New Delhi, Dec 29: AAP Rajya Sabha member Swati Maliwal on Monday welcomed the Supreme Court’s decision to stay the operation of the Delhi High Court order that had suspended the life sentence and granted bail to expelled BJP leader Kuldeep Singh Sengar in the 2017 Unnao rape case, stating that the intervention sends a strong message that crimes against women and children will not be treated lightly.

Taking to social media platform X, Maliwal said: “Welcome the decision of the Hon’ble Supreme Court staying the High Court order granting bail and suspending the sentence of convicted MLA Kuldeep Sengar.”

“In a case marked by extreme brutality against a minor, justice must be uncompromising. This intervention sends a strong message that crimes against women and children will not be treated lightly,” she added.

In its order, a three-judge Supreme Court bench said: “We are conscious of the fact that when a convict or an undertrial has been released, such orders are not ordinarily stayed by this court without hearing such persons. But in view of peculiar facts, where the convict is also convicted for a separate offence, we stay the operation of the Delhi High Court.”

The bench, led by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and comprising Justices J.K. Maheshwari and Augustine George Masih, issued notice to Sengar in the Central Bureau of Investigation’s (CBI) plea and directed that a counter-affidavit be filed within four weeks.

The apex court clarified that Sengar will not be released pursuant to the impugned Delhi High Court’s order.

The CJI-led Bench agreed to examine the submission of Solicitor General (SG) Tushar Mehta, who argued that the Delhi High Court’s interpretation would mean a police constable could be treated as a “public servant” under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, while a member of the legislature would stand excluded.

Appearing for the CBI, SG Mehta said the Delhi High Court “erred” in concluding that a legislator would not fall within the category of a “public servant” for the award of sentence.

Placing on record the trial court’s conviction order, the Centre’s second-highest law officer highlighted that the victim was below 16 years of age — approximately 15 years and 10 months — at the time the offence of rape was committed on her.

Raipur/Bijapur, Dec 29: In a major success against Left-Wing Extremism, a joint team comprising personnel from the Central Reserve Police Force’s 214 Battalion based at Kandlaparti camp and the local District force conducted a search operation in the Kandlaparti area on December 28, successfully recovering and neutralising a Maoist-planted improvised explosive device (IED) along with a significant dump of insurgent materials, said police officials.

During routine area domination and demining activities in the Maoist-affected forests of Bijapur district, a hotspot in the Bastar region known for frequent ambushes and explosive traps, was the target. While sweeping a footpath near the Kandlaparti road, the alert team detected a 5-kilogram IED strategically placed by Maoists to target patrolling security personnel or civilians, the police officials said.

Adhering to strict safety protocols, the CRPF’s Bomb Disposal Team swiftly neutralised the device on the spot, averting a potential catastrophe that could have caused heavy casualties. The IED’s placement highlighted the ongoing threat posed by Maoists, who often use such pressure-triggered explosives to disrupt development works and instil fear in remote villages. Following the successful neutralisation, the forces intensified their search in the surrounding dense jungle, leading to the discovery of a hidden Maoist dump.

The cache contained a variety of items intended to sustain insurgent activities and fabricate further explosives. Among the recovered materials were 20 pieces of firecrackers or crude bombs, a wireless set battery, mobile batteries and chargers, cordex wire along with a pressure switch, electrical wires, various tools, tarpaulin sheets, Maoist uniforms, documents, literature, and other supplies essential for guerrilla operations.

Security officials described the recovery as a severe setback to Maoist plans in the region, praising the vigilance, quick decision-making, and coordinated action of the joint team for thwarting what could have been a deadly attack. Such dumps are typically used by Maoists to store logistics for prolonged stays in the forests while planning ambushes or recruiting from local tribes.

The operation underscores the intensified anti-Naxal campaigns in Chhattisgarh, where new forward operating bases like Kandlaparti have been established to dominate core areas and facilitate road construction and development. Search and area domination exercises are ongoing to ensure lasting peace, secure villages, and encourage surrenders among remaining cadres.

This incident comes amid a series of recent successes against Maoists in Bastar, reflecting the security forces’ commitment to eradicating insurgency and bringing normalcy to one of India’s most challenging internal security frontiers.

Palghar, Maharashtra, Dec 27: In a significant crackdown on the sale of banned tobacco products, the Pelhar Police arrested a shopkeeper for illegally stocking and selling gutkha, seizing contraband worth ₹6.39 lakh.

According to police, the action was carried out on December 25, 2025, during a routine patrol by Assistant Police Inspector Ramesh Waghchaure along with his team.

Acting on specific and reliable information, the police raided Sana General Stores located at Khan Chowk, Nalasopara Station Road, Nalasopara East, Vasai.

During the raid, the shop owner was found in possession of Maharashtra government-banned tobacco products (gutkha), allegedly kept for sale. The accused has been identified as Javed Ahmed Zaheer Ahmed Ansari (38), a resident of Nalasopara East.

Upon searching the shop premises, police recovered banned gutkha products valued at ₹6,39,493. Following the seizure, Pelhar Police registered a case against the accused, invoking Section 123 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita along with relevant provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 (Sections 26(2)(i), 26(3), and 26(4)).

Further investigation in the case is being carried out by Waghchaure. Police officials stated that such drives against banned substances will continue to protect public health and ensure strict enforcement of the law.