I’m really good friends with Casper Smart: Marc Anthony

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February 19, 2014

Singer Marc Anthony has revealed
that not only he is on good terms with ex-wife Jennifer Lopez, but he`s also very close to her boyfriend Casper Smart.

Smart, 26, and Lopez, 44, have been dating for two years, reported Us magazine.
“I like them young, too!.I`m not one to judge. It`s great. As a matter of fact, we were texting back and forth two days ago. We`re actually really, really good friends.From the very beginning.”

“When you love someone and you care for someone… Jennifer and I — I don`t say it lightly — we`re great friends. You know, anybody that means anything to her means something to me. That`s keeping it simple. Casper`s a great guy. He`s been great to my children. And I have nothing but respect for him, absolutely nothing but respect,” Anthony said.

Anthony, 45, and the `American Idol` judge, parents to twins Max and Emme, 5, split in July 2011 after seven years of marriage.

Kim Kardashian Jealous Of Kendall Jenner In ‘Vogue’? — The Truth

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Afternoon Voice

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February 19, 2014

It’s no secret that Kim desperately wants to be featured on the cover of ‘Vogue’ magazine. But now there’s a chance her little sister Kendall could get the opportunity instead. A source tells exactly how Kim feels about that — and it’s not what you might expect!

Kim Kardashian isn’t the least bit jealous of her little sister Kendall Jenner. In fact, Kim is super proud of the up-and-coming model’s relationship with Anna Wintour, and she wants Kendall’s modeling career to thrive, a source tells HollywoodLife.com EXCLUSIVELY.

The Kardashians believe that blood is thicker than water and that’s ever so evident in Kim and Kendall’s relationship. Everyone knows Kim, 33, wants to be on the cover of Vogue. But now that her 18-year-old sister is fresh on the modelling scene, Kim is pumping her breaks, putting her own wants aside and cheering Kendall on!

“There’s no way Kim is envious of Kendall,” a source close to the sisters. “She loves Kendall and everything she’s doing in her life and career. Kim thought Kendall looked stunning when she served face on the runway at Marc Jacobs.”

“She’s so proud of her baby sister and wants her to have a successful and illustrious modeling career,” the source adds.

What a supportive sister Kim is! Kendall is so lucky to have her

NAAP ka Baap is Gadkari

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Afternoon Voice

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February 19, 2014

The Aam Aadmi Party activists are unhappy with the party’s decision to field Anjali Damania convenor of Maharashtra state unit of AAP to contest election from Nagpur. They alleged that since Damania belongs to Mumbai how she can contest election from Nagpur. Later, AAP party member and RTI activist Mohan Kormore turned rebel and formed the Nagpur Aam Aadmi Party (NAAP).

Rupa Kulkarni another party worker and aspirant for Lok Sabha election too is not pleased with Anjali’s nomination from Nagpur. She alleged that the seat allocation procedure was not transparent as everything was pre-determined. The formation of Nagpur Aam Aadmi party has created insecurity among the AAP party leaders. They have alleged that BJP has played a vital role in the formation of NAAP to weaken the AAP party.

When AV contacted Anjali Damania and asked her to comment about the formation of Nagpur Aam Aadmi Party and the allegation made against her she replied, “NAAP party was formed with the assistance of BJP for tarnishing our party’s image. Nitin Gadkari has adopted this tactics as he has become insecure about the growth of AAP but he won’t succeed. The main objective of AAP is to eliminate a corrupt leader like Nitin Gadkari.”
“The person who formed NAAP was never a part of AAP. I was not keen to fight the Lok Sabha election. Arvind Kejriwal asked me to contest against a corrupt leader like Nitin Gadkari with an aim to defeat him. I will not disappoint Arvind.” Damania further added.

When AV asked Yogendra Yadav, a eminent Psephologist and AAP Executive Member about the criteria behind the selection of Anjali Damania he replied, “Anjali Damania is only one of the strong contender to pose a challenge to Nitin Gadkari. She was not planning to contest election from Nagpur but party forced her to fight against Nitin Gadkari. Our party’s objective is to defeat Nitin Gadkari. Nitin Gadkari had role in the formation of Nagpur Aam Aadmi Party.”

However, many party workers are disappointed with the functioning of AAP in other parts of the state too. Subhash Vare have been allotted a seat from Pune as D.S. Kulkarni, a social worker have raised objections against it. He said, “I am disillusioned with AAP which is making a farce of democratic system pertaining to candidate selection. There is lack of transparency in the candidate selection as nominees are pre-determined.”

Bhayandar BJP president’s office vandalised by Shiv Sena workers

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Afternoon Voice

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February 18, 2014

Shiv Sena workers vandalized the office of Bhayandar BJP President Ravi Jain for morphing the photograph of late Shiv Sena Supremo Balasaheb Thackeray. He also pasted the symbols of Shiv Sena and BJP.

