NRHM scam: SC notice to CBI on bail plea of Ex-UP Minister
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday issued notices to CBI on the bail plea of former UP cabinet minister Babu Singh Kushwaha who is in jail since March 3, 2012 in the multi-crore National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) scam case. A vacation bench of justices A K Sikri and U U Lalit sought response from the CBI and fixed the plea of Kushwaha for hearing on June 8. Senior advocate Nidesh Gupta, appearing for the politician, said that the accused has been in prison for quite a long time and charges have also been framed in the case. On February 13, the apex court had dismissed Kushwaha’s bail plea, saying the allegations against him were very “serious” and it was a “good case for dismissal”. The bench, however, had allowed Kushwaha to move lower court for bail if the trial does not commence within six months. In July last year, the former minister had approached the apex court challenging the Allahabad High Court order rejecting his bail plea in the scam which had taken place during the previous Bahujan Samaj Party government headed by Mayawati. The case is being investigated by the CBI which has submitted charge sheet against the accused persons. The trial is going on in a CBI court at Ghaziabad. (PTI)
SIT to probe encounter killing of Vashishtha
New Delhi: A Special Investigation Team (SIT) will probe into the alleged encounter killing of wanted criminal Manoj Vashishtha at a restaurant in Central Delhi’s New Rajender Nagar area. The decision was taken by Home Minister Rajnath Singh after family members of Vashishtha met him on Monday. “Further course of action like whether to conduct a probe through CBI would be taken only after receiving the report of the SIT,” a Home Ministry official said. Delhi Police Commissioner B S Bassi, who met Union Home Secretary L C Goyal, said the SIT was constituted for a professional and speedy investigation. “We want to complete the probe as soon as possible. One officer has been taken from the Crime Branch too,” he told reporters. Asked whether any time-frame has been set for the SIT to complete the probe, Bassi said it was not possible to fix time but the investigation would be completed as early as possible. “You will get a clear picture after completion of investigation,” he said. Bassi refused to speak about the incident as “SIT has already started the investigation”. Vashishtha, who was wanted in several cases of fraud and other crimes, was hit by a bullet in the gun-fight with a team of Special Cell of Delhi Police on Saturday. He was taken to a nearby hospital where he was declared brought dead, the police officer said. Vashishtha’s wife Priyanka and brother Anil had earlier accused the police of staging a “fake encounter”. They claimed that Vashishtha was not a hardened criminal. (PTI)
Three persons get life term in sexual assault case
Erode (TN): A court here on Monday awarded life sentence to three persons for sexually assaulting a minor girl in 2012. The trio were sentenced by district mahila court judge Thirunavukkarasu under Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act. The judge also awarded 10 years rigorous imprisonment to them. Both the sentences would run concurrently. According to prosecution, the three along with a minor boy kidnapped the girl and took her to Karnataka in December 2012 and sexually assaulted her. However, the girl managed to return a few days later and informed about the incident to her parents, who lodged a police complaint. All the four were arrested. However, the minor boy was sent to a juvenile home. The case against him is pending in a juvenile court. (PTI)
Youth sent to jail for beating up stray dog in Kanpur
Kanpur: A youth was sent to jail for assaulting up a stray dog in the Nababganj area of the city on Sunday night. Police on Monday said one Manjit Singh beat up a stray dog badly due to which the animal was badly injured. In the meantime an activist of the Union cabinet minister Menaka Gandhi’s organisation People’s for Animal Rachna Tripathi was passing through the road and observed the entire incident.When she objected, the accused and others protested due to which they rushed to the nearby Nababganj police station. Later, police lodged a complaint on the application by Ms Rachna Tripathi and some others and a FIR was lodged under section 11 of the Cruelty against Animal Act 1960. The accused was also arrested.The injured dog has been admitted to a vet hospital. (UNI)