SC refuses to hear plea against temporary release of Gurmeet Singh
New Delhi (PTI): The Supreme Court on Friday refused to hear a plea of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) against the temporary release of Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Singh.
A bench of Justices B R Gavai and Prashant Kumar Mishra had a plea before them challenging the Punjab and Haryana High Court order.
The bench noted Singh's counsel objection to the maintainability of the PIL before the high court, which it disposed of, on the ground that it was filed against a single person, who was Singh.
"In that view of the matter, we are not inclined to consider the present petition," the bench said.
Singh is serving a 20-year jail term for raping two of his disciples.
The SGPC moved the apex court against a August 2024 order of the high court.
The high court disposed of the SGPC's PIL observing in case an application was filed by Singh for temporary release, the same should be considered by the competent authority without any "arbitrariness or favourtism".
It was alleged that the state of Haryana, while granting temporary release to Singh, was misusing its powers under Section 11 of the Haryana Good Conduct Prisoners (Temporary Release) Act, 2022.
The SGPC counsel alleged authorities granted paroles or furloughs to Singh repeatedly for the maxium period between 2022 and 2024.
Singh's counsel said the PIL filed before the high court in 2023 was only against the Dera Sacha Sauda chief.
"It is only directed against me (Singh)," his counsel said, indicating a political rivalry.
The top court took note of the high court saying if an application was made by Singh for his temporary release, it would be "considered strictly in accordance with the provisions of the Act of 2022" without "arbitrariness or favoritism or discrimination".
The SGPC's counsel said despite the high court order, Singh was granted parole in January this year.
"Challenge that now and file a contempt petition before the high court that they (authorities) have committed a contempt of the high court's order," the apex court observed.
In 2017, Singh was sentenced to a 20-year imprisonment for allegedly raping two disciples.
On January 3, the apex court agreed to examine the CBI's appeal against the acquittal of Singh and four others in the 2002 murder of Ranjit Singh, a former manager of the sect.
In May last year, the high court acquitted Singh and four others in the murder case, citing "tainted and sketchy" probe in the matter.
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Rupee falls 28 paise to 94.77 against US dollar in early trade
Mumbai (PTI): The rupee depreciated 28 paise to 94.77 against the US dollar in early trade on Thursday as market sentiment took a dramatic turn after reports emerged that the US and Iran are discussing a 14-point Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) aimed at reducing tensions and reopening negotiations.
Forex traders said Brent oil prices, which had fallen to USD 98 on the US-Iran peace deal, edged slightly higher to USD 101 per barrel after investors weighed the prospects for a Middle East peace deal.
Moreover, factors such as unabated foreign capital outflows amid rising geopolitical uncertainties further dented investor sentiment.
At the interbank foreign exchange market, the rupee opened at 94.77 against the US dollar, registering a fall of 28 paise over its previous close.
On Wednesday, the rupee appreciated 69 paise to close at 94.49 against the US dollar.
"Markets are currently focused on the critical 48-hour window during which the US expects Tehran’s formal response through Pakistani mediators," said CR Forex Advisors MD Amit Pabari.
US President Donald Trump on Wednesday threatened Iran with more bombing if it doesn't reopen the Strait of Hormuz, amid a report that the warring sides were nearing an agreement to end the war.
US media outlet Axios reported, quoting US officials and two other sources, that the US and Iran were getting close to a one-page memorandum of understanding to end the war and set a framework for more detailed nuclear negotiations.
The US expects Iranian responses on several key points over the next 48 hours, Axios reported, adding that nothing has been agreed yet. This was the closest the parties had been to an agreement since the war began.
Meanwhile, the dollar index, which gauges the greenback's strength against a basket of six currencies, was trading at 98.01, down 0.01 per cent.
Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, was trading higher by 0.65 per cent at USD 101.83 per barrel in futures trade.
On the domestic equity market front, the 30-share benchmark index Sensex declined 160.24 points to 77,798.28 in early trade, while the Nifty was down 30.25 points to 24,300.70.
Foreign Institutional Investors offloaded equities worth Rs 5,834.90 crore on Wednesday, according to exchange data.
On the domestic macroeconomic front, the country's goods and services exports rose 4.6 per cent to an all-time high of USD 863.11 billion during 2025-26, up from USD 825.26 billion in 2024-25, despite global economic uncertainties, according to revised commerce ministry data.
Merchandise exports grew 0.93 per cent to USD 441.78 billion in the last fiscal year from USD 437.70 billion in 2024-25, the data showed.
