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Competition Commission of India (CCI) is investigating whether the guidelines and advisories issued by industry bodies Indian Society of Advertisers (ISA), Advertising Agencies Association of India (AAAI) and Indian Broadcasting & Digital Foundation (IBDF) violated competition laws and promoted cartelisation in the advertising industry, according to probe-related documents seen by ET. The investigation was initiated following an August 2024 order by the CCI allowing its director-general to conduct a probe after receiving complaints about possible cartelisation in the advertising industry. The antitrust watchdog on March 18 and 19 searched the premises of these organisations and seized documents. In its application in February seeking approval for the search from a Delhi court, the CCI observed that the allegations pertain to the conduct, guidelines and advisories of these associations, which operate at different levels of the same supply chain.

Supreme Court has taken cognisance on its own of a controversial Allahabad High Court ruling that mere grabbing of the breast and pulling the string of a 'pyjama' do not amount to offence of rape. A bench of Justices B R Gavai and Augustine George Masih is slated to hear the matter on Wednesday. Legal experts had deplored the observation of the Allahabad High Court on what constitutes a rape charge, calling for a restraint by judges and underlining the drop in public confidence in the judiciary due to such statements. The high court on March 17 had ruled that mere grabbing of the breast and pulling the 'pyjama' string do not amount to offence of rape but such offence falls under the ambit of assault or use of criminal force against any woman with the intent to disrobe or compel her to be naked. The order was passed by Justice Ram Manohar Narayan Mishra on a revision petition filed by two persons who moved the court, challenging the order of a Special Judge of Kasganj by which the court had summoned them under Section 376 of IPC apart from other sections. According to facts of the case, an application was moved before the court of Special Judge, POCSO Act, alleging that around 5:00 pm on November 10, 2021, she (informant) was returning from the home of her sister-in-law (husband's sister) along with her minor daughter aged about 14 years.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. Bengaluru: Vikas, 24, who does not wish to reveal his full name, was looking for extra income when he discovered the Probo app through a YouTube influencer last year. A final year MBA student in Jaipur, Vikas was intrigued by the prospect of making money by predicting stock trends and outcomes of cricket matches.

‘The Buckingham Murders’ director took to X to express his support for the comedian. He flagged an abusive post that targeted Kamra. In response, an X user asked him why he did not stand up for Ranaut when her home was demolished in 2020, to which he retorted, “Was her house vandalised? Did goons enter her premises? Did they do this to challenge her freedom of expression or for alleged FSI violations? Please enlighten me. Maybe I don't know the facts." Ranaut, not to mince words, fired back. She stated how she was called slurs and her home was wrecked with bulldozers before the courts opened. She also claimed that people laughed at her ordeal and “raised a toast” to her public humiliation.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. In a petition before the Karnataka high court, X (formerly Twitter) has challenged the legality of India’s Sahyog Portal—a central digital repository that tells social media companies which sites they must block access to. This, the company argues, is an attempt to side-step procedures already approved by the Supreme Court under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, 2000 (IT Act).

Bihar Legislative Council on Tuesday witnessed yet another spat between Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Leader of the Opposition Rabri Devi who was told by the former that she was inconsequential, but for being the wife of RJD president Lalu Prasad. The JD(U) president's fresh fit of temper was caused by the sight of RJD MLCs reaching the House wearing badges, dyed in green, the colour of the party flag, with slogans declaring that quotas for deprived castes had been hiked in the state by the «Tejashwi government» and were «stolen» after BJP returned to power. Tejashwi Yadav, the RJD supremo's son and heir apparent, was the Deputy CM when the quotas were hiked through legislations passed in 2023, which were, however, quashed by the Patna High Court months later. Bihar's longest-serving CM was visibly miffed at the attempt by his former ally to steal credit for the populist move and he made one of the MLCs stand up so that the badge and the slogans on it could be seen clearly. Staring upwards in the direction of the media gallery, the septuagenarian said, «Just look at this spectacle. You can see this only in this party». Rabri Devi rose in protest against the derision of her party, only to be snubbed by Kumar with the remark, in Bihari slang, «You just stay out of this. The party is not yours but that of your husband».

