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CBI court gags media from reporting on Sohrabuddin Sheikh encounter case trial

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CBI court gags media from reporting on Sohrabuddin Sheikh encounter case trial

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Court’s order comes at a time when the mysterious death of CBI judge BH Loya in 2014, who at the time was presiding over the case, has triggered a sensation

Amid renewed interest in the Sohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter case following conflicting news reports over the mysterious death of a judge who was presiding over the trial in 2014, a special CBI court in Mumbai, on Wednesday, banned the media from reporting on the proceedings of the trial.

“It may happen that the publication may create security problem for the accused persons, prosecution witnesses, the defence team and the prosecutor as well. I, therefore, find justification in the request of the defence team of lawyers. The application is allowed,” Additional Sessions Judge SJ Sharma said in his order on Wednesday.

While ordering the “complete ban on print, electronic and social media” reporting on the case, special CBI judge Sharma said: “Considering the sensitivity in the matter, likelihood of happening of any untoward incident and likelihood of effect on the trial of this matter, in case of day-to-day publication of evidence that may be brought on record, I am of the view not to allow media to make publication of any of the proceeding during the trial in the matter until further order.”

While the court order does not expressly mention whether or not the media will be allowed to attend the trial, reporters who were present in the courtroom when judge Sharma imposed the gag said that they were orally informed that they could sit in court while the proceedings go on.

The gag-order came on a handwritten request submitted by advocate Wahab Khan, counsel for Rajasthan policeman Abdul Rehman Khan – one of the accused in the alleged fake encounter case – in which he claimed: “Every day, a new development is being reported. The case already has a chequered history. We apprehend the security of witnesses, accused and even the defence lawyers (sic).”[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1512031835862{padding-top: 5px !important;padding-right: 5px !important;padding-bottom: 5px !important;padding-left: 5px !important;background-color: #dddddd !important;border-radius: 5px !important;}”]Mysterious death of CBI Judge BH Loya mentioned in court

The defence advocates also referred to reports on the mysterious death of CBI Judge BH Loya, who had died under mysterious circumstances in 2014 while presiding over the trial in the case, which was then being heard in Gujarat. Judge Loya’s family members have recently alleged – according to an investigative report carried in The Caravan magazine – that his death was from “unnatural” causes and that reports of him succumbing to a cardiac arrest were fabricated. However, two contrary reports – first in The Indian Express and then on NDTV – have sought to demolish the arguments built up in the Caravan article and quoted sitting judge of the Bombay High Court – Justice Bhushan Gavai – as saying that there was nothing suspicious in Judge Loya’s death.

The doubts raised over the cause of Judge Loya’s death – by a section of the media, the legal fraternity and Opposition parties – have provoked calls for an independent inquiry. It is pertinent to note that at the time when the 48-year-old Judge Loya was presiding over the Sohrabuddin Sheikh encounter trial, BJP national president Amit Shah was an accused in the case. Shah was later discharged in the case by the judge who took over from Judge Loya.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Other defence advocates appearing in the case also supported advocate Wahab Khan’s plea while special public prosecutor BP Raju submitted that the court may pass “appropriate orders” on the issue.

Reporters who were present during the proceedings told APNLive that some journalists made oral submissions before Judge Sharma, pleading that publication of the proceedings was in public interest, especially since the case was one that had evoked mass interest.

While the special CBI judge complimented the media for its “hard work and efforts to collect essential events and to publish them to make the public aware”, he said: “Even during collection of such events, number of incidents had happening in the past where many media persons had to face assault and suffer serious injuries.”

