HC refuses to monitor EOW probe into 2015 BMC de-silting scam

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January 30, 2019

The Bombay High Court on Wednesday refused to monitor the probe being conducted by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the city police into the 2015 de-silting scam, in which several civic officials and contractors have been named as accused.

A bench of justices Ranjit More and Bharati Dangre noted that the EOW had already filed chargesheets against a majority of the accused persons in the case and therefore, there was no need for the court to monitor the probe.

The bench was hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by activist Vivekanand Gupta, seeking that the court monitors the EOW probe into the de-silting scam.

The plea highlighted the irregularities committed by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) in the construction of roads and de-silting of drains between 2013 and 2016.

In June 2015, the city had witnessed massive flooding and waterlogging after heavy showers, despite the BMC’s claims of having completed the de-silting and road repair work before the rains.

At the time, the BMC too had conducted an internal probe.

BMC counsel Anil Sakhre told the bench on Wednesday that the corporation had taken action against several of its engineers found complicit in the scam and that it had also blacklisted the contractors concerned.

Appearing for the Maharashtra government, Jayesh Yagnik told the court that two FIRs were registered in the matter and chargesheets were filed in both the cases against most of the accused persons.

He said the EOW was going to “file chargesheets against the remaining six accused in the first FIR and three accused in the second FIR soon”.

“The chargesheets have been filed to let the law take its course. We cannot monitor everything,” the bench said.

It, however, accepted the state’s request for an additional three weeks to enable the EOW to file the chargesheets against the remaining accused.

Theft accused hurls slippers at magistrate in court

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January 30, 2019

An undertrial allegedly hurled a pair of slippers at a magistrate in a court in Thane district of Maharashtra after being convicted in a theft case, a police official said on Wednesday.

However, the magistrate ducked in time and escaped getting hit by the slippers, he said.

Ashraf Ansari, 22, was arrested sometime back in a case of theft and house-trespass in Bhiwandi town here, an official at Shanti Nagar police station said.

On Tuesday, during the hearing of the case in a court in Bhiwandi, magistrate J S Pathan pronounced Ansari guilty.

The accused, in a fit of anger, then threw his slippers at the magistrate, but the latter managed to avoid getting hit, the official said.

The policemen immediately overpowered Ansari and escorted him out of the court, he said.

The accused was later arrested and booked under Indian Penal Code Sections 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty) and 228 (intentional insult or interruption to public servant sitting in judicial proceeding), he added.

Kamal Nath alleges Rs 2,000 crore farmer loan scam by previous BJP govt, promises strict action

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January 30, 2019

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath on Wednesday alleged a Rs 2,000 crore farmers’ loan scam during the previous 15-year-old BJP rule and vowed strict action against those involved in falsifying the list of beneficiaries.

Kamal Nath on Wednesday met some farmers who never took loan, but their names figured as beneficiaries. The list also included the names of farmers whose loans had been waived.

“This is a big scam, it is expected to be of more than Rs. 2,000 crore. We will take strict action,” the Chief Minister said.

Congress leader Shobha Oza said, “A Rs 2,000 crore loan scam happened during the 15-year rule of BJP and the Kamal Nath government will take the issue to its logical conclusion. No one will be spared.”

Last week, a farmer in Madhya Pradesh’s Sagar district died due to cardiac arrest after getting to know that he had a huge amount of loan on him whereas he had not taken it as claimed by the family.

The deceased identified as Mukundi Adivasi, a resident of village Sardai Nayanagar came to know that he had a loan of approximately Rs. 5 lakh on his name as was written in a list posted at the local cooperative body office in the district.

According to one of his family members, Mukundi turned nervous after getting to know about the loan and his condition deteriorated on Wednesday. He was immediately taken to a hospital but was declared brought dead by doctors.

A local bank in the area pasted a list of farmers who have taken loans, as part of the process initiated by the Congress-led Madhya Pradesh government to waive loan of farmers up to Rs. 2 lakh per head, as was promised by the party during the state assembly elections last year.

During polls campaign, Congress president Rahul Gandhi had announced waiving farm loans within 10 days after being voted to power.

Apart from Mukundi, there are other farmers as well who have alleged that their names have been included in the list of farm loan waiver even when they never took a loan.

If Gathbandhan makes govt, we’ll have new PM each day: Amit Shah

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January 30, 2019

Poking fun at the Opposition’s ‘mahagathbandhan,’ BJP president Amit Shah on Wednesday said that if the alliance succeeded in forming the government, there will be a different Prime Minister on each day of the week with the country going on leave on Sunday.

