Know what Vidya Balan is proud of!

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September 9, 2015

Most actresses in tinsel town are not comfortable sharing their age, but Vidya Balan has no qualms about it! She says’s she’s “proud to be a 36-year-old”.

Vidya, who has been a part of he Hindi film fraternity for over a decade feels that the reason why not just actresses, but women in general too, are wary of revealing their age is because of the pressure to look young in a “youth obsessed society”.

“I don’t think it’s only about actresses. I think we are a youth obsessed society… the pressure on women to remain eternally young is much more. But I say I am a proud 36-year-old,” said the “Kahaani” actress.

The National Award winning actress said that women get worried because “desirability is often associated with age”. But she added that “age is just a number really (and) we should not give anymore importance than that”.

“I don’t understand numbers… as long as I know that my films are doing well, I am happy. If the film is not doing well it makes me sad,” said the actress, who last played a victim of domestic violence in “Hamari Adhuri Kahani”.

Will Work With Sunny, Bobby Soon says father Dharmendra

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Afternoon Voice

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September 9, 2015

Bollywood’s evergreen actor Dharmendra says he will soon team up with his sons Sunny and Bobby for a movie and they are already going through scripts to zero in on a project.

Dharmendra, 79, made the revelation at the launch of Dharam Garam – Dhaba Te Theka, a Delhi-based restaurant inspired by the Sholay actor, his movies, songs and dialogues.

When asked if the Deol trio would team up for a new project, Dharmendra said, “We are reading scripts as of now. Our first film together Apne was a hit, but then the last film we did together, did not work very well. So we are reading scripts now, and we will work together soon.”

Following Apne, Dharmendra, Sunny and Bobby starred together in Yamla Pagla Deewana and Yamla Pagla Deewana 2.

Rs 500 crore money laundering responsible for Maria’s exit?

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Afternoon Voice

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September 8, 2015

Rakesh Maria was planning to expose the money laundering aspect involved in the Sheena Bora murder case alleges Nawab Malik.

Questions are being raised in the manner in which Rakesh Maria has been replaced as the Police Commissioner of Mumbai and promoted and posted as the Director General of Police (Home Guards). Maria who was taking a keen interest in the controversial Sheena murder case was about to file a charge sheet in the next few weeks. According to sources, Maria’s exit might hamper the investigation process. Sources also said that there is a possibility that Maria might have been shunted out due to Indrani Mukherjea’s close links with Human Resource Development Minister Smriti Irani. Maria had issued a statement that the Sheena murder case will be resolved soon and won’t allow it to turn into Aarushi case. They added that political reason too is responsible for Maria’s replacement as Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had said that Maria should take interest in other cases just like he is doing with the Sheena murder case. Fadnavis, who signed the file late on Monday night, was reportedly upset with the way the murder was being handled by Maria.

NCP spokesperson Nawab Malik said, “Rakesh Maria has been transferred in order to conceal the money laundering aspect involved in the Sheena Bora murder case. Fadnavis has taken this decision after he was being pressurised by the centre.”

“Indrani and her husband Peter Mukherjea had earned 500 crore through the equity stake sale in INX Group. There was involvement of some Gujarati businessmen in it. Maria was transferred to shield those businessmen.” he added.

“Rakesh Maria has been promoted to the post of DG, Home Guards and Commandant General, Civil Defence,” said KP Bakshi, Additional Chief Secretary (Home).

“The post of Police Commissioner, Mumbai has been upgraded and Ahmed Javed has been posted on this upgraded post,” Bakshi said.

Leader of Opposition in state legislative Assembly, Radha Krishna Vikhe-Patil said, “Why did the government transfer Maria in a hurry? He was probing the Sheena Vora murder case and should have allowed to continue till his full term which ends on 30^th September.”

The Home Department held the changes were made taking into account the law and order factor ahead of the Ganapati festival, dismissing suggestions that that it has some links with the ongoing investigation in the high-profile murder case.

Bakshi, however, denied any connection between Maria’s promotion and the Sheena Bora murder case.

“There is no question of any connection between Sheena Bora murder probe and Rakesh Maria’s promotion,” Bakshi said. There is “no political reason behind this, it’s a routine transfer”, he added.

