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<p><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">A Special POCSO Court in Gandhinagar has sentenced Prahlad Morwadia to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment for the abduction and rape of a minor girl. The verdict was delivered a year after the crime was reported at the Mansa police station.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Morwadia, a resident of Lalpur village in Banaskantha, had a "love affair" with the victim, who is from Rajpur village in the Mansa area. According to case records, on July 15, 2024, he "lured" the girl to Lalpur and "repeatedly assaulted" her in a field.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">The case began after the victim&rsquo;s father filed a complaint with Mansa police. The trial was presided over by Second Additional Sessions Judge J N Thakkar. Government prosecutor Sunil Pandya presented the testimonies of the victim and other witnesses. Pandya "stressed that the accused had committed a grave offence against a child" and highlighted "the growing incidence of such crimes," urging the court to "impose the severest possible punishment."</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">The court accepted the prosecution's case and sentenced Morwadia to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment under charges of rape and provisions of the POCSO Act. He was also fined Rs 30,000. Additionally, the court directed the District Legal Services Authority to provide Rs 4 lakh in compensation to the survivor.</span></p>

Man Gets 20-Year Jail Term for Raping Minor in Guj

Banaskantha man convicted of raping minor girl, fined and jailed for 20 years

<div><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">At a press conference on Saturday, Gujarat Congress President Amit Chavda accused the ruling BJP of large-scale voter fraud, claiming serious irregularities were found in the electoral rolls across Gujarat, particularly in the Navsari Lok Sabha constituency, which is represented by BJP chief and Union Cabinet minister CR Patil.</span></div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Chavda said the Congress party&rsquo;s review of voter lists revealed multiple cases of &ldquo;one person, multiple votes,&rdquo; including duplicate voter IDs, spelling variations, and discrepancies in language used to obscure identities. The Choryasi Assembly segment in Navsari was highlighted, where, out of 6,09,592 registered voters, 40 percent were examined, uncovering nearly 30,000 entries as duplicate, fake, or suspicious.</span></div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">&ldquo;If one constituency shows this scale of irregularity, it raises questions about the integrity of the entire electoral process in Gujarat,&rdquo; Chavda remarked. He also alleged that address changes were being used to artificially inflate voter rolls.</span></div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Chavda also indicated that if similar discrepancies exist across the state, millions of voters could potentially be affected. He emphasized that Congress will continue to monitor and expose any irregularities and demanded a full verification of Gujarat&rsquo;s electoral rolls.</span></div>

Congress alleges voter fraud in Gujarat rolls

Navsari constituency under scrutiny as Congress claims thousands of fake or duplicate vote

<p dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) has announced financial assistance of ₹25 lakh each to the families of 11 people who died in a stampede outside M Chinnaswamy Stadium during the team&rsquo;s IPL 2025 title celebrations on June 4.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">The tragic incident occurred less than 24 hours after RCB clinched the IPL crown with a six-run victory over Punjab Kings at Ahmedabad&rsquo;s Narendra Modi Stadium. While celebrations continued inside the stadium, chaos outside led to the deaths of 11 fans and injuries to over 50 others.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Eighty-four days later, following public criticism and multiple complaints, RCB launched the 'RCB Cares' initiative to provide aid to the bereaved families and support the injured. The initiative aims to offer long-term care and honor the memory of those lost.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">The move comes after criticism of RCB&rsquo;s delayed response, with many viewing the three-month gap as a lack of immediate compassion. The Karnataka government had also held the franchise accountable for lapses that contributed to the tragedy.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Through this initiative, RCB intends to provide not just financial assistance but a commitment to support and care for the victims&rsquo; families while reinforcing its responsibility toward fans.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">[Except for the headline, this article has not been edited by the Benefit News editorial team and is published directly from the IANS news feed]</span></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>

Royal Challengers Bengaluru pledges ₹25 lakh each to families of IPL 2025 stampede victims

