Union Minister of State for Shipping Milind Deora on Sunday demanded a “white paper” on power tariffs in Maharashtra to study how subsidies are provided.
“I feel that there has to be a white paper before discussing reduction of power tariffs in the state as it will help in understanding how subsidies are given,” said Deora, the Congress MP from Mumbai South.
Demanding the need for a scrutiny of subsidies provided, he said, “Subsidy means that the money will be diverted from one pocket to other. The white paper on power tariff will help to understand this mechanism.”
Two other Congress MPs from Mumbai, Sanjay Nirupam and Priya Dutt, had already demanded cut in power tariffs, and even led a protest march at the office of Reliance Energy, which supplies electricity to Mumbai suburbs, a week ago.
Deora said he supported the demand in-principle. Following Delhi government’s decision to cut power tariff by 50 per cent, Congress leaders in Maharashtra have been making similar demand.
Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan had said the state government had appointed a committee led by Industries Minister Narayan Rane to look into the matter. The committee has recommended 10 to 20 per cent cut in power tariffs, but the state cabinet is yet to take a decision regarding the recommendation.
The body of a 12-year-old girl, allegedly raped and then killed, was found at a village farm, police said on Sunday.
The girl, from Kaman village in Vasai area of Thane district, had left for her school on January 16, but did not return home.
Later, her family members, after carrying out a search in vain, lodged a missing complaint with the local police, Waliv Police Station inspector Rajendra Mohite said.
Police received information about a body lying at a farm in the village. The police rushed to the site and later the decomposed body was identified as that of the missing girl.
Police said the body was sent for postmortem which revealed that the girl had been raped before being killed.
Offences have been registered against unidentified persons under sections 302 (murder) and 376 (rape) of the IPC along with relevant sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012, police said, adding that search for the culprits was on.
Former Air India Executive Director Jitendra Bhargava, whose book blaming Praful Patel for the near grounding of the national carrier has been pulled off the shelves after an out-of-court settlement between the ex-Aviation Minister and publisher, now plans to e-publish it.
He has also slammed the legal settlement between Patel, now Union Heavy Industries Minister, and the publisher, as it was reached without consulting him.
“A lot of e-publishers have been approaching me for my book. I may exercise this option,” said Bhargava.
“A lot of Air India employees, particularly retired ones, have a lot of emotional connect with this book and they would be wanting to read it as well,” he said.
‘The Descent of Air India’ chronicles the financial woes of the airline caused by alleged Government interference in its functioning and decisions taken by it that were detrimental to the national carrier’s interests.
Patel, a senior leader of the NCP, helmed the Civil Aviation Ministry between 2004 and 2011.
In the book, Bhargava has alleged that the then officials of Air India totally gave in to Patel’s whims and fancies.
The book highlights factors that led to a huge pile-up of debts and heavy losses to the airline because of alleged distribution of bilateral traffic rights to foreign carriers and surrender of profitable routes to private carriers at the expense of Air India during Patel’s term.
Miffed over the allegations against him, Patel had filed a defamation suit against Bhargava and the publisher, Bloomsbury. The publisher then reached a compromise with Patel and agreed to destroy the remaining copies of the book besides tendering an apology in leading newspapers.
Following the compromise, a Metropolitan Magistrate’s Court here compounded the offence and acquitted the publisher. However, the case against Bhargava would continue.
“Patel and the publisher reached an out-of-the-court settlement without prior discussion with me. This is unprecedented,” said Bhargava.
“I have the confidence to say that whatever I have stated in the book is based on facts and documents. I will justify each and every statement in the court,” said Bhargava. However, Patel’s lawyer Satish Maneshinde said there was no need to consult Bhargava before reaching a settlement with the publisher.
“Why should we consult Bhargava for a compromise. The case was also against the publisher and this has been settled. He has no choice but to accept our settlement,” he said.
Nearly 40,000 people including 500 foreigners took part in the eleventh edition of Mumbai Marathon on Sunday morning. Among the participants were 200 people with disabilities and 1360 senior citizens. Bollywood celebrities were also present at the event and many corporate honchos participated in the run. With 3,60,000 US dollars as prize money, the competitive categories saw a hard fought race.
Dr. Mithu Alur, the Founder Chairperson of ADAPT, who flagged of the Champions with Disability category, told, “Everyone who participated felt very euphoric and excited to be a part of the marathon. There was a wonderful entertainment and quiz show for the participants at the end. They really enjoyed the race. The participants felt supported and they were very pleased.”
