CHANDIGARH, May 2: Punjab Police registered a first case under the new anti-sacrilege law after torn pages of a religious scripture were found in a slum area in Sri Muktsar Sahib district.
The case was registered on Thursday night following a compliant of torn pages of ‘Sukhmani Sahib Gutka’ were found in Kuchian Mohalla in Malout in Sri Muktsar Sahib, a police official said.
The FIR has been registered against unknown persons, Deputy Superintendent of Police Harjeet Singh said on Saturday.
The pages of the Gutka Sahib have been handed over to a gurdwara, police said.
The FIR has been lodged against Section 299 (criminalises deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage the religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or beliefs) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Section 5 of the Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Act, 2026.
The Punjab Government last month notified the anti-sacrilege law –the Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Act, 2026 — which proposes stricter punishment, including life imprisonment and a fine of up to Rs 25 lakh, for any act of sacrilege against the Guru Granth Sahib, the Sikh holy book.
The AAP Government on April 13 had convened a special session of the Vidhan Sabha to amend the Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar Act, 2008, to deter incidents of ‘beadbi’ (sacrilege) and uphold the sanctity of the Guru Granth Sahib.
According to the law, any person who commits sacrilege shall get a minimum of seven years’ imprisonment, extendable to up to 20 years, along with a fine of Rs 2 lakh to Rs 10 lakh.
Any person who, in a criminal conspiracy, commits sacrilege with the intention of disrupting peace or communal harmony shall get a minimum 10-year sentence, extendable to up to life imprisonment, along with a fine of Rs 5 lakh, which may go up to Rs 25 lakh, as per the law. (PTI)
KOLKATA, May 2: Senior BJP leader Amit Malviya on Saturday said the Supreme Court’s refusal to intervene into the EC’s order on deployment of central government personnel for vote counting in West Bengal is a “clear message” against attempts to cast doubt on the electoral process.
The apex court on Saturday said no further order was necessary on the TMC’s plea challenging the Calcutta High Court’s dismissal of its petition against an Election Commission circular on the deployment of central government personnel for vote counting in West Bengal.
The BJP leader, in a social media post, said, “In yet another legal setback, the Supreme Court has refused to intervene. The Trinamool Congress had approached the court challenging the exclusion of state government employees from vote-counting supervisor duties, and had sought an urgent hearing.”
“The refusal to entertain this plea underscores a clear message — attempts to influence or cast doubt over the integrity of the counting process will not find easy validation. Another day, another judicial rebuff for Mamata Banerjee,” he added.
There was no immediate response from the TMC on Malviya’s remarks. A special bench of Justices P S Narasimha and Joymalya Bagchi said the Election Commission (EC) can choose counting personnel and its April 13 circular cannot be said to be incorrect.
The poll body said the circular is very clear that there will be a mix of central and state government employees and the apprehension of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) of any wrongdoing is misplaced.
The EC assured the court that the circular would be implemented in letter and spirit.
Polling for the 294-member West Bengal Assembly was held in two phases — April 23 and 29. The counting of votes will be taken up on May 4.
On April 30, the Calcutta High Court dismissed the TMC’s petition against the EC circular, saying there was no illegality in the poll panel’s decision to appoint counting supervisors and assistants from central government and Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) employees, instead of the state government staffers. (Agencies)
LOS ANGELES, May 2: Mexican star Diego Luna, best known for his role in “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” and its much-lauded spin-off series “Andor”, has been cast in Disney’s live-action adaptation of its 2010 animated hit “Tangled.”
Luna joins a cast that includes Teagan Croft, Milo Manheim and Kathryn Hahn, who will essay the role of the antagonist.
According to Variety, the 46-year-old actor will play an entirely new role created specifically for the live-action film.
“Tangled”, which was a retelling of the Brothers Grimm fairy tale of Rapunzel, grossed over 591 million dollars worldwide and also spawned a Disney Channel television series.
The story is about Rapunzel, a young woman with magically long golden hair who has spent her entire life locked in a tower by the villainous Mother Gothel.
When a charming thief named Flynn Rider stumbles into her tower, she strikes a deal with him to escort her to the outside world, setting off an adventure that reveals her true identity as the kingdom’s long-lost princess.
Michael Gracey, director of the musical blockbuster “The Greatest Showman”, will helm the feature. The screenplay has been written by Jennifer Kaytin Robinson and Michael Montemayor.
