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Crime, National, Politics

Rahul granted bail in defamation case filed by BJP

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 The court accepted Rahul’s apology and granted him bail on a surety of Rs 75 lakh. Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar were also present in the court along with the Congress leader. 

PTI, 07 June 2024 : Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday was granted bail by a special court here in connection with a case filed by the BJP’s Karnataka unit for issuing “defamatory” advertisements in mainstream newspapers.


As reported by PTI, the advertisement ahead of Assembly polls last year accused the then BJP government in the state of indulging in large-scale corruption during its 2019-2023 rule.

The court had on June one granted bail to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, who is also the State Congress chief, after they appeared before it in connection with the defamation case, PTI reported.

Judge K N Shivakumar had directed Gandhi to appear before the court on June seven without fail.

In February, the Congress leader attended court proceedings related to the defamation case and was granted bail.

The complaint against Gandhi was lodged by BJP leader Vijay Mishra. Last December, a warrant was issued against Gandhi, prompting him to suspend his Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra in Amethi and appear in court on February 20, where he obtained bail.

The complaint stemmed from remarks Gandhi made during a press conference in Bengaluru in May 2018, during the Karnataka elections. Gandhi’s comments referred to the BJP’s claim of upholding honest politics despite having a party president who was accused in a murder case.

Amit Shah was the BJP president at the time of Gandhi’s statement.

Four years before Gandhi’s remarks, Shah was acquitted by a special CBI court in Mumbai in connection with a 2005 fake encounter case during his tenure as Minister of State for Home in Gujarat.

Gandhi apologised to the court on Friday for seeking exemption from personal appearance in the last two hearings. The court accepted his apology and granted him bail on a surety of Rs 75 lakh.

Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar were also present in the court along with Gandhi.

The BJP had in its complaint filed in June 2023 alleged that false and reckless allegations were made in the advertisements issued by the accused persons on May 5, 2023 in all the mainstream newspapers in Karnataka during campaigning for the Assembly polls, under the title “Corruption rate card”, and “40 per cent Commission Sarkara (government)”.

It was alleged in the complaint that the advertisements were issued by the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee through Shivakumar, in his capacity as its president and by Siddaramaiah, as the then Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly.

Gandhi had put up a post of this “defamatory advertisement” on his social media ‘X’ account, it pointed out.

In a post on ‘X’ after Gandhi personally appeared before the court, the BJP said: “Accused out on bail in the National Herald case, Mr. @RahulGandhi, you are welcome to Namma Bengaluru. We also invite you to experience the consequences of Indian laws for all the misleading and defamatory advertisements you used against our leaders here in Karnataka, which you have failed to prove till today.”
Crime, Politics, West Bengal

Calcutta HC expresses concern over post-poll violence allegations in Bengal, issues directive to submit complaints to DGP

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 The order came following a petition in the high court seeking direction to police to ensure protection to Opposition party workers in the wake of alleged post-poll violence in some places of the state following the elections

PTI, Calcutta, 06.06.24 : Expressing concern over alleged post-poll violence in certain areas of West Bengal following the conclusion of the Lok Sabha elections, the Calcutta High Court on Thursday issued a directive allowing affected people to submit complaints to the state’s Director General of Police (DGP) via email.

The order came following a petition in the high court seeking direction to police to ensure protection to Opposition party workers in the wake of alleged post-poll violence in some places of the state following the elections.

Stating that similar allegations had come up after the 2021 assembly elections, the court asked whether incidents of post-poll violence happened in any other state.

Expressing dismay at reports of post-poll violence following the general elections, the court emphasised the state’s responsibility to prevent recurrence of such incidents.

A division bench comprising justices Kausik Chanda and Apurba Sinha Roy directed that complaints can be sent to the DGP by email by persons who are allegedly affected by incidents of post-poll violence.If the complaint indicated a cognizable offence, the DGP would forward it to the relevant local police station for FIR registration.

The petitioner claimed that affected individuals were hesitant to visit local police stations to file complaints.

The court instructed the DGP to provide a report within 10 days detailing the number of complaints received, FIRs registered, and actions taken.

State counsels argued that the incidents mentioned by the petitioner might not be directly linked to the elections.

Following the conclusion of the Lok Sabha election process, the Election Commission decided to maintain a substantial presence of central forces in the state for some more time.

In August 2021, a five-judge bench of the high court had ordered a CBI probe into all cases of alleged murder and crimes against women, including rape or attempted rape, related to post-election violence in West Bengal following the state assembly elections. PTI AMR RBT NN The bench, in response to PILs seeking an independent probe into alleged violence following the assembly elections, had also ordered the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) comprising three IPS officers of the West Bengal cadre to oversee investigations into all other cases.
Crime, National

Newly elected MP Kangana slapped by woman CISF constable at Chandigarh airport

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PTI, Chandigarh/New Delhi, Jun 06 2024 : Actor and BJP MP-elect Kangana Ranaut said she was hit in the face and abused by a woman CISF constable during security check at the Chandigarh airport on Thursday, the ugly fracas breaking out two days after she was won from the Mandi Lok Sabha seat in Himachal Pradesh.

