Popular South Indian actor Allu Arjun has been taken into custody in Hyderabad after a woman died during a premiere show of his film Pushpa 2. However, he has since been granted interim bail by the Telangana High Court with questions raised about his involvement in the tragedy. The actor's brother and father were present during his arrest and he was seen making his wife smile and bidding her goodbye before being taken into custody.
A Kolkata court has granted bail to the accused in the rape and murder case of a resident doctor, as the CBI failed to file charges within the 90-day period. The accused, former Principal Sandip Ghosh, still faces charges concerning financial irregularities at the medical college. The High Court has also ordered a probe into the alleged mishandling of key evidence by Ghosh. This comes after backlash over his resignation and immediate appointment as Principal of another college.
The High Court of Karnataka has granted bail to popular Kannada actors Darshan Thoogudeepa and Pavithra Gowda, who were accused in the Renukaswamy murder case. The court also granted bail to five other accused in the case. Senior Counsel CV Nagesh, who appeared for Darshan, argued that the prosecution had falsely implicated the actor and planted evidence against him. However, Special Public Prosecutor P Prasanna Kumar argued that the prosecution had solid evidence, including witness statements and digital footprints, placing Darshan and his co-accused at the crime scene.
In a significant development, the Supreme Court granted bail to former Rajasthan MLA Giriraj Singh Malinga, who was accused of brutally attacking a Dalit engineer. Malinga, who was a Congress leader at the time of the incident but is now in the ruling BJP, surrendered following the SC's orders. The court has kept his Special Leave Petition pending and scheduled it for further hearing after his surrender. The accused had allegedly abused the engineer and caused him physical harm over a disagreement related to his constituency. The case has sparked controversy, with the state opposing Malinga's bail and the complainant citing concerns of intimidation and influence on public opinion.
In a high-profile case, famous Kannada actors Darshan Thoogudeepa and Pavithra Gowda have been granted bail by the Karnataka High Court. The two were arrested in June for their alleged involvement in the murder of an auto-driver, Renukaswamy. However, the Court has raised questions about the prosecution's case and the alleged delays in the investigation and post-mortem report. This development comes after an interim bail was granted to Darshan in October on medical grounds.
In a case that stunned India, self-styled guru Rampal and 14 others have been sentenced to life in prison for the murder of four women and an 18-month-old baby. The victims suffocated after being locked in a room while police clashed with Rampal's supporters. Rampal, who claims to have thousands of followers, faces another murder charge and is currently out on bail for a previous murder accusation. His lawyers plan to appeal the sentence.
Spiritual leader Devkinandan Thakur has written to the United Nations, urging them to consider creating a separate country for Hindus in Bangladesh if the government cannot ensure their safety. This comes after prominent spokesperson Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari was arrested and denied bail on sedition charges, sparking protests across Bangladesh. The lack of response from the UN has sparked frustration from Thakur, who has called for international intervention to protect the rights of Hindus in Bangladesh.
A Delhi court has granted the request of Delhi Police to extend the custody of AAP MLA Naresh Balyan by one day, who was arrested on Saturday in connection with an extortion case. Meanwhile, Balyan has moved for bail, stating that the purported audio evidence against him is not verified and that his arrest is an attempt to malign him. In another development, over 160 protesting farmers, including the president of Bharatiya Kisan Parishad Sukhbir Khalifa, were arrested in Noida while participating in a ‘Dilli Chalo’ march. The agitation, which began on November 25, is now in its eighth day.
The troubles for businessman Raj Kundra, husband of famed actor Shilpa Shetty, continue as officials from the Enforcement Directorate (ED) raided his premises. This is part of a money laundering investigation connected to the alleged distribution of pornographic content. As many as 15 locations were searched, including the couple's residence, as well as properties belonging to others implicated in the case. This comes after Raj Kundra's arrest earlier this year and his subsequent release on bail.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has commented on the arrest of ISKCON saint Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari in Bangladesh, stating that her party will stand with the central government's decision on the matter. The monk was taken into custody on several charges, including sedition, prompting protests from the Hindu community. His bail plea was rejected and he was sent to prison, triggering further demonstrations. The arrest is yet another attack on the minority community in Bangladesh, which has been facing violence since the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government.