Balasore: Arrested BJD leader Soumyashankar Chakra, also known as Raja Chakra, was sent to judicial custody until March 19 by the Balasore court, officials said Friday.

According to reports, the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) has not yet filed a remand petition against Chakra, and his lawyer, Raghunath Pradhan, has not applied for bail. Earlier, authorities arrested former cooperative chairman Manas Ranjan Barik and secretary Utkal Das in connection with the case.

Chakra was arrested Thursday by the Crime Branch in connection with an alleged corruption case involving the Gandhamardan Mining Loading Agency in Keonjhar. He is accused of playing a key role in a scam worth Rs 185 crore ($22.2 million).

Authorities allege Chakra, in collaboration with other officials, siphoned off large sums of money. Official records indicate that the cooperative earned a profit of Rs 185 crore between 2017-18 and March 2024, though no audit has been conducted since 2012-13.

Amaravati: A court in Andhra Pradesh’s Annamayya district Friday sent actor and YSR Congress Party leader Posani Krishna Murali to judicial custody for 14 days for making derogatory comments against Deputy Chief Minister and actor Pawan Kalyan.

The court in Railway Koduru pronounced its order around 5 a.m. after hearing the arguments from both sides for more than seven hours.

Posani, who has been charged with promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of caste, was later shifted to Kadapa jail.

Police arrested the 66-year-old from his residence in Hyderabad Wednesday night and produced him before a magistrate on Thursday night after questioning him at Obulavaripalle Police Station.

The arguments, which began around 9.30 p.m., continued till 5 a.m. Posani’s counsel, P. Sudhakar Reddy, pleaded to the court to release him on bail, but the magistrate turned down the appeal and sent him to judicial custody till March 12.

The actor was booked February 24 on a complaint by Jana Sena leader Jogineni Mani, who accused him of making derogatory comments against Jana Sena president and Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan. The complainant also alleged that Posani made remarks against a particular caste and thus tried to promote enmity between castes, film fans and political parties.

A case was booked against Posani under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) sections 196, 353 (2), 111 r/w 3 (5).

After bringing Posani from Hyderabad to Railway Kuduru, the police questioned him for more than nine hours. Annamayya district Superintendent of Police Vidyasagar Naidu questioned the actor after he did not cooperate during the questioning by the circle inspector. The actor was medically examined by a government doctor in the police station.

Similar cases were booked against Posani at different police stations in the state for alleged derogatory comments against Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan and Minister Nara Lokesh.

In November 2024, the Crime Investigation Department (CID) in Andhra Pradesh registered a case against Posani on a complaint by Bandaru Vamsikrishna, a leader of Telugu Yuvatha, the youth wing of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP).

The complainant said that Posani made false allegations and defamatory comments against Chandrababu Naidu during a press conference in September. He alleged that the actor’s comments tarnished the image of the Chief Minister. He also claimed that the comments created discord between groups.

Posani, who also served as AP Film Development Corporation Chairman when YSRCP was in power, was booked under sections 111, 196, 353, 299, 341, and 336 (3) of BNS.

Mumbai: A court here Wednesday remanded a 30-year-old Bangladeshi national, arrested for allegedly stabbing actor Saif Ali Khan, in 14-day judicial custody noting that there was no fresh ground for extending his police custody.

Mohammad Shariful Islam, the accused, was produced before the Bandra magistrate court at the end of his police custody.

Police sought an extension of his custody for two days for further investigation.

The court, however, noted that the accused was in police custody for more than ten days.

The record reflected that the investigation was over, no fresh ground for custody was noticed, and the police can seek his fresh custody within the permissible period if anything new came to light, the magistrate said.

As per the police, the accused, arrested from adjoining Thane, is a Bangladeshi who changed his name Mohammad Shariful Islam Shehzad to `Bijoy Das’ after entering India illegally.

The film star was repeatedly stabbed with a knife by an intruder inside his 12th floor apartment in upscale Bandra January 16.

Khan, 54, underwent an emergency surgery at the Lilavati Hospital. He was discharged after five days.

