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Does anti-ragging law have no meaning in India?

By
Vaidehi Taman
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anti-ragging, ragging, india, kandivali colllege, kandivali police, kes college, ragging incident
Does anti-ragging law have no meaning in India? 2

The horrifying incidence of Kandivali student ragging points out how anti-ragging law failed to create deterrence among college students.  Aa 17-year-old Yuvraj Chaurasiya was brutally assaulted by his college seniors, who, he claims, often teased and humiliated him for his long hair. The incident happened right outside KES Junior College of Arts and Commerce premises on March 10 and was caught on CCTV camera. The assault lasted an entire minute, leading to injuries all over his face. The Kandivali police registered an FIR under sections 325, 341, 323, 504, 143, 147, 149, and 506 (2) of the Indian Penal Code against Jha, Singh, and four unknown persons On March 10. Well, this is just one case that has gone viral, there many such cases that don’t even get reported.

In spite of continues closure of colleges in 2021-2022, 300 cases of ragging were reported to the university grants commission helpline. In 2017 ragging was up by 70 per cent, and the report card For 2018-2019 was grimmer. 15 MBBS students from the 2013, 2014, 2015 batches of IGIMS (Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences) college were suspended on July 19. The suspension occurred on account of a ragging incident that took place earlier in the month. After a shocking incident where a postgraduate student at BYL Nair Hospital committed suicide, the State Health Department has set a committee to amend rules and regulations on ragging. Time and again the amendments have challenged the fate of vulnerable students. There are several rules that have been designed to curb the menace of ragging. In spite of this, the problem still persists. It has become the new normal in college. Ragging is also another form of “structured bullying”, a tradition passed from one batch to the next. Senior students feel a sense of authority and power over the freshers, both mentally and physically. In most cases, the college management either remains ignorant or unresponsive to the complaints.

In 2018, Payal’s mother had complained to the authorities after they started harassing her daughter, however, the authorities turned a deaf ear and did not take any concrete steps to curb the ragging. Dr Ahuja, Dr Mehar, and Dr Ankita Khandelwal have been booked for abetment to suicide and under sections of the Maharashtra Prohibition of Ragging Act and the Prevention of Atrocities Act.

Even in Patne, similar cases happened, few students from the 2016 batch lodged an FIR at a police station in Patna. The students, in their complaint, stated that they were “mentally and physically” harassed by seniors, continuously for two days. They also provided the names of the seniors in their complaints. The problem of ragging is a major issue in many colleges across the country, despite these regulations. The premier institutions of our country, the IITs, NITs and the NLUs have had major ragging incidents. Ragging is an age-old practice that has been continuing over the generations. The University Grants Commission (UGC) following the Apex Court’s directive has set up a nationwide toll-free anti-ragging helpline 1800-180-5522. According to the law, “Ragging can send you to jail for 10 years. In India, ragging is banned on all campuses. Such acts are punishable by fines of up to Rs. 50,000, jail terms ranging from six months to 10 years, and awarding of certificates that “the student had indulged in ragging” which can adversely affect career prospects.”

As per data collected by the UGC, 3,299 cases of ragging of students have been registered across India between April 18, 2012, and December 12, 2017.  Incidents of ragging registered a 70% increase in 2017. As per reports, only 957 students were punished in these cases. Then the Union HRD Minister Prakash Javedkar on 23rd July informed the Rajya Sabha about the drastic rise of ragging complaints in Higher Educational Institutions. As per UGC reports, the number of complaints has doubled in the last three years. Of the total of 1,839 ragging complaints, 423 were received in 2015 (most of them from West Bengal), 5,215 in 2016, and 901 in 2017. Of the total complaints of ragging, students have been punished in 812 cases, including suspension in 309 cases. On receipt of a complaint of ragging, the educational institution concerned constitutes an anti-ragging committee to investigate the incident. On the basis of the report, the institution takes action against the culprits and if requested, sends an action-taken-report to HRD Ministry. This is the situation even after UGC’s strict guidelines to colleges regarding effective anti-ragging measures.