Lok Sabha on Tuesday approved the motion to extend tenure of the JPC on 'One Nation, One Election' upto the first day of last week of the Monsoon Session, 2025. Chairman of the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC), PP Chaudhary, had moved the motion in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday regarding an extension of time for presenting the report on the «One Nation, One Election» Bills ('Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Ninth Amendment) Bill, 2024 and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024'). The bills under consideration include the Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Ninth Amendment) Bill, 2024, and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024. The Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) examining the 'One Nation, One Election' bill is set to meet today at 3 pm. During the meeting, Attorney General of India R Venkataramand Justice DN Patel, the former Chief Justice of Delhi High Court and current Chairperson of the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT), will make representations before the JPC. Firstly, they will meet Justice D.N. Patel, the Former Chief Justice of Delhi High Court, who currently serves as the Chairperson of the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT).

U.S. appeals court judge said on Monday that Nazis were given more rights to contest their removal from the United States during World War Two than Venezuelan migrants deported by the Trump administration. In a contentious hearing, U.S. Circuit Judge Patricia Millett questioned government lawyer Drew Ensign on whether Venezuelans targeted for removal under a little-used 18th-century law had time to contest the Trump administration's assertion that they were members of the Tren de Aragua gang before they were put on planes and deported to El Salvador. «Nazis got better treatment under the Alien Enemies Act than has happened here,» Millett said, to which Ensign responded, «We certainly dispute the Nazi analogy.» Prior to the Trump administration's invocation of the 1798 Alien Enemies Act, the law had been used three times in U.S. history, most recently to intern and remove Japanese, German and Italian immigrants during World War Two. The Trump administration was asking the appeals court to halt Washington-based U.S. District Judge James Boasberg's two-week ban, imposed on March 15, on the use of the law to justify deportation of alleged Tren de Aragua members without final removal orders from immigration judges.

UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez will be sentenced on Monday, March 24 on attempted murder, assault, and gun charges. His sentencing is set to go down in a San Jose courtroom.

Congress on Monday filed notices for breach of privilege against parliamentary and minority affairs minister Kiren Rijiju and health minister JP Nadda over their statements in Parliament about Karnataka deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar's purported remarks in the context of the four per cent quota for Muslims in government contracts in the state. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, who is also leader of the opposition in the Rajya Sabha, said none of his party colleagues spoke about changing the Constitution and claimed the BJP charge was a diversionary tactic to avoid discussion on the currency seizure from a Delhi High Court judge's residence.

Allahabad High Court Bar Association will stage an indefinite strike from March 25 onwards following Justice Yashwant Varma's proposed transfer to Allahabad High Court, a senior office bearer of the body said on Monday. «Lawyers of the High Court Bar Association, Allahabad will go on an indefinite strike from Tuesday following Justice Yashwant Varma's transfer to Allahabad High Court,» bar body president Anil Tiwari told PTI. He added, «We are sending a request to the Bar Associations in Lucknow in this regard.» The strike call came after the Supreme Court collegium on Monday confirmed its decision to recommend the transfer of Delhi High Court's Justice Yashwant Varma, facing an enquiry over the alleged discovery of huge cash from his official residence and from whom judicial work was withdrawn, to his parent Allahabad High Court. After passing of the resolution during the lunch hours of the court, the lawyers abstained from judicial work for the remaining day.

Delhi High Court on Monday rejected Swiss multinational F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG’s petition seeking to temporarily restrain Natco Pharma from infringing its product patent for Risdiplam compound used for treating spinal muscular atrophy. The court noted that the Roche’s approved drug Risdiplam, which is marketed under the name ‘Evrysdi,’ is not available at an affordable prices, thus the public interest would be to outweigh the need for grant of injunction (restraint order). Roche had sought interim injunction against Natco Pharma to restrain infringement of its patent titled «compounds for treating spinal muscular atrophy». The multinational company claimed that its suit patent has a term of 20 years from May 11, 2015 and expires on May 11, 2035.

