In a significant legal development, the Supreme Court of India on Monday rejected the bail pleas of activists Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam. Both are accused in the alleged larger conspiracy case related to the 2020 northeast Delhi communal riots. Following the verdict, Khalid, who has been in jail for several years, conveyed through his partner that prison life has now become his reality.
Legal Setback for Activists in Delhi Riots Case
The Supreme Court upheld the Delhi High Court's decision to deny bail to the two accused. Umar Khalid's emotional response was shared on social media platform X by his partner, Banjyosna Lahiri. She quoted Khalid as saying he was happy for others who secured bail. When she mentioned visiting him, he reportedly replied, "Good, good, aa jana. Ab yahi zindagi hai" (Come. This is life now). The case continues to be a focal point in the legal proceedings surrounding the violence that rocked the national capital in February 2020.
Gas Leak Ignites Fire at ONGC Facility in Andhra
In a separate incident in Andhra Pradesh, a major fire broke out at an Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) well site in Konaseema district. The blaze was triggered by a leak in a gas pipeline at the Mori-5 well, operated by ONGC's production contractor, Deep Industries Ltd. Senior officials from Rajahmundry rushed to Mori village following the incident. Preliminary reports confirmed that no casualties or injuries occurred due to the fire, bringing relief to the local community and the company.
Bangladesh Imposes Indefinite Ban on IPL Broadcast
The Bangladesh government has taken a firm stance by imposing an indefinite ban on the telecast and promotion of the Indian Premier League (IPL). This decision comes in the wake of a controversy surrounding the removal of Bangladeshi fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman from the Kolkata Knight Riders squad. An official order stated that all IPL-related broadcasts and promotions are suspended with immediate effect until further notice, impacting cricket fans across the country.
Other Major Developments
A dispute over a gym in East Delhi's Laxmi Nagar area escalated into a horrific street assault. The gym owner, Rajesh Garg, alleged in a police complaint that he was beaten, his wife was molested, and their son was stripped and assaulted. The violence reportedly stemmed from a conflict with the gym's caretaker over business control.
On the international front, Chinese Premier Xi Jinping strongly criticized the United States for its recent actions in Venezuela. He condemned what he termed "unilateral and bullying acts" and called on major powers to respect international law and the principles of the United Nations Charter. This statement followed the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro by US forces.