Despite the alarming numbers, there are colleges where ragging hasn’t been an issue. In February, the police registered cases against students of NIT – Andhra Pradesh for ragging a junior student from Bihar. According to the reports, students of the 2nd and 3rd years were involved in the incident. In March, there was another ragging incident recorded in NIT- Agartala where some senior students had called a number of junior students to meet outside the hostel and they physically tortured them. The student suffered major injuries and was not even taken to the hospital. It was only after the victim’s parents arrived that he was taken to the hospital. Punitive action was taken against six senior students; two were suspended academically and the other four were fined ₹ 5,000 and three among them were also asked to quit the hostel. The Anti-Ragging team of the campus held the enquiry and took action.

In September 2017, in another incident, the Management at IIT Kanpur suspended 22 students for ragging freshers. A nine-member committee was also formed to probe into the incident of sexual abuse that was done in the name of ragging. The sexual abuse charges were true, which led to the suspension of 16 students for three years and six students for a year.

Back in 2016, there was another ragging incident at Manjeri Medical College in Malappuram, Kerala. As many as, 21 students were suspended after it was found out that they ragged a few first-year students of the college. The junior students had complained about the ragging and preliminary action was first taken against the students. Later on, an anti-ragging cell was also formed. There have been several cases of ragging reported in the Coimbatore Medical College in 2016 where a senior student decided to step up on behalf of the juniors who were not willing to speak up. It’s unbelievable that a large chunk of the student community does not want to end this culture, despite all that has happened.

Cricketer Harbhajan Singh to make his political debut with AAP

By
Afternoon Voice
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harbhajan singh, aap, aam aadmi party, harbhajan singh, punjab, elections
Cricketer Harbhajan Singh to make his political debut with AAP 4

After the successful win in Punjab, Aam Aadmi Party considered some new entries in the party, they likely to nominate former cricketer Harbhajan Singh, senior party leader Raghav Chadha, and IIT-Delhi Associate Professor Sandeep Pathak to the Rajya Sabha. The Election Commission announced earlier those elections to five out of the seven Rajya Sabha seats from Punjab will be held on March 31. The last day for filing nominations is March 21.

Harbhajan Singh is a youth icon and is a well-known name in the country. He can be really a good pick for the post and is a strong contender. Raghav Chadha has been associated with AAP for several years now and has risen through the ranks.

He was appointed Punjab in charge and worked with party workers for the past year or so. As polls in Punjab came closer, he spent most of his time there managing things. He is already an MLA from Delhi, but the party believes he can be a valuable addition to the Rajya Sabha. Discussions on several names, however, are and will remain ongoing till the end to make sure the most suitable people are sent to the Upper House.

The other frontrunner in the list is Pathak too, He is basically an analyst and a strategist, who helped the party a lot during Punjab polls from behind the scenes. Being a teacher at IIT Delhi, he also perfectly fits the profile that AAP has in the past been keen on promoting.

The AAP had run into troubled waters with its Rajya Sabha picks in 2018 from Delhi. While it gave one seat to senior party leader Sanjay Singh, the remaining two were given to Sushil Gupta and N D Gupta, new entrants in the party, amid backlash from within the party as well as outside. Several high-level meetings are underway in Delhi over the past few days to pick five names for the Upper House.

Holi won’t be musical for Mumbaikar

By
Afternoon Voice
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holi, holi in mumbai, holi playing children, holi colours,
Image: Santarpan Roy/Picture Alliance

According to the guidelines issued by the Home Department, citizens in the state are advised to burn Holika Dahan before 10 pm. Meanwhile, playing DJ, holding dance programs, or gathering more people will not be allowed during Holika Dahan.

The government has also been strict about alcohol consumption. Special emphasis has been given in the circular that if anyone is found trying to create a ruckus by consuming alcohol on the occasion of Holi, then strict action will be taken against him.

