After the Maharashtra Human Rights Commission (MHRC) issued summon to Raigad SP yesterday to appear before it today, the human rights body has sought from Raigad SP the certified copies of orders of Magistrate for reopening the 2018 abetment to suicide case against Republic TV Editor-in-Chief Arnab Goswami.
The MHRC came into action after Advocate Aditya Mishra filed a petition before the Commission for taking up the matter of ‘illegal’ arrest of Goswami by Raigad police on an urgent basis. Police Inspector Bada Kumbha who appeared before the Commission today on behalf of Raigad SP sought an adjournment till Tuesday (November 10) citing the reason that since he was not the Investigating Officer in the case, he was not familiar with the details of the case. He also sought a copy of the petition from Mishra and said that he would present the entire case on behalf of Raigad police on Tuesday.
Speaking to Republic TV, Advocate Mishra said that the main contention in his petition filed before the MHRC was whether the requisite permission was obtained from the jurisdictional magistrate before reopening the case for investigation against Goswami. He told that the legal procedure requires that if a closed case was to be opened for investigation prior permission of the jurisdictional magistrate should be obtained.
It may be noted that the Raigad police have re-opened the case without obtaining permission from a magistrate. While refusing police remand for Arnab Goswami, the Chief Judicial Magistrate in Alibaug court had noted that the police must obtain permission from court to reopen the case as the closure of the earlier investigation was approved by court.
Advocate Mishra had filed an online petition before the MHRC on November 4, 2020. He filed an application before the Commission yesterday seeking urgent action by the Commission. “My main contention in the petition is whether the due process of law was followed before making the arrest. I have filed this petition as a human rights activist. By Tuesday let us see, let us hope they file they (police) file the report, I will get the entire picture. Once that issue gets clear whether the permission was obtained or not, I will be able to state further”, said Advocate Mishra.
All India Bar Association wrote to Maharashtra Governor
On November 4, All India Bar Association (AIBA) had written to the Governor of Maharashtra Bhagat Singh Koshyari condemning the arrest of Goswami in violation of Supreme Court guidelines regarding the rights of the arrestee. AIBA Chairman Dr. Adish Singh Aggarwala requested the Governor to immediately release Goswami describing the act of Maharashtra government as “blatant misuse of power” and “an attack on individual freedom”
The rising cases of mysterious disappearances from Shirdi in the last few years has now prompted the Bombay High Court to direct the Maharashtra police to look into the matter, reports Indian Express.
The Bombay High Court, realising that the Maharashtra police’s efforts to trace the missing were unsatisfactory, has asked the Maharashtra director general of police (DGP) to look into the issue and step in to increase efforts. The High Court has also asked the DGP to “more importantly, unravel the mystery of the missing persons vis-a-vis a human trafficking/organ trafficking racket”.
According to the data submitted to the Bombay HC by the Shirdi police, nearly 279 people have been reported missing from Shirdi in Ahmednagar between 2017 and October 27, 2020. Out of this, 67 missing persons still remain untraced.
The Aurangabad bench of the Bombay High Court observed that 20 people had gone missing from the Shirdi in 2017, who are yet to be traced and 20 others reported missing this year prior to the lockdown in March have also remain untraced.
The petition was filed by Indore resident Manoj Soni, who had come to Shirdi to visit the Saibaba temple with his family on August 10, 2017. His 35-year-old wife Deepti went missing after they visited the temple one evening and has not been traced since.
On October 26, a division bench of Justice Ravindra V Ghuge and Justice BU Debadwar had asked the Ahmednagar SP to submit a report to the court listing out their efforts to find Deepti.
Human-trafficking suspected to be the reason behind missing cases
The involvement of human trafficking gangs is being suspected in this case by the High Court.
The data submitted before the court stated that of the 71 people reported missing from Shirdi in 2017, 51 were found and whereabouts of 20 people, including Deepti, are not known. 13 of the 82 reported missing persons in 2018 are yet to be found and 14 of the 88 reported missing in 2019 remain untraced. In 2020, only 18 of the 38 missing were found.
“We find it quite alarming that in 2017, 71 people went missing. In 2018, the numbers rose to 82. In 2019, it further rose to 88 and in 2020, in a matter of two months and three weeks, 38 people went missing,” the court observed.
Responding the court on the human-trafficking angle, the prosecutor said to the court that the Shirdi police had not yet found links to any human trafficking or organ trafficking group for which people are being kidnapped or have started disappearing.
