Sanjay Dutt shifted from Arthur Road jail to Yerwada prison in Pune

2013-05-22 08:09:00

Mumbai/Pune: Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt has been shifted to Yerwada jail located in Pune. He was earlier lodged in Arthur Road jail in Mumbai.

He was lodged in an egg-shaped high-security 'anda' cell in Arthur Road jail. Sanjay Dutt was feeling "suffocated" in its confines which are generally used to house terror suspects and hardcore criminals. He had requested a Tada court on Friday to shift him to another cell as he was not a terrorist.

Rizwan Merchant, counsel for Dutt, had made an oral plea before the court to shift the filmstar from 'anda' cell in Arthur Road Central Prison to some other cell, saying "the actor felt suffocated in this chamber due to insufficient ventilation."

The 53-year-old actor was taken to the jail in central Mumbai on Thursday night after he surrendered before Tada court in keeping with the Supreme Court deadline to complete his remaining 42-month sentence in the 1993 bomb blast case. He has already spent 18 months in jail.

The SC, in March this year, had reduced Dutt's sentence to five years from the six-year jail term awarded to him by Tada court in 2006 for illegal possession of arms.

2 girls accompanying Sreesanth in hotel room were from Bangalore

2013-05-21 15:15:00

New Delhi/Mumbai: New revelations refuse to stop in the ongoing spot-fixing case involving S Sreesanth and others who were arrested from Mumbai hotels. In a fresh twist in the case, it has come to fore that the two girls, who were accompanying Sreesanth when he was arrested by Delhi Police, were from Bangalore.

"One girl is from Richards Town while the other is from Richmond Town," TOI quoted their source as saying.

According to police, the two Bangalore girls were hired by their bosses to track Sreesanth’s movement and pass them to their employers who are suspected to be bookies.

It has come to notice during investigation that bookies used to search cricket-loving girls on social networking sites and later use them as ‘escort girls’ who would accompany cricketers and for which they were being paid handsomely.

"Escort girls are not call girls. Being hardcore cricket fans, some agree to spend time with cricketers and unknowingly land in bookies' trap," TOI quoted their sources as saying.

It is alleged that the spot fixing racket is being controlled by D-Company from Pakistan. Notorious underworld gangster Dawood Ibrahim is supposed to have made Rs. 1,200 crore already in the present edition of the Indian Premier League. Delhi Police sources had earlier informed they stumbled on the spot fixing racket after they recorded the phone calls of aides of Tiger Memon with bookies.

Earlier, one of the several bookies arrested by Delhi Police Special Cell revealed during interrogation that videos of both Sreesanth and Ajit Chandila with escort girls had been shot in order to blackmail them in case they didn't execute their instructions.

During interrogation, Sreesanth claimed that it was his friend Jiju who had deviced the plan of shooting his MMS as a source of 'blackmail' in case he 'backtracked later'.

Who helped Vindu Dara Singh to get a seat beside Sakshi Dhoni in IPL match?

2013-05-22 02:56:00

Mumbai: Small-time actor Vindu Dara Singh was seen flashing his teeth in an Indian Premier League as he was sitting beside Chennai Super Kings captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s wife Sakshi Dhoni. He was seen in the whole nation sharing laughs and excitement of a cricket match with Mrs Dhoni who is the prime focus of camera persons this IPL season. The unusual part of this happy spectacle is that the stand where Sakshi was sitting is exclusively reserved for close relatives of players and officials. How did Vindu make it, is a question to be asked to the stadium authorities.

After a shocking spot-fixing scandal hit the lucrative cricket league, the name of Vindu also surfaced. He was arrested by Mumbai Police with the suspicion that the actor has played a role of a middleman owing to the fact that he was well connected with cricketers and Bollywood people.

Sources said Vindu used his Bollywood status to make direct contact with cricketers hence cops suspect he played middleman to convince tainted players into fixing certain IPL games. "He in return also lured new cricketers (soft targets) into spot-fixing by introducing them to models, item girls at parties and assuring them of handling all their transaction," added a police source.

However, Vindu claimed to be innocent.

"Meine apne baba ka naam badnam nahin kiya, (I have not disgraced my father's name)," said Vindu as tears rolled down his cheeks during interrogation with the Crime Branch officials.

According to a source close to the actor Vindu confessed to betting but denied spot fixing the matches. "Mein Satta khel tha hu, par fixing nahin karta," Vindu is rumoured to have confessed to the interrogators.

His VIP seating in a match seems to be confirming that he is connected with the high and the mighty in Mumbai’s elite circle.

