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Study Circle Launched for Advocates With Up to 10 Years of Practice

Gujarat High Court Big Move

Video shows MBA student murder accused laughing amid probe

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Robodog row sparks backlash at India AI Impact Summit 2026

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Top court restores rape attempt charge, seeks sensitivity guidelines

SC Sets Aside HC Order in POCSO Case

Galgotias University has landed in controversy after showcasing a robotic dog at the India AI Impact Summit 2026 that was widely believed to be developed by its students. The robot, however, was later identified as a commercially available product made by Chinese robotics firm Unitree Robotics.
The backlash began after a video from the summit went viral, in which a university professor introduced the robot dog, named &ldquo;Orion,&rdquo; and referred to it as being developed at the institution&rsquo;s Centre of Excellence. Social media users were quick to point out that the machine closely resembled Unitree&rsquo;s quadruped robots, which are already available globally for research and industrial use.
Unitree is known for manufacturing advanced four-legged robots designed for tasks such as inspection, obstacle navigation and research applications. Its products are often compared to models developed by global robotics players.
Following the uproar, the Greater Noida-based university issued a clarification stating that it never claimed to have built the robot. It maintained that the robodog was purchased as part of its AI investment initiatives and is being used as a research and learning tool for students. Another faculty member present at the summit reiterated that the display had been misinterpreted and that there was no attempt to conceal the original manufacturer&rsquo;s branding.
Despite the clarification, sources familiar with the developments said the university was asked to vacate its pavilion at the summit amid mounting criticism. The institution, however, denied receiving any formal directive from the organisers or the ministry.
Notably, the robotic dog was removed from display shortly after the controversy escalated online.

The Supreme Court of India on Tuesday set aside a March 2025 judgment of the Allahabad High Court that had ruled that grabbing a minor girl&rsquo;s breasts and dragging her under a culvert did not amount to an attempt to rape. The apex court termed the ruling a &ldquo;patently erroneous&rdquo; application of criminal law principles.
A Bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, along with Justices Joymalya Bagchi and N.V. Anjaria, held that the high court had incorrectly reduced the charges from attempt to rape under Section 376 read with Section 511 of the IPC and Section 18 of the POCSO Act to lesser offences. The court restored the original summons issued by the Special POCSO Court in Kasganj, clarifying that its observations were prima facie and would not influence the trial&rsquo;s outcome.
Rejecting the high court&rsquo;s reasoning that the accused had merely &ldquo;prepared&rdquo; to commit rape, the Supreme Court reiterated the settled distinction between preparation and attempt, noting that an attempt begins when intent moves into execution. Based on the allegations, including forcibly taking the minor on a motorcycle, dragging her near a culvert, and fleeing only after she screamed, the Bench held that a prima facie case of attempt to rape was clearly made out.
The proceedings were initiated suo motu after senior advocate Shobha Gupta raised concerns over the high court&rsquo;s reasoning. The Supreme Court had earlier stayed the controversial observations and later the entire judgment.
Beyond correcting the legal error, the court addressed a broader concern about insensitivity in judicial handling of sexual offence cases. It requested the National Judicial Academy in Bhopal to constitute a five-member expert committee to frame guidelines aimed at fostering compassion and sensitivity in courts, especially in cases involving minors and vulnerable victims.
The committee, to be chaired by former Supreme Court judge Justice Aniruddha Bose, has been directed to submit a report within three months. The guidelines are to be drafted in simple, accessible language and tailored to Indian realities to ensure they are understandable to victims and laypersons alike.

Delhi University has imposed a month-long ban on public meetings, demonstrations, rallies and protests across its campus, citing concerns over traffic disruption, safety risks and potential disturbance to public order.
The order, issued on February 17 by the university&rsquo;s proctor&rsquo;s office, prohibits gatherings of five or more persons, slogan-shouting, speeches and the carrying of materials such as torches or similar items that could pose safety hazards. The directive takes immediate effect and will remain in force for one month unless withdrawn earlier.
University authorities stated that the decision followed inputs suggesting that unrestricted gatherings could escalate and adversely impact law and order within the campus. The order also referenced prior directions issued by the assistant commissioner of police in the Civil Lines area restricting public meetings and activities that may affect public tranquillity or traffic flow.
The move comes after recent tensions on campus. Last week, the Delhi Police registered two FIRs following a clash between student groups during protests over the University Grants Commission&rsquo;s proposed anti-caste discrimination rules. The rules have currently been put on hold by the Supreme Court of India amid differing views among student groups.
In another incident on February 12, historian S. Irfan Habib had water thrown at him while addressing a programme on social justice.
Reacting to the order, Mithuraj Dhusiya, associate professor at Hansraj College and member of DU&rsquo;s executive council, described the decision as a sweeping restriction.

