The first month of the new year promises to be busy for the courts with hearings in many important cases set to start. The Hindu brings a snapshot of what to expect.
January 3: The judicial custody of two accused in the December 17 fire that killed 10 people and injured 175 at the Employees State Insurance Corporation Hospital in Andheri, will end. Nilesh Mehta, the site supervisor, and his assistant Nitin Kamble, who was in-charge of wiring and electrical work, will be produced before the Andheri magistrate court.
January 4: The Dindoshi magistrate court will pass an order in the plea filed by actor Alok Nath seeking anticipatory bail after an FIR was registered against him on October 18 by screenwriter and producer Vinta Nanda alleging rape 19 years after the incident.
January 5: The Prevention of Money Laundering Act court will pass an order to declare the absconding accused and liquor baron Vijay Mallya a fugitive economic offender. The Enforcement Directorate wants Mr. Mallya’s properties confiscated under the new law as he is alleged to have laundered money and is wanted for default on bank loan of over ₹9,000 crore.
January 7: The first witness in the case of death of inmate Manjula Shette inside Byculla jail will be cross examined before the special women’s court at the city civil and sessions court. Six jail staffers, identified by the witness, are accused of assaulting Shette on June 23, 2017, leading to her death.
January 14: The Bombay High Court will decide on the petition filed by activist Gautam Navlakha seeking quashing of the FIR filed against him by Pune police for his alleged role in the violence at Bhima Koregaon last year. He has been charged under various sections of Indian Penal Code and Unlawful Prevention Activities Act.
January 23: HC will determine if 16% jobs can be reserved in any educational institution or co-operative society for Marathas under the newly created Socially and Educationally Backward Class category.