 
Constable Kulwinder Kaur, who appeared to be upset with Ranaut over her stance on the farmers’ protests, was suspended and an FIR lodged against her, officials said.
 
The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), tasked with providing security at airports, has also ordered a court of inquiry into the incident.
 
In a video statement titled “Shocking rise in terror and violence in Punjab” posted on X after she landed in Delhi, the “Queen” actor said she was safe and fine.
 
Recapping in detail what had happened, Ranaut said she had been getting a lot of calls from the media and her well-wishers.
 
The constable, she said, came towards her from the side. “She hit me in the face and started abusing me. I asked her why she did it and she said she supports the farmer protests.” “I am safe but my concern is that terrorism is increasing in Punjab… How do we handle that?” Another video doing the rounds of social media showed an agitated Kaur talking to people presumably after the incident.
 
“Kangana made a statement that farmers were protesting in Delhi because they were paid Rs 100 or Rs 200. At the time, my mother was one of the protesters,” she said in the purported video.
 
Kaur joined the CISF in 2009 and has been with the aviation security group of the force at the Chandigarh airport since 2021.

She has had no vigilance inquiry or punishment against her in the force till now, the officials said, adding her husband too is posted at the same airport. Terming the incident a serious matter, National Commission for Women chairperson Rekha Sharma called for serious action and said the panel had taken up the matter with the CISF.

Those responsible for security at airport are themselves breaching security, she said in a post on X.
 
Leader of the opposition and former Himachal Pradesh chief minister Jai Ram Thakur termed incident very unfortunate and condemned it.
 
“Such behaviour with an elected representative by security personnel at the airport is very unfortunate and calls for action,” he told PTI.
 
State Public Works Minister Vikramaditya Singh, who lost to Ranaut in the elections, said, “The incident is unfortunate and we condemn it.” He also said action should be taken against the constable.
 
Making her political — and electoral debut — Ranaut defeated her nearest Congress rival Singh by over 74,000 votes from Mandi in her home state.
 
The four-time National Award winner has been a high profile, prominent voice supporting the ruling party on issues like the Citizenship (Amendment) Act in 2019-20 and farmer protests in 2020-21.
 
During the agitation against the three farm laws, Ranaut allegedly misidentified a woman farmer from Punjab and called her Bilkis Bano, an octogenarian who had made international headlines during the anti-CAA protests earlier in the Delhi neighbourhood of Shaheen Bagh.
 
She had then shared a tweet alleging that the ‘Shaheen Bagh dadi’ also joined the farmers’ agitation over the new agriculture laws at various border points of the national capital. She retweeted the post with pictures of two elderly women and wrote that the “same Dadi” who featured in Time Magazine was “available in 100 rupees”.
 
The actor later deleted the tweet after Twitter users pointed out that both the women were different.
Crime, Regional

Man gets 10 yrs rigorous jail in POCSO case

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MP, 6 June 2024, Jalpaiguri: The Jalpaiguri POCSO Court sentenced one Sanjiv Das (25 years at the time of arrest) to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment for raping a 12-year-old girl, leading to pregnancy. 

Judge Induvar Tripathi pronounced the verdict on Wednesday. The accused was fined Rs 5,000 along with three months’ additional imprisonment for non-payment. 
Debashish Dutta, special assistant public prosecutor, mentioned that the incident took place in May 2015 in Jalpaiguri. 
Following this, a complaint was lodged at a police station and the accused was arrested. 
As many as nine witnesses were examined in the case. 
https://www.millenniumpost.in/bengal/pocso-case-man-gets-10-yrs-rigorous-jail-566775
Crime, Regional

Ramakrishna Mission ashram vandalism case in Siliguri: Prime accused arrested

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MP, 2 June 2024, Siliguri: The prime accused in the vandalism incident at Ramakrishna Mission in Siliguri — Pradeep Roy — was arrested by the Bhaktinagar Police and Special Operation Group (SOG) 13 days after the incident. 

