Congress high command will decide on Rajasthan Cabinet reshuffle, says Ashok Gehlot

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November 11, 2021

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Thursday said that the Congress’ high command will decide on the Cabinet reshuffle in Rajasthan. In this regard, Gehlot met Congress interim President Sonia Gandhi at 10 Janpath on Thursday. The meeting lasted for almost an hour.

Ashok Gehlot spoke on Cabinet expansion with the media persons today and said, “I have briefed the party’s high command about the current situation. The party high command will decide on the Cabinet reshuffle in Rajasthan. Ajay Maken (a state in charge) knows everything. We will accept whatever decision will be taken by the party high command. I just want good governance to continue in the state of Rajasthan.” The expected cabinet expansion will set a roadmap for the 2023 Assembly elections in the state.

On petrol and diesel price hike, Gehlot said “The Centre is calling the states and asking them to reduce the fuel prices. They are trying to make states compete with each other. If the Central government reduces the prices of petrol and diesel, it will eventually be reduced in the states.” A major reshuffle in Rajasthan is on the cards. Yesterday, Ashok Gehlot met with the Central leadership of the Congress party. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, KC Venugopal and Rajasthan in-charge Ajay Maken was present in the meeting.

A long brainstorm discussion was held between Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and Central leadership. According to sources, yesterday’s meeting was regarding a Cabinet reshuffle long pending in the state.

Ajay Maken yesterday said, “I believe that a lot of confusion has now been cleared and a future roadmap is being prepared.” Sources said that Sachin Pilot was in Delhi yesterday and met Congress general secretary KC Venugopal.

The inclusion of Pilot’s supporters in the Cabinet was a part of the peace formula worked out by Priyanka Gandhi Vadra last year when the Pilot faction was on the warpath.

Mumbai coastal zone is already compromised

By

Vaidehi Taman

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November 10, 2021

Fishermen communities across Mumbai are protesting against the modification plan of the coastal line because this is only helping real estate developers. The most eroded coastline in Mumbai is Dadar-Shivaji Park beach. With the construction of the Bandra-Worli Sea Link, the natural rejuvenation of the beach with fresh sand has stopped. The area towards Prabhadevi has become completely rocky while a portion of Chaityabhoomi’s left side is also facing the same threat.

Developmental activities along the Mumbai shoreline were one of the main reasons for coastal erosion. Construction of structures along the coast that project into the sea reduces the natural sedimentation or beach rejuvenation. This might be one of the main factors for an increase in erosion along Mumbai’s coast. However, other examples are a change in currents and a rise in sea level over time or even a combination of both for a prolonged period that can erode a beach severely. Erosion takes place when a range of human-based activities disturbs the unembroidered sediment transport or beach building process.

The fishermen community has already started criticizing the CRZ move. The easing of CRZ norms for construction will destroy the coast and its natural resources in Mumbai, including marine fish resources. There should be no change in the prevalent CRZ norms without holding consultations with the community. In 2008, the government (the UPA regime) had unilaterally tried to replace the CRZ notification. They were forced to later rescind the measure following countrywide protests by the community.

Even the apex body of the fishermen community, the National Fishworkers Forum, has raised objections to these norms. In Mumbai, there are around 38 koliwadas, which are home to more than 50,000 people. But these new CRZ norms will endanger the homes and therefore the fishermen community have to come together to oppose the same.

The new CRZ norms are being referred to as Marine and Coastal Regulation Zone, which has few tweaks which have enraged the fishermen community. The Shailesh Nayak Committee had then recommended the changes. The draft norms propose to allow public amenities like coastal roads and sewage treatment plants. According to the 2011 CRZ notification, there is no new construction allowed in this zone. The new draft also proposes to limit the CRZ area to only 500 meters from the high-tide lines (HTL), excluding hazard lines (Hazard line identifies areas that are prone to coastal calamities and vulnerabilities). Are the ecologically sensitive areas that are essential in maintaining the ecosystem of the coast? They lie between low and high tide lines. Exploration of natural gas and extraction of salt is permitted.