The BJP MLA Ram Kadam said, “In the land of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, we should be proud of our culture and festivals. We will celebrate the festivals with joy,” Kadam said. Asked why the Shiv Sena-lead coalition was so afraid of sanctioning unconditional permission for a Hindu festival.

A senior NCP minister, meanwhile, said: “Nobody is against any festival. The state government has urged people to exercise caution while celebrating in wake of Covid-19 pandemic. The BJP is taking up non-issues. It has this habit of communalising every issue.”

Holi, one of the most vibrant and colourful festivals celebrated in India, marks the blooming of spring after a long winter season. This year, the festival of Holi falls on March 18, while Chhoti Holi or Holika Dahan will be celebrated on March 17. On the eve of the festival, large bonfires are lit all over the country to symbolise the moment good triumphed over evil. People perform rituals and throw dry leaves, wood and twig into the fire.

The government has appealed to the citizens not to shout slogans that may hurt the feelings of any caste or religion. The government issued guidelines on a day when 237 new COVID 19 cases, two deaths, were reported in Maharashtra.

Congress’s flop show can be the final nail in the coffin?

By
Vaidehi Taman
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congress, coffin, flop show of congress, assembly elections, elections, uttar pradesh, sonia gandhi, gandhi, inc, indian national congress, sonia gandhi in lok sabha
Congress's flop show can be the final nail in the coffin? 7

In the 2022 assembly elections, Congress got crushed in all five states, including Punjab. It would be a great disaster for Indian politics if it reduced the Indian National Congress to a mere billboard. Days after the party’s defeat, Congress president Sonia Gandhi asked the chiefs of the five state units — Ajay Kumar Lallu in Uttar Pradesh, Navjot Singh Sidhu in Punjab, Ganesh Godiyal in Uttarakhand, Girish Chodankar in Goa and Nameirakpam Loken Singh in Manipur — to resign. She still believes changing the party chiefs can change the fate of Congress, but failed to understand that Congress needs a change in leadership. A healthy democracy definitely needs the active presence of responsible political parties.

The Congress has its organizational framework throughout the entire nation. Its present leaders are incompetent in teamwork vital for the organisation. They don’t want to retrospect anything on ground level. They never credit those Congress leaders who are pouring some sense into the party. The leadership needs to really work on their incapacities.

Though Sonia Gandhi gave ten years of supremacy to the Party, she could not reinforce the fundamentals whatever might be the reason. Essentially, the congress reign was more focused on staying in power than strengthening the organisation. And whatever steps she took for the same, backfired especially because of their status quo attitude. The fall actually started during Indira’s reign itself, accelerated during Rajiv’s, but the unfortunate demise of both brought back Congress on sympathy waves. The BJP was not as aggressive as it is now. Somehow BJP created the worst perceptions about Congress. They damaged their roots in history. From Nehru to Indira, they attacked all that was possible.

Meanwhile, Anna Hazare and Baba Ramdev, like crusaders, successfully created anger against Congress and Gandhi’s family, calling them the most corrupt and Muslim sympathisers. Most of the Indian voters took to Saffron sentiments, the division further widened in the name of Hindu-Muslim. It silently projected the Congress party as an anti-national party. Sonia’s predominance was quite known for Vajpayee government miscalculation with alliances and “Shining India” misfiring. In the present era, Narendra Modi stumped her and Congress by calculating the past events. 

Congress could not change itself with the aspirations of the changing demography. Congress is the same as Indira’s congress. Whereas Modi’s BJP could read the pulse of a young generation that feeds on WhatsApp and social media. So, information or manipulating news with the help of media houses becomes way easier for them. The silent WhatsApp campaigns did an extraordinary job for them. Congress took time to realise the power of social media. By the time they came into the picture, it damaged their image to the core.

Indira Gandhi was a great prime minister but a disastrous party leader. She fostered the Nehru dynasty to control the national party. Something ruthlessly decimated Congress party members with experience of working at grassroots to make way for sycophants of ‘the family’; today the Congress party is bereaved of people with leadership qualities. A ‘family’ member surrounded by bootlickers ruled it. The renaissance of the party is essential for the functioning of a healthy democracy in India. Congress party lacks leaders; all those old guards are side-lined, some just left Congress and joined others for their political fortune.

