India News

Unnao case: Supreme Court orders all cases to be transferred to Delhi

Published

7 years ago

August 1, 2019

Yogi Adityanath government, with all its boasts about law and order in Uttar Pradesh being a model for the country, got a rap on its knuckles today (Thursday, Aug 1) when the Supreme Court ordered that all cases related to Unnao rape be transferred out of the state to Delhi – from the Lucknow CBI Court to CBI Court in Delhi.

The Bench headed by Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi gave the CBI one week to complete the investigation related to the accident and then file the chargesheet in a fortnight.

The Supreme Court, pronouncing its order in the Unnao rape and accident case, held that the trial court must hear cases on a day-to-day basis and complete the same within 45 days. The top court also held that trial in four cases, which includes 29 July accident and the gangrape case, to be concluded within 45 days with hearings on day to day basis.

The Supreme Court will again hear the matter tomorrow, said media reports. The top court will also examine issues of witness protection tomorrow, said a report.

The Bench also said the victim and her counsel, who are admitted in Lucknow’s KGMU hospital, can be shifted to Delhi if the family desires.

The top court also ordered the Uttar Pradesh government to pay Rs. 25 lakh to the survivor as interim compensation by tomorrow, Friday, reported FirstPost.

It also directed the government to provide CRPF protection to her and her family. Concerned Commandant of CRPF will oversee the protection and submit a report in the Supreme Court.

The Bench also gave liberty to the accused to move the Supreme Court directly in case they want to challenge the order, said media reports, since it was given ex parte due to the facts/circumstances of the case.

The victim, who is now battling for life after an accident in Rae Bareli on Sunday, had written to the CJI on July 12 about the threats to her from BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar, the accused in the rape case. On Sunday, the woman and her lawyer were critically injured and her two aunts were killed after the car they were travelling in was hit by a truck on the highway.

Meanwhile, ahead of the top court’s order on the case, BJP expelled party MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar, who is accused of raping a woman in Unnao.

Sengar, and nine others, including the son-in-law of a UP minister, have been booked by the CBI on allegations that they orchestrated the accident that has left the woman in a critical condition.

Also Read: Unnao case: BJP central leadership expels Kuldeep Sengar after mass outrage and embarrassment as Supreme Court intervenes

Earlier today, the top court had directed a “responsible” officer from the investigating agency to appear before it at 12 noon. The top court had also refused a plea of the Solicitor General requesting that the matter be adjourned to 10.30 am on Friday, as the officers probing the Unnao cases were out of Delhi. “We would like a responsible officer of CBI to come here with full information,” CJI Gogoi heading a three-Judge bench had told Mehta.

“Tomorrow is another day, Mr. Solicitor. We will see separately what can be done tomorrow. We want this to happen today,” Chief Justice Gogoi responded.

The court suggested that the CBI Director could be briefed by his probe officers telephonically. The CJI refused to postpone the meeting, which he said could even be held in chambers as the details of the rape case investigation may be sensitive in nature and not to be outed at this point.

The deadline given by the top court spurred CBI into action. A team of CBI officers reached King George’s Medical University in Lucknow on Thursday as the Supreme Court asked the central investigating agency to finish the investigation into 29 July accident where the two aunts of the survivor died. One of the aunts (maternal) was cremated on Thursday in Subeha village under heavy police presence.

Another team of CBI officers rushed to Sitapur jail where accused Kuldeep Singh Sengar is lodged. BJP expelled the MLA from the party today.

CJI orders inquiry into delay by Supreme Court registry in processing Unnao rape victim’s letter

An enquiry will be conducted by Secretary General, under the supervision of a sitting Supreme Court judge nominated by the CJI, on whether any lapse or negligence by registry officials caused the Unnao victim’s letter to reach the CJI late.

Supreme Court registry had informed CJI Ranjan Gogoi that the delay in dealing with the letter written by the survivor and her family to the CJI was not deliberate. The registry receives more than 5,000 letter petitions a month. Last month, it received 6,800 letter petitions, secretary-general told the Supreme Court on Thursday.

Explaining the delay in delivering letter from the survivor in the Unnao case was not deliberate, the secretary-general told the Supreme Court that letter petitions are screened as per Supreme Court judgment. Registry was in the process of screening when it came to know from reports that the survivor had written to the CJI. The secretary-general of the registry further said that immediately, the letter was traced and placed before Ranjan Gogoi. “The delay was not deliberate,” Secretary-General to Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court then ordered an inquiry to be conducted by the secretary-general within seven days, under supervision of a sitting judge of the apex court, who will be nominated by CJI Ranjan Gogoi, into whether there was any lapse or negligence by registry officials in processing the letter of the Unnao rape victim to Gogoi.

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Air India sacks Phuket-Delhi flight pilot after failing drug test

Air India has terminated the Phuket-Delhi flight pilot after a confirmatory test found a psychoactive substance following the August 4 incident.

Published

18 mins ago

September 4, 2026

APNLive Desk

Air India has terminated the employment of the pilot-in-command of a Phuket-Delhi flight after he tested positive for a psychoactive substance.

The pilot was in command of flight AI2379, which was travelling from Phuket to Delhi on August 4 when the aircraft suddenly lost altitude over Odisha. The incident left 24 passengers injured.

Air India said the termination was in line with its zero-tolerance policy regarding safety violations and regulatory requirements.

Air India terminates pilot with immediate effect

In a statement, the Tata-owned airline said the pilot-in-command had tested positive for a psychoactive substance.

The airline said that, considering its zero-tolerance approach to violations related to safety, fitness and regulatory requirements, the pilot’s employment had been terminated with immediate effect.

