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Pune: Siju Sheikh sexually exploits a minor, blackmails her using derogatory photos, wife Sofiana threatens with death, both booked

Siddhi Somani
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Pune: Siju Sheikh sexually exploits a minor, blackmails her using derogatory photos, wife Sofiana threatens with death, both booked

On Wednesday (20th December), Maharashtra Police booked an individual identified as Siju Sheikh for br sexually exploiting a minor girl and threatening her with death. The wife of the accused, identified as Sofiana Sheikh has also been booked by the Police for harassing the girl and her family and threatening them with death. The incident is said to have happened in the Somvar Peth area of Maharashtra’s Pune district.

The accused persons have been booked under sections 376(2)(n) (rape), 377, 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace), 506 (criminal intimidation), 34 of the Indian Penal Code and sections 8, 12 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012.

As per the FIR copy obtained by OpIndia, the victim has been facing harassment at the hands of the accused since the year 2016. The saga began when the accused and his mother shifted to an apartment owned by the victim’s father. The accused had been staying in the space on rent and eventually developed good relations with the landlord’s family including the girl.

As per the complaint, in the year 2016, the accused once invited the girl who was in school at that time. He called her when he was alone at his home. He deceptively asked the victim to take her clothes off so that he could click derogatory pictures of her. For years, he used those pictures to blackmail the victim and sexually exploit her.

The victim girl at present works in a call center and mentions in the FIR that she has been raped by the accused and harassed by his wife multiple times. The victim has complained that she has been raped by the accused after being made to drink a spiked liquid.

Narrating the ordeal, the victim who is currently 19 said, “In the year 2022, I took admission in Pune’s Desai College for Commerce first year. Siju and I hadn’t met after school. Suddenly he began following me to the college. One day he stood outside my college gate and tried to talk to me. I ignored but he followed me and forced me to talk. He blackmailed me saying that he had derogatory photos of me that he would show to my family if I refused to talk to him. I got scared and so I agreed to talk to him.”

“He also informed me that he was married to Sofiana but wasn’t living with her and that he wanted to establish sexual relations with me. I clearly refused but he again threatened and blackmailed me to agree to him. He took me to a lodge in the Katraj area and fed me some spiked liquid. He then threatened me to take my clothes off and established sexual relations with me against my will. He also physically assaulted me and later he dropped me back at my college gate,” she added.

The victim in the FIR stated that the same incident happened to her 7-8 times but she could not inform her parents about it given that she was scared. The incident came to the fore only after the wife of the accused booked by the police exposed the man and threatened the victim and her family.

On 19th December, Sofiana barged into the victim’s home and showed her father the derogatory pictures of the girl. She also threatened the family members saying that she would kill the girl for keeping relations with her husband. It is then that the victim narrated her ordeal in front of her family members and sought help.

The victim said that the accused also hit her and physically assaulted her whenever she refused to agree to cooperate with him. The Pune Police have taken cognizance of the event and have booked the accused for sexually assaulting a minor girl and threatening her with death. The wife of the accused, Sofiana has also been booked by the Police.

Pune district in Maharashtra is witnessing a rise in the cases of sexual harassment and assault against minor and young victims. Yesterday, on 19th December it was reported that a South Korean vlogger Kelly was harassed by a Pune resident, originally from Bidar in Karnataka. The accused was arrested after he inappropriately and forcefully hugged the victim in the city market. The video of the incident is making rounds on social media.

Also in August this year, it was reported that a 26-year-old Hindu from Beed was sexually harassed by one Amir who later converted the girl to Islam. The victim was raped and threatened with death. The detailed report of this case can be read here.

The FIR has been filed at the Samarth Police Station based on the complaint filed by the victim and her father. Further investigations are underway.