Congress survived 71 years mostly on the goodwill of Gandhi and Nehru surname because India’s education system has institutionalized and attributed India’s freedom to a lot of extents to Gandhi and Nehru duo, so it was obvious for the crop of this education system to believe and trust congress more than others. Congress survived post-Indira Gandhi’s only cause, pseudo-secularism, India by and large was still illiterate and mainstream media was a tool in the hand of government (even today it’s the same). In addition, most of India’s population still did not have access to the internet until 2010. By the time of 2014, Ambani gave net packs and affordable phones to every citizen, the internet revolution gave more power to BJP and its IT cell.

With the Internet and social media, everyone now has a voice and reach. The Internet aided further reach and propaganda. It became a make-or-break tool in powerful people’s hands. Meanwhile, Congress slipped into a leadership crisis, Congress lost the confidence of the majority. Congress dynasty politics and brownnoser culture became old-fashioned; if these problems are not addressed right now it will lead to demise.

The ideology that they represent – centrist liberal – will always be there. Votes swing like a pendulum from left to right, but it always settles around the centre. Congress was written off in 1977, when it was wiped off from the entire northern part of the country, winning just 8 or 9 seats (though it made a strong showing in the southern states). Three years later, it came back with a vast majority. It was again written off in 1989 and then in 1996. In 1998, many people said that the BJP yug has started and it will rule for the next 30-40 years. Till 2013 Congress-ruled and now it’s sinking inconceivably. They need to reunite their strength and work on root levels. Ahead of 2024, some major changes can give them a greater breather. 

#CongressCrisis: Sonia Gandhi blames it on social media

By
Afternoon Voice
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bjp, sonia, sonia gandhi, bjp social media, uttar pradesh, elections, bjp social media ads, gandhi, congress
#CongressCrisis: Sonia Gandhi blames it on social media 9

After the humiliating defeat of Congress despite groundwork by its workers, Congress president Sonia Gandhi believes that the global social media companies are being abused to hack India’s democracy and urged the government to put an end to their “systematic influence and interference” in electoral politics. Sonia Gandhi, speaking during Zero Hour in the Lok Sabha, said global companies such as Facebook and Twitter are being increasingly used “to shape political narratives by leaders, political parties and their proxies”.

She described as an issue of paramount importance “the rising danger of social media being abused to hack our democracy” and added it has repeatedly come to public notice that global social media companies “are not providing a level playing field to all political parties. “She also referred to a report published in the Al Jazeera and The Reporters’ Collective claiming that Facebook had offered BJP cheaper deals for election advertisements as compared to other political parties. “These reports show a growing nexus between big corporations, the ruling establishment and global social media giants like Facebook,” she said.

The Congress chief said young and old minds are being “filled with hate” through emotionally charged disinformation, and proxy advertising companies like Facebook are profiting from it. Mrs Gandhi said the “blatant manner” in which social harmony is being “disturbed” by Facebook with the “connivance of the ruling establishment is dangerous for our democracy”.

“I urge the government to put an end to the systematic interference and influence of Facebook and other social media giants in the electoral politics of the world’s largest democracy. This is beyond partisan politics. We need to protect our democracy and social harmony regardless of who is in power,” Mrs Gandhi added. Social media has been constantly used to spread lies, hatred and divisiveness by BJP and its corporate proxies. Add to this a misuse of EC, Pegasis, UAPA, Governors, and constant mainstream media, you can imagine the poison that is being spread through India by BJP and RSS.

Mr T Arun a BJP supporter said, “Was the congress party or for that matter, any opposition party denied use of social media platform by the GoI? When the answer is no then why find an excuse for the loss of elections by congress using the august parliament forum, Congress lost Bengal also but did not raise any such issue but why now?”