Roy was arrested from a bus stand near the Siliguri Railway Junction on Saturday night. A total of 9 people have been arrested in the case so far. The police produced Pradeep at the Jalpaiguri Court on Sunday with a prayer for police remand for seven days. 
Pradeep Roy, is a resident of Bhaktinagar Police Station area in Siliguri. In the past also, he has been involved in many land grab and extortion cases, said the police. On May 19 at around 3:30 am, Pradeep Roy, along with 10 to 12 other miscreants, armed with firearms and other sharp weapons, entered the Ramakrishna Mission Ashram and tried to take possession of it. 
Threatening the monks with dire consequences, they manhandled the monks and forced them out of the premises. 
After the incident, Ramakrishna Mission authorities had lodged a written complaint against Pradeep and others. Since then, Pradeep was absconding. Police sources said he was hiding in his sister’s house in Jalpaiguri. 
When the police arrived, he fled. He had planned to flee to Kolkata or Bihar, whichever bus he would get. Accordingly, he was waiting for the bus at the Junction area on Saturday night, where he was arrested. 
He was booked under sections 457 ( house-trespass), 427 (Mischief causing damage), 325 (Punishment for voluntarily causing grievous hurt), 379 (Punishment for Theft), 506 (Punishment for criminal intimidation), 120B (Criminal Conspiracy) of Indian Penal Code (IPC). Dipak Sarkar, the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) East Zone said: “Further investigation is going on. Actions will be taken as per law.” 
https://www.millenniumpost.in/bengal/ramakrishna-mission-ashram-vandalism-case-in-siliguri-prime-accused-arrested-566271
Crime, International, West Bengal

Cops reach Nepal to probe B’desh MP murder case

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Agencies, 2 June 2024, Kolkata: A police team from Bangladesh has visited Nepal in search of one of the accomplices of the prime suspect in the murder of Bangladeshi MP Anwarul Azim Anar, a source in the Bengal CID said on Sunday. 

The team is in touch with the Nepal Police, who have assured it of all assistance, he added. Anar was allegedly murdered in a posh flat in New Town area near here. 
An arrested person, who police claimed is a butcher by profession, allegedly chopped the body of the Bangladeshi lawmaker into 80 pieces and mixed them with turmeric before disposing them at different locations, including a canal around New Town. 
It is suspected that Anar’s friend and business partner Akhtaruzzaman, who is now a US citizen, plotted the murder. “Grilling the arrested accused, we have come to know that one person, Siyam, and the main conspirator have fled to Nepal soon after committing the crime. It seems that Siyam is still hiding in Nepal while Akhtaruzzaman has gone to the USA,” he told a news agency.
When enquired about when the lawmaker’s daughter would be arriving in the city, the officer said that they were expecting her in a couple of days. 
Police have plans to conduct a DNA test on the flesh recovered from the septic tank of the New Town flat and match it with the daughter. Meanwhile, search for the body parts of Anar continued on Sunday, he added. 
The search for the missing MP, who reportedly arrived in Kolkata on May 12 to undergo medical treatment, began after Gopal Biswas, a resident of Baranagar in north Kolkata and an acquaintance of the Bangladeshi politician, filed a complaint with the local police on May 18. Anar had stayed at Biswas’s house upon arrival. 
In his complaint, Biswas stated that Anar left his Baranagar residence for a doctor’s appointment in the afternoon of May 13 and that he would be back home for dinner. Biswas claimed that the Bangladesh MP went incommunicado on May 17, which prompted him to file a missing complaint a day later. 
https://www.millenniumpost.in/bengal/detectives-start-looking-into-how-tools-used-in-bangladeshi-mps-murder-were-procured-566274?infinitescroll=1
Crime, National, Politics

Delhi court sends Arvind Kejriwal to judicial custody till Jun 5

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PTI, New Delhi, Jun 2, 2024 :  A court here on Sunday sent Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to judicial custody till June 5 in a money laundering case related to the alleged excise scam.


Duty judge Sanjeev Aggarwal passed the order after the chief minister was produced before the court through video conference after surrendering at Tihar jail upon the expiry of his interim bail granted by the Supreme Court for campaigning in the Lok Sabha polls.

The judge passed the order on an application filed by the Enforcement Directorate, seeking extension of judicial custody by 14 days.

The application was moved by the ED on May 20 while Kejriwal was out on interim bail.

The court sent Kejriwal to judicial custody till June 5, noting that the judge concerned was scheduled to pass an order on his interim bail plea on health grounds on that day.
Crime, Politics, West Bengal

Sandeshkhali: Widespread violence in final phase of LS polls in state

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PTI, Kolkata, Jun 1, 2024 :  Widespread violence between supporters of the TMC and the BJP over alleged electoral malpractices in strife-torn Sandeshkhali marred the final phase of Lok Sabha polls in West Bengal on Saturday, resulting in injuries to a number of people.

    A 69.89 per cent voter turnout was recorded till 5 pm across the nine contested seats that went to polls, several of which witnessed sporadic violence.

    The Election Commission received 2,667 complaints until 4 pm, alleging EVM malfunction and obstruction of agents entering booths.

    The TMC, Congress, ISF, and BJP each filed hundreds of complaints related to poll violence, voter intimidation, and assaults on agents. Despite these issues, the Election Commission stated that “barring a few incidents, the polling was peaceful”.