‘Conduct whatever surveys you want, Muslims won’t lose any mosque now’: Maulana Tauqeer Raza warns of ‘street fight’ over Gyanvapi

OpIndia Staff
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‘Conduct whatever surveys you want, Muslims won’t lose any mosque now’: Maulana Tauqeer Raza warns of ‘street fight’ over Gyanvapi

Maulana Tauqeer Raza, known for his contentious remarks, has sparked controversy again. This time, he has declared his intention to launch a fight on the streets over the disputed structure at Gyanvapi. On the Mathura and Kashi issue, he said that Muslims are not ready to lose any mosque now, no matter how many surveys someone conducts. He also described the Supreme Court’s decision on Ram Mandir as dishonest. Tauqeer made this statement on Monday (18th December) in Delhi.

According to reports, on Monday, a Muslim panchayat was held at Aiwan-e-Ghalib Hall in Delhi. This panchayat was called by the Ittehad-e-Millat Council (IMC). Speaking at the same event, Tauqeer cited his faith and said, “After Babri mosque, it is enough. We showed patience with Babri. We will not show any patience with Gyanvapi. Inshallah, this battle will be fought on the streets.” Calling lawyer Mehmood Pracha on stage, Tauqeer described him as a fighter in the court, and announced his desire to take to the streets with his supporters.

Maulana Tauqeer Raza did not stop here. He further said that Muslims have to show that they will not tolerate it. Tauqeer also mentioned the disputed structure of Ayodhya in the same speech. He said, “Now we say that our faith is above the court because we have once seen the dishonesty of the court.”

Maulana Tauqeer Raza also said that because of the patience of Muslims on the disputed structure Babri, they were considered cowardly. Provoking people, he said that if Muslims do not become restless, then like Babri, Gyanvapi will also be taken away.

Maulana Tauqeer Raza further said, “After Gyanvapi, the mosques of Mathura and Badaun will be taken away from Muslims. Jama Masjid will also be attacked in the coming time. Somewhere Muslims will have to stand up and speak their mind.” In the end, citing his ‘experience’, Tauqeer said that he felt that this was not a time of speeches but a time of pain for the people present in the meeting. He also accused the Bharatiya Janata Party of dividing the people to rule the country.

Over 500 bank accounts in names of illegal Rohingyas and Bangladeshis: UP ATS arrests Mohd Abdul Awwal from Delhi in terror funding case

OpIndia Staff
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Over 500 bank accounts in names of illegal Rohingyas and Bangladeshis: UP ATS arrests Mohd Abdul Awwal from Delhi in terror funding case

On Tuesday (December 20), the Uttar Pradesh Anti Terrorist Squad (UP ATS) arrested a former student of Lucknow’s Nadwatul Ulama from New Delhi’s Nizamuddin railway station. The arrested person has been identified as 37-year-old Mohammed Abdul Awwal. Originally hailing from Assam’s Goalpara, Abdul Awwal has been residing in Delhi since 2018.

The ATS said that for the past five years, accused Abdul Awwal resided in Shram Vihar, Jamia Nagar, Okhla, New Delhi, where he completed his Class 12 under the Madrasa educational system.

The Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terror Squad is probing foreign fundings received by a Delhi-based NGO as donations for social welfare activities in over 500 ‘suspicious’ bank accounts registered in the National Capital Region (NCR) and Delhi, an official said on Tuesday.

Accused Abdul Awwal was involved in opening accounts in a private bank in the name of illegally migrating Bangladesh and Myanmar citizens in order to obtain funds from a Delhi-based NGO’s FCRA (Foreign Contribution Regulation Act) accounts. The ATS suspected these funds were used for anti-national activities and terror funding, as about 20 crore was transferred to similar accounts in the four preceding years, the UP ATS said.

As reported earlier, UP ATS had registered an FIR against 10 suspected terrorists on 11th October 2023 naming Adil ur Rahman Ashrafi, Abu Hurairah Ghazi, Sheikh Nazibul Haq, Mohammad Rashid, Kafiluddin, Azeem, Abu Saleh, Abdul Gaffar, Abdullah Ghazi and now-arrested Abdul Awwal. The named accused were booked over allegations of illegally soliciting money from abroad to build mosques in India, settling Rohingya and Bangladeshi citizens in India and carrying out anti-national activities. Most of these conspirators were found to have had links with Darul Uloom of Deoband. The money, which was brought abroad and in many other parts of the country, was routed to Najibul Sheikh, originally a resident of 24 Parganas in West Bengal through hawala. Najibul Sheikh owns a cap and perfume shop near Darul Uloom Deoband in Saharanpur.