Speaking during Zero Hour, BJP member Nishikant Dubey said the Congress party had tried to suppress freedom of speech by bringing in Section 66A in the Information Technology Act. “Congress party wants people to forget the history of Kashmir… On what basis Ghulam Mohammad Shah was made the (Jammu & Kashmir) chief minister and for what reason there were so many problems in Kashmir. It is still not decided whether Facebook and Twitter are considered publishers or intermediaries. Today when Yasin Malik, who has killed officers of Indian Air Force, is seen with Manmohan Singh in a photo, there is an attempt to suppress it,” Dubey said.

Rupal Mistry said, “Sonia Gandhi is 1000% correct; there is a lot of misinformation on the internet. Young minds are so much filled with hate and anger for democracy. The ruling party exists because of the false information they spread about the opposition; else they would have been out of power last time itself. Sonia Gandhi’s sayings are quite right and Facebook etc. is doing all bad things socially.”

Ashwajeet Gaikwad said, “Sonia Gandhi should not delude public by blaming electoral defeats on Twitter etc. States as diverse as Punjab, Uttarakhand, Manipur, Goa and Uttar Pradesh have given a unanimous verdict as far as congress is concerned. She should not underestimate the message from the common people.”

Sangita Amladi, a former bank employee said, “Congress had their chances. But they lost all of it. Now, these kinds of allegations are not going to help them win elections. Congress has to fight; they need their party leaders in place. She cannot sit and give sermons about how BJP is using all the tools. Just get out on the field and work. Congress thought they are the elite and privileged and they can ride on the past leaders forever. Well, 50% of the population doesn’t even know many tall leaders of the Congress party. However, what is the point in talking past.”

Shiv Sena’s leader Raghunath Kuchik untraceable, the young woman posted a suicide note on Facebook

By
Afternoon Voice
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rape case, rape accused, raghunath kuchik
Shiv Sena's leader Raghunath Kuchik untraceable, the young woman posted a suicide note on Facebook 11

Senior Shiv Sena leader Raghunath Kuchik lured a young girl with all lavishes, promised her marriage made her pregnant and later on asked to terminate the baby. He is been booked by Pune Police on charges of raping a 24-year-old woman by making false promises of marriage and then allegedly forcing her to terminate her pregnancy later.

A First Information Report in this regard has been registered at Shivajinagar police station against Kuchik, who is deputy leader of Shiv Sena, general secretary of Bharatiya Kamgar Sena, a Sena-backed trade union, and chairman of the Minimum Wages Advisory Committee of the Maharashtra government, which is a position of Minister of State rank.

Senior Inspector Anita More, in charge of Shivaji Nagar police station, said, “He (Kuchik) has been booked on charges of raping the woman on the false promise of marriage and later terminating her pregnancy against her consent.” The FIR also states that Kuchik threatened to harm the woman if she told anyone about what was happening.

When asked whether Kuchik will be placed under arrest, Pune Police Commissioner Amitabh Gupta said, “The arrest will depend on the progress in the investigation. As of now, a case has been registered and investigation is being conducted.”

The complainant has alleged that Kuchik raped her on multiple occasions in different places, including Pune and Goa, between November 2020 and February 2021 on the false promise of marriage. Kuchik has been booked under Indian Penal Code sections 376 (Punishment for rape), 313 (Causing miscarriage without woman’s consent) and 506 (Criminal intimidation).

Suicide alert on Facebook

On March 12, 2022, the young woman posted on Facebook that Raghunath Kuchik had accused her of threatening her on WhatsApp. She also shared a screenshot of it. She also said in the post that she was committing suicide. Now the girl is missing.

What actually happened

The incident was first reported on February 17, 2022. The girl had lodged a complaint against Shiv Sena leader Raghunath Kuchik at Shivajinagar police station in Pune on the same day. The young woman had accused Kuchik of having sexual relations with her under the pretext of marriage and then forcing her to have an abortion. The incident took place at Pride Hotel in Pune, Buy the Beach in Goa from November 2020 to February 2022, she said. A case under sections 376, 313 and 506 was registered against Raghunath Kuchik. BJP leader Chitra Wagh held a press conference in Mumbai with the girl and demanded the arrest of Raghunath Kuchik. Meanwhile, the court has granted pre-arrest bail to Raghunath Kuchik in the case.

