Friday, March 13
The Indian government has appointed Solicitor General Tushar Mehta to lead a team of special public prosecutors for the trial of Tahawwur Rana, a key conspirator in the 26/11 Mumbai attacks. Rana was extradited from the US and arrested by the NIA in Delhi. He faces charges related to the larger conspiracy behind the Lashkar-e-Taiba orchestrated attacks.
The Supreme Court has affirmed Munna Shukla's life imprisonment for the 1998 murder of Brij Bihari Prasad. Shukla and Mantu Tiwari's review petitions were dismissed. The court upheld their conviction under IPC Section 302. However, the acquittal of five others, including Surajbhan Singh, was maintained. The CBI had alleged a conspiracy to murder Prasad that was planned in Beur Jail, where several accused were lodged before the killing.
Atal Pension Yojana (APY) has garnered over 7.65 crore subscribers, accumulating a corpus of Rs 45,974.67 crore by April. The scheme, launched in 2015 to address retirement security for unorganised workers, sees increasing participation from women, now comprising about 48 per cent of subscribers. APY offers fixed monthly pensions and is administered by PFRDA, aiming for "Pension for All."
Prime accused Sanjay Roy, maintaining his innocence, claims he has been framed in the rape and murder case of a doctor at RG Kar Medical College. The CBI lawyer advocates for the highest penalty. Roy, a civic volunteer, was convicted under multiple sections, with the crime causing nationwide protests and reaching the Supreme Court.
West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee demands capital punishment for Sanjay Roy, convicted of raping and murdering a 31-year-old doctor at RG Kar Medical College. The court, basing the verdict on extensive forensic evidence and testimonies, found Roy guilty. The case has sparked significant outrage and protests.
Mumbai Police arrested Shariful Islam Shehzad Mohammad Rohilla Amin Fakir, accused of stabbing Bollywood star Saif Ali Khan. Following the attack, Shehzad evaded arrest until police tracked him using CCTV footage and payment records. Shehzad is in custody, facing multiple charges, including possible international conspiracy involvement.
A Thane magistrate's investigation has found five police officers responsible for the custodial death of Akshay Shinde, accused in a sexual assault case. Shinde's family disputes the police's claim of self-defense, suggesting a staged encounter. The Bombay High Court has been urged to file an FIR, and a Special Investigation Team is set to probe further.
Donald Trump is set to be sworn in as the 60th president of the United States on 20 January. The ceremony will be held inside the Capitol Rotunda due to extremely cold weather. Major US news networks and streaming services will broadcast the event live. Here is how and where the audiences in India and the US can watch the inauguration.
Congress and BJP unite to protest against a proposed private brewery in Left-governed Kerala, alleging political motives. They criticize the government's water supply plans amidst local drinking water shortages and raise questions about the company's past and the approval process's transparency. Elapully panchayat schedules an emergency meeting to oppose the brewery.
Maharashtra’s women and child development minister, Aditi Tatkare, has urged beneficiaries of Ladki Bahin Yojana who are getting double benefits or do not qualify for the scheme to return the money. The government is working with agencies to identify ineligible beneficiaries and remove their names from the list. Over 4,000 beneficiaries have voluntarily opted out.
