Karnataka HC stays probe into sexual harassment case against Malayalam film director Ranjith
Bengaluru, Dec 11: The Karnataka High Court has stayed further investigation in a sexual harassment case filed against renowned Malayalam film director Ranjith, after observing that the allegations appeared to be fabricated.
The complainant claimed he was sexually assaulted by Ranjith at the Taj Hotel near Bengaluru International Airport in 2012. However, the High Court noted that the hotel began operations only in 2016, rendering the allegations factually untenable.
"The complaint, on its face, is false. The Taj Hotel near Bengaluru International Airport began operations in 2016, which is four years after the alleged incident. This information is in the public domain. Therefore, the vivid description provided by the complainant is demonstrably false and amounts to a deliberate falsehood," Justice M Nagaprasanna stated.
Additionally, the court highlighted the unexplained delay in filing the complaint, which was registered in 2024, a full 12 years after the purported incident. "The delay of 12 years remains entirely unexplained. This makes it a textbook case of falsus in uno, falsus in omnibus (false in one thing, false in everything)," the judge remarked.
The First Information Report (FIR) was filed under Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code (unnatural offences) and Section 66E of the Information Technology Act, 2000.
The complainant, who identified himself as an aspiring actor, alleged that Ranjith had invited him to a hotel room and subjected him to sexual harassment.
Representing Ranjith, senior advocate Prabhuling Navadgi and advocate Joseph Anthony argued for the stay of further investigation.
The case is scheduled to be revisited on January 17.
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Centre further tightens wheat stock limit for wholesalers, retailers & processors
New Delhi: The government on Wednesday further tightened wheat stock holding norms for wholesalers, small and big chain retailers, and processors to curb hoarding and check price rise.
"As part of continuous efforts to moderate prices of wheat, the central government has decided to revise the wheat stock limit applicable until 31st March 2025," the food ministry said in a statement.
According to the revised norms, wholesalers are now allowed to maintain wheat stock up to 1,000 tonne instead of 2,000 tonne, retailer can hold 5 tonne for each outlet instead of 10 tonne, while big chain retailer can hold 5 tonne for each outlet instead of 10 tonne earlier.
Processors will be allowed to maintain 50 per cent instead of 60 per cent of their monthly installed capacity multiplied by the remaining months till April 2025.
The stock limits on wheat were first imposed on June 24 and later revised to tighten the norms on September 9 in order to manage the overall food security and to prevent hoarding and unscrupulous speculation.
The ministry said all wheat stocking entities are required to register on the wheat stock limit portal (https://evegoils.Nic.In/wsp/login) and update the stock position every Friday.
If the stocks held by entities are higher than the prescribed limit, they should bring the quantity to the prescribed stock limits within 15 days of the issue of the notification.
Any entity which is found to have not registered on the portal or violates the stock limits will be subject to suitable punitive action under the Essential Commodities Act,1955.
The food ministry is maintaining close watch over the stock position of wheat to control prices and ensure easy availability in the country.
