Madras High Court questions basis of Shobha Karandlaje’s allegation on Rameshwaram Cafe Blast
Chennai: The Madras High Court on Wednesday sought clarification from Shobha Karandlaje, Union Minister of State for Labour and Employment, regarding her allegation that the bombers involved in the Rameshwaram Café blast in Bengaluru on March 1 were trained in Tamil Nadu.
Justice G Jayachandran, who presided over the hearing of Karandlaje's petition to quash the FIR filed against her by the Madurai City Cybercrime Police, questioned the minister about the basis of her claims. The FIR was lodged following a complaint by a local resident who objected to the minister's allegations.
The judge pointed out that Karandlaje made the allegations about the bombers' training before the National Investigation Agency (NIA) conducted searches in Chennai. He indicated that this timing suggested Karandlaje had prior knowledge of details related to the bombing, including the identities and activities of the bombers and their trainers. Justice Jayachandran emphasized that if Karandlaje had such information, she should have disclosed it to the police as a responsible citizen but had failed to do so.
Karandlaje's advocate, R Hariprasad, argued that the FIR was politically motivated and sought an interim injunction to prevent the police from continuing the investigation. However, the public prosecutor, KMD Muhilan, opposed the request for an interim injunction. Muhilan urged the court to view the video clip in which Karandlaje made her comments about the blast. He noted that the NIA's investigation had not implicated any individual or organization from Tamil Nadu, yet the minister publicly made the unfounded allegation.
After reprimanding Karandlaje for her statements, the Madras High Court adjourned the case to Friday, July 12.
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HC orders preservation of Sunjay Kapur's assets on plea by Karisma Kapoors' children
New Delhi (PTI): The Delhi High Court on Thursday directed preservation of the assets of late Sunjay Kapur, ruling that all "suspicious circumstances" raised by the industrialist's children from his marriage with actor Karisma Kapoor have to be completely removed by his third wife, Priya Kapur, before the acceptance of his purported last will.
Justice Jyoti Singh passed the interim order on an application filed by Karisma Kapoor's children to restrain Priya Kapur from alienating their father's assets, reportedly worth Rs 30,000 crore.
The interim application was filed in a suit by the children, challenging their late father's purported will of his assets.
"Having heard and on examination of the material on record, I have the considered view that all legitimate suspicious circumstances raised by the plaintiffs will have to be completely removed by defendant number one (Priya Kapur) before the document is accepted as the last will," the judge said.
"Plaintiffs have made out a prima-facie case that the assets which are subject matter need to be protected, preserved, pending disposal of the suit," she added.
Justice Singh ordered that the equity shareholdings in the three Indian companies of the deceased cannot be changed and also restrained the disposal of his personal effects, including artwork.
The court said if the assets are not preserved and Priya Kapur ultimately fails to prove the validity and genuineness of the will, the deceased's children from his marriage with Karisma Kapoor -- his second wife -- and his mother Rani Kapur would be deprived of their legitimate shares.
"I have restrained from alienating, transferring, pledging, liquidating or in any other manner changing the equity shareholdings in the three Indian companies. I have restrained from withdrawing the PF amount. I have restrained from withdrawing monies from the three accounts except to the extent of discharging liabilities towards the children," the judge said.
The court clarified that it has not passed the order with respect to immovable foreign assets.
A detailed copy of the verdict is awaited.
Sunjay Kapur died on June 12, 2025, after collapsing during a polo match in England. He had reportedly suffered a sudden cardiac arrest.
