Tag: delhi court

  • Excise policy case: Manish Sisodia moves Delhi court seeking interim bail for election campaigning

    AAP leader Manish Sisodia, who has been arrested by the CBI and ED in connection with the alleged Delhi excise policy scam case, on Friday moved a court here seeking interim bail for poll campaigning. Special Judge for the CBI and ED, Kaveri Baweja, is likely to take up the application for hearing later in the day.

    The CBI as well as the ED have alleged that irregularities were committed while modifying the Delhi excise policy, undue favours were extended to licence holders, licence fee was waived or reduced and licences were extended without the competent authority’s approval.

    The beneficiaries allegedly diverted “illegal” gains to the accused officials and made false entries in their books of account to evade detection, the probe agencies have alleged. The former deputy chief minister was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on February 26, 2023, for his alleged role in the “scam”. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested Sisodia in a money-laundering case stemming from the CBI FIR on March 9, 2023.

    Sisodia resigned from the Delhi cabinet on February 28, 2023.

  • ‘Mother alone doesn’t have rights’: Court asks Shikhar Dhawan’s estranged wife to bring son to India

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: A Delhi family court has directed cricketer Shikhar Dhawan’s estranged wife Aesha Mukherjee, who is residing in Australia, to bring their nine-year-old son Zoravar to India for a family gathering next month, observing that a mother alone does not possess exclusive rights over a child.

    Earlier, the court had declined Dhawan’s plea on the ground that the child may miss classes at school and the get-together was not important enough to make him miss his studies.

    Thereafter, the cricketer moved another application submitting that the get-together has been rescheduled to coincide with the school holidays of the child.

    Again, it was opposed by Aesha arguing that the family function would be a ‘flop show’ as most of the extended family members were not consulted before fixing the date.

    “The mother alone does not have rights over the child, why then is she opposing the petitioner meeting his own child when he is not a bad father,” Judge Harish Kumar of the family court at Delhi’s Patiala House Courts said.

    The court clarified that the petitioner is not seeking permanent custody but simply wants to have his child here for a few days, saying ‘her unwillingness may not be justified.’

    The court also noted that Shikhar’s family has not met the child since August 2020. Even if many did not show up for the function, the cricketer and his parents will have the “joy of having the company of their eye’s apple,” it said.

    There are legal cases involving the couple in both India and Australia related to their divorce and custody of the minor child.

    In the 14-page order, the judge observed that Dhawan has traveled to Australia for years to be with his son and has been a hands-on parent and affectionate father and it was also admitted by Aesha.

    The court highlighted that the “blame for polluting the environment within the family has to be shared by both.”

    “A dispute arises when one raises concerns and the other does not appreciate them or pay attention,” it said.

    “Her objection on the expense might be justified and consequent objection might be alright but her unwillingness may not be justified. She has not been able to put forth what her fear is about the petitioner qua the child and why she approached the court in Australia to put him on the watch list. If the petitioner had intended to take the law in his own hands for taking the custody of the child, he would not have approached the court in India,” it added.

    Last month, the court had pulled up Aesha for questioning the jurisdiction of the Indian court for dealing with the issue of bringing the child to India for attending the family function.

    NEW DELHI: A Delhi family court has directed cricketer Shikhar Dhawan’s estranged wife Aesha Mukherjee, who is residing in Australia, to bring their nine-year-old son Zoravar to India for a family gathering next month, observing that a mother alone does not possess exclusive rights over a child.

    Earlier, the court had declined Dhawan’s plea on the ground that the child may miss classes at school and the get-together was not important enough to make him miss his studies.

    Thereafter, the cricketer moved another application submitting that the get-together has been rescheduled to coincide with the school holidays of the child.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    Again, it was opposed by Aesha arguing that the family function would be a ‘flop show’ as most of the extended family members were not consulted before fixing the date.

    “The mother alone does not have rights over the child, why then is she opposing the petitioner meeting his own child when he is not a bad father,” Judge Harish Kumar of the family court at Delhi’s Patiala House Courts said.

    The court clarified that the petitioner is not seeking permanent custody but simply wants to have his child here for a few days, saying ‘her unwillingness may not be justified.’

    The court also noted that Shikhar’s family has not met the child since August 2020. Even if many did not show up for the function, the cricketer and his parents will have the “joy of having the company of their eye’s apple,” it said.