Sreesanth was to star in a film he was planning to make!

2013-05-22 05:11:00

Mumbai: Spot fixing scam accused S. Sreesanth was apparently planning to use his fixing money to make a film starring himself.

As more and more details emerge about the cricketer’s activities, it is clear that he had big dreams and ambitions to be in the limelight.

Sreesanth was planning the film with brother Dipu and he had even roped in the services of a casting director in Hyderabad for the purpose. Sreesanth it is said had been on the lookout for the heroine for the female lead in his film when the scam exploded.

IPL spot-fixing: Sreesanth owns S36 brand, sought female models\' photos for advertisement

2013-05-21 03:13:00

Mumbai: Tainted Rajasthan Royals bowler S Sreesanth allegedly sought photos of female models from a Bollywood 'casting director' for advertisement of his brand called S36.

The paceman co-owns a company called S36, the Bollywood casting director, who had allegedly e-mailed the cricketer photographs of female models, reportedly told the Mumbai police on Monday.

He also said a film producer from Hyderabad is another partner in the company.

The police have found several e-mail interactions from Sreesanth's laptop, in which the casting director had sent him the pictures of models.

The casting director told the investigators that he had sent the models' photographs to Sreesanth for the purpose of advertisement of the cricketer's S36 brand.

Sreesanth had also asked him to send more photos, said one of the officers who interrogated the casting director.

The Facebook page of 'S36' with Sreesanth's photo on it says that the products under this brand consist of mineral packaged drinking water, apparels and sports goods.

The police can also interrogate Sreesanth’s partner from Hyderabad.

The police have also received the CCTV footage of a hotel which was raided on Friday night and are currently examining the details.

Actor Sanjay Dutt won't be shifted out from Mumbai, to stay in Anda jail

2013-05-20 18:34:00

Mumbai: Actor Sanjay Dutt will remain in the 'anda' (egg-shaped) cell in the high-security block at the Arthur Road jail here for some time, a top police officer said on Monday, as authorities in Maharashtra debate whether to shift him out of Mumbai.

"We will take some more time to take a call on whether to shift Dutt or not. He will not be shifted anywhere in the near future," Additional Director General of Police (Prisons) Meera Borwankar told PTI.

The 53-year-old Bollywood star is currently lodged in the 'anda' cell after he was brought to the Arthur Road jail on May 16 following his surrender before the expiry of the Supreme Court-set deadline to serve his remaining sentence in the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts case.

After his surrender, there was speculation that be may be shifted to the Yerwada jail in Pune.

The reasons attributed to the uncertainty as to where Dutt will be finally lodged were because information was still being gathered on number of convicts, security conditions, presence of inmates linked to underworld in various jails in the state like those located in Taloja (Navi Mumbai), Yerwada (Pune), Thane, Nagpur and Nashik.

"The authorities are studying various aspects, particularly security issues, before taking any decision on the actor's shifting," a jail official added.

Though there are some convicts lodged in the city jail, usually it is used to house undertrials.

Dutt has to serve 42 more months in jail following his conviction in the 1993 case being upheld by the Supreme Court, which, however, reduced his sentence by one year (to five years from six) in March this year.

He has already served 18 months of his sentence.

The actor has been restless at nights, reading religious books, police said.

Dutt's lawyer had a made an oral plea the TADA court to shift him from the high-security egg-shaped cell where he was feeling "suffocated."

"The 'anda' cell does not have enough light and Dutt felt suffocated due to insufficient ventilation," Rizwan Merchant told the TADA court, a day after he was put up at Arthur Road jail. Dutt, however, has not filed a written application.

Merchant had said that this cell was generally used to keep the hardened criminals or those arrested on terrorism-related charges. Dutt, he said, was not convicted under TADA, and was not a terrorist.

1993 Mumbai blasts case: ‘Emotional’ 71-year-old Zaibunissa Kazi surrenders

2013-05-20 14:32:00

Mumbai: Convicted in 1993 Mumbai blasts case under Arms Act, 71-year-old Zaibunissa Kazi surrendered on Monday.

‘Emotional’ Kazi spoke to media as she surrendered, asking the court to give her a little relief in the sentence as she is too old to even sit or sleep on the floor.

Notably, she was to surrender the same day (May 17) as actor Sanjay Dutt but citing her medical condition, she said that she had undergone an operation on May 17 therefore couldn’t be in court.

On May 17, arrest warrants were issued against Kazi and Sharif Parkar, who have been convicted for their role in the 1993 Mumbai blasts case, after they failed to surrender in the court.

