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To ensure absolute impartiality, SC appoints retired HC judge to monitor probe in Lakhimpur Kheri case

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The Supreme Court on Wednesday appointed Justice Rakesh Kumar Jain, a former judge of Punjab and Haryana High Court, to monitor the Lakhimpur Kheri violence probe and to ensure fairness and independence in the investigation.

A bench headed by Chief Justice N.V. Ramana said: “We appoint Rakesh Kumar Jain (retired judge of Punjab and Haryana High Court)…to ensure absolute impartiality in the investigation of the case.”

The top court also ordered the Uttar Pradesh government to include three senior IPS officers, which includes a female officer Padmaja Chauhan, present IG of Uttar Pradesh, on the SIT, which it said would continue with the investigation, under supervision of Justice Jain. The top court said it will list the matter after the charge sheet is filed in the case, and a detailed order will be uploaded on it.

On November 15, the Supreme Court had said it will also consider the names of some retired apex court judge or high court judge to monitor day-to-day investigation in the Lakhimpur Kheri violence incident.

The top court also directed the Uttar Pradesh government to upgrade its task force investigating the matter with some high-ranking officials.

Senior advocate Harish Salve, representing the Uttar Pradesh government, submitted that the top court can appoint a retired judge to monitor the SIT probe. The top court said, “Now, we have a lot of freedom for a retired SC or HC judge. Let us see…” The bench had noted that it will find out a judge who is willing to take up the assignment.

During the hearing, the top court emphasized that the UP government should upgrade the task force investigating the matter. It said the officers must be high-ranking officers, currently there are local Lakhimpur Kheri, sub-inspector level and DSP level officers on the task force.

The bench told Salve that it needs one more day’s time to finalize the name of the judge. “We are considering Rakesh Kumar Jain (former Punjab and Haryana HC judge) or others. We have to consult them”, said the bench.

Salve submitted, “Judge can be appointed from any other state”. Earlier, the top court had said it wanted to appoint a judge outside of Uttar Pradesh.

Concluding the hearing, the top court asked the UP government to look into grievances of victim’s families, who have not been paid compensation. Additional advocate general Garima Prasad submitted that the state would take necessary steps.

The violence occurred on October 3, resulting in the killing of eight persons, including four farmers who were allegedly mowed down by the vehicles in the convoy of Ashish Misra, the son of Union Minister and BJP MP Ajay Kumar Misra.

Crime

‘Will take her back to Odisha after she records statement’: Durgapur gang-rape victim’s father

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Kolkata, Oct 13: The father of the second-year medical student said on Monday that he will take the victim back to Odisha once she records her statement before a judicial magistrate.

The father of the victim also met the West Bengal Leader of the Opposition, Suvendu Adhikari, on Monday afternoon.

Adhikari told the victim’s father that he would arrange the transport facility for the victim. A video of the conversation between the two was also shared on Adhikari’s official Facebook account.

In the video, Adhikari first inquired about the physical condition of the victim. The father said that his daughter was more stable than before. Then the BJP leader advised him that if there was a need for better treatment, then the victim should be taken to Odisha. The father responded by saying that he plans to take the victim to Odisha once she records her statement before a judicial magistrate under section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC).

Adhikari told him that he would talk to the Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and other BJP leaders and Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan to ensure that all necessary arrangements are made in Odisha.

The BJP leader further asked the victim’s father whether West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had called him.

In response, the victim’s father said, “We spoke to the Chief Minister of Odisha. But there was no talk with the Chief Minister of West Bengal.”

Meanwhile, Governor C.V. Ananda Bose expressed concern over the Durgapur incident. On Monday, he left Howrah station for Durgapur in a car.

At the station, he said, “I have taken stock of the entire incident. I am going to talk to the victim. Strict action will be taken against those who did this.”

On Friday, the second-year medical student from Odisha was allegedly gang-raped outside the campus in Durgapur after she went out with her male friend for dinner.

The police have arrested all five accused in the Durgapur gang-rape case.

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Crime

Mumbai: Terrorist Angle Rules Out In Navy Nagar Rifle Theft Case; Police Say ‘Brothers Stole Weapon For…’

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The Mumbai Crime Branch has ruled out any Maoist or terrorist links from the case pertaining to an Agniveer and his brother involved in the stealing of an INSAS rifle, 40 live cartridges, two loaded magazines from Colaba’s Navy Nagar.

The incident took place last month, where both brothers were arrested within 48 hours of the theft from Asifabad in Telangana, a region which is known for its Naxal activity.

The brothers stole the weapon for their own protection as their is Maoist scare in their village. Speaking of the investigation, a senior officer TOI, “They said since Rakesh had only a four-year service tenure, they wanted to keep the weapon for their own protection as their village in Telangana’s Kumuram Bheed Asifabad is Maoist-affected. The officer also added that Rakesh’s brother Umesh wanted to indulge in extortion activities using the weapon.

A chargesheet will be filed for the two brothers for the theft while the sources revealed that currently Alok Singh who handed the rifle to Rakesh has not been given any important duty and is at a detention center.

The report added that police suspect that Umesh, who runs a ration shop in Telangana’s Adilabad district, reportedly instigated his brother to commit the theft. Moreover, the police stated that they believe Umesh has connections to local Maoist through an illegal liquor trade.

On September 6, Rakesh allegedly entered Navy Nagar impersonating a Quick Reaction Team (QRT) member. He then approached Alok Singh, a 20-year-old jawan on radar protection duty at AP Towers, and convinced him that he was sent to relieve him. He convinced him to hand over his rifle along with two loaded magazines.

Rakesh then threw the stolen weapon and magazines over a wall to Umesh, after which the two fled to Lokmanya Tilak Terminus and boarded a train to Telangana.

Later the same day, Alok returned to the radar post around 7 pm to collect his wristwatch, find that the unidentified man had vanished with the rifle and ammunition.

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Crime

Mumbai Police File FIR Against Agent Who Issued Fraudulent Dubai Job Offer To Retired Navy Chief Petty Officer Rakesh Kumar Yadav

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Mumbai: The Sahar police have registered an FIR against manpower agent Vinayak Koli for allegedly providing a fake appointment letter to a retired Navy Chief Petty Officer, Rakesh Kumar Yadav, 56, in an attempt to send him to Dubai.

Yadav, who retired in 2008 and previously worked as a seaman, had connected with Koli in 2021 while they were both working for the same company in Nigeria. In August 2025, while seeking a new job, Yadav responded to a WhatsApp job advertisement for an Electro Technical Officer. He discovered one of the contact numbers belonged to Koli, who then assured Yadav of an overseas position with Prayati Shipping Company.

Koli collected Yadav’s documents and, on October 9, provided him with an offer letter, an invitation, and a flight ticket from Mumbai to Dubai for the following day. However, on October 10, when Yadav presented the documents at Mumbai International Airport, immigration officers grew suspicious. An inquiry confirmed the offer letter was fraudulent.

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