Would definitely like to have a child: Salman

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October 8, 2015

Salman Khan will turn 50 this December but is still one of the most eligible bachelors in the country. One question that has been raised time and again is – When will Salman get married? And perhaps, even the man himself doesn’t have a concrete answer.

However, the hunk of a superstar has expressed his desire to have a kid. In an interview to a leading magazine, October edition, Salman spoke about a number of things, one of them being- marriage.

Salman was honest enough in admitting that he is the most difficult person to be with. He said he will not marry unless he is hundred percent sure. According to him, one must marry only if he/she can bring happiness to someone. Nonetheless, he would like to have a child! But to have a child, a woman comes into the picture.

The ‘Dabangg’ Khan’s fans would certainly like to see their ‘Bhaijaan’ get married.

But will Salman ever settle down? Only time will tell.

We are not opposing artists but Pakistan

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Afternoon Voice

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October 7, 2015

The Ghulam Ali concert was called off after Uddhav Thackeray and Mayors held a meeting with the show’s organisers.

The concert of leading Pakistani Ghazal singer Ghulam Ali scheduled to be held in Shanmukhananda Hall on October 9 has been cancelled after Sena raised objections against it. Sena always had reservations against Pakistani artists performing in the country. Earlier it had opposed the singer Atif Aslam’s performance in Pune. It had protested against the inclusion of Pakistani television host and cross dresser Begum Nawazish Ali and actor Veena Malik in a reality show. Sena has always adopted an aggressive stand against Pakistan and held it responsible for ceasefire violations across the border. The party’s cine wing, Chitrapat Sena, has declared that they won’t let any Pakistani artist perform in India.

Shiv Sena’s national spokesperson Sanjay Raut said that Sena will oppose cultural and sporting relations with the neighbouring country so long as it refused to curb terrorism. He said, “We are not opposing Ghulam Ali but we are against Pakistan. We will continue to oppose such shows until Pakistan stops sponsoring terror activities from its soil.”

The protests are in relation with the tense ties between Indian and Pakistan, following the continuous and incessant ceasefire violations by Pakistan and the cancellation of the National Security Advisory meeting, this year.

In a letter to the management of the Shanmukha-nanda Hall, Shiv Sena’s film wing “Chitrapat Sena” said if it went ahead with the programme featuring the artist from Pakistan they would have to face the “anger of Shiv Sena and the patriotic people.”

“Through this letter, we want to convey to you that if you invite Pakistan artist to the show you will have to face the Shiv Sena’s wrath… Which is why we ask you to prohibit the Pakistan artist from coming to the programme, or else you will have to face the anger of Shiv Sena’s and the patriotic people of the country,” Chitrapat Sena Vibhag Pramukh Mangesh Satamkar said in his letter.

The party would also protest and stop a similar concert scheduled in Pune on October 10 as part of a tribute to late singer Jagjit Singh on his fourth death anniversary.

The 75 year old Ghulam Ali, has sung for many Indian films and has also performed at a concert in Varanasi earlier. The BJP has so far, not reacted to the Sena’s decision to protest against Ali, but the party seems determined to stick to its stand, no matter what its coalition partner says.

On Tuesday, the Shiv Sena, through its mouthpiece Saamana, urged the Centre to display guts and attack Pakistan in retaliation to the cross-border attacks on Indian soldiers and civilians.

Inefficient investigation will lead to one more Talvar

By

Vaidehi Taman

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October 7, 2015

After watching Talvar movie and non-stop coverage on Indrani Mukerjea, I somewhere doubt these police findings and investigations. Earlier police claimed that they have evidences to prove Indrani’s crime and then the forensic reports did not support the claim. The high profile case that hit the headlines with all sorts of stories, evaporated with time. Even today, the motive of murder is yet to be established. Police has failed and the case has been transferred to CBI. The Mumbai police had initiated a probe into the twist in the Sheena Bora murder case — the forensic results of the bone samples exhumed from Pen in Raigad and the bone samples sent by the Raigad police in 2012 are not matching. Sheena’s mother Indrani Mukerjea and two others are accused of murdering her and subsequently dumping the body in the forests of Raigad.

Doctors at the BYL Nair Hospital, who conducted the forensic tests on the samples, submitted a report to the Khar police expressing the suspicion that the samples received could have got mixed up and may not belong to the victim. The Pen police station which did not register a case upon finding the remains, later suspected to be Sheena’s, sent a right humerus, two teeth, a burnt skin patch and strands of hair to JJ Hospital in 2012. However, the forensic team of Nair Hospital, which later examined these samples, found that the bone samples did not match.