Order follows clashes and safety concerns at Delhi University

DU Bans Protests on Campus for a Month

India has seized three oil tankers near Mumbai as part of a wider crackdown on illicit oil trade and ship-to-ship cargo transfers within its maritime zone. While authorities confirmed the action, they did not officially comment on reports linking the vessels to Iran.
The ships, Stellar Ruby, Asphalt Star and Al Jafzia, were intercepted about 100 nautical miles west of Mumbai earlier this month after suspicious movements were detected inside India&rsquo;s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). The vessels were later escorted to Mumbai for further investigation.
In a statement issued on February 17, the Press Information Bureau said the Indian Coast Guard dismantled an international oil smuggling network through a coordinated sea-air operation conducted between February 5 and 6.
Coast Guard ships carried out boarding operations on the three vessels, examining electronic records, verifying documents and questioning crew members. Investigators found that the syndicate allegedly relied on complex ship-to-ship transfers in international waters to conceal the origin of oil cargo and evade duties payable to coastal states.
Technology-driven maritime surveillance first flagged a motor tanker engaged in suspicious activity within the EEZ. Further digital tracking identified two additional vessels converging on it, prompting a coordinated interception.
Preliminary findings suggest the ships frequently changed identities to avoid detection. The vessels are expected to be handed over to Customs and other law enforcement agencies for legal proceedings.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control had sanctioned three vessels last year whose International Maritime Organisation numbers matched those seized. Shipping data indicated that two of the tankers had operational links to Iran. However, Iranian state media, citing the National Iranian Oil Company, reported that the seized ships and their cargoes were not connected to the company.
The enforcement action comes amid strengthening cooperation between India and the United States on sanctions compliance and maritime security. Authorities have expanded round-the-clock surveillance, deploying around 55 Coast Guard ships and 10&ndash;12 aircraft across key maritime zones.

ICG cracks down on illicit mid-sea oil transfers in EEZ

India Seizes 3 Oil Tankers Near Mumbai

A 46-year-old man lost his life, and three others were injured after a parapet segment from an under-construction Metro corridor collapsed onto vehicles in Mulund, Mumbai, on Saturday. Police have arrested five people in connection with the incident.
The accident occurred on LBS Road when a portion of the elevated Metro 4 corridor gave way, crashing onto an autorickshaw and a car passing below. The project is being executed by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA).
Ramdhani Yadav, who was seated in the rear of the autorickshaw, died in the mishap. The rickshaw driver, Rajkumar Yadav, suffered critical injuries and is undergoing treatment in intensive care. Another passenger, Mahendra Pratap Yadav, and car driver Deepa Ruhiya sustained injuries but are reported to be stable.
Following the tragedy, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis ordered a detailed inquiry and announced ₹5 lakh compensation for the deceased&rsquo;s family. A safety audit of similar construction sites has also been directed.
The MMRDA imposed a ₹5 crore fine on contractor Reliance Infrastructure&ndash;Astaldi (RAJV) and its sub-contractor Milan Road Buildtech LLP. Additionally, the general consultant consortium DB Engineering &amp; Consulting, Hill International Inc, and Louis Berger Consulting Pvt Ltd (DB Hill LBG) has been fined ₹1 crore. Construction at the affected stretch has been temporarily halted.
A high-level committee has been formed to investigate construction practices, quality control, supervision systems, and compliance protocols. An MMRDA executive engineer has been suspended pending inquiry.
Among those arrested are four executives of Milan Road Buildtech and a project manager linked to Hill International Inc.
Local BJP MLA Mihir Kotecha alleged prior negligence at the site and claimed that multiple safety lapses had been flagged earlier. Authorities have yet to respond to these claims. Investigations are ongoing.