Addressing a gathering here, Shah said: “If the mahagathbandhan makes the government then we will have different Prime Ministers on each day like Monday it will be Bhenji (Mayawati), on Tuesday Akhilesh, for Wednesday Mamata Didi will take charge, on Thursday it is going to be Sharad Pawar, on Friday Deve Gowda will become the PM and on Saturday Stalin will be the PM. On Sunday the country will be on leave.”

Sharpening his attack on the opposition’s alliance he said, “For us ‘4B’ means ‘Badhta Bharat’, ‘Banata Bharat’ whereas for them ‘4B’ is ‘Bua’, ‘Babua’, ‘Bhai’ and Behen.’ This gathbandhan being formed against BJP is an alliance of crime, corruption and selfish politics. This is basically done to stop our popularity amongst people.”

Elaborating that the functioning of the government and the law and order in the state has improved, the BJP president added, “Before we came into power there was no law and order here, but today there is. This government under the leadership of PM Modi and CM Yogi in the state is going to progress further.”

He also asserted that the party was committed to building the Ram Temple at the Ram Janmabhoomi spot.

Motivating his party workers Shah said, “We started the campaign for 2014 from Kanpur and the first meeting with booth president for the 2019 elections also happened here today.

Eden Hazard can leave Chelsea if he wants: Manager Maurizio Sarri

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January 30, 2019

Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri has said that Eden Hazard is free to leave the club if he wants to but the Italian hopes the forward stays at Stamford Bridge.

Hazard has been linked with a move to Spanish side Real Madrid in recent months and the Belgium international had said in October last year that it was his dream to play for the reigning European champions.

Chelsea are looking to renew his contract, which expires next season, and the west London side risk losing him for free in the close season in 2020 if he does not extend his current deal.

“Eden is 28. If he wants to go, I think he has to go,” Sarri told reporters ahead of Wednesday’s Premier League clash at Bournemouth.

“Of course, I hope the opposite, I hope he wants to stay here. He has the potential to be the best player in Europe at the moment.”

Hazard has 10 goals and 10 assists in the league this season, often playing up front in a ‘false nine’ role to lead the attack but Sarri might play him on the wing again after the arrival of Argentine striker Gonzalo Higuain.

“It’s my job to improve him and put him in a position to do his best,” Sarri added.

BJP not on back foot in Northeast over citizenship bill: Deb

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January 30, 2019

Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb claimed on Wednesday that the citizenship bill had not put the BJP on the back foot in the Northeast.

Deb accused some organisations “with no support base” of portraying the Northeast as a troubled region for personal gains.

“The claims that the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill has caused trouble in the region and has put the BJP on the back foot is completely false and baseless. Had this been the truth, the BJP would not have won autonomous council elections in Assam,” the saffron party leader said.

The Bharatiya Janata Party had won 19 of the 28 seats in the North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council, where elections were held on January 19 amid protests over the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2019.

“The victory in the election means people are with us,” the chief minister said.

The bill seeks to provide citizenship to non-Muslims who had fled religious persecution in Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan and entered India before December 31, 2014, after six years of residence in the country.

The bill, which was passed in the Lok Sabha earlier this month, has triggered protests across the region.

Asked about political and social outfits protesting against the bill, Deb said, “The organisations that don’t have any base in the region want to portray the northeastern states as a disturbed territory. But we will not allow it to happen.”

To a query whether he would implement the bill in Tripura, Deb said, “The state of Tripura is a part of India and we are part of the federal structure. This bill is applicable to all the states of the country.”

Asked about BJP allies in the Northeast objecting to the bill, the chief minister declined any comment, saying every political party had its own policy and agenda.

The BJP will win more than 20 out of the 25 Lok Sabha seats in the region and over 300 seats across the country to form the next government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi again, he asserted.

Rahul, Shardul Thakur named in India A side for first 4-day match against England Lions

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January 30, 2019

Opener KL Rahul will be playing for India A in their first unofficial Test against England Lions to be held in Wayanad from February 7-10.

The 14-member squad led by Maharashtra’s Ankit Bawne also features Jharkhand fast bowler Varun Aaron, who last wore national colours way back in 2015 in a rain-marred Test match against South Africa in Bengaluru.

Statistically, Aaron with 25 wickets from seven Ranji Trophy matches, hasn’t had an exceptional season but as per sources close to selection committee, the once injury-prone Jharkhand speedster will be monitored in order to broaden the fast bowling pool.

That’s the reason that two tearaway quicks in veteran Aaron and young Avesh Khan have found berth along with Shardul Thakur, who is coming back from a long lay-off and current A team regular Navdeep Saini.

The team doesn’t have too many surprises as most of the domestic performers have found their place in the squad.