Maharashtra police on Monday said they have arrested Nagpur journalist Prashant Koratkar, booked for making derogatory remarks about Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and his son Chhatrapati Sambhaji, from Telangana. Koratkar was taken into custody in Telangana and is being brought to Maharashtra, an official said. «We have taken him into custody and a police team is bringing him to Kolhapur. Further legal procedure will follow,» said Kolhapur Superintendent of Police Mahendra Pandit said. A case was filed against Koratkar for making derogatory remarks about 17th-century Maratha ruler Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and his son, Chhatrapati Sambhaji. Koratkar was booked on February 26 under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita provisions for promoting hatred or enmity among groups on the basis of an audio conversation between Koratkar and Kolhapur-based historian Indrajeet Sawant. Koratkar had allegedly made the objectionable comments during this conversation, which Sawant had posted on social media, resulting in widespread outrage and calls for the former's arrest. While Additional Sessions Judge DV Kashyap granted him protection from arrest till March 1, Kolhapur police approached the Bombay High Court against the order and seeking cancellation of this interim protection. At the time, the Bombay HC asked the Kolhapur sessions court to hear the matter.

Delhi Power Minister Ashish Sood has hinted at a possible rise in electricity prices, blaming it on a Rs 27,000 crore debt left by the previous AAP government with power distribution companies (Discoms) through the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC). Responding to a question by AAP MLA Imran Hussain in the Delhi Assembly, Sood said that Discoms have the authority to increase rates to recover the debt. He claimed that during the previous government's rule, the Delhi High Court had instructed DERC to issue a tariff order, but the administration failed to protect public interests. «The previous government has left a debt of Rs 27 thousand crores of regulatory assets with the discoms through DERC. To recover this, the companies are authorised to increase the electricity rates. During the tenure of the previous government, on the orders of the High Court, DERC was ordered to bring tariff orders,» Sood said. He added, «That government could not protect the interests of the public. In the coming time, electricity prices will rise, and perhaps some people even want this for their political gains. However, the government remains in touch with DERC and is closely monitoring the situation.»

Calcutta High Court directed the Central Investigation Bureau (CBI) on Monday to submit the case diary and reply a number of questions asked by the HC by March 28 in connection with the rape and murder in RG Kar case RG Kar Medical College & Hospital last year, as HC started hearing a petition of deceased PGT doctor's parents for further probe in the case. The PGT doctor was raped and murdered at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9, 2024. Justice Tirthankar Ghosh asked a number of questions to the federal agency, asking whether they consider this to be a case of gangrape and if so, who are the suspects in such gangrape. The court has sought a case diary from CBI and the central agency should submit the replies by March 28. The court also questioned CBI if the convicted Sanjay Roy is the sole accused and what are the Sections under which framing the charges have been done. Notably, parents had claimed about involvement of other accused in the case.

Charles Wharton, accused of killing an 8-year-old boy in New Zealand's Hamilton with a hammer, grievously injuring his father ands one more person, took the legal route to ensure that he was not revealed by the media during the reporting about the case. But now he has given up and has been officially named as the person charged with the murder. The 37-year-old was charged in 2024 for the brutal murder of 8-year-old Zahquiel Taipeti while he was sleeping. He then attacked Zahquiel's father Mitikiro Woods, and another man in the Anthony Cres, Hamilton house. Woods and the other man were seriously injured in the attack but survived. According to the local residents and police, Wharton had on September 1, 2025, been trespassing on the properties in the area. His suspicious activities led to the residents calling in the police who took him to Anthony Cres in Hamilton's Bader in the evening. Zahquiel Taipeti resided ion the same area along with his family and Wharton is accused of killing Zahquiel and injuring Woods in their sleep. The father-son duo was sleeping in the same room when attacked. The other person who was attacked was living in a nearby room. The victims had come back from a tangi (traditional funeral rite practised by New Zealand's Māori population) in Manawatū.

