Bofors case stay to check papers

New Delhi (PTI): The trial in the 15-year-old Bofors case was stayed by Delhi High Court on Friday as time was sought to ascertain the evidentiary value of certain Swiss documents in the absence of originals.

Justice R.S. Sodhi stayed the trial proceedings against the Hinduja brothers ? Srichand, Gopichand and Prakashchand ? and Swedish arms manufacturer AB Bofors after additional solicitor-general B. Dutta said he needed time to ascertain if the documents placed on record were capable of being considered for framing charges.

Dutta?s submission is contrary to the CBI?s affidavit filed in the court. The CBI said: ?The said documents are admissible in evidence as per Section 166-A of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC).?

Hindujas? counsel, Ram Jethmalani, sought dropping of cheating charges against them on the grounds that the CBI did not have original documents to prove the case.

The court issued a notice to the CBI on Bofors? plea for discharge and fixed March 4 for hearing.

Court comes to woman?s aid

Allahabad (PTI): Allahabad High Court has directed a Muslim man to pay maintenance money to his estranged wife, saying Muslim women cannot be discriminated against.

Justice S.N. Srivastava said the Constitution mandates that there cannot be any discrimination on the basis of caste, creed or religion and directed Islam to pay Rs 1,000 per month to Fatima.

Hindu law provides for maintenance in such cases and Muslim women are also, therefore, entitled to it under the Constitution, Justice Srivastava said. The court could grant interim maintenance despite the fact that there was no such specific provision under the Muslim law.

?The court cannot be a mere passive pronouncer of judgment unconcerned with the actual effective implementation,? Justice Srivastava said.

A Ghazipur trial court had earlier granted a sum of Rs 1,000 per month as interim maintenance to Fatima but Islam objected to it on the grounds that there was no such provision in the Muslim law.

NRI doctor suspended

Toronto (PTI): Canada has cancelled the licence of a doctor of Indian origin who was found guilty of countersigning prescriptions for US patients without examining or meeting them.

British Columbia-based Daljit Singh Herar was suspended for two years and fined $4,000 for the offence, which gave his patients access to cheaper medicines. Herar was also charged with failure to keep proper medical records and providing false information, a media report said.

Anara case

Jammu: Jammu and Kashmir police closed all cases against former Miss Jammu Anara Gupta on Friday and told the high court that they had no ?prima facie evidence against her?, reports our correspondent. Anara had been arrested in October on charges of featuring in a pornographic CD.

NTR son set free

Hyderabad: Charges against N.T. Rama Rao?s actor son, Balakrishna, in a shootout case last year, has been dismissed by a metropolitan magistrate, reports our special correspondent. The actor?s wife Vasundhara, who had allegedly destroyed evidence, was also acquitted of all charges. On June 3, two of Balakrishna?s film associates were seriously injured in a drunken brawl at his residence.

Siachen ailment

Siachen (PTI): Soldiers at Siachen, the world?s highest and coldest battlefield, have been suffering from ?painful and embarrassing? rectal disorders due to shortage of vegetables and fruits and exposure to the harsh terrain, army medical experts say. However, cold condition deaths have come down to near zero in the past two decades with advanced medical facilities and speedy evacuation of wounded and ailing soldiers.

Bull rampage

New Delhi (PTI): A raging bull gored to death two persons in east Delhi before it was shot dead. The bull attacked Chand Ram, 65, and Rani, 45, near Baldev Park and also damaged some vehicles parked in the area. Police reached the spot and shot the bull dead.

Over 200 students participated in a seminar on incest and child sexual abuse, Within Our Reach, organised by Delhi University students this week. The programme was aimed to create awareness and prevent the crime.