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Showing posts with the label Accountability

Bombay High Court Quashes Criminal Negligence Case Against Company MD: No Vicarious Liability Under IPC or BNS

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Introduction In a significant ruling clarifying the scope of criminal liability of corporate executives, the Bombay High Court has held that Indian criminal law does not recognise vicarious liability unless expressly provided by statute . The Court quashed criminal proceedings against the Managing Director and a civil engineer of a construction firm , ruling that criminal negligence cannot be presumed solely based on managerial position . The judgment reinforces a foundational principle of criminal jurisprudence: personal culpability is indispensable for criminal prosecution . Factual Background of the Case Construction Project and Incident Year of Incident : October 2017 Project : Construction of an overbridge at Wardha railway station Contractor : Someshwaraya Infrastructure, owned by Krishna Mandadi , a railway contractor Incident : A pit was dug at the construction site A two-and-a-half-year-old child , son of a labourer working at the site, drowned in the pit According to records...

Supreme Court Denies Bail in Mumbai BMW Hit-and-Run Case: “Such Boys Need to Be Taught a Lesson”

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Introduction The Supreme Court of India has refused to grant bail to Mihir Shah , the prime accused in the July 2024 Mumbai BMW hit-and-run case , making strong observations on parental responsibility, privilege, and reckless conduct. The Court’s remarks—“such boys need to be taught a lesson”—underline a growing judicial intolerance towards grave road crimes involving wealthy and influential individuals. Case Background: Mumbai BMW Hit-and-Run Incident (July 2024) Incident Details In July 2024, Mihir Shah, aged 24, was allegedly driving a BMW at high speed on Worli Sea Face Road, Mumbai , when his vehicle struck a couple riding a scooter. Victims : Pradeep Nakhwa (survived) His wife (died on the spot) Manner of Accident : After the collision, Pradeep Nakhwa was flung off the bonnet. His wife’s body was allegedly dragged for nearly two kilometres . Despite hearing screams, the accused allegedly continued driving . Post-Accident Conduct : The accused went absconding after the incident...

JPC Holds First Meeting on the 130th Constitution Amendment: Key Issues, Concerns, and Constitutional Debate

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The Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) examining the Constitution (One Hundred and Thirtieth Amendment) Bill, 2025 held its first meeting on Thursday. The sitting marked the beginning of a contentious legislative debate, with Opposition members questioning both the intent and possible implications of the proposed changes, while the committee decided on extensive consultations with stakeholders across India. Objective of the 130th Constitution Amendment Bill, 2025 The Constitution (One Hundred and Thirtieth Amendment) Bill, 2025, was introduced in the Lok Sabha on August 20, 2025. The Bill proposes that the Prime Minister, Chief Ministers, or ministers facing corruption or serious offence charges must be removed from office if they are detained for 30 consecutive days. The same rule would apply to the heads of Union Territories—Delhi, Jammu & Kashmir, and Puducherry—through two corresponding bills. The central idea is to ensure that individuals holding the highest executive a...

Delhi High Court Transfers 2017 Death Case to CBI: Strong Remarks on Delhi Police’s “Myopic” Probe

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The Delhi High Court has delivered a significant ruling in a 2017 unnatural-death case involving a 23-year-old hotel manager, Arnav Duggal. The court sharply criticised the Delhi Police for a “lackadaisical” and “myopic” investigation and transferred the matter to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). This article explains the facts, court’s findings, statutory basis, constitutional principles, and judicial precedents relevant to this case. Background of the Case Death of Arnav Duggal in 2017 Arnav Duggal, aged 23, employed as a manager at a luxury hotel, was found dead in a flat in 2017. The only person present at the time of his death was a woman with whom he was allegedly in a relationship. The Delhi Police, from the very beginning, treated the death as suicide. Petition Filed by the Mother Allegation of Faulty Investigation Arnav’s mother approached the Delhi High Court seeking transfer of the investigation from Delhi Police to the CBI. She argued: The police pre...

Political Storm in Maharashtra: BJP’s Strategic Edge Amid Pawar’s Land Deal Controversy

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I. Introduction: Politics of Power and Perception As Maharashtra inches closer to its crucial local body elections , the state’s political landscape is witnessing renewed turbulence. The Ajit Pawar–Parth Pawar land deal controversy has not only intensified intra-alliance tensions within the ruling Mahayuti coalition , but also given the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) a strategic upper hand. For the BJP, this controversy has emerged as a “handy controversy” — one that could strengthen its negotiating position in seat-sharing talks , particularly across urban centers like Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Nashik, and Mumbai . II. The Ajit Pawar Land Deal Controversy Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar finds himself under scrutiny after allegations surrounding a questionable Pune land transaction involving his son, Parth Pawar . According to government insiders, an inquiry committee headed by Additional Chief Secretary (Revenue) Vikas Kharge has been constituted to investigate the matter, wi...

RTI Act at 20: Lapses in Transparency and Accountability Continue to Haunt India’s Information System

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As the Right to Information (RTI) Act completes 20 years on October 12, 2025 , its promise of transparency, accountability, and citizen empowerment appears to be under severe strain. A new report by Satark Nagrik Sangathan (SNS) has revealed that several Information Commissions (ICs) — the institutions responsible for ensuring citizens’ access to information — are either defunct or operating without leadership , resulting in massive delays and weakened implementation. The Current State of Information Commissions According to the SNS report, two states — Jharkhand and Himachal Pradesh — have completely defunct Information Commissions , while three others , including the Central Information Commission (CIC) , and the commissions in Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh , are functioning without a Chief Information Commissioner . The situation is alarming at the central level, where the CIC — which handles appeals related to the Union Government and Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) ...

Who is Chaitanyananda Saraswati? The Self-Styled Godman Accused of Sexual Harassment

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The case of Chaitanyananda Saraswati , also known as Dr Parthasarathy , has once again brought attention to allegations of misconduct by self-styled godmen in India. The 62-year-old monk-turned-educator is accused of sexually harassing students at a Delhi-based management institute and is currently absconding, with a Lookout Circular (LOC) issued against him. The Allegations Against Chaitanyananda Saraswati On August 4, 2025 , the administrator of Sri Sharada Institute of Indian Management (Vasant Kunj, Delhi) filed a complaint against Chaitanyananda Saraswati. Following the complaint, police recorded the statements of 32 students , out of which 17 students accused him of: Sending obscene WhatsApp messages . Using abusive and derogatory language . Making unwanted physical contact . Threatening students with academic failure if they refused his advances. Many of the victims were EWS quota students , allegedly targeted because of their vulnerable position. Some stud...

Delhi High Court Questions Delhi Government Over Delay in Action on CAG Reports

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Delhi High Court Questions Delhi Government Over Delay in Action on CAG Reports The Delhi High Court has raised serious concerns about the Delhi Government's handling of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) reports, questioning its motives for delaying the process. The remarks came during a hearing involving a petition filed by BJP MLAs seeking the tabling of 14 CAG reports in the Delhi Legislative Assembly. Let’s delve into the key issues, the significance of CAG, and why this matter has become a topic of public interest. What is CAG and Its Role? The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) is a constitutional authority responsible for auditing all receipts and expenditures of the government, including public sector enterprises. Its reports hold the government accountable for the financial and operational efficiency of its departments. CAG reports are presented to the legislative assemblies, where they serve as a critical tool for legislators to debate and scruti...