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Mob-lynching protection bill draft released

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Mob-lynching protection bill draft released

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Youth and star activists gather to start Manav Suraksha Kanoon movement

By Lilly Paul

Like-minded citizens have come together to prepare a draft Bill, Protection From Lynching Act, 2017, looking at a new law against the rampant mob lynching taking place in the country. The draft of the proposed law, termed Manav Suraksha Kanoon (MASUKA), was released at the Constitution Club of India in New Delhi on July 7 by the National Campaign Against Mob Lynching.

The group has among its founding members youth leaders Tehseen Poonawalla, Shehla Rashid, Kanhaiya Kumar, Jignesh Mewani and Pankhuri Pathak.

The draft will be given to the NDA government first for their MPs to take up. If they do not, then there is a possibility that the draft would be given to any MP to be presented as a private member’s Bill. However, there seems to be a difference of opinion within the group on how to approach with this draft, Shehla Rashid not being for a private mention. This is a bit of confusion they have to clear up before they go ahead with it.

Prakash Ambedkar, grandson of BR Ambedkar, was also present at the release, along with Congressman Shehzad Poonawalla, civil rights activist Teesta Setalvad, JNUSU President Manoj K Pandey and missing JNU student Najeeb Ahmed’s sister, Sadar Musharraf.

Many people like Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, Swara Bhaskar, Manoj Jha and Jignesh Mevani conveyed their support through video messages.

The drafting committee for the Bill was headed by senior Supreme Court lawyer Sanjay Hegde. The committee also included activist and journalist Anil Chamaria, JNU professor Nivedita Menon, campaigner at Amnesty International Sanam Wazir, Delhi University professor Apoorvanand, Delhi School of Social Work professor Manoj Jha, feminist author and publisher V Geetha, senior advocate Rebecca John and actress Swara Bhaskar and other activists.

The draft defines ‘mob’ and ‘lynching’ and proposes to make lynching a non-bailable offence. It puts responsibility on the concerned SHO of the area where the lynching took place and demands a time-bound judicial probe, with maximum time limit of six months. The imprisonment for the guilty can extend up to life imprisonment under the proposed bill. It also demands compensation for the victim’s family.

A website and an email-Id have been launched for people to send in their suggestions, queries and feedback on the draft. The draft has been uploaded on the website stopmoblynching.com.

People can register their support for the Bill and send their queries, comments and suggestions to the website. The members had also planned to take out a march – called Insaaf March – to the Prime Minister’s residence and hand him the draft (read the draft here) personally but since he is off to Hamburg for the G20 summit, this couldn’t be possible.

The campaign members will give a copy of the draft to the MPs of their area asking them to support the Bill and will conduct events to keep the campaign going. The campaigners will also take out a march to Parliament when the next session of the Parliament begins on July 17.

The members said that they had earlier decided to name the Bill Nagrik Suraksha Kanoon but later changed it to Manav Suraksha Kanoon because not just Indian citizens but African nationals have also been harassed and assaulted by mobs and since this Bill has been drafted to save any human subjected to barbarism by mob.

On being asked if they were hopeful about the government giving a green signal to their Bill, Tehseen Poonawalla said with all seriousness: “Our Prime Minister is a very kind hearted man, he condemns violence taking place in any part of the world. He was the one who said don’t kill the Dalits, kill me instead. When you have such a Prime Minister why wouldn’t one be hopeful? We have all our faith in him.”

Teesta Setalvad, who will be launching the draft in Mumbai, said: “Any citizen of this country, who seeks help from the police or the authorities should not be denied help as it happened with Junaid’s brothers or Najeeb’s mother. I extend my support to this Bill and every aware citizen of this country should support it.”

Student activist and one of the members of the drafting committee, Shehla Rashid said: “The onus is completely on the Prime Minister, he should accept and stand up for this Bill thereby giving the message to cow vigilantes, Not in My Name. We don’t want this Bill to be presented as a private Bill because such bills get nowhere. We want the government to take it up.” Here is where the confusion arose in the route the draft should take. Other members told this correspondent that they had no objection to this draft moving through as a private Bill.

Said Rashid: “When a person is lynched, the message is very clear: ‘you do not belong to our society’. When a mentally challenged woman is lynched, the message is that mentally disabled people have no right to live in the society. When a Muslim is lynched or a Dalit is flogged in public, it is meant to terrorise the whole society.”

Prakash Ambedkar said: “If the government accepts this Bill, a message will go across the country that they do not support the culture of lynching.”

Prior to the draft release, an online petition was floated by actor Swara Bhaskar on Change.org demanding a ban on cow vigilante groups. The petition at present has received over 27,000 signees. The petition titled ‘Walk the talk, enact Manav Suraksha Kanoon’ was addressed to the Prime Minister.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

India News

Journalist files police complaint against Rahul Gandhi over push allegation

Journalist Richa Parashar has filed a criminal complaint against Rahul Gandhi and others, alleging that she was pushed while covering the Opposition’s march to the Supreme Court. The Congress has denied the allegation.

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Journalist Richa Parashar has filed a police complaint against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over an alleged incident during the INDIA bloc’s march to the Supreme Court in New Delhi on October 12. She has sought the registration of a First Information Report (FIR) against Gandhi and others, alleging that she was pushed while covering the protest.

Parashar submitted her complaint to the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), New Delhi district, on Friday, seeking immediate action. She has said she was three months pregnant at the time of the alleged incident and accused those involved of mistreatment, threats and the use of force.

What Richa Parashar alleged in her complaint

Parashar alleged that she was reporting on the Opposition’s march when the incident occurred. According to her earlier account, she was waiting near a gate on the Supreme Court premises to seek a response from Gandhi when he allegedly grabbed her hand and pulled her forward. She further alleged that his security personnel pushed her away, causing her to fall on the Supreme Court steps.

