Helping accused get job not harbouring without evidence: Madras HC
MADURAI: The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has ruled that merely assisting an accused person in securing a job does not constitute harbouring, in the absence of any incriminating evidence beyond the accuseds own confession. Justice P Dhanabal made the observation while allowing a petition filed by B Karthick, who sought to quash a chargesheet against him in connection with a ganja smuggling case registered by the Thondi police in Ramanathapuram district last year. According to the prosecution, Karthick and six others had allegedly attempted to smuggle 105 kg of ganja to Sri Lanka in November 2023. Police intercepted their vehicle near Mangalakudi Vilakku Road and seized the goods, although three of the accused managed to flee the scene. The charges against Karthick were based on the confession of the third accused, who is his brother-in-law. In his statement, the third accused claimed that Karthick had helped him secure a job at a private company in Tirupur. The police alleged that Karthick had harboured the accused, knowing his involvement in the smuggling case, and subsequently filed a chargesheet against him. However, Justice Dhanabal noted that the investigating agency had failed to produce any evidence apart from the confession against Karthick. Arranging employment for an accused cannot be equated to harbouring, the judge observed. He further stated that subjecting Karthick to the ordeal of trial without substantial evidence would be unjust, and accordingly quashed the proceedings against him.
Tirupur college girls death: Father, brother to be questioned
PM flags concern on textile waste, bats for recycling
NEW DELHI: In his monthly radio programme Man Ki Baat, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday expressed concerns over the issue of textile waste and the increasing trend of opting for fast fashion as part of his intent to raise awareness about social issues with the people during his address. The Prime Minister said the textile waste has become a major cause of worry for the whole world. The trend of getting rid of old clothes as soon as possible and buying new ones is increasing all over the world, he said. Have you ever thought about what happens to the old clothes that you stop wearing? This becomes textile waste, he added. Apprising people about the research work being done globally to deal with the textile waste menace, Modi said that only less than one percent of textile waste is recycled into new clothes. India is the third country in the world where the maximum textile waste is generated. This means that we also face a huge challenge, he said. The Prime Minister, however, expressed his happiness about the several commendable efforts that are being undertaken in India to deal with this challenge. Underlining that many Indian start-ups have begun working on textile recovery facilities, the PM said, There are many such teams that are also working for the empowerment of our ragpicker brothers and sisters. Many young friends are involved in the efforts towards sustainable fashion. They recycle old clothes and footwear and distribute them to the needy. Many items like decorative pieces, handbags, stationery and toys are being made from textile waste. Many organisations are engaged in popularising circular fashion brands these days, he added. Talking about new cloth rental platforms, Modi said designer clothes are available on rent and also applauded the work done in cities like Bengaluru, Tirupur and Panipat. Panipat in Haryana is emerging as a global hub for textile recycling. Bengaluru is also creating a distinct identity for itself with innovative tech solutions. More than half of the textile waste is collected here, which is an example for our other cities as well. Similarly, Tirupur in Tamil Nadu is engaged in textile waste management through wastewater treatment and renewable energy, Modi said. He said said various states are celebrating their traditional new year on Sunday and many others will be celebrating in the coming days. They are a pointer to the spirit of unity pervading Indias diversity.
PM Modi flags textile waste problem, calls it 'huge challenge'
Prime Minister Modi highlighted India's challenge of textile waste, citing a study where the nation ranks third globally. He praised cities like Panipat, Bengaluru, and Tirupur for their innovative approaches in textile recycling, tech solutions, and waste management. Efforts by startups and groups empowering ragpickers were also acknowledged.
In his 'Mann Ki Baat' address, Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted the growing issue of textile waste and fast fashion. He emphasized that less than 1% of textile waste is recycled into new clothes, and India ranks third globally in textile waste generation.
The Teachers Joint Action Committee in Chennai demands investigation into POCSO Act cases against teachers on exam duty, amid claims of unfair accusations. They propose CCTV in exam halls to ensure transparency. Recent arrests in Krishnagiri and Tirupur highlight the need for clearer evidence and protection for both students and teachers.
Woman gang-raped by migrant workers in front of husband in Tamil Nadu
A 27-year-old woman from Odisha was gang-raped by three Bihar guest workers in Tirupur, while her husband was threatened at knifepoint. The accused, who lured the family with job promises, were arrested and are now in judicial custody. The victim is receiving treatment at Tirupur Govt Medical College and Hospital.
