Articles by Charul Shah
No bail to accused in Advani murder plot
Rizwan Momin's bail plea was rejected by a Mumbai court, as he was accused of harbouring Chhota Shakeel's aide Zakir Shaikh and plotting to kill BJP leader Lal Krishna Advani. Momin had argued that he was not aware of Zakir's activities, but the court noted that there were 546 calls between the two during the period of the crime. The court said Momin was part of the criminal conspiracy hatched by Zakir, adding that he had arranged SIM cards for Zakir and tried to dispose of his mobile phone.
Updated on Apr 22, 2023 12:34 AM IST
Private detective acquitted of extorting IAS officer
Three people, including a private detective, have been acquitted by a special MCOCA court in Mumbai of allegedly demanding INR70m ($935,000) from senior IAS officer Radheshyam Mopalwar. The trio were arrested six years ago for allegedly demanding money from Mopalwar, with the prosecution alleging that the detective had gathered videos and audio tapes of the officer, which he threatened to share with news channels unless he was paid. The court gave the benefit of the doubt to the accused and acquitted them, saying that the prosecution failed to prove its claims.
Updated on Apr 20, 2023 12:37 AM IST
17-storey, AC Mazgaon court building to be inaugurated on April 22
The Bombay City Civil and Sessions Court bar association has passed a resolution against the shifting of 22 civil and sessions courts from the Fort court complex to the new building in Mazgaon.
Updated on Apr 20, 2023 12:29 AM IST
PNB scam: PMLA court grants bail to Nirav Modi’s close aide
The court also took into consideration that the trial was not likely to start soon. “There is no likelihood that trial in the case would commence soon,” the court said, adding, “The main accused Nirav Modi has left India and five years have lapsed since the date of registration of the offence
Updated on Apr 19, 2023 12:28 AM IST
Man gets 14-year jail term for sexually assaulting four minor girls
A man has been sentenced to 14 years in prison for sexually assaulting four minor girls in Mumbai. The girls and their mothers testified that he would touch them inappropriately and at times made them touch his private parts, with one girl saying that he subjected her to oral sex.
Updated on Apr 19, 2023 12:19 AM IST
Blood-alcohol report of Sumer Merchant can be tested only at trial: Court
The sessions court had last week rejected the bail plea of Merchant, 23. A copy of the order became available on Monday.
Updated on Apr 18, 2023 12:52 AM IST
Man cleared of POCSO case after two-and-a-half years in jail
A Bandra resident accused of sexually abusing his minor daughter has been acquitted by a POCSO court in Mumbai after spending two years and nine months in jail. The court found that the man's estranged wife had filed a false case against him, seeking divorce. The survivor did not support the prosecution's case, and the court found that the wife had a grudge against the accused. The court held that the wife had filed a false complaint against her husband and acquitted him.
Updated on Apr 16, 2023 01:02 AM IST
IIT-B suicide: Solanki wanted to leave Mumbai, police tell court
The police on Saturday sought to extend the remand of Solanki’s batchmate, Arman Khatri, who was arrested on April 9 for allegedly abetting Solanki’s suicide.
Updated on Apr 16, 2023 12:46 AM IST
Court declares education baron Shivajirao Jondhale as Varsha Khare’s biological father
City civil court in Mumbai confirms Varsha Khare's biological parents, education baron Shivajirao Jondhale and Geeta Khare, after DNA tests.
Updated on Apr 16, 2023 12:41 AM IST
Court drops murder charge, sends man to 7 years in jail for killing brother
Mushir Idris, a 23-year-old Mankhurd resident, has been convicted of culpable homicide not amounting to murder after assaulting and killing his elder brother out of anger and provocation. The murder charge was dropped, and Idris has been sentenced to seven years imprisonment. The court considered the previous conduct of the deceased, who had locked Idris out of their sewing room, and decided that his actions had caused significant provocation.
Updated on Apr 15, 2023 12:24 AM IST
Charul Shah, Mumbai
Court directs jail authorities not to strip search undertrial prisoners
A special TADA court in Mumbai has ruled that strip searching undertrial prisoners is a violation of their fundamental rights and directed prison authorities to use scanners or gadgets for searches. If a personal search is required, it should not be conducted in a humiliating manner, said judge BD Shelke. The ruling came after a complaint by Ahmed Kamal Shaikh, who claimed he was made to strip for a personal search before other prisoners and staff members. The court noted that other undertrial prisoners had made similar complaints.