FIR against BJP MLC Pravin Darekar for bank fraud, MVA demands resignation

By
Vaidehi Taman
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pravin darekar, pravin, mumbai bank, mumbai bank scam, bjp leader, leader of opposition, bjp's darekar
FIR against BJP MLC Pravin Darekar for bank fraud, MVA demands resignation 13

Today there were two important updates, Bombay HC rejected Nawab Malik’s interim release plea in money laundering case and BJP was demanding his resignation, in the meantime, Mumbai police have registered an FIR against BJP MLC Pravin Darekar in connection with an alleged bank scam case under various IPC sections, including 420 (cheating), 406 (criminal breach of trust), 120-b (criminal conspiracy) following a complaint by Aam Aadmi Party functionary Dhananjay Shinde.

Amid all the chaos, Bombay high court rejected an interim release plea made by Maharashtra minister Nawab Malik in connection with an alleged money laundering case lodged against him by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) allegedly linked to a purchase of a plot in Kurla with money paid to the late sister of global terrorist Dawood Ibrahim. BJP workers staged a protest against Maharashtra minister Nawab Malik, demanding his resignation.

It notices that Darekar posed as a labourer but actually came from an urban bank category in Mumbai. He was supposed to be from the labour federation, but he actually came from the urban bank category. Shinde alleged that Darekar neither gets any contract of labour supply nor does he work as a labourer, but he has been contesting for the post of director at the Mumbai Bank for 20 years. There was fraud in the Mumbai Bank during his tenure and the cooperative department of the state government also found material indicating fraud during an audit.

Shinde alleged that Darekar registered himself as labour back in 1997. 

Later he contested in the 2009 Maharasthra assembly elections on a Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) ticket and won the polls where he declared that he is into a private business. He showed his property value of more than Rs 2 crore. Darekar is an MLC from 2016 till date and the document which was submitted showed he is into private business. He is earning 2.5 lakh including all government facilities as a monthly salary.

Pravin Darekar is an Ex-MLA from the Magathane constituency. He belongs to the Bharatiya Janata Party. Darekar was first elected to the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly on an MNS ticket in 2009. His constituency is located in the Mumbai Suburban district. When a series of decisions were taken by the Bharatiya Janata Party central leadership Devendra Fadnavis got isolated. Those days Pravin Darekar came close to Fadnavis and most of the time he rendered his statements to defend Devendra.

The promotion of Vinod Tawde as BJP general secretary from the position of national secretary, and the nomination of Chandrashekhar Bawankule for the Maharashtra Legislative Council polls, both bete noire of Fadnavis, meanwhile Devendra was given the responsibility of Goa assembly election and he made fortune for BJP by retaining the power. On the other hand, Devendra is aggressively attacking Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) leaders, and one of them has reached jail.

MVA also gave tough time to Devendra Fadnavis, Mumbai police recorded whose statement in a case of alleged illegal phone tapping and leaking of confidential documents. After a team of the BKC cyber police recorded Fadnavis’s statement for about two hours at his south Mumbai residence, the former Maharashtra chief minister told media persons that the MVA government will fail in its motives no matter how much it tries to “frame” him in the case.

Fadnavis said he had raised a “mega scam” in transfers of officials on the MVA’s watch before the Union home affairs secretary but categorically denied having leaked any detail concerned in the public domain. He also alleged that pressure is being exerted on him as he has been raising issues such as the alleged connection between state minister Nawab Malik and fugitive gangster Dawood Ibrahim and the MVA’s conspiracy to target its opponents.

Fadnavis accused the MVA government of “suppressing” the alleged mega scam of transfers of officials for six months before he brought it to the light. The leader of opposition in the state Assembly said he had submitted details of the alleged scam to the Union home secretary, but did not make the documents concerned public. Since Anil Deshmukh and Nawab Mallik are in jail, MVA is trying to clip some opposition leaders by sending them to jail, but less corruption in BJP is not giving much scope to MVA.