    “Highest polling of 76.56 per cent was registered in Basirhat, followed by Mathurapur (74.13), Jaynagar (73.44), Diamond Harbour (72.87), Barasat (71.80), Jadavpur (70.41), Dum Dum (67.60), Kolkata Dakshin (60.88), and Kolkata Uttar (59.23),” he said.

    Voter turnout in Baranagar bypoll until 5 pm was 66.70 per cent, the official added. Voting commenced at 7 am and was scheduled to conclude at 6 pm.

    Sources suggest the turnout may increase further as long queues were observed outside polling booths.

    All nine seats are presently with the TMC. In the last parliamentary polls, Basirhat, Mathurapur, Jaynagar, Diamond Harbour, and Barasat recorded 85, 84, 82, 81, and 81 per cent voter turnout, respectively.

    The voter turnout in Jadavpur, Dum Dum, Kolkata Dakshin, and Kolkata Uttar was 79, 76, 69.82, and 65 per cent, respectively, in 2019.

    In Sandeshkhali which comes under the Basirhat Lok Sabha seat, clashes broke out between TMC and BJP supporters over allegations of electoral malpractices.

    The police used batons and tear gas to control the situation. BJP candidate Rekha Patra alleged that TMC goons stopped voters from casting their votes.

    Women voters of Sandeshkhali accused the TMC of not allowing them to cast their votes freely, an allegation dubbed baseless by the state’s ruling party.

    The TMC made counter-allegations and accused Patra and BJP goons of trying to vitiate the poll atmosphere.

    As both groups came to blows on the Basanti Express Highway, the police resorted to baton charges and tear gas shell firing to disperse the mob.

    The BJP also claimed that shots were also fired by the TMC goons.

    Clashes among the police, BJP, and the TMC activists were reported from three pockets of Sandeshkhali as in several areas TMC and BJP workers were seen hurling bricks at the police.

    Basirhat SP Hossain Mehedi Rahaman said three persons were injured during the clash between TMC and BJP supporters at Bayramari in Sandeshkhali, adding that one person was arrested in this connection.

    Sandeshkhali’s Bermajur area has been on the boil since last night as the BJP made allegations that TMC workers, accompanied by policemen, intimidated its polling agents by visiting their homes on Friday night.

    Sporadic violence was also reported in the other eight constituencies voting in West Bengal.

    Clashes broke out among the TMC, ISF, and the BJP in different pockets as the parties clashed over stopping polling agents from entering booths.

    A confrontation erupted in Bhangar within the Jadavpur constituency between backers of Trinamool Congress and the Indian Secular Front (ISF), with allegations of crude bombs being hurled from both sides. Police intervention ensued, triggering protests as both factions accused each other.

    Angry voters of Kultuli within the Joynagar constituency threw EVMs and VVPAT machines into nearby water bodies alleging electoral misconduct.

    TMC supporters have accused the ISF of orchestrating the violence to intimidate voters. Prompt action from local law enforcement led to lathi charges and the arrest of suspects in the Polerhat area of Bhangar.

    In the Canning area, clashes were reported between the TMC and the BJP.

    BJP candidate Abhijit Das accused the ruling party of malpractices, which the TMC denied. As Das approached a polling booth, TMC activists staged protests and shouted “Go back” slogans. In response, Das got out of his car and shouted counter slogans.

    Similarly, CPI(M) candidate Patikur Rehman faced “go back” slogans from TMC workers when he attempted to visit a booth in the Canning area.

    In Jadavpur, CPI(M) workers were allegedly beaten by the TMC activists and their camp offices were ransacked.

    In Baranagar assembly seat, where a by-poll is on, CPI(M) candidate Tanmay Bhattacharya was allegedly assaulted when he was standing outside a booth as TMC workers accused him of trying to influence the voters.

    In some areas, media persons were also injured while covering the clashes.

    The TMC exuded confidence about retaining all nine seats.

    “The BJP tried to vitiate the poll atmosphere. But overall the people could cast their votes and we are confident of a win,” Education Minister Bratya Basu said.

    BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari demanded re-polling in several booths of the Diamond Harbour constituency alleging malpractices.

    “The TMC in a pre-planned way stopped the Hindus from casting their votes in various seats. We want re-polling in various booths of the Diamond Harbour constituency as the violence and irregularities have been rampant,” he said.

    CPI (M) state secretary Mohammad Salim claimed that the election process in the Diamond Harbour constituency, where TMC’s Abhishek Banerjee is seeking a third consecutive term, was “fraudulent”.

Crime, International, West Bengal

SIT formed by CID to probe Bangladesh MP murder case

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MP, 1 June 2024, Kolkata: The state Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the Bangladesh Member of Parliament (MP), Anwarul Azim Anar murder case. 

