Cases with court-monitored probe showed better outcome: Supreme Court judge
Mumbai: Cases in which probe was being monitored by courts have shown a better outcome, Justice Dhananjaya Chandrachud has said, while making an observation regarding the acquittal of all the accused in the Pehlu Khan lynching case.
"We see this repeatedly... This is one of the great torments of being a judge to have to decide on the basis of evidence as it stands," the Supreme Court judge said at an event here on Saturday.
"And then you find the investigation by the police has been woefully inadequate either deliberately or just as a matter of incompetence, that it is going to result in acquittal," he said when asked about the acquittals in the case.
All six accused in the Pehlu Khan lynching case were acquitted last Wednesday by a court in Rajasthan after getting the benefit of doubt due to "serious shortcomings" in the police probe.
"Cases where courts have been approached at an appropriate stage and have been able to monitor (the) investigation have perhaps shown better outcome," Justice Chandrachud said.
He cited the example of the Kathua rape-murder case, where the apex court had taken a number of steps to ensure the investigation was not "deflected".
The top court judge, however, added there were limitations to the number of cases that could be monitored by courts.
Delivering a lecture on 'Imagining Freedom through Art', Justice Chandrachud said freedom had become an avenue to spew venom on those who think, speak, eat, dress and believe differently.
"The danger lies when freedom is suppressed -- whether by the state, by the people or even by art itself," he said. "Ironically, a globally-networked society has rendered us intolerant of those who don't come conform."
"We are facing a world of intolerance where art is suppressed, defaced or co-opted," Justice Chandrachud said, adding that art grants voice and narratives to the oppressed communities, and resists the majoritarian hegemony.
"Art invites us to explore the crevices of our mind, instigating self reflection on how we as individuals can make our society a better and kinder place," he added.
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Real Madrid fines Valverde and Tchouaméni half a million euros each for altercation
Barcelona (AP): Real Madrid slapped players Federico Valverde and Aurélien Tchouaméni with half-a-million-euro ($588,000) fines on Friday for their altercation during practice.
The massive fines came a day after the midfielders tussled when the team trained. Valverde said in a post on social media on Thursday that no punches were thrown. But Valverde knocked his head on a table and he suffered a small cut that required a brief hospital visit.
On social media, Valverde initially called it a “meaningless fight” with a teammate and said “everything has been blown out of proportion."
His employers, however, considered it a significant enough breach of team discipline to nail both Valverde and Tchouaméni with fines that bite even the bank account of a top soccer player. The half-a-million euro penalties reflect the reputational damage the club was enduring in a chaotic end to a disappointing season.
In a statement, the 15-time European champion said its disciplinary action was concluded after both players expressed to the club “their complete remorse for what happened and apologized to one another.”
Madrid added they also apologized to their teammates, the coaching staff and club supporters, as well as showing their willingness to accept whatever disciplinary action the club deemed “opportune.”
Tchouaméni was back training with Madrid on Friday, two days before they play at Barcelona in a clasico. Madrid has to win otherwise Barcelona will be crowned La Liga champion.
After being notified of the fine, he posted a public apology to the club and its fans on social media.
“What happened this week in training is unacceptable,” Tchouaméni wrote. "I say this while thinking about the example we are expected to set for young people, whether in football or at school.
“Above all, I am sorry for the image we projected of the club.”
Valverde was not at practice due to the head knock.
Both players are set to play in the World Cup next month, with Tchouaméni playing for France and Valverde for Uruguay.
Chaotic end to a poor season
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The run-in between the players, who for seasons have played side by side in Madrid's midfield, came after they argued this week in previous training sessions. But tempers boiled over on Thursday. Spanish media was rife with reports that the players previously disagreed over the club's decision to let coach Xabi Alonso go after just months on the job.
It was not the only altercation involving Madrid players during training this week. Álvaro Carreras confirmed he was in a “minor” incident with a teammate. Spanish media said he and fellow defender Antonio Rüdiger got into a scuffle.
Álvaro Arbeloa, the coach who was promoted from Madrid's reserve team when Alonso was fired in January, will face tough questions on what went wrong inside the changing room when he gives a press conference on Saturday ahead of the clasico at Camp Nou.
Madrid is facing a second consecutive campaign without a major trophy amid rumors in the Spanish media that club president Florentino Pérez is considering bringing back Jose Mourinho to straighten out his underperforming team.
