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SC Grants Bail to Journalist Kommineni Srinivasa Rao Following Controversial TV Show Comments

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The Supreme Court granted bail on Friday to senior journalist Kommineni Srinivasa Rao, who was arrested on June 9 over alleged derogatory remarks made by a guest during a live debate on his program, KSR Live Show, aired on Sakshi TV.

A vacation bench consisting of Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra and Justice Manmohan stated that Rao did not make the offensive comments and emphasized the need to protect his journalistic freedom and right to free speech. “Given that the petitioner did not make the remarks himself, and because his participation as a journalist in a live TV show must be safeguarded, he is to be released on bail,” the Court ruled.

The controversy stemmed from a panelist describing Amaravati as a “capital of prostitutes” and alleging that “only AIDS patients live there.” A complaint was lodged, asserting that the remarks were highly offensive and hurtful to women. Critics also pointed out that Rao appeared to laugh during the segment instead of objecting.

Senior Advocate Siddharth Dave, representing Rao, argued that his client should not be held criminally liable for comments made by others in a live broadcast. In contrast, Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi, representing the State, contended that Rao’s laughter indicated complicity.

The bench, however, dismissed the State’s argument. “If someone makes an outrageous statement, we might laugh. He’s not the one saying it,” they observed, rejecting the notion of criminal intent based solely on Rao’s reaction.

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Taking into account Rao’s age—around 70 years—and his distinguished journalistic history, the Court determined that keeping him in custody was unnecessary. This incident once again highlights the ongoing tension between editorial responsibility and the safeguarding of free speech in media, particularly in live broadcasts where controlling content can be challenging.

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

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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.

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8 Patients Dead In Jaipur Hospital Fire

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Jaipur: Eight patients died after a fire broke out at the trauma centre of the state-run Sawai Man Singh (SMS) Hospital in Jaipur late Sunday night.

Officials said the blaze started in the storage area of the Neuro ICU, possibly due to a short circuit. There were 11 patients in the ICU at the time. Smoke quickly spread, causing panic among patients and staff.

Hospital workers and attendants tried to rescue patients, even moving them out on their beds. Firefighters controlled the blaze in about two hours.

Families of the victims alleged that hospital staff ignored early warnings about smoke and fled during the fire.

Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma and other ministers visited the hospital to review the situation and assured a detailed probe into the incident.

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75-Year-Old Man Marries 35-Year-Old, Dies Before Honeymoon

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Uttar Pradesh: A 75-year-old man who remarried in search of companionship died barely hours after his wedding, sparking shock and speculation in his village.

The deceased, identified as Sangruram, a resident of Kuchhmuchh village in Jaunpur district, had been living alone after losing his first wife a year ago. With no children, he supported himself through farming. Despite advice from relatives against remarriage, Sangruram wed 35-year-old Manbhavati, a resident of Jalalpur area, on Monday, September 29.

The marriage was first registered in court, followed by traditional rituals at a local temple. According to Manbhavati, the couple spent most of the wedding night conversing, as Sangruram assured her that she would take responsibility for the household while he would “take care of the children.”

However, by the next morning, his health deteriorated suddenly. He was rushed to hospital, where doctors declared him dead.

The unexpected death has triggered varied reactions in the village. While some residents believe it to be a natural occurrence given his age, others have expressed suspicion about the circumstances.

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Relatives, including nephews residing in Delhi, have halted funeral rites until their arrival. They have also raised questions about whether a police inquiry or post-mortem examination will be conducted before the cremation.

Authorities have yet to issue an official statement regarding further investigation.

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