Mumbai: Observing that the possibility of manipulation of evidence cannot be ruled out, six years after four men were arrested for the gang rape of a 20-year-old woman who had the mental age of a six-year-old, a sessions court acquitted them, citing a “broken chain of custody” of forensic evidence and procedural lapses by the police. All four accused are in jail while a fifth, a minor, was tried separately. While the prosecution claimed the DNA on recovered condoms matched two of the accused, the defence argued that the samples were planted. The judge pointed to a “suspicious gap” in the handling of this evidence, noting the condoms remained “unsealed and unsupervised” for nearly two hours at the police station.

“In the circumstances as per the defence of the accused that they were forcibly asked to masturbate seems to be probable. Accordingly, the possibility of projecting the semen of accused on the condoms cannot be ruled out,” judge Ashwini D Lokhande said. The judge further remarked the “possibility of manipulation of evidence cannot be ruled out,” especially since the police failed to prove the “foundational fact” that the condoms were actually wet when seized. The judge also was critical of the police for not using a special educator or interpreter when recording the statement of the survivor, who had an IQ of 36. A significant blow for the prosecution was the star witness who could not be traced. “As per records, she is missing and a missing complaint lodged in Bihar. In her absence… the sister of the complainant came forward to adduce her evidence. Her evidence is hearsay evidence,” the judge said.While three accused were represented by advocate Tripti Shetty, the fourth was defended by advocate Asif Patel. The case was initiated by an informant who resided in a Mumbai suburb with her parents and two sisters who have intellectual disabilities. On the afternoon of Aug 20, 2019, while the informant and her mother were asleep, one of her sisters (the survivor) left their flat. The informant filed a missing person report at the local police station. Later that night, around 10.30 pm, a neighbour located the survivor and brought her back home. The survivor revealed that a neighbour had signalled her to come downstairs earlier that afternoon. She alleged that the accused lured her to a secluded area known as Khadan Jungle. Once there, the accused was joined by four others. Following the assault, the survivor claimed the accused threatened her life. The medical evidence failed to support the prosecution’s theory of a gang rape. The medical officer found no fresh injuries, bleeding or abnormalities. The judge noted the prosecution’s case was built on “unreliable evidence” and “serious lacuna” on investigators’ part.

England officially became the first team to secure a place in the T20 World Cup 2026 semifinals after a breathtaking two-wicket victory over Pakistan at Pallekele on February 24, 2026. The match was an absolute rollercoaster that saw England’s captain, Harry Brook, etch his name into history with a legendary performance that silenced the Pakistani bowling attack.

Chasing a competitive target of 165, England appeared to be in deep trouble early on as Shaheen Afridi tore through the top order, leaving them reeling at 35/3. However, Brook’s sheer brilliance turned the game on its head, as he single-handedly dragged his side back from the brink of defeat. For Pakistan, the loss is a crushing blow that leaves their tournament hopes hanging by a thread, turning their final Super 8 fixture into a desperate must-win scenario.

T20 World Cup 2026: Sahibzada Farhan’s resilience and Liam Dawson’s spin stifle Pakistan’s power

Pakistan’s innings was a story of a lone warrior in Sahibzada Farhan, who anchored the side to a competitive 164/9 on a surface that offered significant turn for the English spinners.

After being put in to bat, Pakistan faced an immediate setback as Jofra Archer removed Saim Ayub in the second over, followed quickly by the dismissal of captain Salman Ali Agha, leaving the ‘Men in Green’ stuttering at 42/2 in the Powerplay. Farhan, however, showed remarkable composure, carving out a gritty 63 off 45 balls, utilizing the sweep shot effectively against the nagging length of Liam Dawson. Dawson was the pick of the English bowlers, finishing with brilliant figures of 3/24 as he extracted bounce and turn to remove Usman Khan and Mohammad Nawaz in quick succession.

