Pegasus Spying, PMLA, Teesta Setalvad Cases Listed In Supreme Court Today

Two important matters are listed for hearing in Delhi HC pertaining to bail plea by Umar Khalid in 2020 Delhi riots case and interim bail plea by Sharjeel Imam in the sedition case.  

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The Supreme Court today will hear some of the crucial cases today which includes review of its order on the various sections of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), plea seeking constitution of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe into the matter of hooch tragedy, plea challenging release of all 11 life convicts in Bilkis Bano ganrape case, and Teesta Setalvad’s bail plea. Two important matters are also listed for hearing in the Delhi High Court pertaining to bail plea by Umar Khalid in 2020 Delhi riots case and interim bail plea by Sharjeel Imam in the sedition case during CAA NRC protests. 

Of the four cases listed in the Supreme Court, two of them — PMLA case and Bilkis Bano case — will be heard by a bench of Chief Justice Of India NV Ramana. The hearing of the crucial case comes on the second last day of his tenure as the Chief Justice of India. Ramana will demit office on August 26. 

Crucial Cases In Supreme Court Today

• PMLA Case: On August 22, the Supreme Court agreed to hear a plea seeking review of its order upholding the Enforcement Directorate’s powers related to arrest, attachment of property involved in money laundering, search and seizure under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). 

• Pegasus Spying Case: The Supreme Court will hear a batch of PILs seeking investigation into allegations of surveillance targeted towards journalists and activists using the Pegasus spyware, reported Live Law.  

• Hooch Tragedy: Another plea that the apex court will hear today pertains to recent cases of hooch tragedy in several states of the country. The petitioner has demanded formation of a special investigation team to probe into deaths due to spurious liquor. The petitioner has also sought the formation of a nodal agency to monitor the production and sale of liquor. Apart from the Central government, the court has issued notices to governments of Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Delhi, and Assam in the matter, reported ABP News. 

• Bilkis Bano Case: The country’s top court will today hear the plea challenging release of 11 life convicts in the gangrape case of Bilkis Bano and murder of her several family members during the 2002 Gujarat riots. The 11 convicts who were sentenced life imprisonment by a special CBI court on January 21, 2008 walked out of the jail on August 15 after the Gujarat government allowed their release under its remission policy. 

• Teesta Setalvad Bail Plea: The Supreme Court will hear the bail plea of ​​Teesta Setalvad who was arrested by the Ahmedabad ATS on charges of conspiring to implicate the then Chief Minister Narendra Modi for the 2002 Gujarat riots and fabricating false evidence for it. Teesta was arrested on June 26 following strong remarks made by the Supreme Court while dismissing Zakia Jafri's petition.

 

Important Cases In Delhi High Court Today 

• Umar Khalid Bail Plea: The Delhi High Court will today hear Umar Khalid’s bail plea. During the last hearing on August 23, the Delhi Police told the High Court that Popular Front of India (PFI) had a role in the 2020 Delhi riots. The Delhi Police alleged that PFI was one of the main conspirators behind the Delhi riots and that they have told this to the court many times.

• Sharjeel Imam Interim Bail Plea: Accused in the Delhi violence case, the Delhi Court will hear the interim bail plea by Sharjeel Imam in the sedition case. During the last hearing, the High Court had issued a notice to the Delhi Police. Sharjeel Imam has challenged the lower court's decision in the Delhi High Court. He also challenged the order of the lower court refusing to stay the sedition trial in the petition. A case of sedition was registered against Sharjeel Imam for giving a speech at Jamia Millia Islamia University in December 2019 during the CAA NRC demonstration.