Five arrested after Metro 4 segment falls on vehicles in Mulund

Metro Parapet Collapse Kills 1 in Mumbai

A demonstration supporting the University Grants Commission (UGC) Equity Regulations 2026 at the North Campus of University of Delhi turned violent after rival student groups clashed over the proposed mechanism.
The protest, organised by the All India Forum for Equity, drew backing from the All India Students&rsquo; Association (AISA). However, tensions escalated when members of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) opposed the gathering, leading to scuffles at the Faculty of Arts campus.
Influencer Ruchi Tiwari, who was present to cover the protest, alleged she was assaulted during the clashes. She claimed she was manhandled, her clothes were pulled, and police intervened only after the situation worsened. Tiwari further alleged the attack was motivated by caste bias.
In response, AISA dismissed the allegations and accused Tiwari of spreading misinformation. The group claimed that its members faced abuse and threats at the Maurice Nagar police station while filing a complaint. ABVP, meanwhile, stated that Tiwari was targeted while questioning AISA members and accused certain participants of having a history of disruptive behaviour.
Police confirmed that cross FIRs have been registered at Maurice Nagar police station under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Authorities are examining CCTV footage to determine the sequence of events.
The issue has also drawn the attention of the National Human Rights Commission, with member Priyank Kanoongo stating that the matter is beingdel taken cognisance of.
Vice Chancellor Yogesh Singh termed the incident concerning and said discussions had been held with student and teacher groups, as well as the police, to prevent such incidents in the future. Investigations are ongoing.

Student bodies clash at North Campus; cross FIRs filed

DU Protest Clash Over UGC Equity Rules

A 22-year-old Indian student who had been reported missing in the United States has been found dead in California. The body of Saketh Sreenivasaiah was recovered from Lake Anza, located near the Berkeley Hills, local authorities confirmed. The information was shared by India&rsquo;s diplomatic mission in San Francisco on Sunday.
Saketh, a native of Tumakuru in Karnataka, was pursuing a Master of Science in the Product Development Programme at the University of California, Berkeley. He was last seen on February 9 near a lake inside Tilden Regional Park.
The Consulate General of India in San Francisco expressed condolences to the family and stated that it is coordinating closely with local authorities. The mission has assured full support to Saketh&rsquo;s parents, including assistance with formal procedures and arrangements for the repatriation of his mortal remains to India.
Just a day before the confirmation of his death, the Consulate had raised concerns about his disappearance and maintained contact with both the family and US authorities.
Saketh&rsquo;s parents had earlier sought help from the Karnataka government. They approached Chief Secretary Shalini Rajneesh, requesting state intervention after his roommates filed a missing person complaint with the Berkeley Police Department. In response, the Karnataka government wrote to the Ministry of External Affairs, urging necessary diplomatic assistance through the Indian Consulate.
Before joining UC Berkeley, Saketh completed his Bachelor of Technology in Chemical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology Madras.
Investigations into the circumstances surrounding his death are underway.

UC Berkeley student from Karnataka found dead near Berkeley Hills

Indian Student Found Dead in US Lake

The Union government is considering a proposal to impose a 20-year cooling-off period on senior officials, including top military officers, before they can publish books after retirement. The idea reportedly emerged during a recent cabinet discussion amid controversy over former Army Chief Manoj Mukund Naravane&rsquo;s unpublished memoir, Four Stars of Destiny.
Though not part of the official cabinet agenda, several ministers are understood to have supported the idea, suggesting that individuals who have held positions of high authority should observe a long gap before placing sensitive accounts in the public domain. A formal order on the proposed restriction is expected soon.
The political storm erupted after Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi referred in Parliament to portions of Naravane&rsquo;s unpublished manuscript, particularly concerning developments during the 2020 India-China military standoff in eastern Ladakh. The government objected, noting the book had not been officially released.
Soon after, a digital copy of the manuscript began circulating online. Publisher Penguin Random House India stated that the book had neither been published nor made available in any format and warned of legal action against unauthorised circulation. Delhi Police registered an FIR and initiated a probe into the alleged leak.
The manuscript&rsquo;s account of the events at the Kailash Range near Pangong Tso in August 2020, particularly claims regarding the absence of an immediate political directive, lies at the centre of the controversy.
Separately, ministers also discussed allegations raised by the Opposition linking Union minister Hardeep Puri to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein. Puri has denied wrongdoing, stating his interactions were part of official engagements and that he severed ties upon learning of Epstein&rsquo;s conduct.
The defence ministry has yet to clear Naravane&rsquo;s manuscript for publication.

