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Supreme Court slams Karnataka HC for granting bail to actor Darshan Thoogudeepa in kidnap and murder case, calls it ‘perverse exercise of judicial power’

OpIndia Staff
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Supreme Court slams Karnataka HC for granting bail to actor Darshan Thoogudeepa in kidnap and murder case, calls it ‘perverse exercise of judicial power’

The Supreme Court on Thursday, 24th July, sharply criticised the Karnataka High Court for granting bail to Kannada actor Darshan Thoogudeepa in the kidnap and murder case of 33-year-old Renukaswamy. The top court said the High Court’s decision looked like a “perverse exercise of judicial power.”

This is the second time in just a week that the Supreme Court has taken issue with the High Court’s handling of this case. Last week, it pointed out that the High Court had failed to properly use its discretion while granting bail to the actor.

A bench of Justices JB Pardiwala and R Mahadevan expressed deep concern over the High Court’s December 2024 bail order. The bench told the lawyer for actress Pavithra Gowda, the main accused, that they would not repeat the same mistake. “We are not here to decide if someone is guilty or not,” said an upset Justice Pardiwala. “But don’t you think the High Court’s bail order sounded more like an acquittal?” he asked.

The Supreme Court judges were unhappy with the way the High Court explained its reasons for giving bail. One particular reason that “the grounds of arrest were not provided” seemed especially troubling to the bench. “We are very sorry to say this,” Justice Pardiwala said, “but does the High Court use the same language in other murder cases too?”

Calling the bail order “prima facie a perverse exercise of judicial power,” the bench added, “If a trial court judge makes such a mistake, it can be accepted. But a High Court judge?”

The Supreme Court was also not satisfied with the state government’s handling of the case. When the court was informed that the trial would now take place daily, Justice Pardiwala questioned why this case was being given special treatment. “There are so many people in jail who have been waiting for years for their trials to begin,” he said.

The state later told the court that the trial would be completed within six months.

Background of the case

Darshan and 13 others are facing charges of kidnapping, torturing, and murdering Renukaswamy in June last year. Police say the victim had sent obscene messages to Pavithra Gowda, who is a friend of Darshan. He was then allegedly abducted, beaten, and murdered by the actor’s associates. His body was later found dumped in a stormwater drain in Bengaluru on 9th June, 2024.

According to investigators, Darshan paid Rs 50 lakh to those involved in the crime. Out of that, Rs 30 lakh reportedly went to a man named Pradosh (alias Pawan), who is believed to have handled the entire operation, including the murder and body disposal. Two other men, Nikhil and Keshavamurthy, were allegedly paid Rs 5 lakh each for their roles. Another Rs 5 lakh was reportedly promised to the families of Raghavendra and Karthik, who gave false confessions and went to jail in place of Darshan and Pavithra.

Earlier this year, public outrage erupted when Darshan skipped a court hearing, citing back pain. But just hours later, he was seen attending a movie screening. The photographs last year also generated outrage, with Darshan and others lounging in lounge chairs, smoking in the jail garden.

Landmark India-UK Free Trade Agreement signed in presence of Prime Ministers Narendra Modi and Keir Starmer in London

ANI
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Landmark India-UK Free Trade Agreement signed in presence of Prime Ministers Narendra Modi and Keir Starmer in London

The much-awaited landmark India-UK Free Trade Agreement was signed on Thursday, in the presence of Prime Ministers Narendra Modi and Keir Starmer, providing greater access to goods and services between the two countries.

PM Modi is on a two-day visit to the UK.

“A landmark deal with India means jobs, investment and growth here in the UK. It creates thousands of British jobs, unlocks new opportunities for businesses and puts money in the pockets of working people. That’s our Plan for Change in action,” UK PM Starmer wrote on X ahead of the signing ceremony.

On May 6, Prime Minister Modi and his UK counterpart, Keir Starmer, announced the successful conclusion of a mutually beneficial India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA). This forward-looking Agreement is aligned with India’s vision of Viksit Bharat 2047 and complements the growth aspirations of both countries.

The idea behind the trade deal is to eliminate or reduce tariffs on imports and exports between the two nations. This should make Indian products competitive in the UK and vice versa.

Both nations desire to increase their trade to USD 120 billion by 2030.

