Top News of the Day | Jan 20, 2020: Verdict in Muzaffarpur shelter home case, Nadda as BJP chief and more

In a major development on Monday, January 20, 2020, the Supreme Court dismissed the  Special Leave Petition (SLP) filed by Pawan Kumar one of the four death row convicts in the 2012 Delhi gang-rape case. In another big news, incumbent BJP president Amit Shah passed the baton to JP Nadda. 

Another news came from the corridors of Saket court in the national capital as Muzaffarpur shelter home rape case accused Brajesh Thakur was held guilty of rape, conspiracy, and aggravated sexual assault of minors.

In Andhra Pradesh, the issue of three capitals continues to rock the state with several TDP leaders taken into preventive custody as the state cabinet approved the "High Power Committee" report on setting up of Visakhapatnam as Executive capital, Kurnool as Judicial Capital and Amaravati as the Legislative Capital.

In sports news, speculations have started circulating about the Rishabh Pant's pace in the ODI side after KL Rahul, who took on the additional responsibility to keep the wickets in the second match against Australia, is being compared to Rahul Dravid who took the mantle for nearly 60 matches when Sourav Ganguly was the captain. 

From the world of entertainment, the reunion of former celebrity couple Brad Pitt -Jennifer Aniston has taken the internet by storm. In Bollywood news, the trailer of Ayushmann Khurrana-Jitendra Kumar rom-com 'Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan' has been received well by social media. 

Here are the top eight stories of January 20, 2020

Muzaffarpur shelter home case: Key accused Brajesh Thakur, 18 others convicted

A Delhi Court on Monday convicted 19 accused in the Muzaffarpur shelter home rape case, including key accused Brajesh Thakur, who was the owner of the non-governmental organisation (NGO) 'Sewa Sankalp Evam Vikas Samiti' which ran the home in Bihar. The court, however, acquitted one. The quantum of sentence will be pronounced on January 8.

The other accused included eight females and one 12 males including staff of the Muzaffarpur shelter home as well as officials in the Department of Social Welfare, Government of Bihar. The court, however, acquitted one, and convicted 19. All of them were charged with criminal conspiracy, neglect of duty and failure to report assault on the girls.

JP Nadda elected unopposed as national president of BJP

Former Union minister JP Nadda was on Monday elected as the national president of the Bharatiya janata Party (BJP). He was elected to the top organisational post unopposed.

Nadda, who was serving as the working president of the BJP, took over the post of the national president from Amit Shah, who is currently the Union Home Minister. 

Nirbhaya case: SC dismisses plea filed by death row Pawan Kumar Gupta

A three-judge Bench of the Supreme Court on Monday dismissed the  Special Leave Petition (SLP) filed by Pawan Kumar Gupta - one of the four death row convicts in the 2012 Delhi gang-rape case (aka the Nirbhaya gang-rape and murder incident).

Pawan had claimed that he was a juvenile at the time of the crime and therefore he should be considered by the law as such when meting out the punishment in the case. He had also alleged that the Delhi High Court had ignored this fact when upholding the death sentence to the convicts.

Andhra Cabinet approves High Power Committee report on three capitals

The Andhra Pradesh government approved the "High Power Committee" report during a Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy on Monday amid protests in Amaravati.

The state cabinet also approved the purpose of the three capitals, Visakhapatnam as Executive capital, Kurnool as Judicial Capital and Amaravati as the Legislative Capital. In addition to the decentralisation and CRDA amendment bills, the state government also agreed upon offering better packages to the farmers of Amaravati region.

Who will Virat Kohli choose between KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant?

From playing as the opener to one down to even at the fifth spot and when needed even wicketkeeping for India - KL Rahul has done it all in the past few days. In the do-or-die second game, he blasted 80 from just 52 balls to help India post 340 and was even made to keep after Rishabh Pant suffered a concussion.

It will surely be a tough decision for the team-management to relieve Rahul of the wicketkeeping duties once Pant returns. 

India U19 follow senior team's footsteps, start World Cup with a win

While Team India made sure to grab the series away from the mighty Aussies hands, the young colts also made sure to start the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup 2020 on a winning note.

India U19 secured a comfortable 90-run victory against Sri Lanka U19.

Netizens have hilarious reactions to 'Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan'

Ayushman Khurana is all set to thrill his fans as he will be seen playing a homosexual man for the very first time in his career, in the second installment of his 2017 hit Shubh Mangal Saavdhan, Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan. 

The Dream Girl actor is paired opposite Jitendra Kumar, who is an internet star with several hit web series in his kitty. 

Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston break Internet with their much-awaited reunion at SAG Awards 2020

Since the award season started in Hollywood, fans have been waiting for a moment to catch a glimpse of ex-couple Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston in the same frame.

After the SAG Awards ended, Brad and Jennifer were caught finally meeting in the public eye and having an animated conversation.