On Tuesday, the Supreme Court mandated the removal of all references—names, photos, and videos—related to a trainee doctor who was allegedly raped and murdered at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital from social media. Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, alongside Justices J.B. Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, stressed that disclosing the victim’s identity breaches the court’s Nipun Saxena ruling, which aims to shield sexual assault victims from public exposure. This decision followed a petition by lawyer Kinnori Ghosh and others, who challenged the widespread dissemination of the victim’s details online.
In a separate matter, the Karnataka Lokayukta has recommended to Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot that a charge sheet be filed against Union Minister and senior Janata Dal (Secular) leader HD Kumaraswamy regarding a 2007 mining lease case. The allegations claim that Kumaraswamy, during his tenure as chief minister (2006-2008), illegally approved a 550-acre mining lease for Sri Sai Venkateswara Minerals in Bellary district, circumventing legal procedures and enabling illicit mining activities. A 2011 Lokayukta report by N. Santosh Hegde had previously flagged these illegal activities. Kumaraswamy was arrested in 2015 but was subsequently released on bail.
