Bengaluru, July 1 (IANS) A shocking incident was reported from the Madanayakanahalli police station limits on Monday, where a 56-year-old HIV-positive man was raped and robbed at his residence by a known person on the outskirts of Bengaluru. The incident occurred at a village near Nelamangala town in Bengaluru North Taluk.

According to the police, the victim, who worked at a NGO, had befriended the accused, Shyam Patil, a year ago. Patil had claimed to be suffering from tuberculosis and had gained the victim’s trust. Recently, the victim’s wife and children had gone to their native village, and Patil took advantage of the situation.

After learning that the victim was alone, Patil visited his house, laced his juice with sleeping pills, and gave it to him. As the victim became unconscious, Patil sprayed a substance on his face, rendering him completely helpless. The accused then raped him and robbed the victim of 88 grams of gold, Rs 20,000 cash, and his mobile handset kept in a cupboard.

The victim discovered the sexual assault and robbery the next morning and filed a complaint with the Madanayakanahalli police station. The police have launched a search for the accused, Shyam Patil.

–IANS

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Jaipur, July 1 (IANS) After the Palace on Wheels, which is regarded as one of the most beautiful and luxurious trains in the world, offered destination weddings, the booking for the same will start in September.

The officials said the train mostly hosts foreign travellers due to its high rates. However, after deciding to offer it as a wedding venue, a new market segment will be opened. This will include the Bollywood community, the Indian business families and others who have been exploring new wedding destinations.

This will also help in generating revenue for Rajasthan, the officials added.

The wedding rates will be decided depending on the distance between the venues.

“Bookings have to be made in advance for weddings,” said Pradeep Bohra, director of Palace on Wheels. He said, “The costs will be decided depending on the distance. For example, if someone wants to travel from Delhi to Jaipur or Sawai Madhopur, charges will be fixed accordingly based on per person.”

–IANS

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Kolkata, July 1 (IANS) A district court in West Bengal, on Monday, sent Tejemul a.k.a. JCB, a local Trinamool Congress leader and the prime accused in the public beating up of a woman at Chopra in North Dinajpur district, to five days of police custody.

JCB, who was arrested on Sunday evening, was presented at the district court and the public prosecutor asked for his 10-day police custody.

However, after a detailed hearing in the matter, the court remanded him to five days of police custody.

The district police have booked the accused under five sections of the earlier Indian Penal Code (IPC), which include two non-bailable sections and three bailable sections.

The sections have been invoked in the suo motu case registered by the district police on Sunday after a video went viral.

District police sources said that since the cases were registered on Sunday and the accused was also arrested on the same day, sections of the IPC had to be invoked since the three new criminal laws had not come into force then.

It is learnt that the two non-bailable sections under which the accused have been booked are Section 354 (punishment for assaults or use of criminal force to any woman, intending to outrage or knowing it to be likely that he will thereby outrage her modesty) and Section 307 (punishment for attempt to murder) of the IPC.

The three non-bailable sections under which he has been booked are Section 323 (punishment for voluntarily causing hurt) Section 325 (punishment for voluntarily causing grievous hurt) and Section 34 (punishment for criminal acts done by several persons with a common intention) of the IPC.

–IANS

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Patna, July 1 (IANS) A daring heist took place at an Axis Bank branch at Sri Krishna Chowk in Sheikhpura District of Bihar on Monday, where the robbers made off with Rs 50 lakh.

According to police reports, around 12 criminals assembled outside the bank before it opened for the day.

As soon as the bank opened, the criminals entered the premises, held the bank employees at gunpoint, and proceeded to execute the robbery.

They reportedly confined the employees to a single location within the bank during the robbery.

The criminals also snatched a bag belonging to a female customer before fleeing.

Police are scrutinising CCTV footage from the bank premises to gather evidence and identify the perpetrators.

Efforts are underway to nab the robbers and recover the looted funds from them.

–IANS

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New Delhi, July 1 (IANS) Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday said that the country’s criminal justice system has turned completely ‘swadeshi’ after 75 years of Independence, as the British-era laws have ceased to exist with new laws coming into force.

Amit Shah, addressing a press conference on the three criminal laws, said that the new laws represent the ‘Indian ethos and soul’ and have been developed and customised as per the country’s requirements and also modern-age challenges have been factored in for ‘inclusive’ justice delivery.

Congratulating the citizens on rollout of new laws, the Home Minister said: “Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) will replace the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Instead of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), instead of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), there will be Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) and in place Indian Evidence Act, there will be Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA).”

The Home Minister listed out many positive aspects of the law and informed how ‘Nyay’ will replace ‘dand’ under the new laws and how justice delivery will get expedited.

“Earlier, only the rights of policemen were protected, under the new laws, the rights of victims and complainants will also be of paramount importance. The new laws will plug the loopholes and ensure speedy trial and speedy justice,” Amit Shah said.

Shedding light on punishment in cases against gang rape and mob lynching, the Home Minister said that the laws have been made stricter and harsher for convicts in such cases to serve as a strong deterrent.

He said that top priority has been given to laws relating to crime against women and children in the new laws.

“An entire chapter with 35 sections and 13 provisions have been added,” he said while lamenting that such laws were being introduced after 75 years of Independence.

He informed that gang rape will invite harsher punishment i.e. 20 years jail term of life imprisonment, rape of a minor will attract the death penalty while sexual exploitation of the victim by hiding one’s identity or making fake promises will be treated as a separate crime.

Complainants can file FIR online too, while provisions have been made to record the statement of rape survivors from home which will save them from embarrassment.

“There was no law against mob lynching, now it will invite strict punishment ranging from seven years imprisonment to life imprisonment,” said the Home Minister.

The Home Minister also impressed upon the deadlines introduced into the criminal justice system for speedy trial and justice.

Case filing in three days, investigative report in 60 days, charge sheet filing in 90 days are some of the key thrusts of new criminal laws which are likely to expedite the justice delivery mechanism while ensuring that the cases are done away with in a limited and time-bound manner.

Videography has also been made compulsory during police raids and seizure exercises to ensure that cops don’t go overboard and resort to excesses in such situations.

–IANS

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