Actor Sanjay Dutt surrendered before the designated TADA court on Thursday to serve a three-and-a-half year sentence in the bomb blasts case. He is presently in the ‘anda’ cell of the Mumbai’s Arthur Road jail.

Belgium-bound diamonds worth Rs 4.5 crore stolen from Mumbai Airport

2013-05-20 11:51:00

Mumbai: Mumbai Police on Sunday are learnt to have detained a suspect who stole diamonds worth Rs 4.5 crore from the international airport recently. The identity of the accused hasn’t been made public pending further investigation.

The incident had surfaced when a private courier company had complained to Sahar Police that one of the 24 packets, each containing diamonds worth several crores, had gone missing from the airport. Slated to be delivered to Belgium, the packet is believed to have been stolen during the loading process.

Though police refused to reveal anything as of now, airport officials claim that nobody except the airport staff could have had access to the high-security area.

“The theft was clearly a work of an insider,” an airport official alleged.

Delhi gang-rape: No one should die to get an honour, says SRK

2013-03-07 15:36:00

Mumbai: Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan feels that women should be rewarded at every point for their achievements, and no one should die to get an honour.

He was reacting after the United States selected the 23-year-old Delhi gang-rape victim for the prestigious International Women of Courage Award, for inspiring people to fight against gender-based violence.

US First Lady Michelle Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry will present the award posthumously tomorrow on International Womens' Day.

"Its good that they are honouring her. But I would not want to die to get honour... I hope no one be it men or women should lose their lives to get honour... In fact, they should get award for their achievements," Shah Rukh said.

The young braveheart recorded police statements while in hospital and stated her will to survive to see justice done.

"I hope this incident is not repeated. She fought with bravery and lost her life. I think women in every field should be held high," the 47-year-old actor said.

The paramedical student was gangraped, beaten and thrown out of a moving bus along with a male friend in Delhi on December 16 last year, which generated widespread protests and was condemned by various women groups, both in India and abroad. She later died in a Singapore hospital on December 29.

Sanjay Dutt to spend a month in Arthur Road Jail’s \'suffocating\' anda cell?

2013-05-20 14:31:00

Mumbai: A day after Sanjay Dutt made an appeal to shift him from Arthur Road Jail’s ‘anda’ cell, there seem to be no immediate plans to shift the actor to Pune-based Yerwada jail.

Notably, Sanjay Dutt is lodged in an egg-shaped high-security 'anda' cell in which the actor is feeling ‘suffocated in its confines’. The ‘anda’ cell are are generally used to house terror suspects and hardcore criminals, therefore, the actor pleaded a TADA court on Friday to shift him to another cell as he is not a terrorist.

Since it is believed that the Yerwada Jail has no provisions of special cell, Dutt might continue to be in the ‘anda’ cell for at least a month.

Rizwan Merchant, counsel for Dutt, made an oral plea before the court in Mumbai to shift the filmstar from 'Anda' cell in Arthur Road Central Prison to some other cell, saying ‘the actor felt suffocated in this chamber due to insufficient ventilation’.

Dutt has not been convicted under TADA and was not a terrorist. He was convicted under Arms Act and as such he should not be lodged in the egg-shaped cell, Rizwan pleaded.

The special TADA court had given him permission to carry among other things as mattress, pillow, copies of the Hanuman Chalisa, Ramayana and Bhagavad Gita, toothbrushes, toothpaste, soaps and shampoo. However, the court denied permission to carry e-cigarettes.

The 53-year-old actor was taken to the jail in central Mumbai on Thursday night after he surrendered before TADA Court in keeping with the Supreme Court deadline to complete his remaining 42-month sentence in the 1993 Mumbai bomb blast case. He has already spent 18 months in jail.

The SC, in March 2013, reduced Dutt's sentence to five years from the six-year jail term awarded to him by TADA Court in 2006 for illegal possession of arms.

When Vindu Dara Singh wanted to celebrate his father\'s death

2013-05-21 19:15:00

Mumbai: Vindu Dara Singh, son of late wrestler and actor Dara Singh, who was arrested by Mumbai Police on Tuesday for his links with bookies in the IPL spot-fixing scandal, has sent shock waves across the nation. Vindu Dara Singh’s arrest comes after disgraced players and arrested bookies were produced in Saket district court in Delhi.