The 2011 CRZ notification had frozen the FSI, but the new draft on the recommendations of the Maharashtra state government will ease these norms and allow a greater floor space index (FSI) in CRZ-II areas. The 2011 CRZ norms mandated that slum redevelopment schemes be done with a 51 per cent stake of the state government. The new draft will do away with that condition and allow private builders to have a full stake in the build. Are the areas that form up to the shoreline of the coast? The unauthorized structures are not allowed to be constructed in this zone.

The central ministry in 2015 has proposed to relax the existing no-development zone (NDZ) to 50 m from the high-tide line (HTL), from the earlier norm of 0-200m construction of homes and other structures are prohibited in the NDZ. This relaxation will allow the construction of houses and temporary tourist facilities beyond the 50 m mark. Foreign currency and gold seized at Mumbai international airport are the rural and urban localities, which fall outside the 1 and 2. Only certain activities related to agriculture, even some public facilities are allowed in this zone. This lies in aquatic areas up to territorial limits. Fishing and allied activities are permitted in this zone. Solid waste should be let off in this zone.

The draft notification also allows for the setting up of fish-processing units, makes allowance for facilities meant for patrolling and vigilance activities of the coastal or marine police, and removes the necessity of obtaining environmental clearances for constructing housing units, and related infrastructure, for the local fishermen community. But the fishermen don’t just need housing, but sustainable fishing practices and a clean sea.

If the water is polluted, there will be no fish for us to catch. The NFF also expressed fear that the move would strengthen private companies, which had invested heavily into tourism hotspots while ignoring the existing CRZ notification. The Koli fishing communities in Mumbai stand to lose livelihood opportunities once the notification comes into force. Their land will be ceded and catch will be affected. A proposed sea link in the city will destroy mangroves and affect their catches, which is already dwindling due to industrial effluents and solid waste being dumped into the sea.

Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) extended their support to the protesting fishermen

By

Afternoon Voice

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November 10, 2021

Fishermen from Worli Koliwada have held multiple protests since October 14 over the issue. Over 100 fishing boats from Worli Koliwada have been staging a sit-in in the placement of the interchange since October 30. On Sunday, nearly 19 fishing villages from across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) extended their support to the protesting fishermen.

In response to protests by Worli fisherfolk against the construction of an interchange between the coastal road and Bandra-Worli Sea Link (BWSL), the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has restated that the interchange design and location have been examined by competent authorities and that the civic body is providing higher navigational span than mandated by the guidelines issued by the Inland Waterways Authority of India. The BMC said that the impact of the coastal road on fishing has also been scrutinized by several institutes.

Nitesh Patil of the Worli Koliwada Nakhwa Matsya Vyavsay Sahakari Society Limited said one-time recompense will not be enough. “Due to renovation, those fish which would come to the seashore at Worli have stopped and they now are more towards Khar Danda, Mahim waters. One boat has five people on it and there are 2,000 boats. The livelihoods of all these will be affected,” said Patil.

In response to the protest, BMC released a statement listing the permissions it has received for the project. Giving an example, BMC said that the clear span between the two pillars of the existing Bandra-Worli link road for fishermen is 17 metres and boats can pass through only one place, while the Mumbai coastal road project will allow boats to pass through three spans and the net distance between the spans is 56 metres.

BMC stated that as per the guidelines of the Inland Waterways Authority of India issued by the Maharashtra Maritime Board, a navigation span of 30 metres is sufficient. Fisherfolk claimed that Cleveland Bunder – an artisanal fishing port in Worli Koliwada – will be at risk of permanent closure owing to coastal road interchange at the spot. They said the proposed span of 60 metres between the pillars of the interchange will cut off their access to customary fishing grounds and have demanded a span of at least 200 metres to ensure safe passage for their boats.

According to the guidelines, the navigation span has to be 8 times the width of the boat for transportation. According to data from the state fisheries department, the largest licensed vehicle at Worli jetty is 10.4 metres long and 3.8 metres wide with a carrying capacity of 4980 kg and a water depth of 3.6 metres. “According to this, the navigation span should be kept at a maximum of 30.4 metres for double carriage. The Mumbai Coastal Road project is providing a navigational span of 60 metres, double than mandated,” read the statement.