Kristin Burr will produce for Burr! Productions, with Jessica Virtue, EVP of production, overseeing the project for Disney Live Action.
Filming is scheduled to begin in Spain in June. A release date has not been announced.
Luna is a celebrated actor, director and producer whose credits also include critically-acclaimed movies such as “Y Tu Mama Tambien,” “La Maquina” and “The Terminal”.
His directorial debut “Ashes”, adapted from an acclaimed Spanish-language novel and co-written by Luna, is set to premiere at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival.
He is also set to star in Netflix’s “Mexico 86”, based on the true story of a Government official who negotiated Mexico’s hosting of the 1986 FIFA World Cup. (PTI)
JAMMU, May 2: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has ordered the promotion of two Deputy Superintendents of Police (DySPs) to the rank of Superintendent of Police (SP) in the Jammu and Kashmir Police.
According to Government Order No. 265-Home of 2026 dated May 2, 2026, issued by the Home Department, sanction has been accorded for the elevation of the following officers from DySP (General Cadre) to SP (Level-11) in the Pay Matrix (₹67,700–₹2,08,700) with immediate effect:Mudasser Ahmed Tramboo (KPS1258)Vaseem Mehmood (KPS125754)
The order was issued with the approval of Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha.
As per the official document, the promotions shall remain subject to the outcome of any writ petitions.
WASHINGTON, May 2: The US State Department has approved the possible sale of 10,000 Advanced Precision Kill Weapon Systems (APKWS) and related equipment to Israel for a total of $992.4 million.
“The U.S. Department of State has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Israel for its purchase of Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) and related equipment. The estimated total cost is $992.4 million,” the State Department said in a statement.
The US State Department has also approved the possible sale of 500 Patriot air defense missiles of various modifications and related equipment to Qatar for a total of $4.01 billion.
“The U.S. Department of State has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Qatar for its purchase of PATRIOT Air and Missile Defense replenishment services and related equipment. The estimated total cost is $4.01 billion,” the State Department said in a statement.
It said the Government of Qatar has requested to buy 200 Phased Array Tracking Radar to Intercept On Target (PATRIOT) Advanced Capability-2 (PAC-2) Guidance Enhanced Missile-Tactical and 300 PATRIOT Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) Missile Segment Enhancement.
On February 28, the United States and Israel launched strikes on targets in Iran, causing damage and civilian casualties. Iran responded by striking Israeli territory and US military facilities in the Middle East. (UNI)
ATLANTA (US), May 2: Federal judges around the country have raised alarms in recent months about the Trump administration’s failure to follow their orders in individual immigration cases.
An Associated Press review of court records shows Trump officials have also racked up an extraordinary record of defiance in a much broader set of lawsuits dating back to the first days of President Donald Trump’s second term.
Since February 2025, district court judges have ruled the Republican administration was violating an order in at least 31 lawsuits over a wide range of issues, including cuts in federal funding, mass layoffs, deportations, and immigration practices.
These violations are in addition to more than 250 instances of noncompliance judges have recently highlighted in individual immigration petitions – from failing to return property to keeping immigrants locked up past court-ordered release dates.
Though Trump officials eventually backed down in about a third of the 31 cases, legal experts say their treatment of court orders damages the constitutional system of checks and balances.
“The federal government should be the institution most devoted to the rule of law in this country,” said David Super, a constitutional law scholar at Georgetown University. “When it ceases to feel itself bound, respect for the rule of law is likely to break down across the country.”
Here are some key takeaways from AP’s report on these cases:
Trump’s aggressive policy moves spark a barrage of lawsuits
———————————————————————
The administration has already faced more than 700 lawsuits.
The AP reviewed hundreds of pages of court documents in noncompliance cases compiled by nonpartisan government watchdogs. It found additional cases by scouring media reports of violations and then verifying the findings with court records.
An unprecedented level of defiance
——————————————
District courts have also found previous administrations in violation of their orders.
But legal scholars and former federal judges said they could recall at most a few cases over the full four-year terms of other recent presidents – including the first Trump administration and Presidents Joe Biden and Barack Obama.
White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson said district court judges were making “unlawful” rulings against Trump officials.
“President Trump’s entire Administration is lawfully implementing the America First agenda he was elected to enact,” she said in a written statement.