Vindu Dara Singh, who is not new to controversies, stirred up a controversy at his father’s funeral in July 2012. When the entire nation was mourning legendary actor Dara Singh’s death, his son said, “I do not want to mourn my father’s death. I want to celebrate, because he was such a legend,” while adding, “We're all sitting and smiling and even laughing, remembering what a wonderful human being dad was.”

Vindu Dara Singh started his short-lived career in Bollywood with Karan in 1994. Later he moved to Punjabi films and was associated with few ventures. However, he could not make it big in Punjabi film industry as well.

With the arrest of Vindu, 49, Mumbai Police have sounded the first knock on Bollywood, completing the cricket-underworld-Bollywood nexus in the betting and spot-fixing scam that hit the edition of Indian Premier League (IPL).

Jilted lover attacks girlfriend, attempts suicide

2013-01-01 14:27:00

Thane, Mumbai: A jilted lover allegedly attacked a girl with a blade and later consumed poison in Kopri area of Thane city, police said on Tuesday.

While the 25-year-old woman was returning home from work at around 9.45pm on Monday, her male friend - Narendra Kave -confronted her near the railway bridge crossing and slashed several of her body parts with a blade, police said.

Later, in an attempt to end his own life, Kave, also around 25 years of age, consumed poison.

Both were residents of Kopri colony in Thane and the woman had broken off with the accused sometime back.

Both of them have been hospitalised and were reported to be out of danger, police said.

An offence under section 307 (attempt to murder) has been registered against the accused.

Further investigation was on.

Mumbai: Alert citizens hand over molester to police

2013-01-01 14:41:00

Mumbai: A man molested a 29 year old woman at Santacruz, while she was out with her husband. Ironically, security across the country was tightened on New Year's Eve.

Additionally, special crowd management arrangements were put in place at popular spots like the Gateway of India, Juhu beach and Girgaum Chowpatty.

The accused was caught and handed over to the police by the public. The police arrested him under section 354. The accused will be produced before court.

Oops! I didn\'t do it for Bollywood: Britney Spears

2013-01-01 15:58:00

Britney Spears' spokesperson clarified that she has not signed up for any song in a Bollywood movie.

As per recent media reports, the 31 year old had signed up to perform a song-and-dance routine in a new Hindi production.

However, Spears' spokesperson insists the singer has not agreed to appear in any such project.

"There is no truth whatsoever. They may have signed a Britney Spears. But if they did, it's a different Britney Spears and we wish them good luck with their production," confirmed the spokesperson.

(With agency inputs)

SBI launches mobile wallet 'Mobicash Easy'

2013-01-01 16:00:00

Mumbai/Delhi: State Bank of India (SBI) launched 'Mobicash Easy', a mobile wallet in Mumbai and Delhi with service offerings like funds transfer and bill payment among others.

"We have launched mobile wallet service in Mumbai and Delhi which will offer services like balance enquiry, mini statement, funds transfer, mobile top-ups, DTH recharge, bill payment among others. We will roll out this service in other centres in near future," Deputy Managing Director (Corporate Strategy and New Business), R K Saraf told the media.

SBI launched mobile banking service 'State Bank Freedom' in 2009 and has around 54 lakh users as of now with about 10,000 users adding per day.

"We see significant opportunities in the mobile banking space, which will emerge as a major business line going ahead," Saraf said, adding that transactions through this route stood at around Rs. 1,000 crore from April 2012 till date.

He also said the bank would soon launch a KYC (know your customer) enabled mobile wallet service with higher transaction limits.

Referring to growth in mobile banking customers, Saraf said the number of customers using mobile banking could go up from 54 lakh now to around one crore in the next one year.

The bank said it would target migrant labourers and youth to use the wallet service.

Emergency button in women's compartments soon

2013-01-01 16:30:00

Mumbai: Women travelling in ladies compartments on Central Railway (CR) may soon have a reason to rejoice.

The authorities have decided to equip the coaches reserved for women in all its trains with an emergency button. Additionally, every coach, general or reserved, will have a closed-circuit television (CCTV) camera to keep watch on crowds, according to the authorities.

The security booster comes in the backdrop of the protests demanding women’s safety, sparked off by the brutal gang rape and death of a 23-year-old student in New Delhi.

Emergency buttons will be placed in ladies coaches, which once pressed, will relay information about the train and the bogie number directly to the control room.

General compartments will not have emergency buttons. In case of an emergency, the railway helpline number 1275 or 9833331111 is available.

(With media inputs)

Pune: 6-year-old girl raped by class XII student

2013-01-02 00:14:00

Pune: A six-year-old girl was raped on Tuesday allegedly by a youth in suburban Hadapsar area here.