BMC further stated that the Tata Institute of Social Sciences has been appointed by the civic body to draft a policy to compensate fishermen during the construction of the project.

Paul Rudd jokes about being named ‘sexiest man alive’ by People magazine

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Afternoon Voice

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November 10, 2021

Paul Rudd, the affable actor best known for playing “Ant-Man,” was named People magazine’s sexiest man alive on Wednesday, joining the likes of Idris Elba, George Clooney and Bradley Cooper. Rudd, 52, seemed taken aback at the honour, as was his wife.

“I do have an awareness, enough to know that when people hear that I’d be picked for this, they would say, ‘What?'” he told People in a cover story for the magazine. “She was stupefied,” he said of the reaction of Julie, his wife of 18 years. “After some giggling and shock, she said, ‘Oh, they got it right.’ And that was very sweet.”

Rudd’s career stretches back 30 years. He played the kind boyfriend of Lisa Kudrow’s wacky Phoebe on the TV comedy “Friends” and later took larger roles in comedies like “Knocked Up” before playing Ant-Man in the Marvel superhero movie “Captain America: Civil War” and later seeing his character get his own film. Rudd, who has two children, will next appear in “Ghostbusters: Afterlife” and in the TV series “The Shrink Next Door.”

Actor Michael B. Jordan was last year’s sexiest man alive pick, following John Legend and Idris Elba in 2019 and 2018. Rudd joked that he expects his life to change radically now he has been awarded the annual title.

“I’m hoping now that I’ll finally be invited to some of those sexy dinners with Clooney and Pitt and B Jordan. And I figure I’ll be on a lot more yachts,” he said. The special double issue of People magazine hits US newsstands on Friday.

Criminalization of politics is not new to Maharashtra

By

Vaidehi Taman

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November 9, 2021

Mumbai has always flourished under the shadows of the underworld and part of its political background for several decades. Several state-level politicians have long-standing ties with the Dawood gang, with the criminal-politician network developing significant muscle and money power. Those were the days when Balasaheb used to boast about Arun Gawli being his henchman and Sharad Pawar in his counterarguments used to claim that the Dawood is his man.

Fugitive dons Dawood Ibrahim and his aide Chhota Shakeel used their close links in local politics to influence key redevelopment schemes in South Mumbai in the past few years, without even the operators of the project knowing it. In return, the duo not only helped fund elections of certain candidates but also got their men installed on important statutory panels such as the Standing Committee of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation. The panel is empowered to clear key construction and redevelopment schemes and major infrastructure works across the city. It has 27 members as representatives of various political parties elected to the country’s richest municipal corporation.

Over the past few days, charges and allegations have flown thick and fast over a thriving criminal-political nexus in the State. Several politicians have been alleged to have close links with the gangs, while some successfully transformed from underworld operatives to mainstream politicians.

The NCP released photographs of BJP leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and others with Riyaz Bhati, an alleged accomplice of gangster Dawood Ibrahim. There are over a dozen charges of firing, land grabbing and extortion against Bhati. Bhati was absconding after the 1993 Mumbai blasts till 2007. He was arrested in 2015 but was mysteriously released within 15 days. He is known as Dawood Ibrahim’s man in Mumbai.

The Leader of the Opposition in Maharashtra Devendra Fadnavis alleged the NCP minister Nawab Malik had struck a property deal with 1993 Mumbai bomb blast convict Sardar Shahwali Khan and Mohd Salim Ishaq Patel, who was the frontman of Haseena Parkar, Dawood Ibrahim’s sister. Addressing the media at the BJP headquarters in Mumbai, Fadnavis disclosed, “A prime property of 2.80 acres at LBS Marg in Kurla was bought by Solidus Investment Private Limited for a meager Rs 30 lakh. The signatory of the deal was Faraz Malik, son of Nawab Malik.” Nawab Malik held a high post in the company but had resigned before taking charge of the ministerial post in the state government in 2019. Malik’s wife, Mehjbeen Nawab Malik, and son, Aamir Malik, are the directors of the company.

The D-company used the influence of politicians not only to settle matters in redevelopments schemes but also in the development of old bungalows in Bandra and Mahim, Dargah property in some areas, and land deals at Jogeshwari and Andheri. Nawab may have taken the properties from them but I am sure they are not directly in Don’s possession.

