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WhatsApp cannot be used as a substitute by police to serve notice to accused: Supreme Court

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The Supreme Court has ordered the police to not use WhatsApp or other electronic modes as an alternative or substitute mode to serve notice to the accused under Section 41A of Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) or Section 35 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS).

Section 41A, CrPc or Section 35, BNSS provides for the issuance of notice to accused, whose immediate arrest may not be required, to appear before the police or at such other place as may be specified.

The Bench of Justice MM Sundresh and Justice Rajesh Bindal ordered all the States and Union Territories to issue a Standing Order to their respective police departments asking them to issue such notices only through the prescribed mode of service under the CrPC or BNSS.

“It is made amply clear that service of notice through WhatsApp or other electronic modes cannot be considered or recognised as an alternative or substitute to the mode of service recognised and prescribed under the CrPC, 1973/BNSS, 2023,” the Court ordered.

The Court passed the direction in the Satendar Kumar Antil case in which it has previously passed landmark directions to prevent unnecessary arrests of accused or suspects. Since then, the Court has been monitoring the implementation of its orders.

The top court was recently informed that Haryana government has permitted police to serve Section 41A. CrPC or Section 35, BNSS notices through WhatsApp, e-mail, SMS or any other electronic mode.

On January 21, Senior Advocate Siddharth Luthra, the amicus curiae in the Satendar Kumar Antil case, had flagged that the police should not be allowed to circumvent the mandate of Section 41A, CrPC or Section 35, BNSS in this manner, by serving notices through WhatsApp or other electronic modes instead of following the normal mode of service.

It was also submitted that the top court earlier had upheld a Delhi High Court ruling that the notice served through WhatsApp or other electronic modes is not contemplated as a mode of service under the CrPC.

The Court accepted the submission and issued an order directing the police to strictly comply with the directions issued by it.

Further, the Court directed that notices to witnesses must also only be served through the modes prescribed under the CrPC or BNSS.

“All the States/UTs must issue an additional Standing Order to their respective Police machinery to issue notices under Section 160 of CrPC, 1973/Section 179 of BNSS, 2023 and Section 175 of CrPC, 1973/Section 195 of BNSS, 2023 to the accused persons or otherwise, only through the mode of service as prescribed under the CrPC, 1973/BNSS, 2023,” it ordered.

Moreover, the Bench also directed that all High Courts must hold meetings of their respective Committees to ensure the implementation of the top court’s decisions on a monthly basis. This is to ensure compliance of both past and future directions issued by the apex court at all levels.

It further asked the High Courts to ensure that monthly compliance reports are submitted by the concerned authorities.

The Court will hear the matter next on March 18.

National News

Western Railway Announces 4-Hour Jumbo Block Between Vasai Road & Virar On September 20-21 Night

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To carry out maintenance work of tracks, signaling and overhead equipment, a Jumbo Block of four hours will be taken on UP and DOWN slow lines between Vasai Road and Virar station from 00.15 hrs to 04.15 hrs during the intervening night of Saturday/Sunday, 20th/21st September, 2025.

According to Chief Public Relations Officer of Western Railway, Vineet Abhishek during the block period, all Slow lines suburban trains will be run on fast lines between Vasai Road and Virar station.

Some suburban trains will remain cancelled during the block. Detailed information to this effect is available with concerned Station Masters.

*Therefore, there will be NO BLOCK in DAY TIME over Western Railway suburban section on Sunday, 21st September, 2025.*

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National News

Palghar: 12 Year Delay Over Extra High-Voltage Substation In Chikhal Dongre; Activists Raise Concern

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Palghar: While the Maharashtra State Electricity Transmission Company Limited (MSETCL) has been allocated the plot at Chikhal Dongre, virar west, to build an Extra High Voltage (EHV) sub-station, it’s been around five years since the ownership is still with the state government.

