Category: law

Madras High Court Orders SIT Probe Into Vijay’s TVK Rally Stampede

**Madras High Court Orders SIT Probe Into Karur Stampede at Vijay’s TVK Rally**

Chennai: Days after a tragic stampede at actor Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) rally in Karur claimed 41 lives, the Madras High Court (principal seat in Chennai) on Friday ordered the constitution of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the incident. The SIT will be headed by Inspector General of Police Asr Garg.

The court strongly condemned the TVK leaders for “abandoning” the innocent people who had gathered to watch Vijay but tragically lost their lives. In addition, the court directed the police to take action against the party’s office bearer, Aadhav Arjuna, for deleting a social media post that called for a Nepal-like Gen Z revolt.

In a related development, the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court declined to order a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe, noting that the police investigation was still at a nascent stage. However, the bench instructed the State government not to grant permission for political rallies on highways until a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) is established.

Separately, the court dismissed anticipatory bail petitions filed by TVK party general secretary ‘Bussy’ Anand and another office bearer, CTR Nirmal Kumar, both named in the FIR related to the stampede.

Justice N Senthilkumar, presiding over the main case in Chennai, directed the Karur police to hand over all documents related to the FIR to the SIT. The judge expressed concern that the State appeared lenient towards the accused, highlighting that several party leaders fled the scene after many women and children died.

Regretting the lack of remorse from the party leadership, Justice Senthilkumar commented that this attitude reflected their “mental state.” He added, “The court, however, cannot close its eyes. The court cannot be a mute spectator. The court cannot shirk its responsibilities. The entire world has witnessed the sequences as well as consequences of the event.”

Describing the tragedy as a man-made disaster, the judge noted that even the President and Prime Minister had expressed condolences and extended support to the victims and their families.

The judge also took note of a petition mentioning that Vijay was named in the FIR. Citing video footage showing two-wheeler riders getting injured after falling near Vijay’s caravan, Justice Senthilkumar questioned why no hit-and-run case had been registered. He urged the police to suo motu file an FIR based on the available video evidence to ensure a thorough investigation.
https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/madras-high-court-orders-sit-probe-into-vijays-tvk-rally-stampede

Zubeen Garg’s death: Event organizer moves SC, calls allegations ‘ludicrous’

Shyamkanu Mahanta, the organizer of the North East India Festival and an accused in the case related to Assamese singer Zubeen Garg’s death, has approached the Supreme Court.

He is seeking a transfer of the ongoing Assam Police probe to a central agency.

The move aims to ensure a fair and impartial investigation into the matter. The Supreme Court’s decision on this plea is awaited.
https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/entertainment/plea-for-fair-investigation-into-zubeen-garg-s-death/story

Zubeen Garg’s death: Event organizer moves SC, calls allegations ‘ludicrous’

Shyamkanu Mahanta, the organizer of the North East India Festival and an accused in the case related to the death of Assamese singer Zubeen Garg, has approached the Supreme Court.

He is seeking the transfer of the ongoing Assam Police investigation to a central agency. Mahanta’s plea requests a more impartial and thorough probe into the matter, amid concerns over the current investigation’s progress.

The Supreme Court will now consider his request for the case to be handled by a federal investigative body.
https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/entertainment/plea-for-fair-investigation-into-zubeen-garg-s-death/story

Zubeen Garg’s death: Event organizer moves SC, calls allegations ‘ludicrous’

Shyamkanu Mahanta, the organizer of the North East India Festival and an accused in the case related to Assamese singer Zubeen Garg’s death, has approached the Supreme Court.

He is seeking a transfer of the ongoing Assam Police probe to a central agency.
https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/entertainment/plea-for-fair-investigation-into-zubeen-garg-s-death/story

Trump has ‘determined’ the U.S. is in ‘armed conflict’ with cartels, administration tells Congress

The Trump administration informed Congress in a confidential notice this week that President Donald Trump has “determined” that the United States is in an armed conflict with drug cartels. According to the notice, members of these organizations can be targeted as unlawful combatants.