According to Fadnavis, after the property deal and registration, the Maliks paid Rs 15 lakh to Sardar Shahwali Ali Khan and Rs 5 lakh to Mohd Salim Patel. Although the deal was Rs 30 lakh, the actual payment transacted was only Rs 20 lakh. Fadnavis alleged the property whose market rate was Rs 8,500 per square meter was purchased by Maliks for as little as Rs 25 per square meter.

Both Sardar Shahawali Khan and Salim Patel, with whom Maliks dealt in property, have underworld connections, Fadnavis stated. Refuting the allegations, NCP minister Mallik told reporters, “I have not bought the said property from any person connected to the underworld. I have bought the property from the original owners.” “There was a watchman of the erstwhile owners’ named Khan who had managed to create rights on a 300-sqm plot. I paid money to get these rights surrendered and ensure that he vacated that plot. Everything was done in a legal way and I have all necessary papers to prove this transaction.”

Fadnavis went on to state that the Kurla land deal was just one among five such deals, which took place between 2003 and 2019. However, he said, the details on the other four property deals between Malik and the “underworld” will be submitted to appropriate investigating agencies.

Malik said he will drop a hydrogen bomb tomorrow in connection with Devendra Fadnavis. he will expose Devendra Fadnavis’s underworld links. Devendra Fadnavis is trying to malign his image by connecting him to blast convicts and the underworld. Nawab Malik had earlier alleged that Devendra Fadnavis had appeared in a music video financed by a drug peddler who is currently in jail.

Nawab Malik has direct connection with the underworld, alleges Fadnavis; Malik to reveal Fadnavis’ underworld links tomorrow

By

Afternoon Voice

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November 9, 2021

Addressing a press conference, the former chief minister Devendra Fadnavis said he had documents of five such property deals and would hand over the same to the appropriate authorities. He would also submit the documents to Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) supremo Sharad Pawar to let him know what his party functionaries were indulging in.

Devendra accused Maharashtra cabinet minister Nawab Malik and his family of purchasing a 2.80-acre plot from Mohammad Salim Patel, a “frontman” of Dawood Ibrahim’s sister Haseena Parker from Badshah Khan, a 1993 blast convict, in 2005.

“There is a direct connection with the underworld. I have documents of five property deals. Four properties were purchased connected with the underworld. I will ascertain which appropriate authorities, whether it is the police, ED, NIA, and hand it over to them,” Fadnavis said. He further stated that “Malik did business with people involved in blasts that shook Mumbai. He purchased land from convicts of the case at rates cheaper than market prices. Was this deal to save prime land from being forfeited under TADA law?”.

The BJP leader’s allegations against the minister came in the wake of a series of controversies following the arrest of Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan’s son Aryan in a drugs bust case aboard a Goa-bound cruise last month. Malik has accused the Narcotics Control Bureau’s (NCB) zonal director Sameer Wankhede of partnering with some BJP leaders in an extortion attempt in the case, besides levelling other charges. Allegations and counter-allegations have followed since then.

In reply to Devendra Fadnavis’s allegations, Maharashtra cabinet minister Nawab Malik said he will reveal Devendra Fadnavis’ underworld connection on Wednesday. Malik also reacted to Fadnavis’s claims that he and his family members entered into land deals with people associated with the underworld.

“The allegations are baseless. I had no relations with the underworld and never purchased land from blast convicts,” Malik said as he addressed a press conference. “We were tenants of the plot, the owner wanted to sell it. We carried out the transaction with the person who had the power of attorney on behalf of the owner,” Malik added.

ST bus strike: MSRTC and ST worker’s demands are accepted by Transport Minister

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Afternoon Voice

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November 8, 2021

The suicides of ST workers for various demands are a matter of concern. ST employees have a total of three demands. According to the new wage agreement, inflation allowance, housing allowance should be increased (inflation allowance, housing allowance should be increased) were his two main demands. However, the issue of the merger of the MSRTC with the state government remained unresolved.

