rifles, two pistols and approximately 100 cartridges. Six bottles of branded liquor were also seized. Police are verifying the licences and legal status of the recovered firearms.
Investigators are also examining the circumstances surrounding the possession of the weapons and the source of the cash. More than 65 documents related to land registration were recovered during the raid.
The land associated with these papers is estimated to be worth over Rs 15 crore.
Police are examining the documents to establish ownership details, verify registration records, and determine whether any irregularities occurred in the transactions.
Officials have not yet confirmed any wrongdoing involving the documents, and the findings will depend on the outcome of the investigation.
Police are questioning Shahil Sharma about the recovered cash, firearms, liquor, and land-related documents.
According to police sources, Rakesh Sharma’s name has previously surfaced in connection with land disputes and complaints involving alleged illegal business activities.
Investigators are now examining the recovered records and related transactions to establish whether any offences were committed. Police are searching for Rakesh Sharma.
Meanwhile, Chhatauni police are proceeding with the registration of an FIR and examining the legal aspects of the seizure.
Further action will depend on the evidence gathered during the investigation.
Crime
Delhi Police solve Usmanpur robbery case, arrest two accused; stolen mobile phone recovered

New Delhi, Oct 12: Delhi Police solved a robbery case in New Usmanpur area by arresting two accused, including a proclaimed bad character (BC) of Bhajanpura police station. The mobile phone robbed from the victim has also been recovered, officials said.
According to police, the incident took place on October 8, when Man Singh, 28, a resident of South Gamri in Delhi who works as a taxi driver, was walking from 4.5 Pusta towards the parking area at 5th Pusta to collect his vehicle at around 5 a.m.
When he reached a garbage dump, three persons allegedly intercepted him. One of them grabbed him from behind and choked him, while another pressed a knife-like object against his stomach.
Meanwhile, the third accused took his mobile phone and wallet containing Rs 1,500 and his driving licence from his trouser pocket. They also snatched an earring from his ear before fleeing towards Khajuri Chowk.
Following the complaint, a case was registered under FIR No. 639/2026 dated October 8 under Sections 309(4) and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), and an investigation was initiated.
A police team under the supervision of Seelampur ACP cracked the case, arresting the key suspect.
The team analysed footage from more than 150 CCTV cameras and developed local intelligence, leading to the identification and arrest of the two accused on October 9.
The accused have been identified as Arif alias Khujli, 25, a resident of Gali No. 4, 5th Pusta, Gamri, Delhi, and Dilshad Sheikh, 24, a resident of Gali No. 24, 5th Pusta, Gamri, Bhajanpura, Delhi.
During verification, Arif was found to be a “bad character” of Bhajanpura police station, with six previous cases related to robbery, theft and offences under the Arms Act. Dilshad was previously involved in two robbery cases, police said.
During interrogation, both accused confessed to their involvement in the crime and disclosed information about a third associate. On October 10, during police custody remand, the victim’s robbed mobile phone was recovered at Arif’s instance.
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