The minor was found lying at an open ground after the sexual assault, police said. She was admitted to a government hospital and was reported to be out of danger. The victim, who stayed with her mother in a slum colony, had left her house in the morning, police said.

Later, an 18-year-old youth was arrested by the police on the basis of CCTV footage of the area.

"The accused, a student of class XII at a nearby college, was caught on the basis of the footage of CCTV camera, which was installed by a person outside his place for safety purpose," Deputy Commissioner of Police Manoj Patil told reporters.

"We could easily identify the accused with the help of the footage and during the interrogation, he confessed to the crime," Patil said.

(with inputs from PTI)

200 Km per hour trains on Delhi-Mumbai route on track

2013-01-02 00:32:00

NEW DELHI: Railways today expressed optimism over progress in its plans to run passenger trains on busy Delhi-Mumbai corridor at 200 km per hour and launching for the first time train sets services on shorter routes.

Maintaining that global crisis is coming in the way from achieving higher growth, it said its earnings have, however, gone up by 20 per cent this fiscal.

Chairman Railway Board Vinay Mittal said even though there are several financial hurdles to overcome for materialising the high-speed corridor project, they are working towards achieving the objective of running train at 200 km per hour on Delhi-Mumbai route.

"Japan is involved in the study of the high speed train on Delhi-Mumbai route and things are progressing well," Mittal said here but did not give any time frame for its implementation.

Currently Rajdhani trains are expected to run at a maximum speed of 100 km to 120 km per hour while other express trains are running at an approximate speed of 80 km per hour because of the dense traffic condition.

Asked about the proposed train set project which will reduce travel time, he said that it was being studied but it will be launched in a limited scale in some Shatabdi routes.

However, on the proposed project on bullet train which will travel at 300 km per hour, he said "it is a long way to go as it involves heavy funding."

Even though railways' finances remain a big challenge, he said the bridge gap funding of Rs 3000 cr has been paid back with interest to Finance Ministry.

He said the foggy conditions over north India have affected revenue earnings and the poor market condition led several of its rakes to lie idle.

Expressing optimism over the increased fund allocation, he said plan allocation in the 12th Five-Year Plan to railways has been increased to Rs 1.94 lakh crore from the Rs 77,000 crore in the 11th Five-Year Plan.

"Steps are being taken to curb expenditure as there is a need for fund renewal of assets and safety upgradation," he said.

Male hawkers not allowed in women's coaches of local trains: Patil

2013-01-02 00:52:00

Mumbai: Male vendors won't be allowed to sell their wares in the ladies compartments of local trains, Maharashtra Home Minister R R Patil said on Tuesday.

He was speaking to reporters at the Churchgate station here after a surprise visit to the bustling terminus to review women commuters' security during the evening peak hours.

Security personnel would also be stationed on railway overbridges to combat the menace of eve-teasing, the minister, who also interacted with women commuters, said.

His comments about disallowing male vendors comes in the backdrop of the Railway Protection Force (RPF) arresting 156 men in four days for allegedly travelling in the ladies compartment of local trains on Western Railway.

The RPF arrested around 6,000 men for travelling in the ladies compartment last year.

To a query on women's safety in the wake of the Delhi gangrape, Patil said the state government has proposed to the Centre to award death penalty for heinous cases of rape.

Two years ago, the Maharashtra government had sent a proposal to the Centre to make punishment for molestation of women more stringent.

The state government had sent a proposal to the Centre to increase jail term under section 354 of the IPC from two years (and a penalty) to non-bailable and non-compoundable imprisonment of seven years.

Section 354 deals with assault or use of criminal force against a woman with an intention to outrage her modesty. The state had also proposed to the Centre to amend section 509 of the IPC to make it non-bailable and award a three-year non-compoundable jail-term instead of the present one-year imprisonment and a penalty.

Section 509 deals with words, gestures or acts intended to outrage the modesty of a woman.

War of words between Prithviraj Chavan and Sharad Pawar

2013-01-02 02:53:00

Mumbai: Taking a dig at NCP chief Sharad Pawar for his remark that NCP might reconsider continuing its alliance with the UPA in 2014 elections to Lok Sabha and state Assembly, Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan on Tuesday said it was fine if the party has decided to sit in opposition.

"Let the results come..If they (NCP) want to sit in the opposition, then what is the issue," Chavan told reporters here when asked to comment on the NCP chief's statement.

Ruling out the possibility of mid-term polls at Centre, Chavan said the NCP and Congress had been contesting local-level elections against each other.