Transport Minister Anil Parab said that the issue of increment in the wage agreement would be discussed after Diwali. After discussions with the transport minister, the ST workers announced that they were withdrawing the agitation.

Due to the indefinite agitation by 150 ST depots in the state, common people had to suffer a lot. Transport Minister Anil Parab discussed the issue with the ST staff union. After the major demands of the ST employees were accepted in this meeting. Transport Minister Anil Parab and the ST workers’ union agreed to some of the demands. The dearness allowance of ST employees has been increased from 12 to 28 per cent. The housing allowance will also be increased. Following the government’s decision, the ST Corporation will be burdened with Rs 30 crore per month, including Rs 28 crore dearness allowance and Rs 2 crore rent.

Meanwhile, the Bombay High Court on Monday directed the Maharashtra government to form a three-member committee to address the matter.

A vacation bench of Justice SJ Kathawalla and Justice SP Tavade said in its order: “The Chief Minister, State of Maharashtra, will consider the recommendations and submit the same to the court with his views/opinion on the said recommendations.”

“The MSRTC’s managing director shall act as a coordinator and assist the committee, but he shall have no powers in the decision-making. The committee shall hear representatives of the 28 unions and representatives of the MSRTC and thereafter, submit their decision/recommendations to the chief minister,” added the court.

On the other hand, Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) demands a DA merger with salary, officials said. A spokesperson of the MSRTC told Afternoon Voice “The MSRTC is one of the biggest public transport corporations in the county with a fleet of more than 16,000 buses and around 93,000 employees, including drivers and conductors. Before the pandemic, around 65 lakh passengers used to travel in the MSRTC buses every day.”

Earlier this week, state Transport Minister Anil Parab, who is also chairman of the MSRTC, had declared a hike in the DA of the corporation’s employees to 17 per cent from the existing 12 per cent, besides payment of October salary before the Diwali festival on November 1, instead of the scheduled 7th day of each month. Parab had also announced, “Diwali Bhet” (bonus) of Rs 2,500 and Rs 5,000 for the MSRTC employees and officers, respectively. The MSRTC is going through tremendous financial stress as its operations have been affected since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Reeling under losses and rising diesel prices, the MSRTC hiked fares across all its services, except night express buses, with ticket prices going up by a minimum of Rs 5 and travel in AC ‘Shivneri’ buses between Mumbai’s Dadar and Swargate in Pune now costing Rs 525 instead of Rs 450.

Telore was driving a bus from Pathardi to Nashik, but took a halt for a night at the Sangamner depot, about 250 km from Mumbai, he said. The exact trigger behind the drastic step is not known immediately but the preliminary information suggested that Telore ended his life due to some personal reasons, he said.

Lakhimpur Kheri tragedy: SC proposes to appoint former HC judge to monitor ongoing probe

By

Afternoon Voice

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November 8, 2021

The Supreme Court on Monday proposed to appoint a former High Court judge to monitor the ongoing investigation into the Lakhimpur Kheri violence case where eight persons, including four farmers, were killed during a farmers’ protest. A Bench of Chief Justice NV Ramana, Justice Surya Kant and Justice Hima Kohli expressed dissatisfaction with the Uttar Pradesh Police probe and mixing of witnesses in different FIRs in the Lakhimpur Kheri case.

The investigation is “not going the way we expected”, the Bench said. It asked senior advocate Harish Salve appearing for the Uttar Pradesh government to take instructions from the government on the appointment of a former High Court judge from a different state to oversee the probe and posted the matter for hearing on Friday.

“…to ensure that evidence in FIR 219 (mowing down of farmers by a vehicle) is recorded independently from FIR 220 (lynching of accused) and there is no overlapping and no intermixing, we are inclined to appoint a retired judge of a different High Court to monitor the investigation. Somehow, we are not confident of the state judiciary overseeing… Let a retired judge of different High Court monitor it,” the Bench said. Salve said that he will get instructions from the state government regarding this suggestion of the apex court.

Justice Kant suggested the names of Justice Rakesh Kumar Jain or Justice Ranjit Singh, former judges of the Punjab and Haryana High Court to oversee the probe. It also declined to hand over the probe to the Central Bureau of Investigation saying “the CBI is not the solution to everything”.

