BBC and Bashir are the ones who landed Diana in wretched circumstances

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May 23, 2021

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The BBC has since issued an unconditional apology for the controversial interview, in which Princess Diana disclosed the details of her difficult marriage with her husband Prince Charles. When it first aired on television, the interview was said to have pushed the British monarchy into a once-in-a-generation crisis.

Diana was gullible; BBC got her at a very weak time of her life and took advantage. The interview that was aired on 20th November 1995 stunned viewers and the royal family, especially the statement by Diana that “there were three of us in this marriage, so it was a little crowded”, and though she knew she would lose her titles, she still longed to be Queen of people’s hearts. Diana also asserted that she wouldn’t go quietly, though she didn’t even need to say those words. Diana was the most famous woman in the world at the time. Diana also asserted Charles was not fit to be king.

The interview caused a stir, especially a comment about Prince Charles not being suited to be a king and Diana’s press secretary immediately resigned and then her private secretary also left Diana’s employ. No one had any real warning that Diana had gone rogue like this, but once she had the Palace felt disappointed and sadly resigned.

Three months later the announcement was made that Charles and Diana would divorce, which was perhaps the last thing Diana needed. Martin Bashir, the BBC journalist who tricked Princess Diana into giving an explosive interview, now apologised to Princes William and Harry but said claims linking his actions to her death were “unreasonable”.

Diana must have been taken in by Bashir’s stories since they fit so well with what the scared and paranoid young royal thought. Diana believed the royal family was out to get her, to silence her and maybe even end her life. So, yeah, it was under these premises that poor Princess Diana was completely duped. She had no one in the royal family in her corner. No one she could trust, most certainly.

A report by retired senior judge John Dyson published found that Bashir commissioned faked bank statements that falsely suggested some of Diana’s closest aides were being paid by the security services to keep tabs on her. It was controversial for a great many reasons. It was a spiteful attempt to fundamentally damage her then husband, to make accusations and give a totally one sided overview of a very complicated situation.

Her attack on Camilla was particularly ferocious. Charles and Camilla didn’t resume their physical relationship although they were always the closest of friends and Charles had loved her all of his life until long after Diana had found comfort in the arms of other men apart from James Hewitt all of them married men. The damage done to their children by that interview was profound, you can only imagine how it was for them facing their friends at school.

Diana was certainly not an evil person, she did far more good things than harm in her life and her death was tragic, but she was a seriously damaged young woman before joining that family, and marrying into that family made her worse. She hoped for a charming prince, and she got a rather bookish, remote man, unable and ill-equipped mentally and emotionally to deal with the problems that she had.

Instead of being able to calm down her hysterical outbursts, I believe he loved the mother of his children but was never in love with her. She was in love with the idea of him, but couldn’t stand the reality. Diana sadly never managed to hold onto her friends or her lovers, they all backed away in the end and that’s the tragedy, and it makes anyone feel so sad. Charles, on the other hand, is blissfully happy with Camilla. He adores his sons and his beautiful grandchildren. It seems so cruel that Charles survived the misery that was their marriage and thrived, while Diana died looking for her Prince Charming.

Diana died in a Paris car crash in 1997; aged 36.Bashir disputed the accusations, saying “I don’t feel I can be held responsible for many of the other things that were going on in her life, and the complex issues surrounding those decisions.”The suggestion I am singularly responsible I think is unreasonable and unfair,” he told the paper. He argued that the 1995 interview had been conducted on Diana’s terms, and that they remained firm friends after it aired to an audience of 22.8 million people. A former BBC chief who was criticised for his “woefully ineffective” probe into Martin Bashir’s deception in securing a bombshell interview with Princess Diana on Saturday resigned as chair of Britain’s National Gallery.

I have always had a strong sense of public service and it is clear my continuing in the role would be a distraction to an institution I care deeply about”. Retired senior judge John Dyson said Bashir commissioned faked bank statements that falsely suggested some of Diana’s closest aides were being paid by the security services to keep tabs on her.

Diana’s son Prince William said the interview had made “a major contribution” to the demise of his parents’ relationship, while the BBC’s “woeful incompetence” in uncovering the truth had “contributed significantly to her fear, paranoia and isolation” in her final years. Diana died in a high-speed car crash while being chased by paparazzi photographers in 1997.

‘Diana Sours’ it for Martin Bashir, the BBC journalist

By

Vaidehi Taman

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May 23, 2021

princess diana, diana, martin bashir, martin, bashir, diana interview, bbc interview, prince williams, uk queen, uk princess, queen of uk, diana death, diana interview, bbc interview martin — 'Diana Sours' it for Martin Bashir, the BBC journalist 13

People’s Princess Diana was one of the most loved figures of the 20th Century. Her overgenerous and extraordinary life not only humanized the pre-existing notions around the British Monarchy but also created a groundbreaking movement solely dedicated to the welfare of the community.

On 31st August 1997, when Diana, Princess of Wales, met with a tragic accident and died at the young age of 36, it not only left the entire nation in a state of shock but also led to a global outpour of grief and mourning. India has a great following for Diana, and time and again we can see many stories about her on social media, especially when Netflix came up with its web series called “The Crown”. The latest season has again generated immense interest, in part because it features Lady Diana Spencer’s marriage to Prince Charles –– yet another indicator of the enduring popularity of Princess Diana.

