A sub-inspector with Navi Mumbai police’s Crime Branch was Saturday booked for allegedly raping a woman constable, an official said.
The complainant, who approached CBD police station Saturday, has alleged that sub-inspector Amit Shelar had raped her in March last year after spiking her cold drink, the official said.
The 31-year-old complainant has also told police that the accused had recorded the incident and had threatened to circulate it, the official added.
She has said the accused raped her several times in places like CBD, Panvel, Kamothe and Kharghar, he informed.
She was also allegedly beaten up by the accused, the official said.
Based on her complaint, the police registered a case against Shelar under relevant sections of the IPC for rape and assault as well as under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
The official added that the accused had not been arrested yet.
The accused and victim knew each other from 2010 when they were posted at the same police station, the official said.
Pressing for an ordinance to facilitate the construction of a Ram temple in Ayodhya, NDA constituent Shiv Sena has said that the delay in exercising the option is an indication that the ruling BJP at the Centre and in Uttar Pradesh was not keen on building it.
Senior Shiv Sena leader and party MP Sanjay Raut said if the NDA government can bring an ordinance on banning instant triple talaq then why not take the same route to remove hurdles for the construction of the Ram temple, which is a “matter of pride” for the nation.
The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), which helped the BJP come to power in 2014, should pull down the NDA government if it fails to bring an ordinance for construction of the temple, he said.
Raut’s remarks come ahead of Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray’s visit to Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh on November 25, during which the party is likely to declare its next course of action on the issue.
“We never use the issue of Ram Mandir for elections. But those who wish to do it, we feel they don’t want the Ram Mandir,” Raut told PTI in an interview.
If you want the Ram Mandir then legislate a law, he said.
Raut, who is also executive editor of the Shiv Sena mouthpiece ‘Dainik Saamana’, claimed that when the BJP came to power for the first time in the 1990s, it cited a lack of absolute majority in Parliament and power in Uttar Pradesh for not coming up with a legislation for the construction of Ram Temple.
Today, BJP has an absolute majority at the Centre as well as in Uttar Pradesh, but it has “failed” to resolve the long-pending issue, he said.
“If you can bring an amendment to the triple talaq bill and the SC and ST Act, then why not on Ram Mandir. If this is the will and demand of the people and you have seized power because of the same issue will then you have to accept it,” the Sena MP said.
Though the Shiv Sena and the BJP are in an alliance, both at the Centre and in Maharastra, there has been an increasing bitterness in their ties.
Last month, the Supreme Court fixed the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid land dispute case for the first week of January before an “appropriate bench”, which will decide the schedule of hearing.
There has been a growing demand to bring an ordinance so that hurdles relating to the dispute can be sorted out at the earliest.
Raut asserted that the issue is unlikely to be resolved by the court and an ordinance is the only solution to construct the temple.
He said if the government brings the ordinance then over 100 non-BJP MPs in the Lok Sabha and many in the Rajya Sabha, cutting across the party lines, would back the legislation.
Raut, whose party has been a vociferous supporter of the construction of the Ram temple, said 2019 should be the deadline for resolving the issue.
“After that, neither Ram Mandir nor Babri should not be on the agenda of any political party and election issue. We don’t want any credit. You take the credit, but build the Ram temple,” the Sena leader said.
The Shiv Sena in the past has openly admitted its role in the demolition of the Babri mosque in December 1992.
Following the demolition and the subsequent riots in Mumbai, the party, along with the BJP, seized power in Maharashtra in 1996.
“If we could not lay a brick for the temple in last 25 years then what temple are we going to build,” Raut said.
For the construction of the Ram temple, he said the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, the RSS, Bajrang Dal, Shiv Sena, should sit together and declare their position on the issue.
Australian team’s tempered on-field approach is a paradigm shift from earlier times but it’s the quality of cricket which will decide the fate of the series, said India’s head coach Ravi Shastri.
Australian cricket teams over the years have played tough cricket with liberal mix of sledging, which former skipper Steve Waugh often termed as “mental disintegration”.
However things have changed post ball tampering episode that led to suspensions of Steve Smith and David Warner with critics panning “win at all costs” approach.
“At the end of the day, it’s the cricket that talks. I didn’t care if a McGrath or a Warne did say something or didn’t say something, they would have still taken wickets,” the Indian head coach said during the opening media interaction on Sunday.
“It’s as simple as that. When you can do what you are good at and do it consistently, it doesn’t matter, which side you are playing for. That cricketer will do well and so will the team,” said Shastri.