In her complaint, Parashar said she asked Gandhi questions before he allegedly pushed her towards a gate. She claimed that the force caused her to lose her balance and fall, and that her repeated requests not to be pushed were ignored.

Parashar has sought legal action against Gandhi and others whom she alleges were involved. The complaint reportedly seeks action under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, including Sections 74, 115(2), 131, 125 and 3(5). These provisions concern alleged assault or criminal force against a woman, voluntarily causing hurt, assault or criminal force, acts endangering human life or personal safety, and joint liability for acts committed with common intention.

The allegations and the sections cited in the complaint do not, by themselves, establish criminal liability.

Congress disputes the allegation

The Congress has challenged Parashar’s account of the incident. According to report, the party said a video released by the journalist did not show the sequence of events she described.

Congress leader Alka Lamba also questioned the circumstances surrounding the incident and accused those raising the issue of attempting to manufacture propaganda.

The allegations remain disputed. The complaint and the competing accounts should not be treated as an established finding of wrongdoing.

Incident took place during Opposition’s Supreme Court march

The alleged incident occurred on October 12, when Rahul Gandhi and other INDIA bloc leaders marched to the Supreme Court to submit a petition concerning alleged irregularities in the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

The Opposition has raised concerns about the voter-list revision process and alleged irregularities.

Parashar’s police complaint adds a legal dimension to the controversy surrounding the march. Any further action will depend on the police process and the relevant legal proceedings.

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Delhi court orders release of CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke

A Delhi court on Saturday ordered the conditional release of Cockroach Janta Party founder Abhijeet Dipke, who was detained and subsequently arrested ahead of a planned protest march at Connaught Place.

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Abhijit Dipke

A Delhi court on Saturday ordered the conditional release of Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke, a day after he was detained and subsequently arrested ahead of a planned protest march in the national capital. The march was scheduled to take place at Connaught Place as part of demonstrations against alleged electoral irregularities.

Dipke was asked to furnish a bond and undertake to maintain peace as a condition of his release, according to reports. The court’s order came after he was produced before a Special Executive Magistrate following his arrest on Friday.

Why Abhijeet Dipke was detained

Dipke had planned to participate in the ‘Lehra Do Tiranga’ march at Connaught Place, where participants intended to gather and wave the national flag. The proposed demonstration was part of ongoing protests over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and demands for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

According to the Delhi Police, Dipke was taken into preventive custody before being formally arrested in a case related to the apprehension of a breach of peace. Police cited Sections 126 and 170 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS).

Neha Bora was also detained

All India Students’ Association (AISA) president Neha Bora was also detained on Friday ahead of the planned march. She was released early Saturday morning after completing the formalities associated with her detention, according to the report.

Bora criticised the police action and called for the release of protesters who remained in custody. She also demanded an end to the SIR exercise and sought the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. These were her demands and allegations, rather than findings established by the court.

Protests over electoral rolls continue

The demonstrations involving CJP, student groups and opposition supporters have centred on allegations of irregularities in the voter-list revision process. Critics have questioned the exercise, while the Election Commission has maintained that its decisions were approved by the Supreme Court. The BJP has criticised the protests, describing them as attempts to spread anarchy, according to the report.

Dipke’s conditional release marks the latest development in the dispute over the planned Delhi protest. The court’s order concerns his release under specified conditions; it should not be interpreted as a judicial finding on the wider allegations surrounding the electoral-roll revision.

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Anirudh Ravichander to marry Kavya Maran in November, reception on November 21

Anirudh Ravichander and Kavya Maran are set to marry in November, with their Chennai wedding reception scheduled for November 21.

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Music composer Anirudh Ravichander and Sunrisers Hyderabad executive Kavya Maran are set to marry in November. Their wedding reception is scheduled to take place in Chennai on November 21, according to an announcement by Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy’s office.

The development followed a meeting between Revanth Reddy and Kavya’s parents, Sun Group chairman Kalanithi Maran and Kavery Maran, at the chief minister’s residence in Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad.

According to the Telangana Chief Minister’s Office, the couple’s reception is scheduled for November 21, with Kavya’s parents extending an invitation to the chief minister.

Telangana CM’s office announces reception date

The Telangana CMO shared photographs and videos of the meeting on its official social media account on October 16. The announcement stated that Kalanithi Maran and his wife had met Revanth Reddy to invite him to their daughter’s wedding reception.

The post specifically confirmed that the reception of Kavya Maran and Anirudh Ravichander would be held in Chennai on November 21.

The announcement provided an official confirmation of the reception date and venue, while details about the wedding ceremony itself have also been reported separately.

Who are Anirudh Ravichander and Kavya Maran?

Anirudh Ravichander is a prominent music composer in the Indian film industry. He gained widespread recognition with the song “Why This Kolaveri Di” and has since composed music for several major films, including Leo, Indian 2, Vettaiyan, Vidaamuyarchi and Coolie.

Kavya Maran is the daughter of Kalanithi Maran, chairman of the Sun Group. She serves as an executive director at Sun TV Network and is widely recognised in cricket circles for her association with Sunrisers Hyderabad, the IPL franchise.

Wedding rumours and reported ceremony details

Speculation about a possible marriage between Anirudh Ravichander and Kavya Maran had circulated before the latest announcement. Earlier reports in August 2026 discussed the possibility of a November wedding in Greece.

A subsequent report said the wedding was reportedly scheduled to take place in Greece on November 11. However, the couple had not directly confirmed their wedding plans in the cited report.

The Telangana Chief Minister’s Office has confirmed that the reception is scheduled for November 21 in Chennai. The reported wedding ceremony details should therefore be attributed to reports rather than presented as officially confirmed information.

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