MP House passes bill on death for rape of girls aged up to 12

Agencies
December 5, 2017

Bhopal, Dec 5: Madhya Pradesh may soon become the first state in the country where raping a girl aged 12 years or less could invite death penalty, with the state Assembly on Monday passing a bill to this effect.

The landmark legislation, passed unanimously by the House, also provides for tougher punishment for stalking a woman and some other offences against them.

The Penal Law (Madhya Pradesh Amendment) Bill-2017, introduced by Minister for Law and Legislative Affairs Rampal Singh, was passed after a debate during which some Congress members voiced apprehension over tougher sentence for stalking, insisting cases may be registered against innocent people to settle personal scores.

The bill introduced a section--376 (A) (A)--to the Indian Penal Code (IPC) under which a person convicted of raping a girl aged 12 years or below may be awarded death penalty, life imprisonment or a minimum imprisonment of 14 years with a fine.

Similarly, section 376 (D) (A) was introduced for gang-rape with girls up to 12 years of age. The convict under this section may be awarded capital punishment, life imprisonment or a minimum of 20 years in jail, besides a fine.

Under both the sections, the convict awarded life sentence will have to remain in jail till death.

The bill also amended the IPC section 493 (A) (cohabitation caused by a man deceitfully inducing a belief of lawful marriage), under which a person could be jailed up to three years for establishing sexual relations with a woman on the pretext of marrying her.

The legislation provides for a minimum imprisonment of 3 years that may be extended up to 7 years for people caught stalking a woman or a girl for a second time and convicted for committing the offence. The amendment to section (354 D) relating to stalking says those convicted will also have to pay a minimum fine of Rs 1 lakh. The first time offender will face jail term up to 3 years in addition to fine.

Similarly, the second time offender in cases under section 354 (B) (assault or use of criminal force to woman with intent to disrobe) of the IPC would face a minimum punishment of 7 years in jail which may extend up to 10 years, besides a minimum fine of Rs 1 lakh.

For the first time offender, the punishment is between 3 and 7 years of imprisonment in addition to fine.

Except for the first time offence under section 354(D), all offences would be cognisable and non-bailable.

During the debate, some Congress MLAs, including Ramnivas Rawat and Govind Singh, voiced apprehension about possible misuse of some of the provisions. They said some women may file a stalking case to settle a personal score.

They said the perpetrators may kill the victim after raping her in an attempt to destroy evidence out of fear of severe punishment.

Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan assured the members that the government would take appropriate measures if these provisions were misused.

Chouhan said smartphones and Internet are spreading vulgarity among children.

The chief minister said girls are vulnerable to sexual assault from people known to them, with acquaintances and family members being involved in 98 per cent of the rape cases.

The bill was later passed unanimously.

It will now be sent to the President for his assent before it become a law.

"It was a historic day for Madhya Pradesh as the state Assembly, as per the wish of Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, passed a bill making a provision to award capital punishment to those indulging in such crimes (raping girls aged 12 or below)," Singh said.

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News Network
November 27,2025

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Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday announced that he will convene a high-level meeting in New Delhi with senior leaders — including Rahul Gandhi, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar — to resolve the escalating leadership turmoil in Karnataka and “put an end to the confusion.”

Kharge said the discussions would focus on the way forward for the ruling party, as rumours of a possible leadership change continue to swirl. The speculation has intensified after the Congress government crossed the halfway mark of its five-year term on November 20, reviving talk of an alleged 2023 “power-sharing agreement” between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar.

“After reaching Delhi, I will call three or four important leaders and hold discussions. Once we talk, we will decide how to move ahead and end this confusion,” Kharge told reporters in Bengaluru, according to PTI.

When asked specifically about calling Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar to Delhi, he responded: “Certainly, we should call them. We will discuss with them and settle the issue.”

He confirmed that Rahul Gandhi, the Chief Minister, the Deputy Chief Minister and other senior members would be part of the deliberations. “After discussing with everyone, a decision will be made,” he said.

Meanwhile, Siddaramaiah held a separate strategy meeting at his Bengaluru residence with ministers and leaders seen as his close confidants, including G. Parameshwara, Satish Jarkiholi, H.C. Mahadevappa, K. Venkatesh and K.N. Rajanna.
Signalling calm, the Chief Minister told reporters, “Will go to Delhi if the high command calls.”

Shivakumar echoed a similar stance, saying he too would head to the national capital if summoned by the party leadership.

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News Network
December 4,2025

Mangaluru: Chaos erupted at Mangaluru International Airport (MIA) after IndiGo flight 6E 5150, bound for Mumbai, was repeatedly delayed and ultimately cancelled, leaving around 100 passengers stranded overnight. The incident highlights the ongoing country-wide operational disruptions affecting the airline, largely due to the implementation of new Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) norms for crew.

The flight was initially scheduled for 9:25 PM on Tuesday but was first postponed to 11:40 PM, then midnight, before being cancelled around 3:00 AM. Passengers expressed frustration over last-minute communication and the lack of clarity, with elderly and ailing travellers particularly affected. “Though the airline arranged food, there was no proper communication, leaving us confused,” said one family member.

An IndiGo executive at MIA cited the FDTL rules, designed to prevent pilot fatigue by limiting crew working hours, as the cause of the cancellation. While alternative arrangements, including hotel stays, were offered, about 100 passengers chose to remain at the airport, creating tension. A replacement flight was arranged but also faced delays due to the same constraints, finally departing for Mumbai around 1:45 PM on Wednesday. Passengers either flew, requested refunds, or postponed their travel.

The Mangaluru delay is part of a broader crisis for IndiGo. The airline has been forced to make “calibrated schedule adjustments”—a euphemism for widespread cancellations and delays—after stricter FDTL norms came into effect on November 1.

While an IndiGo spokesperson acknowledged unavoidable flight disruptions due to technology issues, operational requirements, and the updated crew rostering rules, the DGCA has intervened, summoning senior airline officials to explain the chaos and outline corrective measures.

The ripple effect has been felt across the country, with major hubs like Bengaluru and Mumbai reporting numerous cancellations. The Mangaluru incident underscores the systemic operational strain currently confronting India’s largest carrier, leaving passengers nationwide grappling with uncertainty and delays.

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News Network
December 4,2025

Udupi: A 40-year-old NRI from Udupi has reportedly lost more than Rs 12.25 lakh in an online investment scam operated through Telegram.

According to a complaint filed at the CEN police station, Leo Jerome Mendonsa, who has been working in Dubai for the past 15 years in computer accessories sales, maintains NRI accounts in Karkala and Nitte.

On November 12, 2025, Mendonsa was added to a Telegram group called Instaflow Earnings by unknown individuals. Users identified as Priya and Dipannita persuaded him to invest in “Revenue Tasks.” Initially, Mendonsa transferred Rs 1,100 multiple times and received the promised returns, encouraging him to continue.

On November 14, another user, Nishmitha Shetty, directed him to register on a website, digitvisionuoce.cc, and invest Rs 4 lakh in various shares. Over the next few days, he made multiple transfers totaling Rs 12,25,000, including Rs 50,000 via Google Pay, believing the scheme was legitimate.

After receiving the money, the alleged handlers stopped responding, and neither the invested amount nor the promised profits were returned.

The CEN police have registered a case under Sections 66(C) and 66(D) of the IT Act and Section 318(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), and investigations are ongoing.

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