Actor Mohanlal and 17 executive members resigned from the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (A.M.M.A) following sexual harassment allegations within the industry. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been formed to investigate these allegations, and all related cases have been handed over to the SIT for further investigation.
Prajwal Revanna, the suspended Janata Dal (Secular) leader and Member of Parliament, was arrested upon his arrival at Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport after midnight. Revanna, accused of sexual abuse, was taken into custody by the special investigation team (SIT) probing the charges against him. The 33-year-old politician had been in Germany for nearly a month before returning to India on Thursday.
Prajwal Revanna, the suspended JD(S) leader facing sexual abuse charges, has booked a return flight ticket to Bengaluru from Munich on May 30. Sources in the Special Investigation Team (SIT) expect him to land in Bengaluru in the early hours of May 31 and will be arrested upon arrival. Two cases of sexual assault have been filed against Prajwal, and he has been evading SIT summonses. Despite pledging to cooperate with the investigation, he canceled his flight ticket from Germany twice in the past. The SIT conducted searches at Prajwal’s residence in Hassan on Tuesday, seizing incriminating materials.
Prakash Hiran, one of the owners of TRP Gamezone, has been confirmed dead in the devastating fire that claimed 27 lives on May 25. DNA testing was used to identify the bodies due to the severe damage caused by the fire. Hiran, who held a 60 percent stake in the gaming zone, was also implicated by the Gujarat Police in the First Information Report (FIR). The Special Investigation Team (SIT) investigating the fire has interrogated over 25 individuals and confiscated numerous documents.
Bhavesh Bhinde, the prime accused in the Mumbai billboard collapse tragedy that killed 17 people, has a history of violating billboard erection rules, with over 100 notices and penalties issued against him. This suggests the disaster could have been prevented with prompt action. The incident has prompted a crackdown on illegal hoardings in cities like Mumbai, Noida, and Chennai.
The Mumbai Crime Branch has established a six-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) to thoroughly investigate the Ghatkopar hoarding collapse. The team has begun its probe by searching the residence of the primary suspect, Bhavesh Bhinde, and confiscating pertinent records. Bhinde reportedly maintains seven bank accounts across multiple banks. The police are investigating Bhinde’s acquisition of the hoarding contract and any earnings derived from it. Furthermore, the SIT has documented statements from officials connected with Bhinde’s company. In the wake of the tragic incident, where an illegally installed hoarding collapsed due to high winds, killing 16 individuals and injuring several others, the Mumbai Police have registered a case against Bhavesh Bhide and others under various IPC sections. The Noida Authority’s CEO, Lokesh M., has issued an order mandating structural audits of all overbridge installations, hoardings, and other locations to address public safety concerns and prevent future incidents.
Amidst the ongoing sex scandal involving Prajwal Revanna, a Member of Parliament from Hassan, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Priyanka Chaturvedi has criticized the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Chaturvedi questioned the BJP’s silence on Revanna’s alleged flight from the country after the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the case. She also highlighted the lack of response from the National Commission for Women (NCW) and Union Ministers Smriti Irani and Amit Shah. Meanwhile, Karnataka minister Priyank Kharge has accused the BJP of aiding Revanna’s escape. Former Karnataka CM HD Kumaraswamy has stated that anyone found guilty will face consequences according to the law.
In connection with the Mahadev betting app scam, actor and fitness coach Sahil Khan was apprehended by the Mumbai police cyber cell’s Special Investigation Team (SIT) in Jagdalpur, Chhattisgarh on April 27. This arrest came after the Bombay High Court denied his request for pre-arrest bail. Social activist Prakash Bankar filed a First Information Report (FIR) against Khan and several other accused in November 2023 for their involvement in and endorsement of betting apps. The FIR alleges that multiple web portals and social media platforms, including Khan’s Khiladi Book, were used to promote the Mahadev app and entice users to invest and register. The scam is estimated to have reached approximately 15,000 crore, and the SIT is currently investigating potential illegal transactions between certain financial and real estate firms and the app’s backers. Investigations are ongoing regarding Khan and 31 others, with their bank accounts, electronic devices, and other belongings being examined. Furthermore, the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) / Economic Offence Wing (EOW) in Chhattisgarh has apprehended two individuals connected to the alleged illicit operations of the online gaming and betting app. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has also detained nine individuals as part of its separate investigation.
A petition has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking a court-monitored Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe into the alleged scam involving political financing through electoral bonds. The petition cites news reports and evidence of companies, including Megha Engineering, APCO, and Aurobindo Pharma, purchasing electoral bonds. The petitioners argue that these transactions violate the Prevention of Corruption Act and suggest quid pro quo arrangements with political parties.
The Bombay High Court has questioned the Mumbai Police’s investigation into the murder of former Shiv Sena corporator Abhishek Ghosalkar. The court has ordered the police to submit Call Data Records (CDRs), CCTV footage, and details of the investigation’s progress.