MSETCL officials confirmed that the tender process for the EHV substation has already been initiated and that efforts are underway to formally take over the plot. However, the delay has raised eyebrows, especially since the project has been pending for over 12 years. Activists allege that the long delay in setting up the EHV has put enormous stress on existing feeders, which are running at full capacity and frequently overloaded.

They also point out that several construction approvals (thousands of new meter connections) in Virar were granted based on this proposed EHV station, making the project crucial for the area’s growing residential and commercial needs.

In September 2013, MSETCL planned a 220/22 kV substation at Chikhal Dongre, Virar West, costing around 12.34 crores. In January 2020, they were allocated a 23000 square meter plot, but ownership remains with the state government, according to Yogesh Vaidya from Swaraj Abhiyan NGO.

He claims the delay in erecting substations has led to excessive load on existing infrastructure due to increased connections in Virar West. A senior MSETCL officer stated that a work order has been issued and the process for obtaining plot ownership is underway, with plans to commission the substation.

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Mumbai Press Exclusive News

Peaceful protest at Mumbai Handiwali Mosque, Muslims are ready to die for their Holy Prophet PBUH, case against Muslim youths should be withdrawn: Raza Academy

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he streets and mosques of Mumbai and Maharashtra echoed with the slogans of “Come, Muhammad” when a case was registered in UP for hanging a banner of “Come, Muhammad”. Throughout Maharashtra, lovers of the Prophet staged a peaceful protest, during which police arrangements were also deployed. After a case was filed against 25 Muslim youth for hanging a banner of “Come, Muhammad” on Eid Milad-un-Nabi (PBUH) in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, the name of Muhammad (PBUH) is trending on social media around the world. Muslims in Mumbai and Maharashtra also held peaceful protests after Friday prayers against this action of the UP police. In this protest, Muslims have demanded that the action taken by the police is wrong and that they should withdraw the case and apologize to the Muslim youth. Here, in the Handi Wali Mosque, the preacher and Imam Maulana Ijaz Kashmiri said that the name of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is famous in the world and Muslims follow their master. The way an FIR has been registered in UP for writing the name of Muhammad (peace be upon him) is completely unfair and now the police is trying to give it a different color. The police have declared it a separate case to divert attention from it, which is not right. Kashmiri said that the FIR registered by the police against the Muslim youth should be withdrawn and they should apologize because the police have tried to spoil the atmosphere by taking this action. He said that Muslims love the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) immensely, that is why they shower their lives on him. After that, Durood Pak and The slogan of “I Love Muhammad” was raised. The devotee of Rasool showed his devotion and love for the Prophet (peace be upon him) by raising the slogan of “I Love Muhammad” in Mumbai and Maharashtra. The police had made strict security arrangements during this time. In Govindi, Mumbai, MLA Abu Asim Azmi also protested with a placard of “I Love Muhammad” along with this, he said that the most popular and pious personality in the world is Muhammad Mustafa (peace be upon him). The way a case has been registered in UP for writing “I Love Muhammad”, that is why we are protesting peacefully. He said that communal elements object to everything, in such a situation, a conspiracy is also being hatched to spoil the atmosphere of the country, this needs to be paid attention to.

Saeed Noori, head of Raza Academy, said that a Muslim can tolerate everything but cannot tolerate the disrespect of his Prophet and for this he will not hesitate to sacrifice his life because the Holy Prophet (PBUH) is the part of the faith and belief of Muslims. Therefore, we demand that the police immediately withdraw the case registered against the Muslim youth.

Similarly, protest demonstrations were also held in Aurangabad, Mumbra, Nanded, Bhiwandi, Osmanabad in Maharashtra. In the protest demonstration, the lovers of the Prophet (PBUH) held a placard of Come, Muhammad (PBUH) and raised the slogan of Come, Muhammad. Not only that, a memorandum was given to the collector in Nanded and Jantur. In addition, the lovers of the Prophet demonstrated at the square in Beed.

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