The FTA is expected to boost key sectors such as textiles, leather, footwear, sports goods and toys, marine products, gems and jewellery, engineering goods, auto parts and engines, and organic chemicals.

“The FTA ensures comprehensive market access for goods, across all sectors, covering all of India’s export interests. India will gain from tariff elimination on about 99% of the tariff lines covering almost 100 per cent of the trade value offering huge opportunities for increase in the bilateral trade between India and the UK,” India’s Commerce and Industry Ministry had said in its release on May 6.

Today, the UK government said India’s average tariff on UK products will drop from 15 per cent to 3 per cent under India-UK FTA.

The UK statement asserted that British companies selling products to India — from soft drinks and cosmetics to cars and medical devices — will find it easier to sell to the Indian market.

Further, British whisky producers will benefit from tariffs slashed in half, reduced immediately from 150 per cent to 75 per cent and then dropped even further to 40 per cent over the next ten years – giving the UK an advantage over international competitors in reaching the Indian market, the UK statement noted.

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

Trump tells tech giants like Google, Microsoft, Meta and others to not hire from India and other foreign countries, not to build factories overseas

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Trump tells tech giants like Google, Microsoft, Meta and others to not hire from India and other foreign countries, not to build factories overseas

US President Donald Trump has called for eschewing “radical globalism” pursued by some of the country’s firms, including tech giants like Google, Meta and Microsoft, among others, to “stop building factories” and “hiring workers” from countries including India.

“For too long, much of our tech industry pursued a radical globalism that left millions of Americans feeling distrustful and betrayed. And you know that,” Trump said.

“Many of our largest tech companies have reaped the blessings of American freedom while building their factories in China, hiring workers in India, and slashing profits in Ireland. You know that. All the while dismissing and even censoring their fellow citizens right here at home,” Trump said ahead of unveiling his administration’s “AI Action Plan.”

He said this in his address to the All-In Podcast and Hill & Valley Forum AI Summit in Washington, DC on Wednesday (local time) Washington, DC.

Trump signed three new executive orders: expediting permitting for AI infrastructure, boosting exports of US-developed AI, and banning federal procurement of AI systems with political or ideological bias.

During his remarks at the AI Summit, Trump urged US tech companies to be “all in for America.”

“We want you to put America first. You have to do that. That’s all we ask. That’s all we ask to partner with our tech geniuses and achieving this vision. Today, we’re releasing the White House AI action plan. Big stuff,” Trump said.

The US President said that in a few months, “Meta, Amazon, Google, Microsoft are all investing $320 billion dollars or more in data centers and AI infrastructure this year” adding that Nvidia has committed $500 billion over the next four years.

“For decades, we had leaders who spent their time focused on building up foreign nations. Under the Trump administration, we are going to have leaders who are going to build up our nation. This colossal investment in AI infrastructure and many other industries for that matter such as automobiles and so many other things will also create thousands and thousands of great paying jobs. the kind of jobs we want, including lots of blue collar jobs,” Trump said.

Taking aim at his predecessor Joe Biden, Trump said, “The last administration was obsessed with imposing restrictions on AI, including extreme restrictions on its exports.”

This he said “alienated American partners and drove even our friends into the arms of China and other countries,” Trump said noting that he had upon assuming office “repealed the so-called Biden diffusion rule,” which crippled American AI exports.

Further he said,” We created the digital age, and now we are leading the world into the golden age.

Indeed, the golden age of America. With your help, that golden age will be built by American workers. It will be powered by American energy. It will be run on American technology, improved by American artificial intelligence.”

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

India’s IB launches crackdown on Rohingya infiltration: 5,000 recruits sought with local, Rohingya language skills

OpIndia Staff
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India’s IB launches crackdown on Rohingya infiltration: 5,000 recruits sought with local, Rohingya language skills

India’s Intelligence Bureau (IB) is preparing to tackle the increasing menace of illegal Rohingya infiltration, particularly at the eastern frontier with Bangladesh. For the first time, the organisation is going all out to recruit young professionals who speak the Rohingya language. They will be recruited as Security Assistants and deployed in Kolkata, where the problem is fast becoming serious.

As per the report, the Ministry of Home Affairs has initiated a major recruitment process, calling for applications for almost 5,000 Security Assistant positions (4,987 to be precise). They are under the Subsidiary Intelligence Bureau (SIB) in 37 centres in the nation.

