The police on Saturday arrested a man for allegedly molesting a 13-year-old girl at a residential building in Maharashtra’s Thane district, an official said. Based on a complaint, a case under section 354 (assault or criminal force on woman with intent to outrage her modesty) of the Indian Penal Code and relevant provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act has been registered at Kolsewadi police station in Kalyan, the official said.
The accused, Mahesh Chavan (33), allegedly accosted the girl who was cycling in the compound of the building on Friday night, hugged her and touched her inappropriately, he said. The victim ran to her parents and narrated the ordeal, after which they lodged the complaint, the official added.
BJP leader Devaraje Gowda taken to Holenarasipura in molestation and rape case 3
BJP leader and advocate G Devaraje Gowda, arrested for alleged molestation and rape, was on Saturday taken to Holenarasipura, where the incident had allegedly taken place, for questioning, police said.
An FIR was registered against Gowda on a complaint by a 36-year-old woman from Hassan district, who alleged that he molested and raped her on the pretext of helping her sell her property. A case of molestation was registered against Gowda on April 1. On Friday, the woman once again approached the police and alleged that she was also raped by him, a police officer told PTI.
The BJP leader was arrested at the Gulihal toll gate by the Hiriyur Police in Chitradurga district late Friday night. He was arrested on a tip-off by the Hassan Police.
The Holenarasipur police arrived in Chitradurga on Saturday morning. After the legal process, the Hiriyur police handed over Devaraje Gowda to Holenarasipura police.
Gowda had unsuccessfully contested the 2023 assembly election on the BJP ticket and was defeated by JD(S) MLA and former minister H D Revanna. He had also claimed that he alerted the BJP leadership last year about Prajwal Revanna’s alleged sexual abuse of several women, and cautioned the saffron party not to give a Lok Sabha ticket to the JD(S) MP from Hassan.
Delhi CM Kejriwal, Punjab CM Mann seek divine blessings at Hanuman temple 5
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal along with his wife Sunita and Punjab counterpart Bhagwant Mann offered prayers at the Hanuman temple in central Delhi’s Connaught Place.
A day after getting released from Tihar jail on interim bail, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Kejriwal reached the historic temple to pay his obeisance. Kejriwal was accompanied by AAP leaders including Delhi Health Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj.
On Friday, the chief minister thanked Lord Hanuman as he stepped out of Tihar Jail on interim bail and sought people’s support in his ”fight against dictatorship”.
Kejriwal will address a press conference at AAP office at 1 pm and will hold two roadshows in south Delhi and east Delhi parliamentary constituencies.
Supreme Court rejects Arvind Kejriwal's plea for bail, grants interim protection for 21 days 7
The Supreme Court on Friday granted interim bail of 21 days to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in the Delhi liquor excise policy case. In a big relief, CM has been granted bail until June 1.
During the interim bail, Kejriwal will be allowed to campaign for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. However, the two-judge bench led by Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta has also ordered that as soon as his bail period is over on June 1, the Aam Aadmi Party supremo will surrender to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on June 2.
The top court has, however, also said that even if the Kejriwal would not perform any official duties, it could have “cascading effects” on others.
Narendra Dabholkar murder case: Special Pune Court convicts two, acquits three, including key accused Tawde 9
A special court for UAPA cases in Maharashtra’s Pune on Friday convicted and sentenced two men to life imprisonment and acquitted three, including key accused Virendrasinh Tawde, in the murder of well-known rationalist Dr Narendra Dabholkar. Dabholkar (67), an anti-superstition crusader, was shot dead while on a morning walk on Omkareshwar Bridge here on August 20, 2013. Reading out the order in a packed courtroom, Additional Sessions Judge (Special Court) P P Jadhav said that the prosecution had proved the charges of murder and conspiracy against Sachin Andure and Sharad Kalaskar and they have been awarded life imprisonment and a fine of Rs 5 lakh.
According to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Andure and Kalaskar had shot Dabholkar.