During the accused’s interrogation, it was revealed that he met one Abdul Gaffar in Delhi during the Covid outbreak in 2020, when the rules for opening bank accounts were eased. Gaffar and his associates persuaded the accused to open accounts in a private bank in the names of Bangladeshi nationals and Rohingyas, allowing the former to transfer small sums to each account via FCRA accounts of the NGO ‘Sun Shine Health and Social Welfare Trust,’ which received funds from European countries.

Gaffar deposited funds to these bank accounts, and the accused, in collusion with the former, withdrew all of them and allocated them equally. Gaffar, according to the accused, did similar things to numerous other bank accounts opened by persons in his network. While Gaffar is yet to be arrested, efforts are on to nab him.

“The modus operandi to bring funds from abroad clearly suggested that the nexus was involved in using this money for anti-national activities by violating FCRA norms. “The ATS sleuths are carefully scanning the details of all these bank accounts, and further investigation is underway,” underlined a top ATS official.

Parliament security breach: Counter Intelligence Unit brings all 6 accused together to match sequence of events

ANI
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Parliament security breach: Counter Intelligence Unit brings all 6 accused together to match sequence of events

The Counter Intelligence Unit (CIU) of the Special Cell of Delhi Police brought all the six accused in the Parliament breach case to check if the sequence of events as claimed by each of them earlier matches, officials said on Thursday.

According to Delhi Police, all 6 were kept at five different units of the Special Cell where they were subjected to sustained grilling.

Earlier, on Wednesday, the accused were handed over to the CIU (Counter Intelligence Unit) where they faced joint interrogation.

Meanwhile, the seven-day custody of four of the accused — Manoranjan, Amol, Sagar and Neelam — is set to expire on Thursday.

Coming on the 22nd anniversary of the terror attack on Parliament in 2001, the security breach sent shockwaves throughout the country on December 13.

Two youths — Sagar Sharma and Manoranjan D — jumped into the Lok Sabha chamber from the public gallery during Zero Hour, setting off smoke cans and raising slogans before being overpowered by some members in the Upper House.

In a separate incident that unfolded simultaneously, two more protestors — Neelam (42) and Amol (25) — protested outside the Parliament holding similar gas canisters.

All four were arrested from the scene and produced before a court, which remanded them in the custody of the Special Cell for seven days.

According to sources privy to the ongoing probe into the incident, the security breach accused created a WhatsApp group with 7-8 members to flesh out their plan.

The accused shared the entire conspiracy to breach multi-levels of security and enter Parliament on this WhatsApp group.

Sources said the Special Cell was in touch with all persons who were part of the social media group.

Meanwhile, Delhi Police said it was also trying to have the SIM card destroyed by the accused reissued so that they could access the email used by the former.

Police said they will seek the help of the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) to retrieve the email through the reissued SIM card.

Further, according to sources, to hunt for more leads in the case, the Special Cell has put together six teams that will visit locations linked to the accused in Lucknow, Mysuru, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Haryana.

