India News
Navjot Sidhu acquitted of culpable homicide, let off with Rs.1000 fine
The Supreme Court on Tuesday, May 15 acquitted Navjot Sidhu of the charge of culpable homicide in a 30-year-old road rage case in which the cricketer-turned-comedy show anchor and politician had hit Gurnam Singh, 65, who died.
The SC bench of Justices Jasti Chelameswar and SK Kaul instead convicted Sidhu of the lesser offence of voluntarily causing hurt with no intention to murder under Section 323 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
As punishment for this crime, Sidhu was fined Rs.1000, with no jail term. Section 323 of IPC says whosoever voluntarily causes hurt, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to one year, or with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees, or with both.
The court also acquitted Sidhu’s aide Rupinder Singh Sandhu in the case.
The SC bench overturned the Punjab and Haryana High Court order convicting Sidhu and co-accused Rupinder Singh Sandhu under Section of 304 (2) of the IPC for culpable homicide not amounting to murder and sentencing them both to three years’ imprisonment.
A confirmation of the high court order would have led to the disqualification of Sidhu from the legislature and the government as per the Representation of the People Act.
Sidhu’s counsel RS Cheema argued before the court that the medical opinion on the cause of death of the victim, Gurnam Singh, was vague.
Interestingly, the State prosecution also agreed with the high court’s conviction and sentence for the Tourism Minister in the Captain Amarinder Singh-led Congress government. The prosecution said Sidhu and Sandhu, represented by senior counsel R Basant and advocate Karthik Ashok, were allegedly in a Gypsy parked on the middle of a road near the Sheranwala Gate Crossing in Patiala on December 27, 1988.
The victim and two others were on their way to the bank to withdraw money. It was alleged that when they had reached the crossing, Gurnam Singh, driving a Maruti car, found the Gypsy in the middle of the road and asked the occupants, Sidhu and Sandhu, to remove it. This led to heated exchanges.
The police had claimed that Gurnam Singh was beaten up by Sidhu, who later fled the crime scene. The victim was taken to a hospital where he was declared dead.
India News
Bengaluru: Police issue traffic advisory ahead of Eid celebrations, check routes, diversions here
The fresh traffic advisory comes after an unprecedented traffic snarl in the city on Tuesday.
Amid Eid celebrations, Bengaluru traffic police issued a fresh traffic advisory on Thursday. The fresh traffic advisory comes after an unprecedented traffic snarl in the city on Tuesday. The advisory listed diversions, restrictions, alternate routes and timings.
The Bengaluru police asserted that the processions are set to be taken on between 3pm and 9pm today and large gatherings are likely to take place. It is reported that the traffic congestion on Tuesday occurred as residents headed out for the long weekend with Eid Milad on Thursday, a state-wide bandh on Friday and Gandhi Jayanti on Monday.
The Bengaluru police noted that in view of Eid-Milad procession in the limits of Ulsoor Gate Traffic Police Station, on 28.09.2023 from 3.00 pm to 9.00 pm, a large number of people are expected to gather at YMCA ground, Nrupathunga road. They added that in order to ascertain free flow of traffic, the following traffic arrangements have been made.
According to the police, few roads that the residents should avoid during the Eid celebrations are Nrupathunga Road, Dr B R Ambedkar Road, Nayanadanahalli Junction, Kimko Junction, Bapuji Nagar, Market Circle. In addition, movement of vehicles has also been restricted in a few roads such as Nagawara junction to Pottery circle road, Nethaji circle towards Pottery circle, Haines road from Lazar road and M.M. road, H.M. road from KEB junction to Hall road.
Meanwhile, parking is restricted on both sides of the following roads: Nagawara Junction to Pottery Circle, Govindapura Junction to Govindapura L&O Police Station, HBR Layout Sidddappa Reddy Junction to Narendra Tent Junction, Nethaji junction to Haines junction, Haines junction to New Bamboo Bazar junction, Haines junction to Haj camp, Lazar road to Wheelers road Thoms Cafe junction.
On September 27, residents of Bengaluru witnessed a massive traffic jam, leaving hundreds of them stuck for hours. Notably, social media platforms were flooded with videos and photos of Bengaluru’s congested road as social media users complained about the tragic situation.
India News
MS Swaminathan dies, he was 98
MS Swaminathan, the father of India’s Green Revolution, passed away at the age of 98 on Thursday.
MS Swaminathan, the father of India’s Green Revolution, passed away at the age of 98 on Thursday.
Swaminathan was a renowned Indian agriculture scientist. In 1988, he established the MS Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF), a non-profit trust after receiving the First World Food Prize in 1987.
According to reports, he took his last breath around 11 am today in Chennai.
During the 1960s and 1970s, Swaminathan’s extraordinary work brought a revolution in Indian agriculture, it helped the country to achieve self-sufficiency in food production when we faced the prospect of widespread famine.
He was born in Thanjavur district in Tamil Nadu. He was selected as the first World Food Prize laureate for his groundbreaking work during the 1960s.
The United Nations Environment Programme recognised him as the Father of Economic Ecology.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his condolence on the death of MS Swaminathan. PM Modi said he is deeply saddened by the demise of MS Swaminathan. At a very critical period in our nation’s history, his groundbreaking work in agriculture transformed the lives of millions and ensured food security for our nation, he added.
PM Modi also said that apart from Swaminathan’s revolutionary contributions to agriculture, he was a powerhouse of innovation and a nurturing mentor to many. His unwavering commitment to research and mentorship has left an indelible mark on countless scientists and innovators, he further added.
The Prime Minister said I will always cherish my conversations with Dr Swaminathan. His passion to see India progress was exemplary. His life and work will inspire generations to come, PM Modi said.
On the demise of MS Swaminathan, Rahul Gandhi also extended his condolence. Gandhi took to X, formerly Twitter and said that Dr. MS Swaminathan’s steadfast commitment to revolutionising India’s agriculture turned us into a food surplus country.
Gandhi further said his legacy as the Father of the Green Revolution will always be remembered.
Punjab news
Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira arrested by Punjab Police in old drugs smuggling case, Congress, SAD condemn arrest
Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira has been arrested by the Punjab Police in an old drugs smuggling case on September 28.
Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira has been arrested by the Punjab Police in an old drugs smuggling case on September 28.
Under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, a case was registered against the Congress leader in drugs smuggling case. Following that the officials from the Jalalabad police station raided Khaira’s Sector 5 bungalow in Chandigarh today morning.
On his arrest, Punjab Congress President Amarinder Singh Warring slammed the CM Mann-led Aam Aadmi Party government and called it a ploy by the state government to distract people from the main issues.
Warring further said that National Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge asked him on call in the morning to fight for the Khaira and asked other party leaders to do so.
Taking to X, formerly Twitter Warring said the recent arrest of Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira smacks of Political Vendetta, it is an attempt to intimidate the opposition and is a ploy of the Punjab government to distract from core issues. We stand strongly with Sukhpal Khaira and will take this fight to its logical conclusion, he added.
Condemning Congress leader Khaira’s arrest, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) also attacked the AAP-led Punjab government. The SAD took to social media platform X and said the arrest of the Congress leader was a political vendetta.
It further said that political differences aside, the Shiromani Akali Dal Amritsar condemns the arrest borne out of the witch hunt and political vendetta against a very respected Bholath MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira, a fierce critic of Bhagwant Mann and AAP-led Punjab government, the SAD wrote in the social media post.
Khaira, a member of the legislative assembly from the Bholath constituency in Punjab was arrested today in an old drugs case. He also serves as the chairman of the All India Kisan Congress.
