Articles by News18,Shreyanka Mazumdar

Technology

Sachin Sanghvi Sexual Assault Row: Victim’s Lawyer Issues Statement, Requests For Media Sensitivity

Bollywood singer and music composer Sachin Sanghvi, known for his chart-topping tracks in ‘Stree 2‘ and ‘Bhediya‘, has been arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting a woman after promising her a chance in his music album and marriage, police said on Friday. The composer was subsequently granted bail. The case is currently under judicial consideration. According to officials, Sanghvi, one half of the popular composer duo Sachin–Jigar, was taken into custody on Thursday under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) following an investigation into the woman’s complaint. In the ongoing case involving music composer Sachin Sanghvi, the victim’s lawyer, Advocate Nishant Johri, has issued an official statement emphasizing the pursuit of justice and calling for responsible media coverage as the matter proceeds through legal channels. Advocate Nishant Johri, representing the complainant, released a statement reaffirming their intent to follow all lawful avenues to ensure accountability. He quoted, “We remain committed to pursuing every lawful course of action to ensure that justice is rightfully served. As the matter is currently sub judice, we will not be making any further comments at this stage. We also respectfully urge members of the media to exercise sensitivity and discretion in their reporting, keeping in mind the dignity, privacy, and emotional well-being of the victim involved” The statement comes amid growing public and media attention surrounding the case. Legal experts have reminded that as the matter is sub judice, speculative or sensational reporting could adversely impact the ongoing investigation and the individuals concerned. The complainant, said to be in her twenties, alleged that she came in contact with the composer in February 2024 after he sent her a message on Instagram. Police said the two later exchanged phone numbers, and Sanghvi allegedly invited the woman to his studio, where he proposed marriage and subsequently sexually assaulted her on multiple occasions. The woman later approached the police, leading to a formal complaint and Sanghvi’s arrest. Authorities have recorded the victim’s statement and are verifying the evidence related to the allegations. Authorities have not disclosed further details of the complaint, citing the sensitive nature of the allegations. The investigation is currently underway.

Technology

Samay Raina Apologises For Disability Jokes, Fans Call It ‘Too Late’: 'Learn From Zakir Khan'

Stand-up comedian Samay Raina’s birthday this year came with controversy instead of celebration. After the Supreme Court directed him to issue an unconditional apology over his offensive jokes about people with disabilities, the India’s Got Lalent judge took to social media on October 26 to say sorry — but his apology hasn’t landed well with everyone. Samay, who shared the statement on his birthday, wrote that he deeply regretted his past comments, which were made during a now-discontinued segment of his YouTube show. However, social media users seemed far from forgiving. He took to Instagram to write, “Today is my birthday and instead of celebrating just myself, I want to use this day — the most special day of the year for me—to apologize to the people with disabilities.” “We, Samay Raina, Vipul Goyal, Sonali Thakkar, Nishant Tanwar, Balraj Ghai, deeply regret the pain caused due to our show. Going forward, we will be more mindful and do our best to spread awareness about the challenges faced by the community. Your strength inspires us to grow. With respect and gratitude, Samay, Vipul Goyal, Balraj Ghai, Sonali Thakkar, Nishant Tanwar,” he further added. Celebrity paparazzo Viral Bhayani posted Raina’s apology on Instagram, triggering a flood of reactions. Many users called the apology “meaningless” and “too late,” arguing that humour at the cost of disability is unacceptable. One comment read, “Apologies on such jokes do not make any sense after cracking them.” Others labelled the comedian “sadist” and said such behaviour can’t be excused with a public statement. Some, however, cynically pointed out that “people are gonna forgive him and everyone will be happy,” suggesting a cycle of outrage and forgetfulness often seen online. Many even said that he should learn better comedy from Zakir Khan. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Viral Bhayani (@viralbhayani) The apology follows weeks of criticism after Raina’s remarks resurfaced and drew legal attention. The Supreme Court’s stern direction for him to offer an unconditional apology has now sparked debate about the limits of comedy, accountability, and public sensitivity on social media. The controversy began after a charity drive for a two-month-old baby who needed an injection costing Rs 16 crore for a rare disease. Following this, stand-up comedian Samay Raina and four other social media influencers faced severe backlash for making what the Supreme Court called “insensitive jokes” about people with disabilities and rare genetic disorders. The court criticised their comments and directed all five influencers, including Raina, to issue unconditional public apologies. In an affidavit, Samay Raina — who hosted the now-defunct show India’s Got Latent — said he never intended to hurt anyone and was committed to creating “inclusive and sensitive content.” He also pledged to ensure “better conduct, content sensitivity, and legal compliance” in the future.