Kolkata, March 24: With The Calcutta High Court on Monday directing the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to submit a comprehensive report on the rape and murder of the junior doctor of the R.G. Kar Medical College & Hospital, the victim’s father welcomed the court’s intervention.

“The judge has asked the CBI to determine how many people were involved and take further action. They have been directed to present the case diary in court on Friday. We trust the judiciary and believe that justice will prevail,” the father said.

The parents had moved the court raising concerns raised over the slow pace of the investigation and alleged attempts to shield those responsible.

The father also criticised the state government’s inconsistent stand, saying: “Sometimes they say there is no objection, other times they raise objections. We don’t understand their position. What investigation did they conduct in the first five days? Do they even have the right to question the probe?”

The victim’s mother also expressed dissatisfaction with the probe, alleging that her daughter was tortured at the hospital for refusing to accept fake medicines, injections, and saline.

“The CBI has not been able to conduct a proper probe yet. From the beginning, we maintained that Sanjay Roy was not the only accused of my daughter’s murder. Her colleagues, VP, Sandeep Ghosh, and others are involved in this institutional murder,” she claimed.

She further alleged that the state’s Mamata Banerjee government had been obstructing the investigation since August 9, despite her daughter being a government employee who died while on duty.

“The Health Minister and the Chief Minister were responsible for identifying those involved. But from day one, there have been efforts to cover up the matter. However, we will not give up. There may be delays, but we will get justice,” she asserted.

The Supreme Court, which is hearing the case, had recently permitted parallel hearings in the case at the Calcutta High Court, following which the victim’s parents approached the court with a fresh plea questioning the CBI’s progress.

Mumbai, March 24: Amid raging controversy after he referred to Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde as a “traitor” in his show, the stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra on Monday shared a photo of himself holding a pocket version of the Constitution with a caption “The only way forward”.

Kamra’s move comes after Shiv Sena strongly protested against him and vandalised the hotel where the show was held on Sunday. They have also registered complaints in various police stations.

Shiv Sena workers vandalised Hotel Unicontinental in Mumbai’s Khar area where Kamra’s show with ‘gaddar’ (traitor) jibe at Eknath Shinde was filmed. They sought an FIR against him.

“Meri nazar se tum dekho to gaddar nazar wo aaye. Haaye,” Kunal Kamra said during his show. He mocked Eknath Shinde using a modified version of a Hindi song from “Dil To Pagal Hai”, eliciting laughter from the audience. The comedian shared the video clip on the social networking platform X. Kamra alluded to Eknath Shinde’s 2022 rebellion, which led to the split of Shiv Sena into the Shinde faction and the Uddhav Thackeray faction.

The police have registered a case against Shiv Sena social media in-charge Rahool Kanal and 19 others in connection with protest and vandalism. Kanal has also filed a criminal complaint against Kamra.

Kanal told reporters “The phone recording has been handed over to the Mumbai Police. We are residents of Mumbai. We are law-abiding people. We respect the Mumbai Police. We came here (at the police station) because they called us. This is the trailer, the picture is still pending. Someone has spoken a few words about our elders, our gods, whom we consider leaders, today, if some big man speaks tomorrow, we will also go to his house.”

“Freedom of speech does not mean entering someone’s house, insulting the elders of the house, using abusive language. Criticism should be constructive. I come from an educated family. Freedom of speech should be used in the right place. Criticize in a constructive manner,” said Kanal, adding that he would follow the legal process. “It is our demand that Mumbai Police should register an FIR.

“Shinde Saheb’s fans are in India. There are 16 cases pending against such a person (Kunal Kamra) who has used abusive language against the Prime Minister, Home Minister, Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister. I cannot tolerate insulting my elders,” said Kanal.

Commenting on Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut, who praised Kunal Kamra, Kanal said, “I demand that Sanjay Raut also be made an accused. 34 minutes after Kunal Kamra tweeted, Sanjay Raut immediately tweeted about Kunal’s greatness. Will it work if you write about your elders like Kunal’s greatness? Answer politics with politics and actions. What kind of hypocrisy is this.”

Meanwhile, state Congress leader Sachin Sawant in his post on X said, “A simple NC (non-cognisable offence) cannot be done based on action when an offence has been registered, it is actually a mockery of the law and the purpose is to scare the opponents. On the other hand, threats are openly issued by the ruling party. If the MahaYuti alliance makes different laws for those in power and those in opposition …will it be a surprise.”

Hyderabad, March 24: TV anchor and YSR Congress Party spokesperson Syamala Reddy on Monday appeared before the Hyderabad Police in a betting apps case.

Syamala appeared before the investigating officer at Panjagutta Police Station, where a case was recently registered against several social media influencers for allegedly promoting betting apps.

Last week, she approached the Telangana High Court, seeking to quash the First Information Report (FIR).

The court while refusing to grant her relief directed police not to arrest her. The court also directed her to appear before the police station.

Actress Vishnu Priya and Ritu Chaudhary appeared before the police last week in connection with the case.

They were among social media influencers booked for allegedly promoting betting apps and encouraging people to be involved in illegal activities.

The police have issued notices to them directing them to appear before the investigating officer of the case and join the probe.

The case was booked on March 17 based on a complaint made by one Vinay Vangala (40), a private employee, who raised concerns over mobile apps and websites promoting gambling activities in violation of the Public Gambling Act of 1867.

The FIR was registered against Imran Khan, Harsha Sai, Tasty Teja, Kiran Goud, Vishnu Priya, Shyamala, Rithu Chowdhary, Bandaru Sheshayani Supritha, Ajay, Sunny and Sudheer. They include TV anchors and social media celebrities.

They have been booked under sections 318 (4) of Bharat Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 3, 3 (A) and 4 of Telangana Gaming Act and 66D of Information Technology Act 2008.

On March 16, Cyberabad police had booked YouTuber Harsha Sai for promoting betting apps.

The case was booked after a person complained that he lost over Rs 13 lakh in betting.

Cyberabad police also booked a case against Tollywood actors Rana Daggubati, Vijaya Devarakonda, Prakash Raj, Manchu Lakshmi, Nidhi Agarwal and others.

A case against six actors and 19 social media influencers has been registered at Miyapur Police Station on March 20.

The police registered a case on a complaint that several celebrities and social media influencers are actively promoting illegal betting apps, websites and other platforms.