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Introduction The Bombay High Court has acquitted Nigerian national Mathew Okako Okofor , who spent over eight years in custody under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 (NDPS Act). The Court overturned his 2022 conviction after finding that the mandatory procedure for sampling seized narcotics—as required under Section 52A of the NDPS Act —was not followed by the investigating agency. This ruling reinforces the judiciary’s insistence on strict compliance with procedural safeguards in NDPS cases, given the stringent punishments involved. Case Background and Arrest Circumstances of Arrest On August 2017 , the Anti-Narcotics Cell’s Azad Maidan Unit arrested Okofor near the Dongri Bridge at Wadi Bunder, Mumbai. According to police officers: Five Nigerian nationals were seen standing near the bridge “suspiciously”. Four escaped; Okofor was apprehended. A rexine bag in his possession allegedly contained a packet of white powder , identified as mephedrone ....

Introduction Surendra Koli, one of the two men accused in the infamous 2006 Nithari killings, walked out of Luksar Jail on Wednesday evening after 18 years in custody. His release came a day after the Supreme Court acquitted him in the last pending case against him, closing a legal saga that had shocked the nation with allegations of child murders, sexual assault, and even cannibalism. The acquittal marks a crucial moment for India’s criminal justice system, raising questions about flawed investigations, procedural lapses, and wrongful incarceration. Koli’s Release from Luksar Jail Koli, now 49, stepped out of Luksar Jail at 7:16 pm, dressed in a powder-blue shirt, black pants, and a navy jacket. Jail officials, including Superintendent Brijesh Kumar, described him as calm and emotionless upon receiving the release order. No family members were present; only three lawyers accompanied him. During his imprisonment at Luksar Jail, Koli maintained a quiet routine. He woke up at 5:30 a...

Nearly two decades after one of India’s most horrifying crime sprees shocked the nation, the families of the Nithari victims have once again been gripped by despair. As the Supreme Court reserved its verdict in the last pending case against Surendra Koli , one of the two main accused, its remarks suggesting that upholding his conviction would be a “travesty of justice” have reignited old wounds in Noida’s Nithari village . Families React: ‘We Have Lost All Hope’ For the families who lost their children in the 2006 Nithari killings , the recent court developments have reopened painful memories. A 63-year-old father , whose 10-year-old daughter’s remains were recovered from the now-infamous D-5 bungalow in Sector 31 , said: “My daughter went missing while returning from school. Since then, I fought for justice, selling everything I had. But now, we have lost all faith. Only God can punish the killers of my child.” His wife added that she had foreseen the collapse of the case wh...

  Sambhal Dispute: Supreme Court Intervenes on Controversial Well Outside Mosque In a significant development, the Supreme Court of India directed the Sambhal Nagar Palika in Uttar Pradesh not to act on its notice concerning a well situated outside the Shahi Jama Masjid in Sambhal. This direction, issued on Friday, aims to ensure the maintenance of peace and status quo in the area. SC Stresses on Maintaining Harmony A bench led by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar issued a notice to the Uttar Pradesh government, asking it to submit a status report within two weeks . This was in response to an application filed by the Committee of Management of Shahi Jama Masjid, which raised concerns over the potential misuse of the well for purposes other than its original intent. Mosque Committee’s Appeal The committee requested the District Magistrate to maintain the status quo concerning the private well located near the mosque’s entrance. Senior advoca...