The probe revealed further that two pairs of shoes were made on a special order, in Lucknow, as the accused learned that the shoes of visitors to the new Parliament are not checked and they could hide their smoke cans under their footwear, sources said. (ANI)

(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)

Muslim Forum writes to Rahul Gandhi, CM Reddy, demands inclusion of Shias in Telangana Govt; says despite ‘vociferous support’, party didn’t field any Shia candidate

OpIndia Staff
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Muslim Forum writes to Rahul Gandhi, CM Reddy, demands inclusion of Shias in Telangana Govt; says despite ‘vociferous support’, party didn’t field any Shia candidate

Muslim Forum writes to Rahul Gandhi, CM Reddy, demanding inclusion Shia Muslims in the Telangana govt, says despite ‘vociforous support’, party did not field single Shia candidat

On Wednesday (20th December), the United Shia Muslims Forum (USMF) of Telangana wrote to the central and state leadership of the Congress party demanding ‘representation’ of the Shia Muslim community in the Telangana government. The USMF said in its letter that one MLC seat under the Governor’s quota, and chairmanship of other minority institutions be provided to persons from the Shia community to ensure representation in the government. Shia leaders from the state have also reportedly reached Delhi to put their demands in front of Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge.

The United Shia Muslims Forum (USMF) state president Ali Shabbir wrote the letter sent to former Congress president Rahul Gandhi and Telangana’s Chief Minister Revanth Reddy. In this letter, Ali Shabbir stated that despite widespread support for the Congress party in the recent assembly elections in Telangana, the party did not field any Shia Muslim candidate. Notably, Congress fielded five Muslims in the elections, all Sunni Muslims.

In the letter, Ali Shabbir said, “To sum the above, it is earnestly requested to at least accommodate Shia persons in suitable positions and we assure to come up with overwhelming support for the party in ensuing Lok Sabha elections, prominently in Hyderabad, Secunderabad, Malkajgiri, and Chevella Parliamentary constituencies, where we have a considerable presence in the form of voters.”

He added, “As a quick ready reference, we state that there are two vacant MLC positions under the Governor quota, one of which may be given to a Congress member from the Shia community and also a representative Member or Directly in the various corporations of minorities such as Minorities Finance Corporation, Hajj Committee, Urdu Academy, etc.”

The letter from the USMF also conveyed that the Shia community in Telangana is fully committed to supporting the Congress in the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections next year. Shias make up approximately 15% of the state’s total Muslim population. Overall, Muslims constitute about 12.5% of Telangana’s total population of four crores. In the recent assembly elections, the Congress party got a majority in Telangana state winning 64 out of 119 seats.

It is not the first time that Muslims have openly demanded top administration posts in a Congress government in exchange for the support offered. In May 2023, Congress won a majority in the Karnataka state assembly and formed a government. Immediately after that, Muslims in Karnataka demanded five ministerial posts including a post of deputy chief minister for Muslim candidates. Now, the Shia community is demanding an MLC seat and some other administrative posts on various committees and corporations in Telangana.

Bihar: Jailed YouTuber Manish Kashyap gets bail in all cases linked to fake video row

OpIndia Staff
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Bihar: Jailed YouTuber Manish Kashyap gets bail in all cases linked to fake video row

Jailed YouTuber Manish Kashyap has got bail in all the cases. Kashyap, who hails from Bihar, was put behind bars over an alleged fake video case. Kashyap will be out of jail any time now.

Kashyap’s case pertains to a complaint lodged in connection with a fake video that was uploaded on YouTube in March this year claiming that migrant workers from Bihar were being assaulted in Tamil Nadu and that they were not safe in the state.

Manish Kashyap alias Tripurari Kumar Tiwari, currently lodged in Beur jail in Patna, has got bail in all cases from the civil court.

The process of his release has started but it is believed that the same may take some time. Manish Kashyap’s friend Mani Dwivedi has also confirmed this development.

His friend said that Kashyap has already been granted bail in all the cases registered against him in Tamil Nadu. Now bail has been granted in all cases from Patna Civil Court also.

Mani said that he had also got bail from Bettiah Court. A case was pending in Patna High Court, in which bail was granted on Wednesday (20 December 2023).

According to the information, now the bail papers will go from Patna High Court to Civil Court on Thursday (21st December). There the bail will be filled and then he will be recalled from the civil court to Beur jail.

Manish will be released only after seeking permission from Beur Jail Administration, Chennai and Madurai Court. Beur jail administration has written letters to Madurai and Chennai courts regarding the release.