However, the judges said that the police “was rudely awakened from its deep slumber” after the court’s order on October 26. “Humans may lie but documents would not lie. We are not satisfied by the minimal steps taken by the Shirdi police on the special unit formed for investigation as per the directions of this Court vide order dated November 22, 2019,” the court said.
In its observation, the court added, “We are convinced that the Shirdi police station has hardly taken any efforts and which indicates that the head of the Ahmednagar police department may have failed in his duties,”.
The Bombay High Court bench also said that it would appreciate a response to the order from the DGP at the next hearing on November 24.
The Delhi court Friday has put a hold on East Delhi Municipal Corporation’s (EDMC) decision to revoke the councillorship of Tahir Hussain, accused in the murder of IB officer Ankit Sharma and Delhi riots. ECMC had on August 26, 2020, decided to permanently terminate the Aam Aadmi party’s suspended MLA Tahir Hussain, who was the elected Councillor from Municipal Corporation Ward No-59E, Nehru Vihar, for failing to discharge his duty as a Councillor.
Delhi HC stays EDMC decision to disqualify Tahir Hussain as councillor of the municipal body
Justice Najmi Waziri put on hold the East Delhi Municipal Corporation’s decision, following Tahir Hussain’s plea challenging the order. The petition on behalf of the suspended AAP MLA was moved in court through his wife.
The court also issued notice to the corporation, represented by its standing counsel Gaurang Kanth, and sought its stand on the petition by March next year. Advocate Rizwan, appearing for Hussain, confirmed that the court stayed the EDMC decision.
EDMC revokes Councillorship of IB officer Ankit Sharma murder and Delhi riots accused ex-AAP MLA
On August 26, EDMC has revoked Tahir Hussain’s Councillorship for allegedly being absent from House meetings for three consecutive times without prior notice.
The resolution passed by EDMC then read that since section 33 (2) of the Delhi Municipal Corporation (DMC) Act states that if a councillor is absent from meetings of the corporation for three successive months, without its permission, the seat can be declared vacant, and Tahir Hussain remained absent from January 2020 – July 2020 (March 2020 – May 2020 meeting remained suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic) without intimation, his membership has been terminated.
The decision had come in the heels of a letter written by senior Delhi BJP leader Praveen Shankar Kapoor to East Delhi Mayor Nirmal Jain on August 11 asking him to revoke Hussain’s membership to the East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC) for his role in Delhi riots and for failing to discharge his duty.
Tahir Hussain had emerged the as the kingpin of the North-East Delhi anti-Hindu riots
AAP MLA Tahir Hussain had emerged as the kingpin of the sporadic anti-Hindu riots which North-East Delhi witnessed between February 23 and 26. In his confession, Tahir Hussain has said that he was involved in planning and executing of Anti Hindu Delhi Riots of February 2020. He said in his statement to the police that extremist Islamic group Popular Front of India (PFI) helped him in the planning and arranging funds. Tahir Hussain is also the main accused of the murder of IB officer Ankit Sharma. In his disclosure statement, Tahir Hussain detailed how he organised the riots to take revenge against Hindus and teach ‘Kafirs’ a lesson amidst chants of Allahu Akbar and Nara-e-Taqbeer.
After Republic Media Network Managing Director and journalist Arnab Goswami was arrested by Mumbai police on 4th November, the Chief Judicial Magistrate in Alibaug court had rejected the plea for granting his police remand. The Raigad Police had sought 14 days of police custody of Republic TV editor-in-chief, saying they need to interrogate him in custody in the 2018 abatement of suicide case which earlier closed by the court after a police investigation.
Now the court order has been made public, where the Chief Judicial Magistrate made several scathing comments describing how the police had no basis for seeking police remand, and how the arrest itself was illegal.
The lawyers of three arrested in the abetment of suicide of architect Anvay Naik case had contended that the earlier “A” Summary report closing the case was accepted by court, and it has not been contested by anyone till date, including the family of Naik. The summary report had said that there was no evidence against three accused, Arnab Goswami, Feroz Shaikh of IcastX, and Nitesh Sarda of Smartwork, which was accepted by the court. The lawyers said that once the final report is filed and same is accepted by the court, police do not have any legal right to investigating in the matter.
The accused parties also contended that the allegation of non-payment of dues is a civil case, and it can’t be linked with the suicide without any concrete proof. Feroz Shaikh’s lawyer also claimed that they have made full payment of Rs.4,78,39,521/-, and said that they have proof of cheques showing that the full payment was made and no money was due to Anvay Naik from them.