The court acquitted accused ENT surgeon Tawde, Sanjeev Punalekar and Vikram Bhave for want of evidence. The prosecution examined 20 witnesses while the defence examined two witnesses during the trial. The accused were opposed to Dabholkar’s crusade against superstition, it had stated in its final arguments.
Pune police initially probed the case. The CBI took over the probe in 2014 following a Bombay High Court, order and arrested Tawde linked to the Hindu right-wing organisation Sanatan Sanstha, in June 2016.
According to the prosecution, Tawde was one of the masterminds of the murder.
Sanatan Sanstha, to which Tawde and some of the other accused were linked, was opposed to the work carried out by Dabholkar’s organisation, the Maharashtra Andhashraddha Nirmoolan Samiti (committee for eradication of superstition, Maharashtra), it claimed.
The CBI first named fugitives Sarang Akolkar and Vinay Pawar as the shooters in its charge sheet. But later it arrested Sachin Andure and Sharad Kalaskar, and claimed in a supplementary charge sheet that they had shot Dabholkar.
Subsequently, the central agency arrested advocate Sanjeev Punalekar and Vikram Bhave as alleged co-conspirators.
During the trial, advocate Virendra Ichalkaranjikar, one of the defence lawyers, had questioned the CBI’s flip-flop over the shooters’ identity.
The accused were booked under Indian Penal Code sections 120 B (conspiracy ), 302 (murder), relevant sections of the Arms Act, and section 16 (Punishment for terrorist act ) of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act or UAPA.
While Tawde, Andure and Kalaskar are in jail, Punalekar and Bhave are out on bail.
Dabholkar’s murder was followed by the murders of three other rationalists/activists in the next four years: communist leader Govind Pansare (Kolhapur, February 2015), Kannada scholar and writer M M Kalburgi (Dharwad, August 2015) and journalist Gauri Lankesh (Bengaluru, September 2017).
It was suspected that the culprits in these four cases were linked to each other.
Inspiration at new heights: Mumbai couple's triumph at Everest base camp 11
In a stirring display of resilience and determination, Mumbai resident Abhishek Mandvikar, despite being polio-affected in both legs since birth, has successfully trekked to Everest Base Camp with his wife Priyanka. The couple’s journey, organised by the Giripremi Adventure Foundation, spanned over 70 kilometers and culminated at the formidable altitude of 17,500 feet after a challenging nine-day trek.
At 43, Abhishek’s indomitable spirit shone brightly as he faced severe weather conditions, with snowfall and plummeting temperatures marking the final two days of their ascent. However, the couple’s unwavering resolve saw them through to the base of the world’s highest peak.
The significance of their achievement was heightened just before reaching their destination at Everest Base Camp, when Abhishek drew inspiration from the statue of the revered Maratha warrior king Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj at Gorkshep, installed by the Giripremi team during their 2012 Everest expedition. “Seeing the statue gave me a different energy,” said Abhishek, moved by the historic symbol of perseverance and courage.
Abhishek’s journey was supported by veteran mountaineer Umesh Zirpe and young mountaineer Nikunj Shah of Giripremi, along with Dorchi Sherpa of Peak Promotion in Nepal, ensuring a well-guided and safe expedition.
This remarkable feat not only celebrates the personal victory of Abhishek and Priyanka but also stands as a beacon of inspiration for all, proving that physical limitations are no barrier to achieving extraordinary goals. The climbing community, including fellow climbers, guides, and Sherpas, celebrated the Mandvikars’ successful ascent, offering congratulations and praise for their spirit and tenacity.
Abhishek’s story is a powerful testament to the human spirit’s capacity to overcome challenges and reach new heights, both literally and metaphorically. His dedication to fitness and sports, despite his disability, and his rigorous preparation for the trek underscore his commitment to not just facing challenges but conquering them.