“However, in the proceedings…the popularly known case of the killing of Sohrabuddin, his wife, Kausarbi and their associate Tulsiram Prajapati….wherein the accused persons are none else but the police of Gujarat state, Rajasthan state and Andhra Pradesh and this case has been transferred to Mumbai court by the order of the Honourable Supreme Court. Number of witnesses have been examined by the state CID crime, Gujarat and CBI and the witnesses are police as well as private persons and in the past four years from the receipt of chargesheet, 15 accused who are the ministers of Gujarat and Rajasthan and high ranking police officers have been discharged, the matter appears sensational,” the court observed.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1512032405316{padding-top: 5px !important;padding-right: 5px !important;padding-bottom: 5px !important;padding-left: 5px !important;background-color: #e5e5e5 !important;border-radius: 5px !important;}”]Backgrounder to the alleged fake encounter case

In November 2005, Sohrabuddin Sheikh was traveling in a Sangli-bound bus from Hyderabad along with his wife Kausarbi and associate Tulsiram Prajapati. A police team had chased the bus and forced the three to de-board. Sohrabuddin, Kausarbi and Prajapati were then reportedly taken to Ahmedabad where Sheikh was allegedly killed. Kausarbi, a witness to the alleged murder of her husband by policemen, was also reportedly gunned down though later investigators in the case claimed that they never traced her remains. Prajapati, who had apparently escaped the encounter, was also allegedly killed in 2006.

In 2012, the Supreme Court had transferred the case to Mumbai after the CBI submitted that witnesses were being threatened and a free and fair trial was not possible in Ahmedabad under the circumstances.

Of the 38 original accused in the case, prominent persons who have so far been discharged on various grounds include former Gujarat anti-terrorism squad chief DG Vanzara and BJP national president Amit Shah.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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Centre issues notice to Wikipedia on complaints of bias, inaccuracies

The government also questioned why Wikipedia should not be classified as a publisher, rather than an intermediary.

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Centre issues notice to Wikipedia on complaints of bias, inaccuracies

The Centre on Tuesday has issued a notice to Wikipedia over multiple complaints about bias and inaccuracies on the platform. The government in its letter to Wikipedia highlighted that a small group of editors appears to have significant control over the contents, particularly influencing its neutrality. 

Reports said that the government also questioned why Wikipedia should not be classified as a publisher, rather than an intermediary. However, neither Wikipedia nor the government has issued an official statement on the matter so far. 

Wikipedia, popularly known as free online encyclopedia, allows volunteers to create and edit pages on a wide variety of topics, including people, issues and various fields of knowledge. This recent development follows two months after the Delhi High Court slammed Wikipedia and also warned it of a potential ban in India during a case filed by news agency ANI, which alleged that its Wikipedia page contained inaccuracies and defamatory content. 

In the last hearing, Justice Subramonium Prasad further observed that Wikipedia might not be entitled to defend the defamatory edits since it claims to be only an intermediary. The Delhi HIgh Court also questioned if Wikipedia is an intermediary, why is it bothered? It added that if somebody else has edited and that addition is without basis, then it comes down.

It further stated that Wikipedia is not here to protect the editors but is a mere wall. The court opined that it will only see whether the opinion given in the encyclopaedia does not depict the correct picture, as not true representation of the article. However, Wikipedia clarified that it was not defending the statements or edits made on Wikipedia’s page about ANI. It further sought to assist the court in the matter, particularly with regard to the architecture of the platform. 

Notably, Wikipedia has faced growing criticism for alleged bias and inaccuracies, especially amid the ongoing US presidential elections. Elon Musk, owner of X, has publicly accused Wikipedia of supporting far-left ideologies. He also urged the public to stop donating to Wikipedia, claiming it is controlled by far-left activists.

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JMM-RJD-Congress are supporters of Bangladesh infiltrators: PM Modi at Jharkhand rally

Narendra Modi further claimed that if the bad policies of JMM, Congress and RJD continue, the adivasi society in Jharkhand will shrink

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JMM-RJD-Congress are supporters of Bangladesh infiltrators: PM Modi at Jharkhand rally

Ahead of the Jharkhand Assembly election, PM Narendra Modi launched a scathing attack on the incumbent Hemant Soren government, accusing it to put appeasement at the top of its agenda.

While addressing a rally in Jharkhand’s Garhwa, the Prime Minister said the coalition government of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, Congress and RJD are supporters of Bangladesh infiltrators. He said that the JMM-RJD-Congress government has taken appeasement to its peak, and that these parties are destroying the state’s social harmony. He alleged that the parties are supporters of infiltrators, and to get votes of Bangladesh infiltrators, they are getting them settled across Jharkhand.