Even skipper Virat Kohli during his pre-departure perss conference said that he has enough faith in his abilities to perform rather than indulge in mindless exchange of words to pump himself up.
When asked about Kohli’s well-known aggressive approach, Shastri echoed his skipper’s sentiments.
“He (Kohli) is a professional and he has matured. You saw him four years ago (2014-15) and he has played all round the globe since then and captained the side. And that alone comes with a tag of responsibility which has fit well on his shoulders and he has adjusted extremely well but he will not take his foot off the gas,” the head coach explained what will be India skipper’s approach.
Kohli has scored five Test hundreds on Australian soil (one in 2011-12 and 4 in 2014-15) and Shastri said that Australian conditions suit Indian captain’s style of game.
“He loves coming to Australia. He is passionate about his game. Pitches suit his style of play. And once you have done well here, you want to come and play again. It’s a great place to come and play cricket.
“They play hard and the sporting public appreciates good, tough cricket. It doesn’t matter which side wins and as long as I have been coming to Australia. I have seen people love it, whether it’s media, people at the ground or those watching on television,” said Shastri.
Novak Djokovic produced a masterclass on Saturday to crush Kevin Anderson and set up a title decider at the ATP Finals against Alexander Zverev, who ousted Roger Federer after a bizarre incident involving a ball boy.
World number one Djokovic comfortably saw off the fourth seed 6-2, 6-2, never looking remotely troubled as he targets a record-equalling sixth end-of-season title at London’s O2 Arena.
Earlier, 21-year-old Zverev beat Federer 7-5, 7-6 (7/5), denying the Swiss veteran a tilt at a 100th title and earning a chance to avenge his round-robin defeat at the hands of the Serb earlier in the tournament.
“I’m very pleased I’m able to play at a high level consistently week after week for the last six months,” said Djokovic.
The toll in cyclone Gaja has touched 45, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami said on Sunday and appealed to leaders of all political parties to take part in the relief activities.
He said the relief operations were going on a war footing in the districts affected by the cyclonic storm and state ministers have been deployed in Nagapattinam, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, and Pudukottai to monitor it.
The state government is collecting details about areas which have been badly affected by the cyclone, Palaniswami told reporters here.
“In villages, lots of trees and standing crops have been damaged, affecting the livelihood of farmers. The extent of damage is being evaluated. Till now, 45 people have lost their lives due to the cyclone,” the Chief Minister said.
The Tamil Nadu government has announced a solatium of Rs 10 lakh to the family of each of the deceased from the Chief Minister’s Public Relief Fund (CMPRF). Those with severe injuries would be provided with Rs one lakh each while those whose injuries are not grievous in nature would get Rs 25,000 compensation.
Palaniswami said 1.7 lakh trees have been uprooted, 735 cattle died, 1.17 lakh houses damaged and 88,102-hectare agricultural land has been affected in coastal districts.
Nearly 2.50 lakh people were provided with accommodation in 483 relief camps.
Besides, 1,014 mobile medical vans have been set up and so far one lakh people in affected areas have benefited from it, the chief minister said.
Noting that 39,938 electric poles and 347 transformers were damaged in the affected districts, he said 12,532 men of the state electricity board have been dispatched to take up the repair work.
Responding to a question, Palaniswami urged all political leaders and people to extend a helping hand in this time of need.
“It is a natural calamity. There should not be any differences like the opposition, ruling party in taking up relief operations. I appeal to everyone to help the affected people,” he said.
Asked whether Prime Minister Narendra Modi would visit Tamil Nadu, he said the state government has informed the Centre about the damage caused by the cyclone.
On whether the government would seek the Army’s assistance, Palaniswami said, “As of now officials and ministers have been directed to visit the affected places. If required we will seek assistance from the Centre.”
“Currently, were are facing challenges in removing uprooted trees and replacing the damaged electricity poles,” he said.
Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam visited Nagapattinam and said relief works in affected districts were going on a war footing and normalcy would be restored soon.
The Delhi High Court has sought the Centre’s stand on a plea alleging that it and the AAP government were not following through on their assurance to the court to ensure there would be no shortage of antiretroviral (ARV) drugs, used to treat HIV.
Justice Sunil Gaur has asked the Ministry of Health to file a status report in response to the petition seeking contempt proceedings against the Centre, Delhi government and the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) for “willful disobedience” of the assurance given to the court last year.
The plea, listed for hearing on March 12 next year, has contended that the two governments and NACO had assured the high court that there would be no shortage of ARV drugs in the future.