CBI took over the investigations from the Mumbai Police and Indrani admitted to hospital, these events raise lots of speculations and suspicion. Police has recorded her statements of recent happenings and actual reason behind her hospitalisation. While some reports said Indrani attempted suicide others point towards drug overdose. Question here arises that, if Indrani attempted suicide (which she denies) then how this much quantity of drugs reached her? Was she under the medication, if yes then who prescribed her that drug? I am sure that doctors must be aware of the consequence of the overdose of such drug.

Mukerjea regained consciousness and was “out of danger” as she responded to the treatment. She was sent back to jail. Indrani, was all of sudden rushed to JJ hospital from Byculla jail in an unconscious condition after she allegedly took an overdose of anti-depressant pills. Indrani’s urine samples from Hinduja Hospital laboratory confirmed that level of benzodiazepine – an anti depressant – was found to be high.

She is doomed. Even before any tangible evidence comes to light, even before a court hearing, before she makes any kind of statement, she has already been judged. The case has been a bonanza for the TRP hungry news channels. The story has captured the attention and imagination of a nation. How can a woman kill her own daughter, we wonder. How depraved, how deranged, how cold blooded and calculating can a woman be! What can you expect from a woman who would selfishly abandon her young children? We allow ourselves a delicate shudder of horror, wallowing in the vicarious pleasure this incident has brought to our tepid lives.

But this is a not a soap opera. It is a real murder investigation. A life has been taken. Murders happen every day. Since the beginning of mankind, humans have been killing each other for a variety of reasons. The motive could be as banal as money or as exalted as love. We understand that. It does not make news. What is more difficult to condone is a woman killing in the name of ambition and greed. If we look at her actions through the societal lens of what a woman should be, what she should not do, Indrani Mukerjea is already guilty. Soon, the truth will be out. If she is proven to be guilty, she fully deserves punishment under the court of law. I cannot condone any murder and nor do I have any sympathy for someone who can take a human life or instigate another to do so.

Indrani Mukerjea, accused of killing her daughter Sheena Bora, she is in judicial custody, was arrested on August 25 by the Khar police. Her former driver Shyam Rai and ex-husband Sanjeev Khanna have also been arrested. According to officials, Indrani fainted and a team of doctors from J J hospital visited the jail to check her medical condition. J J Hospital reports confirm, she had some sort of toxins in her body. Forensic tests were carried out before confirming what made her unconscious.

Deepening the mystery over what led Indrani Mukerjea’s collapse inside the Byculla prison, relying on the Forensic Science Laboratory’s (FSL), her blood samples did not show excessively high levels of Etizolam or Mirtazapine. While Etizolam belongs to the Benzodiazepine class of drugs that are used as an anxiolytic — medication to curb anxiety — Mirtazapine is a new class of anti-depressant that is generally used for depressed patients with significant sleep problems. Indrani was reportedly prescribed Etizolam (0.5 mg) and Mirtazapine (7.5 mg).

Meanwhile, the probe underway at the Byculla jail is yet to yield any additional information. The jail authorities recorded statements of nearly 40 inmates lodged in the same barrack as Mukerjea. In addition, the statements of three prison guards, who had direct access to her along with the prison doctors, will also be recorded shortly.

Let see, how this mystery comes to an end or again some Talvar like innocents may fall victim to the inefficient investigation.

Court allows CBI to quiz all accused of Sheena Bora case in jail

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Afternoon Voice

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October 7, 2015

Media magnate Indrani Mukerjea, her former husband Sanjeev Khanna and driver Shyamvar Rai, all accused in the sensational Sheena Bora murder case, will be questioned in jail by CBI with a Mumbai court Wednesday granting 12 days permission for it.

This comes almost a month after the Maharashtra government transferred the murder case to the CBI after much dithering on the supervisory role of then Mumbai police chief Rakesh Maria, who was heading the probe before he was suddenly shunted out.

The Metropolitan Magistrate court had reserved till today its order on CBI’s plea to quiz the three accused in jail.

“The application is allowed,” said R V Adone, Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate of Esplanade court.

The court said that CBI can interrogate the trio till October 19 (the day when their judicial custody ends) and if the probe agency feels the need for further questioning then it may move a fresh application on that day, he said.

Seeking permission to quiz the accused, the CBI had told the court that it had only recently taken over the probe from Mumbai Police which is why interrogation of the trio was necessary.

The central agency also told the court if permission for interrogation is not given, it will have to rely on the investigation conducted by local police.

The agency had sought at least three weeks to interrogate the accused in jail.

