A Kerala court has issued a bailable arrest warrant against Baba Ramdev and Acharya Balakrishna after allegations of misleading claims about Patanjali Ayurved products curing ailments like diabetes and high blood pressure. The case, triggered by complaints from ophthalmologist K.V. Babu, cites violations of the Drugs and Magic Remedies Act. This action follows the Supreme Court’s warning against unchecked misleading advertisements.
Today, On 15th January, The Supreme Court granted interim protection from arrest to former IAS trainee Puja Khedkar. She is accused of fraudulently using reservation benefits meant for Other Backward Classes (OBC) and Persons with Benchmark Disabilities to pass the UPSC exam. Khedkar has denied the charges, and the court’s order allows her temporary relief. The case is under further investigation.
A Jashpur court registered a criminal case against BJP MLA Raymuni Bhagat for alleged objectionable remarks about Jesus made on September 1, 2023. Complaints from the Christian community prompted this action after police directed them to court. The case includes charges of promoting enmity and wounding religious sentiments, with Bhagat required to appear on January 10, 2024.
The New York court has merged three cases against Indian industrialist Gautam Adani into one trial. These include a criminal case and two civil cases involving allegations of bribing USD 265 million for solar energy contracts. District Judge Nicholas G. Garaufis will oversee the combined trial. The Adani Group denies these allegations.
A criminal case has been filed against Balaji ALT and its director, Ekta Kapoor, for allegedly airing obscene content that violates cultural values and legal standards. The complaint, filed by Uday Maholkar, founder of Save Culture Save Bharat, seeks action under multiple laws, including the POCSO Act, IPC, and IT Act. The court has issued a notice to Delhi Police for failing to register an FIR and directed them to submit an action taken report before the next hearing on March 6, 2025. Advocate Vineet Jindal stressed that the platform’s content undermines societal morals and negatively influences youth, calling for stricter regulation of OTT platforms to ensure adherence to ethical and legal guidelines.
The Supreme Court ruled that a woman involved in an extra-marital affair cannot be charged under Section 498A IPC for cruelty, as she does not qualify as a “relative.” The bench, led by Justices Gavai and Viswanathan, quashed a criminal case against a woman based on allegations from the complainant-wife.
The Kerala High Court ruled that Section 52A of the Waqf Act, effective from November 2013, does not apply retroactively. Justice P V Kunhikrishnan stated that prosecution requires evidence of unauthorized transfers, which the petitioners did not engage in. Consequently, the cases against them were quashed as the law cannot be applied retroactively.
The Supreme Court plans to establish guidelines for Advocates-on-Record (AORs) due to concerns over conduct and false statements in a criminal case involving a 30-year sentence. AORs are crucial for litigants, and the Court seeks input from the Supreme Court AOR Association to ensure proper guidelines are formulated.
Today, On 23rd October, the Supreme Court rejected Swamy Shraddananda’s appeal against his life imprisonment for murdering his wife, reaffirming the lower court’s decision. Shraddananda, 84, had challenged the ruling, asserting violations of his constitutional rights. The court emphasized that presidential pardon powers apply even with life sentences, leaving him to serve his term.
The Supreme Court of India dismissed criminal proceedings against HDFC Bank, ruling that a corporation cannot possess mens rea, or criminal intent, needed for liability under the IPC. The court emphasized that the bank officials acted inadvertently in misinterpreting orders, lacking evidence of malicious intent or misappropriation, thus quashing the FIR.