A mid-innings collapse threatened to derail Pakistan completely, but a late, aggressive cameo from Shadab Khan, who smashed 23 off 11 balls, provided the necessary impetus to push the score past 160. Despite the late-overs flourish, England’s death bowling remained disciplined, with Jamie Overton done perfect bowling to claim two wickets , preventing Pakistan from reaching a truly daunting total. The innings concluded with Pakistan feeling they were perhaps 15 runs short, placing a massive burden on their pace battery to defend the total under the lights.

Also READ: T20 World Cup 2026: Fans mercilessly troll Babar Azam for his flop show with the bat during PAK vs ENG Super 8 game

Harry Brook’s historic ton and Jofra Archer’s nerves seal England’s semi-final spot

The chase for 165 began in near-catastrophic fashion for England as Shaheen Afridi produced a masterclass in swing bowling, removing Phil Salt and Jos Buttler within the first seven balls of the innings. Then captain Brook stepped out and played what many are calling the greatest T20 World Cup captain’s knock in history.

Brook hammered a sensational 100 off just 51 balls, taking a particular liking to the pace of Salman Mirza and the spin of Shadab Khan and Usman Tariq, striking 10 boundaries and 4 massive sixes to maintain a strike rate near 200. His century, the first by a captain in the tournament’s history, seemed to have the game killed off until a frantic late-order collapse saw Pakistan claw back into the contest with three wickets in four deliveries.

With England needing four runs from the final over and Shaheen having exhausted his quota with figures of 4/30, the tension was palpable as Jofra Archer walked to the crease with only two wickets remaining. Archer showed ice-cold temperament, crashing a length ball from Salman Mirza over mid-off for a boundary to win the game with one ball to spare. The victory sparked jubilant scenes in the England camp, while Pakistan’s players were left devastated on the turf, knowing their semi-final hopes now depend on a complex web of mathematical probabilities.

Here’s how fans reacted:

50-ball-100 to take your team into the semi single handedly, this is what dreams are made of! Well played Harry Brook 👏👏
PS: Ind benching Axar vs SA and Pak dropping Abrar for this game. Really surprising and costly tactical mistakes.#PAKvENG #T20Worldcup

— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) February 24, 2026

H Brook at 3 now makes me start to think it’s possible .. #ICCT20WorldCup .. That’s the innings that proves we have a genius in the ranks of the England team ..

— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) February 24, 2026

What an amazing night for Harry Brook!
Single handedly he’s just destroyed Pakistan – Is this The End for Pakistan?#PakvsEng #ICCT20WorldCup2026

— Vikrant Gupta (@vikrantgupta73) February 24, 2026

England becomes the first team to qualify for the semi finals. Harry brook’s move to bat at number 3 won the game for them.

— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) February 24, 2026

Harry Brook – freak

— Kevin Pietersen🦏 (@KP24) February 24, 2026

That’s a brilliant hundred from Harry Brook.

100 (51) with his side under the pump to get them into a World Cup semi-final.

Serious mettle shown too given the build up to this tournament.

— Yas Rana (@Yas_Wisden) February 24, 2026

Take a bow, Harry Brook. He has treated the Pakistani attack with the disdain our tourists (rightly) have for consuming Icelandic fermented shark.

— Iceland Cricket (@icelandcricket) February 24, 2026

Freak innings from a freak batter. This was pure class from Harry Brook. Incredible shot making but also such tactical batting. Ultimate show-stealer #T20WorldCup

— Bharat Sundaresan (@beastieboy07) February 24, 2026

Harry Brook, what a genius. Top stuff brother.