The SIT will be led by the Inspector General (IG) I of CID, Vishal Garg. The SIT will comprise three Deputy Inspector Generals (DIG) and about 10 other officers. 
Meanwhile, the CID has decided to go for a DNA test of the pieces of flesh and hair found from the septic tank of the housing complex in New Town where Anar was murdered and his body was mutilated. 
The CID is waiting for the forensic report of the flesh and hair to ascertain that it is a human. Anar’s daughter will soon come to Kolkata for the DNA test and proceedings for her VISA to come to India have reportedly begun in Bangladesh. However, the other body parts of the Bangladesh MP have still not been found. 
Apart from the investigation by the CID, Bangladesh Police on Friday again produced the three arrested accused identified as Amanullah alias Shimul Bhuiyan, Shilasti Rahman and Tanvir Bhuiyan before the Dhaka Metropolitan Court after their eight days police remand was over. 
On Friday, the Bangladesh Police reportedly appealed for their police remand again. After the hearing, five days police remand was allowed by the Dhaka Metropolitan Court. 
In another development, the state CID has reportedly tracked another accused identified as Siyam in Nepal. A police team might go to Nepal soon in connection with the probe. However, before that both CID and Bangladesh Police might contact Nepal Police with a request to intercept Siyam. 
https://www.millenniumpost.in/bengal/sit-formed-by-cid-to-probe-bangladesh-mp-murder-case-566146
Crime, Politics, West Bengal

Sandeshkhali: Conditional bail given to 5 accused

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MP, 1 June 2024, Kolkata: The Calcutta High Court recently gave bail to five people who had accompanied Rekha Patra during an agitation in front of the office of Rekha Patra. The accused have been directed not to enter Sandeshkhali apart from June 1 to cast their votes. 

The Vacation Bench of Justice Tirthankar Ghosh and Justice Biswaroop Chowdhury granted bail to Gita Bar, Utpal Maity, Ajit Sardar, Suprakash Mondal and Sudeb Dey. 
The matter will be heard again by the regular bench on June 12, after vacation. BJP candidate from Basirhat Lok Sabha seat Rekha Patra had also approached Calcutta High Court seeking protection from coercive action by the state police. The lawyer representing Patra reportedly stated that several false cases have been filed against her by the police. Patra also sought for security and protection from the Calcutta High Court, which was given to her. 
Earlier, the High Court had ordered release of Sandeshkhali BJP worker Piyali Das alias Mampi, who had surrendered before the lower court over a case filed against her for allegedly getting women to sign on white paper. Justice Jay Sengupta directed for Das’s release on personal bond. 
According to a news report, the Court further directed that a final report on the investigation in the case against Das cannot be submitted without its permission. The matter will be heard again on June 19. 
The advocate representing Das submitted that IPC 195A (forcing a person to give false evidence) which is a non-bailable section was added against her by the police after she had surrendered before the lower court. Das surrendered in Basirhat Sub-Divisional Court on May 14. 
There were allegations against her of getting women in Sandeshkhali to sign on white papers which was later filled up as sexual assault complaints against TMC leaders. 
The lower court rejected the bail plea and sent her to seven days judicial custody. When questioned by the media, Das said that the allegations against her are false and that there is no evidence to support those allegations. 
https://www.millenniumpost.in/bengal/sandeshkhali-conditional-bail-given-to-5-accused-566144?infinitescroll=1
Crime, International, Politics

Trump becomes first Ex-US Prez to be convicted of felony in hush money trial

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AP, Washington, May 31, 2024 : Donald Trump has been found guilty of all 34 charges of falsifying business records by a grand jury in New York, an unprecedented and historic verdict that makes him the first former president in American history to be convicted of a felony, as he makes a bid to return to the White House in November.

In a landmark verdict, a panel of 12 Manhattan jurors on Thursday said they unanimously agreed that Trump, 77, falsified business records to conceal a USD 130,000 hush money payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels to influence the 2016 presidential election.
It will ultimately be up to voters on November 5 to decide the significance of the guilty verdict delivered by 12 ordinary New Yorkers, which, on a legal basis, does not prevent him from being elected president again.
Over a six-week trial, the court heard from 22 witnesses, including Daniels, whose alleged sexual encounter with the former president was at the centre of the case.
As the verdicts were read, Trump remained silent and still. But the former president spoke to reporters outside the courtroom, calling the trial a “rigged, disgraceful trial” and saying that the “real verdict” will be rendered on Election Day.
Prosecutors had argued that, by approving a scheme to disguise the money as legal expenses, Trump broke election law.
Trump’s sentencing is scheduled for July 11, four days before the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he will be formally nominated as the party’s presidential candidate against incumbent Joe Biden, an 81-year-old Democrat, in the elections.
For now, Trump has been released without having to pay bail.
“This was a disgrace. This was a rigged trial by a conflicted judge who was corrupt. It’s a rigged trial, a disgrace. They wouldn’t give us a venue change. We were at 5 per cent or 6 per cent in this district, in this area. This was a rigged, disgraceful trial,” said Trump shortly after the verdict was read.
“The real verdict is going to be November 5th by the people. And they know what happened here, and everybody knows what happened here. You have a Soros-backed DA, and the whole thing, we didn’t do a thing wrong. I’m a very innocent man, and it’s okay, I’m fighting for our country. I’m fighting for our Constitution. Our whole country is being rigged right now,” Trump said.
Trump alleged that this was done by the Biden administration to wound or hurt a political opponent.
No former president or presumptive party nominee in the US has ever faced a felony conviction.
During the trial, the prosecution set out to prove that Trump had falsified records when he repaid his former lawyer Michael Cohen for a hush-money payment to Daniels. The Biden Harris campaign welcomed the jury’s verdict. “In New York today, we saw that no one is above the law,” said Biden-Harris 2024 Communications Director. (AP)

