Top news of the day: Supreme Court takes suo motu cognisance of Kolkata doctor’s rape and murder; Champai Soren in Delhi amid speculations of BJP switch, and more

Supreme Court takes suo motu cognisance of Kolkata doctor rape and murder, Champai Soren in Delhi amid speculations of BJP switch, and more in The Hindu’s top news of August 18, 2024.

The Supreme Court took suo motu cognisance of the rape and murder of a postgraduate trainee doctor at the R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata. A three-judge Bench headed by Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud is scheduled to hear the case, instituted on the court’s own motion, on Tuesday (August 20, 2024). The suo motu matter would be called for hearing on the top of the board of cases listed for the day before the Bench. The case is titled in ‘Re: Alleged Rape and Murder of Trainee Doctor in R.G. Kar Medical College Hospital, Kolkata and related issues’.

TMC MP Sukhendu Sekhar Ray summoned by police for demanding custodial interrogation of Police Commissioner

The Kolkata Police sent notice to Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Sukhendu Sekhar Ray for his post on X (previously Twitter) demanding custodial interrogation of the Police Commissioner and previous principal of R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital in connection with its probe into the rape and murder of a woman doctor. Mr. Ray had said that the dog squad was sent after three days, which the police sources have claimed to be untrue. The Rajya Sabha MP has been asked to appear before Lalbazar Police Headquarters 

Former Jharkhand Chief Minister Champai Soren landed in Delhi amid speculation that he might likely join the BJP. Soon after landing in Delhi, Mr. Soren told reporters that he hasn’t met any BJP leader and that he is in the national capital on a “personal” visit. “I don’t know anything about such speculations and reports... I am where I am...” he told reporters before leaving for Jamshedpur. The buzz of joining BJP got stronger when he removed the JMM leader, which was written earlier on his official social media handle X (formerly Twitter).

Targeting the Maharashtra Government over its Ladki Bahin scheme, NCP (SP) leader Supriya Sule accused the ruling dispensation of being “extremely selfish” and seeing the brother-sister relationship through the “prism of money”. Addressing a party rally in Dhule district, Ms. Sule claimed the Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana, aimed at providing financial assistance to women in the state, has been launched because of the Lok Sabha poll “shock” for the ruling Mahayuti, comprising the Shiv Sena, BJP and NCP. “This is an extremely selfish government. It sees the brother-sister relationship through the prism of money,” Ms. Sule charged.

Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi termed as an “anti-national step” the government’s move of recruiting public servants through lateral entry, alleging that the reservation of SCs, STs and OBCs is being “openly snatched away” by such an action. The former Congress president also alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is “attacking the Constitution by recruiting public servants through the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh instead of the Union Public Service Commission”. Mr. Gandhi’s attack came after it emerged that 45 specialists would soon join key posts of joint secretaries, directors and deputy secretaries in different Central ministries.

An Air India cabin crew member was allegedly sexually assaulted at a London hotel on Thursday (August 15, 2024) night after an intruder entered her hotel room. Sources among Air India employees said that the incident happened at Radisson Red Hotel in Heathrow, London. The victim was taken to the hospital and has returned to Mumbai, said airline sources. Two airline officials from Mumbai were flown to London to escort her back. “We are deeply anguished by an unlawful incident of intrusion at a hotel, operated by a major international chain, that affected one of our crew members. We are providing all possible support to our colleague and their broader team, including professional counselling,” the airline said in a press statement.