"If BJP wins, we will scrap Muslim reservation and give it to SC, ST, and OBC," says Amit Shah in Telangana 13
Union Home Minister Amit Shah claimed on Thursday, while addressing a public rally in Telangana’s Bhongir, that if the BJP comes to power, it will increase the reservation of SC, ST, and OBC and end the Muslim reservation. While appealing to the public, Amit Shah said, “Congress wants to fight elections by speaking lies. They say that if Prime Minister Narendra Modi comes, he will finish the reservation. Prime Minister Modi has been leading this country unanimously for the last 10 years, but he did not end the reservation. However, the Congress party has robbed the reservations of SC, ST and OBC by giving 4 per cent reservation to Muslims.”
He added further, “In 2019, the public of Telangana gave us four seats. This time, we will win more than 10 Lok Sabha seats in Telangana. This double-digit score in Telangana will make PM Modi cross 400 seats… Make BJP victorious on more than 10 seats. We will end the Muslim reservation and increase the reservation of SC, ST, and OBC.” Taking a jibe at Congress’ Rahul Gandhi, Shah said, “In our manifesto, we have given Modi’s guarantees and he does what he says. And the guarantees of Rahul baba doesnt even stay till sunset.”
The Union Home Minister slammed Rahul Gandhi for making promises but not fulfilling them. He said, “Rahul Gandhi promised to forgive the farmer loans but he didn’t, he promised to give Rs 15,000 to farmers but he didn’t fulfil that.” Amit Shah added further, “He (Rahul Gandhi) promised to give loans of Rs 5 lakh to students without guarantee but didn’t, he didn’t give scooty to girl students as promised by him, and he didn’t open International Schools in every Taluka. The Congress doesn’t fulfil its promises while PM Modi ji fulfils every promise.”
Stepping up his attacks, on the party, Amit Shah said that the Congress party did not fulfil its promises. However, PM Modi abides by his words. “The Congress party halted the construction of Ram Mandir for 70 years. In just five years, PM Modi won the case, performed the ‘Bhoomi Pujan’ and did the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ ceremony… PM Modi abrogated Article 370 so that the Tricolour will keep flying high in Kashmir till eternity…,” Shah said. Amit Shah in his speech described Congress, Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), and All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) as a triangle of appeasement and said, “These people oppose The Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), they want to run Telangana on the basis of Quran, they want to bring back Triple Talaq, they also boycotted Pran Pratishtha ceremony.”
Notably, voting for all 17 seats in Telangana will take place on May 13 in the fourth phase of the ongoing Lok Sabha elections, with the day of counting and declaration of results scheduled for June 4.
Matoshree Meenatai Thackeray Shilpagram Park: A cultural oasis amidst Mumbai's urban hustle 16
The Matoshree Meenatai Thackeray Shilpagram Park, developed by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), is located in Punam Nagar, Jogeshwari East, adjacent to Jogeshwari-Vikhroli Link Road.
Inspired by the lifestyles of the twelve tribes of Maharashtra, this park highlights ancient games and dances as part of its diverse offerings. Along with various sculptures, it provides children with a range of play equipment and musical instruments. With facilities like an open stage, attractive pathways, and lush greenery, it benefits many children and elders alike. Covering an area of 55,000 square meters, the park also hosts exhibitions and sales of various handicrafts.
Matoshree Meenatai Thackeray Shilpagram Park: A cultural oasis amidst Mumbai's urban hustle 17
With these amenities, a variety of plants, trees, and flowers have enhanced the beauty of the Shilpagram. Currently, trees like Bahava, Tamhan, Sonmohor, Chafa, Kailaspati, and Kanchan adorn the park. The park also hosts weekly markets for self-help groups and various events for the public.
During these summer holidays, everyone, especially children and elders, should definitely visit Shilpagram to enjoy fun, games, and the beautiful greenery. Shilpagram is open to the public from 6 am to 10 pm and charges a nominal entry fee of Rs 10 for adults and Rs 5 for children below twelve, while entry is free for the differently-abled and senior citizens.
