Supreme Court convicts 12 persons for killing ex-Gujarat home minister Haren Pandya in 2003
New Delhi: The Supreme Court convicted 12 persons on Friday for killing former Gujarat home minister Haren Pandya in 2003.
A bench headed by Justice Arun Mishra allowed the appeals of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Gujarat government challenging the high court order by which the convicts were absolved of murder charges in the case.
The apex court, however, dismissed a PIL filed by NGO "Centre for Public Interest Litigation" (CPIL) seeking a court-monitored fresh probe in the Pandya murder case.
It also imposed a fine of Rs 50,000 on CPIL for filing the PIL and said no further petition would be entertained in the case.
The Gujarat High Court, while acquitting the 12 persons of the charges of murder, had upheld the trial court's decision that convicted them for criminal conspiracy, attempt to murder and offences under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA).
The trial court had awarded punishment ranging from five years to life imprisonment to the convicts.
Pandya was the home minister in the then Narendra Modi-led Gujarat government. He was shot dead on March 26, 2003 near Law Garden in Ahmedabad during morning walk.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
EAM Jaishankar talks to Taliban’s acting Foreign Minister Muttaqi
appreciates his condemnation of Pahalgam attack
New Delhi: In his first ever conversation with Taliban-ruled Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Thursday appreciated his condemnation of the Pahalgam terrorist attack.
“Good conversation with Acting Afghan Foreign Minister Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi this evening. Deeply appreciate his condemnation of the Pahalgam terrorist attack,” wrote Jaishankar on social media platform X.
Jaishankar also welcomed his strong rejection of false and baseless reports aimed at creating distrust between India and Afghanistan.
He further stated that he had reaffirmed India’s traditional friendship with the Afghan people and reiterated New Delhi’s commitment to supporting their development needs. “Discussed ways and means of taking cooperation forward,” he added.
https://twitter.com/DrSJaishankar/status/1923036293656871262
Meanwhile, Muttaqi reportedly sought the Indian side’s facilitation in issuing visas for Afghan traders and patients, and called for the release and return of Afghan prisoners currently held in India,
This was the first direct political-level conversation between the two countries since the Taliban returned to power in August 2021.