The President classified these cartels as non-state armed groups, designated them as terrorist organizations, and determined that their actions constitute an armed attack against the United States. The notice stated, “In response, based upon the cumulative effects of these hostile acts against the citizens and interests of the United States and friendly foreign nations, the President determined that the United States is in a non-international armed conflict with these designated terrorist organizations.”

This designation essentially places drug cartels in the same legal category as terrorist groups like Al Qaeda or the Islamic State.

In recent weeks, the U.S. military reportedly struck at least three boats from Venezuela allegedly carrying narco-traffickers and drugs that could threaten Americans, President Trump said on Truth Social.

The notice to Congress included examples of actions the President could take in targeting the cartels and cited an attack on September 15 that killed approximately three unlawful combatants. The White House has defended these strikes, emphasizing their legality.

“As we have said many times, the President acted in line with the law of armed conflict to protect our country from those trying to bring deadly poison to our shores,” White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said in a statement Thursday. “He is delivering on his promise to take on the cartels and eliminate these national security threats from murdering more Americans.”

NBC News reported last month that the administration is considering strikes on drug cartels operating inside Venezuela. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has denied any role in drug trafficking and has repeatedly alleged that the United States is trying to force him from power.

However, many critics of the strikes, including congressional Democrats and some Republicans, argue that the administration does not have the legal authority to target drug cartels using the U.S. military. They maintain that drug trafficking remains a law enforcement matter best addressed through interdiction.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who is also serving as acting national security adviser, has declared interdiction efforts ineffective, underscoring the administration’s rationale for the military approach.
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/national-security/trump-determined-us-armed-conflict-cartels-congress-notice-rcna235294

Trump has ‘determined’ the U.S. is in ‘armed conflict’ with cartels, administration tells Congress

The Trump administration informed Congress in a confidential notice this week that President Donald Trump has “determined” that the United States is in an armed conflict with drug cartels and that members of these organizations can be targeted as unlawful combatants.

According to the notice, the President classified these cartels as non-state armed groups, designated them as terrorist organizations, and determined that their actions constitute an armed attack against the United States.

“In response, based upon the cumulative effects of these hostile acts against the citizens and interests of the United States and friendly foreign nations, the President determined that the United States is in a non-international armed conflict with these designated terrorist organizations,” the notice added.

This designation effectively places drug cartels in the same legal category as terrorist groups like Al Qaeda and the Islamic State.

In recent weeks, the U.S. military reportedly struck at least three boats originating from Venezuela that were allegedly carrying narco-traffickers and drugs posing a threat to Americans. President Trump mentioned these actions on Truth Social.

The notice to Congress outlined potential actions the President could take in targeting the cartels and cited an attack on September 15 that resulted in the deaths of approximately three unlawful combatants.

The White House has defended these strikes. “As we have said many times, the President acted in line with the law of armed conflict to protect our country from those trying to bring deadly poison to our shores, and he is delivering on his promise to take on the cartels and eliminate these national security threats from murdering more Americans,” White House spokesperson Anna Kelly stated on Thursday.

NBC News reported last month that the administration is considering further strikes on drug cartels inside Venezuela.

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has denied any involvement in drug trafficking and has repeatedly accused the United States of attempting to force him from power.

However, many critics of the strikes—including congressional Democrats and some Republicans—argue that the administration does not yet have the legal authority to target drug cartels using the U.S. military. They maintain that this issue remains primarily a law enforcement matter, best addressed through interdiction efforts.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who is also serving as acting national security adviser, has declared that interdiction efforts have been ineffective in combating the cartels.
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/national-security/trump-determined-us-armed-conflict-cartels-congress-notice-rcna235294

Bombay HC Grants Relief To 2 Youths Disqualified Over Height In CAPF Recruitment

Bombay High Court Grants Relief to Candidates Disqualified Over Minor Height Deficiency in CAPF Recruitment

Mumbai: The Bombay High Court has come to the aid of two 21-year-olds who were disqualified from recruitment in the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) after they fell short of the prescribed height limit by a fraction of a centimetre. The court directed the authorities to extend the benefit of relaxation available under the 2015 Revised Uniform Guidelines, noting that the disqualification was “illegal and arbitrary.”

