The Allahabad high court granted anticipatory bail to seer Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati and his disciple Mukundanand Brahmachari in a case involving allegations of sexual exploitation of minors under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.The relief was granted on Wednesday by justice Jitendra Kumar Sinha, who also directed both the complainant and the accused to refrain from making any public statements about the case.The court allowed the anticipatory bail pleas while emphasising that the investigation must proceed without external influence. Alongside granting relief from arrest, the court imposed a gag order on both sides, restraining them from speaking to the media on the matter.The order comes weeks after the court had reserved its judgment following detailed hearings and had earlier extended interim protection from arrest to the accused.

Interim protection and court observations

On February 27, the High Court had stayed the arrest of Avimukteshwaranand, directing that he would not be taken into custody until the final order was pronounced. During the proceedings, the court had also instructed both the state government and the complainant to file their responses and asked the accused to cooperate fully with the investigation.

Allegations and FIR details

The case stems from an FIR registered at Jhunsi police station in Prayagraj, following directions from a POCSO court. The complaint alleges sexual exploitation of several ‘batuks’ (young disciples) associated with the ashram.The complainant, Ashutosh Pandey alias Ashutosh Brahmachari, has claimed that minors were subjected to abuse, expressing hope that “justice would be served after the evidence was submitted in court.”

Defence and prosecution arguments

The defence has strongly denied the allegations, calling them fabricated. It argued that the complainant has a criminal background and claimed that the alleged victims never resided at the seer’s ashram. The seer also questioned the authenticity of medical reports and accused the complainant of attempting to influence the case.In a notable submission, Avimukteshwaranand expressed willingness to undergo a narcoanalysis test to establish his innocence.The state, however, opposed the anticipatory bail plea on procedural grounds, arguing that the accused had approached the high court directly instead of first moving a sessions court.

NEW DELHI: India on Wednesday strongly rejected Pakistan’s statement backing a banned terrorist organisation, asserting that Islamabad has “no locus standi” to comment on the country’s internal matters. He urged it to ‘introspect on the systematic human rights violations” it continues to perpetrate instead of “peddling lies and frivolous narratives.“Responding to media queries, ministry of external affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, “We categorically reject the statement issued by Pakistan in support of a banned terrorist organization and its members. Pakistan has no locus standi to comment on matters internal to India or its judicial processes.”He added that such remarks were not surprising given Pakistan’s record. “However, one is not surprised that a country, which has long been sponsoring terrorism, has come up with such a statement condoning violence and killing of innocent people,” Jaiswal said.“Instead of peddling lies and frivolous narratives, Pakistan should introspect on the grave and systematic human rights violations it continues to perpetrate,” he added.The response comes after Pakistan issued a statement on judicial proceedings in India related to a banned terror outfit. Earlier on Tuesday, Delhi court sentenced Kashmiri separatist and Dukhtaran-e-Millat chief Asiya Andrabi to life imprisonment in an Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) case. Her two associates, Fehmeeda and Nasreen, were also sentenced to 30 years in prison in the same case.In its detailed 286-page order, the court held that Andrabi and her associates “hatched a conspiracy for the secession of Kashmir from India.”The court relied on videos and social media posts submitted by the National Investigation Agency, which showed the accused repeatedly claiming that Kashmir belonged to “Pakistan and was under Indian occupation.”“Kashmir should be freed from Indian occupation so that it can become part of Pakistan. The material on record is rife with such speeches as well as various posts by all the accused, especially of accused 1 (Andrabi),” the court order stated.The court observed that Andrabi, through speeches and interviews, openly sought Pakistan’s support and propagated that “Kashmir was never a part of India.”India has consistently maintained that matters related to its internal security and judicial actions are sovereign issues, and has repeatedly called on Pakistan to end support for terrorism and cross-border activities.Also read: ‘Hatched conspiracy to secede Kashmir from India’: Why J&K separatist Asiya Andrabi got life term in UAPA case