Hearing the arguments made by both the police and the three accused, Chief Judicial Magistrate Sunayana S. Pingale made the following observations:
“A” Summary report remains: The court agreed with the accused parties that the “A” Summary report which was submitted by police on 16.04.2019 and same was approved by Court remains in force. The report is till today not challenged by the complainant or any other person, and it has not been set aside by a higher court. Therefore, the report that said police found no evidence against Arnab Goswami still exists today.
Police started probe without court permission: The order by the CJM states that Investigating Officer Shri Shaikh started fresh investigation without touching the “A” summary report. Moreover, the court found that the police didn’t sought permission from the court to restart the case which was closed with court’s approval. The police only informed the court that they have started the investigation, the court didn’t issue any notice permitting the police to reopen the case. “It is not noticed from this report that permission of court is obtained anywhere,” the order states categorically.
Arrest of accused is illegal: In a very significant comment, the order by CJM states, “after taking note of the reasons of objections to police custody presented by accused 1 to 3, it seems that the arrest of the accused itself is illegal”. This implies that the court accepted the arguments made by defence lawyers and deemed that the arrest was illegal.
Kumudini Naik’s death: The Magistrate also made an important note regarding the incident that happened on 5th May 2018. The order states, even if it is accepted that Anvay Naik was being pressurised by his creditors to repay the debts, why did his mother Kumudini Naik commit suicide. Then the CJM went on to ask, “did she even commit suicide?”. It may be noted that while Anvay Naik was found hanging, his mother was found to be strangulated. Police had theorised that Anvay Naik had killed his mother before killing himself. But the suicide note had stated “we are committing suicide”.
Link between deaths and the accused not established: The court said that There is no satisfactory answer about the death of the mother from the prosecution. “The reason behind Kumudini Naik’s death, the connection with Anvay Naik’s death and its link with the three accused – this chain has not been completely established,” the court order noted.
No evidence that the previous investigation was incomplete: The court order stated that the police have failed to prove that the previous probe had shortcomings and it was incomplete, to justify a fresh probe. The police did not explain how the previous probe was incomplete, and what were the shortcomings in it. “There has been no strong reason or evidence from the prosecution over this and that’s why police custody can’t be justified”, the CJM noted.
No evidence against accused: The court said that to justify questioning in police custody, the police must have strong evidence against the accused. Such evidence must be recovered from the accused, and the accused must be confronted with it during questioning. But the police have not presented any evidence to justify police custody, which means the police have no material which the accused will be confronted with.
Evidence collected only from complainant: The order states that while it is necessary to collect evidence from the accused to confront them with, the police have collected statements and materials only from the complainant. With such one-sided material, the link of the accused with the incident can’t be established.
Role of accused not mentioned: Another significant observation from the judgement is that the police have failed to mention the allege role of the accused in the suicide. It may be noted that under the relevant IPC section 306, the accused must instigate, engage in a conspiracy or assist in committing suicide. This shows that the court has accepted the mere allegation of non-payment of dues is not enough to charge the accused under this section, and the police didn’t show how the accused were responsible for the suicide. “In that connection, it won’t be correct to probe it vaguely,” the court noted.
In summary, the court ruled that police didn’t have solid legal ground to get police custody of the three accused and that’s why would be correct to reject the demand for police custody.
In what could be described an egregious display of brute force, Mumbai Police not only barged into the house of Republic TV Editor-in-chief Arnab Goswami but also roughed him up along with the other family members and subsequently arrested him on November 4. While Mumbai police have been drawing extreme condemnation for its conduct, a lot of support has been pouring in for Arnab Goswami from all quarters.
After several Union Ministers, including HM Amit Shah and prominent personalities, took to Twitter to express their solidarity withArnab Goswami, many media houses in Assam have also joined hands to display unwavering support for the senior journalist and denounce the witch-hunt against media.
On Thursday, the OTV newsroom in Bhubaneswar joined Prag News and News Live in Assam, and the Republic TV and Republic Bharat newsrooms in Mumbai and Delhi respectively to express solidarity after the arrest of India largest news network’s Editor-in-Chief Arnab Goswami.
The journalists of these news channels who came together on the primetime debate, usually hosted on Republic TV by Arnab Goswami, maintained that the manner in which such a senior journalist was assaulted, dragged and arrested is reminiscent of the British rule.
