Law

UltraTech Cement, India’s largest cement producer, has officially denied being under investigation by the Competition Commission of India (CCI) concerning alleged cartelization in tenders floated by state-owned oil giant ONGC. While UltraTech’s recently acquired subsidiary, India Cements Ltd (ICEM), remains embroiled in the probe, the parent company clarified that no orders or financial scrutiny have been directed at UltraTech itself. The CCI’s inquiry, initiated following a complaint by ONGC, is centered on alleged collusive practices among multiple cement firms.

In an unexpected development, the X (formerly Twitter) accounts of Reuters and Reuters World were rendered inaccessible to users in India over the weekend, with the platform citing a "legal demand" for the block. However, India's Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) promptly denied issuing any such order, attributing the move to a possible technical anomaly.

ers on vast ancestral estates in Madhya Pradesh belonging to the Pataudi family, including notable properties such as Kohefiza's Flag House, Ahmedabad Palace, and forest lands in Raisen. The properties were originally owned by the last Nawab of Bhopal, Nawab Hamidullah Khan, who passed away in 1960. His eldest daughter, Abida Sultan, migrated to Pakistan in 1950, triggering the application of the Enemy Property Act of 1968, which empowers the Indian government to appropriate properties owned by individuals who relocated to Pakistan after Partition.

Lodha Developers Ltd has been directed by the Supreme Court to deposit Rs 520.80 crore as a security measure linked to ongoing legal proceedings involving its recent acquisition of V Hotels Ltd (VHL) through insolvency. The case stems from allegations tied to transactions routed via VHL prior to the commencement of the Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process (CIRP), initiated by the Enforcement Directorate against VHL’s former promoters. Lodha has expressed confidence that the Supreme Court will expedite hearings and release the deposit soon.

A grievous incident involving the alleged sexual assault of a 24-year-old law student in Kolkata has ignited widespread condemnation and intensified political disputes ahead of the upcoming state elections. According to the victim's detailed police complaint, she was confined and assaulted by three men, two of whom reportedly facilitated the attack. The accused includes a figure linked to the ruling party’s student wing, fueling accusations of political protection and negligence.

India has unequivocally rejected the ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in The Hague, which affirmed the court’s competence to hear Pakistan’s objections related to India’s Kishenganga and Ratle hydropower projects. India's External Affairs Ministry declared that it does not recognize the PCA's legitimacy, especially after suspending the Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan in April 2023.

In a strong indictment of the arbitrary use of the Uttar Pradesh Gangsters and Anti-Social Activities (Prevention) Act, 1986, the Allahabad High Court has summoned top law enforcement and administrative officials from Muzaffarnagar to explain their conduct. The court found that the Act had been improperly invoked against an individual to unjustly prolong his imprisonment, raising serious concerns about institutional negligence.

In a significant development, industrialist Ratul Puri has been discharged by courts in two high-profile banking fraud cases totalling Rs 1,101 crore involving Moser Baer Solar Limited and Moser Baer India Ltd. The Central Bureau of Investigation’s (CBI) chargesheets failed to convince the judiciary of any criminal intent, leading to dismissal of the charges at the stage of framing. Both cases, rooted in loan default allegations, were deemed civil disputes by the courts.

Sun TV Network, one of India’s most prominent media conglomerates, has firmly denied allegations of misgovernance and fraudulent practices raised by Dayanidhi Maran against his brother and company promoter, Kalanithi Maran. The dispute, rooted in a 22-year-old family division following the death of their father, Murasoli Maran, resurfaced with Dayanidhi’s recent legal notice seeking restoration of the company’s earlier shareholding structure. In a regulatory filing, Sun TV reassured investors that the matter is personal, with no impact on its operations or compliance standards.

In a significant move aimed at transforming the highway travel experience for private vehicle owners, the Union Ministry of Road Transport has introduced a FASTag-based Annual Pass priced at Rs. 3,000. Effective from August 15, the pass will allow eligible vehicles to make up to 200 toll-free trips annually across all national highways.