Meanwhile, recently Martin Bashir, the BBC journalist who tricked Princess Diana into giving an explosive interview, apologized to Princes William and Harry but said claims linking his actions to her death were “unreasonable”. A report by retired senior judge John Dyson found that Bashir commissioned faked bank statements that falsely suggested some of Diana’s closest aides were being paid by the security services to keep tabs on her.

Bashir, 58, then showed them to Diana’s brother Charles Spencer in a successful bid to convince him to arrange a meeting between himself and Diana and earn her trust. But William said Bashir’s actions and the interview had made “a major contribution” to the demise of his parent’s relationship and “contributed significantly to her fear, paranoia and isolation” in her final years.

When we asked our readers about their opinions on the entire incident they came up with their pain, joy, grief and also analyses while quoting on the subject.

Jaya Taman, 75-years housewife and staunch admirer of Diana said, “Princess was honest about her mistakes, unlike her soon-to-be ex-husband about his mistakes and diplomatically sidestepped Bashir’s question about Charles’ fitness to ever become king. I still remember that interview and suspect that Bashir, even though he tended to toy a bit with his subjects, was impressed with shy Diana. Journalism was always abused, then and now nothing much has changed.”

Suman Redij in her 50s said, “Personally I don’t believe that this was the case and that the interview with Diana was only given on her terms and with her permission for the questions that she was asked. She wanted to get her story across and she wanted the truth to be known which was a huge risk for her to take and one that could have backfired on her which she was well aware of and so was Martin Bashir who could have also been victimized and blamed for it if he had in any way deceived or tricked Diana to reveal the things she did.”

Rangi Naresh from Telangana, a 70-years-old retired serviceman said, “I was a great fan of Diana and her lifestyle, we used to read every bit about her, those days there were no smartphones or social media. In a couple of magazines and some news on national television, she was the crush of many hearts. I started getting irritated with media persons the way she was being chased until she leaves earth. Media was never kind to her; Martin Bashir took advantage of the vulnerability.”

Namrata Thakkar, in her late 50s and entrepreneur, said, “Today Martin Bashir is in his early 60s, blaming him today makes no sense. That’s the job of the interviewer. That’s why Oprah was so successful. The interviewer should be able to get some revealing nuggets. Otherwise, why would people watch? Of course, to counteract that, interviewees stipulate beforehand what kind of questions they will not accept, as in Diana’s mother maintaining she would not answer any questions about Diana in her interviews. And when Diane Sawyer even went near it, she walked out.”

Zenobia Khodaiji, a Feng Shui expert of Mumbai said, “I was a great fan of Diana’s hairstyle. Those days we were young and tried imitating her, I don’t want to blame a journalist for the tragic death but these photographers who chase celebrities should draw the line of limit. When I saw the news of her death, we literally mourned for many days.”

Kinjal Bhaveshi, a young woman from Mumbai said, “I actually came to know much about Diana after watching the Netflix series, seeing how women were always susceptible. She had her share of pains more than what she could take. I feel really sorry for the way the media damaged her until her death. Even today the media has not changed much.”

Aparajita Mangalampalli said, “I loved the princess and for me, the concept of fairy tail began with her. Real king, queen, princess, their marriage. As a young girl, I was mesmerized by Diana a lot and used to reciprocate to her pain and joy, even if Martin Bashir rendered an apology, he cannot repay the damage done.”

Sangeeta Amladi, at the age of 75 said, “I remember her quote “I like to be a free spirit. Some don’t like that, but that’s the way I am”. She exactly lived like that, today she would have been a senior citizen, decades younger to me, she would have lived but the media made it very difficult for her”. I still remember those days of her death and media madness, today one editor apologizes and quits her job, how will that bring back Diana?”

Gaurav Kaul an IT expert said, “I believe that the conduct was indeed far from moral, professional and editorial ethics. First, the documents presented to gain the required confidence for the interview were fake and Mr Bashir acted in a deceitful manner and on top BBC gave a clean chit through its internally conducted shabby investigation but the fact remains that there certainly was a fire which resulted in all the smoke. And no one in the world with whatever stature should be beyond public scrutiny when required.”

The 55-minute interview, which was aired on BBC’s Panorama programme, featured Princess Diana giving a detailed account of her turbulent relationship with Prince Charles and opening up about his affair with Camilla Parker Bowles. A year ahead of its 100th anniversary, the BBC — widely considered the cornerstone of the UK’s journalistic tradition — finds itself amid a raging controversy over one of its biggest scoops yet. A recently released report based on an independent inquiry revealed that former BBC reporter Martin Bashir used deceitful means to obtain a sensational interview with Princess Diana in 1995, and his actions were covered up for decades by his bosses at the public broadcaster.