An officer of the 1981 IPS batch, Maria, was last year appointed as Mumbai Police chief. While, Ahmed Javed, who was serving as DG (Homeguard), has been appointed as Mumbai CP. Earlier last year, Javed had protested against appointment of Maria as CP. Javed had then termed Maria’s appointed unjust and pointed out that he was the top contender for the post. Maria was at the centre of a controversy two months ago when his meeting with former IPL chief Lalit Modi in London a few years ago came to light. He was asked to issue an explanation.

Maria’s successor Ahmed Javed denied that the team investigating the Sheena Bora murder case has been shunted out.

“The joint police commissioner has categorically said that the team (probing the Sheena Bora killing) has not been removed. All aspects of the case, financial or otherwise shall be thoroughly investigated,” said Ahmed Javed.

“The issue before us is that the case should be handled properly and evidences collected must be such that it becomes a complete case when it goes for trial,” he added.

Congratulations! Super Cops, Ahmed Javed and Rakesh Maria

By

Vaidehi Taman

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September 8, 2015

Suddenly, the daily soap on Sheena Bora murder case came to halt with the news that Ahmed Javed is appointed as the Police Commissioner of Mumbai by the Maharashtra Government replacing Rakesh Maria. This happened without any hint, generally we have seen that appointments of CP hit the headlines in advance and then the cop takes charge. There was a controversy over Maria’s appointment as a commissioner though Ahmed Javed was the contender for the coveted post. No one knows, why Maria was elevated to the top post with so much hullabaloo and moved from it all of a sudden. In February 2014, despite the claims of two senior IPS officers, Vijay Kamble (1979 batch) and Mr. Ahmed Javed (1980 batch) for the coveted post of Mumbai police chief, Mr. Maria, who belongs to the 1981-batch of the Indian Police Service, was appointed as the commissioner during the Congress-NCP regime.

No doubt, Maria is one of the best police officers in India. His efforts have cracked down the Mumbai blasts case in no time. However, Congress government which allowed the underworld big fishes to flee away from India and the pathetic judiciary which dragged its feet to punish the guilty. Maria’s personal involvement in Sheena Bora’s case has raised eye brows as this rarely happens. It also showed that Mumbai police was giving undue importance to this case, which sends signals that Maria by his act wanted extended term from the government which it understood and immediately gave him promotion and transferred him. Moreover, Maria was also in the bad book of the government for his involvement in the Lalit Modi issue, where he met Lalit Modi in London and later handling the Indrani case where his men were revealing confidential information to media which were hampering the investigation. The police investigation more or less started running parallel to the media investigation and often the media started getting an upper hand in the matter. Police was not expected to give a running commentary and their action should be visible where only necessary. In the past, the Raigad police have bungled the entire issue for a price perhaps, and people have been watching the actions of the Mumbai police with deserving anxiety and Maria failed to live up to the expectations. Meanwhile, Maria was also due for promotion even before investigation of this case started and he was trying to speed up the same (By creating his need for extended tenure).

Ahmed Javed, a 1980 batch officer, with whom the 1981 batch Maria now literally swaps roles, is himself no stranger to the Page 3 and film circuit (making his grasp over the Indrani Mukerjea case fairly seamless as far as him being influenced by the same factors that Maria has been, or not) and, hailing from a nawabi aristocratic family himself, a fact he likes little mentioned, has had many a friend across all strata of society. He wears his khadi khakhi uniform stiffly starched and is a workaholic who makes and tolerates no excuses. He is also one of only four Director Generals to hold the post of CP – S Ramamurthy, MN Singh, Ronnie Mendonca being the others. The DG as CP position was curbed, even more post the Pradhan Committee Report, to retain control over the position of CP. Exceptions are clearly made only for those worthy of that trust.

Javed, seen as a progressive and devout Muslim officer, who was peeved at being overlooked for the position in January last year, and will hold the crowning position for not much more than six months before retiring, is clearly above board and worthy of a move that shows the State Government recognizes the omission in his missing the appointment and believes in making amends. Rather than being a ‘punishment’ to Maria, the move is seen as an ‘amendment’ to Javed before his retirement.

Mumbai has a selection of fine officers to pick and choose from, each inspiring, respectable and loyalty in their men, often a compensation for a much-needed lack of police reforms, and a friendly and progre-ssive visage to a city known for its cosmo-politan liberalism, is a matter of pride indeed.