#IndiaWithArnab | We are with Arnab Goswami and we oppose any atrocities on journalists. Journalists’ job is to ask questions: @otvnews, Odisha
OTV journalist Rajashree stated that it was the job of a journalist to demand accountability from the government. Mentioning that he could have been summoned by issuing notice, she condemned the behaviour of the Mumbai police.
Rajashree remarked, “The manner of Arnab’s arrest is reminiscent of British rule. It is clear that this is a dictatorship. All real journalists ask questions to the system and demand accountability from the government. Is this the outcome of the way in which Republic TV cover issues whether it is the Palghar case, Sushant murder mystery or the demolition of Kangana’s house? If you (police) wanted to reopen a two-year-old case, you could have given a message. You (police) could have summoned him by issuing notice. I don’t even have words to describe the way in which you (police) barged into a senior journalist’s house and arrested him. I strongly condemn this kind of behaviour.”
Similarly another OTV journalist Radhamadhab Mishra condemned the witch-hunt on media and called the shameful incident a blotch on India’s democracy. Dubbing the police’s manhandling of Arnab as “police hooliganism”, he appealed to the courts of the country to take cognizance on the assault on the fourth pillar of democracy.
Closed 2018 case against Arnab Goswami re-opened on the directions of Maha HM
After Mumbai police picked up senior journalist Arnab Goswami from his house at around 6:30 in the morning on November 4, in a closed, 2018 abetment to suicide case, reports had emerged that the case has been reopened by Alibaug police on the directions of Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh.
Republic TV had clarified that the charges were false and they had made 90% of the payments due to the interior designer’s firm and the remaining amount was to be paid after the completion of the work which was never done.
Maharashtra HM launched ‘Operation Arnab’
Now, reports have emerged that the Maharashtra government had carefully plotted a plan – “Operation Arnab” to carry out a witch-hunt against Republic TV chief Arnab Goswami. According to a report, the Maharashtra Home Minister and NCP leader Anil Deshmukh formed a high-level 40-member team led by Konkan range Inspector General Sanjay Mohite to arrest Arnab Goswami in the 2018 suicide abetment case.
The Maharashtra Home department devised a plan “Operation Arnab” to nab Republic TV Chief Arnab Goswami in a 2018 suicide case. A team of police began the operation days after Raigad police allegedly obtained permission to probe into the alleged suicide case of architect Anvay Naik. To arrest Arnab, the Maharashtra government assembled a team of 40 personnel, who were mostly drawn from Mumbai and Raigad police.
Mumbai police move sessions court challenging order by Magistrate
The Mumbai police, working on the orders of the Maharashtra government, is in no mood to call it quits. After the Alibaug court, in a marathon hearing, refuse to grant Mumbai police the custody of the senior journalist, the Raigad police moved the Sessions court Thursday, challenging the order of a lower court which remanded Republic TV Editor Arnab Goswami to judicial custody instead of police custody.
Earlier, the Alibaug court rejected the plea of Mumbai police plea seeking 14 days of police custody of Arnab Goswami, who was arrested on November 4. After a hearing that went into the midnight, the Alibaug Court granted 14 days of judicial custody for the Republic TV editor-in-chief, which meant that the Mumbai police would not interrogate him in its custody.
Arnab Goswami hounded by Maha Govt and Mumbai police
Arnab Goswami has come into the radar of the Maha Government ever since his channel pursued the Palghar lynching case and asked some uncomfortable questions to Congress President Sonia Gandhi and the Maha Vikas Aghadi government in the state. No add salt to the injuries, Republic TV went after the Sushant Singh Rajput’s murder case, which probably also hit the wrong nerve of the state government led by Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray which unleashed Mumbai police on the media network.
Thereafter, Mumbai police falsely implicated Republic TV in the TRP scam on the basis of an FIR naming India Today. The police had also reportedly coerced witnesses into naming Republic TV in the TRP scam. Mumbai police had also sought details of all financial transactions of the channel ever since its inception. Now, the Mumbai police has opened another front against Arnab Goswami, which is the 2018 suicide case which was closed back then.
Meanwhile, the Bombay high court will hear on Friday a petition by Republic TV editor-in-chief Arnab Goswami seeking interim bail in the 2018 abetment of suicide case in which he was arrested on Wednesday, setting off a storm with many of his supporters comparing the development with the Emergency.
In a news report published in The Hindu newspaper, on Wednesday (November 4), the Local Crime Branch (LCB) of the Mumbai police claimed that Republic TV Editor Arnab Goswami had attempted to send money to Anvay Naik, post his death.
