Two South Asian Jurists Join Santa Clara County Bench as Kesar Bazar Expands
Santa Clara County marked significant South Asian milestones, with two Indian-origin attorneys appointed to the superior court bench in separate months, a Desi grocery retailer securing a large Silicon Valley storefront, Hindu and Zoroastrian parents filing a religious-neutrality lawsuit connected to a Santa Clara mosque field trip, and a double-murder case involving South Asian community members continuing in county court.
🗳️ Bhanu Sadasivan Appointed to Santa Clara County Superior Court
California Governor Gavin Newsom appointed Bhanu Sadasivan to the Santa Clara County Superior Court, according to The American Bazaar, which reported the news on June 29, 2026. The appointment was part of a broader judicial selection process by the governor aimed at diversifying the state's bench. The American Bazaar described Sadasivan as a seasoned practitioner with deep expertise in law. The Santa Clara County Superior Court serves one of the most diverse counties in California, home to a large South Asian population concentrated in Silicon Valley's technology sector. South Asian representation on that bench carries both symbolic and practical significance for community members who appear in civil and family court proceedings. Sadasivan's appointment follows a pattern of South Asian-Americans making inroads into California's judicial system, particularly in the Bay Area where Indian-origin professionals constitute a significant share of the educated professional class. Newsom has made judicial diversity a stated priority during his tenure, and appointments like Sadasivan's reflect that commitment. The American Bazaar, which covers South Asian American news nationally, highlighted the appointment as a milestone for the community in Silicon Valley. [6]
🗳️ Chhaya Malik Joins Santa Clara County Superior Court Bench
Chhaya Malik has joined the Santa Clara County Superior Court bench, according to The American Bazaar's September 30, 2026 report. The appointment adds another South Asian jurist to one of California's busiest courts, following the June 2026 appointment of Bhanu Sadasivan to the same court — two appointments within months of each other. The American Bazaar described Malik as a seasoned practitioner with deep experience in California law. The Santa Clara County Superior Court handles a broad range of civil, criminal, and family law matters for one of the most populous counties in the Bay Area. For the region's large Indian-American community, seeing two judicial appointments of South Asian origin in quick succession is a notable milestone that reflects the community's growing civic presence. The court serves communities across Santa Clara, San Jose, Sunnyvale, and surrounding cities where South Asian families have planted deep roots over decades of immigration tied to the technology industry. Malik's appointment was reported in the context of ongoing efforts to ensure the bench reflects the diversity of the population it serves. The American Bazaar highlighted her background and noted that she brings professional depth and community relevance to the role. [3]
🏢 Kesar Bazar Secures 18,000-Square-Foot Storefront in Silicon Valley
A South Asian grocery store called Kesar Bazar has secured an 18,000-square-foot storefront in a Silicon Valley retail market where available space has become increasingly scarce, according to the Silicon Valley Business Journal. The move signals confidence in the demand for South Asian grocery offerings among the region's large Indian-American population, which continues to drive steady patronage of specialty grocery retailers. Kesar Bazar carries an extensive selection of South Asian staples — fresh produce, spices, lentils, flours, pickles, beverages, snack foods, and prepared foods — that serve customers seeking ingredients and products otherwise unavailable in mainstream American supermarkets. The 18,000-square-foot footprint represents a substantial retail operation capable of serving a large and diverse customer base in and around Santa Clara. Silicon Valley's retail environment has tightened significantly in recent years as online retail consolidation has reduced brick-and-mortar demand in some sectors, making available storefront space competitive. For community-oriented grocers like Kesar Bazar, physical retail space remains essential because customers value the in-person experience of selecting fresh produce, consulting with staff, and accessing culturally specific products. The expansion of Kesar Bazar's footprint in Silicon Valley is a positive sign for South Asian retail and culinary culture in the broader Bay Area. [1]
🗳️ Hindu and Zoroastrian Parents Join Lawsuit Over Mosque Field Trip
A group of 10 parents including Hindu parent Pawan Deshpande and Zoroastrian parent Dinsha Mistree have joined a lawsuit against Palo Alto Unified School District over a school field trip to a mosque in Santa Clara, according to The Jerusalem Post reporting from August 17, 2026. The lawsuit (5:2026cv08249) was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California by an organization called Community Members for Religious Neutrality in Public Schools, San Francisco Bay Area. The plaintiffs allege that students at Palo Alto High School were encouraged to wear Muslim religious attire, including hijabs, during a fall 2025 visit to the Muslim Community Association's mosque in Santa Clara. Students were also reportedly given Qurans as gifts and engaged with the mosque's Noor Hifz Academy religious youth program. The plaintiffs, who also include several Jewish families, contend that the district failed to maintain religious neutrality, failed to ensure equal treatment among faiths, failed to protect student privacy, and failed to vet and supervise outside speakers during the event. The case has drawn attention because it brings together parents from multiple minority religious traditions — Hindu, Zoroastrian, and Jewish — raising joint concerns about religious neutrality in public schools. [5]
Milpitas Woman Faces Murder Charges in Santa Clara County Court
A Milpitas woman named Anila Baby, 33, appeared in Santa Clara County court and faces two counts of first-degree murder, according to ABC7 Bay Area reporting from September 11, 2026. Prosecutors allege that Baby killed two of her best friends on the same day — Ann Mary Mathew in San Jose and Anjana Hari in Milpitas — in separate attacks approximately 90 minutes apart. Deputy District Attorney Marisa McKeown described both victims as mothers and community residents whose families are suffering terribly. The first alleged killing occurred on August 28 in San Jose at Mathew's home on Linda Vista Street, where Mathew was reportedly found by her husband having been strangled and stabbed. The second involved Anjana Hari, who was allegedly called to her Milpitas apartment parking lot and struck by a vehicle. Investigators linked the two incidents through forensic evidence and follow-up interviews. Baby faces a potential sentence of 50 years to life if convicted, and prosecutors stated they believe the killings were willful and premeditated. The case drew attention in the South Bay's South Asian community, where the victims and the accused shared social ties. The proceedings are continuing in Santa Clara County court. [4]
Sources: [6] The American Bazaar · [3] The American Bazaar · [1] The Business Journals · [5] The Jerusalem Post · [4] ABC7 Bay Area