Court imposes Rs 500 fine on ex-BJP MP Brij Bhushan for false testimony, closes proceedings
Gonda (UP), Mar 18 (PTI): A local court here on Tuesday imposed a fine of Rs 500 on former BJP MP from Kaiserganj, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, while closing proceedings against him in a case related to providing false testimony.
Olympians Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik had accused Brij Bhushan of sexually abusing junior wrestlers and held a long protest at Jantar Mantar. An FIR was lodged and the former BJP MP is facing trial in the case.
Brij Bhushan has denied the charges.
According to Assistant District Government counsel (Criminal) Avneesh Dwivedi, the case dates back to 1990 when Brij Bhushan lodged an FIR at Nawabganj police station, alleging that around 4 pm on September 8, 1990, he was at his residence in Mohalla Padav with his associates when three men — Ugrasen Singh from Rudrapur Bisen, Virendra Kumar Mishra from Pandari Kripal and Ramesh Chandra Mishra from Pathakpurwa Khera Colony — arrived for a conversation.
During the discussion, Ugrasen Singh allegedly fired at him with a pistol, but he escaped unharmed.
He further said Virendra Kumar Mishra and Ramesh Chandra Mishra allegedly attacked him with a knife, causing an injury to his hand. However, intervention from bystanders led to the accused being overpowered and detained, Brij Bhushan had alleged.
Following an investigation, police filed a charge sheet against all three accused.
During the trial, two of the accused — Ugrasen Singh and Ramesh Chandra Mishra — passed away.
During his court testimony, Brij Bhushan failed to identify the remaining accused Virendra Kumar Mishra and even denied that he had attacked him.
Based on this, the defence sought Mishra's acquittal. On September 11 last year, the Additional District and Sessions Judge (Third) acquitted him.
The court then ordered a separate criminal proceeding against Brij Bhushan for giving false testimony.
The case was registered on September 17 and was presented before the Additional Sessions Judge (First).
Brij Bhushan was summoned but he failed to appear, leading to the issuance of a non-bailable warrant.
On Monday, Singh appeared in court and apologised for his absence.
The judge, Rajesh Kumar, cancelled the warrant and scheduled the hearing for Tuesday during which the court imposed a fine of Rs 500 on Singh and closed the case.
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Karnataka Assembly passes resolution against Centre's Waqf Bill amid BJP walkout
Bengaluru, Mar 19 (PTI): The Karnataka Assembly on Wednesday passed a resolution against the Centre's Waqf (Amendment) Bill amid walkout by the opposition BJP.
The resolution was moved by the Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H K Patil.
He said the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC), set up to study the amendments to the law, acted "unilaterally and arbitrarily", disregarding the longstanding traditions of Parliament and "failing" to consider the views of the opposition members.
Patil noted that the JPC has recommended specific changes to the Act and submitted a report to Parliament, with the bill now being presented for parliamentary approval.
In response to the JPC’s invitation, various stakeholders, State Waqf Boards, and institutions submitted their opinions.
Despite objections from the Karnataka State Waqf Board and other stakeholders against the amendment, the Centre chose to present the bill unilaterally, which has now been introduced in Parliament, the Minister added.
“The proposed amendment to the Waqf Act encroaches and curtails the executive and legislative powers of the state government. The proposed amendment is against the principles of "Principle of Equity, Equality and Parity". Therefore, the proposed amendment is ultra vires,” Patil said.
“This House unanimously urges the Central Government to take immediate action to respect the unanimous views of the country by immediately withdrawing the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, which contains provisions that violate the fundamental principles of the Constitution."
The BJP MLAs voiced their opposition to the bill and called it "height of appeasement".
“We oppose the resolution. This government favours Pakistan and this is height of Muslim appeasement,” a BJP legislator said.
The opposition leader R Ashoka accused the ruling Congress of "turning a blind eye" to the suffering of farmers whose land records were altered in favour of the Waqf Board.