During the hearing, the Bench expressed concerns that the case against the prime accused relating to mowing down the farmers being diluted by clubbing the investigation with the counter-case of mob lynching. The Bench said that the investigation in both cases must be separate and the statements of witnesses in both cases must be recorded independently.

The Apex Court observed that the pace of the investigation is not up to the expectation and said that the prima facie view it gets is that one particular accused is benefited by recording statements of witnesses in a particular manner. At the outset, the top court expressed unhappiness over the status report filed by the Uttar Pradesh government in the Lakhimpur Kheri violence case, observing there is nothing in the status report apart from saying that more witness has been examined.

The Bench said it had granted the Uttar Pradesh government ten days time and expressed dissatisfaction that the forensic lab reports regarding the video evidence which have not yet come and that the mobile phones of all accused have not been seized. It is not what we have expected, the Bench observed. Salve told the Bench that lab reports will be ready by November 15.

The Court told Salve that only one accused’s phone has been seized and asked have the police seized the cellphone of the other accused. “Only one accused had a mobile phone?” Justice Hima Kohli asked Salve, who in turn replied that some of the accused said that they did not have phones but the CDRs have been obtained.

The accused have thrown away the phones but from their CDRs, their locations are traced, Salve added. Uttar Pradesh government also submitted that the local journalist was crushed by the offending car in the Lakhimpur Kheri violence case and not by the farmers.

The journalist was killed, he was earlier thought to be with Ashish Mishra but then it was seen he was crushed by the car along with the farmers, Salve said. Senior Advocate Arun Bharadwaj, appearing for Ruby Devi, the widow of slain BJP worker Shyam Sunder, expressed a lack of confidence in SIT probe and said he was killed in police custody and demanded a CBI investigation.

The Bench, however, said CBI can’t be a solution for everything. The apex court was hearing a case where two lawyers had written a letter to the CJI seeking a high-level judicial inquiry into the Lakhimpur Kheri violence case.

Earlier, the top court had slammed the UP government and said that it was getting an impression that the Uttar Pradesh Police was “dragging its feet” in its investigation. As per reports 13 people, including Ashish Mishra, son of Union Minister of State for Home Affairs and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Ajay Kumar Mishra ‘Teni’, have been arrested so far in connection with the case.

The top court had said it is “not satisfied” with the action taken by the UP government in the Lakhimpur Kheri violence and also questioned the State on why accused Ashish Mishra was not arrested so far. Ashish Mishra had allegedly mowed down farmers with his car.

Two advocates — Shiv Kumar Tripathi and CS Panda — had sent the letter petition before CJI seeking punishment for politicians allegedly involved in the ghastly incident. The letter had stated, “Having regard to the seriousness of the killing of the farmers at district Lakhimpur Kheri in Uttar Pradesh, it is incumbent upon this Court to intervene in the matter as flashed in the press.”

A single-member Commission of Enquiry with headquarters at Lakhimpur Kheri has been constituted to investigate the death of 8 persons in Lakhimpur Kheri. Uttar Pradesh government had appointed retired Allahabad High Court judge Pradeep Kumar Srivastava as a single-member Commission to inquire about the incident and enquiry to be completed within a period of two months. Local farmers accused Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Ajay Kumar Mishra ‘Teni’ and his son of the violence that left eight dead, including four farmers a local journalist and others. They were allegedly mowed down by a vehicle which was part of the convoy of the minister in Lakhimpur Kheri in north-central Uttar Pradesh.

Videos are also being circulated on social media where an SUV was seen knocking down protesters from behind. The Minister and his son deny the charges. Ashish Mishra and 20 others have been booked for murder but have not been arrested yet.

Anil Deshmukh is currently under investigation has lot to deal

By

Vaidehi Taman

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November 7, 2021

Anil Deshmukh is currently under investigation by the Indian Central Bureau of Investigation and Enforcement Directorate, following accusations made by the former Mumbai Police commissioner Param Bir Singh. Since July 2021, Deshmukh remained untraceable and failed to appear before the enforcement directorate five times. Then strategically, he surrendered at the ED office and the very next day, Param Bir Singh filed an affidavit through his lawyer stating that he had no further proof and evidence to prove the allegations made by him against Deshmukh.