RCB Offers ₹25 Lakh to Families of 11 Victims

<p dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Malayalam cinema witnessed a major surprise this week with Lokah Chapter 1 outperforming several star-studded films at the box office. Directed by Dominic Arun and produced by Dulquer Salmaan, the film marks the first instalment of the Wayfarer Cinematic Universe and blends superhero action with fantasy, mythology, and science fiction.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">The film opened with ₹2.7 crore on Thursday and registered a 40% rise on Friday, collecting ₹3.75 crore. This figure surpassed the combined earnings of Hrithik Roshan and Jr NTR&rsquo;s War 2 (₹65 lakh) and Rajinikanth&rsquo;s Coolie (₹1.75 crore). Even Mohanlal&rsquo;s Hridayapoorvam fell behind with a ₹2.70 crore Friday collection. Only Bollywood&rsquo;s Param Sundari, which grossed over ₹7 crore, managed to outpace Lokah.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">With strong word-of-mouth and audience appreciation for its unique mix of folklore and modern storytelling, Lokah Chapter 1 is being hailed as one of the best Indian superhero films. Early reviews praise its performances, action sequences, and integration of cultural elements.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">The film stars Kalyani Priyadarshan, Naslen, and Sandy in lead roles, alongside a strong supporting cast including Arun Kurian, Chandu Salimkumar, Vijayaraghavan, and Nithya Shri. Released on August 28, it has already earned ₹6.20 crore in India and is expected to touch or cross ₹15 crore by the end of its opening weekend</span></p>

Dulquer Salmaan’s superhero film Lokah Chapter 1 beats biggies with strong box office run

Lokah Chapter 1 Shines at Box Office

<p data-start="423" data-end="712"><a title="IAF" href="https://www.benefitnews24.com/defence/operation-sindoor-six-paf-jets-downed/17614" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Pakistan&rsquo;s</a> Foreign Minister <strong data-start="451" data-end="464">Ishaq Dar</strong> may have extended an olive branch to New Delhi, but India&rsquo;s position on bilateral engagement remains <strong data-start="566" data-end="583">crystal clear</strong>&mdash;there can be no dialogue until <strong data-start="615" data-end="650">Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK)</strong> and the menace of <strong data-start="669" data-end="695">cross-border terrorism</strong> are addressed.</p>
<p data-start="714" data-end="1226">Speaking to the media, Dar emphasised that his country was prepared for a &ldquo;composite dialogue&rdquo; with India in a &ldquo;dignified and respectful manner&rdquo; on all issues, including Kashmir. Yet, he underlined that &ldquo;Pakistan will not beg for talks&rdquo;. His remarks recall the <strong data-start="975" data-end="1012">2003 composite dialogue framework</strong>, launched under General Pervez Musharraf, which included eight components covering every contentious matter. That dialogue process collapsed after the <strong data-start="1164" data-end="1194">2008 Mumbai terror attacks</strong>, never to be revived in full.</p>
<p data-start="1228" data-end="1487">Dar went further, claiming that Pakistan&rsquo;s diplomatic narrative had gained &ldquo;global recognition&rdquo;, portraying Islamabad as proactive and willing to engage. He also noted that Pakistan had not asked for mediation but was open to discussions at a neutral venue.</p>
<p data-start="1489" data-end="1955">But the <a title="India" href="https://www.benefitnews24.com/india/india-exposes-pakistan-as-it-takes-unsc-helm/15425" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Indian</a> stand is <strong data-start="1513" data-end="1527">unwavering</strong>. For New Delhi, the question is not one of optics or &ldquo;gesture diplomacy&rdquo; but of <strong data-start="1608" data-end="1624">fundamentals</strong>. Without Pakistan first <strong data-start="1649" data-end="1695">vacating its illegal occupation of Kashmir</strong> and ending its sponsorship of terrorism, any talk of peace or dialogue is dismissed as hollow posturing. India has consistently maintained that there is <strong data-start="1849" data-end="1873">nothing to negotiate</strong> beyond the return of PoK and an end to terror infrastructure across the border.</p>
<p data-start="1957" data-end="2309">The larger question then arises: is Islamabad&rsquo;s latest outreach a genuine attempt to <strong data-start="2042" data-end="2056">reset ties</strong>, or merely a tactical move to project an image of flexibility abroad? To many in India, this sounds less like bridge-building and more like a <strong data-start="2199" data-end="2229">public relations manoeuvre</strong> aimed at the international community rather than a credible peace initiative.</p>
<p data-start="1957" data-end="2309">&nbsp;</p>
<p data-start="1957" data-end="2309"><strong>ALSO READ: https://www.benefitnews24.com/geo-politics/pak-s-dar-india-hit-nur-khan-rafiqui-airbases-/14336</strong></p>
<p data-start="2311" data-end="2684">Until Pakistan confronts the reality of its role in fostering instability, <strong data-start="2386" data-end="2438">India&rsquo;s door to dialogue will remain firmly shut</strong>. The road to talks lies not through <strong data-start="2475" data-end="2492">grandstanding</strong> in the media, but through tangible steps&mdash;dismantling terror networks and acknowledging the legitimacy of India&rsquo;s claims over PoK. Anything short of that is, at best, <strong data-start="2659" data-end="2681">diplomatic theatre</strong>.</p>
<hr data-start="2686" data-end="2689">
<h3 data-start="2691" data-end="2729">&nbsp;</h3>