While the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has claimed in the Supreme Court that the framing of front-of-pack labelling (FOPL) regulations would take longer and sought more time, a look at several regulations framed by the authority in the last ten years shows that the average time taken to frame one or make amendments to existing ones has been about two years. In the case of the FOPL, the process has been dragging on for about a decade.After framing guidelines in 2014 which included front-of-pack labelling specifying how much fat, sugar or salt a packaged food contained, when the FSSAI put it in the public domain in 2015, it had stated that the guidelines would be “converted into regulation in due course after following the process of inviting suggestions and comments, suggestions etc. from various stakeholders”. FSSAI put out the draft Food Safety and Standards (Labelling and Display) Regulations, 2018 in public domain in April 2018. However, since then there have been half a dozen stakeholder consultations and more drafts put out, but no regulation in sight yet.In response to a public interest petition in the Supreme Court seeking directions to FSSAI to make FOPL regarding high fat, sugar and salt mandatory for packaged foods, the court has been monitoring the process even as the authority has been seeking repeated extensions. In its latest affidavit in court, the FSSAI laid out a long process before the Supreme Court.It told the court that it is “contemplating” a tabular or pictorial representation to reflect high fat sugar or salt on front of pack labelling. It stated that it is a complex matter “requiring further consultation and examination” and hence stakeholder consultation is proposed before deciding on the modalities of FOPL. The latest stakeholder consultation had over 60 food industry and industry association representatives and just two public health experts representing civil society or public health interest.There remain several steps:1. After stakeholder consultations a draft amendment will be prepared2. Draft amendment will be placed before scientific panel (consist of nine eminent food scientists from different government organizations/institutions). Scientific committee comprising of chairpersons of the 21 scientific panels and six independent members, FSSAI and Health ministry “for due consideration”3. To include amendment in the regulation a draft regulation including the proposed amendment/s is placed before the scientific panel concerned4.Recommendations of the scientific panel will be placed before the scientific committee5. On endorsement of the scientific committee it will be placed before FSSAI for approval and if there are substantial changes in the notified draft regulation, another draft regulation will have to be notified6. Once approved by FSSAI, the draft or final regulation is sent to health ministry7. After ministry approval, if it is a draft regulation, it has to be notified in the gazette for public comments giving 60 days’ time and the entire process spelt out above is repeated before it is finally notified.8. In case what the health ministry approves is the final regulation, it has to be sent to the legislative department of the law ministry for vetting followed by approval of the health ministry. The approved final regulation is published in the Gazette of India for implementation.In short, the FSSAI stated in court that the regulation is far from becoming a reality any time soon. However, the longest time FSSAI has taken for framing any of the existing regulations or amendments has been over three years. The only other regulation that the FSSAI has not framed even after seven years is the Food Safety and Standards (Genetically Modified and Engineered Foods) Regulations which have been in the works since 2019.Average time to bring in various regulations/amendments to regulations

An India-origin man in the US is facing 39 charges related to sex abuse, trafficking, molestation as more victims of the liquor store owner came forward during the ongoing investigation against 32-year-old Kulvir S Brar. Brar was arrested in March 13 after police said he was using Snapchat to solicit sex from minors, offering them illicit drugs, alcohol and access to his apartment’s rooftop pool. Brar was first arrested on December 4, 2025 for indecent communication with a minor and for possession of child sexual abuse material. Judge Christine Hayes increased Brar’s bail from $500,000 to $750,000, and called Brar a considerable threat to the community, noting the number of the complainants.

How did Brar come on police radar?

According to court records, the investigation started in July 4 after Oregon Department of Human Services alerted Vancouver Police in Washington that a 15-year-old girl in Portland reported a man named “Molly” forced her to perform oral sex in his vehicle in exchange for “weed pens.” Molly is the Snapchat username of Brar as his handle is ‘pnwmolly’, The Columbian reported. Brar sought out young girls on the app and complimented them on their looks before promising them substances like cocaine, ecstasy and LSD but in exchange for sex or photos and videos of sexual acts.He allegedly told victims he was the owner of Boondox Liquor Plus in Longview and lived at the Vancouver Waterfront with access to a rooftop pool.Investigators said Brar used to target vulnerable girls, like his 16-year-old victim whose family became homeless. Brar sexually assaulted her when she was heavily intoxicated. Another victim said Brar raped her on her birthday after supplying her with MDMA, cocaine, LSD and alcohol until she could barely keep her head up. Brar allegedly intimidated victims by claiming he wasn’t afraid of getting caught because he had money and “good lawyers,” and showed one victim his firearm.