In its 11 years, the marathon has raised more than Rs. 100 crore for charity. This year 269 NGOs were part of the event.
Security was a concern for the police after the Boston Marathon Bombings. The Mumbai Police kept vigil with 2000 policemen on duty. Another 1000 private security guards were also deployed.
Additional Commissioner of Police (South Zone), Krishna Prakash said, “We had planned meticulously for security arrangements and had several meetings with the organisers. We carried out many anti-sabotage checks. 11 Bomb Detection and Disposal Teams (BDDS) teams were deputed to check the entire route. High rise buildings were checked and plain clothes policemen were deployed. Twenty-four Quick Response teams along Force One were also deployed.”
Winner of the men’s event Evans Ruto from Kenya, said, “The race was good overall, but I am disappointed to miss the record by one second. I felt welcomed in Mumbai and enjoyed the race,” Mr. Ruto said.
In the women’s event, last year’s runner-up, Ethiopian Dinknesh Mekash, won the race. Lalita Babbar of Central Railway created history completing a hat-trick of triumphs by winning the Indian women’s full marathon in a new record time of 2:50:31, which was three minutes better than her time of last year.
Bombay High Court has reserved its order on an application filed by two witnesses in the 2002 Pune German Bakery bomb blast case seeking protection from officers of state Anti Terrorism Squad (ATS).
A division bench of justices V K Tahilramani and P N Deshmukh will soon pass its order on the application of the witnesses alleging that they were coerced into giving false statements against lone convict Himayat Baig, before the trial court.
The two witnesses had filed the application soon after Baig made an appeal in the High Court against his conviction and the death penalty awarded to him by a sessions court for carrying out the blast.
The witnesses claimed that they were coerced and tutored into making deliberate false statements before the court with a malafide intention of securing Baig’s conviction.
The witnesses also alleged that prior to their deposition before the trial court; they were kept separately for several days and tutored by the ATS personnel as to the nature of the recoveries and statements that were relied on to convict the accused during the trial.
The ATS opposed the witnesses’ claim.
Apart from the two witnesses’ application, journalist Ashish Khetan also filed an application seeking probe by an independent agency in the blast case again.
On February 13, 2010, a bomb exploded inside the German Bakery in Pune’s upmarket Koregaon Park area killing 17 people, including five foreigners, and injuring 58 others.
On April 19 last year, the sessions court in Pune had awarded death penalty to Baig.
Filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt, who is active on Twitter, believes the social media “encourages cowards” to express their feelings online.
“Social Media encourages cowards and haters to spout the ugliest things that they would never dare to say in real life to people face to face,” Mahesh tweeted.
On microblogging site Twitter, the veteran filmmaker has over six million followers.
Mobile handset manufacturer Motorola has been ordered by the district consumer forum to pay a compensation of Rs. 50,000 to a local resident for deficiency in service and unfair commercial practices.
Thane District Consumer Dispute Redressal Forum gave its ruling on a consumer complaint filed against the Gurgaon-based Motorola India Pvt Ltd. The judgement was given by Forum President Umesh Jhavalikar and member N D Kadam.
The complaint was filed by one Ramesh Shah, a resident of Vasai town in Thane district. Shah purchased a Motorola handset (Motoming-A 1,200) for Rs. 10,200 from a local dealer, Sanghavi Infocom, on April 13, 2008.
The next day Shah found the sound in the handset was feeble. He complained about the same to the dealer, who, however, insisted there was no fault in the mobile piece.
Later, a service centre of Motorola, Siddhivinayak Tele, attended to the complaint and rectified the fault.
However, Shah’s woes did not end as he found more problems with the handset, which was finally replaced.
However, the new handset was also found to be faulty. Finally, the service centre collected the handset on March 21, 2009 from Shah but never returned it.
The company could not resolve the problems which regularly cropped up in the handset, Shah said.
Hence, he filed a complaint with the Forum seeking refund of the handset cost and Rs. 1 lakh towards compensation and legal expenses. Motorla, in its submission, offered to replace the handset and wanted the Forum to dismiss the complaint.
In its order, the Forum made a reference to the same and said the replacement offer points to deficiency in service and unfair commercial practices resorted by the company.
Hence, the company needs to compensate the complainant. The Forum asked the three respondents to pay a sum of Rs. 60,200 (Rs. 50,000 plus Rs. 10,200 handset cost) to the complainant within a period of 30 days the order.
A flat buyer has received not only her full claim amount, but also some extra amount of cash, after the Thane District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum passed an order against a Kalyan-based real estate developer.
