‘Truth prevailed’: Relief for Rahul, Sonia Gandhi in National Herald case; court refuses to take cognisance of ED chargesheet
NEW DELHI: Delhi’s rouse avenue court on Tuesday refused to take cognisance in proceedings arising from a fresh FIR registered in the National Herald case, observing that the Enforcement Directorate’s probe is based on a private complaint and not on any FIR. The court also ruled that leader of opposition Rahul Gandhi, former Congress president Sonia Gandhi and other accused are not entitled to a copy of the FIR at this stage. However, it allowed the ED to continue further investigation in the matter. The court noted that cognisance could not be taken as the ED’s case stems from a private complaint filed by BJP leader Subramanian Swamy and the magistrate’s summoning orders, and not from an FIR. Reacting to the court’s decision, the Congress said the proceedings initiated by the ED against its top leadership were politically motivated and legally untenable. The party said the court had found the ED’s action to be without jurisdiction, as there was no FIR, which it termed a prerequisite for such proceedings. “Truth has prevailed. The malafide and illegality of the Modi govt stands fully exposed. Proceedings of ED against the Congress leadership – Smt Sonia Gandhi Ji and Shri Rahul Gandhi Ji, in the Young Indian case have been found completely illegal and malafide by the Honourable Court,” the grand old party said in a post on X. “No case of money laundering, no proceeds of crime and no movement of property – all baseless charges that have been a part of political witch hunt, propaganda, reputation assassination and campaign which stands defeated today,” it added. The Delhi Police’s Economic Offences Wing (EOW) registered an FIR against Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and others on a complaint by the ED as part of its money laundering probe into the high-profile National Herald case. Reacting to the FIR, the Congress accused the BJP of pursuing a “politics of harassment, intimidation and vendetta” against its top leadership. The party alleged that the “Modi-Shah duo” was misusing investigative agencies and maintained that the National Herald case was “completely bogus,” asserting that justice would ultimately prevail. Rejecting these allegations, senior BJP leader and former Union law minister Ravi Shankar Prasad termed the Congress’s claims “baseless.” He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi was not in office when the private complaint was filed, pointing out that the matter dates back to 2008. “Congress is levelling false and baseless allegations. We vehemently condemn it and request them to give an account of the loot they committee instead of giving speeches… Let the law take its course.” Prasad further added, “The country should know that in the FIR filed by Delhi Police, Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi have been charged under section 120 (B) for criminal conspiracy and Section 420. The case has been filed under the old penal code because the case is old.” Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Judiciary has exposed BJP govt misusing central investigation agencies, says Stalin
Chennai: Stating that Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi stand vindicated in the National HErald Case after the Enforcement Directorate’s chargesheet against them was rejected, Chief Minister M K Stalin said the case has exposed the misuse of central agencies by BJP. Stalin said on X that the BJP misused the agencies as tools of political vendetta. “In the National Herald case, the judiciary once again exposed the Union BJP govt’s misuse of central agencies to target opposition leaders. Without any legal basis, such cases are pushed only to harass and malign political rivals.” Stalin stated that the BJP was targeting Sonia Gandhi and her family through the investigative agencies. “With truth on their side and no fear, Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi stand vindicated, even as the BJP remains hell-bent on hounding the Gandhi family for standing firm on secularism and constitutional values which it cannot tolerate,” Stalin said. The chief minister said that due to such cases, the credibility of the investigative agencies is questioned. “Time and again, this vendetta-driven approach is tarnishing the credibility of premier investigative institutions and reducing them to just being instruments of political intimidation,” Stalin said. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
National Herald case: Congress targets BJP after court relief for Rahul, Sonia Gandhi; calls for PM’s resignation
NEW DELHI: The Congress on Wednesday stepped up its attack on the BJP-led central government after a Delhi court declined to take cognisance of the Enforcement Directorate’s prosecution complaint in the National Herald money-laundering case. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge accused the Modi government of misusing central agencies to harass opposition leaders, particularly the Gandhi family. “They are doing this for political vendetta. This case is only to trouble the Gandhi family. There is no FIR in this case…Our slogan is ‘Satyamev Jayate’, and we welcome the judgment in the case…,” Kharge said. He added that the party would take the issue to the streets, alleging seven years of continuous harassment by the ED. Kharge went further, saying, “PM Modi and Shah should resign after this judgment; they shouldn’t trouble people like this.” Congress general scretary K C Venugopal said the ruling had agitated party workers nationwide, adding that the Congress would demonstrate across India to expose what it called the “systematic misuse” of the ED to target opposition leaders. Senior Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP Abhishek Manu Singhvi described the case as a textbook example of abuse of power. “The National Herald Case is proof of the misuse of central agencies. The allegations were made, but on baseless grounds… The accusations were floating in the air, but the law remained firmly on the ground,” he said. Singhvi noted that between 2021 and 2025, the ED conducted multiple questioning sessions of senior Congress leaders, including Rahul Gandhi and Kharge, which were widely publicised. Singhvi had earlier termed the matter a “National Harassment case”, rejecting allegations of money laundering against Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and others. He also accused the ED of being “colour blind”, saying, “If justice is blind, then ED is colour blind. It only sees one colour, the opposition colour.” The relief came after Special Judge Vishal Gogne of the Rouse Avenue Courts ruled that proceedings under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act were not maintainable in the absence of an FIR for a scheduled offence. The judge held that the ED’s complaint, based on a private complaint by Subramanian Swamy rather than an FIR, was “impermissible in law”. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Jharkhand: Tribal woman Nisha Bhagat shaves her head to protest against religious conversions; learn who this tribal leader is
Her main issue is the delisting of converted tribals from reservation benefits. She argues that those who convert to Christianity or other religions avail of reservation benefits but harm tribal identity. Ranchi – Nisha Bhagat, a tribal leader from Gumla district of Jharkhand, recently shaved her head. This step is part of her campaign against religious conversions. Nisha Bhagat says that tribals who have changed their religion should not get reservation benefits. She belongs to the Oraon community and is fighting to protect tribal identity, water, forests, and land. Her main issue is the delisting of converted tribals from reservation benefits. She argues that those who convert to Christianity or other religions avail of reservation benefits but harm tribal identity. Nisha Bhagat is a resident of Gumla. Her father, Handu Bhagat, was a Jharkhand movement activist who spent half his life in jail during the movement. Nisha started working on social issues at the age of 15. She was associated with the Jharkhand Loktantrik Krantikari Morcha (JLKM) and contested the assembly elections from Gumla in 2024. However, she parted ways with the party after differences of opinion. JLKM criticized her, calling her “mentally ill,” to which Nisha responded, “There was a time when they called me ‘Didi’ (elder sister), and today they are making baseless statements.” The demand for delisting is essential for the protection of tribal identity, the Sarna religion, and constitutional rights. This is a fight for existence, identity, and self-respect. — Nisha Kumari Bhagat In an interview with a local media outlet, Nisha said that the idea of shaving her head came from the inspiration of her ancestors. She says, “I was born into a tribal family, so I have a responsibility to save society, our existence, water, forests, and land.” Her main demands are: • Implementation of the PESA Act. • A separate column for the Sarna Code. • Restoration of the tribal column removed after the 1961 census. • Delisting of converted tribals from reservation benefits. She accuses missionaries of spreading superstition in the name of healing and insulting the Sarna flag. She has undertaken a foot march to Ranchi against violations of the CNT-SPTP Act and land grabbing. She also protested at Jantar Mantar in Delhi. The CNT-SPTP Act (Chota Nagpur Tenancy Act 1908 and Santhal Pargana Tenancy Act 1949) are crucial laws enacted to protect the land and identity of tribal communities in Jharkhand, prohibiting the transfer of tribal land to non-tribals and safeguarding their rights. However, there have been controversies surrounding attempts to amend these laws from time to time, as was the case in 2016-17. Nisha has faced allegations of receiving funding from the BJP-RSS. Her response: “Get it investigated, I am fighting alone. They can’t digest how a tribal girl is surviving.” She has received death threats, against which she wrote letters to the DGP, DC, SP, and Home Minister. Her photo was even sent to the Vatican. She says, “Fear is not in our nature. We are inhabitants of the forest, we are fearless.” Nisha’s family gave her the opportunity to dedicate herself to society. Her mother was raised in a Christian family, but Nisha is a Sarna follower. She says, “I was born into the Sarna faith, and I will remain so.” She is also facing opposition from her family. What is the Sarna religious code? The Sarna religion is recognized by its followers as a distinct religious group, primarily composed of nature worshippers. The core tenets of the Sarna faith revolve around “Jal (water), Jungle (forest), Zameen (land),” with followers emphasizing the conservation of forest areas and worshipping trees and hills. Unlike traditional practices, Sarna believers do not engage in idol worship and do not believe in the caste system or the concepts of heaven and hell. Most of Sarna’s followers are concentrated in the tribal belt of states like Odisha, Jharkhand, Bihar, West Bengal, and Assam. In the 2011 census, nearly 5 million followers of the nature-oriented Sarna religion declared their faith, yet the Sarna religious code is still awaiting official recognition. The number of Jains is 4.4 million, who have already been recognized as a separate religious community. The Sengel campaign, along with several tribal organizations, held protests and rail and road blockades between 2022 and 2024 demanding the Sarna religious code. A series of demonstrations were also held in Kolkata and Ranchi advocating for the recognition of the Sarna religious code. Geetha Sunil Pillai Courtesy: Hindi News