Raid at Brar’s residence

Detectives found cocaine, MDMA, psilocybin mushrooms, hundreds of small plastic bags, a Sig Sauer pistol, sex toys, Plan B contraceptive and dozens of nicotine vaping devices in his residence. 14 disposable maskes with makeup smudges were found inside his vehicle. Those were the similar masks that juvenile females wore while entering his residence, as revealed by surveillance footage.

List of 39 new charges Brar is facing now

Two counts of first-degree traffickingThree counts of second-degree traffickingOne count of third-degree rape of a childOne count of second-degree rapeOne count of third-degree rapeOne count of third-degree child molestationThree counts of commercial sex abuse of a minorOne count of sexual exploitation of a minorTwo counts of first-degree possessing depictions of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conductThree counts of second-degree possession of depictions of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conductFive counts of communicating with a minor for immoral purposesFive counts of distributing a controlled substance to a minorThree counts of possessing a controlled substance with the intent to sell to a minorOne count of assault four with sexual motivationThree counts of supplying liquor to a minorFour counts of selling or giving tobacco or vapor products to a minor

The much-anticipated 2026 edition of the Indian Premier League is all set to kick off on March 28, bringing with it a wave of excitement among cricket fans across the globe. As the countdown begins, discussions around team combinations, key players, and potential match-winners have taken center stage. Among the franchises drawing significant attention is Punjab Kings (PBKS), a side that showed tremendous promise last season. With a balanced squad and strong leadership, PBKS are once again in focus as experts and former players weigh in on their ideal playing combinations.

Irfan Pathan picks his playing XI of PBKS

Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan has shared his preferred playing XI for Punjab Kings ahead of IPL 2026, offering a mix of youth, experience, and all-round strength. His lineup reflects both stability at the top and depth in the middle and lower order.

Pathan’s chosen XI includes Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran Singh as openers, followed by Mitchell Owen at number three. The middle order is anchored by skipper Shreyas Iyer, alongside promising talents Nehal Wadhera and Shashank Singh. The presence of experienced all-rounders like Marcus Stoinis adds firepower and flexibility to the lineup.

In the bowling department, Pathan has opted for a potent mix of pace and spin. Marco Jansen, Arshdeep Singh, and Lockie Ferguson (or Ben Dwarshuis) form the pace attack, while Harpreet Brar provides a spin option. Notably, veteran leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal has been named as the Impact Player, giving the team an additional edge in crucial moments.

Irfan Pathan’s PBKS XI: Priyansh Arya, Prabhsimran Singh, Mitchell Owen, Shreyas Iyer (C), Nehal Wadhera, Marcus Stoinis, Shashank Singh, Marco Jansen, Harpreet Brar, Arshdeep Singh, Lockie Ferguson / Ben Dwarshuis

Impact Player: Yuzvendra Chahal

Also READ: Irfan Pathan highlights ‘concerning factor’ for KKR ahead of IPL 2026

High expectations from Shreyas Iyer-led side

PBKS head into IPL 2026 with high expectations, especially after their impressive run in the previous season under the leadership of Iyer. The franchise made it to the final last year, showcasing consistency, resilience, and match-winning performances throughout the tournament. Although they fell short of lifting the trophy, their journey has significantly raised hopes among fans and experts alike.

With a well-rounded squad and greater experience, PBKS are now seen as strong contenders to go one step further this season. The leadership of Iyer, combined with the explosive batting lineup and a versatile bowling unit, puts them in a solid position to challenge for their maiden IPL title.

Also READ: MS Dhoni omitted! Irfan Pathan picks his ideal Chennai Super Kings lineup for IPL 2026