‘Trump will try to turn verdict into campaign fuel’
New York, May 31: Being convicted of a felony – let alone 34 of them – is the kind of blow that would normally tank any politician’s ambitions.
Donald Trump will instead try to turn what might otherwise be a career-ending judgment into campaign fuel.
Trump will return to the campaign trail Friday with a news conference at his namesake tower in Manhattan a day after he was convicted of trying to illegally influence the 2016 election through a hush money payment to a porn actor who claimed they had sex. His lawyers and allies described him as defiant and ready to fight a verdict they argue is illegitimate and driven by politics.
No former president or presumptive party nominee has ever faced a felony conviction or the prospect of prison time, and Trump is expected to keep his legal troubles central to his campaign. He has long argued without evidence that the four indictments against him were orchestrated by Democratic President Joe Biden to try to keep him out of the White House.
“There is nobody who is more defiant,” said Trump spokesman Jason Miller on Fox News hours after the verdict was read. “He’s ready to get out there and start fighting again.” Trump and his campaign had been preparing for a guilty verdict for days, even as they held out hope for a hung jury. On Tuesday, Trump railed that not even Mother Teresa, the nun and saint, could beat the charges, which he repeatedly labeled as “rigged.”
His top aides on Wednesday released a memo in which they insisted a verdict would have no impact on the election, whether Trump was convicted or acquitted.
The news nonetheless landed with a jolt. Trump, his team and reporters at the courthouse had been under the impression that the jury on Thursday would wrap up deliberations for the day at 4:30 p.m. Trump sat smiling and chatting with his lawyers as the proceedings seemed to be coming to a close.
Trump had spent the hours before the verdict was announced sequestered in the private courtroom where he had spent breaks throughout the trial, huddled with his attorneys and campaign aides, eating from a revolving lunch menu of McDonald’s, pizza, and subs. 
Crime, National, Politics

Prajwal Revanna arrested on his arrival, remanded to police custody till June 6

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Revanna on Friday was remanded to police custody till June 6, by a Court in Bengaluru over the obscene videos case
Prajwal being taken to a hospital for medical examination under tight security, in Bengaluru, on Friday,  

PTI, Bengaluru, May 31, 2024 :  Suspended JD(S) MP Prajwal Revanna, facing sexual abuse allegations, was remanded to police custody on Friday, hours after he was arrested by a special team upon his return from Germany.

A special court in the city remanded him to police custody till June 6. Prajwal was arrested in the wee hours of Friday by a Special Investigation Team (SIT), minutes after he landed here past midnight from Germany. He had left the country on April 27.

In a clear messaging early in the day, a team of women police personnel ‘welcomed’ Prajwal Revanna upon his arrival here, as they were deputed to execute a warrant and take him to the CID office for interrogation.

After evading summons and staying out of the country for a little over a month, the 33 year-old grandson of JD(S) supremo and former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda landed here from Germany’s Munich, only to be arrested by the SIT minutes later and whisked away for questioning. He had issued a video statement earlier this week, stating he would appear before the SIT on Friday.

Prajwal was later produced before the 42nd Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate K N Shivakumar, who heard the remand application and objection argument from Prajwal’s advocate. He later remanded Prajwal to police custody.

The NDA Lok Sabha candidate from Hassan, facing allegations of sexually abusing several women, was arrested after completing the due process, Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara said.

Prajwal’s advocate said the former was extending full cooperation to the SIT probe and cautioned against any media trial in the case.

“Prajwal Revanna landed around 12.40-12:50 am from Germany’s Munich. As there was an arrest warrant against him, SIT accordingly arrested him and took him into custody,” Parameshwara said.

Speaking to reporters here, he said, “…naturally he should have cooperated to the arrest. His immigration papers were cleared and he was brought out (of airport). As he had a diplomatic passport, things happened easily. After completing all the due process, he was arrested,” he added.