— Silly Point (@FarziCricketer) February 24, 2026

LEADER. MATCH-WINNER. STAR. 🌟🔥

Harry Brook scripts a captain’s masterpiece 👑

100 (51) to walk away with the POTM trophy 🏆💥#HarryBrook #Pakistan #england #T20WorldCup #T20WorldCup2026 #Cricket pic.twitter.com/PpuvTrfrpP

— CricketTimes.com (@CricketTimesHQ) February 24, 2026

Also READ: T20 World Cup 2026: Here’s why Faheem Ashraf is not playing today’s PAK vs ENG Super 8 game

JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon (Photo-AP)

JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon signalled he plans to remain in charge of the largest US bank for “a few years,” offering fresh clarity on leadership succession even as the lender projected strong investment banking and trading performance, Reuters reported.Speaking at the bank’s Investor Day in New York, Dimon said he does not intend to step down immediately and may continue with the firm in a different role after eventually relinquishing the chief executive position.“I’m here for a few years as CEO, and maybe a few after that, as executive chairman, pending whatever the board wants to do,” Dimon said.His remarks come amid long-running investor speculation over succession planning at JPMorgan, where Dimon has led the bank for two decades. The lender’s board, he has previously said, remains focused on preparing a deep bench of executives capable of eventually taking over leadership.Under Dimon’s tenure, JPMorgan has risen to become Wall Street’s largest bank by both assets and market value, with a market capitalisation exceeding $800 billion — eclipsing the combined value of rivals Bank of America and Citigroup.Alongside leadership commentary, JPMorgan said it expects investment banking fees and markets revenue to post strong growth in the first quarter, easing concerns that recent equity market turbulence could disrupt dealmaking activity.Investor worries had grown after a sharp sell-off in software and technology stocks — driven by fears of artificial intelligence disruption — raised doubts about mergers and acquisitions and IPO pipelines for high-growth companies.Allaying those concerns, the bank said investment banking fees are expected to rise by a mid-teens percentage, potentially reaching the high teens in the quarter.“We started the year strong. Pipelines were very good, and it was broad based. The one thing I will say in M&A (is that) there are powerful strategic drivers,” Doug Petno, Co-CEO of JPMorgan’s commercial and investment bank, said. “I think a lot of these transactions will survive the volatility and carry on.”Markets revenue is also expected to increase by a mid-teens percentage, supported by elevated trading activity during volatile market conditions, when investors hedge risks and reposition portfolios.The bank kept its forecast for annual adjusted expenses unchanged at $105 billion as it continues investing heavily in technology and artificial intelligence initiatives.JPMorgan expects to spend $19.8 billion on technology in 2026, up 10% from a year earlier.“We continue to invest in AI and we’re seeing tangible benefits in multiple areas. Machine learning and analytical AI have been driving improvements in revenue,” Chief Financial Officer Jeremy Barnum said, as quoted Reuters.UBS analyst Erika Najarian said markets increasingly view large money-centre banks as relative beneficiaries of AI disruption, adding investors are keen to understand both productivity gains and revenue opportunities from the technology.Executives said US consumers remain resilient despite elevated interest rates and economic uncertainty, helping sustain spending and credit quality.JPMorgan executive Marianne Lake said the bank had not seen deterioration among lower-income consumers and that “everything is solid” on the consumer front.The lender is targeting a return on tangible common equity of 17%, a key profitability metric measuring how efficiently tangible equity generates profits.In January, JPMorgan reported fourth-quarter earnings that exceeded analysts’ estimates as volatile markets boosted trading income. The bank beat Wall Street profit forecasts in all four quarters last year, according to LSEG-compiled data.JPMorgan shares rose 34.4% in 2025, outperforming both large-cap US banking peers and the broader equity market, while the stock traded marginally higher in post-market activity.

Team Pakistan (PTI Photo)

NEW DELHI: Pakistan’s hopes of reaching the T20 World Cup 2026 semi-finals took a hit after their loss to England, but they are still not completely out of the race.England chased down Pakistan’s 164-run target thanks to a brilliant century from captain Harry Brook, who scored 100 off 51 balls, helping his team qualify for the semi-finals on Tuesday.

Pakistan had earlier posted 164/9, with Sahibzada Farhan top-scoring with 63, while Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman added 25 each. England’s bowlers kept things tight, but Brook’s knock proved too strong. For Pakistan, Shaheen Shah Afridi took four wickets, but it wasn’t enough to stop England. With this result, England are through to the semis. Pakistan, however, have one point from two matches (one loss and one washed-out game) and still have a slim chance to qualify, depending on other teams’ results.