Ab Tak 132 – Special PMLA court rejects Anil Deshmukh’s bail plea

By
Afternoon Voice
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anil deshmukh, deshmukh, anil, ed, enforcement directorate, ed raid, money laundering, special pmla, pmla court
Ab Tak 132 - Special PMLA court rejects Anil Deshmukh's bail plea 15

A Special PMLA court rejected the bail plea of former Maharashtra home minister Anil Deshmukh, 73, in an alleged money laundering case registered against him last year. Deshmukh was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on November 2. The investigating agency had strongly opposed his bail plea.

Meanwhile, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Friday questioned Mumbai police commissioner Sanjay Pandey for six hours in connection with the corruption case registered against former home minister Anil Deshmukh. The central agency interrogated Pandey, the then Director General of Police, for allegedly trying to influence the complainant in the case – former Mumbai police commissioner Param Bir Singh while the matter was being heard in the Bombay High Court, said a CBI officer.

The CBI officer said it was evident from Pandey’s interaction with Singh that the Maharashtra government was trying to protect Anil Deshmukh from the serious allegations of corruption. The officer added that they recorded Pandey’s statement, not about the allegations of corruption, but about his conversation with Singh, transcripts of which show that Pandey had advised Singh to consider withdrawing the letter written by him to the chief minister and other dignitaries on March 20, 2021. 

On the other hand, The Bombay High Court concluded the hearing and reserved its verdict in the interim relief sought by NCP minister Nawab Malik who was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for alleged money laundering and “active involvement in terror funding” in connection with a 1999 land deal with don Dawood Ibrahim’s sister. The division bench of Justices Prasanna B Varale and Shriram M Modak said it will pronounce the verdict in the case at 10.30 am on March 15. In his habeas corpus plea, Malik had claimed that his arrest was “illegal”, done with “political vendetta” and without following due process under the Code of Criminal Procedure.

Malik had told the high court that the ED, by alleging that he continues to have under his possession the property Goawala Building in Mumbai’s Kurla – reportedly involved in a money laundering case – wants to keep him in jail by infringing on his liberty.

Devendra Fadnavis is here to demolish Maha Vika Aghadi

By
Vaidehi Taman
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mva, maha vikas aghadi, devendra fadnavis, fadnavis, bjp, mva government, aghadi government, maharashtra government, fadnavis of bjp
Devendra Fadnavis is here to demolish Maha Vika Aghadi 17

Shiv Sena’s Uddhav Thackeray led Aghadi government in Maharashtra is under tremendous pressure due to ongoing revelations and leaks by opposition leader Devendra Fadnavis. Uddhav Thackeray is the Chief Minister of the Aghadi government but the reins are in someone else’s hand, perhaps which is the reason he has become vulnerable.

Uddhav is silent but, others are making random statements. Most of the leaders not performing their duties but, the blame is on Uddhav because he leads the alliance. BJP and its leader are in no mood to settle unless they demolish the ruling government. Many NCP leaders are languishing in jail, Shiv Sena leaders are under ED and Income tax scanner.

Devendra Fadnavis always commanded from the front and Uddhav is just an imitation. When BJP-Sena was in alliance, Sena used to shout and thump every time but, now others are shouting and thumping and Sena is a mute spectator. Time changes and with time the political equations change. Politics is definitely not for Uddhav and everyone in Maharashtra knew it.

Shiv Sena was focused on Maharashtrian Pride and Hindutva, now they lost both of these of late because Uddhav Thackeray is making a move towards secular groups by criticizing BJP, and praising the Congress, being a part of MVA. Till his death, Balasaheb Thackeray was the tallest leader of Maharashtra whom everyone respected. After his death, Uddhav is nowhere near his stature. This also contributed to losing faith in Shiv Sena. Meanwhile, the Maha Vikas Aghadi is the epitome of nepotism, rampant corruption, and less administration. Maharashtra government has utterly failed to deliver, the government has no agenda at all, except to collect money from illicit sources and fill in the pockets of MLAs and MLCs. Even the novice roadside leaders indulged in extortion racquets.