After this Manish Kashyap will be released from Beur jail.

A search was launched for Kashyap after the case was registered. During this period, his house was also confiscated. He surrendered on 18th March 18 2023, during the attachment-confiscation proceedings.

After this the Tamil Nadu Police took him away. At present Kashyap is lodged in Bihar jail.

On 10th November, the Madras High Court quashed detention order against Kashyap. The court had also dropped charges slapped on him under NSA by the Tamil Nadu police.

Manish Kashyap had shared an alleged fake video of assault on workers from Bihar in Tamil Nadu. However, it was found that the video was created by the main accused Rakesh Ranjan Kumar, a native of Gopalganj district in rented accommodation in Patna.

The Economic Offenses Unit (EOU) of Bihar Police had registered an FIR against Manish Kashyap. Patna Economic Offenses Unit had registered 4 cases against Manish Kashyap.

In this case, fake video of beating of 3 Bihari laborers in Tamil Nadu is involved.

At the same time, Tamil Nadu Police has registered a total of 13 cases. Manish Kashyap is named accused in 6 of these cases.

The CJI in April had questioned why NSA was imposed against Kashyap. “Why this vengeance against this man?” CJI DY Chandrachud had asked.

The erosion of democratic decorum: Opposition’s unruly conduct in Parliament threatens the integrity of the democratic process

Anurag
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The erosion of democratic decorum: Opposition’s unruly conduct in Parliament threatens the integrity of the democratic process

The security breach in the Lok Sabha on 13th December 2023 was a highly concerning event, especially on the anniversary of the deadly 2001 parliament attack. While the security breach is under investigation, the opposition’s response to it has lacked decorum and has raised serious apprehensions about the sanctity of the democratic process.

In the aftermath, the opposition followed the path of slogan-shouting, hooliganism and blatant disregard for the established parliamentary norms. Sadly, the opposition leaders brought placards to the House even though they promised not to do so in the meeting with Speaker Om Birla.

There is no doubt that the opposition plays a vital role in the democratic setup. The opposition serves as a necessary check on the ruling party, and ensures that the decisions made by the central government undergo scrutiny. However, how the opposition chose to behave in the House following the security breach raises grave concerns about the integrity of the parliamentary proceedings.

To maintain the decorum of the House, the Lok Sabha Speaker and Rajya Sabha Chairperson had to suspend over 140 Members of the Parliament from both Houses. In a democracy, constructive debates are the bedrock of informed governance. Only through the debates in the House do the proposed bills get subjected to the much-needed examination. The debates and proposed amendments help formulate robust and comprehensive laws that benefit all sections of society. However, it is regrettable that the recent events in both Houses showcased a blatant disregard for the democratic process as the opposition continued to obstruct the functioning of the parliament.

Notably, Lok Sabha passed significant bills such as Bharatiya Nyaya (Second) Sanhita 2023, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha (Second) Sanhita 2023, Bharatiya Sakshhya (Second) Bill 2023, and The Telecommunications Bill, 2023 on 20th December 2023. Sadly, a significant portion of the opposition was missing from the House as they were suspended due to the disruptive behaviour. The ruling party in the House faced a difficult choice. Still, they had no option but to proceed without the participation of the opposition leaders to ensure the legislative process continued.

In the last 9.5 years since the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) led by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) took charge at the Centre, the country has progressed in every section. The government’s dedication towards nation-building and its unwavering commitment to a better future for the citizens is commendable. However, in stark contrast, the opposition has persistently attempted to impede these efforts. Their behaviour raises serious questions about their priorities and allegiance to the welfare of the people of Bharat.

Furthermore, the unwarranted mocking of Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar by TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee added an even more troubling dimension to the conduct of the opposition. His behaviour undermined the dignity of the parliamentary proceedings and set a dangerous path for the future. The Vice President, as the Chair of the Rajya Sabha, symbolises the highest level of parliamentary authority, and such attempts to belittle the office are a direct assault on the democratic principles of the country. The matter was so concerning that the President of India had to step in and express her dismay over the unwarranted mockery of the Vice President.