Indrani’s lawyer Gunjan Mangala told the court she does not have any objection to her client being interrogated by CBI investigators in the jail.

Khanna’s lawyer Shreyansh Mithare, too, said he is not opposed to interrogation if there is any new ground but Rai’s counsel Shrinivas Bhave objected to the CBI plea, saying the investigation in the case was over.

On October 5, the Metropolitan court had extended the judicial custody of all the accused till October 19.

Last evening, Indrani was discharged from J J Hospital and shifted to Byculla Women’s Prison, where she is lodged under judicial custody since last month.

On Friday, the 43-year-old had fallen unconscious in the jail due to suspected drug overdose and rushed to the state-run JJ hospital.

After Indrani’s hospitalisation, conflicting reports had emerged on suspected drug overdose in prison. While one report said she had overdosed on anti-depressant pills, the other said it did not any trace of overdose.

Yesterday, Vijay Satbir Singh, Principal Secretary (Appeals and Security) had said that since Indrani is mentally and physically fit now, her statement will be recorded either in the night or this morning to ascertain the circumstances under which she collapsed in jail.

Indrani reportedly told the Byculla jail authorities that she had not attempted sucide as speculated and remembered feeling giddy before fainting.

Newly-appointed IG (Prisons) Bipin Kumar Singh is heading the probe into the episode.

“She has completely recovered now and is safe and sound. The crisis is over. It is now for the inquiry officer to record her statement at his convenience. Whatever she tells authorities will be included in the report that is to be sent to the state Home Ministry,” Vijay Singh told PTI.

Indrani and the two other accused were arrested in August-end on the charge of murdering her daughter in April 2012 and disposing of the body in a forest in Raigad district, about 84 km from here.

Maharashtra’s brand ambassador for tigers Big B bats to save big cat population

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Afternoon Voice

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October 7, 2015

Megastar Amitabh Bachchan, who has been appointed as Maharashtra’s brand ambassador for tigers, has appealed people to save the big cat’s rapidly dwindling population.

Beginning the endeavor, the 72-year-old actor took a jungle safari in Sanjay Gandhi National Park in suburban Mumbai last evening along with ministers and politicians.

“I will consider myself worthy as a brand ambassador when tiger preservation and securing their safety becomes successful. If my voice or face can provide anything good to this initiative, I will pledge myself for it,” Bachchan said.

The “Piku” star took jungle safari and he had a great time.

“I have been in Mumbai for 65 years. But the safari showed me images that I have never seen before. And these are the things that makes me work for it. What makes me proud is that in the middle of the city, there is a national park which is a miracle and we have to save it.”

Bachchan revealed Maharashtra is home to the largest number of tigers in India.

“When we were moving from 19th to 20th century, the tiger count was 40,000. In 2008, it reduced to 1411. The movement that started after that has made it reach 2226 in number,” he said.

On the occasion, Big B launched two Safari buses at the Sanjay Gandhi National Park. The event has been organised as a part of ‘Wildlife Week’ celebrations and it was attended by Forest Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar.

FTII imbroglio: No breakthrough in talks, next round on Oct 10

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Afternoon Voice

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October 7, 2015

A fresh round of talks between I&B officials and striking FTII students failed to resolve the over 100-day deadlock with the students insisting on their demand for removal of actor and BJP member Gajendra Chauhan as the Pune-based institute’s chairman.

Both sides, however, agreed to take forward the talks and agreed to meet again on October 10.

“The main demand of removal Chauhan as FTII chairman and the dissolution of its society are still not resolved and these would be discussed during the next round of talks on October 10, Vikas Urs, spokesperson of FTII students, told reporters after the meeting.

Information and Broadcasting Secretary Sunil Arora led the parleys held at the Films Division office here,also attended by Joint Secretary (Films) K Sanjay Murthy, Director General of Films Division Mukesh Sharma, FTII Director Prashant Pathrabe and registrar U C Bodke.

Apart from seven students, the Film and Television Institute of India’s (FTII) alumni association representative Aruna Raje was also invited for the talks.

Urs said, “We had fairly elaborate discussions with the Secretary of I&B Ministry and briefed them on the issues, including the unfair appointments in the FTII society and its nature of functioning that have led to the current crisis on the campus.”

“We also discussed the urgent need of transforming the FTII society into an internationally acclaimed institution. But, the meeting was inconclusive. However, we are very much hopeful that something would come out extremely positive on October 10 when we will be meeting the same delegation,” he said.