Bijapur: A court in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district Wednesday remanded four accused arrested in the murder case of journalist Mukesh Chandrakar in 14-day judicial custody.

Construction contractor Suresh Chandrakar, his brothers Ritesh and Dinesh Chandrakar, and Mahendra Ramteke were produced before the Chief Judicial Magistrate.

Mukesh Chandrakar (33), a free lance journalist and YouTuber, went missing January 1. His body was found January 3 in a septic tank on a property owned by Suresh Chandrakar in Bijapur town.

Suresh, the prime accused who is related to Mukesh, was apprehended by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) from Hyderabad January 5.

The SIT is yet to recover the victim’s mobile phone.

“According to the accused, they threw Mukesh’s mobile phone in the Tumnar river. Divers were deployed to search for it, but so far in vain. We are also searching the drainage connected to the septic tank where the body was found,” said an official who is a member of the SIT.

“So far we have examined more than 200 call detail records (CDR) and CCTV footage. We want to file a strong charge sheet,” he added.

Mukesh Chandrakar worked as a freelance journalist for NDTV news channel and also ran his own YouTube channel, ‘Bastar Junction’.

He had played a crucial role in the release of Rakeshwar Singh Manhas, a commando of the state police’s CoBRA unit, from Maoist captivity in April 2021 following the Takalguda Naxal ambush in Bijapur in which 22 security personnel were killed.

It was speculated that a news report by Mukesh, highlighting alleged corruption in a road construction work linked to Suresh Chandrakar and aired on NDTV December 25, could be a possible reason for the murder.

PTI

New Delhi: A court here Wednesday extended till September 25 the judicial custody of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in connection with the alleged liquor policy scam.

CM Kejriwal was produced before the Rouse Avenue Court through video conferencing from Tihar Jail upon the expiry of previously granted judicial custody.

In a brief hearing, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) assured the court that it would supply the soft copy of the charge sheet to the accused and would provide the hard copy within 3-4 days.

Taking cognisance of the charge sheet filed by the CBI, Special Judge Kaveri Baweja of the Rouse Avenue Court, last week, issued a production warrant for CM Kejriwal September 11.

Earlier, the CBI had filed its supplementary charge sheet before a court here against the Delhi CM and other accused persons in the corruption case linked to the alleged excise policy scam.

The Supreme Court is yet to pronounce its verdict on CM Kejriwal’s plea challenging his arrest by CBI and seeking bail in the corruption case.

September 5, a bench of Justices Surya Kant and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan reserved its decision after hearing the oral arguments advanced by senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, representing the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) supremo, and Additional Solicitor General (ASG) S.V. Raju, who appeared on behalf of the CBI.

During the hearing, Singhvi contended that the CBI did not arrest CM Kejriwal for two years but made an “insurance arrest in a hurry” to prevent his release in the money laundering case. Singhvi added that Kejriwal, a constitutional functionary holding the position of Delhi Chief Minister, satisfied the triple test for grant of bail. “He is not a flight risk, he will turn up to answer the questions of the investigative agency, and cannot tamper with documents, running into lakhs of pages, and digital evidence after two years,” he submitted.

On the other hand, the central agency apprehended that the release of CM Kejriwal would turn many witnesses “hostile” and urged the apex court to not release him on bail.

ASG Raju said that many candidates of the AAP in the Goa Assembly election came forward to give their statements to the central agency only after CM Kejriwal was arrested. “They (witnesses) will turn hostile if your lordships release Kejriwal on bail,” he said.

He argued that Kejriwal’s plea for bail should be remanded back to the trial court and he should not have petitioned the Delhi High Court for bail in the first instance.

The ASG submitted that arrest is a part of investigation and ordinarily, an investigating officer will not require any permission from a court to make an arrest. “But, in the present case, there was an order of the court granting the power (to arrest),” he said. He added that when an arrest is made pursuant to an order of the court, an accused cannot take a plea of violation of fundamental rights.