Bharat is heading towards the Lok Sabha Elections 2024. The voters are now at a critical decision-making juncture. It is essential to examine the conduct of the political parties and their representatives, especially in times of crisis. Hooliganism, slogan-shouting, and an utter lack of decorum have no place in the esteemed halls of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha.

Undoubtedly, the events of 13th December 2023 highlighted a concerning lapse in security. However, instead of supporting the security agencies and the government to weed out the loopholes, the opposition decided to engage in mockery, sloganeering and unruly behaviour that cast a dark shadow on the democratic ideals that define our great nation. Voters must meticulously evaluate the conduct of elected representatives. The representatives in the Parliament must be held accountable.

‘Beijing will unify Taiwan with mainland China, at a time that China will choose’: Xi Jinping told Biden in San Francisco

ANI
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‘Beijing will unify Taiwan with mainland China, at a time that China will choose’: Xi Jinping told Biden in San Francisco

Chinese President Xi Jinping has warned his US counterpart Joe Biden that Beijing will reunify Taiwan with mainland China but that the timing has not yet been decided, NBC News reported.

NBC News is the news division of the American broadcast television network NBC.

Xi warned Biden during their recent summit in San Francisco, according to three current and former US officials.

In a group meeting attended by a dozen American and Chinese officials, Xi told Biden that China’s preference is to take Taiwan peacefully, not by force, the officials said.

The Chinese president also referenced public predictions by US military leaders who say that Xi plans to take Taiwan in 2025 or 2027, telling Biden that they were wrong because he has not set a time frame, according to two current and one former official briefed on the meeting.

Chinese officials also asked in advance of the summit that Biden make a public statement after the meeting saying that the US supports China’s goal of peaceful unification with Taiwan and does not support Taiwanese independence. The White House rejected the Chinese request reported NBC News.

A spokesperson for the National Security Council declined to comment.

The revelations provide previously unreported details about a critical meeting between the two leaders that was intended to reduce tensions between their countries, according to NBC News.

Xi’s private warning to Biden, while not markedly different from his past public comments on reunifying Taiwan, got the attention of US officials because it was delivered at a time when China’s behaviour towards Taiwan is seen as increasingly aggressive and ahead of a potentially pivotal presidential election in the self-governing democratic island next month.

(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)

ISRO awarded Leif Erikson Lunar Prize for Chandrayaan-3 mission

ANI
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ISRO awarded Leif Erikson Lunar Prize for Chandrayaan-3 mission

In a momentous recognition of India’s space prowess, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has been feted with the prestigious Leif Erikson Lunar Prize by the Husavik Museum here.

The award acknowledges ISRO’s unwavering dedication and indomitable spirit in propelling lunar exploration forward and contributing significantly to unravelling celestial mysteries, particularly through the successful Chandrayaan-3 mission.

Indian Ambassador Balasubramanian Shyam received the prestigious prize on behalf of ISRO.

“ISRO Chairman Mr S Somanath sent a message; Amb Mr Shyam received the prize on ISRO’s behalf,” the embassy’s post added.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar congratulated ISRO for bagging the prestigious Leif Erikson Lunar Prize.

Jaishankar took to social media to extend his applause to ISRO on the achievement. “Congratulations @isro for the 2023 Leif Erikson Lunar Prize. Chandrayaan brings more laurels to the nation,” posted Jaishankar on X.

The triumph of Chandrayaan-3 marked a historic milestone on August 23 when the lander module successfully touched down on the moon’s South Pole. India became the fourth nation, following the United States, China, and Russia, to achieve a successful lunar landing. The mission not only showcased technological prowess but also signalled redemption after the disappointment of the Chandrayaan-2 crash landing four years earlier.

Post-landing, the Vikram lander and the Pragyan rover conducted various tasks on the lunar surface, including detecting the presence of sulfur and other elements, recording relative temperature, and monitoring lunar activities. The success of Chandrayaan-3 further solidified India’s standing in lunar exploration.