The order was passed by the President of the Thane District Consumer Redressal Forum president Umesh Jhavalikar and Member N D Kadam after a complaint by Shobha M Deshmukh who had booked a 850 square feet flat sold by M/s Pushkaraj Builders & Developers owned by one Ravindra P Zunzarrao, in Swamiraj Apartments for Rs. 19 lakh.
She had made a payment of Rs. 16.40 lakh in instalments between 2007 and September 2011, including the one taken as loan from a bank, which amounted to 85 per cent of the total cost of the flat.
The agreement for the same was also made on March 30, 2010 and it was agreed that possession of the flat would be given within 18 months.
However, as per complaint to the Thane District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum, when she got in touch with the developer for taking possession, there no response at all even after she sent him a legal notice.
Hence, she made a claim to the Forum, she sought possession of the flat, transfer documents and 21 per cent interest on the amount she paid so far as well as additional Rs. 2.50 lakhs towards compensation and legal expenses.
M/s Pushkaraj Builders & Developers did not bother present and its case even after the Forum served notice to M/s Pushkaraj Builders & Developers as well as got it published it in newspapers.
Therefore, the case was decided on “ex-parte basis” based on documentary evidence and documents placed before the Forum, it said in its order.
In its order issued on Saturday, January 18, the Forum ordered that the complainant should make her balance payment of Rs. 2.60 lakhs to M/s Pushkaraj Builders & Developers within 60 days and the developer should hand over a completed flat, in every sense of the term, with all formalities within 30 days of the receipt of payment, or else pay a penalty of Rs. 1000 per day of delay.
The real estate developer was also ordered to pay a compensation of Rs. 3 lakh towards losses, mental trauma and legal expenses to the complainant within three months, or else pay an interest at the rate of nine per cent, until the amount is realised, the Forum’s order stated.
Swimming competition was held by Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation on January, 18 at Navi Mumbai Sport Association Swimming Pond. Speaking on this occasion, MLA Sandeep Naik said, “Playing and exercising is beneficial for our health. The swimming competition organized by the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation provides a good platform for youth to show case their talent.
“It also improves the health of people hence we need to promote such initiatives. In Mumbai we have National Level Swimming players hence they can get ahead and build a bright future” added Naik.
During the event Mayor Sagar Naik, Culture committee Chairman Suraj Patil, Deputy Commissioner D.S.
Chabukswh, Additional Commissioner Diwakar Samed, Sports Officer Rewapa Gurav, Shivchatrapati Shivaji Swimming winner Gokul Kamath, organiser Santosh Patil, National level volleyball player Dhanjay Vanmali and others were present.
There is lot of talk about Sunanda Pushkar’s death. No news channels have exact knowledge and reasons of her death but everyone has their own speculations and giving their own logics. Sunanda Pushkar, the wife of Union Minister Shashi Tharoor, was found dead in Room No. 345 of Leela Hotel on Friday evening. Her death comes within 48 hours of her going public about her husband’s alleged affair with a Pakistani journalist Mehr Tarar, raising suspicions of suicide, although no suicide note was found from the unfortunate place. The tragic came to an end even Twitter was still buzzing about the public display of anger, betrayal and accusations involving Tharoor, Sunanda and Pakistani journalist. There were also reports of Sunanda talking of divorce, although she scotched the talk on Thursday. She rocked the social media constantly two long days and finally was found dead. Every senior journalist is claiming that she gave them call before the tragedy, she wanted to expose her hubby, but none of these journalists on the humanitarian grounds went to solace her knowing the level of her depression. The news has spread like fire in the Jungle.
This is not the first instance any politician’s wife was found dead or committed suicide. Earlier, Anuradha Bali alias Fiza Mohammad, the 39-year-old estranged second wife of former Haryana deputy Chief Minister Chander Mohan, lived a controversial life, and her death was no different. Then Naina Sahni was the victim of Tandoor murder case. On 2 July 1995, she was killed by her husband Sushil Sharma, a Congress youth leader and MLA. Naina herself was a worker in the Congress party. Sushil Sharma was convicted for the murder by the Trial Court, Delhi High Court and then Supreme Court. On 8 October 2013, Sharma was awarded life imprisonment by the Supreme Court. Every time journalists came up with their own stories and accused got scot free or due to media pressure, the decisions went wrong, such as Nupur and Rajesh Talwars’ conviction.