Inspector Jamil Shaikh (LCB) stated, “After reopening the case, it was transferred to the LCB. We then investigated and found more evidence. Mr. Goswami had attempted to transfer money into Naik’s account after his death, but the bank rejected it as the account holder was not alive. This showed that he actually owed the money.”
Petition by Arnab Goswami in Bombay High Court
Goswami has claimed in his petition that ARG Outlier Media Pvt Ltd, the firm that owns and operates Republic TV, had paid 90% of the dues to deceased Anvay Naik’s company Concorde Designs Pvt. Ltd. (CDPL) over two years ago. He further said that ARG Outlier media Pvt Ltd made several attempts for complete and final settlement of all claims but the absence of shareholders or directors in CDPL rendered the attempts unsuccessful.
He said that the entire amount due to CDPL was transferred to CDPL’s bank account in July 2019 but it was reverted because the account was inoperative.
In the petition, Arnab Goswami said:
Goswami has claimed in his petition that ARG Outlier Media Pvt Ltd, the firm that owns and operates Republic TV, had paid 90% of the dues to deceased Anvay Naik’s company Concorde Designs Pvt. Ltd. (CDPL) over two years ago. He further said that ARG Outlier media Pvt Ltd made several attempts for complete and final settlement of all claims but the absence of shareholders or directors in CDPL rendered the attempts unsuccessful. He said that the entire amount due to CDPL was transferred to CDPL’s bank account in July 2019 but it was reverted because the account was inoperative.
How Congress had earlier in May targeted Arnab Goswami over this case and what Republic had said at the time
The Congress party has gone hammer and tongs against Republic TV chief Arnab Goswami after his statements regarding Sonia Gandhi and the Palghar lynching. After the two sadhus were lynched in Palghar, Maharashtra, Arnab Goswami had asked pointed questions to the Congress party and its President Sonia Gandhi. When the attack by goons and the relentless haranguing by the state machinery did not help silence Arnab Goswami, Congress raked up an old suicide case, in which an FIR was filed against Arnab Goswami, in an attempt to cower him down.
It all started when Arnab Goswami asked why Sonia Gandhi was silent and whether the Italian born politician would have maintained such silence if it were Christian padres who were murdered. In the process, he also brought up the Graham Stains murder, a Christian missionary, as in November 2015, awarded the Mother Teresa Memorial Award for Social Justice was awarded to the wife of Graham Staines. The award is given by an organisation close to the Congress party. Congress leader P. C. Thomas is one of the members of the committee that decides the awardees. If an organisation linked with Sonia Gandhi’s Congress party could award Staines’ wife, why would she not speak up against the lynching of two sadhus in a state where she has compromised her ideological moorings and aligned with the Shiv Sena.
Congress had filed multiple FIRs at the time and even launched a physical attack against him.
At the time, Congress had circulated the video of the wife of Anvay Naik to target Arnab Goswami, though the case was closed.
Responding to the lies then, Republic TV had released a statement staying that the video leaves out some vital information about the case.
The response said that the case against Arnab Goswami was investigated and closed by a court of law after a closure report was filed by the Police in the matter since Mrs Akshita had no proof to back her allegations or prove any sort of illegality. The response also said that ARG Outlier Media Pvt Ltd has paid 90% of the amount due to Anvay Naik’s company Concorde Design Pvt Ltd as per the terms of the work order issued over 2 years ago. It said that the remaining amount was to be paid to CDPL after the completion of the work which was never undertaken. Even so, repeated attempts were made by ARG Media to settle the dues once and for all, but since CDPL had no shareholders or directors, that attempt was rendered futile.
Arnab Goswami has asserted that multiple attempts were made by his company to reach Anvay Naik, the wife of the deceased with a request to settle the balance payment but no concrete response was ever received.
He goes on to say that the balance amount was even transferred to the account of CDPL, however, since the account was inoperative, the amount was returned in July 2019.
The response then went on to say that Anvay Naik wanted the amount remitted to a third party vendor and even though contractually, that is not allowed, ARG Media offered to have a sit down meeting with her in the presence of their lawyers to find an amicable solution. Despite their email on the 25th of January 2020 and subsequent communication on the 25th and 26th February, there was no response from her. ARG media also says that they have the full record of all communication that vindicate their stand.