‘Good times are here to arrive’ – Dr Smita Chavhan

By

Dr Swapna Patker

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May 21, 2021

dr smita chavhan, smita chavan, sevenhills, seven hills hospital, dedicated covid care, covid care, covid hospital, additional dean, smita, dr smita — ‘Good times are here to arrive’ - Dr Smita Chavhan 15

Dr Smita Chavhan the Additional Dean of SevenHills, a dedicated Covid hospital. She stood as one of the strongest supporters during the Pandemic and has helped many families 24/7 for the last one year. One of the most respected doctors. Her contribution towards the dedicated Covid hospital is worth applauding. Dr Smita in conversation with Dr Swapna Patker.

How do you define yourself?

Technically, I am an MBBS, MD in Community Medicine, DNB, DPh, FAIMER fellow, MUHS PhD enrolled. Presently I am a Dean (Addl.), at SevenHills Dedicated Covid Hospital, Marol, Andheri, Mumbai. But my real aim is to make a difference to the people around me and be an example to my little children.

What was your first reaction to the pandemic when it began last year?

For the first time, someone has asked me this question and I am happy about it. I received a call from the Director of MCGM Medical College to start Airport screening for international passengers in different teams of MCGM. Covid Pandemic Journey started naively, and soon we had to arrange a screening and quarantine facility at SevenHills from 14 March 2020 till date. There was no time to react or plan anything, I had to make all spontaneous decisions. We started working as per the MCGM authority’s orders and even today are happy to serve people.

Share your experiences working at seven hills and managing thousands of patients

It’s absolute satisfaction when I look back at those 15 months of the Pandemic time, wherein we have treated approximately 34,000 patients and more than 87.5% were discharged and now have undertaken vaccination campaigns where we have completed 1.72 lacs beneficiaries. Pandemic work is different from our routine medical practices. I have learned many technical and administrative skills. We all have learnt many new things since 2020, I’m humbled.

As a female doctor what were the challenges in working full time in the pandemic and missing out on family and children?

My strong family support made it easy for me, I am thankful to all those who gave me strength in such a crucial time. My husband Dr Santosh Chavhan a paediatrician runs his own hospital. He understood the professional demands and deliberation as a doctor, he let me flow with the time and services that were rendered. He had supported me a lot in taking care of our kids Parth (11 yrs) and Purva (5 yrs) with my sister-in-law and other family members. My kids became very supportive and my daughter feels proud of me, that makes me a proud doctor and proud mother too.

What were the difficulties and challenges in this journey?

Life is not easy. While I was saving many, I lost my father-in-law to Covid on 25 February at SevenHills DCH. It was disheartening. But we finally have to accept the facts of life. This incident was the hardest of all for me.

What kept you going untiringly?

It’s said उम्मीद पे दुनिया क़ायम है। Just the thought that this pandemic will surely vanish one day, kept me moving. I am hopeful and I will pass this hope to thousands of people in the coming time.

What have you learned from this Pandemic time?

I have learned enormous things but most importantly “Steadiness and assurances would never go waste”. I got an opportunity to work in this pandemic and got awarded as a Dean (Addl.) at such a big Institute. I am grateful to my team for being in sync all the time.

Your advice to upcoming doctors?

Dear young fraternity, as Doctors we should never let down our weapons in any given situation. Covid Pandemic is just one of many we can witness. Hundreds of doctors have given their lives. We have to value that and keep working. And also remember that Upgradation of knowledge and skills are a must to tackle the given situation

One message to our readers

Hold on, good times are here to arrive and we are diligently working towards those times. Support everyone by following Covid protocols strictly.

Arun Gawli was the one who made his way up through the ranks of Bombay’s underworld

By

Vaidehi Taman

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May 21, 2021

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Dagdi Chawl was once a criminal den, even police used to get scared of entering here. A chawl known for its chambers, home and origin of the mafia dons and queens of Mumbai. Dagdi Chawl, then, was infamous for another reason, immense grime. Those days of muck are the ones that the streets of Byculla wish were a nightmare.

A chawl that sheltered around 150 families in its small kholis (rooms). A street with overflowing sewers, urine smelling houses, garbage collected at every corner of the chawl. People had to see their children die of starvation. Men killed their wives so that they have one less to feed. Sons let their mothers get laid for some currency. Poverty and filth pushed many youngsters towards crime and gangsters like Arun Gawli became their leader.

Arun Gawli alias Arun Gulab Ahir alias Daddy was an Indian politician, and former gangster. Gawli and his brother (Pappa) Kishor Ahir entered the Mumbai underworld in the 1970s when they joined the “Byculla Company”, a criminal gang led by Rama Naik and Babu Reshim, operating in the central Mumbai areas of Byculla, Parel and Saat Rasta.

Rama Naik was killed in 1988 in a police encounter, Gawli took over the gang and began operating it from his kholi in Dagdi Chawl. The gang controlled most criminal activities in the central Mumbai areas. Throughout the late eighties and nineties, Gawli’s gang was involved in a supremacy scuffle with Dawood Ibrahim’s D-Company gang.

In the late 1980s, a time when the old order of dons like Haji Mastan, Vardarajan Mudaliar and Karim Lala was being replaced by a ruthless new and gangland wars were breaking out across the city, Gawli was in the thick of things. Many years later, he adopted the politician’s garb — white kurta-pyjama and Gandhi topi — as he tried to reinvent himself as a political leader.

He was a trivial, wiry man back then — long-haired, dressed in floral shirts, who was moving up from being a small-time protector of Dawood Ibrahim’s smuggled consignments to his foremost rival. It was around this period of the internecine gang wars in Mumbai’s streets, and a bit later when he decided to contest elections, that his house in Dagdi Chawl was first opened up for journalists.

And those who came back from his lair returned with the most fabulous stories. They spoke of a chawl altered as a fortress, complete with metal detectors and multiple layers of security, of a neighbourhood that insisted he be called Daddy, of free medical centres and darbars where instant rough justice was dispensed, of negotiating rooms and torture chambers, and of buttons which when pressed would reveal secret enclosures and hidden passageways.

Gawli worked in textile mills, located in the central areas of Parel, Chinchpokli, Byculla and Cotton Green. From the 1970s to the late 1980s, Mumbai’s textile mill industry witnessed mass strikes and eventual lock-outs. As a result, many young adults (including Gawli) had no employment and eventually found a shortcut to quick money through Matka gambling and hafta-vasuli. Gawli then joined the “Byculla Company” gang led by gangsters Rama Naik and Babu Reshim and supervised their illegal liquor dens.

Mumbai police raided the premises of Dagdi Chawl several times and finally broke Gawli’s underworld operations. Gawli was arrested several times for criminal activities and was detained for long periods during the trial. However, he could not be convicted in most of the cases as witnesses would not depose against him for fear of retaliation. He was finally convicted of the murder of Shiv Sena leader Kamlakar Jamsandekar by a court in August 2012. Gawli and eleven others were found guilty of Jamsandekar’s murder, but later on, he got interim bail.

Gawli got political patronage in the 1980s, when the then Shiv Sena chief, Bal Thackeray, criticised the Mumbai police for taking stringent action against Hindu gangsters like Arun Gawli and Sai Bansod, referring to them as amchi muley (our boys). Thackeray was challenged by a rival gangster in an open letter carried on the front page of a city tabloid. However, Gawli fell out with Shiv Sena in the mid-1990s, murdered Shiv Sena men and formed his own political party, the Akhil Bharatiya Sena.

While his activities were on peak, he met Zubeida Mujawar and married her who later became Asha Gawli after Marriage. She was a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Maharashtra and they both have two children, Mahesh and Geeta. Geeta is a first-term Akhil Bhartiya Sena corporator from the Chinchpokli assembly constituency. Gawli’s nephew Sachin Ahir is now a minister and former Maharashtra Minister of State for Housing. Gawli’s uncle Hukumchand Yadav was a legislator from Khandwa in Madhya Pradesh. He was very much influential.

In 2004, Gawli was elected as a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) from the Mumbai Chinchpokli constituency as an Akhil Bharatiya Sena candidate. Gawli’s rise in prominence is believed to be due to his “native roots” as a local lad, which makes him distinct from most other non-Marathi-speaking politicians. Gawli’s political designs suffered a major blow when his nephew and party legislator, Sachin Ahir, came out openly against him and joined Sharad Pawar’s Nationalist Congress Party.

Ahir even contested against Gawli in the subsequent Lok Sabha elections on a Nationalist Congress Party ticket, resulting in defeat for them both, but a victory for the Shiv Sena’s late Mohan Rawale. Gawli’s daughter Geeta was recently elected as a corporator to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation.

Now 65-year-old Arun Gawli’s life has been a roller coaster of sorts. The man famous as ‘Daddy’ in the underworld has been seen hiding inside boxes, climbing up his bathroom window to escape raiding policemen, and providing residents of the infamous Dagdi Chawl a proper place to live which in turn ensured that he stayed safe within.

Now, this very historic chawl would be developed and reconstructed, meanwhile, the scenario is now completely changed. There are no stinking lanes, houses are neat and clean, no garbage or stink. Gawli did a lot of development in Dagdi chawl. His wife and daughter took up social work by helping women of the chawl. Educating their children, and somehow they tried repairing their karma. Modification of chawl is one more step ahead to uplift the lives of people.

Any suggestions, comments or dispute with regards to this article send us at feedback@www.afternoonvoice.com

Daddy’s Dagdi Chawl, No more an underworld den but a beautiful residency

By

Akshay Redij

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May 21, 2021

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Dagdi Chawl once used to house mill workers from the nearby industries in Byculla. Now it is known for the heartened home of mafia don turned politician Arun Gawli alias Daddy. The Chawl is soon getting a makeover under the cluster redevelopment scheme.

Geeta, the corporator and daughter of Arun Gawli has confirmed the news. While speaking to Afternoon Voice she said, “In Dagdi Chawl we have more than 350 tenants and they will get houses of 450 sq. ft. area each, the planning is not done yet. Just the local builder has made a deal to undertake this redevelopment project.”

She further stated that “The architectural planning is yet to be done, we want redevelopment but at the same time we don’t want the chawl to lose its typical beauty.”

Arun Gawli the underworld from Dagdi Chawl held regular durbars for the people. The public would fear coming to Dagdi Chawl due to its horrific reputation. It was also often in news due to police raids in the mid-nineties after the Mumbai Police decided to take the underworld head-on.

There were many encounters in Chawl, many extortion stories and death threats from here. This Chwal was a proper underworld syndicate. Presently, the Arun Gawli family, which lives in the redeveloped building on the 4th floor, will also be part of this project. The ground floor houses the office of the Akhil Bhartiya Sena (ABS) which was founded by Gawli. The Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) has given the initial sanction for the project.

MHADA Chairman (Repair Board) Vinod Ghosalkar said, “We have given the Letter of Intent (LOI) for the redevelopment of Dagdi Chawl. This was issued after the residents of Dagdi Chawl gave their consent to the revamp process.”

Asha Gawli, Arun Gawli’s wife and a social worker told Afternoon Voice, “Here people are living life in one big family, and they have a very strong bond with us. What we want is their overall development. This redevelopment can elevate their lives for sure.”

The Chawl is a virtual stronghold and no one is allowed inside without the mandatory checks by Gawli’s menfolk. After 1987, when gang wars erupted in the city, Gawli and his men remained confined to these chawls. Most tenants were supporters of Gawli. In fact, police officials point that the gang members constructed tunnels, holes and cavities in their houses as their hideouts.

Gawli also had a turn in politics when he formed the ABD and contested assembly as well as municipal elections. He was elected an MLA in 1999. His daughter is a corporator of the city’s civic body the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). The Saat Rasta-Byculla area around Dagdi Chawl has seen vertical development in the past two decades with several old buildings making way for skyscrapers.

Journalist Tarun Tejpal acquitted of all charges in the alleged rape charges by the Goa court

By

Afternoon Voice

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May 21, 2021

tarun tejpal, tarun, journalist, tehelka, tehelka magazine, goa court, editor-in-chief tehelka, sexual assualt — Tarun Tejpal | File Photo

A sessions court in Goa on Friday acquitted journalist Tarun Tejpal of sexually assaulting a former female colleague.

Tejpal, former Tehelka editor-in-chief, was accused of sexually assaulting the colleague inside the elevator of a luxury hotel in Goa in 2013.

The court had earlier adjourned pronouncement of the verdict in the case on three occasions, citing various reasons.

The court was to deliver the verdict on April 27, but the judge had adjourned it to May 12. On May 12, it was further adjourned to May 19 and on May 19, it was adjourned to May 21.

The Goa police registered an FIR against Tejpal in November 2013 following which he was arrested. The Goa crime branch had filed a charge sheet against Tejpal, who has been out on bail since May 2014.

He faced trial under IPC sections 341 (wrongful restraint), 342 (wrongful confinement), 354 (assault or criminal force with intent to outrage modesty), 354-A (sexual harassment), 354-B (assault or use of criminal force to woman with intent to disrobe), 376(2)(f) (person in a position of authority over women, committing rape) and 376(2)k) (rape by a person in a position of control).

BJP failed to create unrest within Shiv Sena despite several attacks

By

Vaidehi Taman

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May 20, 2021

shiv sena, shiv, sena, uddhav thackeray, thackeray, bjp, bharatiya janata party, anil parab, anil deshmukh, deshmukh, bjp leaders, kangana ranaut, arvind sawant, pratap sarnaik, thackeray, aaditya, aditya thackeray, bjp vs shiv sena, sena attack — BJP failed to create unrest within Shiv Sena despite several attacks 22

Since 2019, most Shiv Sena leaders are on the opposition’s radar for some or other reasons including Uddhav Thackeray and his son Aaditya Thackeray. Uddhav Thackeray attempted to bring BJP in its senses by saying no to their arrogance. No matter what it is always Shiv Sena for Mumbai and Mumbai for Shiv Sena. And believe me, I’m born and raised here, Shiv Sainiks are not those that are portrayed by the media or non-Marathi speaking migrated people. The locals and Shiv Sainiks have a strong bond with each other.

The first controversy triggered Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput’s death and a series of verbal wars between the Republic TV chief Arnab Goswami (a BJP supporter) and the Shiv Sena went on. Finally, Shiv Sena leader Arvind Sawant had to meet then Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh and demand a “strict action” against Goswami for making accusations against Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray. Arnab and his gang went irrepressible in attacking Uddhav Thackeray, Aaditya Thackeray and Sanjay Raut. There were series of episodes on them by all these BJP counterparts and its supporters.

Somehow, Mumbai Police arrested Goswami in connection with the case related to the suicide of an architect and his mother in 2018. Anvay Naik and his mother allegedly committed suicide over non-payment of dues by Goswami’s Republic Network. Naik’s daughter had claimed that non-payment of dues was the reason that drove her father and grandmother to commit suicide in May 2018.

While Arnab was caged, film actress Kangana Ranaut took the lead on behalf of BJP and trained her guns at Uddhav Thackeray and Sanjay Raut. A part of Kangana Ranaut’s bungalow in Mumbai was demolished by the BMC. While the municipal authority claimed that there was an illegal construction underway, the actor had said that it was done to scare her from not speaking up against the ‘movie mafia’ in Bollywood.

With Goswami’s release and fresh TRP case investigation somehow the media trials by his channel came to a halt. But, soon there was fresh trouble for Shiv Sena spokesperson and MLA Pratap Sarnaik, the ED and CBI raided his resort and house. The reasons behind the raids are still unknown. BJP leader Kirit Somaiya claimed that Pratap Sarnaik had bought 78 acres of land at Titwala from NSEL scam money. Pratap Sarnaik’s partner Yogesh Deshmukh was arrested by ED. Sarnaik was also named in the MMRDA Enforcement Directorate that had summoned Sarnaik for its probe into a money laundering case involving TopsGrup. The agency had raided various premises linked to his family in Mumbai and neighbouring Thane. This incident gave media houses and social media samurais some fodder to nibble Shiv Sena but they could hardly gaze at anything in this occurrence.

Every day one Shiv Sena leader was picked up and thrown in a clamour, BJP tried its level best to malign the image of the party. They were hell-bent on creating unrest within Maha Vikas Aghadi by selectively targeting all Shiv Sena leaders one by one. In a way, they were licking their wounds by doing all this. BJP is yet to forget the shock of humiliation of losing power in the state. Under such circumstances, BJP was playing politics about everything and opposing the state government on each and every issue.

In the meantime, BJP’s Navneet Kaur Rana had then written a letter to Om Birla, the speaker of the Lok Sabha by alleging that Shiv Sena leader Arvind Sawant had threatened her in the parliament’s lobby after she had demanded a probe into the case in which former Maharashtra home minister Anil Deshmukh and former API Sachin Vaze were allegedly involved. This news hit the headlines and there were thousands of circulations on social media. At last, Arvind Sawant called the press and exposed her false claims.

In fresh trouble for the Uddhav Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi government, another of its minister, Anil Parab is now battling allegations of extortion. The 56-year-old Parab has worked his way within the party from an ordinary karyakarta to a surprise pick in the Thackeray-led cabinet — chosen over more senior leaders such as Diwakar Raote and Ramdas Kadam.

Parab is one of Uddhav’s close confidantes within the Shiv Sena. Parab gained prominence in 2017 after the Shiv Sena and BJP broke the alliance and fought the Mumbai civic elections independently. During the elections, Parab countered all the attacks of the BJP including its attempt to bend Sena over the allegations of corruption in BMC.

Within months, Parab was named as the party’s group leader in the legislative council by marginalising the veterans. Over the years, Parab gained the confidence of Uddhav Thackeray by playing vital roles for the party. He had a key role in the party’s election strategies in the Lok Sabha and state assembly polls in 2019. Since then, Parab has emerged as the trouble-shooter for the party and has been attacking the BJP over government matters on the advice of Thackeray.

Thackeray had assigned Parab on many instances to counter the BJP on multiple issues in the past one-and-a-half years. Parab has been on the radar of the opposition party since his induction in the cabinet in 2019 and the crucial role he played on important matters of the government. Therefore, BJP assumed that any attack on Parab is an indirect attack on Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray.

Well! At such a crucial pandemic time when the state is battling with various critical issues, BJP should mend their ways. Meanwhile, BJP has attacked many Shiv Sena leaders using ED, CBI and their favourite media house trials and IT cells trolls but could not conclude proving anything against Shiv Sena or anyone guilty or wrong, the same could be the fate in Anil Parab’s controversy. Let’s see who is next and how long this continues.

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Accusation by Kirit Somaiya is politically motivated, says Anil Parab

By

Vaidehi Taman

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May 20, 2021

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Anil Parab a Shiv Sena leader and Transport Minister from Maharashtra maintained calm over BJP leader Kirit Somaiya’s acquisitions stating that these allegations are politically motivated.

While speaking to Afternoon Voice the Shiv Sena leader Anil Parab said, “BJP is creating a false perception about many leaders like me, being in opposition they are playing vendetta politics to malign the image of our party and its leaders.” “Whoever has built that resort will answer the investigations; meanwhile I have got nothing to do with this project called Sai Resort at Dapoli, dragging my name in irrelevant controversy will make no sense.”

“I am a law-abiding citizen first and then a political leader, I am sure I have not abused powers given to me. Opposition is doing its job, let them. I will answer all their allegations when the time comes,” Parab stated further.

Whereas the BJP alleged that Parab had not obtained any permission under the CRZ or any other legal permission for the construction. The state minister tried to get the resort legalised by forging the documents after May 11 after the expose of the issue.

Whereas Kirit Somaiya has lodged a complaint with Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar against Maharashtra cabinet minister Anil Parab, accusing him of illegally constructing a resort in Ratnagiri during the COVID-19 lockdown.

Meanwhile, MLA Mihir Kotecha, MLA Rahul Narvekar, Sanjay Upadhyay will meet Governor of Maharashtra Bhagat Singh Koshyari on Friday, May 21 at noon to demand Investigation and action against minister Anil Parab for forgery and illegal construction of Rs 10 crore Sai Resort at Dapoli.

Gopal Shetty, BJP MP from Mumbai North said, “I would be accompanying Kirit Somaiya’s delegation to meet honourable Governor to seek investigations into Rs 10 crore Sai Resort at Dapoli fraud by Shiv Sena leader.”

BJP leader and MLA Ram Kadam who is also a social activist told Afternoon Voice, “It is a matter of ethics, my only reason behind meeting the Governor with Kirit Somaiya is to make sure no one should abuse the power. Anil Parab is a Cabinet minister of state, fraud committed by him needs to be investigated, and till then he should resign and support the inquiry. This is where we have ideological differences.”

Though the land is agricultural, construction was done during the COVID lockdown. Somaiya said, “We demand Criminal Action against Shivsena Minister Anil Parab.” Somaiya further stated that “Anil Parab pandered into Forgery, Fraud and constructed Rs 10 crore illegal Sai Resort Nx at Dapoli and the minister did not obtain legal permission under the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) for constructing the resort, and that he later legalized it by forging documents.

BJP leaders demand that Anil Parab is immediately charged with abuse of power and building a three-story resort in 2020 is a violation of lockdown rules.

Anil Parab bought the land on June 19, 2019, from Vivan Sathe, a resident of Pune, on Dapoli-Murud beach for Rs 1 crore. The purchase deed has mentioned the land as agricultural land, all documents are as agricultural land. But within seven days, Anil Parab wrote a letter to the Gram Panchayat on June 26, 2019, and immediately started construction.

A statement issued by the BJP stated that the “Maharashtra Minister Anil Parab has constructed Rs 10 crore Sai resort at the seashore of Murud, Dapoli in district Ratnagiri. Somaiya visited the site on May 6 and lodged a complaint with the District Collector and Union Environment Minister.”

BJP lawmakers Gopal Shetty, Girish Bapat, and Manoj Kotak have also written to Javadekar requesting him to send a special environment team to see the violation under Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ).

Param Bir Singh and Anil Deshmukh lock horns

By

Vaidehi Taman

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May 19, 2021

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Former Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh came in a mess the day he decided to move former Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh for his inefficiency to deal with his post. It was humiliating because media houses already damaged Singh’s image to the core and above all his transfer was confirmation of those allegations made against him.

Deshmukh has claimed that all the allegations levelled against him by Singh are false and a conspiracy to defame the Maha Vikas Aghadi government. Deshmukh said that he would be suing Param Bir Singh for defamation. Deshmukh questioned why Param Bir was silent all this while if he came to know from his juniors that he had allegedly as the Home Minister asked for extorting money then why did Param Bir stay quiet for so long.

But so far Anil Deshmukh has failed to file defamation. Deshmukh also questioned why Param Bir did not speak up after Vaze got arrested. “Why did Param Bir Singh stay quiet for so long after Vaze got arrested. Why didn’t he open his mouth then? Referring to the chats that have been attached by Param Bir Singh with his junior officer to prove his claim that the Home Minister had demanded extortion money, Deshmukh said that the chats pertain to March 16 by which Param Bir came to know that he would be shunted out and hence he had those chats as part of a scheme.

Deshmukh alleged that ACP Sanjay Patil and Sachin Vaze were brought into the service by Param Bir Singh himself and were close to him. Akola police had filed a Zero FIR (mode of lodging FIR in any police station irrespective of the offence committed in that area or any other area) at the Kotwali police station and it was later transferred to the Thane city police for investigation.

Meanwhile, the above subject is under investigation and let’s see whatever the outcome is, but we all know that Param Bir Singh doesn’t have a good image as a top cop. Three businessmen had earlier filed a complaint against former Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh and accused him of corruption and extortion.

Sonu Jalan, Ketan Manshukhlal Tanna and Munir Ahmed Pathan alleged that crores were extorted from them by Param Bir Singh when he was the Thane Police Commissioner. Param Bir Singh, who was removed from the post of the Mumbai Police Commissioner after a bomb was found outside Mukesh Ambani’s residence, had alleged that Anil Deshmukh had asked Sachin Vaze – an accused in the case – to extort Rs 100 crore per month, after which CBI filed an FIR against Anil Deshmukh.

Inspector Ghadge, in his complaint, had made a series of allegations of corruption against Singh and other officers, during the period when the former Mumbai commissioner was posted in adjoining Thane city. Ghadge, who was posted in the Thane police commissionerate from 2015 to 2018, has alleged that during his tenure, several officers there under Singh had indulged in various acts of corruption.

He has claimed that Singh, as the Thane city police chief, had allegedly asked him not to charge-sheet certain individuals against whom FIRs had been registered. Ghadge has also alleged that after he refused to obey Singh’s instructions, five FIRs were registered against him and he was suspended. Meanwhile, Jalan, who has accused Singh and some other policemen of extortion, appeared before CID officials for the third time.

In the weeks Singh dragged his corruption allegations against Anil Deshmukh to court, winning a CBI investigation against him and forcing his resignation as state home minister, the home department and the police have started conducting several probes against the former Mumbai Police commissioner.

An official from the department said, “Since several accused persons have been named in the FIR, it would require more than a single investigating officer. Based on the request of the Thane Police that more officers would be needed to probe the matter, the FIR was transferred to the state CID.”

After the case was moved to the CID last week, Navi Mumbai SP Maruti Jagtap issued a summons to Ghadge, asking him to appear before him on Wednesday. An officer said that the case papers have already been transferred to the CID.

Singh had petitioned the Bombay High Court seeking that the FIR registered against him at the behest of Ghadge be quashed. Last week, the HC had granted Singh protection from arrest till the next hearing on coming Thursday. The state government is likely to file its response to Singh’s petition before the matter comes up for hearing.

In his complaint, Ghadge had alleged that as Thane Police commissioner, Singh had allegedly collected money from his juniors to give them their preferred postings. He had further alleged that Singh interfered in cases under investigation and had asked Ghadge to not take action against a particular person named in one case. He also alleged that when he refused to do so, FIRs were registered against him under various pretexts.

The IPS officer was a deputy commissioner of police (DCP) in Mumbai in the 1990s when the so-called underworld was the most active in the city, led by the likes of Dawood Ibrahim Kaskar, Arun Gawli and Rajendra Nikalje alias Chhota Rajan. As illustrious as Singh’s career has been so far, it is also strewn with controversies.

One of the most talked-about controversies involving Singh centres on statements he made at an August 2018 press conference with regard to suspects in the Elgar Parishad case. He was additional director general of police (law and order) at the time, and Maharashtra Police was under fire for the arrest of activists and lawyers in connection with the investigation.

In December last year, the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), under Singh at the time, filed an affidavit before the Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court gave a clean chit to Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in connection with the multi-crore irrigation scam. This affidavit marked a complete U-turn from the one that the ACB had filed in November 2018, under Singh’s predecessor Sanjay Barve, who had stopped the buck at Pawar.

When Singh was chosen for the Mumbai Police top job, there was much speculation that the NCP, which has the home portfolio, had favoured him. In 2008, as additional commissioner of the Anti-Terrorism Squad, Singh had supervised the arrest of Malegaon bomb blast accused Pragya Singh Thakur, who has since alleged torture at the hands of some officers, including Singh.

The same year, Singh clashed with former Mumbai Police chief Hasan Gafoor in the aftermath of the 26/11 attack. In an interview to The Week magazine, Gafoor named four officers, including Singh, as having dithered in responding to the situation during the terror attack. Singh’s father, Hoshiar Singh, a former civil servant, filed a defamation case against Gafoor for his remarks. Gafoor passed away in 2012.

However, head constable Jadhav, who was in the same car as Salaskar and top IPS officers Hemant Karkare and Ashok Kamte the night Ajmal Kasab killed them, only remembers one thing about Singh from that night. Jadhav had sustained bullet injuries in the attack that killed Karkare, Salaskar and Kamte.

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Param Bir Singh should be punished mercilessly, says a Former Mumbai Cop

By

Akshay Redij

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May 19, 2021

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These days we spoke to many police officers and constables, many of them were of the opinion that Mumbai’s former Commissioner of Police, Param Bir Singh should be punished as they believe he is the most ruthless and revengeful police officer.

Former police Inspector who retired two years ago told Afternoon Voice on the condition of anonymity, “Right from the beginning, Param Bir Singh had the ambition to become famous and remain in the limelight, unfortunately, this time it went exactly opposite.”

“Whatever happened in the recent past has not happened without his knowledge. He is worried about his future, he is greatly exposed by media houses. He should be investigated and punished for dominating many cops to death,” he added.

An FIR has been registered at Akola against Param Bir Singh, DCP Parag Manere and at least 26 other police personnel based on a complaint given by police inspector Bhimrao Ghadge.

Also read: Why was Singh quiet for so many days after (API) Sachin Vaze’s arrest?

Ghadge is now posted in the Akola police control room, has alleged that when he was posted with the Thane police, several officers there under Singh had indulged in various acts of corruption.

A constable named Sapkal said, “Param Bir Singh, wanted to collect huge funds from the market, he assigned many of his aides and favourite cops for this job.”

“Now he is blaming Anil Deshmukh but we all know he is making false allegations because Param Bir Singh is best at conspiracy, and destruction of evidence,” Sakpal added.

Ghadge was posted in the Thane police commissionerate during 2015-2018. Ghadge has levelled a series of corruption charges against Singh and other officers. These charges are from the period when the former Mumbai CP was posted with the Thane police.

The FIR is filed under a total of 27 sections, including criminal conspiracy, destruction of evidence and sections of the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities Act), 1989. The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of Maharashtra has summoned Bhimrao Ghadge.

Also read: Police Brokers are active on every level of department reveal former cops

In a related development, alleged cricket bookie Sonu Jalan, who has lodged a separate extortion complaint against Singh, has appeared before CID officials for the third time on Monday and submitted what he claimed was “evidence” in support of his charges.

The other officers named in the FIR include DCPs Parag Manere, Sanjay Shinde and Sunil Bharadwaj, ACPs Vijay Pulkar, D B Kamble and senior inspector Dilip Suryavanshi.

A former law officer and an assistant chemical analyser with a forensic lab has also been named, the official said.

According to the official, a letter was issued by the CID, asking Ghadge to appear before it on Wednesday at Konkan Bhavan in Navi Mumbai.

Last month, the Maharashtra police filed an FIR against Singh based on Ghadge’s complaint, which also names other top officers.