Details of the Candidates and Recruitment Process

A division bench comprising Justices Ravindra Ghuge and Ashwin Bhobe heard petitions filed by Sushant Sarode from Malegaon and Sahil Patil from Kolhapur. Both candidates were barred from proceeding to the Detailed Medical Examination (DME) stage despite clearing earlier phases.

Sarode and Patil had applied for the posts of Constable (General Duty) in CAPF and SSF, Rifleman (GD) in Assam Rifles, and Sepoy in the Narcotics Control Bureau Examination, 2025. The recruitment process consists of three stages: a computer-based test, a physical standard and efficiency test, and finally a medical examination.

Both candidates successfully cleared the written test and the physical efficiency test. However, they were declared ineligible during the physical standard test conducted in Pune. Their heights were measured at 164.7 cm and 164.6 cm, respectively, just short of the required minimum of 165 cm. Consequently, rejection slips were issued on August 23 and August 25.

Legal Arguments and High Court Decision

Challenging their disqualification, their advocate V.A. Shastry cited clause 2(d) of the Uniform Guidelines for Medical Examination in CAPFs and Assam Rifles dated May 20, 2015. This clause specifies that “fractions of a centimetre less than 0.5 cm will be ignored and 0.5 cm or more will be rounded off to the next higher cm.”

Shastry argued that, based on this rule, both petitioners should have been considered as meeting the 165 cm height criterion.

The central government’s counsel, P.B. Chavan, opposed the plea, contending that the rounding-off rule applies only at the medical examination stage and not during the physical standard test. She urged the court to uphold the disqualification.

However, the bench disagreed with the government’s stance. It observed that the petitioners had applied under the ‘Maratha’ category, which itself prescribes a minimum height of 165 cm. Furthermore, the guidelines extend relaxation benefits to Marathas as well as certain other communities and regions.

Court Verdict

“Disqualifying the petitioners at the stage of physical standard test on account of their height being 164.7 cm and 164.6 cm, respectively, is illegal and arbitrary,” the judges held. “We are of the considered opinion that the petitioners are entitled to the benefit of height relaxation.”

Allowing both petitions, the High Court directed that Sarode and Patil be declared eligible to proceed to the detailed medical examination stage.

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https://www.freepressjournal.in/mumbai/bombay-hc-grants-relief-to-2-youths-disqualified-over-height-in-capf-recruitment

Dhanush’s ‘Idli Kadai’: Makers issue piracy warning

**Dhanush’s ‘Idli Kadai’: Makers Issue Piracy Warning**

*By Apoorva Rastogi | Oct 02, 2025, 09:56 AM*

The production house behind Dhanush’s latest film, *Idli Kadai*, has issued a stern warning against piracy following the movie’s release on Wednesday.

In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), Dawn Pictures emphasized that any leaked or pirated content from *Idli Kadai* will be taken down immediately without prior notice. The studio also threatened legal action against individuals or entities involved in promoting or distributing unauthorized copies of the film.

**A Call to Audience: Support Against Piracy**

Dawn Pictures urged viewers to actively report any pirated content or spoilers to protect the film and the wider cinema industry. “Protect cinema. Report pirated content or spoilers immediately. Your support is the industry’s strongest defense,” the production house stated, providing multiple links for easy reporting of piracy.

**Anticipation Builds Around *Idli Kadai***

Starring Dhanush, Arun Vijay, and Nithya Menen in lead roles, *Idli Kadai* has generated significant excitement among fans and film enthusiasts alike. The movie also features Shalini Pandey and Sathyaraj in pivotal roles and is co-produced by Wunderbar Films alongside Dawn Pictures.