How the Mumbai Police’s statement vindicates Arnab Goswami’s stand
In the statement to The Hindu, the Police has categorically said that Arnab Goswami did try to settle the amount but the money was returned. It does not specify the amount. Hence, we can assume that Arnab Goswami’s clarification, that 90% of the amount was already paid and the rest of the amount was trying to be settled but the wife of Mr Naik was not cooperating could be true.
Hence, it would appear that the statement by the Mumbai Police seems to vindicate that clarification that Arnab Goswami has given in the case repeatedly instead of proving any wrong doing. Further, the police saying that this “prove Arnab owed money”. However, that statement has never been disputed. Arnab Goswami has maintained his stand that while 90% of the dues were cleared, 10% could not be cleared since the wife was not cooperating.
Case reopened due to vendetta
Arnab Goswami has alleged in his plea that the 2018 case is being reinvestigated because of vendetta and personal animosity of the political dispensation in Maharashtra, respondent Commissioner of Mumbai Police Param Bir Singh and based on a video released by Akshata Naik, wife of the deceased, the case has been reopened which was earlier closed by court on the basis of the closure report filed by the police. He said that the vendetta of the Maharashtra government became clear after a breach of privilege motion was initiated in Maharashtra Assembly against him.
He had requested the Court to direct his immediate release as not even a prima facie case has been made out against him and also keeping in view the nature of his work which is such that even one day’s absence would have a major impact on him, his news channel and its employees. He was sent to 14-day judicial custody by Alibaug court yesterday.
Times Now, the news channel, owned and operated by The Times Group, has once again tried to give a Hindu spin to a crime perpetrated by a Muslim. The crime took place under the influence of an occult practitioner, in Uttar Pradesh’s Barabanki area, but the news channel used the word ‘Tantrik’ for the occultist in the headline without specifying that the perpetrator is a Muslim.
The incident
In a brutal incident, one Alam, the father of a 10-year-old girl beat her to death after he was made to believe by an occultist that the “sacrifice” would help him discover treasure buried in his house. The incident took place in Khurd Mau village in Barabanki’s Badosarai area in Uttar Pradesh.
The occultist allegedly told Alam that a treasure was buried under his house and to reveal its location, he will have to perform a ritual on his daughter. The accused, in his greed to acquire the hidden treasure, agreed to the ritual. He along with the occultist and another man beat up his 10-year-old daughter brutally to death.
When the victim’s mother tried to stop her husband, he beat her up as well. He then buried his daughter’s body in the house. When the victim’s maternal grandmother came to know of the incident, she contacted the police and all accused were arrested.
The body of the minor girl was dug out of the pit and sent for a postmortem where injury marks where found on the victim’s body. According to the grandmother of the victim, Alam, the occulist and another person named Hanif was involved in the crime. The wife of Alam said that the occultist is from Mumbai and he stayed in the house for several days before the incidence.
Times Now tries to give the news a Hindu spin
Since the perpetrator here is a Muslim, it was evident that the occultist would also belong to the same community. Alam would have obviously not go to a Hindu ‘Tantrik’. But Times Now, in its attempt to ‘secularise’ the crime, passed off the occultist as a ‘Tantrik’, that too without mentioning the name of the perpetrator, who in this case is a Muslim.
Even though towards the end of its report, Times Now mentions the name of the accused as Alam, it tries to mislead its reader into believing that the crime was committed by Hindu by using the word ‘Tantrik’ for the occultist in the headline without specifying that the perpetrator is a Muslim.
Times Now passing off occultist who brainwashed a Muslim perpetrator into committing the crime as a “Tantrik”
In general parlance, ‘Tantrik’, a practitioner of ‘tantra vidya’ is mainly associated with Hinduism, and when this word is used, the general perception would obviously be that the crime has been committed by a Hindu.
Times Group- a repeat offender
This is, however, not the first time a media house has maliciously attempted to give a Hindu spin to a crime where the culprit is actually a Muslim. Recently, one ‘Kale Baba’ aka Nasir was caught sexually exploiting women in Lucknow. However, Times of India gave it a Hindu spin by calling the accused as ‘Tantrik’.
To push this ‘secular narrative’, TOI has several times in the past resorted to a similar strategy. In 2018, Time of India reported that in Maharashtra, a ‘godman’ forced his male devotees into ‘unnatural sex’. As per the report, one Asif Noori was the culprit, but TOI had tweeted the same report, using the image of a sketch of a sadhu to mislead its readers. In another case, TOI used the word ‘Swami’ and ‘baba’, other Hindus term, for a rapist who actually belonged to the Muslim community. Similarly, it had passed off a rape crime where the accused was one Rahmat Ali Sheikh to a ‘Tantrik’.
