National

Bombay High Court Issues Stay on FIR Filing Against Former SEBI Chief and Officials

Published

11 months ago

March 4, 2025

In a significant development for former SEBI chief Madhabi Puri Buch and other individuals named in the case, the Bombay High Court granted a stay on a special court’s order that called for the registration of a First Information Report (FIR). The stay, effective for four weeks, applies to the order against Buch and five others who are accused of stock market fraud and regulatory violations.

The court criticized the previous order, noting that it was issued “mechanically” regarding the 1994 Cals Refineries stock listing fraud case. Justice Shivkumar Dige, presiding over a single bench, remarked that the special court’s directive from March 1 lacked detail and failed to specify the roles of the accused.

“Consequently, the order is stayed until the next hearing. The complainant, Sapan Shrivastava, has four weeks to submit an affidavit in response to the petitions,” the High Court announced.

The plea submitted to the High Court was initiated by Buch, along with three current full-time SEBI directors – Ashwani Bhatia, Ananth Narayan G, and Kamlesh Chandra Varshney – and two BSE officials, Managing Director and CEO Ramamurthy and former chairman Pramod Agarwal. They contended that the order was arbitrary and illegal.

Their petitions sought to overturn the special court’s directive that instructed the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) to file an FIR in connection with fraud allegations from 1994, tied to a company’s listing on the BSE.

It is noteworthy that the special court in Mumbai had ordered the ACB to take action against former SEBI chairperson Madhabi Puri Buch and the five other officials due to claims of stock market fraud and regulatory violations.

Judge Shashikant Eknathrao Bangar of the special ACB court stated there was prima facie evidence of regulatory failures and potential collusion, warranting a thorough and unbiased investigation.

The complainant, Sapan Shrivastava, a media reporter, requested an inquiry into the alleged misconduct of the accused that involved extensive financial fraud, regulatory breaches, and corruption. The allegations focus on the fraudulent listing of a company on the stock exchange, allegedly facilitated by regulatory authorities, particularly SEBI, without adherence to the SEBI Act of 1992 and its associated rules and regulations.

The ACB’s order from Worli in Mumbai was issued just two days after Buch completed her tenure as SEBI chief.

National

Three Burned Alive as Car Falls from Bridge in Gujarat’s Rajkot

Published

2 weeks ago

January 31, 2026

Namma Kudla

Gujarat: A tragic accident claimed the lives of three people in Gujarat’s Rajkot district on Monday.A car fell from a bridge and caught fire, killing all occupants on the spot.

The incident occurred on the Gondal–Atkot highway.The car was travelling from Chhota Udepur towards Gondal.

According to reports, the vehicle hit the bridge’s safety barrier.After the collision, the car fell nearly eight feet into a small stream below the bridge.

Soon after the fall, the car caught fire.The occupants were trapped inside the vehicle and were unable to escape.All three were burned alive and died at the scene.

Police and fire personnel rushed to the spot after receiving information.The fire was later brought under control.The bodies were recovered and sent for post-mortem examination.

The exact cause of the accident is under investigation. Further details are awaited.

National

Girl Records Reels Inside Jail, Video Sparks Debate

Published

2 weeks ago

January 30, 2026

Namma Kudla

Bhopal: A young woman has come under public attention after recording reels inside a jail while meeting her boyfriend.

The incident happened at Raipur Central Jail in Chhattisgarh, which is known for high security. Mobile phones are strictly not allowed inside the jail. Despite this rule, the woman carried her phone into the visitor room.

She recorded videos while talking to her boyfriend during the meeting. In the video, she speaks emotionally about visiting him on his birthday. She says she feels sad because she cannot stay with him on his special day.

After the meeting, she uploaded the video on her social media account. The video quickly went viral on different platforms. The inmate seen in the video is identified as Tarakeshwar.

He is currently lodged in Raipur Central Jail. He is an accused in a case under the NDPS Act. The incident has raised serious questions about jail security.

People on social media are criticising jail staff and officials. Many users are asking how a mobile phone was allowed inside the jail.

They are also questioning the checking process at the jail entrance. So far, jail authorities have not given any official reaction.

National

MBBS Student Alleges She Was Drugged, Raped by Friend in Delhi Hotel

Published

4 months ago

October 6, 2025

Namma Kudla

New Delhi: An 18-year-old MBBS student has accused a 20-year-old male friend of drugging and sexually assaulting her at a hotel in Delhi’s Adarsh Nagar area. The alleged incident took place on September 9, police officials said.

According to the complaint, the accused, who is also a medical student, invited the woman to “Hotel Apple” on the pretext of spending time together. Once there, he allegedly gave her a drink laced with drugs and then raped her.

The survivor told police that the accused recorded obscene videos and took pictures during the assault. He later threatened to make the content viral if she reported the incident.

The woman, a native of Jind in Haryana, is currently staying at the hostel of Baba Saheb Ambedkar Medical College in Rohini, Delhi.

Based on her complaint, police have registered a case under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code. A search is underway to locate and arrest the accused, officials added.

In a separate case earlier this month, a school manager in Uttar Pradesh was arrested for allegedly raping a Class 8 student. In February, a tuition teacher in Delhi’s CR Park area was accused of repeatedly raping a 15-year-old student over three years and threatening her with blackmail.