In his special leave petition filed before the Supreme Court, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convenor challenged his arrest and subsequent remand orders while also pressing for bail in the corruption case. On the other hand, seeking dismissal of CM Kejriwal’s plea, the CBI said that the AAP supremo was simply attempting to politically sensationalise the matter, despite repeated orders passed by various courts being prima facie satisfied with the commission of the offences, for which cognisance already has been taken.

The Supreme Court July 12 ordered CM Kejriwal to be released on interim bail in connection with the money laundering case lodged by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). However, he was not able to walk out of jail since he was arrested by the CBI.

IANS

Bengaluru: JD(S) MLC Suraj Revanna, who has been arrested on charges of sexually abusing a male party worker, was produced before a magistrate court judge here Sunday, who remanded him in judicial custody for 14 days.

The investigation into the case was handed over to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) earlier in the day, following which Suraj was shifted to Bengaluru from Hassan, and produced before the 42nd Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court (ACMM) judge, at his residence.

Suraj was booked on Saturday at Holenarasipura Rural Police Station in Hassan district for allegedly sexually abusing a party worker a few days ago. He has been booked under different sections of the IPC, including “unnatural offences”.

Suraj was questioned at CEN police station in Hassan overnight before he was arrested this morning, the sources said, adding that he was later taken to Hassan Institute of Medical Sciences (HIMS) for medical examination.

A 27-year-old man had complained to the police that Suraj Revanna, the eldest son of Holenarasipura MLA HD Revanna, sexually abused him at his farmhouse in Ghannikada on June 16.

Based on the complaint, the Holenarasipura police registered a case against the JD(S) MLC under IPC sections 377 (unnatural offences), 342 (wrongful confinement) and 506 (criminal intimidation) late Saturday evening.

However, Suraj Revanna (37), the grandson of former prime minister HD Deve Gowda and the nephew of Union Minister H D Kumaraswamy, has categorically denied the charge.

Suraj had also alleged that the man had filed a “false complaint” in a bid to extort Rs 5 crore from him.

Friday, the police registered a case of extortion against the JD(S) worker on a complaint by Suraj Revanna’s close aide Shivakumar.

Shivakumar had alleged that the party worker was trying to extort money from Suraj Revanna by threatening to lodge a false case of sexual abuse against him.

It has been alleged that while the man demanded Rs 5 crore from Suraj Revanna, later it was reduced to Rs 2 crore.

PTI

Bengaluru: A court here Saturday remanded Kannada actor Darshan Thoogudeepa to judicial custody in the Renukaswamy murder case till July 4.

His four alleged accomplices Vinay, Pradosh and Dhanaraj too were sent to judicial custody.

The actor has been in police custody since June 11.

Thirteen other accused, including the actor’s friend Pavithra Gowda, were remanded to 14 days’ judicial custody two days ago.

A total of 17 people are accused in the murder case.

According to police sources, Renukaswamy, a fan of the actor, had sent obscene messages to Gowda, which enraged Darshan, allegedly leading to his murder.

Renukaswamy’s body was found near a stormwater drain adjacent to an apartment in Sumanahalli here June 9.

New Delhi: A court here Saturday extended till June 22 the judicial custody of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s aide Bibhav Kumar.

Kumar is accused of assaulting AAP Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal May 13 at the chief minister’s official residence.

Kumar was produced through video conferencing before the duty metropolitan magistrate, who extended the custody and directed the Delhi Police to produce him June 22.

Earlier Friday, the court had extended Kumar’s custody by one day after noting that the investigating officer (IO) was not present.

Kumar was arrested May 18. He was sent to police custody for five days the same day by a magisterial court, which observed that his anticipatory bail plea had become infructuous because of his arrest.

May 24, he was sent to four days judicial custody, following which he was again remanded in police custody for three days.

An FIR was registered against Kumar May 16 under various Indian Penal Code provisions, including those related to criminal intimidation, assault or criminal force on a woman with the intent to disrobe and attempt to commit culpable homicide.