‘Secular’ media loves to ‘Hindu-ise’ crimes perpetrated by criminals of the minority community.
Not just Times of India, but there are several other ‘secular’ media houses which have in the past resorted to similar chicanery. As per a report in The Hindu, a woman had accused a “Tantrik” of raping her in Ajmer, after taking her there on the “pretext of offering prayers at a Dargah”.
Vancular media are also not far behind. Hindi-daily Dainik Jagran too had decided to call an accused in a harassment case as “Tantrik Sufi baba” in the headline. However, the perpetrator was identified as Aftab. In their article, Hindi News18 had carried the headline, “Tantrik arrested for committing misdemeanour with a minor, under the pretext of chasing away ghosts”. The ‘Tantrik’ was later identified as Hafiz Sajid.
After the shocking admission of by Pakistan Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry on the Pakistan govt’s role in the gruesome Pulwama attack that had claimed the lives of dozens of CRPF soldiers, Members of the European Parliament (MEP) condemned the “blatant and brazen” admission by Pakistan about the country’s involvement in the Pulwama terror attacks in India.
After Pak Minister exposed @ImranKhanPTI's involvement in the Pulwama attack, 4 members of the European Union write to President of EU urging to consider sanctions on Pakistan.
According to the reports, four Members of European Parliament – Thierry Mariani, Julie Lechanteux, Virginie Joron, and France Jamet have written a strongly worded letter to President of European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, urging the European Union to immediately consider sanctions on Pakistan and seek an investigation into its involvement in other similar attacks of terrorism in Europe.
“We call on the European Commission and the European External Action Services to immediately condemn the leadership and government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan for its participation in the Pulwama attacks and request the European Union to consider sanctions against those responsible,” the MEPs said in the letter dated November 4.
The letter pointed out the shocking admission by Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Science and Technology, Fawad Chaudhry on October 29, who stood up in the Pakistan National Assembly and hailed the Pulwama terror attack as a success ‘under Imran Khan’s government’. The letter also mentions about Chaudhry crediting Pakistan’s Prime Minister, Imran Khan and the Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party for Pulwama terror attack, who called it a ‘great achievement’.
Pakistan is a country of ‘State Sponsored Terrorism”, says MEPs
The MEPs also said that Pakistan, under the control of successive political regimes and leaders, has been well documented as a country of ‘State-Sponsored Terrorism’.
The letter further stated that the recent admission for the Pulwama attacks comes less than six months after Pakistan PM Imran Khan hailed Osama Bin Laden as a ‘martyr’ inside the Pakistani parliament.
“At a time when then there is rising public insecurity from a global health pandemic, Europe, especially France have faced increasing threats of terrorism” the MEPs stated.
“In the face of such threats and horrific violent aggression on innocent people, it is essential that the European Union does not remain silent. Any admission of acts of terrorism, wherever they occur in the world, must face immediate denunciation and action by European leaders,” the letter signed by four MEPs said.
Pakistan Minister admits his country’s role in carrying out the Pulwama terror attack
In a shocking admission, the terror-state of Pakistan last week finally owned up to its involvement in carrying out the cowardly terror attacks in Pulwama last year, that killed at least 40 CRPF soldiers.
Speaking at the National Assembly, Pakistan’s Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry admitted his country’s role in the barbaric 2019 Pulwama terror attack. Responding to the opposition’s criticism against Imran ‘Taliban’ Khan-led government over its failure to respond to India, Fawad Chaudhry said that Pakistan gave a befitting reply to India by entering their territory and attacking them in Pulwama.
“Humne Hindustan ko ghar main ghus ke maara (We hit India in their home). Our success in Pulwama is a success of the people under the leadership of Imran Khan. You and us are all part of that success,” Fawad Chaudhry said in the national assembly.
#WATCH: Pakistan’s Federal Minister Fawad Choudhry, in the National Assembly, says Pulwama was a great achievement under Imran Khan’s leadership. pic.twitter.com/qnJNnWvmqP
We are proud that our brave sons (terrorists) entered their territory and attacked them in Pulwama. Even Indian media is ashamed to report about Pulwama incident,” said Fawad Chaudhry as he boasted about Pakistan’s direct involvement in the deadly terrorist attack on CRPF convoy in Pulwama, Jammu and Kashmir on February 14, 2019.