Air India also said it continues to cooperate fully with the investigation into the incident and has provided access to relevant operational, maintenance and technical records.

What happened on the Phuket-Delhi flight?

According to the preliminary findings of the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), the Airbus A320 was carrying 145 people when it experienced the near-simultaneous loss of all three hydraulic systems while cruising at around 36,000 feet.

The technical failure resulted in the autopilot disconnecting and triggered a brief stall warning. The aircraft subsequently lost altitude, resulting in injuries to 24 passengers.

The preliminary report also noted that the pilot tested non-negative for a psychoactive substance in a confirmatory test.

However, the report did not establish that the pilot’s drug-test result caused or contributed to the hydraulic system failure or the subsequent loss of altitude.

AAIB recommends action over psychoactive substance finding

The AAIB described the confirmation of psychoactive substance use as a serious concern and recommended that the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) take appropriate action against the pilot on priority.

The investigation into the technical and other aspects of the incident is still underway.

The preliminary report also noted that the co-pilot was flying the aircraft when the incident occurred and attempted to bring the situation under control.

Air India said safety remains its highest priority and that its pilots undergo training, proficiency checks, medical examinations and other regulatory assessments in accordance with applicable requirements.

India News

India offers forensic DNA support to identify Nepal flood victims

India will make forensic laboratory facilities available for DNA profiling of first-degree relatives of people missing after Nepal’s August 26 flash floods.

Published

5 hours ago

September 4, 2026

APNLive Desk

India has offered forensic laboratory support to help identify people who remain missing after the devastating flash floods in Nepal.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said central and state forensic laboratories in India will make their DNA profiling facilities available for first-degree biological relatives of people missing after the August 26 flash floods in Nepal.

DNA samples can be provided by relatives in India

According to the MEA, first-degree biological relatives living in India can have their biological samples collected and DNA profiles prepared.

The relatives can include a person’s father, mother, son, daughter or sibling. DNA profiling can be carried out at Central Forensic Science Laboratories (CFSLs), State Forensic Science Laboratories (SFSLs), laboratories of the National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU), and NABL-accredited laboratories with DNA profiling capabilities.

The initiative is intended to support Nepal’s ongoing process of identifying mortal remains recovered after the flash floods.

DNA profiles to be compared with unidentified remains

The MEA said the DNA profiling may use Autosomal STR DNA profiling, as advised by Nepal Police, subject to the technical requirements communicated by the Nepali authorities.

Once prepared, DNA profiles and the preliminary information required by Nepalese authorities can be sent to Nepal Police by email for comparison with DNA profiles obtained from unidentified mortal remains.

The Indian Embassy in Kathmandu will also facilitate coordination, with copies of the DNA profiles to be shared with the embassy for this purpose.

Nepal flood death toll rises

The death toll from the flash floods has risen to at least 1,259, according to Nepalese authorities, after rescue workers recovered additional bodies from affected areas.

More than 12,000 people have been rescued, while around 5,000 people remain missing as search and rescue operations continue.

The flash floods, which followed an ice-rock avalanche near the Nepal-Tibet border, caused extensive destruction across towns and villages in northern and central Nepal.

India News

PM Modi hails ISRO after successful GSLV-F17 launch, calls it proud moment

PM Modi congratulated ISRO after GSLV-F17 successfully launched EOS-05, calling the achievement a proud moment for India.

Published

10 hours ago

September 4, 2026

APNLive Desk

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday congratulated the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) after the successful launch of the GSLV-F17 rocket carrying the EOS-05 Earth observation satellite, describing the achievement as a proud moment for the nation.

The GSLV-F17 lifted off at 2:55 a.m. IST from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. The EOS-05 satellite was subsequently placed into its designated sub-geosynchronous transfer orbit.

PM Modi praises ISRO’s growing capabilities

In a post on X, PM Modi said the successful mission reflected the excellence, innovation and expanding capabilities of India’s space sector.

Yet another outstanding achievement by ISRO and a proud moment for our nation.

The successful launch of GSLV-F17 carrying EOS-05, India’s first-ever imaging satellite from Geosynchronous orbit is a reflection of the excellence, innovation and growing capabilities that define… https://t.co/fXzwnSmwAF
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 4, 2026

He also highlighted the growing partnership between ISRO and Indian industry, saying it was strengthening India’s space programme and expanding capabilities across the wider space ecosystem.

The prime minister described the successful launch of GSLV-F17 carrying EOS-05 as another outstanding achievement by ISRO and a matter of national pride.

EOS-05 strengthens earth observation capabilities

According to the report, EOS-05 is India’s first-ever imaging satellite from geosynchronous orbit. The satellite is designed to provide continuous observation of the country from an altitude of nearly 36,000 km above Earth.

The mission is expected to strengthen India’s earth observation capabilities and support advanced imaging and observation applications.

ISRO Chairman Dr V Narayanan expressed satisfaction with the mission, saying the satellite was precisely injected into its intended orbit.

Mission Director Thomas Kurian described the launch as a significant milestone for the GSLV programme. He said it was the 19th flight of the GSLV and noted that EOS-05 is the heaviest satellite the launch vehicle has placed into a geosynchronous transfer orbit or sub-GTO orbit.

GSLV-F17 launch vehicle details

The GSLV-F17 stands 51.7 metres tall and has an approximate liftoff mass of 420.5 tonnes.

Science and Technology Minister Jitendra Singh also congratulated the ISRO team following the successful mission. He described EOS-05 as a state-of-the-art Earth observation satellite capable of advanced imaging across visible, infrared, multispectral and hyperspectral bands.