"I don't think there is any possibility of mid-term polls. We contest elections against each other at the local level," he said.

On state government's drought mitigation programme, the chief minister said that "so far, Rs 900 crore have been spent for this purpose, while Rs 1,000-1,100 crore would be additionally required to tackle the drought-like situation".

Pending rape cases: Chavan demands 25 special fast track courts

2013-01-02 03:56:00

Mumbai: Voicing concern over the pendency of rape cases, Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan on Tuesday met the Chief Justice of Bombay High Court Mohit Shah, demanding setting up of 25 special fast track courts.

"I met the Chief Justice of Bombay High Court and asked for 25 special fast track courts (to deal with rape cases). There are some 26 vacancies (of judges) that have to be filled," Chavan told reporters here.

The chief minister said he would meet Shah again next week. "We will meet him next week with a proper agenda," he said.

Rubbishing the demand made by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on chemical castration of the rape accused, Chavan said, "It is a quite a silly demand...While quick punishment is important, initiating such a stricter punishment is a different issue".

On growing demand for capital punishment to perpetrators of rape, Chavan said one has to explore practical implications of such demand.

"Theoretically, you say about hanging (death penalty) but what if it takes 20 years to decide," he said.

Expressing concern over higher pendency of rape cases, he said, "Let Parliament decide what should be the amendments done to the Indian Penal Code (IPC)".

Chavan admitted that pendency of rape cases is "unacceptably high" in the state.

WATCH: Sex racket busted in ‘banned’ dance bar at Grand Road

2013-01-02 15:29:00

Mumbai: Years after Mumbai enforced a total shutdown on dance bars in the city, looks like the economic capital of the country still has the 'banned' elements trying to earn their livelihoods.

Following the bans, majority of the bar girls have moved to the dance bars in the Middle East especially Dubai, but many of them are still running their racket in clandestine manner in the city.

In this series, Mumbai police carried out a raid on the midnight of 31 December at Priya Bar located at Grant Road and busted a sex racket being operated within the premise of the bar.

The cops have arrested the owner of the bar and investigation is on.

Maharashtra Home Minister R R Patil had apprehensions in April last year that Mumbai’s hookah parlours would soon go the dance bar way, and this incident has kind of proved the existence of dance bars in the name of either orchestra or hookah bars flourishing in the city.

On July 21, 2005, the Bill to ban the dance bars in Maharashtra was passed unanimously.

Sexist father battered 13-month old daughter?

2013-01-02 16:11:00

Pune:In a ghastly case reminiscing of Baby Falak’s tragedy, doctors in Pune’s DY Patil Medical College and Research Centre have accused a couple of causing multiple fractures to their 13-year-old daughter. The case came to light when the infant was brought for treatment of limbs, leg and thigh fractures on Monday.

The parents claimed that the girl had fallen from a cot, thus rejecting the claims of doctors outright.

However, doctors suspected foul play and informed the local police. The paediatrician operating upon the girl revealed that some of her fractures were quite old, and questioned the parent’s delay in bringing their daughter to the hospital.

Dr Sharad Agharkhedkar, head of the paediatric unit, also expressed surprise that the girl wasn’t crying at at all when she was brought to the hospital.

On being questioned by the local police, the parents stuck to their stand and reiterated that the girl had fallen from her cot. Further, it was revealed by the parents that the patient was her father’s third girl child, that too from his second marriage. His first marriage had bore him two girls, and he had married again in hope of getting a male child. But it was learnt that he was quite disappointed when even his second wife had given birth to a girl child.

“After receiving a report from the hospital, we went to the hospital and talked to the parents. The baby’s mother told us that her baby had fallen from the bed and that nobody had beaten the infant. We also spoke to the relatives but nobody has come forward to lodge a complaint. As a result, we cannot probe the case further. In case someone registers a case, we will carry out a detailed probe,” Police sub inspector CD Anbhule of Wakad police chowki told DNA.

Mumbai shocker: Woman set ablaze by lover for refusing money

2013-01-02 20:01:00

Mumbai: A 25-year-old woman was set ablaze by her lover on New Year's Day after she turned down his demand for money, police said on Wednesday.

The incident took place yesterday when accused Aftab Khan poured kerosene on Jaispal Khan and set her on fire at her residence in suburban Mankhurd, after she refused him money, they said.

The woman sustained 95% burn injuries and was rushed to Sion hospital, where she is undergoing treatment.

"Jaispal, a fish seller, was married to Javed Khan seven years ago but she was not staying with her husband and was having an affair with the accused for past four years," police said.