    There are legal cases involving the couple in both India and Australia related to their divorce and custody of the minor child.

    In the 14-page order, the judge observed that Dhawan has traveled to Australia for years to be with his son and has been a hands-on parent and affectionate father and it was also admitted by Aesha.

    The court highlighted that the “blame for polluting the environment within the family has to be shared by both.”

    “A dispute arises when one raises concerns and the other does not appreciate them or pay attention,” it said.

    “Her objection on the expense might be justified and consequent objection might be alright but her unwillingness may not be justified. She has not been able to put forth what her fear is about the petitioner qua the child and why she approached the court in Australia to put him on the watch list. If the petitioner had intended to take the law in his own hands for taking the custody of the child, he would not have approached the court in India,” it added.

    Last month, the court had pulled up Aesha for questioning the jurisdiction of the Indian court for dealing with the issue of bringing the child to India for attending the family function.

  • Delhi Waqf Board recruitment irregularities: Court sends AAP MLA Amanatullah khan to 4-day custody

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: A Delhi court on Saturday sent AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan to four-day custody of the Anti-Corruption Branch in a case related to alleged irregularities in the Delhi Waqf Board recruitment.

    Special Judge Vikas Dhull passed the order on a plea moved by the Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB), which said it needed to interrogate Khan for a thorough investigation.

    In its plea seeking Khan’s 14-day custody, the agency claimed that five of Khan’s relatives were appointed in the board, while 22 were from Okhla, which he represents.

    “A person whose income is Rs 4.32 lakh is receiving cash worth Rs 4 crore.,” the prosecution told the court. It also added that an ACB official was manhandled and slapped during the searches conducted on Friday.

    “The entire team was manhandled and firearms were recovered,” it said. The ACB had on Friday arrested Khan after conducting raids at his premises.

    They said during the searches, the ACB team was allegedly attacked by Khan’s relatives and others known to the Okhla MLA outside his residence. An FIR was already registered in connection with the alleged wrongdoings in the board.

    According to the FIR, Khan, while working as chairman of Delhi Waqf Board, illegally recruited 32 people by violating all norms and government guidelines.

    The then CEO of Delhi Waqf Board had clearly given a statement and issued a memorandum against such illegal recruitment, it said.

    Further, it was alleged that as chairman of Delhi Waqf Board, Khan rented out a number of properties of the Waqf Board illegally amid allegations of corruption and favouritism, it added.

    The FIR also alleged that Khan misappropriated funds of the Waqf Board comprising grants-in-aid from the Delhi government. The ACB had issued a notice to Khan on Thursday for questioning in connection with the Prevention of Corruption Act case registered in 2020. The Okhla MLA was called for questioning at 12 pm on Friday.

    Earlier, the ACB had written to the Lieutenant Governor’s Secretariat demanding that Khan be removed as the Delhi Waqf Board chairman for allegedly hampering the probe by “bullying” witnesses in a case against him.

    NEW DELHI: A Delhi court on Saturday sent AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan to four-day custody of the Anti-Corruption Branch in a case related to alleged irregularities in the Delhi Waqf Board recruitment.

    Special Judge Vikas Dhull passed the order on a plea moved by the Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB), which said it needed to interrogate Khan for a thorough investigation.

    In its plea seeking Khan’s 14-day custody, the agency claimed that five of Khan’s relatives were appointed in the board, while 22 were from Okhla, which he represents.

    “A person whose income is Rs 4.32 lakh is receiving cash worth Rs 4 crore.,” the prosecution told the court. It also added that an ACB official was manhandled and slapped during the searches conducted on Friday.

    “The entire team was manhandled and firearms were recovered,” it said. The ACB had on Friday arrested Khan after conducting raids at his premises.

    They said during the searches, the ACB team was allegedly attacked by Khan’s relatives and others known to the Okhla MLA outside his residence. An FIR was already registered in connection with the alleged wrongdoings in the board.

    According to the FIR, Khan, while working as chairman of Delhi Waqf Board, illegally recruited 32 people by violating all norms and government guidelines.

    The then CEO of Delhi Waqf Board had clearly given a statement and issued a memorandum against such illegal recruitment, it said.

    Further, it was alleged that as chairman of Delhi Waqf Board, Khan rented out a number of properties of the Waqf Board illegally amid allegations of corruption and favouritism, it added.