Super 8 Group 2 points table

For Pakistan to reach the semi-finals, a few things must go their way. First, Pakistan must beat Sri Lanka in their final Super 8 match. Then, they need New Zealand to lose both of their remaining matches. If that happens, Pakistan will move ahead on points and qualify. If New Zealand win one match and lose one, then qualification will come down to net run rate (NRR), meaning Pakistan will need to have a better scoring and bowling record than New Zealand. Any other combination of results will knock Pakistan out of the tournament. In short, Pakistan must win their last match and hope for favourable results from New Zealand’s games to stay alive in the World Cup.

Mumbai: A sessions court said Anant Garje, personal assistant to state environment minister Pankaja Munde, cannot be said to have abetted the suicide by his wife, observing that, in the given facts of the case, the deceased reacted disproportionately to a common life stressor. “Basically, it’s evident that the deceased was mentally disturbed having known the fact of the extra-marital affair of her husband, that is, the applicant, and having not been cared, given time and having threatened by the applicant to commit suicide. The record of the case nowhere reveals that the applicant had requisite mens rea for the commission of suicide of the deceased or he ever had instigated, aided or conspired for the commission of the suicide,” additional sessions judge R J Pawar said.

The judge made the observations in a detailed order granting bail to the 31-year-old who was arrested in Nov in connection with the death of his wife, Gauri, a dental surgeon. The judge further said marital discord and allegations of harassment, without a direct and proximate link to the act of suicide, do not satisfy the legal requirements for a conviction of abetment. “There is also no evidence of proximity between the alleged provocation and the act of suicide. It also transpires from the record that the applicant did not play a direct role in the decision making of the deceased for committing the suicide,” the judge said. The judge noted Garje cannot be said to have abetted the suicide by the deceased. “On the contrary, the record reveals that the deceased reacted disproportionately to a common life stressor,” the judge said. While Garge was granted bail on Monday, the detailed order was made available on Tuesday. “Without a positive act on the part of the accused to instigate or aid in committing suicide, conviction is difficult to sustain. To constitute abetment, there must be a clear intention to push the deceased to a point where he or she has no option but to end his or her life,” the judge said. In the six-page order, the judge noted for an individual to be held liable, the prosecution must prove the accused instigated or intentionally aided the commission of suicide. Further, the judge found a lack of evidence regarding the timing of alleged harassment relative to the death observing, “…Supreme Court has frequently cited that there must be a direct and proximate link between the alleged provocation and the act of suicide. If the alleged harassment occurred weeks or months before the suicide, the chain of causation is broken.”In Nov 2025, a complaint was lodged by the deceased’s father, alleging the victim who worked at Sion Hospital, discovered Garje’s affair shortly after their marriage in Feb 2025. The complainant alleged when confronted, Garje threatened suicide himself and name the deceased in a suicide note, while other relatives allegedly threatened to arrange a second marriage for him. The prosecution argued Garje’s conduct, physical and mental torture, incited to end her life.Concluding that the need for custodial interrogation had disappeared with the filing of the chargesheet and that the applicant was not a flight risk, the court allowed the bail application. “The applicant has already spent significant time in jail and the trial will take years together for its conclusion. The alleged offence is not punishable with death or life imprisonment. The applicant has undertaken to abide by the conditions of bail,” the judge said.During the proceedings, Garje’s lawyer Mangesh Deshmukh argued that further custodial interrogation was unnecessary as the investigation was largely complete and the charge sheet had been filed. The defence submitted that the case reflected an emotional outburst rather than active instigation. It was also submitted that the co-accused, Garje’s siblings, in the matter had already been granted anticipatory bail, and Garje sought parity in his release.The prosecution and the complainant’s lawyer strongly opposed the bail plea, citing the sensitive nature of the case involving a young doctor. They submitted on the existence of multiple audio clips currently under forensic examination and argued that Garje, who served as a personal assistant to a state cabinet minister, could potentially influence witnesses or tamper with evidence if released.