The contempt petition was moved by Delhi resident Rekha Devi, who said the assurance was given in May last year after she had moved a plea claiming a shortage of ARV drugs at all government-run hospitals and antiretroviral therapy (ART) centres in the national capital.
In her plea, filed through advocate Sija Nair Pal and Deepak Kumar Singh, Devi alleged that ART centres of government hospitals in Delhi were having continuous stock-out of first, second and third line of ARV drugs used in the treatment of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).
According to the petition, India has 2.1 million People Living with HIV (PLHIV) and an HIV infection can be effectively controlled with ART and the patients can live longer without developing the Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), an advanced form of the ailment.
“Unavailability or stock-out of ART drugs at the ART centres and not meeting the demands timely is, therefore, an emergency situation,” it said, adding that poor people depend on the availability of these medicines at government-run hospitals as the annual cost of maintaining the third line regimen comes to around Rs.1.5 lakh for each patient.
The petition has sought directions to the two governments and NACO “to maintain a continuous buffer stock of ARV drugs for three months and regularise the continuous shortage of medicines in the ART centres of Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan Hospital, G.B. Pant, Government District Combined Hospital and other ART centres across Delhi”.
Devi said that she filed the contempt plea after a lack of response to the repeated representations to authorities to ensure regular supply of ARV drugs at ART centres and government-run hospitals.
A day after Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar stirred a controversy with his remarks over incidents of rape; he has clarified his stance claiming that what he said is a fact proven by the investigation.
Khattar also opined that an issue such as rape should not be politicised.
“I did not say that it is consensual, all I said was that it happens between known people. This is not something that I have said but is a fact that has come out after investigations. We should deal with this socially and not involve politics in it,” said the Chief Minister.
Addressing a gathering on November 15 in Kalka, the Chief Minister said that most of the rape incidences usually happen between known people.
“The incidents of rape haven’t increased. These used to happen before as well. Today, only the concerns have grown. 80 to 90 percent of the incidents happen between people who already know each other,” Khattar had remarked.
He further said that most of the incidences are between people who usually spend time together but after some arguments, file a rape complaint.
In September this year, the alleged abduction and gang rape of a 19-year-old girl from Haryana’s Rewari had created a nation-wide outrage. Three accused were later arrested in the case.
In October this year, a seven-year-old girl was allegedly raped while returning from school in Rewari district.
Punjab’s Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Sunday announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakh for the kin of the deceased and free treatment for those injured who got injured in the blast at the Nirankari Bhawan in Amritsar’s Rajasansi village on Sunday.
The Chief Minister also reviewed law and order situation and has directed Home Secretary, Director General of Police, Director General, Law and Order, and Director General, Intelligence, to rush to Rajasansi for supervising investigations.
After the incident took place security outside the Nirankari Bhawan has been beefed up as per Singh’s orders.
Elaborating upon the incident, IG (Border) Surinder Pal Singh Parmar said, “Out of 250 people who were present in the religious congregation, three have lost their lives and 15-20 people have got injured. As per initial reports, two people had come over here who lobbed a grenade here.”
Expressing his grief, Punjab Congress chief Sunil Jakhar told, “My condolences are with the families of those who lost lives in this incident. It is an attempt to disturb peace in Punjab. I believe all the security agencies should stay alert and coordinate with each other to maintain peace.”
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal also offered his condolences to the victims of the blast.
“Hand grenade attack on Nirankari Bhawan in Ajnala is a direct result of the Congress government’s soft attitude towards radical elements. The government must deal with such elements with an iron hand to ensure Punjab does not slip into the era of terrorism. My condolences with families of the three victims and injured,” said Badal.
Flashing smiles at the bevy of paparazzi and fans waiting for them at the airport, Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh returned home on Sunday morning in India after their wedding in Italy.
The couple brought the otherwise busy Mumbai airport to a standstill as they walked hand-in-hand and waved at the camerapersons and fans amid loud cheers.
The duo wore Sabyasachi, who also designed their wedding trousseau. Both of them chose traditional wear for the airport look, which was also colour coordinated.
While Ranveer looked dapper in a bright red and golden jacket over a beige silk kurta pyjama, Deepika looked ethereal in churidar suit with heavily embroidered red Benarasi dupatta
Deepika and Ranveer reached the latter’s house which was decked up with lights and flowers for ‘Grah Pravesh’.
Deepika and Ranveer will host a reception each in Bengaluru and Mumbai on November 21 and 28, respectively.