Need to revive over 30K sick MSME units in Maha: Minister

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Afternoon Voice

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October 7, 2015

There is a need to revive over 30,000 sick MSME units in Maharashtra as the sector is one of the largest contributors to the state’s GDP, Industries Minister Subhash Desai said.

“There are over 30,000 such sick units in the state and we want to revive them. My government’s focus is to give an impetus to the MSME sector, which is the largest contributor to the state’s GDP,” Desai said at Maharashtra Industry Summit.

He said these units are shut due to various reasons, including financial, lack of technological support or internal structural issues, but there is a need to revive them as they are the backbone of the state’s overall development.

“Make in Maharashtra programme will not be successful till MSME sector grows. And to give a boost to it, we are trying innovative ways like bringing on board industry players, educational institutes, engineering graduates and experts in the field to assist these industries to revive their businesses,” he said.

The Minister added that he will convene a meeting next week with them to find a solution for reviving the units.

He urged the banks to also come forward to provide financial assistance to MSMEs.

“We, along with SIDBI, have set up a Rs 200 crore venture capital fund to provide easy financing options to MSMEs. The government will contribute Rs 75 crore towards the fund,” Desai said.

He added that apart from SIDBI, other nationalised banks, including SBI and IDBI, have also shown keen interest in assisting these MSMEs.

Meanwhile, Maharashtra has also decided to come up with a dedicated industrial policy for MSMEs to provide them all the necessary incentives and facilities for setting up their businesses in the state.

Crime branch sleuth arrest man for cheating people on OLX

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Afternoon Voice

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October 7, 2015

A 35-year-old man from Thane west has been arrested for duping people on OLX website. OLX is an online classifieds platform for used goods to be bought and sold. A man identified as Satpalsingh Jagmohansingh Waliya was who hails from Thane was held for duping people online.

The man used to approach car sellers online pretending to be a potential buyer interested in the proposal of the used goods. He would then take them into confidence and take the car on some false pretext. Walliya would then pose as a seller to other people and show them the car. He would then take the token money and convince them into depositing the rest money into bank account and then flee with the deposited money.

Satpalsingh Jagmohansingh Waliya has duped around three to four people in similar fashion. The joint commissioner of police crime, mentioned that a complaint about similar incident was registered against the man. He would visit the OLX website pretend to be a buyer and take the car under false pretense only to pose as a seller to other people and dupe them by fleeing with their money without closing any deal.

The police suspect multiple cases of such fraud against Satpalsingh Jagmohansingh Waliya. When the police came to know about such incident, they set a trap to arrest the person who was duping people online. The police arrested the man near the Crawford market. The Mulund Police station is seeking Waliya after a complaint was received against him for duping a person in return for Swift Desire car. He would be now handed over to the Mulund police.

15 employees of UMC suspended for dereliction of duty

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Afternoon Voice

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October 7, 2015

As many as 15 employees of the Local Body Tax (LBT) department of the Ulhasnagar Municipal Corporation (UMC) were suspended for alleged dereliction of duty by the municipal commissioner.

The order issued by the Ulhasnagar municipal commissioner, Manohar Hire, stated that the said employees were responsible for low collection of LBT in the corporation, and hence were being suspended.

The order further stated that the action was being taken as despite repeated instructions, there was no result, hence leading to losses for the corporation.

The Maharashtra Minister of State for Urban Development, Ranjit Patil, had recently directed the municipal commissioner to investigate the issue and take action.

Man held for allegedly raping domestic maid in Thane

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Afternoon Voice

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October 7, 2015

A Gas agency worker has been arrested for allegedly raping a woman while three others on charges of threatening the victim, police said.
Madhav Jadhav, 37, who works with a Gas agency in Kasarwadavali area allegedly raped the victim, 40, also a resident of same area, on few occasions since 2011, Sub- inspector of Kasarwadavali Police Station Rupali Patil said.

Quoting the complaint lodged by the victim yesterday, the officer said Jadhav had first raped her in 2011 at her house.

The victim, who works as a domestic maid, was also allegedly raped by Jadhav later at a lodge and he also took victim’s obscene pictures.

He, along with three others identified as — Kondiba Gudme (52), Damo Wankhede (59) and Nitin Gaikwad (29), who takes runs private tutions — started threatening the victim that they will reveal the pictures to her husband and children if she disclosed about the rape.

Following the complaint, Jadhav, Gudme, Wankhede and Gaikwad were apprehended last night.

The four have been booked under IPC sections 504 (intentional insult), 506 (2) (criminal intimidation) rw 34, while Jadhav was also charged with offence under Section 376 (rape) of IPC.