Latest news with #Bihar-based
Indian Express
3 days ago
- Indian Express
‘Provide full security': SC directs Bihar, Delhi senior cops to ensure safety of minor girl seeking annulment of marriage
The Supreme Court Wednesday asked the Bihar director general of police and Delhi Police commissioner to provide security to a girl who was allegedly forced into a marriage with a contractor, and is now seeking its annulment after escaping from her in-laws' house. A bench of Justices Ujjal Bhuyan and Manmohan also directed the senior police officers to ensure that no harm is caused to her or her friend who held her escape. The court also sought a status report from the police on the next date of hearing on July 15. In her plea, the girl claimed to have been forcibly married to Bihar-based contractor Jai Shankar on December 9, 2024, when she was 16 and a half years old, towards the repayment of the debts owed by her parents. Alleging physical abuse by the 33-year-old man, she also sought the annulment of her marriage with him under the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006. 'Her husband, who is a civil contractor, claimed that the petitioner's parents were indebted to them and she would have to continue in the marriage rather than go for further studies to pursue her dream of becoming a teacher or a lawyer,' her plea said. The girl also claimed that she was on the run with a friend, and feared for their lives if they returned to Bihar. She said she was sent away immediately after the wedding ceremony, even though her Class 10 board examinations were due to start. She said she had been assured that she would return to her parents after two days, but was not allowed to do so 'by her in-laws who claimed to have given and spent a lot of money for the marriage and repeatedly told her that they wanted a baby'. 'The petitioner is a hapless victim of child marriage who stands forlorn with no help from family and society in her fight to walk out of the abusive child marriage and hence pleads for invocation of the parens patriae jurisdiction of this court in the best interest of the petitioner,' the plea added. In the order, the Supreme Court pointed out that the writ petition was filed by 'a minor through her next of kin under Article 32 of the Constitution of India'. 'Petitioner has alleged that she has been forcibly married off to Respondent No. 4 (contractor) despite the fact that she is a minor. She has not got the parental support required at this stage. On the other hand, Respondent No. 4 and his family members are now pursuing the petitioner and her next of kin. It is in these circumstances that the petitioner has approached this court seeking the following reliefs… Issue notice. We direct the Director General of Police, Bihar, as well as the Commissioner of Police, Delhi, to provide full security to the petitioner to ensure that no harm is caused to the petitioner and her next friend.' The top court also directed that necessary instructions be issued 'to the police authorities to be in touch with the petitioner and her next friend'. 'In case of any emergency, necessary assistance can be provided. Respondents Nos. 1 and 2 submit a separate status report in a sealed cover to the Court by the next date.'
Indian Express
5 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
The many firsts in Bihar elections – phone deposit areas, fewer voters per booth, faster polling
As Bihar prepares for the Assembly elections later this year, the Election Commission of India (ECI) is rolling out several initiatives that will make a debut in the state. 'The ECI is focusing on making voting easier, faster and fairer, and the electoral process more inclusive,' ECI assistant director Apurva Kumar Singh said. 'We're introducing changes based on past feedback, many debuting with the Bihar elections.' For the first time, polling booths will feature mobile deposit facilities – a response to complaints from voters struggling to manage their phones. 'This will ease their burden, especially for those voting alone,' Singh said. The ECI will also cap the number of voters per polling station at 1,200, down from 1,500, to 'cut congestion, reduce waiting times and speed up voting'. Additional booths will be set up in high-rise buildings and residential colonies, targeting densely populated urban pockets, a tactic borrowed from recent Lok Sabha successes in many cities. Voter Information Slips are also getting a makeover. The ECI expects to trim 20-30 seconds off each voter's processing time by enlarging the serial and part numbers for easier readability, leading to shorter queues and smoother voting. Updating the electoral roll is on the ECI's priority list, with a first-of-its-kind Special Summary Revision (SSR) planned ahead of by-elections – the first in nearly two decades. To address outdated entries, the ECI will utilise the Registrar General of India's (RGI) death registration database. 