    The FIR also alleged that Khan misappropriated funds of the Waqf Board comprising grants-in-aid from the Delhi government. The ACB had issued a notice to Khan on Thursday for questioning in connection with the Prevention of Corruption Act case registered in 2020. The Okhla MLA was called for questioning at 12 pm on Friday.

    Earlier, the ACB had written to the Lieutenant Governor’s Secretariat demanding that Khan be removed as the Delhi Waqf Board chairman for allegedly hampering the probe by “bullying” witnesses in a case against him.

  • Jahangirpuri violence: Court denies bail to alleged arms supplier

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: A Delhi court has dismissed the bail application of a person who allegedly supplied a pistol used in Jahangirpuri violence, saying the allegations against the accused were serious.

    Additional Sessions Judge Gagandeep Singh court denied bail to Gulfam Rasool alias Gulli, who was arrested by police for allegedly supplying the pistol to the main accused in the case.

    “There is communal tension in the area at this stage. The charge sheet is yet to be filed. The allegations are serious against the applicant,” the court said in an order passed on Friday.

    Police had arrested Rasool on April 19. It had also recovered a country-made pistol from the accused.

    Violent clashes broke out in Delhi’s Jahangirpuri on April 16 between two groups during a Hanuman Jayanti procession that left nine people injured, including eight police personnel and a civilian.

  • Court upholds CBI’s probe that ruled out foul play in Unnao rape survivor’s accident

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: A Delhi court has upheld the investigation conducted by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) that had ruled out any foul play in the Unnao rape survivor’s accident in 2019.

    In 2019, the rape survivor, her family, and lawyer were travelling in a car when it was hit by an overspeeding truck in Rae Bareli, killing two aunts and leaving her and the advocate critically injured.

    Pursuant to this, a murder case was filed against expelled BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar, who was also awarded life-term imprisonment for raping the minor survivor, and nine others after her family filed a complaint alleging “conspiracy” behind the accident.

    Dismissing these allegations, District and Sessions Judge Dharmesh Sharma held that the objections of the complainant party read like an engrossing thrilling story but were based on mere surmises and conjectures.

    He further said that there are no grounds to suspect the fidelity, accuracy, and sincerity of the investigation conducted by the CBI and that the agency came out with a plausible version of the incident.

    Notably, the investigating agency had concluded that there was no evidence regarding criminal conspiracy hatched between those named in the FIR, including Kuldeep Sengar, and the truck driver or the cleaner or for that matter owner of the offending truck.

    Upholding the probe, the judge stated in an order dated July 31, “I have no hesitation in holding the findings of the CBI in the chargesheet, that there is no case against the accused persons so as to take cognisance and proceed against them under Section 302 (murder) and 307 (attempt to murder) read with Section 120B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), cannot be faulted.

    ” The sessions judge, however, framed charges against the truck driver for causing death by negligence and doing an act to endanger human life, besides framing charges of criminal intimidation against Sengar and his associates.

    Besides this, on December 20, 2019, Sengar was sentenced to jail for the “remainder of his natural biological life” in a separate case for raping the minor in 2017.

    On March 4, 2020, Sengar, his brother, and five others were also convicted for the death of the rape survivor’s father in judicial custody and were sentenced to 10 years imprisonment.

  • Court to pronounce judgment in Delhi riots related case on Tuesday

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: A court here is scheduled to pronounce judgment on Tuesday in a case related to the 2020 northeast Delhi riots in which a man was charged for rioting, dacoity, and being part of an unlawful assembly.

    According to the police, accused Suresh, along with a huge crowd of rioters carrying iron rods and sticks, allegedly broke open the lock of a shop situated in Delhi’s Babarpur Road and looted it on February 25 evening.

    Additional Sessions Judge Amitabh Rawat had reserved the order on April 21 and since then the verdict has been deferred seven times.

    On March 9, 2021, the court had framed charges against Suresh under Sections 143 (punishment for being a member of an unlawful assembly), 147 (punishment for rioting), 427 (mischief causing damage) of the Indian Penal Code.

    He was also charged under Section 454 (house-trespass) read with Section 149 (member of unlawful assembly guilty of offence committed in prosecution of common object) and 395 (punishment for dacoity) of the Indian Penal Code to which he pleaded not guilty and claimed trial.