Devendra Fadnavis keeps no stone unturned to hit out Uddhav Thackeray and Shiv Sena-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government. Surprisingly this alliance has proven to be the most corrupt in the history of Maharashtra with Vasooli being its “only agenda”. The Income Tax Department’s raids have revealed that there was rampant corruption in Maharashtra. In the meantime, ever since the two parties split after the 2019 assembly polls, BJP’s veteran leader Kirit Somaiya has made stronger attacks, questioning allegedly illegal landholdings and constructed properties of a host of Shiv Sena leaders — from Ravindra Waikar to Anil Parab, CM Thackeray’s personal assistant Milind Narvekar and the CM himself. Over the past two years, the Enforcement Directorate has taken action directly or indirectly against at least half a dozen leaders belonging to MVA parties. In several of these cases, Somaiya had publicly made allegations of graft against the leaders.

Before the alliance, Shiv Sena has been independent and gave its views boldly. Now all its criticisms are based on how they are received by Sonia and the team. He never does anything to hurt Congress. Before the alliance, Shiv Sena wanted the development of Maharashtra. Now Shiv Sena is developing the Thackeray family, Pawar family and their leader’s family. Uddhav was very sincere earlier in his approach towards Hinduism.

Now he is very sincere in secular traditions. In such a situation, the Shiv Sena will suffer the most damage if it does not form the government. Therefore, it is very important for Shiv Sena to form a government so that it will get a chance to improve its image in 2024. Political experts say that the coalition govt. proposed by Sena-INC-NCP won’t last long because of having too many corrupt leaders. In the meantime, Devendra is Successfully demolishing the ruling alliance by exposing their illicit scams.

CBI questions Mumbai top cop Sanjay Pandey in Anil Deshmukh case

By
Akshay Redij
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sanjay pandey, cbi, anil deshmukh, deshmukh, pandey
CBI questions Mumbai top cop Sanjay Pandey in Anil Deshmukh case 19

Mumbai police commissioner Sanjay Pandey was questioned by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for more than six hours in connection with the corruption case registered against former home minister Anil Deshmukh.

The central agency interrogated Pandey, the then Director General of Police, for allegedly trying to influence the complainant in the case – former Mumbai police commissioner Param Bir Singh while the matter was being heard in the Bombay High Court, said a CBI officer.

The CBI officer said it was evident from Pandey’s interaction with Singh that the Maharashtra government was trying to protect Anil Deshmukh from the serious allegations of corruption.

The officer added that they recorded Pandey’s statement, not about the allegations of corruption, but about his conversation with Singh, transcripts of which show that Pandey had advised Singh to consider withdrawing the letter written by him to the chief minister and other dignitaries on March 20, 2021.

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ln a letter written to Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray on March 20, Singh alleged that Deshmukh had instructed certain Mumbai police officers, including dismissed API Sachin Vaze, to collect an amount of Rs 100 crores every month from Mumbai’s restaurants and bars.

On April 21 last year, CBI registered an offence against Deshmukh based on the allegations made by Singh. Subsequently, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has also registered a money laundering case against Deshmukh, his son Hrishikesh and others.

In statements given to the Enforcement Directorate, Vaze claimed that he had called bar owners meeting on Deshmukh’s instructions. Between December 2020 and February 2021 collected Rs 4.7 crores from the owners of so-called orchestra bars in Mumbai to avoid police interference. He added that he had handed over the “extorted money” in two instalments to Deshmukh’s personal assistant Kundan Shinde.

Later, after the Maharashtra government-initiated inquiries against Singh, Pandey had in a WhatsApp chat, asked Singh to withdraw the March 20 letter he wrote to several dignitaries, levelling allegations of corruption against him Deshmukh.

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