The Prime Minister stated that when schools disallow Saraswati Vandana, one can imagine how big the danger is. When there is stone-pelting during festivals, Maa Durga is stopped and curfew is imposed, one knows how dangerous it is, he continued. The Prime Minister also added that when the issue of infiltration goes to court and the administration denies, it becomes clear that the government machinery has been infiltrated. PM Modi was referring to allegations that a Muslim teacher stopped prayers to Goddess Saraswati at a school in Jharkhand’s Giridih.

Narendra Modi further claimed that if the bad policies of JMM, Congress and RJD continue, the adivasi society in Jharkhand will shrink, and advised people to use their vote to uproot this infiltrator coalition. He maintained that Jharkhand’s swift development is possible only if it has a government that expedites the implementation of central schemes.

Referring to the JMM’s decision to replace Champai Soren as Chief Minister after Hemant Soren was granted bail in a money laundering case, PM Modi said that the party has left no stones unturned in humiliating an adivasi son. He asked how the party will take care of the people of the state when nothing matters to them more than family. He added that he does not have a family, and the people are his family. He also mentioned that Champai Soren, once a trusted lieutenant of Hemant Soren, is now with the BJP.

Slamming the ruling coalition of corruption, he said that corruption hollows out the country like termites, and destroys the poor, Dalits, people from backward classes and tribals. He claimed that Jharkhand has seen for five years the corruption of the JMM-Congress-RJD government.

He also referred to the massive cash haul from the home of Congress’s former Rajya Sabha MP Dhiraj Sahu last year. Mentioning that mountains of cash are recovered from the home of Congress’s Rajya Sabha MP, he questioned if this money didn’t belong to Jharkhand.

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Ruckus in Jammu and Kashmir Assembly over resolution against Article 370 abrogation

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah addressing the session, said that the resolution has no importance and it is only for the cameras.

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Ruckus in Jammu and Kashmir Assembly over resolution against Article 370 abrogation

Jammu and Kashmir Assembly on Monday witnessed chaos after People’s Democratic Party (PDP) MLA Waheed Para moved a resolution opposing the abrogation of Article 370 and called for restoring the union territory’s special status.

Waheed Para, the PDP MLA from the Pulwama Assembly seat, submitted the resolution to newly elected Speaker, Abdul Rahim Rather and requested for a discussion on the matter during the five-day session, despite not being a part of the agenda.

It was submitted that although the agenda of the House has been finalised, they believe that the authority as the Speaker allows the inclusion of the resolution, as it reflects the sentiment of the people at large. After the resolution was submitted, all 28 Jammu and Kashmir BJP MLAs stood up to oppose the move, leading to noisy scenes inside the Assembly.

As the members protested, BJP MLA Sham Lal Sharma demanded Para’s suspension for bringing the resolution in violation of Assembly rules. The agitation continued even after the Speaker repeatedly requested the protesting members to take their seats. He asserted the resolution has not come to him yet and when it does, he would examine it.

While the BJP members refused to call off their protest, National Conference MLAs slammed them for interrupting the proceedings of the House. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah addressing the session, said that the resolution has no importance and it is only for the cameras.

The Chief Minister added that how the House will reflect and discuss this matter will not be decided by any one member. If there was a purpose behind the resolution, then they would have discussed this with the government before, he continued.

Nonetheless, CM Abdullah also admitted that the people of Jammu and Kashmir do not approve of the decision taken on August 5, 2019, when Article 370 was abrogated. Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha also said that his government will make all efforts for the restoration of full statehood. He mentioned that restoration of full statehood would be a reciprocation of the faith reposed by the people of Jammu and Kashmir in democratic institutions.

Meanwhile, PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti expressed that she was proud of Waheed Para for submitting the resolution.

Notably, Article 370 was a provision in the Constitution that granted special autonomy to the region of Jammu and Kashmir. It also allowed the state to have its own constitution, flag, and autonomy over internal matters except defense, communications, and foreign affairs.

However, the Centre on August 5, 2019 revoked Article 370, effectively removing the special status of Jammu and Kashmir and reorganising it into two Union Territories namely, Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.

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