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The Bombay High Court has upheld the conviction and life sentence of Murgesh Pechi Muttu, a tailor, who murdered his mother-in-law Manju Swamy in 2012 using a scissor blade. The division bench of Justices Manish Pitale and Manjusha Deshpande dismissed the appeal challenging the conviction, holding that the prosecution had proved the case beyond reasonable doubt. Case Background and Incident Narrative The incident occurred on December 19, 2012 , at a transit camp residence in Borivali, Mumbai. The deceased, Manju Swamy , intervened when the accused began assaulting his wife Asha — her daughter — shortly before Asha was to leave for her nursing shift at Arihant Hospital. During the altercation: The accused removed a sharp blade from a pair of scissors Repeatedly assaulted Swamy on the head and back Continued the attack even after she fell unconscious The victim died before reaching the hospital. The Court observed that: “The ferocity of the assault and the fact that the victim died even ...

The Supreme Court of India has expressed serious concern over the lack of sensitivity shown by several courts in cases involving sexual assault victims. Taking suo motu cognisance of an “insensitive and inhuman” judgment of the Allahabad High Court from March 2024, the Supreme Court has indicated that it may introduce comprehensive, gender-sensitive procedural guidelines applicable across all courts in the country. Background: Allahabad High Court’s Controversial March 17 Judgment The controversy began with a March 17 ruling of the Allahabad High Court which held that grabbing a minor girl’s breasts, breaking the string of her pyjama, and attempting to drag her under a culvert did not amount to an attempt to rape. The High Court downgraded the charge from attempt to rape to Section 354B IPC and certain POCSO provisions, claiming that the act had not progressed sufficiently to constitute an attempt. The Supreme Court immediately suspended this ruling, calling it “unfortunate”, “inse...

The Supreme Court of India has issued a sharply worded order addressing a shocking 16-year delay in an acid attack case pending in Delhi. Terming the prolonged pendency a “national shame,” the Court has directed all High Courts to furnish updated information on all pending acid attack trials within four weeks. The order emerged during the hearing of a PIL filed by acid attack survivor Shaheen Malik , whose own case registered in 2009 remains unresolved in a Rohini court. Background of the Case During the hearing before a Bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi , the Court expressed deep anguish over the systemic delays plaguing acid attack trials. The judges highlighted the disturbing fact that a survivor like Malik has waited 16 years for justice, calling such delays a mockery of the criminal justice system. The Court emphasised that when such delays occur even in the national capital, they reflect a nationwide systemic failure. The Bench issued notices...

Case Background A 29-year-old contractual government doctor posted in Satara’s Phaltan region was found hanging in a hotel room on the night of her death. A note left on her palm, written in Marathi, alleged that she had been raped four times by the Phaltan City Police Station sub-inspector Gopal Badane and harassed by her landlord’s son Prashant Bankar for five months. Both the accused have been arrested. Key Revelations Relationship with Accused (Prashant Bankar): Investigators found evidence of a months-long relationship between the doctor and Prashant Bankar (landlord’s son and software engineer). Call and chat records show more than 150 calls since January of the year. Marriage Proposal & Emotional Fallout: The doctor reportedly proposed marriage; Bankar refused, claiming he considered her a sister. This allegedly led to emotional escalation and frequent arguments. Rape Charge against Police Officer: The suicide note named sub-inspector Gopal Badane, alleging h...

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...

  Tripura Girl Goes Missing in Delhi: Initial Disappearance Sparks Panic 19-year-old Sneha Debnath , a student at Atma Ram Sanatan Dharma College, Delhi University , and a native of Sabroom, South Tripura , was reported missing in New Delhi on July 7, 2025 . According to her family, Sneha last contacted her mother early that morning, stating she was accompanying a friend named Pitunia to Sarai Rohilla Railway Station . Her last phone call was made at 5:56 AM , and by 8:45 AM , her mobile was switched off. Family members later learned that Pitunia never met her that day, escalating their concerns. A cab driver traced by the family confirmed he had dropped Sneha near Delhi's Signature Bridge , a location that has drawn safety concerns in recent years due to poor surveillance and insufficient CCTV coverage. Tripura CM’s Intervention and Police Response As the disappearance gained attention, Tripura Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha swiftly responded. The Tripura Chief Minister...

Mumbai Man Arrested for Raping Woman Under  Pretext of Marriage: A Rising Concern In a recent disturbing incident, Mumbai police arrested a 26-year-old man from Ludhiana, Punjab, identified as Raghav Rajesh Agarwal, for allegedly raping a woman on the false pretext of marriage. This heinous act was reportedly committed multiple times between January 2023 and August 2024. The victim and the accused initially met at an exhibition in Delhi, but the alleged deception and abuse continued until the victim sought justice. Growing Crimes Against Women: A National Crisis This case is not isolated. Just last month, the Nalasopara police arrested another man, Firoz Niyazi Sheikh, who allegedly defrauded more than 20 women under the pretext of marriage. Sheikh used fake online profiles to target widowed women, robbing them of their money and jewelry before vanishing. His arrest was the result of a meticulous police operation involving an undercover profile on an online platform. Such incidents...

Suo Moto Cognizance: Urgent Call for Justice in  Kolkata Rape-Murder Case Supreme Court Lawyers Urge Action In a deeply distressing incident, two Supreme Court lawyers, Advocates Ujjawal Gaur and Rohit Pandey, have written to Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, urging the Supreme Court to take suo moto cognizance of the horrifying rape and murder of a postgraduate doctor at Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College. The lawyers emphasized the gravity of the situation, calling for the highest court to intervene immediately. A Cry for Justice The letter sent by the advocates to the Chief Justice highlights the brutal nature of the crime and the need for urgent judicial intervention. They underscored that the judiciary is viewed as the ultimate guardian of justice, and it must act swiftly to ensure that such heinous crimes do not go unpunished. The letter also called for a strong message to be sent out, emphasizing that the dignity of women and the sanctity of life must be protected with th...