Police have registered a case of attempt to murder against Aftab and launched a manhunt to arrest him.

Women vandalise Mumbai's bar for selling 'Balaatcar' cocktail

2013-01-03 12:37:00

Mumbai: A group of women representing the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) expressed their anger and vandalised a famous bar, Bonobo, here on Wednesday, raising objection to a cocktail called 'Balaatcar' (Rape) being served by Bonobo.

Activisits alleged that the bar has been promoting a casual attitude towards a heinous crime like rape.

Women representatives also demanded the arrest one of the owners, Nevile Timbadia.

Recently the brutal gang rape and death of a 23-year-old girl in New Delhi has sparked nation-wide protest and debates on the issue of sexual offences against women in India.

Indian Navy boat race to kick off in January

2013-01-03 14:32:00

Mumbai: The Western Fleet Pulling Regatta (WEFREG) of the Indian Navy is scheduled to be held on January 13, 2013. This event is one of the most prestigious and coveted event of Western Fleet. The event showcases the strength of the ships as the men of qualified ships pull their boats together in various categories to prove the might of their ship.

13 teams will be participating in the WEFREG this year. Families of naval personnel and invitees for the event witnessed the recces from INS Viraat and INS Deepak.

Did this college wait for brutal murder to install CCTvs?

2013-01-03 15:41:00

Mumbai: In the wake of a recent murder of a student by his collegue, the Chetna College in Bandra college had decided to install CCtvs in its campus.

The college is reportedly trying to distract students' attention from the tragedy, by involving them in extra-curricular activities. "CCTVs have always been part of our infrastructural development. It is not an initiative that was thought about now," said a college official.

On December 22, a third-year BMS student Nikhil Bankar stabbed his friend Payal Balsara and killed himself. Payal succumbed to her injuries three days later. The incident happened in the college premises on the staircase leading to the second floor of the building. The entire college was shattered by the deaths of two students within three days.

(With inputs from TOI)

BEWARE: Driving without licence may land you in jail

2013-01-03 16:41:00

Mumbai: Despite the cancellation of licence of 41,000 persons and cases filed against 45,000 in the last few years for drunk driving, there seems to be no respite from increasing incidents of road accidents in the city. The traffic police booked 845 people on the night of December 31 alone for drunk driving case. Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan has advocated stern action including imprisonment for those driving without a driver’s licence.

The chief minister, who also holds a portfolio in transport department, was concerned over the increasing incidents of road accidents mainly caused by teenagers. The CM has asked competent authorities to initiate stricter actions against guilty drivers.

Chavan drew resemblance between driving without licence with juvenile handling a loaded gun. He further said there was an urgent need to change rules and laws related to driving in absence of licence. At present, if a person is found driving a vehicle without driver’s licence, there is a provision of a fine of Rs 750 (Rs350 for the driver and Rs400 for the owner) without any imprisonment for either of two.

In the last six months, there were three cases of accidents caused by teenagers.

The chief minister further sought suggestions to improve the driving condition in the city. “A joint committee of the transport and home department will be set up to make a decision on other suggestions that are harder to implement,” said Chavan.

The Maharashtra chief minister inaugurated the 23rd ‘Road Safety Week’, organised jointly by the transport department, the Mumbai traffic police and Western India Automobile Association (WIAA).

On Valentine Day, 1 billion women to dance for dignity and freedom

2013-01-03 17:32:00

Mumbai: On this Valentine Day on 14 Feb, American activist and playwright Eve Ensler plans to bring together one billion women living around the world to demand space, dignity, rights for themselves and to be free from abuse through her campaign ‘One Billion Rising’.

Known worldwide as the author of The Vagina Monologues, Ensler is in Mumbai to promote her campaign. She will further discuss about her ‘One Billion Rising’ campaign at a special Hindi performance of the play based on her book at The Comedy Store scheduled on January 6.

The ‘One Billion Rising’ movement plans to celebrate the 15th anniversary of V-Day, an international organisation founded by Ensler on February 14, 1998, to end violence against women.

“In 15 years, V-Day has helped change laws, make new ones and seen many victories, but the violence has not ended,” said Ensler who wants greater participation from women to assert they will not endure any more violence. “We chose dance as a means of expression because it is communal, contagious and takes up space.” So far, women’s rights organisations from 179 countries have pledged to participate in her campaign while she is expecting more women to join.

Ensler hopes her movement will strike a chord with people in India in the wake of recent outrage against the Delhi gang rape. “This is a catalytic moment in India. The fire against violence is spreading,” said Ensler.