From Trivandrum to Jammu and Kashmir and from Kolkata to Jaipur, the IB is searching for youth who speak the language of the region.

For the Kolkata unit alone, the agency has 298 vacancies it wants to recruit. These aspirants should be familiar with at least one among these languages – Bengali, Nepali, Bhutani, Urdu, Santhali, Sylheti, or Rohingya.

Why Rohingya language is important now

The reason why IB wants individuals with knowledge of Rohingya is self-evident: numerous Rohingya migrants are entering India from Bangladesh through West Bengal. The migrants predominantly use Rohingya, a language that is not commonly known in India. To interrogate them or interview them, security agencies require individuals who have knowledge of their language and culture.

The authorities hope that by appointing such candidates, they will be able to enhance the communication process during interrogation and also trace illegal activity more efficiently.

How the selection will work

The online application process for this recruitment will begin on Saturday, 26th July 2025. Applicants can complete the application process online by visiting the official website www.mha.gov.in. The last date to submit the form is August 17, 2025.

The selection procedure will involve an internet-based test, and those who clear it will be appointed at a Level-3 (Group C Central Service) scale with a basic pay of ₹21,700 to ₹69,100.

This is a great opportunity for the youth who not only wish to have a secure government job but also want to serve the nation’s internal security.

Rising alarm over Rohingya infiltration

International agencies have sounded alarms through recent reports. According to the report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) that in just 18 months, almost 1.5 lakh Rohingyas have escaped Myanmar and sought refuge in Bangladesh. Bangladesh itself has more than 10 lakh Rohingyas settled in refugee camps such as Cox’s Bazar, and now many are attempting to cross illegally into Indian states such as West Bengal, Assam, and Tripura that share open borders with Bangladesh.

The matter worsens with reports alleging that Pakistan’s intelligence agency ISI and Bangladesh-based extremist Islamic groups are attempting to recruit and train some of these refugees. The objective, according to some reports, is to utilize them against Myanmar’s military regime and possibly even to conduct disruptive operations in India as well.

A timely and strategic move

With the very serious national security implications involved, IB’s move to recruit Rohingya-speaking security assistants is being regarded as a wise and imperative one. It’s not merely a matter of staffing jobs, it’s about preparing oneself to handle an increasing threat that needs linguistic and cultural familiarity.

By employing locals who will be able to fill this gap, the IB plans to improve its on-ground presence and monitor illegal activities taking place along the borders more closely.

Thailand launches strikes against Cambodia using F-16s as tensions between the neighbours reach a boiling point

OpIndia Staff
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Thailand launches strikes against Cambodia using F-16s as tensions between the neighbours reach a boiling point

On Thursday, 24th July, targets in Cambodia were hit by a Thai F-16 fighter plane few hours after Thai and Cambodian troops engaged in gunfire at the border. This is the latest escalation intensifying tensions over the disputed border region between the two countries, which includes the historic Lord Shiva temple complex of Prasat Ta Muen Thom in Thailand’s Surin province.

“We have used air power against military targets as planned,” declared Thai army deputy spokesperson Richa Suksuwanon as the country closed its border with Cambodia. Thailand reported to have “destroyed” two regional military headquarters in Cambodia after claiming to have prepared six F-16 jets.

The defence ministry of Cambodia acknowledged that Thailand’s raids struck its territory and vowed to “respond decisively.” It declared that the country “strongly condemns the reckless and brutal military aggression of the Kingdom of Thailand against the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Cambodia” after the jets dropped two bombs on a road.

“F-16 fighter jet dropped (two) bombs on the road leading to Wat Kaew Seekha Kiri Svarak Pagoda. All of these areas are within Cambodian territory,” it further asserted. Both nations earlier blamed each other for starting the fresh conflict following weeks of escalating hostilities and diplomatic disputes. According to reports, at least two civilians have been killed as the dispute flared.

Thai military reported that their three civilians were hurt and alleged that they returned fire after spotting six Cambodian soldiers. They claimed that heavily armed Cambodian troops entered close to the disputed temple along the eastern border, about 360 kilometres from the capital Bangkok and added that a surveillance drone was deployed earlier.