Updated on Apr 15, 2023 12:24 AM IST
MCOCA court rejects Jigna Vora’s plea against bail bond
Former journalist Jigna Vora's plea seeking exemption from bail bond was rejected by the MCOCA court. She was acquitted of all charges in the J Dey murder case in May 2018 but was asked to submit a bail bond in case of appeal. The appeal was rejected by the HC and the six-month period for a further appeal to the Supreme Court lapsed. The court rejected her argument and asked why she did not file the bail bond during the appeal period.
Updated on Apr 14, 2023 08:55 PM IST
Charul Shah, Mumbai
Khatri had threatened Solanki 3 days before suicide, police tell special court
IIT-Bombay student Arman Iqbal Khatri has had his police custody extended for two days over charges of abetting his batchmate Darshan Solanki's suicide. Khatri had allegedly threatened Solanki with a paper cutter after being abused over his religion. Solanki killed himself three days later. Solanki's phone has been sent for a forensic test, and statements from other students are to be recorded. Khatri's phone has also been sent for analysis. The court has been set up to deal with cases under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
Updated on Apr 14, 2023 12:49 AM IST
Charul Shah, Mumbai
Navlakha wrote to US Court seeking clemency for Pak ISI agent: Court
The NIA has claimed that Navlakha had visited the USA three times to address “Kashmiri American Council (KAC) Conference” organised by Fai. He was in touch with the ISI agent via e-mail and sometimes via phone. Fai was arrested by the FBI in July 2011 for accepting funds from ISI and the Pakistan government – purportedly for furthering the cause of Kashmiri separatists.
Updated on Apr 14, 2023 12:47 AM IST
Ajit Pawar-linked sugar mill owes ₹487 Cr to bank: ED
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has filed its first chargesheet in the alleged financial irregularities at Maharashtra State Cooperative Bank, claiming that Jarandeshwar Sugar Mill obtained loans worth INR 826 crore from the bank, with INR 487 crore still outstanding. The ED alleged that the sugar mill was owned by companies linked to Ajit Pawar and his wife Sunetra, and criticised the sale of the mill to real estate companies, which it said had "neither the expertise nor the interest in running sugar factories for the welfare of farmers."
Updated on Apr 13, 2023 02:48 PM IST
PMLA court grants bail to Rana Kapoor in ₹200-crore loan case
Former Yes Bank CEO Rana Kapoor has been granted bail in a ₹200 crore ($27 million) loan case by a special Prevention of Money Laundering Act court in India. The court said further incarceration without a trial cannot be allowed based on the Central Bureau of Investigation's words that investigation is pending. Kapoor, however, will remain in jail as he is yet to get bail in some other cases registered against him. The Enforcement Directorate is probing money laundering charges against Kapoor in connection with six loans, amounting to ₹200 crore, which Yes Bank had given to HDIL through M/s Mack Star Marketing Private Limited between 2011 and 2016.
Updated on Apr 12, 2023 08:41 PM IST
Charul Shah, Mumbai
PMLA court rejects Hasan Mushrif’s pre-arrest bail plea
The special PMLA (Prevention of Money Laundering Act) court on Tuesday rejected the anticipatory bail plea of NCP leader Hasan Mushrif in connection with the Enforcement Directorate (ED)’s money-laundering probe into a private sugar factory controlled by his sons
Updated on Apr 12, 2023 12:37 AM IST
Woman groped in public can’t be accused of obscenity: Court
The court made this observation while rejecting an appeal filed by Mumbai police, challenging discharge of actress Shilpa Shetty Kundra from an obscenity case registered against her and American actor Richard Gere, who had kissed her at a public event in Delhi in 2007.