PTI

New Delhi: A Delhi court Tuesday extended the judicial custody of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in a money-laundering case related to the alleged excise scam till May 20.

Special Judge for CBI and ED Kaveri Baweja extended Kejriwal’s custody till May 20 after the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader was produced before the court through a video-conference on the expiry of his custody granted earlier.

The judge also extended the judicial custody of co-accused Chanpreet Singh till May 20.

PTI

New Delhi: A local court Friday extended the judicial custody of former Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia till May 8 in connection with a money laundering case being probed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) related to the alleged excise policy scam.

On Wednesday, the same court extended Sisodia’s judicial custody till May 7 in a parallel case in the same matter being probed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

Last week, Sisodia withdrew his interim bail plea to campaign for the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) for the ongoing Lok Sabha elections.

Sisodia was produced before Special Judge Kaveri Baweja of the Rouse Avenue Court on the expiry of his previously extended judicial custody Friday.

The court had last time reserved its judgement for April 30 on the regular bail plea moved by Sisodia, who has sought bail in the cases being probed by both the CBI and the ED.

Earlier, the ED had accused Sisodia and the other accused persons of delaying the trial in the case.

To back his bail plea, Sisodia’s counsel advocate Mohit Mathur has argued against the delay in completing the probe, claiming that no evidence has been found linking his client to the alleged bribe money in the case.

He argued that the alleged proceeds of crime were not proven to cause any loss to the exchequer or the private consumers. The counsel also stressed the delay in the trial, stating that the Supreme Court’s order allowing Sisodia to approach the court is six-month old, and the investigation should have been completed by now.

Citing the bail granted to another accused in the case, Benoy Babu, Mathur had argued for his bail, arguing that Sisodia no longer holds a position of influence.

New Delhi: A Delhi court Monday sent BRS leader K Kavitha, arrested in connection with a corruption case linked to the alleged Delhi excise policy scam, to judicial custody till April 23.

The daughter of former Telangana chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao was arrested from the Tihar Jail, where she was lodged after her arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

The CBI produced the accused before the court on the expiry of her three-day police custody granted earlier by the judge and sought her JC.

The CBI told the court that she was not required for further custodial interrogation.

Advocate Nitesh Rana, representing Kavitha along with Deepak Nagar, opposed the police plea, saying the grounds were not sufficient to keep her in custody since she is no longer required for custodial interrogation.

CBI officials had recently questioned Kavitha inside prison after obtaining permission from a special court. The BRS leader was questioned about the WhatsApp chats recovered from co-accused Buchi Babu’s phone and documents related to a land deal, after which an amount of Rs 100 crore was allegedly paid to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in kickbacks to swing the excise policy for the national capital in favour of a liquor lobby.

The ED arrested Kavitha (46) from her Banjara Hills residence in Hyderabad March 15, and she was in judicial custody in the case.

PTI

New Delhi: A court Tuesday sent Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) MLC, K. Kavitha to judicial custody till April 9 in connection with the money laundering case related to the alleged Delhi liquor policy scam.

The accused was produced before Special Judge Kaweri Baweja of the Rouse Avenue Court on expiry of her previously extended three-day Enforcement Directorate (ED) custody.

The probe agency Tuesday moved an application before the judge seeking her direction to send the accused to judicial custody saying that her further custodial interrogation is not required.

On the other hand, Kavitha’s counsel Advocate Nitesh Rana sought interim bail on grounds of her son’s exams. The court has posted her bail application for April 1.

The ED had arrested Kavitha, who is the daughter of BRS President and former Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao, March 15 after searches at her residence in Hyderabad.

Special Counsel for ED Zoheb Hossain had last time argued that Kavitha conspired with other people and was actively involved in the payment of kickbacks to the tune of Rs 100 crore.

He had claimed that she was involved in establishing the money laundering ecosystem i.e. M/s Indo Spirits through her proxy which generated proceeds of crime worth Rs 192.8 crore.

“By such acts, Kavitha is involved in various processes and activities relating to Proceeds of Crime (POC) to the tune of at least Rs 292.8 crore,” the ED alleged.