In India sting operation is in fashion, Tehelka was popular just because of this act. Tarun Tejpal is the owner and Editor in Chief of the publication that’s the reason no one could question him or blame him for anything. However, if he would have been an employee or paid as an editor of the publication then he would have been out of the market. Today Tarun Tejpal is in jail under rape charges by his own employee and Tehelka distorted. Few years ago, India TV did sting operation on Shakti Kapoor and as viewers we enjoyed that rather objecting upon such trends.
Aaj Tak conducted sting operation on Pramod Muthalik, Asaram Bapu and many others like them, by violating all ethics and rules of journalism. But no one goes against them. News channels need TRPs and viewerships, which is only possible through controversy and scandals. If the editor bans such practices, then he would be accused for his inefficiency. However, if he does the sting operation and someone raises objections against it then the banner and owner put the blame on the editor and washes their hands off.
I understand the pain of Rebekah Brooks. Actually, it was not her fault it was the fault of her thankless job and position, she was holding in the newspaper. I am sure; every newspaper and news channel definitely possesses taped conversations of thousands of celebrities, politicians, sports stars and common people. For the simple reason, if the desk questions reporter about the conversation proof then they have to produce the records by default. Moreover, many times a source denies his statements, so one need to keep the proof. Rebekah Brooks is not the omission. I can understand why she had to fall on her own sword which she has sharpened for the interest of newspaper and its readers.
I have one personal story to tell. One day, my editorial team was too much tensed over lead story. The deadline was coming to an end. Then, I remembered Kumar Ketkar’s speech in a Rotary Club function at Dombivli where he had recalled a situation from the time when he was the Editor of Maharashtra Times. Kumar was revealing the other side of Journalism which said Bad news is a Good news; a compulsory virtue of journalism all over the world. And just then, Poonam Chambers collapsed. It was a huge sigh of relief as finally there was something worth a lead. War journalists, crime journalists and others strive for off-routine pictures and reports. Every journo aims for a Watergate; a life-turning event/scam. The class of journalists is reflected in the investigative journalism. There is equal scope for an investigative talent in all the beats of journalism. Press Freedom, liberty to write, investigative journalism, journalism of courage are terms that have been imposed upon us since ages.
The most hypocrite profession is journalism. One may recall Arun Shourie’s rise and fall in the Indian Express group. A layman remembers Mr. Shourie as a courageous journalist who exposed the cement scam of then Maharashtra CM Barrister A.R. Antulay. He then had to quit ‘Express’ as a prize for his courage.
The reality is entirely different. But this scam and consequences end the journey of Shourie as an editor. The policy of publishing is guided by the affiliations and interests of the managements. A journalist or an editor is merely a salesman. He can shoot only at the sweet will of the paymaster. Media is a business venture as clear as a profit-making organization which has to pay salaries in time.
It is a harsh reality that journalism as a profession is a paid job. What so chaotic about paid-journalism, when journalists at any level are doing a paid job? I feel, we must end the hypocrisy in the fourth-estate and come out with real ourselves telling the world that we are not Superman, but we are sales executives working on salaries and hidden perk. Here, I’m stopping myself and will continue tomorrow with other revelation. Till that time follow me on twitter @vaidehisachin.
Demanding the need for a scrutiny of subsidies provided, he said, “Subsidy means that the money will be diverted from one pocket to other. The white paper on power tariff will help to understand this mechanism.” 
Former Air India Executive Director Jitendra Bhargava, whose book blaming Praful Patel for the near grounding of the national carrier has been pulled off the shelves after an out-of-court settlement between the ex-Aviation Minister and publisher, now plans to e-publish it.
Nearly 40,000 people including 500 foreigners took part in the eleventh edition of Mumbai Marathon on Sunday morning. Among the participants were 200 people with disabilities and 1360 senior citizens. Bollywood celebrities were also present at the event and many corporate honchos participated in the run. With 3,60,000 US dollars as prize money, the competitive categories saw a hard fought race.
Bombay High Court has reserved its order on an application filed by two witnesses in the 2002 Pune German Bakery bomb blast case seeking protection from officers of state Anti Terrorism Squad (ATS).
Filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt, who is active on Twitter, believes the social media “encourages cowards” to express their feelings online.
Mobile handset manufacturer Motorola has been ordered by the district consumer forum to pay a compensation of Rs. 50,000 to a local resident for deficiency in service and unfair commercial practices.
Swimming competition was held by Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation on January, 18 at Navi Mumbai Sport Association Swimming Pond. Speaking on this occasion, MLA Sandeep Naik said, “Playing and exercising is beneficial for our health. The swimming competition organized by the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation provides a good platform for youth to show case their talent.