Pakistan Occupied Kashmir and Indian side

Islamabad seeks dialogue, but New Delhi insists PoK and terror must be addressed first

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<div>Haresh Jhala&nbsp;</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div><strong>Ahmedabad:</strong> Journalist Mahesh Langa has been arrested by Ahmedabad Detection of Crime Branch, for his alleged involvement in a case pertaining to Goods &amp; Services Tax (GST) evasion and creation of fake companies to avail credit.&nbsp;</div>
<div><br>According to the CGST intelligence wing, over 200 fake companies were created in the scam. Along with Langa, Bharatiya Janata Party&rsquo;s (BJP) sitting MLA Bhaga Barad&rsquo;s son Ajay has been named in the First Information Report (FIR) filed by police.</div>
<div>&nbsp;<br>Since Monday evening, there had been buzz that Langa was summoned by the police, and officials confirmed queries and informed media persons that Langa was being questioned.</div>
<div><br>On Tuesday, fellow journalist Satish Jha broke the news of Langa&rsquo;s arrest on &lsquo;X&rsquo;. &ldquo;Ahmedabad Detection of Crime Branch has arrested journalist Mahesh Langa along with other suspects in an alleged GST scam,&rdquo; he wrote.</div>
<div><br>This revelation witnessed a host of reactions from netizens on social media.</div>
<div>&nbsp;<br>Professor Layla Mehta commented, &ldquo;It is not easy to be an independent &amp; critical journalist in Gujarat,.........&rdquo;</div>
<div><br>@icaptann tweeted, &ldquo;Mahesh Langa has exposed many BJP&rsquo;s corruption, this is bound to happen in Amrit Kaal, this government is after everyone who questions them.&rdquo;</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>With all due respect to those who feel that fearless journalism is next to impossible in Gujarat. I disagree.</div>
<div>&nbsp;<br>Mahesh Langa may have earned respect as a journalist through his professional conduct and knack for telling good stories. Exposing scams is the duty of a journalist, and nothing should hamper them in pursuit of this profession.</div>
<div>&nbsp;<br>The most unfortunate thing is there are many good journalists in Gujarat who have done stories far better than Mahesh. It seems that hardcore journalism has not reached the readers.</div>
<div>&nbsp;<br>I am talking about hardcore journalism, post October 2001.</div>
<div><br>Veteran journalist R K Misra often wrote pieces criticizing the Gujarat government, whether it was led by then Chief Minister Narendra Modi, or his successors.</div>
<div><br>Take for example Darshan Desai&rsquo;s work during the aftermath of the 2002 Godhra riots, he ran a campaign in the Indian Express &ldquo;Dial M for Murder&rdquo; with Joydeep Ray. Another journalist, Stavan Desai, did a series of stories on call data records during the 2002 riots and exposed the involvement of politicians in riots.</div>
<div>&nbsp;<br>Another example is the investigative journalism done by veteran journalist Prashant Dayal, who exposed fake encounters done by police in Ahmedabad and Gujarat. Most of his news articles were critical, he faced life threat, got slapped with six sedition court cases from the state government. Despite all the hindrances, he is still a committed hardcore journalist, fearlessly doing his job.</div>
<div>&nbsp;<br>Suresh Vanol, a journalist from Mehsana, exposed the Sujalam Sufalam irrigation scam. He broke the story even before the Public Account Committee, led by Congress leader Shaktisinh Gohil, pointed it out in its 2006 report, which is yet to be tabled in the state Assembly. It is a different matter that the MB Shah Commission gave a clean chit to those involved in the scam allegation.</div>
<div><br>Nowadays, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Pracharak Sanjay Joshi is back in the news. It is not common knowledge, but at a BJP national executive committee meeting in Mumbai, a CD of his sexual encounter was circulated among BJP leaders. This act was used to&nbsp;tarnish the image of Sanjay Joshi.</div>