According to a Thai army official, Cambodia utilised a variety of weapons, including rocket launchers and two Thai soldiers were hurt when Cambodian troops opened fire. However, a spokesman for Cambodia’s defence ministry claimed that Thai forces had invaded without warning and their forces had retaliated in self-defence.

The troops “executed their right to defend their sovereignty and territorial integrity against the aggression of the Thai troops,” according to Maly Socheata, a spokesman for the Cambodian defence ministry. She charged that Thailand “violated the territorial integrity of Cambodia.”

There were explosions during the fighting which took place in the provinces of Surin in Thailand and Oddar Meanchey in Cambodia, forcing locals to hide in bunkers. According to a statement from the Thai army, field artillery had been employed but no deaths had been reported.

The Thai military has shelled two Cambodian regions, Oddar Meanchey and Preah Vihear, according to a Facebook post by former leader Hun Sen but told the citizens to maintain calm. “Cambodia has always maintained a position of wanting to resolve issues peacefully, but in this case we have no choice but to respond with armed force against armed aggression,” he wrote.

Phumtham Wechayachai, Thailand’s acting prime minister, described the situation as delicate. “We have to be careful. We will follow international law,” he stated while interacting with the media.

A day earlier, Thailand announced that it will shut down its northeastern border crossings with Cambodia, withdraw its ambassador and expel the ambassador of the neighbouring nation in protest of a land mine explosion that left a Thai soldier with an amputated leg. Five soldiers were injured when one of them walked on a land mine in a border region, based on a statement from the Thai Army.

Cambodia responded that it was recalling all of its employees from the embassy in Bangkok and reducing diplomatic ties with Thailand to their lowest level.

On 16th July, a mine explosion also wounded three Thai soldiers who were patrolling the volatile border region. However, Cambodia stressed that Thai soldiers deviated from designated jungle routes and set off long-buried explosives that date back to the country’s decades-long civil conflict.

One Cambodian soldier was killed in a gunfight in the contested area in late May, sparking the start of the renewed border standoff. Since then, tensions have increased, with both sides limiting important land crossings that are essential for trade and stationing additional troops along the border. Cambodia has prohibited the importation of fruit, vegetables, petrol and petroleum from Thailand.

Supreme Court stays Bombay High Court order acquitting all 12 accused in the 2006 Mumbai train bomb blast case

OpIndia Staff
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Supreme Court stays Bombay High Court order acquitting all 12 accused in the 2006 Mumbai train bomb blast case

The Supreme Court on Thursday (24th July) put a stay on the Bombay High Court verdict that acquitted all the accused in the 2006 Mumbai train blast case. The decision came after the Maharashtra government approached the apex court, challenging the Bombay High Court Verdict that acquitted all 12 persons convicted by the MCOCA court in the 2006 Mumbai train blasts case. 

A bench of Justices MM Sundresh and Justice NK Singh issued notice to the accused in the criminal appeal filed by the state government and held that the High Court judgment should not be treated as a precedent. Appearing for the state government, Solicitor General of India Tushar Mehta, submitted before the top court that he was not seeking the surrender of the acquitted accused persons. However, he requested that the High Court verdict be stayed, contending that it might impact other sub judice cases under the MCOCA.

“We have been informed that all the respondents have been released and there is no question of bringing them back to the prison. However, taking note of the submission made by the SG on the question of law, we are inclined to hold that the impugned judgment shall not be treated as a precedent. To that extent, there is a stay of the impugned judgment,” the Supreme Court said.

In a judgement passed on 21st July, the Bombay High Court acquitted all 12 convicts, including 5 on the death row, in connection with the 2006 Mumbai train blast case. Citing discrepancies in the investigation, along with witness testimonies, the High Court ruled that the prosecution failed to prove their case beyond a reasonable doubt.

On July 11, 2006, seven bombs exploded in different compartments of Western Railway trains during the evening rush hour. Around 189 people were killed and more than 800 were injured. After a long trial under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA), a special court had, in 2015, convicted five of the accused to death and seven others to imprisonment for life. 