Pakistan fan’s hilarious reaction after Saim Ayub dismissal goes viral

NEW DELHI: A hilarious moment from Pakistan’s match against England in the T20 World Cup went viral after a fan’s shocked reaction was caught on camera when opener Saim Ayub got out early at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on Tuesday. Ayub was dismissed by Jofra Archer for just 7 runs, caught while trying to pull a fast short ball. Archer embraced the occasion with a unique celebration.

A few seconds later, the camera caught a Pakistani fan’s disappointed and stunned expression, which quickly became a hit on social media.Watch the fan’s reaction to the dismissal:In the match, Pakistan chose to bat first on a good pitch but struggled to score quickly as England kept taking wickets at regular intervals. Sahibzada Farhan was the standout batter, scoring 63 off 45 balls with several boundaries. He added a 46-run partnership with Babar Azam, but England’s bowlers kept things under control. Babar Azam had another slow innings, making 25 off 24 balls before being bowled by Jamie Overton. Spinner Liam Dawson was the pick of the bowlers, taking three wickets for 24 runs, while Archer and Overton also took two wickets each. Fakhar Zaman added a quick 25 off 16 balls, and Shadab Khan stayed unbeaten on 23, helping Pakistan reach 164/9 by the end of their innings. However, Pakistan never really accelerated, and England’s disciplined bowling kept them under pressure throughout.ALSO READ: Hilarious Babar Azam memes take over internet after another flop show in T20 World CupEngland had already beaten Sri Lanka earlier in the Super Eights, while Pakistan’s previous match against New Zealand was washed out, making this game important for both teams’ qualification hopes.

Mumbai: A sessions court that ordered the cancellation of an open-dated arrest warrant against Kumar Pillai, cited international treaty obligations and the “Doctrine of Specialty” under the Extradition Act. In a detailed order made available on Tuesday, the judge noted that Pillai, an individual of Indian origin holding Hong Kong citizenship, was acquitted in all three criminal cases for which he was originally extradited from Singapore to India in 2016. The prosecution contended an open-dated warrant was necessary to seek fresh permission from the Singapore govt to try Pillai for the remaining cases, including allegations of murder and attempted murder.

However, the judge rejected the prosecution’s submissions, noting the legal framework provides strict protections for fugitive criminals brought into the country under specific decrees. Referring to established precedents by the Supreme Court of India, the judge observed, “The provision of the… section places restrictions on the trial of the person extradited and it operates as a bar to the trial of the fugitive criminal for any other offence until the condition of restoration or opportunity to return is satisfied.” The court clarified without the explicit consent of the foreign state that granted the extradition, Indian courts lack the authority to proceed.While the warrant was cancelled on Monday, the detailed order was made available on Tuesday. The judge noted that that the Doctrine of Specialty is a cornerstone of international law, ensuring that a requesting state honours the terms under which a prisoner is handed over. The court noted that while the prosecution had been aware of the pending cases since 2016, no successful efforts were made to obtain consent from Singapore or Hong Kong to expand the scope of the trial. “A fugitive brought into this country under an Extradition Decree can be tried only for the offences mentioned in the Extradition Decree and for no other offence and the Criminal Courts of this country will have no jurisdiction to try such fugitive for any other offence,” the judge said. The court also took note of a recent order by a special MCOCA court which directed the police commissioner to take necessary steps to repatriate Pillai to Hong Kong. Finding that the continued issuance of an arrest warrant would frustrate both the law and international treaties, the judge said, “The Extradition Treaty and Extradition Decree needs to be honoured. Therefore, considering legal aspects and the Extradition Decree and facts and circumstances of the case, it is necessary to cancel the open dated arrest warrant.” While the warrant was cancelled, the court allowed the prosecution the liberty to follow the proper legal channels as prescribed under the Extradition Act for any future proceedings.