May 10: People are waiting to know who killed Dabholkar? 19
On August 19, 2013, 68-year-old doctor Narendra Dabholkar was in Mumbai, pressing for a law to eradicate human sacrifice and black magic. For over 15 years, he has been seeking anti-superstition laws. It was Congress and NCP rule in the state; he met many tall leaders and the next day he returned to Pune. Dabholkar was advised to take protection but he refused. During his 40 years of social work, Dabholkar was attacked and threatened multiple times but refused to accept police protection. His work and the demand for the new law, were viewed as being anti-Hindu and an attack on Hindu religious practices. Dabholkar was attacking many Hindu practices, such as Havan, Poojan, and some staunch Hindu religious beliefs.
On the morning of August 20, 2013, he was on his morning walk and had just reached the VR Shinde bridge in Pune. He used to go for a walk almost every day. Keeping an eye on his routine, his assassins took advantage. That morning, two men on a motorcycle stopped near him. They pulled out country-made pistols and shot at him three times at close range, once in the head. Dabholkar collapsed and died on the spot. Two sweepers from the civic body, who were present at the bridge, saw the two men get on the motorcycle after the shooting and drive off. According to investigators, the assailants handed over the motorcycle to a third individual at a location where there were no CCTV cameras. They then caught a bus and fled to Aurangabad, now renamed Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar.
Primarily, the Pune police conducted the investigation, but the case was handed over to the CBI in 2014. The investigation was monitored by the Bombay High Court and two judges have presided over the trial. The case was probed by two investigating agencies. The weapons and the motorcycle used for the murder haven’t been found, despite numerous agencies being involved. There was no eyewitness in this entire case. A Special Investigation Team (SIT), which included the Pune police, Maharashtra police, and Anti-Terrorism Squad, was formed to catch the culprits. But they also could not find the evidence or culprits; everything was based on guesswork.
However, the same year, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) came to power and the agency struggled to obtain administrative and personnel assistance from the state government for the investigation. The Bombay HC, which was supervising the investigation, made multiple strong remarks about the lack of progress. There was tremendous pressure on the government and agencies for failing to probe the series of murders. Five months after the murder, in June 2014, the Pune police arrested arms dealer 24-year-old Manish Nagori and aide 22-year-old Vikas Khandelwal. The police claimed to have found a gun that they said was used to commit the murder. When produced before a court, Nagori claimed that the then ATS chief Rakesh Maria offered them Rs 25 lakh to confess to the murder. However, the police case fell flat after Pansare was murdered in 2015, allegedly with a gun that matched the one used in the Dabholkar case. After the police failed to file a chargesheet in the stipulated time, Nagori and Khandelwal were released on bail.
Forensic reports later concluded that the gun used to kill Dabholkar was used in the Pansare murder as well. Another gun also used in the killing of Pansare was said to have been used to kill Kalburgi in Dharwad and Lankesh in Bengaluru in 2017. After sifting through millions of phone numbers, 32 police teams failed to make any headway in the investigation, even after a year. Pune police hired retired police officers for the probe, who used mystical practices to communicate with the soul of Dabholkar to know the sequence of the murder. Ironically, while he was alive, the rationalist was opposed to such practices. When the news went viral, the then-Pune police commissioner was transferred.
In the haste, the CBI named two individuals from the Sanatan Sanstha—who were allegedly wanted in another blast case—as the shooters. In 2018, the Maharashtra ATS raided the residence of Vaibhav Raut in Nallasopara, on the outskirts of Mumbai, They found crude bombs and other materials for making bombs. Raut and two of his aides, Andure and Kalaskar, were arrested. During interrogation, Andure and Kalaskar supposedly confessed to their involvement in Dabholkar’s murder. At least 10 other accused in the Nallasopara arms haul were accused of being involved in the four murders. The news spread that Amol Kale, a former convener of Sanatan Sanstha and a leader of Hindu Janjagriti Samiti, was an accused and alleged key conspirator in both the Pansare and Lankesh murder cases. Bharat Kurne, another member of the group, was made an accused in the same cases. Thereafter, the CBI arrested Virendrasinh Tawde, an ENT surgeon volunteer at Sanatan Sanstha. In 2019, the CBI filed a chargesheet against five individuals, including Tawde, Kalaskar, Andure, advocate Sanjiv Punalekar, and his assistant Vikram Bhave. While Tawde, Andure, and Kalaskar remain in custody, Punalekar and Bhave have been released on bail.