The US Justice Department told Trump that his name emerged in the Epstein files, claims Wall Street Journal after Trump sued the publication

OpIndia Staff
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The US Justice Department told Trump that his name emerged in the Epstein files, claims Wall Street Journal after Trump sued the publication

Within a week of the US President Donald Trump suing the Wall Street Journal for publishing an article claiming that he wrote a birthday letter to Jeffrey Epstein with a hand-drawn portrait of a naked woman, the newspaper came out with another bombshell report claiming that Trump’s name emerged multiple times during the review of documents relating to the convicted sex offender Epstein by the US Justice Department.

Quoting some senior administration officials, the report claimed that in May 2025, Attorney General Pam Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche told President Trump during a meeting at the White House that his name was mentioned in the infamous Epstein files. “They told the president at the meeting that the files contained what officials felt was unverified hearsay about many people, including Trump, who had socialised with Epstein in the past, some of the officials said. One of the officials familiar with the documents said they contain hundreds of other names,” the report said.

As per the report, the Attorney General and her deputy further told the President that the Justice Department will not be releasing any more documents from the Epstein files because they contain child pornography and the personal information of victims. Notably, while responding to a journalist’s question last week, Trump reportedly said that Bondi had not told him that his name was in the Epstein files.

The Epstein files, which are sealed investigative records relating to the investigation into Epstein’s criminal activities, have sparked the curiosity of the American people, including Trump’s support base. After Trump swore in as the US President in January this year, Attorney General Bondi indicated that all the Epstein documents, including what many thought was a “client list” of influential individuals who were part of Epstein’s sex trafficking ring, would be made public.  

Justice Department’s U-turn

In February 2025, Attorney General Pam Bondi released the initial batch of redacted documents, including flight records and contact lists. She affirmed that more would be released after review to shield victims’ identities. Bondi even stated that one time a client list was “sitting on my desk” to be reviewed.

However, on 7th July, the Justice Department posted an unsigned memo on its website stating that a detailed review of the Epstein files has revealed that there is no list of clients. It further said that the department found no evidence to investigate any uncharged third parties and that there were no additional documents to disclose. It added that most of the material contains child pornography and victim information and would have been sealed during a trial.

The Trump administration’s U-turn on the Epstein files has disappointed several of Trump’s core supporters, including political commentator Tucker Carlson. Even though Trump has been denying any links to the Epstein files, his refusal to release the Epstein files has lent credence to the speculations of his complicity.

The defamation case against the WSJ

On 18th July, a defamation suit was filed in the Miami federal court against reporter Rupert Murdoch and the WSJ after the newspaper published a report claiming that a letter bearing Trump’s name was in a 2003 birthday album of Epstein assembled before Epstein was indicted for sexual offences. The letter had a hand-drawn portrait of a naked woman and alluded to a “secret” that the two men shared. The WSJ report suggested a common interest between Trump and Epstein, a financier who died in jail while undergoing trials relating to charges of sexual offences and trafficking.

Denying the authenticity of the letter and the report, Trump expressed his outrage on the social media platform Truth Social, calling the report a “scam” and the letter “fake”. He accused WSJ editor Emma Tucker of purposefully releasing false content and threatened to “sue the ass off” Murdoch and the publication. The defamation suit claims at least $10 billion in damages, claiming reputational damage and political consequences.

Who is Jeffrey Epstein?

Jeffrey Epstein was an American financier who was convicted by a Florida state court for procuring a child for prostitution and soliciting a prostitute. He served 13 months in jail and was arrested again in July 2019 after being charged with sex trafficking of minors in Florida and New York. He died a month later in August while undergoing trial.

Epstein files are investigative documents containing files, records, videos, and contacts compiled by federal agencies during the investigation into Epstein’s criminal activities. The files are said to contain flight logs from Epstein’s private aircraft, contact lists, accounting records, and even video evidence of abuse.

CBI unearths massive bribery and inspection scam in private medical colleges, senior officials from Health Ministry, NMC, UGC under lens: Read what the FIR says

OpIndia Staff
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CBI unearths massive bribery and inspection scam in private medical colleges, senior officials from Health Ministry, NMC, UGC under lens: Read what the FIR says

On 30th June, the Central Bureau of Investigation filed a First Information Report (FIR) exposing an entrenched nexus of bribery, forgery and manipulation within India’s medical education regulatory ecosystem. The CBI registered the FIR based on information received from an unnamed reliable source.