He was formally arrested after 12 hours of questioning after his arrest he was produced before the court and the court sent him to 4 days Enforcement Directorate remand and after the remand ended on Nov 6 the court sent him to judicial custody for 14 days. The next day the Bombay High Court set aside the judicial custody and remanded Deshmukh to ED custody till Nov 12.

Anil Deshmukh has been summoned by the Enforcement Directorate after he was accused of corruption and bribery. It is also alleged that the leader collected 4.7 crore rupees from various bars and restaurants in Mumbai, through police officer Sachin Vaze who is now dismissed. A Mumbai court has extended the remand of Vaze with Mumbai Police till November 13 in the extortion case filed by businessman Bimal Agarwal. Vaze and Singh shared a major chunk of the extortion amount; some of the extortion money was shared amongst others which are yet to be traced by investigation authorities. The police were approached with one victim and they wanted to trace the others.

The Ex-CP Param Bir Singh had accused Anil Deshmukh of asking Vaze to collect Rs 100 crore from hotels and bars in Mumbai every month, a charge which the then state home minister had consistently denied. In a tweet, Anil Deshmukh stated that he was appearing before ED officials as per the high court’s order, and questioned why Param Bir Singh had not joined the investigation. On Sunday, the CBI made the first arrest in the high-profile case, Santosh Jagtap. The agency had raided the alleged middleman’s premises in August and seized Rs 9 lakh in cash.

The ED had arrested Deshmukh’s personal assistant Kundan Shinde and personal secretary Sanjeev Palande under provisions of the PMLA. Palande is said to be a key witness in the case and was apparently privy to information regarding the alleged extortion and diversion of funds. The agency has conducted several raids in connection with the case.

Deshmukh took charge of the Home Ministry of Maharashtra in the MVA coalition government led by Uddhav Thackeray after the 2019 Maharashtra political crisis. He proposed the establishment of a specialized treatment centre for the police personnel infected during the COVID-19 pandemic. As the home minister, he tabled the proposed Shakti Bill in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly which sought to modify provisions pertaining to sexual offences against women and children. The bill was ultimately sent for review to a committee of the Legislative Assembly after an outcry from various women’s rights groups and activists.

As a home minister, he introduced the ‘Self Balancing Electric Scooters’ (Segway) for Mumbai Police personnel that would help them while on patrolling duty. He famously attended the complaint calls at the Pune city police control room on New Year’s Eve and celebrated the same with police personnel. During his tenure, the home ministry declared Rs 5,000,000 ex gratia to the families of police personnel who lost their lives to COVID-19.

He also proffered one-rank promotion to fourteen police officers for their historic valour and courage during the 26/11 Mumbai Terror Attacks. It is claimed that he was the first-ever Home Minister of the state to visit the Regional Forensic Sciences Laboratory in Pune and spent time interacting with the staff and discussing ways to equip the Laboratory with the latest technology.

Rashmi Shukla, Commissioner of State Intelligence (COI) wrote a letter to the Maharashtra DGP, Subodh Kumar Jaiswal, on 25 August 21, claiming a network of brokers involved in transferring police officers in exchange for money. The housing minister Jitendra Awhad claimed that Shukla had tapped phones illegally.

Deshmukh resigned from the post of the Home Minister of Maharashtra in the MVA coalition government led by CM Uddhav Thackeray after the Bombay high court directed the Central Bureau of Investigation to conduct a preliminary inquiry into allegations of corruption and misconduct levelled by former commissioner Param Bir Singh against Deshmukh. So far nothing is proven against him, he is expected to get bail and may resume back to his portfolio soon. On the other hand, the government is on the lookout for Param Bir Singh, but rumours are that Singh has already reached safe heavens with the help of authorities and no sign of return unless this storm settles. Waze is already in trouble for Mansukh Hiren’s murder, so he’s getting out of jail is impossible. It would be very interesting to see how this entire drama unfolds further.