Merchant from Tirupur dies in road accident in Tirunelveli district
Three from Tirupur killed in hit-and-run
Anita Katyal | Fuss over edited Amit Shah clip; how Priyanka got her Bangla bag
Irrespective of who is to blame for last weeks scuffle between MPs of the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Congress on the Parliament House premises, the fact is that the Narendra Modi government was rattled by the campaign launched by a united Opposition against home minister Amit Shah for what it described as derogatory references to Babasaheb Ambedkar in his Rajya Sabha speech. The Congress circulated a clip of Mr Shahs speech to prove its point. Here, the Congress appears to have learnt from the BJPs IT cell which has edited innumerable speeches of Rahul Gandhi and other Congress leaders to show them in poor light. Coming at a time when all political parties are seeking to appropriate Ambedkars legacy with an eye on the dalit vote, Prime Minister Narendra Modi defended Mr Shah in a series of tweets in which he also attacked the Congress with the use of extreme terms like its rotten ecosystem. This was followed the next day with the BJP amassing its MPs outside Parliament as a counter to the Opposition protests. A nervous Congress rushed into damage control mode last week when Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra stirred a controversy by carrying a tote bag to Parliament with Palestine written on it. The BJP lost no time in accusing her of minority appeasement, stating that while she was sympathetic to the Palestine cause, Priyanka had not spoken about the attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh. Finding itself on the backfoot, the Congress went on an overdrive to procure a fresh set of bags with Bangladesh emblazoned on them. A batch of hundred cloth bags were ordered from Tirupur in Tamil Nadu. These were stitched overnight so they could reach before the Parliament session commenced the next day so that Priyanka could carry this bag. The bags were said to have been procured with the help of Kanyakumari MP Vijay Vasanth who has contacts with several vendors in Tirupur. He had also helped organise cloth bags and T-shirts during Congress leader Rahul Gandhis Bharat Jodo Yatra. Army chief Upendra Dwivedi s recent actions have raised quite a few eyebrows within the service and invited open criticism from veterans for bending backwards to please the political establishment. According to the buzz in Army circles, this could be because Gen. Dwivedis elevation as Army chief was not a smooth affair. Apparently, the Modi government was not too pleased because his stint as Northern Army commander witnessed a spike in terror strikes in the Jammu region. It was speculated that this was the reason the government delayed announcing his name as Army chief, giving his predecessor an extension. Gen. Dwivedi recently courted controversy when the painting showing the ceremonial surrender of Pakistani soldiers to the Indian Army following the 1971 war removed from his South Block office and replaced with a garish painting with mythological images from the Mahabharata , a portrait of Chanakya along with tanks, planes and submarines. Dismayed veterans said this was an insult to those who fought and died in the 1971 war and blamed the Army chief for bringing religion into the armed forces. Gen. Dwivedi was also in the news when he went to Prayagraj on the anniversary of the Babri Masjid demolition and spoke appreciatively of the collaboration between the Army and local civil administration in the redevelopment of the historic Patalpuri Temple and other religious places. It was a book launch on Bollywood actresses but Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor made political capital out of it by using the occasion to pay homage to both soldiers who laid down their lives in the 1971 war and Indira Gandhi for her able leadership because of which India registered a historic victory. Participating in a discussion on retired diplomat Surendra Kumars book, Unforgettable Divas of Bollywood , Mr Tharoor first spoke at length about the contribution of women in Indian cinema, how they have put the spotlight on gender and social issues through their roles while many have taken up causes outside their work and still others made a mark in public life. Since the programme was held on December 16, celebrated as Vijay Diwas to commemorate Indias victory in the 1971 war, Mr Tharoor took full advantage of this and ended his talk with a tribute to Indira Gandhi and the soldiers who died in the war. While his cousins are constantly in the news, Varun Gandhi is neither seen nor heard these days. For starters, hes no longer an MP as he was denied a ticket by the Bharatiya Janata Party in the last Lok Sabha election. Currently at a loose end, Varun is spending most of his time at his Delhi farmhouse or travelling abroad. However, he is also said to be exploring other options. According to the Delhi political grapevine, Varun is in touch with a leader of a regional party and is not averse to switching sides if he gets the right offer. Though Varun and the regional party leader are on friendly terms, the latter is learnt to have remarked jokingly that a A Mercedes part would not fit into a Fiat. But then politics is the art of possible.
GRPF busted trafficking of minor girls for employment
Visakhapatnam: A human trafficking ring was uncovered at Visakhapatnam railway station, resulting in the rescue of 11 individuals, including nine minors. The operation was conducted by the Government Railway Police (GRP) during a routine check on the Visakhapatnam Kirandul Express, where they intercepted young girls. The primary suspect, Ravi Bisoy, the contractor of Handloom Company, was arrested and is alleged to have trafficked over 100 girls using fake Aadhaar cards to place them in employment at a private company. The rescued individuals were identified as coming from Navrangpur, Odisha, with others originating from various villages in Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, and Nepal. According to GRP Circle Inspector (CI), the minor girls were reportedly en route to Tirupur to work in a handloom factory. These girls came from impoverished families, highlighting the vulnerability of such communities to trafficking schemes. Following their rescue, the minor girls were sent home, and authorities obtained an undertaking letter from Ravi Bisoy. The case has since been transferred to Navrangpur for further investigation.