Maria, 58, had interrogated former media executive Indrani Mukerjea and those linked to her over the murder of her daughter Sheena Bora in April 2012. Indrani’s former husband Sanjeev Khanna and her driver Shyam Rai – both arrested two weeks ago – and her current husband, former Star India CEO Peter Mukerjea, too were questioned. Maria’s transfer order was issued hours after Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis left for a tour of Japan. Maria has been apointed the director general of Home Guards in the state. The timing of Maria’s replacement, when he was leading the investigation into the sensational murder case, sparked the speculation about the reasons behind this decision. It surprised many in the state administration as Mumbai Police are about to file a charge-sheet in the case in the next few weeks.

Maharashtra waives off education fee of farmer’s children up to standard 12

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Afternoon Voice

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September 8, 2015

In view of the prevailing drought conditions, the Maharashtra government yesterday decided to waive off educational fees of the farmers’ children up to standard 12 in the districts hit by the natural calamity.

“We have decided to waive off educational fees of farmers’ children upto standard 12 in the districts affected by drought,” State Revenue Minister Eknath Khadse said.

He said similarly children of farmers in the drought-hit areas studying engineering and medicine will get 50 per cent concession in their fees.
As many as 69 tehsils in the state are affected by drought. Parts of the Marathwada region have been hit by the calamity.

Meanwhile, the government also decided to provide an accident policy insurance cover to 1.35 crore farmers in the state wherein their kin will be entitled to an amount of Rs. 2 lakh.

“The premium installment for the Rs. two lakh insurance cover will be paid by the government. The policy will be safeguard for the farmer against accident or death. Suicide is not covered in the policy,” Khadse added.

When asked what would be the financial burden on the state exchequer, the minister said, “The number of tehsils reeling under drought would go up. Only after we get a final number of tehsils, we can work out the financial burden.”

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis visited Solapur district and took stock of the situation.

Kumar M Birla buys iconic Jatia House for Rs. 425 cr

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Afternoon Voice

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September 8, 2015

Top industrialist Kumar Mangalam Birla has bought the iconic Jatia House in the plush Malabar Hill area for Rs. 425 crore.

The deal is considered to be highest ever as the property has been bought for personal-use, industry experts said.

Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL), an international consultancy firm which carried out the deal, has confirmed the sale. The firm also confirmed the property will be used for the industrialist’s personal purpose.

“Jatia House, which has a built-up area of about 25,000 sq ft has been sold at Rs. 425 crore to Birla,” a JLL official said.

This is the largest deal after the iconic Maheshwari House on Mumbai’s Napean Sea Road which was bought by industrialist Sajjan Jindal of JSW in 2011.

According to PWC Executive Director Shashank Jain, when properties are bought for personal-use, the commercial valuation is generally not taken into consideration.

“The valuation of the property cannot be ascertained as it has been bought for personal use. Also such transactions do not wait for the right market conditions and are sold as per the requirement of the owner,” he said.

The Jatia House was owned by Y Jatia and was occupied by brothers Arun and Shyam Jatia, who run the Pudumjee Industries. The property was bought in 70s from M C Vakeel.

A spokesperson from the Aditya Birla Group refused to comment on the deal.

Last year, Smita Crishna, sister of industrialist Jamshyed Godrej, bought Meherangir, an iconic bungalow of Homi J Bhabha, father of India’s atomic energy programme, for Rs. 372 crore. This property was also bought for personal use, experts said.

Meanwhile…Government announce Rakesh Maria to head Sheena Bora murder case

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Afternoon Voice

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September 8, 2015

Brushing aside rumours that he was removed as Mumbai Police Commissioner due to the fallout of high profile Sheena Bora murder case, Maharashtra government on Tuesday confirmed that Rakesh Maria will continue to head the probe till the case comes to a chargesheet stage.

Maharashtra Home Secretary KP Bakshi said, “There is no connection between transfer of Maria and Sheena Bora murder case.”

He further said, “Maria is an excellent officer and Mr. Javed is also a responsible officer.”

“No this is not correct. It’s a routine transfer and elevation,” he replied on being asked if the state govt was unhappy with Rakesh Maria’s way of handling the Sheena Bora case.

“There should be no question of any connection between Sheena Bora murder probe and Rakesh Maria’s promotion transfer,” he added.

Bakshi further said, “He (Rakesh Maria) has been communicated that he will be probing the Sheena Bora murder case.”

While clearing the air over the investigation process of the said case, Bakshi said, “The probe is heading in the right direction.”