<div><br>Senior Journalist Dilip Patel uncovered the involvement of staffers at the Gujarat Chief Minister&rsquo;s Office (CMO) in production and distribution of the CDs. Having covered many such stories in his vast career, the only harm the system could do to him is to ensure that Dilip Patel never lands a job in mainstream media or with leading news banners.</div>
<div>&nbsp;<br>Dilip Singh Kshatriya, who has been practising journalism in Gujarat for the past 16 to 17 years, has never faced any harassment from the state government or machinery. He has put out a number of critical pieces exposing the state government&rsquo;s tall claims of &ldquo;all is well in Gujarat&rdquo; and also exposed holes in Gujarat&rsquo;s developmental model through his investigative stories.</div>
<div>&nbsp;<br>It is certainly not the first time that the ruling party in a state has harassed or taken action against journalists.</div>
<div><br>One of the most memorable examples of fearless journalism in the recent past, is that of seasoned journalist Late Charudutt Vyas. He bought an Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) bottle, and put it on the Ahmedabad police commissioner&rsquo;s table in the middle of a press conference, only to ask him about enforcement of the prohibition law in Gujarat.</div>
<div>&nbsp;<br>In the late 1980s, veteran journalist Nachiketa Desai exposed a deforestation scam in Surat district. Then state Chief Minister Amarsinh Chaudhary had turned a blind eye to the merciless deforestation of a dense forest area. Desai&rsquo;s story and subsequent public pressure led to the appointment of a Lokayukta in Gujarat to investigate the scam. Unfortunately, the report never saw the light of day.</div>
<div><br>Post the Babri Masjid demolition riots in Surat, veteran journalist Darshan Desai had reported about women&rsquo;s allegations that they were raped by rioters. The next day, then Chief Minister late Chimanbhai Patel had given him a call, but not to threaten him.</div>
<div>&nbsp;<br>There are several journalists in Gujarat who have and are presently practising fearless journalism in Gujarat. Be it exposing the past and/or present governments, political leaders&rsquo; nexus with criminal or illegal activities, threats to life or jobs have not put a dent in their determination to speak truth to power.</div>
<div>&nbsp;<br>The big question remains why none of these journalists were never booked or arrested. Maybe because all of them were only practising genuine and ethical journalism.</div>
<div>&nbsp;<br>If Mahesh Langa is innocent and was only discharging his duties as a journalist, I would be the first person to stand with him in his tough time and fight for justice. Like me, many other journalists from Gujarat would have joined the movement to seek his freedom. Unfortunately, that is not the case.</div>
<div>&nbsp;<br>According to sources from the power corridors of the state secretariat, Langa was more than a journalist, frequently hobnobbing with powerful people. Many of his so-called investigative stories were interpreted as bias and motivated by agenda.</div>
<div>&nbsp;<br>My journalistic experience of 37 years in Gujarat is proof that journalism against a weak system is encouraged. Such journalists are never harassed, they are only targeted, if their stories target individuals, and reporting is done with malafide intention.</div>
<div>&nbsp;<br>&ldquo;The pen is mightier than the sword&rdquo; is the saying that is often quoted when talking about journalism. But, when fighting against the system or exposing its weaknesses or failings, one should ensure that their slate is clean.</div>
<div>&nbsp;<br>Langa has allegations of being involved in a GST tax evasion scam and also, creating a fake firm. As the law states, &ldquo;Not guilty, until proven otherwise&rdquo;, Langa has to pass this test that he has been put to and come out scratch-free.</div>
<div>&nbsp;<br>However, one must not forget that even to cook up a story or a criminal case, some evidence is needed. It&rsquo;s how the saying goes, &ldquo;There is no smoke without fire.&rdquo;<br><br>(The views expressed by the writer are personal. Benefit News and its management do not subscribe to it)</div>

Allegations of GST tax evasion and involvement in creation of fake company profiles levelled against him

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