Hossain had submitted that even after giving multiple opportunities to cooperate in the investigation and recording of statements, Kavitha has not given true and complete disclosure.

“…she is giving evasive reply during the custodial interrogation,” he had said.

During the ED custody period, various other persons/co-accused statements have been confronted with her, the agency had told the court.

Further, the Directorate of Forensic Science report dated May 17, 2023, reflected the delegation/formatting of mobile data during the ED probe period.

“Data in her mobile phone has been extracted and is being analysed,” ED had said.

“Some of the details of the business and profession of her nephew Sh. Meka Sri Sharan was also sought during the course of the statement. In response to this, she simply said ‘I am not aware’.”

Hossain had told the court that it was revealed during the investigation in the last seven days that Meka Saran is involved in the transfer/utilisation of POC from Indo Spirits.

Earlier, senior advocate Vikram Chaudhary appeared for the BRS leader and accused the ED of flouting the Supreme Court’s directions, submitting that Kavitha’s arrest is a blatant abuse of power and authority, and disregards the apex court’s September 2023 order.

In response, the ED had said that it hasn’t made any statement in any court, including the Supreme Court, that no coercive action will be taken against Kavitha, and contended that there is enough evidence and statements of witnesses against the arrested lawmaker in the matter.

The agency had also accused the BRS leader of destroying evidence and said that it has summoned her husband, Anil Kumar, and house help March 18 for the extraction of digital data.

“We are also summoning two other persons who gave statements against her to confront her,” the ED had said.

New Delhi: A Delhi court Friday extended till January 19 the judicial custody of former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia in connection with the Central Bureau of Investigation’s (CBI) case related to the alleged excise policy scam.

Special Judge M.K. Nagpal of the Rouse Avenue Court also granted time to Sisodia’s counsel to inspect the documents at the CBI headquarters till January 15.

The central probe agency was directed to employ sufficient officers at inspection and to file a compliance report.

Sisodia was produced before the court on expiry of his previously extended one month judicial custody.

The court had, during the last hearing, granted Sisodia’s application requesting access to his bank statement for a specific period.

Sisodia had apprised the court that the statement was withheld by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), which is also probing the case, due to the attachment of his savings account.

The judge had allowed the request, directing the branch manager of the bank to provide a copy of the bank statement to any of Sisodia’s authorised counsels.

Sisodia was arrested by the CBI on February 26 for his alleged involvement in corruption concerning the formulation and implementation of the now-scrapped Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22.

The ED had then arrested him on March 9 in connection with a money laundering case stemming from the excise policy matter. On Tuesday, the court extended Sisodia’s judicial custody in connection with the ED case till December 11.

Besides, the court had also said that the trial in the matter should start as soon as possible.

In July, the Delhi High Court had denied bail to Sisodia in the excise policy case being probed by the ED.

New Delhi: A Delhi court Friday extended the judicial custody of AAP Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Singh by 10 days in connection with a money laundering case into the now-scrapped excise policy.

He was produced before Special Judge M.K. Nagpal of Rouse Avenue Court on expiry of his previously granted 14-day judicial custody.

Seeking bail in the case, Singh has also moved an application, which is likely to come up for hearing November 25.

Singh’s counsel Mohd Irshad said that the bail application was filed in the court’s registry.

While the judge extended Singh’s judicial custody till December 4, he noted investigating officer’s submission that the charge sheet against the accused is likely to be filed shortly, within prescribed time.

Last time, the judge had allowed Singh to sign some documents related to development work as a Member of Parliament.

The judge had directed the authorities concerned to produce him before a court in Punjab after it was informed that a production warrant had been received from a court in Amritsar, Punjab, in a defamation case there.

Earlier, Judge Nagpal had allowed Singh to sign certain cheques as he requested to do so for his family expenses, and other work he is obliged to do as a Member of Parliament.