Proposal follows row over ex-Army chief’s unpublished book

Govt Plans 20-Year Cooling-Off for Memoirs

The Special Cell of Delhi Police has served a notice to Penguin Random House India after an unpublished memoir by former Army chief Manoj Mukund Naravane reportedly surfaced in the public domain without official approval.
Investigators are seeking details on how the manuscript, intended for later release, appeared both digitally and in physical form. A case has been registered under charges, including criminal conspiracy, with authorities examining whether the circulation was part of a coordinated effort.
Officials suspect that hardcover copies bearing the publisher&rsquo;s logo may have reached select individuals before publication. The police are also preparing to contact social media companies, including Meta Platforms, to trace how excerpts were uploaded and shared online.
The controversy intensified after the Leader of the Opposition, Rahul Gandhi, referenced portions of the memoir in the Lok Sabha earlier this month. He was prevented from quoting the text by Speaker Om Birla, triggering protests from opposition members. Gandhi later displayed what he claimed was a copy of the book within Parliament premises while criticising the government&rsquo;s handling of the border dispute with China.
Titled Four Stars of Destiny, the memoir had been scheduled for publication in January 2024, with excerpts appearing in media reports the previous month. Around that period, Naravane had also shared a pre-order link, suggesting the book was forthcoming.
In response to the row, the publisher asserted that it holds exclusive rights to the memoir and clarified that no print or digital editions have been released, distributed, or sold. It warned that any version currently circulating would constitute copyright infringement.
Police earlier noted that a typeset PDF matching the book&rsquo;s title was found on certain websites, while some online platforms allegedly displayed a finished cover as though the book were already available for purchase. The investigation is ongoing to determine responsibility for the premature circulation.
&nbsp;

Delhi Police seek answers after unpublished army memoir surfaced online before clearance

Police Probe Naravane Memoir Leak

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) has intensified its inquiry into the alleged disappearance of gold from artefacts at the famed hill shrine in Pathanamthitta, with fresh samples collected for scientific analysis entering their second day.
Led by Superintendent of Police S. Sasidharan, the team began gathering samples from multiple artefacts inside the Sreekovil on Thursday evening. Officials assisting the probe carefully removed gold-plated coverings from select portions of the sanctum, with the remaining layers scheduled for removal as part of Friday&rsquo;s procedure. Authorities aim to complete the process swiftly and reinstall the gold coverings soon afterward.
The temple, dedicated to Lord Ayyappa, is presently open for monthly rituals and is set to close on the night of February 17.
Permission for the fresh round of testing was granted earlier this week by the Kerala High Court, enabling investigators to pursue advanced forensic methods. The SIT is examining two cases tied to the suspected loss of gold from the Dwarapalaka idol plates and the doorframes of the sanctum.
To establish the composition and authenticity of the metal, the team plans to employ techniques such as X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy to identify surface elements, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry for ultra-trace impurity profiling, and optical emission spectroscopy to assess alloy composition and metallurgical consistency.
Similar samples had been collected last year and sent to the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, but the necessary analytical facilities were unavailable, prompting the renewed effort.
While granting approval, the court noted that allegations involving the removal or substitution of precious gold at a sacred site directly affect the shrine&rsquo;s sanctity and require firm scientific verification rather than reliance on testimonies or records that could be disputed.
&nbsp;

Fresh scientific tests begin after court nod to examine alleged gold loss from shrine

India

Galgotias Asked to Exit AI Summit

SC Sets Aside HC Order in POCSO Case

DU Bans Protests on Campus for a Month

India Seizes 3 Oil Tankers Near Mumbai

Metro Parapet Collapse Kills 1 in Mumbai

DU Protest Clash Over UGC Equity Rules

Indian Student Found Dead in US Lake

Govt Plans 20-Year Cooling-Off for Memoirs

Police Probe Naravane Memoir Leak

SIT Probes Gold Loss at Sabarimala Temple Shrine

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