The manipulated images were circulated on mobile application Whatsapp, “When Shiv Sena learnt about this incident they initially asked Ravi Jain to apologise but he refused to do so. He also dared them to take action against him. Shiv Sena party workers then decided to protest outside his office” said Shiv Sena city president Manoj Mayekar.

When Shiv Sena reached at Jain’s office he was not present there. They vandalised his office as Jain’s brother and his relative sustained injuries.

Shiv Sena workers asked the police to register a complaint against Jain for morphing the image of Thackeray and hurting the sentiments of Shiv Sainiks.

Ajay Afle, Senior Police Inspector associated with Navghar Police Station said, “We are probing this matter and have recorded the statement of both parties. We will register a complaint after analysing this incident.”

Sanjay Dutt gets parole extension for the third time!

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Afternoon Voice

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February 18, 2014

Sanjay Dutt has reportedly got his parole extended by one more month. The actor, who was out on parole owing to his wife Manyata Dutt’s illness, was supposed to get back to the Yerwada jail in Pune on February, 21. However, the actor’s request for a further extension was approved yet again.
Dutt had secured the parole on December 21, 2013 from Pune’s Yerawada Central Jail, which was extended to 21st of February as Manyata was to undergo a surgery. This time again, Dutt requested the parole to be extended for another month in order to be by his wife’s side- who is recovering from the surgery.

Manyata was reportedly suffering from multiple ailments of the heart and liver and was admitted to Global Hospital in Parel, Mumbai, in January.

Apart from the parole on the grounds of his wife’s sickness, the actor had earlier taken his first parole in October as he had fallen sick. The parole period was for 2 weeks which was extended for 15 days.

The actor surrendered himself before the TADA court on May 16, 2013 and has been serving his remaining 42-month jail term after being convicted by the Supreme Court for illegal possession of arms related to the 1993 Mumbai blasts case.

HC refuses to hear plea seeking cabinet’s prosecution in Adarsh housing scam

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Afternoon Voice

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February 18, 2014

Observing that it was the prerogative of Maharashtra government to accept or reject the Adarsh housing scam inquiry commission findings, the Bombay High Court on Tuesday refused to hear an application seeking prosecution of the state cabinet for allegedly shielding the accused in the scam.

Former journalist Ketan Tirodkar had filed the application in December last seeking directions to CBI to consider the judicial commission’s report and also for CBI to prosecute the state cabinet for attempting to shield the accused by not accepting the panel’s findings.
Tirodkar, who had earlier filed a PIL seeking a CBI probe into the Adarsh Housing Society case and to invoke the anti-benami transactions law, questioned Maharashtra government’s decision to reject the Commission’s findings after it had spent more than Rs. 7 crore on it.

“The Commission’s findings are equivalent to a charge sheet pinpointing the illegal favours and misuse of official position on the part of ministers and bureaucrats,” the application said.

It added CBI, which is already investigating the case, had the powers to take cognisance of the recommendations and findings of the Commission’s report and a “duty to prosecute the persons sabotaging investigations and shielding the accused”.

A division bench of Justices PV Hardas and AS Gadkari, however, observed that it is the government’s prerogative to accept or reject the findings of a Commission set up by it.

Following this, Tirodkar sought to withdraw the application.

Foray into politics not easy at all: Medha Patkar

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Afternoon Voice

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February 18, 2014

Social activist and Aam Aadmi Party candidate for upcoming Lok Sabha elections from Mumbai north-east seat, Medha Patkar said her decision to enter the electoral fray was very tough.

“My decision and consent to become a candidate for the AAP in the Lok Sabha elections was very tough owing to a number of factors,” the Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) leader told.

Citing reasons for not taking the plunge earlier, Patkar said AAP itself was in initial stage although it had formed a short-lived government in New Delhi and apart from NBA, she is involved in several other agitations.

The NBA activist is also a Ramon Magsaysay Award winner.

The 59-year-old social activist said that people like her were almost forced into political arena due to the present-day leaders, who are “corrupt” and “disconnected from reality” as well as the electorate.

“Many of them after getting elected to the Parliament do not even bother to visit the constituencies they represent,” she alleged.

Patkar said she understood that if voted to power, the road ahead would involve a lot of hard work. However, support of people from all quarters would help her to some extent, she said.

Patkar is pitted against sitting MP Sanjay Patil of the NCP from the Mumbai North-East constituency.

HC allows Dabholkar’s family to intervene in PIL on CBI probe

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Afternoon Voice

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February 18, 2014

The Bombay High Court on Tuesday allowed the family of slain activist Narendra Dabholkar to intervene in a PIL seeking probe by CBI into his murder to find out whether Hindu right-wing members were involved in the crime.

