The Supreme Court has granted interim bail to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in a money laundering case, but has raised concerns over his position in light of the allegations against him. The court has asked Kejriwal to make his own decision on whether he should step down from office. The decision comes after a New Delhi court extended Kejriwal's judicial custody in a corruption case linked to the alleged excise policy scam. Meanwhile, the government has declared June 25 as 'Samvidhaan Hatya Diwas' to commemorate the 1975 Emergency, but the move has been met with criticism from the Congress. In other news, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has stated that the state will appeal against the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee's directive to release water to Tamil Nadu, while the Supreme Court has dismissed a petition seeking an inquiry into the Hathras stampede.
Background: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has been embroiled in a legal battle related to two cases: money laundering and corruption. In the money laundering case, he was arrested on June 6 and remanded to judicial custody. On June 16, the Supreme Court granted him interim bail.
Interim Bail Granted: The Supreme Court raised concerns over Kejriwal's position as Chief Minister in light of the allegations against him. However, it noted that he has been in custody for a week and that the trial may take time. As such, the court granted him interim bail for four weeks.
Step-Down Decision: The Supreme Court has asked Kejriwal to decide on his own whether he should resign as Chief Minister. The court observed that this is a "moral and ethical" issue that he must consider.
Corruption Case: Separately, Kejriwal's judicial custody in the corruption case has been extended by a New Delhi court. The case is linked to the alleged excise policy scam.
Government's 'Samvidhaan Hatya Diwas' Declaration: The Indian government has declared June 25 as 'Samvidhaan Hatya Diwas' (Constitution Murder Day) to mark the 1975 Emergency. The Emergency was a period of authoritarian rule imposed by the government of Indira Gandhi, suspending fundamental rights and press freedoms. The move has drawn criticism from the Congress party, which was in power at the time.
Karnataka's Water Appeal: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has announced that the state will appeal against the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee's directive to release water to Tamil Nadu. The decision comes amid ongoing water disputes between the two states.
Hathras Stampede Petition Dismissed: The Supreme Court has dismissed a petition seeking an inquiry into the 2021 Hathras stampede at a Hindu festival. The stampede resulted in 33 deaths.
1. Why was Arvind Kejriwal granted interim bail? Answer: He was granted bail due to being in custody for a week and the likelihood of a lengthy trial.
2. What are the allegations against Kejriwal? Answer: He is accused of money laundering and corruption.
3. What is the government's significance of 'Samvidhaan Hatya Diwas'? Answer: To commemorate the 1975 Emergency, seen as a violation of constitutional rights.
4. Why is Karnataka appealing against the water directive? Answer: To protect its water resources amid disputes with Tamil Nadu.
5. Why was the Hathras stampede inquiry petition dismissed? Answer: The court deemed no grounds for an inquiry, citing previous investigation and judicial review.
King Charles and actor Idris Elba hold a summit at St James's Palace to address the devastating impact of knife crime on young people. The King was moved by the story of a campaigner who overcame his own stabbing incident by taking up boxing, and emphasized the importance of directing energy towards positive activities. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who has personally met with grieving parents of knife crime victims, shares the government's goal to halve knife crime in a decade and enact new laws such as Ronan's Law, which bans ninja swords.
The Chief Judge of Taraba State has announced the commencement of the 2025 annual vacation for the state's high courts, with a designated vacation judge to handle urgent matters. The announcement was made through an official notification in the gazette, in accordance with Order 8 Rules 2011. According to the Chief Judge, the designated vacation period will not exceed six weeks and the courts will not be sitting during this time, except for urgent matters or at the request of all parties involved. The appointment of Justice Yahaya Goje as the vacation judge was also announced in the statement.
The Kerala High Court recently dismissed a writ petition filed by a lawyer named Asif Azad, who sought directions to quash a cheque dishonour case against him. In the course of the hearing, Azad refused to argue his case, insisting that the judge, Justice PV Kunhikrishnan, should not hear it as he had imposed costs on Azad in a previous matter. The court, however, clarified that each case is decided on its own merits and that litigants cannot dictate or choose which judge hears their case, emphasizing the need to respect the roster system determined by the Chief Justice.
In a significant development, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, was granted bail by an MP-MLA Special Magistrate Court in Lucknow. Gandhi had been accused of making defamatory statements against Indian soldiers during his Bharat Jodo Yatra in 2022. He had personally appeared before the court and surrendered to seek bail, with his counsel arguing for his innocence. The bail was granted on the condition of furnishing a personal bond of Rs. 20,000 with two sureties. This comes after the Allahabad High Court had dismissed his plea challenging the defamation case and the summoning order, stating that freedom of speech and expression does not cover defamatory statements against individuals or institutions. The next hearing is scheduled for August 13.
Congress leader Udit Raj's remarks about a Dalit or OBC candidate deserving to be chosen for India's Axiom-4 space mission instead of Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla have sparked controversy. ISRO has stated that Shukla's 15-day mission in space will play a significant role in the Gaganyaan program. With the first Indian astronaut to visit the ISS set for a splashdown on Tuesday, Udit Raj's comments have raised important questions about representation in India's space exploration history.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has stated the importance of the ongoing eviction drive in the state, not only to protect the forests but also to thwart a larger conspiracy to alter the demographic profile of Upper Assam. The government has reclaimed over 160 square kilometers of land from alleged illegal settlers, with a focus on addressing both environmental and demographic encroachment. CM Sarma highlighted the recent eviction drive in Lakhimpur, revealing that many of the evictees were not landless, but already owned homes in their districts of origin.
Ever since the sudden surge in crimes across Bihar, opposition parties have been relentlessly attacking Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and his government. With over 50 murders reported in just the first 14 days of this month, the law and order situation in the state has become a major political issue. Leaders from both RJD and Congress have blamed the CM for being unable to control the situation and prioritize his own position instead. In response, the Deputy CM has hit back at the opposition, asserting that the government is taking strict measures to tackle crime and blaming past administration's actions for encouraging criminals.
In a significant milestone for Assam, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced that the government has managed to free over 12,000 hectares of land from illegal encroachment over the past four years. The efforts are seen as crucial in safeguarding the state's land, identity, and cultural fabric from the "existential threats" of infiltration and planned demographic changes. Taking to social media, Sarma highlighted that this year, over 160 square kilometers of land have been reclaimed, which accounts for almost 75 percent of Guwahati's total area.
With the crucial Bihar assembly elections on the horizon, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has announced a plan to employ one crore youth in the next five years. This decision, seen as a strategic move by the ruling NDA government, aims to counter the opposition's criticism of rising unemployment in the state. A new university dedicated to skill development, named after a renowned leader, will also be launched to equip youth with necessary skills for job opportunities. This initiative is expected to accelerate the pace of government jobs and employment in the state.
Sources have confirmed that the Bihar Cabinet meeting, scheduled for Tuesday, July 15, will focus on expanding welfare schemes and addressing the hot-button issue of reservation. With election season looming, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is expected to announce revised benefits for the youth, elderly, women, and farmers, as well as review the 65% reservation bill and push for implementation of 35% reservation for women in state jobs. The decisions made during this meeting could have a major impact on the outcome of the upcoming assembly elections.