    The shop belonged to one Bhagat Singh and was rented to Asif, who is the complainant in the case.

    During the investigation, Singh told the police that the “rioters were aggressive and wanted to loot the said shop because it was of a Muslim and he tried to stop them but in vain.”

    Communal clashes had broken out in northeast Delhi in February 2020, after violence between the Citizenship (Amendment) Act supporters and its protesters spiraled out of control leaving at least 53 people dead and over 700 injured.

  • Delhi Court reserves order on remand days to journalist Rajeev Sharma in PMLA case

    By ANI
    NEW DELHI: A Delhi Court reserved order on remand days to Rajeev Sharma, a freelance journalist. He was recently arrested by Enforcement Directorate (ED) under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002 on the charges of supplying confidential and sensitive information to Chinese intelligence officers, in exchange for remuneration. ED today has sought seven days of further remand of him.

    ED while seeking further remand stated that unearthing the end-use of funds involved in the instant case would assist in ascertaining the exact quantum of the proceeds of crime, determining the role of various other persons and aides who facilitated the offence of money laundering in the instant case.

    Further custodial interrogation of the accused is required as he is still to be confronted with the voluminous evidence on record, in order to facilitate an effective investigation of the case. During interrogation, the accused has been confronted with part evidence on the record but due to his non-cooperative and evasive attitude, confrontation on certain crucial aspects of the case still remains pending, stated the remand application.

    Additional Sessions Judge Dharmender Rana after hearing the arguments of both sides said the order will be passed sometime today.

    Amish Aggarwala Advocate with Aditya Singh Jakhar and Karan Ahuja Advocates argued on behalf of Journalist Rajeev Sharma opposing the remand application of ED in the court.

    The Directorate of Enforcement arrested Rajeev Sharma under the PMLA on 01.07.2021.

    The ED initiated an investigation on the basis of the FIR and charge sheet filed by Delhi Police against Sharma under the provisions of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 and the Official Secrets Act, 1923.

    Earlier, ED stated that, during the investigation, it was revealed that Sharma had supplied confidential and sensitive information to Chinese intelligence officers, in exchange for remuneration thereby compromising the security and national interests of India.

    ED also stated that it was further revealed that cash for remuneration of Rajeev Sharma and other unknown persons was being generated through hawala means by Mahipalpur based shell companies that were run by Chinese nationals namely Zhang Cheng @ Suraj, Zhang Lixia @ Usha and Quing Shi along with a Nepali national Sher Singh @ Raj Bohara. Apart from cash, huge transactions were made with various Chinese companies and some other trading companies in India which are being examined.

    These Chinese companies were acting as a conduit for the Chinese Intelligence agencies to provide remuneration for persons like Rajeev Sharma who indulged in criminal activities. Rajeev Sharma also received money through bank accounts in order to conceal his involvement in criminal activities, said the ED.

    Earlier Delhi Police had arrested Rajeev Sharma under various sections of the IPC and Official Secrets Acts. Later he was granted bail by the Delhi High Court. 

  • Delhi court adjourns INX Media case against P Chidambaram for July 9

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: A Delhi court on Tuesday adjourned for two weeks a money laundering case allegedly involving former union minister P Chidambaram, in relation to INX Media scam.

    Special Judge M K Nagpal posted the matter for hearing on July 9 due to ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

    The judge noted that the court was only hearing urgent matters.

    Chidambaram was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the INX Media corruption case on August 21, 2019.

    On October 16, 2019, the ED arrested him in a related money-laundering case.

    Six days later, on October 22, the apex court granted bail to Chidambaram in the case lodged by the CBI.

    In the ED case, he got bail on December 4, 2019.

    The CBI had registered its case on May 15, 2017, alleging irregularities in a Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) clearance granted to the INX Media group for receiving overseas funds of Rs 305 crore in 2007, during Chidambaram’s tenure as finance minister.

    Subsequently, the ED had lodged the money-laundering case.

    His son Karti Chidambaram was arrested by CBI in February 2018 and he was granted bail in March 2018 in INX Media corruption case.

    He was granted interim bail from the Delhi high court in the money laundering case.

  • Delhi riots: Court denies bail to accused claiming to be suffering from schizophrenia

    By Express News Service
    NEW DELHI:  A Delhi Court has refused to grant interim bail to a riot accused claiming to be suffering from ‘paranoid schizophrenia’, saying that the possibility that he is pretending to be suffering from a mental disorder to come out of the jail cannot be ruled out.