The chargesheets say Dabholkar and three others were targeted because they were seen as a hurdle in the creation of a theocratic state, or a Hindu Rashtra. The victims’ views on superstition, rationalism, and secularism, which were frequently expressed in articles and speeches, were not liked by the Sanatan Sanstha members. Chargesheets filed by three separate investigative agencies—the CBI, a Karnataka SIT, and the Maharashtra SIT—conclude that the murders of the four individuals were connected.
While submitting final arguments in the Dr. Narendra Dabholkar murder case, defence lawyer Virendra Ichalkaranjikar claimed that proper procedure was not followed while granting sanction to prosecute the accused persons under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA). Ichalkaranjikar said that an officer of “deputy secretary” rank in the home department of the state gave the sanction for prosecution under UAPA to CBI without a recommendation from the Director of Prosecution, which is required as per the procedure.
After hearing prolonged arguments from both sides, the special court reserved its verdict for May 10, 2024. The verdict will come more than 10 years after Dabholkar was shot dead on August 20, 2013. Let justice prevail.
Cabin crew shortage forces AI Express to cancel 80 flights, leaving passengers stranded 21
Air India Express has cancelled more than 80 flights since Tuesday night, with a section of senior cabin crew reporting sick to protest against alleged mismanagement at the Tata Group-owned airline, leaving hundreds of passengers stranded at various airports in the country.
Scores of Air India Express passengers, mostly scheduled to travel to the Gulf nations, protested at airports in Kerala against last-minute flight cancellations.
Some of them claimed that they were informed about the cancellations after the completion of security checks.
On Wednesday, sources told PTI that more than 200 cabin crew members are believed to have reported sick to protest against the alleged mismanagement at the airline.
The cabin crew shortage has resulted in the cancellation of at least more than 80 flights since Tuesday night and scores of flights were delayed.
Flight disruptions are happening at various airports, including Kochi, Calicut, Delhi and Bengaluru, they added.
An Air India Express spokesperson said the airline is engaging with the cabin crew members to understand the reasons for reporting sick and also apologised for the flight disruptions.
Discontent has been brewing among a section of the cabin crew at the low-cost carrier for some time now, especially after the start of the process to merge AIX Connect, formerly AirAsia India, with itself.
The sources also said there was chaos at some airports due to the sudden cancellation of flights, including to overseas destinations.
The airline is to operate 360 daily flights during the summer schedule that started in the last week of March.
”A section of our cabin crew has reported sick at the last minute, starting last night, resulting in flight delays and cancellations.
”While we are engaging with the crew to understand the reasons behind these occurrences, our teams are actively addressing this issue to minimise any inconvenience caused to our guests as a result,” the Air India Express spokesperson said in a statement.
Apologising to the customers for the ”unexpected disruption”, the spokesperson said those impacted by the cancellations will be offered a full refund or complimentary rescheduling to another date.
Late last month, a union representing a section of the Air India Express cabin crew alleged that the airline is being mismanaged and there is a lack of equality in the treatment of the staff.
Air India Express Employees Union (AIXEU), a registered union, which claims to represent around 300 cabin crew members, mostly seniors, had also alleged that mismanagement of the affairs has affected the morale of the employees.
The development at Air India Express comes a month after Tata Group full-service carrier Vistara witnessed pilot woes, forcing it to temporarily cut down capacity by 10 per cent or 25-30 flights daily.
On Wednesday, a woman passenger, who was to travel from Kannur to Sharjah with twin babies and her husband on an Air India Express flight, said she has to rejoin work on May 9, but the airline was offering her a flight from Kochi only on May 10.
”What would be the point in me travelling on May 10? If I do not reach there before May 9, my boss will say not to come and I will lose my job,” she told the media.
”Guests flying with us today are requested to check if their flight is affected, before heading to the airport,” the airline spokesperson said.
As part of consolidating its airline business, Tata Group is merging Air India Express and AIX Connect, as well as Vistara with Air India.