The scam involves senior officials from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), the National Medical Commission (NMC), and private medical institutions across multiple states. One of the accused named in the FIR is DP Singh, former UGC chairman and current chancellor of the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS).

Around 40 accused have been booked under Section 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) along with Sections 7, 8, 9, 10 and 12 of the Prevention of Corruption Act. The charges include criminal conspiracy, bribery, forgery, and unlawful disclosure of confidential information.

Top officials facilitated inspection leaks and document tampering

According to the FIR accessed by OpIndia, public officials based in Delhi from both the MoHFW and the NMC conspired to leak confidential regulatory documents related to medical college inspections, recognition and renewals. Officials behind such leaks include Poonam Meena, Dharamvir, Piyush Malyan (Section Officer), Anup Jaiswal, and Chandan Kumar.

The disclosures made by the accused officials enabled colleges to stage fraudulent compliance measures, including the deployment of ghost faculty, falsified biometric attendance, and even admitting fake patients to meet the norms set by the NMC.

In the FIR, it has been stated that some officials allegedly photographed internal ministry files and forwarded them via personal mobile phones to middlemen linked to private medical colleges. Virendra Kumar from Gurgaon, Manisha Joshi from Dwarka, New Delhi, Suresh Singh Bhadoria of Indore, Udit Narain of Kanpur, Joshy Mathew of New Delhi, and Mayur Raval of Rajasthan have been named as the recipients of these documents. The CBI pointed out that there could be more such recipients.

Former UGC chief named in FIR, bribes routed to religious construction

The FIR has listed D P Singh for his alleged role in the racket. Other prominent figures that have been named include the Chairman of Index Medical College, Indore, Suresh Singh Bhadoria, and the Registrar of Geetanjali University, Udaipur, Mayur Raval.

Virendra Kumar has been accused of working closely with Dr Jitu Lal Meena, who was a whole-time member of the Medical Assessment and Rating Board (MARB). During the investigation, it was revealed that bribes collected by Kumar on behalf of Meena were routed through hawala channels. A portion of the bribe money, around Rs 75 lakh, was allegedly used to fund the construction of a Hanuman temple in Sawai Madhopur, Rajasthan. The payment for this was reportedly made to one Bhikalal, a resident of Dausa, via unaccounted cash transfers.

Southern India network ran parallel bribery and fake faculty operation

Kumar’s influence was extended to the southern states as well via his associate Dr B Hari Prasad, who is based in Kadiri, Andhra Pradesh. Prasad allegedly operated as a consultant to several colleges. He organised dummy faculty to clear NMC inspections and facilitated Letters of Renewal in exchange for money.

Dr Ankam Rambabu in Hyderabad and Dr Krishna Kishore in Visakhapatnam were partners in Prasad’s network. In one case, Krishna Kishore collected Rs 50 lakh from the Director of Gayatri Medical College in Visakhapatnam to resolve a matter pending with the NMC. A share of the amount collected was reportedly paid to Virendra Kumar in Delhi.

Furthermore, over Rs 4 crore were allegedly paid to Hari Prasad for favourable treatment by Father Colombo Institute of Medical Sciences in Warangal. The money was routed via formal banking channels but intended to bribe NMC functionaries.

Fake degrees, cloned fingerprints and staged inspections

In the FIR, the investigating agency has accused Index Medical College of maintaining fake and non-existent faculty who were passed off as full-time employees. The biometric system used for tracking attendance was allegedly tampered with by cloning fingerprints to simulate full staffing levels.

Furthermore, the Chairman of the college, Suresh Singh Bhadoria, is accused of issuing fake degrees and experience certificates through Malwanchal University, its parent body. These were purportedly used to deceive regulators and meet faculty experience requirements.

Bribes paid days before inspections, NMC assessors involved

Among the accused, Rawatpura Sarkar alias Ravishankar Maharaj has drawn attention as he is linked to top politicians, ministers, and bureaucrats. The CBI accused his institutes of receiving undue favours. The FIR stated that Shri Rawatpura Sarkar Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Raipur, at the behest of its Chairman, Ravishankar Maharaj, was involved in a conspiracy to obtain confidential and advance information regarding a forthcoming official inspection.