All-rounder Jalaj Saxena, after another good season is now back in the A team mix , while Siddhesh Lad has also been rewarded for his consistent show over the past few seasons.

Incidentally, legendary Sunil Gavaskar in one of his recent columns had questioned about Lad being repeatedly ignored by the selection committee for various A team assignments. Openers Priyank Panchal and Abhimanyu Easwaran along with middle-order batsman Ricky Bhui and leg-spinner Mayank Markande have all got the nod.

The squad doesn’t contain any top performers from either Saurashtra or Vidarbha, as the Ranji Trophy final will only get over on February 7.

India A squad: Ankit Bawne (Captain), KL Rahul, AR Easwaran, Priyank Panchal, Ricky Bhui, Siddhesh Lad, K.S. Bharat (WK), Jalaj Saxena, S Nadeem, Mayank Markande, Navdeep Saini, Sharadul Thakur, Avesh Khan, Varun Aaron.

No room for excuses now: Bhupathi ahead of Davis Cup tie vs Italy

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January 30, 2019

Non-playing captain Mahesh Bhupathi on Wednesday said that there is no room for excuses in the Davis Cup Qualifier against Italy starting here Friday, especially after India got whatever had desired.

Bhupathi said home comfort and the X-factor of Calcutta South Club’s grasscourts hold India in good stead in the tie.

“We definitely feel that this is our best chance to beat Italy on grass. Hard or clay is their strengths,” Bhupathi told reporters on the eve of the draw.

Having lost in the away play-offs to Serbia, India, three-time Davis Cup runners-up, were drawn to play against Italy at home in the Qualifiers in their bid for a coveted place in November’s 18-team Finals in Madrid.

Italy, who had lost to France in the World Group quarters, will have the unfamiliarity of grasscourts, something the hosts are looking at capitalising.

“We will know on Saturday if the advantage played out for us or not. So we’ve got the grass now I don’t think we have any room for excuses anymore,” Bhupathi said.

Contrary to widespread criticism all over the world over the new format, Bhupathi said the shortened arrangement would give India an edge over Italy who are ranked 10th, nine places above the hosts.

“When you’re trying to beat players who are better than you it’s always easier to do it in two sets rather than three out of five. So, when it comes to playing big teams, who are constantly in the world group, I think this change in format is great for the Indian team,” he said.

Bhupathi further said that they may start as underdogs but they are confident of upsetting Italy and do an encore of Vijay Amritraj and Co did at the same venue in the World Group first round in 1985.

Ayodhya dispute: Mayawati calls Centre’s plea out of frustration

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January 30, 2019

Hitting out at the government over its plea to return the land around the disputed Aypodhya site, BSP chief Mayawati on Wednesday said that the move is out of “frustration” as the BJP feels it will not return to power because of her alliance with the Samajwadi Party.

Describing the plea as a step aimed at influencing the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister said it is BJP’s latest poll gimmick.

“The step taken by the Central government on Tuesday is a blatant government interference and aimed at influencing the coming Lok Sabha elections against which people need to remain vigilant,” Mayawati said in a statement.

“BJP is now feeling that it will not return to power at the Centre after the SP-BSP alliance in Uttar Pradesh and out of frustration both the BJP-led Central and state governments are doing what is least expected from an elected government working as per the Constitution,” she said.

Facing growing pressure to move swiftly on the Ram temple issue, the Modi government Tuesday asked the Supreme Court to allow it to return the “non-disputed” surplus land acquired around the disputed structure in Ayodhya to a Hindu trust and other original owners, in a significant move ahead of the Lok Sabha polls.

Mayawati said that after losing people’s faith and earning a bad name for failing to fulfil the promises it made, BJP is left with the last resort of “playing the religion card”.

“BJP feels that this is the last gimmick left with them and so they are resorting to it,” she said.

The BSP chief said the move depicts “narrow nationalism as was evident in the other decisions of the BJP government like the Citizenship Bill”.

15 minor girls rescued from home after alleged sexual abuse

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January 30, 2019

As many as 15 minor girls have been rescued from a home in Tamil Nadu’s Tiruvannamalai district following complaints of sexual abuse against their in-charge, who has since been arrested under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

According to police, officials led by the District Collector KS Kandasamy visited the home last night and sealed the premises, after the issue came to light when some of the inmates informed authorities about the alleged sexual abuse by the accused during a recent safety campaign.

The home in-charge reportedly made them watch pornographic content before abusing them.

The issue came to light during a recent campaign undertaken by the authorities to ensure the safety of inmates in such homes in the district, where some of the girls revealed the alleged sexual abuse in writing.

The rescued children have since been shifted to a government facility and further probe was on in the case, police added.