The Pakistan Minister was referring to the suicide-attack unleashed by Pakistan-sponsored terrorist organisation Jaish-e-Mohammad on the convoy of CRPF soldiers. The shocking admission by an incumbent minister of the Pakistan government had exposed Pakistan’s direct support for Islamic terrorist groups.
India to approach International Court of Justice, seeks blacklisting of Pakistan by FATF
After Pakistan admitted to having sponsored Pulwama terror attacks that killed more than 40 Indian security personnel, India is reportedly planning to approach the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
On the basis of the statement made by the Pakistani Minister, India has reportedly decided to approach the ICJ. The Indian government has also indicated that Pakistan should be put in the blacklist of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).
On Thursday, the Raigad police moved the Sessions court, challenging the order of a lower court which remanded Republic TV Editor Arnab Goswami to judicial custody instead of police custody. The revision application will be heard tomorrow (November 7). The case pertains to the death of an interior designer, named Anvay Naik, who committed suicide and left behind a note alleging that Arnab Goswami did not clear his dues to the tune of ₹83 lacs. It is pertinent to note that the case was closed in 2018 and has now been unilaterally opened by the police seemingly, to hound Arnab Goswami.
It now appears that the goal of the Mumbai Police is prepared to stop at absolutely nothing to secure the police remand of Arnab Goswami even after the scathing observations of the Magistrate court.
In its revision application to the Sessions Court, the police claimed that the Chief Judicial Magistrate Sunaina Pingle of the lower Court had ‘erred’ by not considering its submission and thereby sought the custody of Arnab Goswami and two others. The Raigad police had also prayed for the quashing of the order of the lower court.
Arnab Goswami sent to judicial custody
Earlier, the Alibaug court rejected the plea of Mumbai police plea seeking 14 days of police custody of Arnab Goswami, who was arrested on November 4. After a hearing that went into the midnight, the Alibaug Court granted 14 days of judicial custody for the Republic TV editor-in-chief, which meant that the Mumbai police would not interrogate him in its custody.
The Chief Judicial Magistrate Sunaina Pingle had noted that the police failed to establish prima facie link between the deceased and Goswami. “Taking into consideration the reasons behind the arrest of the accused persons and the arguments put forth by the accused persons, the arrest appears to be prima facie illegal…There is no cogent evidence submitted that warrants this court to remand the arrested accused to police custody,” the CJM observed.
Republic TV chief Arnab Goswami arrested
Continuing their witch-hunt against Republic TV chief, the Mumbai Police on Wednesday arrested Arnab Goswami. The Mumbai Police reached Republic TV Editor-in-Chief Arnab Goswami’s residence on Wednesday and physically manhandled him as they tried to detain him in a 2018 abetment to suicide case that was already closed.
A team of Mumbai Police arrested Republic TV chief Arnab Goswami after they physically assaulted and dragged him by grabbing his hair. In a shocking act, a large contingent of Mumbai Police was seen present at Goswami’s residence on Wednesday morning. In the below video, it can be seen how officials of the Mumbai Police were manhandling the Republic TV chief.
The Allahabad High Court on Monday granted bail to a man accused of making objectionable comments against the Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and other public representatives on the condition that he keeps off social media for two years.
According to the reports, Justice Siddharth of the Allahabad High Court passed an order granting bail to a person named Akhilanand, who was booked in Deoria for making objectionable remarks on social media against Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and other public figures.
While granting bail to the accused, Justice Siddharth said, “Applicant will not use social media for a period of two years or till the conclusion of trial before the Trial Court, whichever is earlier.”
The accused Akhilanand Rao is also accused of trying to misuse his status to gain undue advantage. The Uttar Pradesh Police had booked him under Sections 419, 420, 120B of the Indian Penal Code and Section 66D of the Information Technology Act.
Advocate Vimal Kumar Pandey, representing the accused, however, contended that the allegations made against the applicant were a case of false implication by the police.
The High Court also noted that the applicant was in jail since May 12. According to the affidavit filed in the bail application, the accused had a criminal history of 11 cases.
The High Court, setting prior conditions, ordered the release of the applicant on bail on furnishing a personal bond and two sureties each, as per an amount mentioned by the court and certain other conditions. The order also said that a breach of any of the conditions would be a ground for cancellation of bail.
The court also said the applicant shall not tamper with the prosecution evidence by intimidating witnesses during the investigation or the trial.