    Additional Sessions Judge Vinod Yadav was hearing the application filed by Mohd Salman seeking interim bail on the ground that he has been suffering from paranoid schizophrenia which requires great care and needs to be admitted to a higher medical centre for further evaluation.

    The judge dismissed the application and stated, “The possibility cannot be ruled out that the applicant has been making conscious and persistent efforts to somehow come out of the jail by pretending to be suffering from mental disorder.” The court said it cannot lose sight of the fact that Salman is an accused in the three heinous cases of riots-cum-murder and the allegations against the applicant are quite serious.

    As per the medical report submitted by the Jail Superintendent on May 5, the accused was within normal limits, stable and being regularly sent to Institute of Human Behaviour and Allied Sciences (IHBAS).  “It is relevant to note that the applicant would not have got such attention and treatment had he not been in jail,” the Judge said. The 27-year-old Salman is lodged in Mandoli jail since last one year in connection with the murder of three persons during the riots in northeast Delhi. 

  • Climate activist Disha Ravi granted bail in toolkit case after court terms evidence scanty and sketchy

    Express News Service
    NEW DELHI:  A Delhi court on Tuesday granted bail to 22-year-old climate change activist Disha Ravi, who was arrested in connection with the toolkit case, citing scanty and sketchy investigation.

    Additional Sessions Judge Dharmendra Rana said, “Citizens are conscience keepers of government in any democratic nation. They cannot be put behind bars simply because they choose to disagree with the state policies.

    The offence of sedition cannot be invoked to minister to the wounded vanity of the governments.” The 18-page bail order said, “Even our founding fathers accorded due respect to divergence of opinion by recognising the freedom of speech and expression as an inviolable fundamental right.”

    Shortly after bail was granted, another judge, Pankaj Sharma, the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate of the Patiala House Court, disposed of a Delhi Police application seeking Disha’s extended custody.

    ALSO READ: Our daughter is innocent, we’re a humble family: Disha Ravi’s mother

    The police had sought four more days of custody. While citing a couplet from Rig Veda, which says ‘let noble thoughts come to me from all directions,’ the judge said, “Difference of opinion, disagreement, divergence, dissent, or for that matter even disapprobation, are recognised legitimate tools to infuse objectivity in state policies. An aware and assertive citizenry, in contradistinction with an indifferent or docile citizenry, is indisputably a sign of a healthy and vibrant democracy.”

    Expressing concern over the sketchy probe, the court said, “Considering the scanty and sketchy evidence available on record, I do not find any palpable reasons to breach the general rule of ‘Bail’ against a 22-year-old young lady, with absolutely blemish-free criminal antecedents and having firm roots in the society, and send her to jail.”

    He also said the police are in the process of collecting more evidence and so they cannot be allowed to further restrict the liberty of a citizen on the basis of propitious anticipations.

    “The resistance to bail plea seems to be more ornamental in nature,” said the judge. 

    ‘Sharing of toolkit is not conspiracy against county’

    The court also ruled that any person with dubious credentials may interact with a number of persons during the course of his social interaction.

    “As long as the engagement/interaction remains within the four corners of law, people interacting with such persons, ignorantly, innocently or for that matter even fully conscious of their dubious credentials, cannot be painted with the same hue.”

    EDITORIAL: Disha Ravi not Mata Hari: Crackdown against toolkit creators over the top

    It also dismissed Delhi Police’s claim that Disha’s sharing of the ‘toolkit’ with Greta Thunberg amounted to conspiring against the country.

    “There are no geographical barriers on communication. A citizen has the fundamental rights to use the best means of imparting and receiving communication, as long as the same is permissible under the four corners of law and as such have access to audience abroad. In my considered opinion, the creation of a WhatsApp group or being editor of an innocuous toolkit is not an offence.”

    The court also dismissed the arguments that Ravi had conspired with the Poetic Justice Foundation (PJF) to defame the country and spread secessionist thought.

    “In the absence of any evidence (that) the accused shared a common purpose to cause violence (on January 26) with the founders of PJF (Poetic Justice Foundation), it cannot be presumed by resorting to surmises or conjectures that she also supported secessionist tendencies,” the order reads.