Dabholkar’s daughter Mukta Dabholkar urged the court through her lawyer to allow the family to intervene in the matter. Her lawyer informed that Mukta had given certain details about Dabholkar to Pune police probing the murder, but since the investigators did not look into them the kin of the slain rationalist wanted to intervene in the PIL.

A bench headed by Justice P V Hardas then asked the lawyer to file a written application seeking permission to intervene, and posted the matter after two weeks. Meanwhile, police submitted case diaries and progress report in a sealed cover to the court. However, the Judge asked them to produce these files on next occasion.
Last week, the court had issued notice to CBI after petitioner Ketan Tirodkar amended his petition to include the agency as a respondent instead of NIA. Tirodkar argued that NIA had restricted jurisdiction as it was involved only in cases of terror, while CBI has wider powers as it investigates serious crimes.

Dabholkar, who spearheaded the anti-superstition movement in Maharashtra, was shot dead in Pune on August 20, 2013 while on morning walk. The police are still clueless about identity of his assailants.

Earlier, police had informed the court that there was no evidence suggesting the involvement of right-wing extremists in Dabholkar’s killing. Police also said the deceased was not facing any threat and so there was no question of police preparing a perception report (prior to the murder) and monitoring his activities.

Prosecution finish examination of witnesses in Phone Operator gang-rape case

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Afternoon Voice

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February 18, 2014

The prosecution on Tuesday closed the Shakti mill telephone operator gang-rape case of July 31, 2013 as it has examined all the witnesses.

“We have closed the case today and the court will start recording statements of the accused under section 313 of Criminal Procedure Code on Friday”, special public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam told.

In a statement under section 313 of CrPC, the accused is given a chance to explain the circumstances and the allegations against him/her.

Nikam said the prosecution has examined 332 witnesses, including the telephone operator, to strengthen their case.

He also added that the photo-journalist gang rape case was at the fag end with only 8 to 10 witnesses remaining to be examined.

Police had arrested Mohammed Ashfaq Sheikh, Mohamed Kasim Hafiz Sheikh alias Kasim Bangali, Salim Ansari, Vijay Jadhav and a minor for gang rape of the 18-year-old telephone operator on July 31, 2013.

The police on October 8 filed a 362-page chargesheet against four accused in connection with telephone operator gang rape case. The minor’s case was separated.

In another case, a journalist, who was interning with an English magazine here, was gangraped by five persons, including a juvenile, when she had gone to the deserted mill compound with her male colleague on an assignment on August 22, 2013.

The accused – Vijay Jadhav, Kasim Bengali, Salim Ansari and Siraj Rehman – have been charged with rape, conspiracy, common intention, unnatural sex and charges under Information Technology Act, while the trial of the juvenile was separated.

The Mumbai crime branch had on September 19 filed a chargesheet against the four accused.

HC tells Lata Mangeshkar to reply to charge that she violated rules

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Afternoon Voice

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February 18, 2014

The Bombay High Court asked singer Lata Mangeshkar to file rejoinder to a Maharashtra government affidavit alleging that she had violated conditions imposed by authorities to regularise her scheme for reserving houses for people below poverty line on her land in Kolhapur. Mangeshkar denied allegations that she had violated conditions as stated by government, following which the court asked her to file a rejoinder within a fortnight.

The matter has been posted for hearing after two weeks before a bench headed by Justice Abhay Oka. The court was hearing a petition filed by Mangeshkar challenging a notice issued to her on January 4 this year by a state body, saying that she had to obtain permission before selling immovable property on her land at Kolhapur. The government said in an affidavit that the time limit to implement the housing scheme proposed by the singer was to end on July 2011.
At her request, the state extended the time frame to October 2014. However, while extending the time limit, the state said that it had also penalised Mangeshkar by asking her to pay Rs 5 per square foot per year, from 2011 to 2014, on the underdeveloped land, but she chose not to pay, thus violating the condition. Her lawyer argued today that she had refused to comply with conditions since they were “unreasonable”.
He denied that the singer had “violated” them as alleged by the state. Thereupon, the court asked the lawyer to file a rejoinder within two weeks. The singer has sought quashing and setting aside the January 4 notice issued by the Competent Authority under the Urban Land Ceiling Act.
Mangeshkar owns land admeasuring 38,623 square metres in Kolhapur and wanted to give it to Vikesh Oswal to develop residential and commercial tenements. However, Competent Authority under the Urban Land Ceiling (ULC) Act had declared that 23,889 square metres land is “surplus”.
Mangeshkar then proposed a scheme under section 20 of the ULC Act which was approved by the authorities on July 2, 2007. The scheme envisaged giving some houses to the government at subsided rates, but she did not execute the scheme, since the ULC Act was repealed in November 2007, her petition said.