Following the lunar triumph, India swiftly moved ahead with its maiden solar mission, Aditya-L1, launched on September 2. The spacecraft has successfully undergone multiple maneuvers, including four earth-bound maneuvers and a crucial Trans-Lagrangean Point 1 Insertion (TL1I) maneuver, enabling it to escape Earth’s sphere of influence.

In the most recent development, the Propulsion Module (PM) of Chandrayaan-3 achieved another feat by transitioning from lunar orbit to Earth’s orbit.

The Indian Space Research Organisation shared the achievement on X, stating, “Chandrayaan-3 Mission: Ch-3’s Propulsion Module (PM) takes a successful detour! In another unique experiment, the PM is brought from Lunar orbit to Earth’s orbit. An orbit-raising manoeuvre and a Trans-Earth injection manoeuvre placed PM in an Earth-bound orbit.” (ANI)

(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)

AI systems can’t be granted patents for their creations, only persons can be inventors under current patent law: UK Supreme Court

OpIndia Staff
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AI systems can’t be granted patents for their creations, only persons can be inventors under current patent law: UK Supreme Court

The UK Supreme Court has ruled that Artificial Intelligence systems can’t be granted patents for their creations, and only persons have the right to secure patents over their inventions. The court upheld a 2019 ruling by the Intellectual Property Office (IPO), saying that only a person can be named as an inventor. The decision will likely have a significant impact as the use of AI tools is growing.

The ruling came in response to a bid by American technologist Dr Stephen Thaler, who sought to have his AI system, called Dabus, recognized as the inventor of a food container and a flashing light beacon. He had filed two patent applications in the name of Dabus in 2018. However, the IPO had rejected the applications in 2019. The decision affirmed that only a person can be named as an inventor, and an AI lacks the legal capacity to secure patent rights. 

Dr Stephen Thaler had challenged the IPO decision at the High Court and then the Court of Appeal, and the pleas were rejected by both the courts. Now the Supreme Court has made the same decision. The Intellectual Property Office had said that only “persons” can have patent rights, AI systems can’t have this right, and the courts have agreed with the office.

Thaler had later submitted revised patent applications in his own name, claiming that he was entitled to patents on inventions by Dabus because he had created the AI tool, but this argument was rejected.

The ruling was delivered by a five-judge bench of the Supreme Court of the UK, dismissing a plea by Dr Thaler challenging these orders. The apex court concluded that “an inventor must be a person”, and that an AI cannot be named as an inventor to secure patent rights. The judgement does not decide whether Dabus invented the food container and the light, only saying that it does not have patent rights.

The court further said that it is not ruling on the broad question of whether technical advances created by AI-powered tools and machines should be patentable, or whether the meaning of the term “inventor” should be expanded. It only said that under existing patent laws, the “inventor” in a patent application must be a “natural person.” Thus, the court leaves the door open to amend the law.

Dr Thaler, on the other hand, believes that Dabus is a “conscious and sentient form of machine intelligence”. He told BBC that if AI inventions cannot be protected, “many valuable innovations benefitting humanity will become orphaned”.

He had further added, “acts of dishonesty, maybe even criminality will be encouraged. I don’t think society at large wants these things to happen”.

After the court order, his lawyers said that the ruling “establishes that UK patent law is currently wholly unsuitable for protecting inventions generated autonomously by AI machines and as a consequence wholly inadequate in supporting any industry that relies on AI in the development of new technologies”.

The Intellectual Property Office (IPO), has welcomed the court order “and the clarification it gives as to the law as it stands in relation to the patenting of creations of artificial intelligence machines”. However, they added that “the government will nevertheless keep this area of law under review to ensure that the UK patent system supports AI innovation and the use of AI in the UK”.

The IPO further said it recognised “that there are legitimate questions as to how the patent system and indeed intellectual property more broadly should handle AI creations”.

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