The concerned jail authorities were directed to ensure proper treatment to Singh, including from his private doctor. “Court sees no reason to refuse private treatment to the accused. Hence, the jail superintendent concerned is directed to ensure the appropriate treatment,” the judge had said.

Singh, who had moved the Delhi High Court against his arrest and remand, was denied any relief as Justice Swarna Kanta Sharma dismissed his plea calling it premature. Singh then moved the Supreme Court against the High Court order that upheld his arrest and remand by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

On October 13, Singh had told Judge Nagpal that the ED has become an ‘entertainment department’. The judge had directed him not to discuss unrelated matters or give speeches inside the court, or he will ask for his production through video conferencing from now on.

The financial probe agency on October 4 arrested Singh after carrying out searches at his residence in the North Avenue area. Singh was arrested under Sections of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

New Delhi: A Delhi court Friday extended till November 24 the judicial custody of AAP leader Sanjay Singh, arrested in a money laundering case related to the alleged Delhi excise scam.

Special Judge M K Nagpal also allowed Singh to sign some documents related to development work as a Member of Parliament.

The judge also directed the authorities concerned to produce him before a court in Punjab after it was informed that a production warrant had been received from a court in Amritsar, Punjab, in a case there.

The anti-money laundering agency had arrested Singh October 4.

The ED has alleged that Singh played a key role in the formulation and implementation of the now-scrapped excise policy, which benefited certain liquor manufacturers, wholesalers, and retailers.

PTI

Rajahmundry: Former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu was shifted to Rajahmundry Central Jail in the wee hours of Monday after a court in Vijayawada sent him to a 14-day judicial custody in alleged Skill Development scam case.

Amid tight security, the Crime Investigation Department (CID) brought the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) supremo to Rajahmundry from Vijayawada by road.

The convoy reached the jail around 1:15 a.m. Police had made elaborate security arrangements around the prison.

Naidu’s son Nara Lokesh was allowed inside the jail and after completing the paperwork he left the jail.

NSG commandos guarding Naidu were not allowed inside the jail. On the direction of the Vijayawada ACB Court, Naidu has been allotted a special room. The court has also directed the jail authorities to allow home food and medicines.

The convoy of police vehicles left Vijayawada Court Complex after 10 p.m. Police did not allow any other vehicle to follow the convoy.

There was tight security to prevent any protest along the 200-km route.

TDP workers had staged protests at several places on Saturday when the 73-year-old leader was being brought to Vijayawada from Nandyal, where he was arrested by the CID early Saturday.

As a precautionary measure, police have imposed section 144 of CrPC across the state.

The ACB Court remanded Naidu to judicial custody in the evening, after lengthy arguments and day-long suspense.

TDP leaders alleged that the CID deliberately delayed producing Naidu before the court and shifted him to jail to deny him sleep for nearly 48 hours.

Naidu’s lawyers are likely to file a bail petition in the High Court Monday.

Vijayawada: A court in Andhra Pradesh’s Vijayawada Sunday sent TDP supremo and former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu to judicial custody, till September 22, in the Skill Development Corporation scam case.

The ACB Court pronounced the order after lengthy arguments and day-long tension.

The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) supremo, who was arrested by the CID Saturday morning, is likely to be shifted to Rajahmundry Central Jail.

The court order came as a big setback to the TDP, whose leaders were expecting a favourable judgment.

Immediately after the court order, Naidu’s lawyers filed a bail petition.

It was immediately not clear if the petition will be taken up for hearing immediately.

The arguments, which began around 6 a.m., continued for nearly six hours.

While the prosecution sought 15 day judicial custody of Naidu, the TDP leader’s counsel opposed the same.

The hearing of arguments were completed around 3 pm and since then Naidu, his battery of lawyers, family members and TDP leaders were anxiously waiting for the judgment.

The TDP chief himself had made submissions before the judge. He called his arrest illegal and an act of political vendetta by the YSR Congress Party government.

Naidu alleged that there is no rule of law in the state as the government is violating the fundamental rights of the citizens. The former Chief Minister also submitted to the court that the funds for skill development projects were provided in the state budget for 2015-16 and argued that the budget passed by the Assembly can’t be called a criminal act.