The Modi government is directly attacking Dalit rights and the Constitution: Mallikarjun Kharge
Congress President targets the BJP, saying, “Dalits’ rights in education and employment are being taken away, and there’s a conspiracy to weaken the Constitution.” New Delhi: Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday launched his sharpest attack yet on the Modi government at the center. He accused the government of weakening the Constitution and trampling on the fundamental principles of social justice, especially the rights of Scheduled Castes (SCs). Addressing the first meeting of the party’s newly formed “Scheduled Caste Advisory Committee,” Kharge said that the BJP’s policies have eroded all the achievements in the fields of education and employment, achieved through years of hard work by previous Congress governments. He expressed concern that the current regime is diluting the reservation system and attempting to justify discrimination. “We will not allow the Constitution to be weakened.” Kharge declared, “We will not allow Baba Saheb Ambedkar’s Constitution to be weakened at any cost.” He stressed that Congress will continue its fight to protect constitutional values. Turning the pages of history, he recalled that Congress began its fight against discrimination even before independence. This struggle resulted in the 1955 Civil Rights Protection Act, which criminalized untouchability. Subsequently, during Rajiv Gandhi’s tenure, the 1989 SC/ST Atrocities Prevention Act was enacted, which recognized atrocities against Dalits as an attack on social justice. Kharge explained that subsequent Congress governments further strengthened this law. They added stringent provisions such as a ban on anticipatory bail, speedy investigations, increased compensation for victims, and the establishment of special courts. Education: The Greatest Weapon of Empowerment Emphasizing the role of education in Dalit empowerment, Kharge detailed Congress initiatives. He credited the Congress with providing pre- and post-matric scholarships, hostels for Scheduled Caste students, the “Top Class Education Scheme,” and reservations in IITs, IIMs, and medical colleges. He also cited the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, the Mid-Day Meal Scheme, and the Right to Education (RTE) Act, saying these initiatives increased school enrollment and provided the country with millions of Dalit doctors, engineers, officers, and entrepreneurs. Serious Allegations Against the Current Government Kharge accused the Modi government of suppressing the voices of Dalits. He cited the suicide of Rohith Vemula, the Bhima Koregaon incidents, and alleged discrimination against Dalit students in universities. He said that the promotion of privatization, reductions in government jobs, weakening of reservations, and the decline in the recruitment of SC/ST faculty in higher educational institutions are a direct attack on social justice. He accused the government of promoting a “Manuvadi mindset,” which justifies inequality rather than ensuring equality. Recalling Ambedkar’s words, Kharge said that a society’s progress is measured by how safe its weakest members are, but the current government has completely reversed this principle. Roared at the “Vote Chor, Gaddi Chhod” rally Later, addressing the “Vote Chor, Gaddi Chhod” rally held at Ramlila Maidan, Kharge further sharpened his tone. He called those involved in alleged vote theft “traitors” and accused them of betraying the country. He called on the public to oust such forces from power to protect voting rights and the Constitution. Kharge warned that the RSS ideology would destroy the country. He appealed to the people to unite under the Congress flag, claiming that only the Congress party is capable of protecting democracy and constitutional values. Rajan Chaudhary Courtesy: Hindi News
Saharanpur: Man slits throat of woman he was living with, throws body in Haryana
Saharanpur Murder News: The accused, Bilal, murdered Dalit woman Uma by slitting her throat. The deceased, a resident of Saharanpur in Uttar Pradesh, was divorced from her husband. After killing the woman, he threw the body in Yamunanagar. In Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh, a Muslim man named Bilal murdered a Dalit woman he was living with by slitting her throat. The accused then threw the woman’s body in Yamunanagar. The discovery of the headless body of a woman on the roadside in Yamunanagar, Haryana, caused a sensation. The deceased was identified as Uma, a resident of Halalpur village in the Dehat Kotwali area of Saharanpur district, Uttar Pradesh. Uma’s parental and in-laws’ homes are located next to each other in the village. On Saturday (December 6) morning, the torso of a woman was found near the Kalesar area, with the head separated and the body unclothed. Considering the seriousness of the case, the police formed a special investigation team and proceeded with the investigation based on CCTV footage, mobile location, and other technical evidence. Facts revealed during the investigation The investigation also revealed facts related to Uma’s personal life. About 15 years ago, Uma had eloped and married Johnny, who lived in her neighborhood, and with whom she had a 13-year-old son. Johnny says that they got divorced two years ago, while Uma’s family denies the divorce. The family says that they did not have much contact with Uma after she eloped and got married. 