In court filings, Justice Department attorneys have generally disputed accusations that the government was not complying. They have argued over the meaning of words, cited favourable appellate court rulings and said they were acting outside the scope of the court’s order, among other legal manoeuvring.
Outside of court, Trump and White House officials have railed against federal judges, and Vice President JD Vance has even suggested the president could ignore court orders.
The effects have been far-reaching
——————————————
The groups that say they’ve been harmed by the administration’s failure to comply with court orders are varied and include immigrants, nonprofits and journalists.
Among other instances of noncompliance, judges found the White House defied rulings when it deported scores of accused gang members to a notorious prison in El Salvador, withheld billions of dollars in foreign aid and failed to restore programming at the Voice of America. The three cases date to the first few months of the new administration, but judges have continued to find violations since then, including in two cases in April.
Higher courts often sided with the White House
——————————————————-
In 15 of the 31 lawsuits the AP reviewed, an appellate court or the Supreme Court either allowed the administration’s underlying policy, limited the district court’s efforts to correct or punish the noncompliance, or both.
Those decisions show lower court judges are overreaching, said Will Chamberlain, senior counsel with the conservative legal advocacy group The Article III Project.
Trump officials are “generally complying, appealing and winning,” he said. “If they were defying orders left and right, they’d be losing them.”
Critics say the higher courts are excusing noncompliance.
“This is not the first time the Court closes its eyes to noncompliance, nor, I fear, will it be the last,” Supreme Court Associate Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote in June in a dissent joined by the court’s two other liberal justices. “Yet each time this Court rewards noncompliance with discretionary relief, it further erodes respect for courts and for the rule of law.” (AP)
JAMMU, May 2: Two Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officers have been posted as Commissioners in Jammu & Kashmir.
As per an order, Mahesh Chand Bhardwaj has been appointed as Commissioner, Audit, Jammu, GST and Central Excise, while Samaya Murali has been posted as Commissioner (Appeals), Jammu, GST and Central Excise.
Srinagar, May 2: The Meteorological Department on Saturday said that changing weather patterns will persist across Jammu and Kashmir over the next few days, bringing rain, thunderstorms and strong winds to several areas of the Union Territory.
Director MeT Dr. Mukhtar Ahmad said that on May 2, scattered places are likely to receive intermittent light rain and thundershowers, mainly during the afternoon, accompanied by gusty winds.
He said that during May 3 and 4, the weather is expected to remain generally cloudy with intermittent spells of light to moderate rain or thundershowers at many places. Thunderstorms, hailstorms and strong winds with speeds of 40–50 kmph may occur at a few locations during different parts of the day.
The department further said that on May 5, brief spells of light rain or thundershowers are likely at scattered places, mainly in the afternoon hours. From May 6 to 9, weather conditions are expected to improve, with mostly dry weather likely, although isolated showers may occur.
From May 10 to 12, the weather is likely to remain largely dry, with chances of brief light rain at isolated places during afternoon hours.
Meanwhile, the MeT Department has issued an advisory warning of possible hailstorms and gusty winds in parts of Central and North Kashmir, as well as some areas of Jammu division. It advised suspension of boating and shikara activities during afternoon to evening hours on May 3 and 4.
Residents have been advised to avoid standing near weak structures, electric poles and overhead wires, while farmers have been urged to suspend agricultural activities between May 3 and 5 in view of the expected adverse weather conditions. (KNC)
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CHANDIGARH, May 2: Punjab Police is learnt to have booked Rajya Sabha MP Sandeep Pathak, who recently defected to the BJP, sources said on Saturday.
Two FIRs have been lodged against Pathak under non-bailable sections, they said.
No further details about the FIRs have been disclosed yet.
Pathak was among the seven Rajya Sabha MPs who had quit the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and joined the BJP.
On April 24, the AAP suffered a jolt when seven of its 10 Rajya Sabha MPs — Pathak, Raghav Chadha, Ashok Mittal, Harbhajan Singh, Rajendra Gupta, Vikramjit Sahney and Swati Maliwal — quit, alleging that Arvind Kejriwal’s party had strayed from its principles, values and core morals.
Six of the seven MPs were from Punjab.
Later, Rajya Sabha Chairman C P Radhakrishnan officially accepted their merger with the BJP, reducing AAP’s strength in the Upper House to three. (Agencies)