In the FIR, the CBI has cited one of the recent incidents where the Registrar of Geetanjali University, Mayur Raval, allegedly informed an official from Shri Rawatpura Sarkar Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (SRIMSR), Atul Kumar Tiwari, about an upcoming inspection scheduled for 30th June. Raval allegedly demanded Rs 25–30 lakh and disclosed the names of the four-member team of the NMC.

The FIR stated that Atul Kumar Tiwari acted in collusion with Raval and procured the information unlawfully. Furthermore, Ravishankar Maharaj allegedly sought the help of D P Singh to persuade the members of the inspection team to give a favourable report in lieu of the bribe.

On the day of inspection, Dr Manjappa C N of Mandya Institute of Medical Sciences, who was part of the inspection team, allegedly struck a deal with Tiwari. He coordinated the bribe collection via hawala, and the money was distributed via a Bengaluru-based associate to the assessors, including Dr Chaitra.

The FIR further pointed out that Raval conspired with the Project Head of Teehinfy Solution Pvt Ltd of New Delhi, Randeep Nair, and unidentified officials of the NMC and received illegal gratification from various medical colleges. In exchange, they extended undue favours, including the unauthorised sharing of sensitive and advance information pertaining to scheduled physical inspections by NMC assessor teams.

The FIR noted that Nair and his associates approached medical colleges including Swaminarayan Institute of Medical Sciences & Research in Kalol, Gujarat, National Capital Region Institute of Medical Sciences, Meerut, UP, Shyamlal Chandrashekhar Medical College, Khagaria, Bihar, and others to pass information about inspection teams, including details and inspection dates, in advance. This enabled the involved colleges to fabricate compliance, including arranging proxy or ghost faculty.

CBI points to systemic rot and regulatory collapse

In the FIR, the CBI observed the extent of malpractice and stated that the acts committed by the accused “undermine the integrity of the regulatory framework and jeopardise the quality of medical education and public health standards in the country”. The agency noted how systemic corruption allowed institutions to stage artificial compliance during inspections that were meant to ensure standards in teaching quality, infrastructure and patient care. The agency noted that officials were not only complicit in these activities but also profited from them directly.

Wider crackdown expected, more arrests likely

With around 40 officials, intermediaries and institutional heads already named, it is an indication that this is just the tip of the iceberg. The CBI is expected to summon and interrogate several individuals as it is currently tracking the money trail in both northern and southern states.

Calcutta HC commutes death sentence of two men convicted of raping and murdering 5-year-old girl after TMC govt said they are from socially backward backgrounds and can be reformed

OpIndia Staff
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Calcutta HC commutes death sentence of two men convicted of raping and murdering 5-year-old girl after TMC govt said they are from socially backward backgrounds and can be reformed

On Wednesday (23rd July), the Calcutta High Court commuted death sentence of two men convicted of raping and murder a 5-year-old girl. A division bench comprising Justices Debangsu Basak and Md Shabbar Rashidi sentenced the convicts to life imprisonment taking note of the state’s submission that there is ‘possibility of their reformation’.

The bench was hearing the plea moved by convicts Fagun Mandi alias Pui and Rabindra Routh alias Bhaku against the 2023 trial court order and death sentence. The trial court had earlier given death sentence to the duo under Sections 376DB(gang rape), 302 (murder), 201 (causing disappearance of evidence), 363 (kidnapping) and 365 (kidnapping with intent to confine them) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Section 6 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO Act). 

The prosecution had alleged that Fagun Mandi and Rabindra Routh had abducted the minor victim who was playing outside a Kali puja pandal. The duo raped the victim, strangled her and then hid her body in the year 2021.

On Wednesday, the Calcutta High Court ruled that the convicts will not be eligible for remission or premature release for the next 60 years. The court noted that the convicts first raped the minor girl and then bamboo sticks in her private parts.

While the bench highlighted the depravity of the convicted duo, the state submitted that the possibility of their reformation still exists.

Taking note of this, the court said that there needs to be a balance between the gravity of the offence and the punishment, the court ordered that the convicts will serve life sentence with no remission for a period of 60 years.

“In such circumstances, taking into consideration the respective age of the two appellants their socio economic background and mental health conditions as also the nature of the crime, we deem it appropriate to impose life sentence on both the appellants without the possibility of remission for a period of 60 years from the date of commission of the offence,” the Court ruled.