'Using death registration data from the RGI, followed by door-to-door checks, we will keep updating the electoral roll. Deletion is a sensitive issue. We won't remove names without ground verification,' Singh said. For the first time, booth-level agents, including those from 11 Bihar-based parties, have been trained at the India International Institute of Democracy and Election Management (IIIDEM) in Delhi, where all the election-related officials are trained. 'Political parties are our biggest stakeholders, along with the voters,' Singh said. The canvassing distance norm has been slashed to 100 meters from polling station entrances to balance visibility and order. The ECINET dashboard, a single-app solution replacing over 40 existing platforms, will also launch during the Bihar elections. Duplicate EPIC number issues have also been resolved, ensuring every voter gets a unique identifier, the ECI officer said. Election staff are not being left behind. Booth-level officers (BLOs) will now carry standard photo ID cards – another first – to foster trust and ease public interaction. 'Not having proper IDs was a hurdle,' Singh said. Apart from this, over 3,000 booth-level supervisors, including those from Bihar, have been trained at IIIDEM, with plans to train one lakh more nationwide. Similarly, training for a batch of police officers has been conducted at the institute. The ECI assistant director said that the poll body is also considering orientation for media personnel throughout the country at IIIDEM, in batches, starting with Bihar-based journalists to sharpen election reporting and voter education efforts. The electoral body aims to increase voter turnout to the national average of 66.10%, up from Bihar's 56.28% in the last Lok Sabha elections.
India Today
08-06-2025
- Politics
- India Today
Couldn't save myself...: YouTuber Manish Kashyap says he is quitting BJP
Popular YouTuber Manish Kashyap has officially resigned from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), announcing his decision during a Facebook Live session. In an emotional address, Kashyap declared that he is no longer an active member of the party.'I couldn't protect myself while being in the BJP. How can I help others?' he said, explaining his reasons for stepping away. Kashyap hinted at feeling let down by the party and suggested that his role within it had become month, Manish Kashyap was allegedly beaten by some junior doctors at Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) after an altercation with them. He also stated that he would now continue raising his voice through other platforms and in different ways. Without giving specifics, Kashyap subtly hinted at the possibility of contesting in the upcoming assembly elections, suggesting a shift toward a more direct political month, Manish Kashyap was allegedly beaten by some junior doctors at Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) after an altercation with Kashyap joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) last year in the presence of BJP leaders Manoj Tiwari and Anil Baluni. WHO IS MANISH KASHYAP?Manish Kashyap fought elections for Bihar's Chanpatia Assembly seat in 2020. On the nomination papers, Manish had mentioned his name as 'Tripurari Kumar Tiwari', which is his official name. He studied engineering in Kashyap came into the limelight after he was arrested for uploading a video which falsely showed migrant labourers from Bihar being harassed in Tamil Nadu. In response, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar called for an inquiry into the Nadu CM MK Stalin denied allegations of harassment of migrant workers in the state. He also reassured Nitish Kumar that workers from Bihar were not being the time, Deputy General of Police (DGP) Tamil Nadu Shailendra Babu said, 'Somebody in Bihar has posted a false and misleading video regarding migrant workers from Bihar being attacked in Tamil Nadu. Two videos which are circulating on social media regarding the incident are false. The facts of the videos are twisted to appear that migrant workers living in Tamil Nadu are being attacked."Later, Madras High Court on granted bail to Bihar-based YouTuber Manish Kashyap, who was arrested in March for circulating fake videos of migrant labourers from Bihar being attacked in Tamil Nadu.