**Dhanush on the Film’s Message**

Dhanush, who also directed the film, shared insights about its underlying theme. He explained that *Idli Kadai* emphasizes the importance of staying connected to one’s roots. “Our identity lies in our ancestral roots. The lives of our father, grandfather shouldn’t just dissipate in the air,” he said in a recent statement.

As *Idli Kadai* garners attention, the makers continue to stand firm against piracy, calling on audiences to support the film industry by safeguarding creative content.
https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/entertainment/makers-of-idli-kadai-warn-against-film-piracy/story

Israeli navy intercepts Flotilla, detains Greta Thunberg along with activists

Israeli Troops Detain Activists from Hamas-Sumud Flotilla Attempting to Break Gaza Blockade

Israeli naval forces intercepted several boats from the Global Sumud Flotilla on Friday night as they attempted to break the maritime blockade of Gaza. Out of a convoy of 47 ships, Israeli troops raided only six vessels and detained more than 150 activists onboard, hailing from 37 different countries, according to Al Jazeera.

The Israel Ministry posted a video announcing the operation, stating, “Already several vessels of the Hamas-Sumud flotilla have been safely stopped and their passengers are being transferred to an Israeli port. Greta and her friends are safe and healthy.”

Earlier, Israel’s Foreign Ministry, citing documents recovered by its troops in Gaza, alleged that Hamas was directly involved in the activist flotilla currently trying to breach the blockade. According to The Times of Israel, these documents indicate links between the flotilla’s leaders and Hamas’s foreign arm, the Palestinian Conference for Palestinians (PCPA).

Flotilla spokesperson Saif Abukeshek provided a social media update on Wednesday, stating that 13 vessels had been intercepted so far, while around 30 others remained at sea, determined to continue their journey to Gaza. “They are motivated, and they are doing everything within their hand to break this siege by early morning,” he said. He added that more than 200 activists from 37 countries were on board, representing groups from Spain, Italy, Turkiye, and Malaysia.

According to The Times of Israel, Israeli forces had issued several warnings for the flotilla to change course and return before moving in. The flotilla, carrying aid and hundreds of activists from over 30 countries, was sailing through international waters when the interception took place. The Israeli Foreign Ministry described the effort as the “Hamas-Sumud flotilla,” accusing the activists of aiding the militant group.

To halt the boats, the Israeli navy used water cannons, electronic jamming, and boarding parties. The operation quickly drew criticism from various quarters.

Former British diplomat Craig Murray argued on X that Israel’s actions violated international law, noting that the flotilla was in international waters and not within Israel’s territorial jurisdiction. “The possession of vessels and the abduction of crews at sea can be pursued as crimes in domestic jurisdictions,” he wrote.

UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese and Colombian President Gustavo Petro had earlier urged Israel to allow the flotilla to proceed unharmed, according to Al Jazeera.

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim condemned the operation strongly, calling it “intimidation and coercion” against unarmed civilians. “By blocking a humanitarian mission, Israel has shown utter contempt not only for the rights of the Palestinian people but also for the conscience of the world,” he stated. Anwar Ibrahim also affirmed that Malaysia would use “all legitimate and lawful means” to protect its citizens aboard the flotilla.

Despite the arrests and seizures, flotilla organisers insisted their mission to deliver humanitarian aid and challenge the blockade would continue. “The illegal Israeli interceptions won’t deter us,” they said in a statement.

Notably, in June this year, Israel also detained Swedish activist Greta Thunberg along with the crew of another Gaza-bound aid ship, the Madleen.

*This story has been sourced from a third-party syndicated feed and agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for the dependability, trustworthiness, reliability, or data of the text. Mid-day management and mid-day.com reserve the sole right to alter, delete, or remove content at their absolute discretion without prior notice.*
https://www.mid-day.com/news/india-news/article/israeli-navy-intercepts-flotilla-detains-greta-thunberg-along-with-activists-on-over-10-ships-23596842

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