CMAT deadline extended till Jan 9; have you applied?

2013-01-03 20:35:00

Mumbai: The deadline for CMAT registration has been extended till January 9, according to a notification on the official website of Common Management Admission Test.

The 3^rd edition of CMAT is now scheduled to be held between February 21 and 25. The test was introduced last year by the AICTE to do away with multiple entrance tests and is the entry requirement to more than 3,000 management institutes across India.

For the first CMAT conducted in February this year, around 70,000 students from across the country had registered. For the second test, around 60,000 candidates had registered.

Naked body of girl found on Mumbai-Ahmedabad highway

2013-01-04 00:56:00

Mumbai: An unidentified naked body of a young girl was found lying on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad highway on Thursday. The age of the girl is in between 20-25 years and her body had several injury marks.

According to the local people the body was found near an old building on Mumbai-Ahmedabad highway on Thursday morning.

Deep bruises were found on the girl's head and her clothes were found at some distance from the body. The police have sent her body for post mortem at Mandvi hospital.

Criminal-Police nexus: Seven Mumbai cops suspended

2013-01-04 01:42:00

Mumbai: The City Police Commissioner's office has suspended seven cops after they were indicted by an enquiry against them, they said.

One of the seven cops had allegedly given his mobile phone to two gangsters when they were taken out of jail for medical check up at JJ Hospital which was used to make an extortion call.

The enquiry was instituted after the two gangsters, who belonged to one Pandav Putra gang, called up a builder in suburban Santacruz from JJ hospital and demanded Rs 30 lakh in February 2011.

The mobile that was used to make the call belonged to one of the cops who had brought them to hospital. The enquiry launched into the incident found the cops guilty.

The seven cops suspended are Inspector Balkrishna Gurav, Assistant Sub-inspector Pramod Gaikwad, Constable Nandlal Devre, Constable Sanjay Girkar, Constable Devendra Pange and two women constables Usha Bagul and Kavita Borse.

The police said that the two gangsters Deepak Walekar and Ramesh Junnagade spoke to the builder for five minutes.

The cops, in their defence during the enquiry, said that the mobile phone was given to the gangster as he told them that he wanted to talk to his family.

Though the police sources confirmed the incident, they did not comment when asked whether any penal action would be initiated against the errant police.

Bombay: HC quashes government’s decision on hiring security guards in banks

2013-01-04 02:59:00

Bombay: The Bombay High Court has quashed Maharashtra Government's decision asking a foreign bank to hire security guards provided by a state agency. The court also set aside the government order rejecting the exemption sought by the bank from an existing statute in employing private guards.

The court was hearing a petition filed by Standard Chartered Bank challenging the state government's decision to employ private security guards through Security Guards Board (SGB) constituted by the state government.

The state order recorded that the bank was obliged to employ security guards provided by SGB and turned down the bank's application for exemption under Section 23.

The judges noted that the authorities had obviously not considered the statements and undertakings given by the bank, while rejecting its application seeking permission to employ private guards.

Mumbai: Six-week-old baby dies after bitten by rat

2013-01-04 03:28:00

Mumbai: A six-week-old baby died on Wednesday after a rat bit away her cheek and part of her nose.

However, the initial postmortem report said that the girl died of pneumonia, the police said.

The police said that the parents of Sakshi Yadav, a resident of suburban Borivili, rushed her to the civic-run Bhagwati Hospital at around 5.30 am, but she was declared dead before admission.

The police said that Sakshi slept near her parents and when her mother woke at 5 am, she saw the wounds after which she was rushed to the hospital.

Centre mulls ban on Sanatan Sanstha for terror acts in Mumbai

2013-01-04 05:21:00

Mumbai: The Central government on Thursday informed the Bombay High Court that it will decide within 45 days whether to declare Hindu right wing organisation Sanatan Sanstha under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA).

Members of the Santan Sanstha, a terror outfit, have allegedly carried out terror activities in areas around here.

A division bench of Justices A.M. Khanwilkar and K.K. Tated was hearing a petition filed by Vijay Rokade seeking a ban on the organisation.

The Maharashtra government has already recommended a ban on the organisation.

The Sanatan Sanstha has three cases, regarding bomb blasts, registered against it, according to the State government’s affidavit. The affidavit mentioned that the State Anti-Terrorism Squad had made a request to include the organisation as a terrorist organisation under the UAPA.

The next hearing will be held on March 11, when the Centre will have taken its decision.

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