Hans India
06-06-2025
- Hans India
Education Fraudster Caught At Airport While Fleeing To Thailand
Pune's Crime Branch successfully apprehended a Bihar-based education counselor on Thursday for orchestrating an elaborate online fraud scheme that exploited students seeking college admissions. The suspect had been using the stolen identity of a prestigious Pune educational institution to deceive prospective students with false admission guarantees. Kunal Kumar, the primary accused in the case, was captured at Kolkata airport along with his wife as they attempted to flee the country on a flight bound for Thailand. Authorities had previously issued a lookout notice to prevent his international departure, and intelligence information led to their timely interception before boarding their escape flight. Senior Inspector Ulhas Kadam from the Anti-Narcotics Cell confirmed that Kumar was immediately transported to Pune for detailed interrogation and legal proceedings following his detention at the airport. The fraudulent operation involved Kumar creating deceptive online advertisements that illegally used the name, official website design, logo, and promotional images of a well-established Pune-based educational institution. Through these fake advertisements, he enticed students with false assurances of securing admissions to various academic programs in return for monetary payments. The scam was exposed when the legitimate educational institution discovered the unauthorized misuse of their institutional identity and branding materials. This discovery prompted them to file formal cheating charges against Kumar and two additional accomplices at Deccan Gymkhana Police Station on April 2, 2024. Following the initial complaint, investigative teams conducted extensive manhunt operations spanning multiple states including Maharashtra, Haryana, and Delhi in their pursuit of the suspects. Kumar successfully evaded capture for several months by continuously relocating across state boundaries and maintaining a low profile. The investigation also uncovered Kumar's involvement in an earlier cybercrime case that was registered with Pune Cyber Crime Police in 2021. Despite his anticipatory bail application being rejected by the sessions court, he had failed to surrender to authorities as required, demonstrating a pattern of evading legal accountability. This arrest highlights the increasing sophistication of education-related fraud schemes that specifically target vulnerable students and families desperately seeking legitimate admission opportunities. The case demonstrates how criminals exploit the desperation of students and parents by impersonating reputable institutions and making false promises about guaranteed admissions in exchange for substantial fees. The multi-state investigation required significant coordination between different police departments and showcases the determination of law enforcement agencies to pursue fraudsters who attempt to escape justice by crossing state and national boundaries. Kumar's attempt to flee to Thailand indicates the international scope that such fraud operations can potentially reach if not intercepted in time.
Hans India
06-06-2025
- Hans India
Bihar Education Counselor Nabbed At Kolkata Airport For Fraudulent College Admission Scam
The Crime Branch of Pune Police successfully apprehended a Bihar-based education counselor on Thursday for orchestrating an elaborate online admission fraud scheme. The suspect had been impersonating a prestigious Pune educational institution through unauthorized use of their official branding materials. Kunal Kumar, the primary accused in the case, was detained at Kolkata airport alongside his spouse as they attempted to board an international flight to Thailand. Law enforcement had previously issued a lookout circular to prevent his departure from the country, and acting on intelligence inputs, authorities intercepted the couple before their planned escape. Senior Inspector Ulhas Kadam from the Anti-Narcotics Cell confirmed that Kumar was subsequently transported to Pune for comprehensive questioning and legal proceedings. Investigation findings revealed that Kumar had established a sophisticated online operation designed to exploit prospective students. He created fraudulent advertisements promising guaranteed admissions to various academic programs in exchange for monetary payments. The scheme involved unauthorized replication of legitimate institutional identities, including official logos, website designs, and promotional imagery. The fraudulent activity was exposed when the targeted educational institute discovered the misuse of their institutional credentials and branding. This discovery prompted them to file formal cheating charges against Kumar and two additional co-conspirators at Deccan Gymkhana Police Station in April 2024. Following the initial complaint, police teams conducted extensive search operations across multiple states including Maharashtra, Haryana, and Delhi in their efforts to locate the suspects. Kumar managed to evade capture for an extended period by continuously relocating across state boundaries. Further investigation uncovered Kumar's involvement in a separate cybercrime case filed with Pune Cyber Crime Police in 2021. Despite his anticipatory bail application being denied by the sessions court, he had failed to surrender to authorities, adding to his list of legal violations. The arrest highlights the growing concern over education-related fraud schemes that target vulnerable students and their families seeking legitimate admission opportunities.