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, who was reinstated on Monday as South Korea's acting president, is a technocrat whose experience and reputation as a safe pair of hands transcended party lines and helped him serve in senior posts under five presidents. Known as a seasoned economic, trade and foreign affairs specialist, Han, 75, was serving the second stint as the head of cabinet, when he became acting president on December 14 after President Yoon Suk Yeol was impeached by parliament for leading a short-lived martial law. Two weeks later, Han himself was impeached after being accused of aiding Yoon in the martial law declaration and his powers suspended. He denied this but accepted some responsibility for the ensuing crisis by failing to dissuade Yoon from making the surprise move. On Monday, the Constitutional Court overturned his impeachment, restoring his powers to serve as leader while the country awaits the same court's ruling on Yoon's impeachment. In a country sharply divided by partisan rhetoric, Han has been a rare example of an official who has sought to stay out of the political fray.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. Three judges from three different high courts will investigate the case of a pile of half-burnt currency notes found at the residence of Delhi high court judge Justice Yashwant Verma. Meanwhile, Verma has been relieved of his duties.

Amazon India will eliminate referral fees on over 12 million products priced below Rs 300 from April 7, in its largest seller fee reduction till date, to support small businesses selling on the platform. The fee waiver will apply across more than 135 product categories including apparel, shoes, jewellery, grocery, home décor, beauty, toys, and kitchen products. Currently, referral fees – a commission sellers pay Amazon on each sale – range from 2% to 16% in these categories. The Indian arm of the ecommerce major also announced a reduction in national shipping rates for sellers using external fulfilment channels like Easy Ship and Seller Flex to Rs 65 from Rs 77. It will also cut weight handling fees for items under 1 kg by up to Rs 17.

fact-finding inquiry" into the allegations against Delhi High Court judge Yashwant Varma. It will conduct a «deeper probe» into the alleged discovery of sizeable cash at the judge's residence. As per the laid down procedure, the Supreme Court in its leading judgement in 2015 said the «inquiry shall be in the nature of a fact-finding inquiry, wherein the judge concerned would be entitled to appear and have his say». 'Not formal judicial inquiry' The judgement, authored by a bench headed by former CJI JS Khehar, made it clear that «it would not be a formal judicial inquiry involving the examination and cross-examination of witnesses and representation by lawyers». The verdict said «the committee shall devise its own procedure consistent with the principles of natural justice». (a), (b), © of judgement The judgement said «after such inquiry, the committee may conclude and report to the CJI that (a) there is no substance in the allegations contained in the complaint, or (b) there is sufficient substance in the allegations...and the misconduct disclosed is so serious that it calls for initiation of proceedings for removal of the judge, or © there is substance in the allegations contained in the complaint but the misconduct disclosed is not of such a serious nature as to call for initiation of proceedings for removal of the judge».

Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna's decision to put crucial documents relating to a controversy surrounding alleged discovery of cash from Delhi High Court judge Yashwant Varma's residence in the public domain and constituting an in-house committee to further inquire into the matter. While senior advocate Sanjay Hegde said the CJI must be commended for enforcing openness and putting things out in the public domain, senior lawyer Indira Jaising expressed satisfaction over the setting up of the in-house inquiry panel and said people should wait for its outcome. Saluting the wisdom of the CJI and other members of the Supreme Court collegium for releasing the inquiry report of Delhi High Court Chief Justice D K Upadhyaya, senior advocate Adish C Aggarwala said, «Let the in-house committee make an independent inquiry and submit the report to the chief justice of India for taking appropriate decisions.» Hegde, who described a video of the purported currency-discovery incident as «deeply distressing», said irrespective of the question of innocence or guilt of the judge concerned, the very fact that so much money is ostensibly being seen burnt in proximity to his house raises many questions. «It also tends to lower the image of the judiciary. Irrespective of the question of guilt or innocence, I think a full inquiry and corrective action is required. The chief justice of India must be commended for enforcing openness and putting things out in the public domain.