15 years ago, Uma was in love with her neighbor Johnny, and on the day of her wedding procession, she eloped with Johnny and they got married. Everything was fine for 13 years, and then suddenly she left Johnny and started living with Bilal. Uma was in a live-in relationship Uma had been living in a live-in relationship with Bilal, a resident of the Nakur area of Saharanpur, for about two years. Meanwhile, Bilal’s marriage was arranged elsewhere. Fearing the marriage would be called off, the accused murdered Uma on Saturday night (December 6) and dumped her body in Yamunanagar to conceal her identity. The police have arrested the accused, and the investigation is ongoing. Uma’s family members left for Jagadhri after receiving the information. The Haryana Police had informed the family. They then left for Jagadhri on Monday morning (December 15). By: ABP UP Desk | Edited By: Fayaz Ul Mustafa Courtesy: Hindi News
Fire at Dalit family’s home in MP that killed two teenagers takes communal turn now; ‘love jihad’ allegations surface
Muslim youth Sonu was allegedly stalking and troubling the family’s 20-year-old daughter. BHOPAL: A fateful blaze at a Dalit family’s house in Madhya Pradesh’s Sagar district, which killed two teenage boys, has taken a communal turn ten days after the incident. Activists related to various Hindu outfits reached out to a charitable trust hospital in Sagar city on Monday, alleging that the fire at the house in Chandamau village on the intervening night of December 4-5 was ignited by Muslim youth Fahim Khan alias Sonu. Sonu was allegedly stalking and troubling the family’s 20-year-old daughter. The victim’s family members, including the mother and her elder daughter, supported the allegations of the activists in the saffron outfits. The elder daughter, a 23-year-old young woman, is currently recuperating from 60 per cent burn injuries at the same hospital, where her 17-year-old brother died on Sunday night. The mother-daughter duo alleged that Fahim Khan, who resides in the same village, was regularly troubling the younger daughter, and on being asked by the family to stay away from her, Fahim had threatened to kill the entire family. The elder of the two daughters, who is hospitalised, claimed that she had seen Fahim running away from near their house just when the blaze was triggered. While alleging it to be a ‘Love Jihad’ incident, the Hindu outfit members demanded that a case be registered against Fahim, followed by his arrest. When the incident took place, the elder daughter and her two brothers, aged 14 and 17, were present in the house. Their father, mother and their younger daughter were away when the killer blaze happened. While the 14-year-old younger son died the same night, his 17-year-old elder brother died at the charitable trust hospital in Sagar city ten days later on Sunday night. Based on the initial police investigations, which suggested that the fire was suspected to have been caused by a kind of ‘negligence’, a fire-related case was registered at the Naryawali police station on December 5. But, with the mother and elder daughter now accusing the Muslim youth of setting their house ablaze, the cops have started a fresh probe into the entire matter. “A team led by the sub-divisional officer police (SDOP) was sent to the concerned village, and a fresh probe is underway to cover all possible angles in the case, particularly following the recent statements of the family members”, Sagar district police superintendent Vikas Kumar Sahwal said on Monday. Sources privy to the ongoing probe confided to TNIE that the SC family’s younger daughter was regularly talking with the Muslim youth. Her family had caught her talking to him over the phone, after which he was asked to stay away from her. While the mother and elder daughter are alleging that Fahim had set their house on fire, the younger daughter and father are not blaming him for the inferno. Ongoing probe also suggests that Fahim had only helped the family to rush the severely burnt teenage brothers and their elder sister to the hospital. Courtesy : TNIE Note: This news is originally published on https:/thenewindianexpress.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Man convicted of raping mentally challenged Dalit woman sentenced to life imprisonment: Court also imposes a fine of one lakh rupees, with additional sentence for non-payment