TMC government sympathised with rape convicts

Notably, the TMC government in West Bengal submitted that the perpetrators were from ‘socially backward’ background and ‘slow learners’ at school with little to no education.

Highlighting the contents of the state government’s report, the court stated, “Appellant No. 1 is a slow learner with severe speech problem. Financial condition of the appellant No. 1 and his family is very poor. Appellant No. 1 and his elder brother had worked under the same fishermen in a fishing trawler at sea. Report has noted that the family of appellant No. 1 is socially backward. Report has stated that is no criminal antecedent so far as appellant No. 1 is concerned. Family members of the appellant No. 1 is sympathetic to appellant No. 1. Report has noted that, the rectification process of the appellant No. 1 is working well at the correctional home.”

“Same report of the State has noted that appellant No. 2 attended primary school but was a slow learner. He had dropped out from the school after attending Class I due to educational dissatisfaction and improper guidance from his parents. Report has noted that the financial condition of the family of the appellant No. 2 is poor and that, his parents worked as labour at a local market. Family of the appellant No. 2 has been noted to be socially backward,” the court order reads.

Excerpts taken from relevant court order

However, the court said that it is not in a “position to say that release of any of the appellants on remission would not be a menace to the society.”

“Merely commuting the death penalty to one of life imprisonment simplicitor would not subserve the ends of justice in the facts and circumstances of the present case particularly given the nature of the offence committed by the appellants,” the court said.

Lead poisoning scandal in China: 230 children hospitalised after school used industrial paint in cafeteria food, authorities tried their best to cover-up the incident

OpIndia Staff
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Lead poisoning scandal in China: 230 children hospitalised after school used industrial paint in cafeteria food, authorities tried their best to cover-up the incident

A food safety scandal has come to light from Gansu province in northwest China. At least 230 kindergarten children fell ill after consuming poisoned food mixed with industrial-grade lead paint at Brownstone Peixin Kindergarten in Tianshui city.

The Guardian reported six staff members, including the principal and kitchen staff, have been arrested while twenty-seven others from the school, hospital, and local government are being probed over the matter. They are being accused of negligence and bribery for tampering with medical records.

The investigation revealed that in an attempt to boost admissions, the principal of the kindergarten had ordered to make the food in school cafeteria more attractive by using poisonous bright colours. The school had earlier used cheaper food safety colouring but later switched to brighter, industrial-grade pigment. The colours were bought online, and despite the packaging clearly warned ‘not for consumption’, however, the school used it. One of the pigments was found to contain lead levels 400,000 times the legal limits.

Aftermath of consuming the meal

The poisonous food had infected the students of the school, with reportedly at least 235 children being hospitalised. The common symptoms found were stomach pain, nausea, and, in some cases, blackened teeth.

The Tianshui Second People’s Hospital, where the children were treated, also came under fire. As per reports, the hospital changed the test results of at least two children to show lower lead levels than present. The Gansu provincial centre for disease control and prevention violated testing protocols, resulting in false readings that led to the exposure. The functioning and the conditions in the hospital have been described as pathetic with poor management, insufficient training, and no quality control systems in place.

Previously, Peixin school had been charged with charging premium fees despite lacking a valid operating licence. Officials from multiple departments are now under investigation for accepting bribes from the kindergarten’s main investor, who helped the school operate without proper oversight.

The food safety scandal, which came to light on Sunday, July 20, sparked immediate public outrage. Angry parents of the students gathered outside the kindergarten in protest. According to Li, a Chinese dissident who monitors domestic unrest, violent confrontations broke out between the police and the parents, with officers resorting to use of batons. The parents blocked police vehicles that were transporting plain-clothed individuals, suspected of being involved in the assault, while shouting, “Hand over those who beat people up!”

The Gansu provincial party committee released a formal apology, saying “We are deeply saddened by the abnormal blood lead problem in the Brownstone Peixin Kindergarten… and express our deep apologies to the children and their parents.”

The authorities have promised free medical care for affected children, legal assistance for families, and temporary state management of the kindergarten. The extended reforms included centralising food procurement for schools, more rigorous testing protocols, and stricter oversight of private kindergartens.

The case in China has reopened the previous wounds of the 2008 melamine-tainted baby formula scandal, in which six babies died and thousands fell ill due to the contamination by melamine.

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