March 26 : David Headley deposes against 26/11-accused Abu Jundal
Testifying against Syed Zabiuddin Ansari alias Abu Jundal, who allegedly plotted the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack, Pakistani-American terrorist David Headley deposed before a special court through video conferencing from a prison in the U.S. Headley said a reason for his involvement in the 26/11 attack was his school in Pakistan being bombed by Indian Air Force planes in 1971. He also revealed that late Shiv Sena superemo Bal Thackeray was on Lashkar-e-Taiba’s hit-list, and that he had spoken to security guards at Matoshree’s gates.
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The Bombay HC directed the BCCI to shift 13 IPL matches out of Maharashtra as the grounds would have to be watered during a drought-like situation. The court said, “There is a drought situation in the State, there is not a drop of water available, all dams are drying”, and asked “whether the state can turn a blind eye towards the scarcity of water.” The bench also observed that “shifting of IPL matches alone won’t solve the problem but it can be a beginning so that water used for pitches can be diverted to affected areas.”
May 6: HC says beef from other states can be consumed
The Bombay HC held that beef can be consumed in Maharashtra provided the cow is slaughtered outside the State, while upholding the State government’s ban on slaughter of bulls and bullocks in Maharashtra. The court also struck down the provision that made it crime to possess beef. The order said, “The State cannot make an intrusion into one’s home and prevent a citizen from possessing and eating food of his choice.”
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June 13: HC clears Udta Punjab with one cut
The Bombay High Court directed the Central Board of Film Certification to issue an ‘A’ certificate to the movie Udta Punjab after deleting one scene and including a modified disclaimer. The court said, “We do not find anything in the script that affects the sovereignty and integrity of the nation. None can dictate to the filmmaker on how he should make a film and use words, there is no need to censor films.”
August 2: Life terms for Abu Jundal, 6 others in Aurangabad arms haul case
A MCOCA court awarded life terms to terror-accused Abu Jundal and six others. On May 8, 2006, 30 kg of RDX, 10 AK-47 assault rifles and 3,200 bullets were recovered. The court said this was a conspiracy after the 2002 Gujarat riots to eliminate then Gujarat CM Narendra Modi and VHP leader Pravin Togadia and acquitted eight accused.
August 26: HC allows women’s entry into Haji Ali dargah
Setting a precedent in allowing women to enter religious places, the Bombay High Court ruled that “women be permitted to enter the sanctum sanctorum of the Haji Ali Dargah at par with men”. The court said the Dargah Trust’s ban on women’s entry contravenes Article 14 (equality before law), 15 (prohibition of discrimination on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth) and 25 (freedom of conscience and free profession, practice and propagation of religion) of the Constitution.
May 13: No evidence against 6 Malegaon blast-accused, NIA tells court
The National Investigation Agency filed a second supplementary charge sheet in the 2008 Malegaon blasts before a special court, and said sufficient evidence was not found against six blast-accused, including Pragya Thakur. The blast killed six and left 101 injured.
September 8: Acid attack-accused sentenced to death
A special women’s court awarded the death penalty to Ankur Panwar, 26, for causing voluntary hurt to Preeti Rathi (the victim) by throwing acid on her with the intention of causing burns and committing her murder, as she eventually succumbed to her injuries. The order said, “A strong message needs to be sent to the miscreants of such crimes against women that such crimes shall not be tolerated.”
October 21: CBI files supplementary charge sheet in Sheena Bora case
The CBI filed a supplementary charge sheet in the sensational Sheena Bora murder case of April 23, 2013, which claimed that Indrani Mukerjea (Sheena’s mother) kept her husband Peter Mukerjea informed over phone about the place for disposing of Sheena’s body. The CBI relied on emails that showed the Mukerjeas were against the intimate relationship between Peter’s son Rahul and Sheena.
November 16: Rahul Gandhi appears before city court
Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi appeared before a magistrate’s court at Bhiwandi in a criminal defamation complaint filed against him by the RSS in 2014. The RSS said Mr. Gandhi had held it responsible for the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi at a rally. Mr. Gandhi was granted bail in the case.