Appearing on behalf of Naidu, senior Supreme Court lawyer Sidharth Luthra argued that the CID did not take permission from the Governor before arresting the Leader of the Opposition.

Additional Advocate General P. Sudhakar Reddy, who argued the case on behalf of the CID, submitted to the court that there is prima facie evidence against Naidu.

IANS

Bhubaneswar: A special court here has sent the three accused railway officials in the Balasore train disaster to judicial custody, after the end of their CBI remand period.

Senior Section Engineer (Signal) Arun Kumar Mahanta, Section Engineer Mohammed Amir Khan, and Technician Pappu Kumar, who have been placed under suspension by the Railways, were produced before the CBI Special Court Friday after their remand period ended.

The accused were arrested by the CBI July 7.

The special court granted five-day remand of the accused to the CBI, which is investigating the case, July 7. Later, July 11, the court extended the remand period for four more days at the request of the investigating agency.

The next date of the hearing is July 27.

The three accused have been booked under IPC Sections 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) and 201 (destruction of evidence), and under Section 153 of the Railways Act.

While the CBI is yet to submit its report on the case, the inquiry report of the Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS), South Eastern Circle, has stated that the accident took place due to “lapses” in the signalling circuit alteration.

As many as 293 people were killed and over 1,200 injured when the Coromandel Express crashed into a stationary freight train at Bahanaga Bazar station in Balasore district, and some of its derailed coaches collided with Yeshwantpur-Howrah Express, June 2.

Hyderabad:  A city court Saturday remanded a man in Hyderabad’s Saroornagar to judicial custody for the murder of a 30-year-old pregnant woman with whom he was having an extramarital affair.

The suspect identified as Ayyagari Venkata Sura Sai Krishna — a priest of the Maisamma temple — was arrested Friday. He was produced before a magistrate Saturday morning.

He was remanded to judicial custody and was subsequently shifted to Cherlapally Jail.

The 37-year-old accused, who was married and father of two children, was having an extramarital affair with Apsara, a resident of Saroornagar and a regular devotee of the temple.

Police found that he murdered the woman as she was pressuring him to marry her as she had become pregnant with his child.

The shocking incident came to light Friday, nearly a week after the priest killed the woman in cold blood and dumped her body in a manhole.

Police found that the accused killed the woman in Sultanpalli and dumped the body in a manhole in Saroornagar area.

According to police, he took Apsara to Sultanpalli in Shamshabad mandal on the city outskirts in a car June 3.

The accused killed her by smashing her head with a boulder and then bundled the body in a bag, kept it in the car and brought it back to Saroornagar, where he dumped it in a manhole behind the temple.

He later lodged a complaint with Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA) police station that his relative Apsara was missing since June 3 after he had dropped her at Shamshabad.

He told police that Apsara, who was supposed to leave for Bhadrachalam with her friends, stopped taking calls from June 4 and her phone was later switched off. Police registered a case and took up investigation. The investigating officers found that the details given by the complainant were not matching with the technical evidence like call data.

Police checked the CCTV footage and mobile signals of Sai Krishna. They took him into custody and during the question he confessed to the crime.

The body was retrieved from the manhole and sent for autopsy.

IANS

New Delhi: A Delhi court Tuesday extended till June 1 the judicial custody of AAP leader Manish Sisodia in a money laundering case related to the alleged excise scam.

The judge also directed the jail authorities to consider providing the politician a chair and a table along with books inside the prison.

While Sisodia was being brought out of the courtroom, he told the media in reference to a bill to replace the Centre’s Ordinance on Delhi’s Services matter that Prime Minister Narendra Modi “does not believe in democracy”.

“Modi has become very arrogant,” the former deputy chief minister charged.

The Delhi government implemented the excise policy November 17, 2021 but scrapped it at the end of September 2022 amid allegations of corruption.

Sisodia is an accused in the cases lodged by both the CBI and ED in the matter.