Firozabad. In a case of rape of a mentally challenged Scheduled Caste woman, the court has sentenced the convict to life imprisonment. He has also been fined one lakh rupees. If the fine is not paid, the convict will have to serve an additional one-year sentence. This case is from the Nagla Singhi area and came to light in 2023. The complainant filed an FIR on October 13, 2023. She stated that her 24-year-old niece had gone to the field to graze goats in the afternoon. Around 4 pm, she received information that her niece was lying injured in the field. She was immediately admitted to the government trauma center. Based on the investigation and statements, an FIR was registered against Vipin Yadav alias Vipan of the village under sections of rape, the SC/ST Act, and other relevant sections. The police later arrested Vipin during an encounter. The investigating officer completed the investigation and filed a charge sheet against him in court. The case was heard in the court of Special Judge (SC/ST Act) Navneet Kumar Giri. ADGC Narendra Singh Solanki represented the prosecution. After considering all the evidence and arguments, the court declared Vipin Yadav guilty. The court also ordered that 50 percent of the fine amount be given to the victim as compensation. It is noteworthy that Vipin Yadav was arrested in an encounter after the incident. During this time, action was also taken against him under sections of attempted murder and the Arms Act. However, the court acquitted him of the charges under the sections of attempted murder and the Arms Act. Arun Kumar Rawat Courtesy: Hindi News
Dalit woman thrashed & molested by farmer, his sons over flagging ‘irregularities’ in income cert
Pilibhit: A 28-year-old Dalit woman from a village in Pilibhit district was allegedly abused with casteist slurs, brutally beaten and molested in front of her paralysed husband by a farmer of the same village and his two adult sons, police said. The incident took place around 8 pm on Friday, following which an FIR was registered on Saturday morning. In her complaint, the woman stated that she had approached the Bareilly divisional commissioner on Oct 8 this year, alleging irregularities in the income certificate obtained by the main accused. She claimed that despite owning over five acres of agricultural land, a fishery farm and two tractors, the accused had procured an income certificate showing his annual income as only Rs 45,000. Police said that after an inquiry was ordered into the complaint, the accused and his sons allegedly barged into the woman’s house in retaliation. The woman said that the main accused knocked her to the ground, assaulted her and subjected her to criminal force with intent to outrage her modesty. She also alleged that she was threatened with dire consequences. The complainant further stated that the dispute had its roots in rivalry over the selection of an Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) worker. Both the complainant and the accused’s daughter had applied for the post last year, but the complainant was dropped, and the accused’s daughter was selected in April this year. Police said the complainant had been keen on securing the job to support her family, particularly in view of her husband’s paralysed condition. SHO Vipin Shukla said the accused trio has been booked under BNS Sections 333 (house trespass after preparation for hurt), 352 (intentional insult), 115(2) (voluntarily causing hurt), 74 (criminal force to a woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 351(2) (criminal intimidation) and relevant provisions of the SC/ST Act. Investigation is underway. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
‘Rahul ji himself says daro matt…’: Ex-MLA Mohammed Moquim’s first reaction after Congress expulsion; what he said
NEW DELHI: Former Congress MLA Mohammed Moquim reacted to his expulsion from the party on Monday, defending his move to write to Sonia Gandhi expressing dissatisfaction with the party leadership, citing recent electoral losses. He cited Rahul Gandhi’s suggestion of “daro matt (don’t be scared)” and said that he had “told the truth to the party’s high command” but had to be expelled. “I came to know that I have been expelled from the party. I had taken the right step after due deliberation. We are such a big party but we are unable to connect to people in every state. We are unable to win. Congress is minimising. So, as a true Congress worker, I thought that if the high command is not meeting us and we are unable to communicate with them,” he said. “So, I expressed my thoughts to Sonia ji through a letter. The truth and the need to reform the party – I just gave her a suggestion. Later, it came in the media and when they asked me I told them the truth. Rahul ji himself says ‘daro matt’…I told the truth to the party’s high command but had to be expelled,” Moquim added. — ANI (@ANI) Congress party cited “anti-party” activities as the reason behind his expulsion. “This is for the information of all concerned that AICC has approved the proposal for the expulsion of Sri Md. Moquim from the primary membership of the party, due to anti-party activities,” the notice issued by Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) said. In the letter, Moquim had urged Sonia to bring forward “young leaders”, as the party was going through a “difficult phase”. “The recent outcomes in Bihar, Delhi, Haryana, Maharashtra, and Kashmir, where our defeats were by staggering margins, are not just electoral setbacks; they reflect a deeper organisational disconnect,” the letter said. “A series of wrong decisions, misguided leadership choices, and the continued concentration of responsibility in the wrong hands have weakened the Party from within. Rather than correcting these errors, we appear to be repeating them and the consequences are now visible to the entire nation,” the letter added. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights