Ramesh Jarkiholi, a politician from Karnataka always remained in controversy for various reasons and this time it was Rape. Changed sides to the Bharatiya Janata Party and represented Gokak Assembly Constituency of Belgaum, Karnataka. The constituency has been ruled by the Jarkiholi family for over 15 years.
He was earlier associated with Indian National Congress. In October 2018, Jarkiholi convinced other MLAs from Belagavi to rebel against Congress. Because he was angry at being dropped from Ministry and having troubleshooter DK Shivakumar influencing Belagavi politics because DKS got Jarkiholi’s rival Lakshmi Hebbalkar elected as MLA from Belagavi (rural) and made her President of KPCC Women’s Wing. He organized 14 other Congress MLAs to resign their posts.
He was one of the 15 MLAs from Congress and 2 from JD(S) who resigned in July 2019, bringing down the HDK Congress-JD(S) coalition and allowing BSY to return to Power. After the Supreme Court ruling held up their disqualification but allowed them to run, Jarkiholi joined BJP along with all other rebels inducted by Sri B.S. Yeddyurappa and other important persons.
He was given a BJP ticket for By Poll for his Gokak seat. He then conveniently overpowered his challengers in by-polls in December, beating his nearest rival, his brother Lakhan contesting as a Congress candidate, by almost 30,000 votes. The win was not on his merits but just the Modi wave.
On 2 March 2021, a case was filed against Jarkiholi for sexually harassing a woman on the pretext of getting her a government job. Video clips emerged purporting to show Jarkiholi getting intimate with the victim. Although he denied the charges, Jarkiholi was asked to resign just before the budget session.
The case of the alleged sex-for-jobs CD is continuing to make waves in Karnataka – particularly in political circles. BJP MLA Ramesh Jarkiholi resigned as Water Resources Minister after local channels began playing a tape that allegedly showed him with a woman. The complaint that was subsequently filed – by a third person – was later withdrawn, and the woman filed one herself.
Now she has written to the Karnataka Chief Justice, requesting him to personally supervise the investigation and direct the state to provide her with protection. “I am the rape victim, having filed a complaint against the former minister of the Government of Karnataka… Ramesh Jarkiholi is a highly influential person and has already threatened me in public… of going to any extent against me to clear my charges against him,” she wrote.
“I have already expressed my serious apprehension about the frequent threats… to me and my parents by Ramesh Jarkiholi and his followers… have requested the Special Investigation Team (SIT) seeking protection for myself and my parents,” she added.
In her three-page letter the woman also wrote: “Despite my apprehension, the SIT has not given any protection to my parents and to myself, so far, in collusion with Ramesh Jarkiholi.” “Ramesh Jarkiholi is having criminal antecedents and has already started destroying evidence…” Ramesh Jarkiholi may kill me at any place or at any point…” she alleged.
The opposition Congress has attacked the ruling BJP on this issue – both inside and outside the Assembly, with the former Chief Minister taking them on social media.
Jarkiholi is from a prominent sugarcane growing family and Businessman Laxmanrao Jarkiholi. He is from Valmiki Nayaka community designated as a Scheduled Tribe in India’s reservation system. His four siblings are all also in Politics, three with Congress and two with BJP.
The rape victim is scared of this family due to their background. Woman in Ramesh Jarkiholi sex scandal seeks state protection. She has sent a video message to Karnataka Home Minister Basavaraj Bommai seeking protection after a CD was leaked to several media channels which showed her in a compromising position with Jarkiholi. She has claimed that the CD has damaged her reputation and as a result, both she and her family have attempted suicide.
The woman has also stated that she does not know how the video of her and Ramesh Jarkiholi was captured. Jarkiholi has called the video fake. His brother Balachandra Jarkiholi on Sunday said that the conspirators spent over Rs 15 crores to upload the video in Russia.
Ramesh added to the theory, stating that the entire conspiracy was hatched in two apartments around the Yeshwantpur area of Bengaluru. He said that there are two main conspirators and at least seven more behind them who hatched the plan. He refused to divulge any more details.
If you have lost your Aadhaar card, need not worry, you don’t need to visit Aadhaar centre.
Just visit the official website of Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) at uidai.gov.in. On the homepage of the website, look for the ‘My Aadhaar’ option and click on it. You will see many options in a list format. There you would be given options, you have to go to the ‘Aadhaar service’ column and click on ‘Retrieve Lost or Forgotten EID / UID’ option. Now, a new page will open in which you will have two options under EID or UID.
Select any number you want. Now, enter your full name, mobile number and Email-ID. After this type the captcha visible on the screen and press the button with the Send OTP option. By clicking the OTP button, a registered 4 or 6 digit code will appear on your registered mobile number.
After submitting this code, your EID or UID number will come on your registered mobile number. So while doing any changes or applying for a new Aadhaar card you must have your registered mobile number with you. In case you want to change the number that is linked with Aadhaar, in that case also you have to have your old number that is linked with Aadhaar active.
Now, a payment gateway page will open on the screen. You will be required to pay a fee of Rs 50 through any digital mode of payment. Once the payment is done, you will be sent a hard copy of your Aadhaar card through Speed Post in the next 15 days. Soft copies can be downloaded here and there.
These days the Aadhaar Card is needed everywhere. If you want to avail any government scheme, your Aadhaar verification will be done first.
In most places, Aadhaar has been made mandatory. Losing your Aadhaar card won’t be annoying any more as it can be availed again.
Maha Vikas Aghadi comprising of Shiv Sena, NCP and the Congress, the three parties formed an alliance post-Assembly election in 2019 to keep the BJP out of power. The Shiv Sena, which had contested the Assembly election jointly with the BJP, decided to end the association after the BJP refused to accept the demand for CM’s chair. Uddhav was very much reluctant to have a CM from the Shiv Sena in the state, but Devendra’s ambition to continue as CM of Maharashtra made them part their ways.
Thackeray’s family lived with a golden rule that they would never stand for an election, nor occupy a political post. Balasaheb always remained as the ‘remote control’ – a behind the scenes marionette master whose very word was law. He was the kingmaker and big brother in equations with BJP.
By the 2019 scenario changed and Balasaheb’s grandson contested and won the seat. There were rumors that Aaditya Thackeray could be the Deputy CM in the Sena and BJP alliance, but Uddhav never wanted to settle on this deal. NCP veteran Sharad Pawar stepped in and Shiv Sena/NCP/Congress coalition government was formed in Maharashtra. This was rather a big shocker for BJP because Sena going in alliance with Congress was never thought off by anyone.
Sharad Pawar’s experimental tapping of political openings, Shiv Sena’s ‘pride and dare’ and the ability of senior Congress leaders to convince party chief Sonia Gandhi to follow Indira Gandhi’s exceptional course of turning necessity into opportunity were factors that facilitated the coming together of the three parties against BJP which had made unconcealed attempts to finish off all the three parties.
Somehow Uddhav as Chief Minister was giving his best performance. Differences within the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) were out in the open when its alliance partner said that it wants to form a government in Maharashtra on its own. Senior Congress leader Nana Patole came out saying that his party is working to establish the next government in the state on its own.
Uddhav Thackeray never desired to be at CM post. It was over a power-sharing understanding – Devendra Fadnavis and Uddhav Thackeray would be chief minister for two and a half years – which the partners of 25 years, Shiv Sena and BJP fell out and Pawar by announcing Uddhav as CM took a plunge. BJP was under the illusion that the Sena had nowhere to go and would, in the end, bulge it and stay back.
Meanwhile, Fadnavis was making every effort to come back in power. There are constant attacks on MVA by BJP leaders. They tried their level best to topple the state government. But Sharad Pawar made it difficult for them by taking all the control in hand. Since then the wounded Devendra keeping his fingers crossed to bring down MVA.
There were one after other controversies and all were pertaining to law and order situations. Be it Palghar mob lynching, COVID-19 lapses, the Sushant Singh’s death and now direct allegations by former Police Commissioner of Mumbai. Congress’s Anil Deshmukh always remained in controversy, this time Uddhav was keen that Anil Deshmukh resigns from the post and he communicated this to NCP chief Sharad Pawar. However, Congress has preferred to keep mum on the developments.
The humiliated Congress leaders were running towards NCP. BJP tried breaking Shiv Sena leaders to join their party but nothing worked in their favor.
Ever since, the opposition has left no stone unturned, backbiting over the ways in which the sitting government has led the state, attacking it at every opportunity available. The MVA too has thoroughly undone several assessments that were crucial for the past BJP government, more particularly for Fadnavis. By doing so, the conflict between the BJP and Sena worsened.
BJP always called MVA a “three-wheeler” coalition government assuming that it is seemingly operating on a weekly ventilator; it’s almost more than a year after Thackeray has been leading an uncomfortable coalition government in Maharashtra, but he sustained. There is another factor, till the time Sharad Pawar has his hand on Thackeray’s head nothing can stop Shiv Sena from holding on to power.
India politics has witnessed the ‘Power’ of Sharad Pawar, he can help get one to power and he can also pull you out of power. Maharashtra politics revolves around him and he is definitely the one who makes or breaks it.
For instance, in Maharashtra, he allowed BJP to form government by revoking Presidential rule and within the next 24 hours, got MVA to power. Since then nothing is very smooth in state politics. The opposition has gone aggressive and the ruling party has differences within, Pawar the ringmaster is balancing it all on his terms. NCP’s Pawar is slowly attracting all congress leaders towards his party and on another hand Shiv Sena MP making scratching attacks on Congress leaders.
Amid crisis, Sanjay Raut called Anil Deshmukh an accidental home minister, claiming he got the post after senior NCP leaders like Jayant Patil and Dilip Walse-Patil refused the responsibility. Raut also stated that the Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress government in Maharashtra did not have damage control machinery as was seen after former Mumbai police Chief Param Bir Singh claimed that Deshmukh asked cops to collect Rs 100 crore a month.
The war of words between allies — Shiv Sena and Congress — in Maharashtra got somber after state Congress chief Nana Patole condemned Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut over his suggestion to make Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Sharad Pawar the chief of United Progressive Alliance (UPA).
Shiv Sena played it well by dividing Congress for NCP by making harsh statements, whereas 18 congress corporators slipped to NCP in the recent past. The current state Congress president Nana Patole said, “Disciplinary action will be taken against 18 corporators of the party for defecting to the NCP. They would be expelled from the party and their corporatorship will be cancelled.”
The Congress shares power in Maharashtra with the Shiv Sena and the Nationalist Congress Party.
Despite the Congress being in power in Maharashtra as Maha Vikas Aghadi NCP is grabbing their leaders has not gone well with Congress. On the other hand, NCP supremo Sharad Pawar is in negotiations with BJP. The Congress in Maharashtra is exploring the possibility of contesting the forthcoming elections in the state on its own.
With the BJP questioning Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray’s “silence” on various issues and asking the state Governor to seek a status report from the government, NCP leader Nawab Malik said the CM will speak at right time and that the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) has the support of more than 175 MLAs. The state Assembly has 288 MLAs. Malik’s reaction came after a BJP delegation met Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari and requested him to send a report on the current situation in the state to President Ram Nath Kovind.
Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut’s unwanted advice to make Sharad Pawar as UPA chief in place of Sonia Gandhi has not gone down well with his Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance members. He further stated that UPA needed reform and support from all the regional parties to take the BJP head-on.
To this, Congress Spokesperson, Sachin Sawant has commented that Shiv Sena is not a part of UPA, Sanjay Raut has no right to make any suggestions, as per a Lokmat report. He added that Shiv Sena first needs to be a part of UPA and then make demands or suggestions.
Congress leader Nana Patole questioned if Sanjay Raut is NCP supremo Sharad Pawar’s spokesperson and suggested he should not comment on things he is not involved in. The Shiv Sena leader was also attacked by NCP’s Nawab Malik who questioned Sanjay Raut’s authority to make such comments.
Shiv Sena leaders making constant attacks on Congress and BJP digging the graves of Shiv Sena leaving NCP aside indicates new political equations.
Soon NCP supremo Sharad Pawar will campaign in West Bengal in support of Mamata Banerjee. He will be on a three-day visit to the state from April 1, to hold various rallies, press conferences and meet Mamata Banerjee and Trinamool Congress (TMC) workers at Trinamool Bhavan. West Bengal is likely to witness a triangular contest this time with TMC, Congress-Left alliance and BJP in the fray.
Sand artist Manas Sahoo creates a sand sculpture with a massage ‘Avoid Color Avoid Corona’ during Holi celebration, at a beach, in Puri. | Photo: Twitter/@SandArtistManas
One of the popular ancient Hindu festivals Holi, a festival of love, colours and joy has faded due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The celebration is dedicated to the eternal love of Radha and Krishna. It also signifies the triumph of good over malevolence. With the festive season around the corner and many places in India seeing a spike in COVID-19 cases, many states and cities have banned Holi celebrations to prevent crowds and increased risk of transmission.
While some places have banned public gatherings for the festival, which falls on March 29, others have also banned private and community celebrations. Municipal Corporations have also banned celebrations in resorts, hotels, open spaces and housing societies within the city limits. Strict action will be taken against violators of the order under relevant provisions of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, it was stated.
The Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) has also directed that public celebration and gathering, congregation during upcoming festivals such as Holi, Shab-e-Barat, Navratri etc. will not be allowed in public places, including parks, markets, religious places. An order in this regard has been issued by Delhi Chief Secretary.
The decision has come hours after Delhi Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal, who is also chairperson of DDMA, held a review meeting on increasing Covid-19 cases in the national capital. The Haryana government has also banned public celebrations of the upcoming Holi festival in the wake of the rise in the number of coronavirus cases in recent weeks. During the past few days, Haryana has been reporting over 800 new cases daily.
Chandigarh will also not see Holi celebrations as authorities have banned public gatherings for the festival even at clubs and hotels. In Gujarat, while Holi celebrations have been banned, Holika Dahan will be allowed with restriction on crowds.
In Uttar Pradesh, the state government has banned processions or gatherings in public spaces without prior permission. Those above 60 years of age, as well as those below 10 years, will not be allowed to attend these gatherings. Further, the Union government also asked states and union territories to consider imposing local restrictions in public observance of the upcoming festivals and limit or do away with mass gatherings for effective control of the pandemic.
Holi celebrates the arrival of spring, the end of winter, the blossoming of love and for many it is a festive day to meet others, play and laugh, forget and forgive, and repair broken relationships. The festival also celebrates the beginning of a good spring harvest season.
It lasts for a night and a day, starting on the evening of the Purnima (Full Moon day) falling in the Hindu calendar month of Phalguna, which falls around the middle of March in the Gregorian calendar. The first evening is known as Holika Dahan (burning of demon Holika) or Chhoti Holi and the following day as Holi, Rangwali Holi, Dol Purnima, Dhuleti, Dhulandi.
Holi is an ancient Hindu religious festival that has become popular among non-Hindus as well in many parts of South Asia, as well as people of other communities outside Asia. In addition to India and Nepal, the festival is celebrated by Indian subcontinent diasporas in countries such as Suriname, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, South Africa, Mauritius, Fiji, Malaysia, the United Kingdom, the United States, the Netherlands, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
The frolic and fight with colours occur in the open streets, parks, outside temples and buildings. Groups carry drums and other musical instruments, go from place to place, sing and dance. People visit family, friends and foes come together to throw coloured powders on each other, laugh and gossip, then share Holi delicacies, food and drinks. In the evening, people dress up and visit friends and family
Holi was always my favourite festival. I used to play with as many people as possible and with as many dark colours as possible. I never discriminate whether a person, whom I am playing Holi, is my family member or outsider, friend or just acquaintance, Male or Female. But this year has forced me to keep distance, a good social distance for their protection and my safety.
Wishing you all dear readers a Happy Holi. Stay safe, and stay protected.
Amid the rise in the COVID-19 cases in the country, Holi in 2021 will be a low-key affair as the Centre has asked states and UTs to take adequate measures to arrest the surge of daily cases ahead of the festive season.
From March-end, a host of festivities are lined up, including Holi and Shab-e-Barat in March to Gudi Padwa, Chaitra Navratri and Ram Navami in April. The outbreak of novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV), which has over 59,000 new cases in India, is the biggest 1-day spike.
Krupal, a colour seller from Borivali market said, “This year we have a lot of shortage of China-made fancy water guns and sprinklers. In Mumbai alone, 20-25 Chinese toys importers every year bring about 5-lakh pieces of water pressure guns attached with small water tanks of 18 and 24 inches, and each costing about Rs 300-500. Currently, traders have no stock for this year and in the current situation. Meanwhile, BMC has also imposed strict rules; we are in financial crises due to almost no business.”
Vice-President of United Toys Association of Mumbai, Abdullah Sharif said, “The time is very crucial, people are out of a job, and vendors are out of business and above all no adequate supply, very tricky situation for small-time businessmen who deals with colours and toys. About 250 manufacturers, sellers, suppliers and traders of Holi colours, water guns and other such products across India are having survival issues.”
Shabad Alam, a plastic toys supplier told us, “Most toys reaching India are manufactured in Guangdong, a coastal province in South China, whereas the novel coronavirus’s epic centre is in Wuhan, Central China’s Hubei province, about 1000 kilometers away. India’s toy industry, worth about Rs 4,000 crore, is dominated by Chinese imports to the tune of 85 per cent. Of the Chinese toy exports, India accounts for only 5 per cent and the Indian manufacturers do not make innovative toys, the most preferred toys among children are water guns, water motor guns and different pichkaris.”
The Indian colour manufacturers, mostly in the small-scale sector and only a few hundreds, contribute only around 15 per cent of the Indian market. As against this, there are thousands of importers from China, including large-scale organised importers. This Holi would be colourless for many vendors and retailers. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) banned public, community and private festivities during Holi and Rangpanchami.
Though there will be no lockdown and restrictions on the interstate and intrastate transport, according to the order of the ministry of home affairs, district administrations will be responsible for containing the spread of the infection and local lockdown may be imposed for that purpose, the ministry of home affairs said.
Meanwhile, Afternoon Voice spoke to several people, from the film industry to the students, to an entrepreneur to employees, if they are okay with “No Holi this year?”
Here is what they had to say
Actress Sunayana Fozdar said, “Yes, I am completely fine with no Holi being celebrated this year. The main significance of Holi is that good triumphs over evil; which clearly translates into getting rid of evil. This year I hope we can conquer evil.”
“You know, thinking back to my college days, I have had some really special Holi memories. I have these four school friends, and we would spend each Holi at each one of our places. And since each one of us is from different cultural backgrounds, the way we celebrate Holi is different. So, Holi always held a very special meaning to me. But keeping in mind the current situation, no matter how much Holi can excite us, we should think of the bigger picture and a better future for us all! And that can only happen if we’re all careful, and abide by the COVID-19 safety regulations laid down by the government,” cited Donal Bisht who has worked in several TV serials.
Tanveer Singh Chaudhary, an engineering student from DJ Sanghvi College shared his view on the subject, “Holi seems incomplete without celebrating with our near and dear ones. This year I’d like to suggest everyone to have a “quarantined Holi” celebration. We could celebrate Holi with our immediate family and avoid the risk of covid. This would only keep us and our family safe. So, I urge everyone to celebrate with the same enthusiasm but alongside following the covid guidelines. I wish everyone a Happy and a Colourful Holi!”
Shreya Chaturvedi, Program Support Specialist at Amazon asserted, “Since childhood, I’ve never been too fond of Holi as the post effects need too much of effort (cleansing and all). On the contrary, looking at the current situation of the pandemic, I guess it would be better if I convince as many people as I can to avoid social gatherings and stay at home for their safety. We are already observing the rise in the number of COVID-19 cases. People can just stay at home and celebrate the festival with family members. This is what I do every year and would suggest all to follow the same at least for this year for everyone’s safety and good health.”
Actress Nanda Yadav told Afternoon Voice, “Yes I am okay with no Holi this year as health is more important. The festival comes every year and this year can be an exception if that’s needed for our health.”
Actor-Model Ashleysha Yesugade said, “It’s absolutely okay for me to not celebrate Holi as safety comes first. Public gatherings should be avoided, to curb the spread of the deadliest virus. I will definitely miss Holi this year as no events are happening, but it’s completely fine.”
“I guess we all should follow the guidelines mentioned by the government to fight against COVID-19. And I am completely okay to not celebrate Holi as the cases are rising in Mumbai. I just want to urge people to celebrate this year’s Holi at home and protect their loved ones from the virus so that next year we can enjoy Holi to a great extent. Happy Holi everyone,” said actress Bidita Bag.
Rajat Tripathi, content head at Asia, Kuaishou shared his Holi plan with us and said, “Holi ko celebration ke bina imagine karna muskil hai (Imagining Holi without celebration is quite tough). Every year I and my friends used to visit each other to celebrate Holi. But due to coronavirus this year it won’t be possible. So, we are planning to have to class reunion on Holi through the zoom app!”
Actor Thakur Anoop Singh said, “Holi is definitely a beautiful festival, but while water-wastage becomes a legitimate problem every year, this year, the issue is even bigger, and that’s COVID. Since the cases of the virus are also multiplying by the day, I’d advise everyone to opt for a ‘Homli’ (Homely+Holi) Just how a lot of festivals were celebrated at home during the lockdown, the same has to be done with Holi. This Holi should be all about spending quality time with family!”
“No Holi this year makes me feel a bit upset, though nevertheless, we can enjoy this festival with mouth-watering Puran polis. Festivals go hand in hand with sweets. So, let’s celebrate this festival of Colours by enjoying mouth-watering Puran polis as it is also said “Holi re Holi purnachi poli”. Like I said festivals come and go every year. But the safety of us, as well as our surroundings, is also important. So, let’s celebrate this festival at home and protect ourselves so that next year we can pack our bags full of Holi colour, pichkaris and water bags”, said Akanksha Sanjay.
Rakesh Zala, an entrepreneur by profession told us, “Yes I am completely okay with the “No Holi” celebration as it is best, for now, keeping the current situation in mind. The COVID-19 cases in Mumbai are on surge so, it’s our responsibility to take precautionary measures to curb the spread of the virus. Have a safe and colourful Holi.”
“In a backdrop of COVID-19, I’m okay to celebrate Holi without colours and public gathering. We still can celebrate Holi by wishing each other, making sweets, spending time with the family. Holi can also be celebrated with all this without going outside, without throwing colours on each other. We all must realise that it’s better to avoid social gatherings, should follow covid guidelines to curb this disease. We can still celebrate this next year and must care for one another, care for the elderly. Let’s not get sick and let’s not make others sick. Happy Holi everyone!” said Isha Sharma, Marketing Manager at Conscious Food.
Actor Yuvraj Singh said, “Yes looking at the coronavirus scenario it’s fine to avoid Holi, as we have to behave responsibly. People have been irresponsible towards COVID and have taken the pandemic carelessly due to which the spike has returned to Mumbai and few parts of India, it’s important to get rid of the pandemic this year at any cost.”
Tanya Mishra, Customer Success Manager at Webscale Networks said, “For several years we have been celebrating Holi but as we all know that since 2020 the very uncertain strain of coronavirus has struck overall in the world and people are fighting with this virus with all their will. The spread of the virus decreased a little last year in December however it is again taking a great rise in many parts of India, which is an alarming situation. I understand that festivals hold our religious sentiments and we celebrate them with all our heart. However, we must avoid playing Holi this year with a lot of mass gathering to help fight this virus quickly and so that we can be free of this virus as soon as possible.”
“Holi is a festival of colours, let us celebrate Holi in COVID-19 by colouring our souls with colours of brotherhood, unity love, peace forgiveness. Care for each other and help our loved ones safe and support the government by following the COVID-19 norms of wearing masks maintaining social distancing. Happy Holi everyone,” said social activist Archana Sharma.
Singer Savaniee Ravindrra said, “Considering the current situation I am absolutely okay with no Holi this year. I think this will be a wise and good decision to stay home, to stay safe and to celebrate the festival with your family and loved ones, instead of celebrating it publicly.”
Bhandup fire: Uddhav Thackeray says, "I apologise" to the kin of those who died; assure strict action against authorities 10
Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray said strict action will be taken against those found responsible for the fire at Sunrise hospital in a Bhandup mall, which resulted in the death of 10 patients.
Speaking to reporters after visiting the mall, Thackeray apologised to the families of the victims and announced Rs 5 lakh compensation to the kin of each deceased.
Thackeray said the fire did not break out in the hospital, but at some office or shop situated below it.
“10 people have died in the fire incident. This is a serious incident. Negligence of hospital management has come to light. We will register a case,” said Mumbai Police Commissioner Hemant Nagrale.
According to officials, the incident occurred in Sunrise Hospital in the Dreams Mall building in the Bhandup area shortly after Thursday midnight.
The hospital is located on the top floor of the four-storeyed mall building and there were 76 patients, most of them being treated for COVID-19 when the fire broke out.
The chief minister said the state government had last year allowed some hospitals to treat COVID-19 patients given the spread of the disease and they said that the facility in the Bhandup mall was one of them.
“The permission was to end on March 31. Unfortunately, the fire broke on the first floor of the mall and spread upwards,” he said.
The chief minister said that efforts were made to rescue all the patients admitted to the hospital. However, it took some time to evacuate those who were on ventilators.
“Unfortunately, they died,” he said.
“We wake up after such incidents take place and then a probe is carried out. This incident, too, will be investigated. Action will be taken as per law probe against whoever is at fault,” Thackeray added.
He said that in the recent past he had issued instructions to carry out structural and fire audits of COVID-19 care centres and field hospitals across the state.
“I had asked (the authorities) to ensure such incidents do not occur. Still, unfortunately, this has taken place.”
“…I express regret to those who have lost their kin in the incident,” he said in Marathi.
Speaking in Hindi, Thackeray later said, “I apologise to the kin of those who died in the incident.” The chief minister said that compensation of Rs 5 lakh will be given to the next kin of each deceased.
Since Vaze reinstated to the department and that to the crime branch, he became overconfident. Arnab Goswami’s arrest made him a hero but that was not sufficient to become a super cop. He was craving publicity and sensation.
He created a plot; first checked in five-star hotels with fake name and identity, using the forged Aadhaar, with unique identification number 7825-2857-5822, Sachin Vaze stayed at Trident hotel at Nariman Point from February 16-20. Then took a vehicle from Mansukh Hiren to make him accused in his drama, but that backfired when Hiren went to the crime branch and made his complaint. Vaze had no other option than eliminating Hiren to prove the plot that he was one of the conspirators.
Surprisingly, the vehicle loaded with explosives had traveled 30 km—from Naupada in Thane city to Ambani’s residence on Carmichael Road, without being stopped. This exposed Mumbai’s defenselessness, raising questions of its alertness in keeping law and order.
All this could have been possible with the help of the government. Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), interrogated Vaze, the first investigation officer in this case, for close to 13 hours along with second investigation officer Nitin Alaknure, assistant commissioner of police. On March 14, a special court remanded Vaze to NIA custody till March 25.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested Sachin Vaze, on the night of March 13 for planting an explosive-loaded Scorpio car outside the residence of Mukesh Ambani, on February 25. Soon after his arrest, state politics was on fire and the media went for the kill. There was a lot of pressure on agencies.
The team of NIA visited Trident hotel and conducted a search of the room where Sachin Vaze stayed. It is still not clear why Vaze used a fake ID and stayed at a hotel and who all he met him during his stay. Meanwhile, it is also shocking that the staff of Trident could not recognize Vaze, in spite of being in news every day.
The NIA officials have also taken the CCTV footage of the hotel and are going through it to track Sachin Vaze’s movements during his hotel stay. Just a day after Sachin Vaze checked-in to the hotel on February 16, the Scorpio belonging to Mansukh Hiren was allegedly stolen, and on February 25, it was found outside Mukesh Ambani’s residence with explosives in it.
Mansukh Hiren’s wife claimed that Sachin Vaze was behind her husband’s death. In her police complaint, Vimla Hiren claimed that her husband, an auto parts dealer had known Sachin Vaze for many years. The Hirens had the Scorpio for over three years.
She said that Sachin Vaze took the car from Mansukh Hiren in November 2020 for personal use but returned it on February 5, citing some issues with the car.
Her husband began using the car but it developed a mechanical fault on February 17 so he left it in Vikhroli and came back home. The next day, the car went missing and the Hirens filed a theft complaint with the police. Mansukh Hiren’s Scorpio car was never stolen. He reportedly handed over keys to the car to a CIU official on February 17, who then parked it at Sachin Vaze’s residence in Thane’s Saket colony. A week before the Ambani bomb scare incident, Sachin Vaze’s family left his Saket colony flat.
Three days before his death, Mansukh Hiren had written a letter accusing the police of harassment. A lawyer hired by Sachin Vaze reportedly wrote the letter for him. On March 4, Mansukh Hiren reportedly left home to meet a Crime Branch police officer called Tawde but never came back home.
On the night of March 4 when Mansukh Hiren went missing and was allegedly murdered, Sachin Vaze made sure that he didn’t make any calls or receive calls on his personal phone. To strengthen his defense, Vaze conducted searches at hotels till late at night on March 4 in Dongri of Mumbai.
Sachin Vaze had other accomplices too. According to Maharashtra ATS, a Gujarat-based cricket bookie Naresh Gore provided five SIM cards to suspended Mumbai Police constable Vinayak Shinde who was close to Sachin Vaze. Both Gore and Shinde have been arrested by Maharashtra ATS. Calls were reportedly made from these SIM cards to lure Mansukh Hiren out of his home on the day of his murder.
Shinde is also suspected to be involved in planting the threat letter near Mukesh Ambani’s residence.
Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh was transferred from his post on March 17 and Maharashtra DGP Hemant Nagrale took over his post. Param Bir Singh was sent to the Home Guards department.
The Supreme Court on Wednesday (March 24) refused to entertain former Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh’s petition for a CBI probe into his allegations of corruption against Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh.
Meanwhile, the opposition thought the government may fall, but they failed. The new CP of Mumbai transferred many officers and cleaned the carpet.
Hope the motive in all this saga gets established soon.
Vinayak Shinde one of the convicted accused in the Mansukh Hiren murder case. | Image Courtesy: Social Media
Vinayak Shinde’s wife believes that her husband is falsely implicated in the case, as he never used to get involved much in anything since returned home on parole. Suspended constable Vinayak Shinde was a close confidant of Sachin Vaze. Shinde used to get handsomely paid by Vaze. Maharashtra ATS has claimed that Vinayak Shinde killed Mansukh Hiren at the behest of Sachin Vaze. Vinayak Shinde, a convicted constable was on parole in an encounter case.
In 2013, a Mumbai session’s court had awarded life sentences to 21 people, including 13 Mumbai Police personnel, for an encounter killing of a gangster named Lakkhan Bhaiyya (Ramnarayan Gupta) in 2006. Gupta was a member of the dreaded Chota Rajan gang. One of the policemen convicted was Vinayak Shinde, 55, a constable, who was released on parole last year in the state’s drive to decongest prisons during the coronavirus pandemic.
According to investigators of the state Anti-Terrorism Squad, Shinde took care of Vaze’s “illegal dealings in Thane and Kalwa area” and executed the murder of Hiren on Vaze’s behest.
Shinde was in Mumbai Crime Branch in the mid-2000s and had a good network in Mumbai as well as in Thane. “Shinde has a good network across Thane and also has connections with local goons,” a police officer said on condition of anonymity.
One of Shinde’s family members said that after he came out of parole, he would stay home. Shinde celebrated his birthday on March 11 with his family at his house. Shinde’s wife told Afternoon Voice, “He never used to go out much, he used to stay at home most of the time, from few days Sachin Vaze started calling him, many to implicate him falsely”.
The ATS on March 21 arrested two men, and bookie Naresh Gor in the murder of the 48-year-old Hiren. Sachin Vaze was the mastermind, but Shinde executed the murder of Hiren. Shinde had called Hiren to Ghodbunder Road on March 4.
Bookie Naresh Gore and Shinde were taken to the creek where Hiren’s body was found, and also conducted a search at a godown in the Majiwada area, believed to be of a firm owned by Vaze. The next day ATS took Shinde to his house in Kalwa, Vaze’s house in Saket, a car décor shop and a godown at Majiwada and Bhoomi World complex in Bhiwandi to trace Shinde’s entire movement on March 4 and 5.
NIA official’s team searched a room in the Trident hotel at Nariman Point where Vaze reportedly resided from February 16 to February 20. Vaze reportedly booked the hotel room with a forged Aadhar card using his photograph with a fictitious name.
Shinde made Hiren unconscious in the godown by administrating chloroform and later dumped him in the creek. A man from Gujarat allegedly supplied some SIM cards obtained based on bogus documents to co-accused Naresh Gore, a cricket bookie.
One of the SIM supplied by Gore was purportedly used by Shinde to stay in touch with the other accused in the case, said the official. Later on, the ATS team that has gone to Gujarat has also recovered 14 SIM cards.
Several senior ATS officials who are part of the investigating team including additional commissioner Shivdeep Lande, DCP Rajkumar Shinde and ACP Shripad Kale, senior police inspector Daya Nayak were in Thane for almost the entire day.
Vaze has been arrested under IPC sections 286 (negligent conduct concerning explosive substance) 465 (forgery), 473 (making or possessing counterfeit seal, etc with intent to commit forgery), 506(2) (punishment for criminal intimidation), 120 B (criminal conspiracy) and relevant provisions of the Explosive Substances Act, the official said.
Shinde is one of the co-accused; along with bookie Naresh Gore and prime suspect Sachin Vaze, a suspended assistant inspector currently in the custody of the National Investigation Agency (NIA), in the murder of Thane businessman Mansukh Hiren.
Meanwhile, Sachin Vaze claimed he is being made a scapegoat in Mansukh Hiren’s death case.
The ongoing controversy and blame games have damaged the image of Mumbai police, Mumbai Police is considered to be one of the best forces in the country. They have handled many situations and cases that most of the country has not even faced. The constant underworld threat to terror attacks, Mumbai has seen its worst but stood back with double spirit just because its police boosted the morale of the people by handling every law-and-order situation with the utmost integrity.
Once upon a time, people from all classes used to join the force slowly it stopped. Gradually political interference kept on increasing, some cops joined hands with certain gangsters as well as they started taking money from them and above all huge corruption in traffic police compromised the image of Mumbai Police.
I don’t know who spread this rumour that we are second in the world after Scotland Yard. Corruption has killed us and to make matters worse IPS officer kept coming on deputation who had neither compassion for the city nor the knowledge about locals. Nevertheless, the fact remains Police are corrupt, criminal in uniform above all they are inclined to political masters.
The fact is all the government departments are corrupt to various extents. Ranking wise the police department is said to be at 16th rank. That means there are 15 more departments that are more corrupt than the police department. Corruption has always been the part and parcel of our way of life, the British rulers made it a fine Art and people like Lord MacAulay and Lord Wellesley are testimonies to that, the civil services and the Babudom wrapped in red tape made it easy for the government servants to seek Baksheesh and Mamool from the common man.
Police appointments and postings are always political and not merits. A good honest cop is considered to be a liability on the system and even the public starts hating him for upholding the law. Police officers are subservient to their corrupt political masters. They are not allowed to function with freedom earning a bad name for them.
Almost all junior-level police hiring is done on recommendations of politicians. The new hires then consider themselves answerable to the politician and not the system. Most recruits pay for getting into the police and are looking for a good return on investment. With power and guns in their hands, policemen at times think they are Gods. Courteous language and mannerisms are not something you can associate with the police.
Money flows like water to frame the case to suit the person with the biggest pile of cash on the negotiating table. The game changes based on the quote by the highest bidder. The guiding principle being: “I scratch your back and you scratch mine.” Once the investigation is complete, there are marathon sessions to judge the potential fallouts of the case on the personal and professional level of the concerned stakeholders. Higher the stakes, the higher the value assigned to the culprit.
Fixers work behind the scenes and manipulate the entire process: evidence gathering, forensics, witness manipulation, etc. Justice is an abstract concept for law enforcement agencies. The show must go on … In the end, everything boils down to the settlement.
The Maharashtra Police department has the most corruption complaints against it among 44 state government departments in the bribery list released for 2019 by the anti-corruption bureau (ACB). This is for the first time after 2013 that the department earned the dubious distinction of making it to the top of the bribery list. The corruption bureau has registered 194 cases against the police department and arrested 269 corrupt personnel. Additionally, the revenue department, in second place on the list, has 190 cases registered against its officials and employees and 259 individuals from the department have been arrested in these cases. Third on the list are local bodies – Panchayat Samitis with 90 cases; Maharashtra State Electric Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) and municipalities with 47 cases each.
Who are not corrupt and who is not honest? Various factors such as the influence of political leaders, underworld threatening, senior officials, etc surface as hurdles to cross over in discharging duties by the law enforcing agencies. Putting blame straightway is not justice to their functioning!!! Instances of involvement of bigwigs in compromising investigations cannot be ruled out.
The life of a police person is very tough in India. If you talk of local police it’s miserable. They are not a simple person but being the shock absorber between the superiors and the foot soldier he or she is targeted from both sides. They hardly can enjoy social life unless posted at peaceful Thana. Taking care of their family is more difficult for them.
Now come to organisations like CBI here the life is somewhat comfortable but heavily loaded with work. The supervisor and courts make them work like a donkey for their comforts. They have to bear all the stress of investigating a crime and facing the courts as a rep of CBI. The leaves from work are difficult and work is more duplicate in nature. Indian police need reform and they should be kept away from political influences.
