BTS’ Jungkook has achieved a new feat on a popular music platform. His solo song Seven earned 1.7 billion streams, making him the first South Korean artist and the fastest Asian artist to achieve the same. Seven also became the fastest debut song of 2023 to reach this feat.

Jungkook is currently performing his mandatory military services. Along with BTS members Suga, Jimin, V, and RM, he is scheduled to return after the completion of his services in June 2025. Recently, the band’s oldest member, Jin, got discharged from the military. J-Hope is scheduled to return in October 2024.

India has completely overhauled its criminal justice system with three new criminal laws coming into effect today. The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) replaced the Indian Penal Code (IPC); Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) replaced the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), and the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA) replaced the Indian Evidence Act. The three laws were passed in parliament in December 2023.

The three new laws focus on justice rather than punishment and are aimed at providing speedy justice, all the way, strengthening the judicial and court management system emphasising “access to justice by all”.

The criminal justice system in India after Independence has not delivered the results because of certain inherent shortcomings including substandard investigation and prosecution, large pendency of criminal cases, delayed court proceedings, delay in disposal of cases, low conviction rate, and a large number of undertrial prisoners.

All these factors end up with denial of justice to the common people.

Here are some key details about the new laws:

Check And Balance On Police Powers

In order to prevent the misuse of provisions related to arrest by the police, the BNSS has introduced additional obligation on the state government to designate a police officer who would be responsible for maintaining information on all arrests and who arrested them. The clause requires such information to be displayed prominently in every police station and the district headquarters.

Fighting Crime Against Women

The BNS introduces a transformative approach to reporting of crime against women through electronic First Information Reports (e-FIRs). This helps in fast reporting of offences that need immediate attention. The digital platform allows swift reporting, overcoming traditional barriers and reflects the essence of established legal principles emphasising timely reporting.

Judicial precedents, including the Harpal Singh case (1981), resonate in recognising societal factors influencing reporting delays. The electronic platform offers a discreet way for survivors to report offences. This aligns with the evolving socio-legal approach to empowering survivors to navigate the legal process without fear of stigma.

The historical under-reporting of such crimes due to societal pressures is addressed, resonating with the broader societal narrative advocating for a survivor-centric and empathetic legal system. Public awareness campaigns can bridge the gap between technological innovations and societal understanding.

Reducing Overcrowding In Prisons

The maximum period of detention for undertrials has been reduced for first-time offenders under certain circumstances, and the jail superintendent has been legally empowered to help the accused or undertrials in applying for bail.

A first-time offender (never convicted of any offence in the past) will be released on bail if the person has undergone a third of the maximum sentence prescribed.

Technology

The BNSS has introduced the use of technology at all stages, from crime scene visit to Investigation to trial. It is a game-changer as it will ensure a faster trial and ensure transparency in investigation. The inclusion of technology and forensics in investigation is a significant move geared towards modernising the criminal justice system and harnessing the strength of modern scientific technologies.

Considering the risk of manipulation of evidence, the mandatory inclusion of audio-video recording in search and seizure proceedings is an important inclusion in BNSS. The scope of audio-video recording during search and seizure includes the process of preparing a list of seized items and the signature of witnesses.

Transparency in search and seizure proceedings is likely to deter against fabrication of evidence and ensure the presence of independent witnesses in these proceedings.

The Bharatiya Janata Party – hit by a blistering broadside Monday afternoon from Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, in his first speech as Leader of the Opposition – deployed union ministers Ashwini Vaishnaw and Kiren Rijiju, and Rajya Sabha MP Sudhanshu Trivedi to make a point-by-point rebuttal.

The trio accused Mr Gandhi of belittling his post and of making an “extremely irresponsible speech” that inflicted a “grave insult” on Hindus by linking them to violence and spreading falsehoods.

Ashwini Vaishnaw began a tag team-style counterattack this evening, claiming the nation had been left “distraught” by Rahul Gandhi’s statement, and declared that Mr Gandhi had used the word ‘violent’ for Hindus. “It is highly condemnable… the entire nation is distraught,” the Railways Minister said.

“Calling Hindus ‘violent’ doesn’t suit him… LoP is a respectable position held (in the past) by Atal Bihar Vajpayee ji and Sushma Swaraj ji” the minister said, and referring to Mr Gandhi’s claim about the Agniveer military recruitment scheme – firmly rebutted in Parliament by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh – added, “Rahul Gandhi is holding a constitutional post… and is spreading lies.”

“Most concerning issue is Rahul Gandhi labelling Hindus ‘violent’. This is an old habit of the Congress. In 2010, (ex-Home Minister P Chidambaram called Hindus ‘terrorists’. In 2013 Sushilkumar Shinde said the same. In 2021, Rahul Gandhi said ‘Hindutvavadis‘ should be expelled,” Mr Vaishnaw said.

“Rahul Gandhi (also) insulted the Constitutional position of Speaker. This is not the first time… remember when he tore up his own government’s ordinance,” he added.

Rahul Gandhi’s “Hindus” Parliament Speech

The reference was to Mr Gandhi saying “… Hindus can never spread hatred… but BJP spreads fear 24×7”. That prompted Prime Minister Narendra Modi to make a rare intervention to an opposition leader’s speech. “Calling entire Hindu society violent is a serious issue…” Mr Vaishnaw said.

READ | BJP Alleges Rahul Insulted Hindus, He Responds With RSS Jab

To this Mr Gandhi shot back, “Modi ji, BJP, and RSS is not the entire Hindu community.”

The BJP’s evening pushback was picked up and continued by Kiren Rijiju, the Parliamentary Affairs Minister, who said Rahul Gandhi “did not even thank the President” in a speech meant to respond to Droupadi Murmu’s address to Parliament – to start the 18th Lok Sabha’s first session – last week.

Mr Rijiju also demanded Rahul Gandhi substantiate his charges – including claims about lack of compensation for residents of Uttar Pradesh’s Ayodhya affected by the construction of the Ram Temple.

He also declared the opposition leader had failed to “suggest any solution” to the government. “Rahul Gandhi did not suggest any solution in his entire speech… which is the job of a positive opposition.”

“I condemn Rahul Gandhi ji for terming Hindus as (a) violent, hateful and untruthful community. He can’t insult Hindus without reason,” the Parliamentary Affairs Minister continued.

Sudhanshu Trivedi then took up the baton and accused the Congress of insulting Hindus.

The three weren’t the only BJP leaders to hit out at Rahul Gandhi.

“Rahul Insulted Crores Of Hindus”: BJP Leaders

BJP chief JP Nadda, involved in his own running battle in the Rajya Sabha (with his Congress counterpart Mallikarjun Kharge) took aim at Mr Gandhi with a series of posts on X, in which he accused the Congress leader of having “blatantly lied”.

“First day, worst show! Lies + Hindu hatred = Rahul Gandhi ji in Parliament. Third-time fail LoP has a knack for agitated, flawed logic. His speech today has shown that neither has he understood the mandate of 2024 (his third successive loss) nor does he have any humility,” he said.

READ | In Rajya Sabha, Kharge’s “Small Request” vs Nadda’s Fierce Reply

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman called Mr Gandhi a hypocrite and said his “mohabbat ki dukaan” claim – he attacked the BJP for spreading communal violence – had now been exposed. Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and Coal Minister G Kishan Reddy also claimed Mr Gandhi’s remarks an “insult”.

With input from agencies

NDTV is now available on WhatsApp channels. Click on the link to get all the latest updates from NDTV on your chat.