Asked if the government will appeal to more victims to come forward following his arrest, Parameshwara said, “We have already said, those who have faced trouble from him to come forward and give complaints to SIT and police, and we will provide them all kind of protection. We will have to wait and see further developments.”

The SIT, sending out a message, deputed an all-woman police team to execute the warrant against Prajwal. Soon after he alighted from the plane from Munich, he was received by women in Khaki, SIT sources said.

During the procedure of executing the arrest warrant, he was flanked by the women police personnel who were led by two IPS officers, Suman D Pennekar and Seema Latkar. He was then taken in a jeep in which only women police were present. They took him to the CID office.

“It was a conscious call to send women officers to arrest Prajwal, sending home a message that the JD(S) leader exploited his seat and power as an MP with women. The same women have authority to arrest him through all legal proceedings,” a source in the SIT said.

There was also a symbolic message to the alleged victims that women officers were not afraid of anyone, the source added.

The MP was later taken for medical examination under tight security. Escorted by female police officials, he was taken to Bowring and Lady Curzon Hospital here.

The SIT is also contemplating a potency test on Prajwal. A potency test is done to ascertain if a rape accused is capable of committing sexual assault on victims.

Meanwhile, Prajwal’s advocate, met him earlier.

“I went to speak to him. He has told to the media that he has come forward to cooperate with the investigation. So he has requested that there be no media trial. Let there be no negative campaign unnecessarily,” advocate G Arun said.

“Prajwal said — I have come forward, the whole purpose of me coming to Bengaluru or before SIT is that I have to stand by my words. I have come forward. I will give the fullest cooperation — these are his words,” he added.

Prajwal had on May 29 filed an anticipatory bail plea at the Principal City and Sessions Court for Elected Representatives, which issued a notice to the SIT to file objections before posting the hearing for Friday.

In the first case registered against him at the Holenarasipura Town police station in Hassan on April 28, Prajwal is accused of sexually harassing a 47-year-old former maid. He is listed as accused number two, while his father and local MLA, H D Revanna, is the primary accused. Prajwal has been so far booked in three cases of sexual assault. There are also charges of rape against him.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has served a show-cause notice to Prajwal, asking him why his diplomatic passport should not be cancelled as sought by the Karnataka government in view of allegations of sexual abuse against him.

Deve Gowda had recently issued a ‘stern warning’ to Prajwal, asking him to return to the country and face probe into the sexual abuse allegations, while asserting there will be no interference from him or other family members into the enquiry.

The JD(S) supremo had reiterated that his grandson should be given the harshest punishment under the law “if found guilty”.

    JD(S) has suspended Prajwal Revanna from the party following the allegations.
Crime, Regional

Gun & bullets stolen from bank in SBI Bairampur

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MP, 30 May 2024, Cooch Behar: A security guard’s gun and bullets were stolen from the Balrampur branch of the State Bank under the Tufanganj Police Station in Cooch Behar district. 

According to police and bank sources, the thieves entered the bank building after breaking the ventilation during the early hours of Thursday. 
A mobile phone, security guard’s gun and ammunition were stolen from inside the bank. However, according to police sources, nothing was tampered with inside the bank cupboard. It is not yet known whether money disappeared from the bank. 
Although the bank authorities have not made any statements about this matter, Cooch Behar District Superintendent of Police Dyutiman Bhattacharya said: “According to the CCTV footage, a young man entered the bank around 3:30 am today. 
A mobile phone, currently switched off, as well as the security guard’s gun and bullets, are missing. CCTV footage has been collected from various locations.” 
Courtesy & source- Millennium Post
https://www.millenniumpost.in/bengal/gun-bullets-stolen-from-bank-565978
Crime, Regional, West Bengal

Prof arrested in research scholar suicide case

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MP, 30 May 2024, Siliguri: The Special Operation Group (SOG) of Siliguri Metropolitan arrested the prime accused, Siddharth Shankar Laha, Head of the Department of Lifelong Learning and Extension of the University of North Bengal (NBU), in the suicide case of a research scholar of the university from Assam.

He was brought to Siliguri on Wednesday and was produced at Siliguri Court on Thursday. On May 16, the body of a research scholar of the Rural Development department of NBU was found hanging at a rented house in Shiv Mandir area. 
The deceased was a resident of Tufanganj, Cooch Behar and was staying in the rented house in Shiv Mandir area Also Read – ‘No one can stop change of power in Delhi on June 4’ in Siliguri. 
A suicide note was found in the house where it was mentioned that the accused Siddharth Shankar Laha, had a physical relationship with the deceased and refused to marry her. Therefore, she committed suicide. 
Her mobile phone and laptop were also missing from the room.On May 18, family members of the deceased lodged a written complaint. SOG began a search for the accused as he went absconding after the incident and tracked his mobile phone. 
First, he went to Kalimpong, then Lataguri, then Cooch Behar. 
A few days ago, he went to Goyalpara in Assam from where he was arrested. He was booked under various sections of the IPC. He has been taken into police remand for further investigation. 
Courtesy & source- Millennium Post
https://www.millenniumpost.in/bengal/prof-arrested-in-research-scholar-suicide-case-565976
Crime, Regional