“He (Rakesh Maria) will be involved in everything including the question process,” Bakshi replied when asked whether the former Mumbai commissioner will be involved while questioning media baron Peter Mukerjea who is the husband of the prime accused and mother of Sheena, Indrani Mukerjea.

Marathwada reels under severe drought, farm suicides on rise

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Afternoon Voice

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September 8, 2015

Marathwada is reeling under the worst drought in recent years, pushing scores of locals to migrate to cities in search of livelihood, with Beed witnessing a steep rise in farmer suicides accounting for 105 cases in August itself.

The agrarian crisis in Marathwada has been compounded for the fourth successive year, forcing many of the 25 lakh people in drought-wrecked region, comprising 70 per cent of the area’s population, to cities like Mumbai in Western Maharashtra.

While Vidarbha reports the highest farmer suicides in the state, cases have been spiralling in Marathwada too which earlier faced a drought in 2012 and 2014. Crops had also been destroyed in the region which had been ravaged by hailstorms in 2013.

An official release said, Beed in Marathwada reported 105 farmer suicides in the single month of August this year with meagre rains destroying large swathes of crops.

The highest farmer suicides have been reported from Beed district with 177 cases this year. Osmanabad has recorded 98 cases while Latur has reported 61. The district of Parbhani has reported 41 cases so far this year, the release said.

Vasantrao Naik Sheti Swavalamban Mission (NNSSM) Chairman Kishore Tiwari claimed that 628 farmer suicides have been reported so far this year in Marathwada region.

The figure is already higher than the 574 cases recorded in Marathwada by the Revenue Department in the entire year of 2014 and three times higher than the cases recorded two years ago.

Out of Marathwada’s eight districts, four Beed, Latur, Osmanabad and Parbhani are the worst affected this year.

As rains played truant, Osmanabad district recorded a meagre 187.9 mm rainfall between June to August while Latur received 212 mm; Beed 173.4 mm, Aurangabad 285 mm, Ahmednagar 151.2 mm, Solapur 98.8 mm and Parbhani 188.7 mm, the release said.

Till now, the state has received an average of 55 percent rainfall (538.7 mm) and water storage in dams and lakes was to the tune of 49 per cent of its capacity, it said.

This time, as many as nine districts – Nashik, Ahmednagar, Solapur, Kolhapur, Beed, Latur, Osmanabad, Nanded and Parbhani – recorded poor rainfall between 26 to 50 percent.

Sanjeev Khanna remanded in judicial custody till September 21

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Afternoon Voice

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September 8, 2015

A local court here on Tuesday remanded Indrani Mukherjea’s ex-husband Sanjeev Khanna to judicial custody till september 21.

Earlier in the day, Khanna challenged the petition saying that his earlier remand was ‘illegal’. The court will take his petition on Thursday. His lawyers claim that the police custody had ended and he should have been produced in court instead of being taken to Kolkata.

On Monday, DNA report of the body parts found in Raigad matched to that of Indrani’s. Former Mumbai police commissioner Rakesh Maria in a statement had said that the DNA report “conclusively proves” that Indrani Mukerjea was the mother of the “deceased Sheena Bora”.

Police had also recovered shoes belonging to the accused and jewellery belonging to Sheena as possible evidence and sent body remains purportedly of Sheena – found in a forest in Pen tehsil of neighbouring Raigad district for DNA testing.

Indrani’s husband and former Star India CEO Peter Mukherjea was also quizzed on Monday and a team has been formed to investigate properties and financial transactions of the Mukerjeas in India and abroad.

Mira-Bhayander corporation official held in bribery case

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Afternoon Voice

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September 8, 2015

Assistant Commissioner of the Anti Encroachment cell of Mira Bhayander Municipal Corporation has been arrested for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs. 50,000, the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) said.

The official, identified as Chandrakant Borse, was arrested late on Monday night by the Thane unit of ACB, an official press release said.

“The complainant in the case wanted to escape the demolition of an unauthorised structure constructed by him in the township and approached Borse for it,” Deputy Superintendent of Police of Thane Unit of ACB, Anjali Andale, said.

However, the officer demanded Rs. 50,000 for the work, following which the complainant approached the ACB.

The ACB officials laid a trap near the road leading to the Hiranandani Estate at Patlipada in Thane city and nabbed the officer accepting the money, the release added.

The Assistant Commissioner had been charged under sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 and an offence has been registered with the local police, the release added.