Updated on Apr 12, 2023 12:35 AM IST
Worli jogger accident: Sessions court rejects Sumer Merchant’s bail plea
Merchant’s speeding car hit the 58-year-old jogger, Rajalakshmi Vijay Ramakrishnan, on March 18 at Worli Sea Face. The impact was so severe that Rajalakshmi was flung several feet away and was killed on the spot
Updated on Apr 12, 2023 12:32 AM IST
Malegaon blast: NIA court issues bailable warrant against ATS officer
The ATS officer was summoned to appear before the special court on Monday, but did not turn up, claiming that there was a law-and-order situation in the area where he stayed and it was unsafe for him to leave. This was the second time when the officer failed to turn up before the court pursuant to summons issued to him.
Updated on Apr 11, 2023 01:06 AM IST
After 27 years, court orders man to hand over 2 Malabar Hill flats to elder brother
The court last week asked Hotumal Savalani and his family to vacate the flats in Sangeet Sarita building on Warden Road and handover the possession to elder brother, Gordhan Savalani within a month
Updated on Apr 09, 2023 12:30 AM IST
Extortion case: MCOCA court rejects plea of other accused questioning pardon to Danish Ahmed
A Mumbai court denied the plea of four accused in an extortion case to revoke the pardon granted to prime accused Danish Ahmed, who worked with Russian intelligence agents in arms deals along with Dawood Ibrahim's nephew. The court held that the four accused have no locus standi to question the grant of pardon.
Updated on Apr 09, 2023 12:09 AM IST
Ex-bank official gets 1-year jail term in credit fraud case
Former deputy general manager of Indian Overseas Bank has been sentenced to one year imprisonment for abuse of official position and imposing credit facilities worth INR 5 crore ($680,000) to an export firm, leading to a monetary loss to the public exchequer.
Updated on Apr 08, 2023 12:09 AM IST
ICICI Bank loan fraud case: CBI files charge sheet against Kochhars, Dhoot
Apart from the Kochhars and Dhoot, the others charged by the federal investigation agency include a relative of Dhoot and a chartered accountant.
Updated on Apr 08, 2023 12:40 AM IST
Charul Shah, Mumbai
Elgar Parishad case: NIA court rejects Gautam Navlakha’s bail plea
The Bombay high court had last month directed the special court to hear Navlakha’s bail plea again after noticing that the previous order, rejecting his bail plea, did not contain proper reasoning and the analysis for the rejection of the plea.
Updated on Apr 06, 2023 11:10 PM IST
One more witness turns hostile in 2008 Malegaon blast case
Another witness turns hostile in the 2008 Malegaon bomb blast case, claiming he was assaulted and threatened to give a statement against Lt Col Prasad Purohit.
Updated on Apr 06, 2023 12:34 AM IST
Social media influencer moves court against Shaw, seeks registration of FIR
Sapna Gill’s lawyer Ali Kaashif Khan said that she has filed a criminal complaint against Shaw and his friend Ashish Yadav before the magistrate court for assaulting her with a baseball bat. They have medical record from a government hospital along with the complaint, which is a vital piece of evidence against the cricketer, he claimed.
Updated on Apr 06, 2023 12:25 AM IST
ICICI bank case: Jail officials fail to take Dhoot’s sign on bail bond, court seeks explanation
A special CBI court issued a show cause notice to the superintendent of Arthur Road jail for failing to take the signature of businessman Venugopal Dhoot on his personal bond and cash bail when he was released on bail. Dhoot was arrested on December 26 in connection with a loan fraud case.
Updated on Apr 06, 2023 12:03 AM IST
CBI court rejects Sachin Waze’s bail plea in corruption case against Anil Deshmukh
Dismissed police officer Sachin Waze has been denied bail by a special CBI court in India. Waze had claimed that he was no longer an accused after becoming an approver in a corruption case against former home minister Anil Deshmukh. However, the CBI opposed his plea, stating that the purpose of detaining an approver in custody is to protect them from possible retaliation. Waze is the prime accused in the Antilia explosives scare and the murder of Thane trader Mansukh Hiran.
Updated on Apr 05, 2023 07:01 PM IST
Charul Shah, Mumbai
Ex-AGM of Bank of Maharashtra among 10 convicted for loan fraud; ₹5.1 cr fine imposed
The prosecution was initiated after Vikas Chhapekar – then general manager of the bank – had filed a complaint with the CBI alleging that the accused had caused a loss to the bank of ₹3.73 crore, which also included accrued interest amounting to ₹1.04 crore.
Updated on Apr 05, 2023 12:41 AM IST