Siliguri: 4 arrested in teenager’s suicide case

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Courtesy: Siliguri Times 

MP, 30 May 2024, Siliguri: 4 arrested in teenager’s suicide case BY MPost30 May 2024 11:13 PM MPost30 May 2024 11:13 PM Siliguri: The Pradhan Nagar Police arrested four people in connection with the suicide of Bappa Barman, a teenager from Devidanga in Siliguri. 

The arrested include the minor lover of the deceased, her mother, father and elder sister. The girl’s father is a member of a Panchayat Samiti. As the girl is a minor, she was produced at juvenile court. 
The rest were produced at Siliguri Court on Thursday. On Wednesday, chaos erupted over the suicide of a 17-year-old teenager in Devidanga area. 
Furious people pelted stones at the police and vandalised police vehicles. The youth was found hanging inside his room on Wednesday morning. According to reports, the deceased had a relationship with a girl. 
Allegedly, the girl and her family member had assaulted the deceased on Tuesday humiliated over which he committed suicide. 
They have been booked under sections 305 (Abetment of Suicide), 34 (Criminal Act done by several person), 323 (Punishment of voluntarily causes hurt), Indian Penal Code (IPC).

https://www.millenniumpost.in/bengal/siliguri-4-arrested-in-teenagers-suicide-case-565975

https://www.millenniumpost.in/bengal/siliguri-4-arrested-in-teenagers-suicide-case-565975
Crime, National, Politics

Delhi court issues notice to ED on CM Kejriwal’s pleas for bail in excise policy case

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PTI, New Delhi, May 30, 2024 :  A Delhi court on Thursday issued notice to the ED on Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s plea seeking regular bail in a money laundering case related to the alleged excise scam.

Special Judge Kaveri Baweja, who initially directed the central probe agency to file its response to Kejriwal’s plea by Saturday, later fixed the matter for June 7 after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) sought more time to respond.

The judge, however, directed the ED to file its response by Saturday on Kejriwal’s another plea seeking interim bail for a week on medical grounds.

Kejriwal is currently out on interim bail, granted by the Supreme Court, in the case till June 1.

The Supreme Court registry on Wednesday refused urgent listing of Kejriwal’s plea seeking extension of his interim bail by seven days for undergoing certain medical tests, saying since he was given liberty to move the trial court for regular bail, the plea was not maintainable.

The AAP leader had sought extension of his interim bail by seven days to undergo a host of medical tests, including a PET-CT scan, in view of “sudden and unexplained weight loss coupled with high ketone levels”, which are indicative of kidney, serious cardiac ailments and even cancer.

The chief minister, in his fresh plea filed before the apex court on May 26, said he wanted to surrender before the Tihar jail authorities on June 9 instead of June 2, the scheduled date for his return to prison.

The top court had on May 10 granted 21-day interim bail to the chief minister to enable him to campaign during the Lok Sabha polls.

    It had directed him to surrender on June 2, a day after the last phase of the seven-phase poll gets over.

    The matter relates to the alleged corruption and money laundering in the formulation and execution of the Delhi government’s now-scrapped excise policy for 2021-22.

Crime, International, Regional

As many as 8 Rohingyas held at NJP Railway Station

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MP, 29 May 2024, Siliguri: As many as eight Rohingyas, including a child, were arrested at New Jalpaiguri Railway Station on their way to Punjab via New Jalpaiguri (NJP) Railway Station. Among those arrested, four were women, three were men. 

The accused have been identified as Zubera Begum, Rehana Akhtar, Ashiya Begum, Hasina Begum, Noor Hakim, Saddam Hussain and Azinur. 
“We apprehended eight people, including a child. All of them have been presented at Court. We have commenced an investigation,” said Selvamurugan, the Superintendent of Railway Police (SRP) of Siliguri GRP. 
All those who were arrested were living in the Kutuk Fallung Refugee Camp in Bangladesh. The Government Railway Police (GRP) of NJP received a tip-off about the Rohingyas. 
Based on that tip-off, they raided the North-East Samparkranti Express Train on platform number three at NJP Railway Station on Tuesday evening and arrested them. 
According to GRP, they had boarded the train from Badarpur Junction in Assam to Delhi. From there, they planned to go to Punjab. On Wednesday, all the accused were produced at the Jalpaiguri Court. 
Courtesy & spurce- Millennium Post

https://www.millenniumpost.in/bengal/as-many-as-8-rohingyas-held-at-njp-rly-stn-565834?infinitescroll=1