The arrest of one Maddilety, a relative of the Deputy CM of Andhra Pradesh, has sparked controversy in Yemmiganur, Kurnool district. Maddilety, who worked as a librarian in a girls' college, was accused of molesting a student. Despite previous complaints, the college principal did not take any action, leading to a physical attack on him by the student's parents. Students are now demanding the removal of all male teachers from the college, claiming that they are being dismissed whenever they raise harassment complaints.
The MHB police have filed an FIR against Alt Balaji Telefilm and its producers, Ektaa and Shobha Kapoor, under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. This comes after a Borivali court ordered an investigation into a complaint filed by a yoga instructor alleging that obscenity and inappropriate scenes involving minors were featured in Alt Balaji's web series. The case includes charges for using children for pornographic purposes, and both the police and the producers are expected to release statements as the investigation unfolds.
In a disturbing case in the midst of ongoing protests over the Kolkata rape and murder, two men in Nalasopara have been arrested for allegedly raping a 16-year-old girl and blackmailing her with a video. The accused, Anees Shaikh and K Jain, have been charged under the BNS and POCSO Acts. IBNS promises to provide objective and well-sourced news without any ulterior motives or biases, allowing readers to form their own opinions.
The Supreme Court has deemed downloading, storing, and watching child pornography as an offence under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act. The court has set aside a previous judgment by the Madras High Court, which stated that downloading and viewing such content is not punishable. In light of this, the Supreme Court has urged the central government to change the terminology from "child pornography" to "child sexually abusive and exploitative material" and has directed other courts to refrain from using the term as well. This decision comes after a plea filed by an NGO coalition to challenge the Madras High Court's order, arguing that it would encourage child pornography and harm the well-being of children.
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar apologises for the collapse of the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj at the Malvan fort. In other news, the Bombay High Court emphasises the need for gender sensitisation among schoolchildren during the Badlapur sexual abuse case hearing and directs the SIT to invoke Section 16 of the POCSO Act. The weather bureau predicts moderate showers for Mumbai. Meanwhile, Maharashtra cabinet minister Deepak Kesarkar defends his controversial remarks on the statue collapse and demands a 100-ft statue of Shivaji in Sindhudurg.
Following the Karnataka High Court's decision to restrain the CID from arresting former chief minister B S Yediyurappa in a POCSO case, his son and State BJP President B Y Vijayendra expressed his belief that truth will prevail in the "temple of justice." He also reiterated his father's commitment to abide by the law and face the probe. This comes after a non-bailable arrest warrant was issued against Yediyurappa by a Bengaluru court on Thursday, which he had requested for more time to join the investigation.
The 2013 case involving three TV news channels broadcasting edited and obscene videos of a child and linking it to self-styled godman Asaram Bapu's rape case has taken a new turn. The original police complaint against 15 journalists involved in the case has been declared "untraceable" by the Gurugram police. The special POCSO court has directed the police commissioner to form a committee and investigate the matter, holding the erring officials accountable. Meanwhile, eight journalists have been charged and five have been cleared of charges in the case, highlighting the flaws in police investigation. Stay tuned for updates on the court's decision on July 12.
In a case involving sexual exploitation of minor girls, the Supreme Court directed the pontiff of Murugharajendra Mutt, Chitradurga to surrender and remain in judicial custody until the examination of material witnesses is completed within four months. The court also put on hold a Karnataka High Court order granting bail to the pontiff and directed the trial court to expedite the proceedings and complete them within a year. The bench made this decision after hearing arguments from both the parties and considering the sensitivity of the case.
The Karnataka High Court has granted anticipatory bail to Varun Kumar, a national-level hockey player, who is accused of raping a minor girl after promising to marry her. The court noted that the relationship between Kumar and the girl continued for four years after she turned 18 and that the allegation of using photographs to trap her seemed unlikely as she comes from a influential family. The court also noted that if Kumar is found guilty during the trial, the law will take its course, but pre-trial detention would be a serious stigma on his character.
The Delhi High Court ruled in favor of a man accused of sexual assault under POCSO Act, citing deficiencies in the prosecution's case and lack of reliability in the victim's testimony. The court emphasized the negative impact of wrongful conviction and took note of potential influencing factors in the case, including animosity and marital disputes. The case sparked debate in the High Court and highlights the need for a fair and thorough investigation before convicting someone under POCSO Act.