5 guarantee schemes of Congress should be treated as social welfare, cannot be called corruption: HC
Bengaluru: The Karnataka High Court on Saturday ruled that while the manifesto released by the state Congress during the 2023 assembly elections can be criticized for wrong policies, it cannot be deemed as corruption under the Representation of People Act.
A single member bench headed by Justice MI Arun dismissed an election dispute petition filed by a local voter Shashank J Sridhar challenging the election of Chamrajpet MLA Zameer Ahmed. Subsequently, the bench said that the five guarantee schemes announced by the Congress party should be considered as social welfare schemes.
The bench further stated, “alongside questioning about whether it is possible to advance the guarantees economically. Other parties will have to show how implementation of these schemes will bankrupt the state exchequer and lead to mismanagement of the state. Depending on the facts and context of the case they may be interpreted as wrong policies. However, they cannot be called corruption.”
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However, the court stated that if a candidate, their agent, or any other person associated with the campaign makes such announcements with the candidate's consent, it would constitute corruption.
The court further emphasised that voters must scurtinise whether the policies are beneficial or merely involve distributing freebies, potentially favoring one group over others. The court also clarified that under Section 123 of the Representation of the People Act, such declarations cannot be considered acts of corruption. Consequently, the petition challenging the election of Zameer Ahmed Khan solely on the grounds that the Congress Manifesto constitutes corruption was dismissed.
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Sonam Raghuvanshi, accused of killing husband during honeymoon in Meghalaya, granted bail
Shillong (PTI): A court in Meghalaya on Tuesday granted bail to Indore resident Sonam Raghuvanshi, who allegedly got her husband killed during their honeymoon in the northeastern state in 2025.
Sonam’s husband, Raja Raghuvanshi, went missing on May 23 last year during the couple’s honeymoon, and his mutilated body was found on June 2 from a deep gorge near a waterfall in Sohra area of East Khasi Hills district. Sonam and several others, including her alleged boyfriend, were arrested in the case.
"The accused has been granted bail by the court. However, necessary legal procedures are being followed and the police will continue to pursue the matter as per law," SP Vivek Syiem told PTI.
According to police, Indore-based transport businessman Raja Raghuvanshi married Sonam on May 11, 2025, in Indore, and the couple left for their honeymoon in Meghalaya on May 20.
The autopsy report of Raja Raghuvanshi indicated that he was hit twice with a sharp object on his head.
Sonam surrendered on June 8 before the police in Uttar Pradesh's Ghazipur district.
In September last year, the Meghalaya Police submitted a 790-page charge sheet, naming eight people, including his wife Sonam and her alleged boyfriend, as the accused.
