QCrime: UP ‘Godmen’ Accused of Rape; Woman Set Ablaze in Hyderabad

Crime stories curated for you by The Quint

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1. 2G Verdict: ED to Appeal Acquittal of 19 Accused

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) will appeal the acquittal of the 19 accused in the 2G spectrum allocation case on the grounds that money laundering is a "standalone" crime, the agency said on Thursday.

Agency sources said the overall grounds for appeal is the fact that the court cannot throw out ED's evidences, gathered through independent investigations under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), just because the scheduled offence being probed by the CBI has been found baseless and is being shut.

The special court on Thursday acquitted 19 accused, including former telecom minister A Raja and DMK leader Kanimozhi in the ED's case.

Besides Raja and Kanimozhi, the Special Judge also acquitted Shahid Balwa, Vinod Goenka, Asif Balwa, Rajiv Aggarwal, Karim Morani, P Amirtham and Sharad Kumar in connection with the case.

(Source: PTI)

2. UK Priest Jailed for 18 Years Over Child Sex Abuse

A UK priest was jailed for 18 years on Thursday for sexual abusing boys at a top British Catholic school in crimes dating back to the 1970s. Andrew Soper, 74, fled to Kosovo in 2011 to avoid prosecution over charges that he molested boys while headmaster at St Benedict's School in London.

He was extradited in 2016 to face 19 counts of indecent assault and buggery against 10 former pupils in the 1970s and 1980s. A jury at the Old Bailey central criminal court in London found him guilty of all charges on 6 December.

Sentencing him on Thursday, judge Anthony Bate said that Soper's conduct was "the most appalling breach of trust" and that he had "subverted the rules of the Benedictine order and teachings of the Catholic Church".

Giving evidence, Soper denied using the cane as a ruse to abuse boys who were given the choice of six lashes with trousers on, or three with them off.

(Source: PTI)

3. Ryan Case: Counsel of Accused Student Files Bail Application

The counsel of the 16-year-old student accused of killing a boy at the Ryan International School on Thursday filed a second bail application in a sessions court, a day after the Juvenile Justice Board decided to try him as an adult in the case.

The board had earlier rejected the bail plea of the class 11 Ryan International School student, charged with killing Pradhuman Thakur, a class 2 student of the same school, in the school premises on 8 September.

The defense counsel, Sandeep Aneja, filed the second bail application this time to give some relief to his client after his first bail plea was rejected by the JJB on 15 December 15 on the ground of scientific, physiological, psychological and behavioral reports.

(Source: PTI)

4. Delhi Businessman's Killer Arrested

A 20-year-old man, carrying a reward of Rs 50,000 on his head for his alleged involvement in robbing and killing a businessman in northwest Delhi's Shastri Nagar, was arrested by the Crime Branch.

The accused, identified as Ravi Dedha, was arrested on 19 December from Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, they said.

On 22 August, Dedha and his accomplices followed Sanjiv Gajwani, 42, on their motorcycles from his hosiery factory at Shastri Nagar to his house in Ashok Vihar, the police said.

Gajwani was riding a scooter and was carrying a bag containing cash. As soon as Gajwani parked his vehicle in front of his house, the accused tried to snatch his bag. When the businessman resisted, the accused allegedly shot at him thrice.

The gang members then fled with Gajwani's bag containing Rs 4.15 lakh, the police said.

(Source: PTI)

5. Man Arrested With Opium Worth Rs 15 Lakh

A 25-year-old man, suspected to be connected to an inter-state racket involved in supplying opium, was arrested and 3.1 kg of the contraband worth Rs 15 lakh was seized from him.

On 17 December, the police nabbed one Guddu Khan from near the Vijay Ghat bus stand, Ring Road. The police seized 3.1 kg of fine quality opium worth Rs 15 lakh in international market from his possession, Rajesh Deo, deputy commissioner of police (Crime), said.

During interrogation, he revealed that he had procured the opium from Kasganj in Uttar Pradesh, the DCP said, adding that a team has been deployed to trace the supplier.

(Source: PTI)

6. Journalist's Body Found in Haryana, SIT Probe Ordered

Haryana Police on Thursday said it has formed a special investigation team (SIT) to probe the alleged killing of a journalist in Charkhi Dadri area.

Rajesh Sheoran's body was found under mysterious circumstances in the area, the police said. Haryana DGP BS Sandhu in a statement said that a murder case has been registered at Dadri city police station.

He said a three-member SIT, led by DSP Pradeep Kumar, has been formed to probe the case.

(Source: PTI)

7. Secunderabad Horror: Woman Set on Fire in Public View

A 25-year-old woman is critical after she was set ablaze on Thursday in full public view in Secunderabad allegedly by a man suspected to be her lover, police said.

The incident occurred at around 6:45 pm in Lalaguda area of the city. As per preliminary investigation, the woman, who works as a receptionist at an aluminium fabrication unit, was called to the spot by the man.

After she reached the spot, the man, who was carrying a can, suddenly poured kerosene on her and set her on fire before fleeing, a police official said. Hearing her cries, some passersby rushed to her aid and put out the fire. She was then shifted to hospital where she is battling for her life.

"The woman has suffered 60 percent burns and her condition is critical," the official said. Police have registered a case of murder against the unidentified man. According to the official, the accused appears to be the lover of the woman and was allegedly harassing her.

(Source: PTI)

8. Woman Alleges Gangrape in Northwest Delhi

A 22-year-old woman has alleged that she was raped by five people, including four juveniles, in northwest Delhi's Jahangirpuri area, police said on Thursday.

The woman, a resident of Jahangirpuri, had recently become friends with a juvenile staying nearby. She claimed that she was invited by him for a party at his home. The juvenile's four friends also joined them.

The woman, who is working at a private firm, alleged that they forcefully made her consume liquor. She has alleged that they threatened her with dire consequences and held her hostage for around five hours.

The woman claimed that they asked her not to inform anyone about the incident. She approached the police and a case was registered against the five accused.

All of them have been identified, the police said, adding that one of the accused has been arrested while the four juveniles have been apprehended.

(Source: PTI)

9. Head of Ashram, Three Babas Accused of Rape in UP

Two 'sadhvis' have accused four babas, including the head of an ashram, of allegedly raping them at the ashram in Basti district of Uttar Pradesh.

An FIR was lodged last evening against six persons - the head of Sant Kutir ashram, Sachidanand alias Dayanand, Param Chetanand, Vishwas Nand, Gyan Vairagyanand as well as two women. A search is on for the six, all of whom are absconding.

The two 'sadhvis', who had joined the ashram in 2008, alleged they were assaulted by the head priest and his three colleagues with the help of two women associates, at the Sant Kutir ashram, about 200 km from Lucknow, said Sankalp Sharma, superintendent of police (SP).

Police have interrogated the manager of the ashram, which has its main branch in Delhi. The 'sadhvis', who belong to Chhattisgarh, have been sent for medical test, the SP added.

(Source: PTI)