No relief to Anil Deshmukh, sent to ED custody till November 12

By

Afternoon Voice

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November 7, 2021

A vacation bench of Justice Madhav Jamdar was hearing an application filed by the ED, challenging the special court’s order of November 6 remanding Anil Deshmukh to 14-day judicial custody on the ground that it was bad in law and against the principles of natural justice.

The HC, while remanding Deshmukh in the agency’s custody, observed that prima facie there was substance in the ED’s application about the legality of the special court’s order. The entire money trail is required to be established and the involvement of foreign angles cannot be ruled out at this stage, the agency said in its application.

Anil Deshmukh’s counsel Vikram Chaudhri and advocate Aniket Nikam told the court that while they were opposing the plea on merits and maintainability, the NCP leader had consented and volunteered to be interrogated by the ED.

Additional Solicitor General Anil Singh, appearing for the ED, told the court that based on the probe conducted so far, custodial interrogation was the need of the hour considering the allegation of collection of around Rs 100 crore has been made in the case.

The Bombay High Court on Sunday set aside a special court order remanding former Maharashtra home minister Anil Deshmukh to judicial custody and sent him in the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) custody till November 12 in a money laundering case.

The ED in its application said the special court, by remanding Deshmukh to judicial custody, had denied the agency sufficient and adequate opportunity to investigate a case that has “wide and serious ramifications”. The agency said it could interrogate Anil Deshmukh only for five days, of which two were holidays (Diwali).

The ED in its application sought Mr Deshmukh’s custody for nine days, but his counsel Chaudhri told the court that they were agreeable only for four-day custody.

The HC observed that prima facie there was substance in the ED’s application about the legality of the special court’s order. Justice Jamdar said since Mr Deshmukh’s advocates have agreed to the ED’s custody, it was not going in detail on the aspect of the legality of the special court’s order. The HC then remanded Anil Deshmukh to the ED’s custody till November 12.

The ED in its application said the special court, by remanding Deshmukh to judicial custody, had denied the agency sufficient and adequate opportunity to investigate a case that has “wide and serious ramifications” and more so, when the probe is at a crucial stage.

“The session’s judge (special court) ought to have appreciated that the investigation in cases of colossal frauds and money laundering, like the present one, cannot be expected to be completed within a short span of time,” the application said.

A sufficient opportunity needs to be given to the investigating agency to probe the entire gamut of the case so that it can collect sufficient quality evidence which will help to go to the root of the matter, it added.

The ED said it now wants to confront Deshmukh with dismissed cop Sachin Waze and others, including the NCP leader’s family members like his sons Hrishikesh Deshmukh and Salil Deshmukh and his chartered accountant.

Anil Deshmukh was arrested by the ED on November 1 after 12 hours of questioning in connection with the multi-crore money laundering case. He was produced before a special holiday court on November 2 which remanded him in the ED’s custody till November 6. When he was produced before the special court on Saturday, the ED had sought further custody, but the court refused and sent him to judicial custody. The ED had earlier told the special court that Deshmukh was the “prime beneficiary” of proceeds of crime and directly involved in the offence of money laundering.

The central agency, in its remand note submitted to the special court, had said the NCP leader emerged as an “important cog in the wheels” in the case, in which there has been an allegation of collection of Rs 100 crore, and maintained the involvement of foreign angle cannot be ruled out.

It had also told the court that Mr Deshmukh’s custodial interrogation was the need of the hour in the interest of the ongoing investigation and that the entire money trail requires to be established in order to bring the guilty to book. The ED had initiated a probe against Anil Deshmukh and his associates after the CBI filed its FIR against the NCP leader on April 21 this year on charges of corruption and misuse of official positions.

The case against Deshmukh and others was made out after the CBI booked him in a corruption case related to allegations of at least Rs 100 crore bribery made by ex-Mumbai Police commissioner Param Bir Singh. Anil Deshmukh had refuted these allegations earlier and said the agency’s whole case was based on malicious statements made by a tainted cop (Vaze). The ED had earlier arrested two persons in the case – Sanjeev Palande (additional collector rank official who was working as Deshmukh’s private secretary) and Kundan Shinde (Deshmukh’s personal assistant). The agency earlier submitted its prosecution complaint (equivalent to a charge sheet) against the duo before a special court.