1. Bombay HC Rejects Plea to Have Anna Hazare as Witness in Nimbalkar Case
The Bombay High Court on Monday refused to direct a lower court to examine social activist Anna Hazare as a prosecution witness in the 2006 murder case of Congress leader Pawanraje Nimbalkar, saying it has not found anything to show that Hazare's evidence would be useful to the case.
Justice Mridula Bhatkar dismissed an application filed by Nimbalkar's widow Anandidevi challenging an April 12 order passed by the sessions court exempting Hazare from being examined as a prosecution witness in the case.
The application claimed that Hazare was an important witness as he was aware of the conspiracy hatched by the prime accused and former state minister Padamsinh Patil to kill Nimbalkar. The application alleged that Patil had also conspired to kill Hazare. Justice Bhatkar on Monday said Hazare's evidence was only hearsay and that it was not direct evidence of the alleged conspiracy.
(Source: Mid-Day)
2. Sharad Pawar Slams Govt for Bhima Koregaon Violence
NCP chief Sharad Pawar has blamed the Maharashtra government for the failure of its law enforcement agencies to prevent the January 1riots at Bhima Koregaon in an affidavit submitted to the Bhima Koregaon Commission recently.
“It is not possible for anti-social elements with a strong political vendetta to come together at such a large number at Bhima Koregaon without the failure of the law-enforcing agency. Hence the state has to own up responsibility for a failed law-and-order situation on January 1, 2018,” Pawar said in the affidavit, which was filed last week.
(Source: Mumbai Mirror)
3. Uddhav Thackeray Attacks BJP, Says Central Government Doesn't Need Friends
In the first of his statewide rallies, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray Sunday made a veiled attack on the BJP by claiming that the ruling dispensation at the Centre "did not need political alliances". Thackeray Sunday addressed public meetings at Shirdi and Ahmednagar.
"When Atal ji's (Atal Bihari Vajpayee) government was there (at the Centre), it had the support of many political friends. (However), the current government does not need any political alliances," he said. In another swipe at the Union government, of which his party is a constituent, Thackeray asked people to find out the veracity of claims made in the speeches of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "I am asking party workers to find out how many people really benefited from the schemes of the BJP-led Central government. You should put up a poster of your findings next to that of PM Modi and let people decide," Thackeray told the gathering.
(Source: Mid-Day)
4. Congress Worker Found Dead in Ghatkopar
A 45-year-old Congress worker was found dead after being allegedly attacked in Ghatkopar’s Asalfa area on Monday.
While patrolling the area, officials from Saki Naka police station noticed the deceased, Manoj Dube, lying in a pool of blood, and took him to Rajawadi Hospital, where he was declared dead.
The police have registered a case of murder in Dube’s death and detained two suspects.
(Source: Mumbai Mirror)
5. Fewer Cabs, Higher Fares as Uber, Ola Drivers Strike
Monday morning blues came true for officegoers dependent on App-based cab services as hundreds of Uber and Ola drivers went on an indefinite strike in demand for higher fares and better rules, leading to fewer vehicles on the road and higher surge pricing. Commuters may have to brace for more ordeal as the drivers have vowed to not come back to work till their demands are met.
Led by the Maharashtra Rajya Rashtriya Kamgar Sangh, around 300 drivers assembled outside Uber’s office in Kurla on Monday, shouting slogans and waving placards with messages like “Uber go back” and “Ola is the biggest thief”. While some protesters beat up posters of Ola’s founder Bhavish Aggarwal with chappals, many vented their anger on Virat Kohli, Uber’s brand ambassador in India.
(Source: Mumbai Mirror)
6. Jet Airways Bleed Switch Fiasco: Flyer Claims He May Never Fully Recover
One of the five passengers, who suffered ear and nosebleeds last month after the crew of a Mumbai-Jaipur flight forgot to turn on the switch that controls cabin pressure, fears he may never fully regain his aural abilities.
Mukesh Sharma, a PhD research scholar at the University of Aveiro in Portugal, was diagnosed with “mild conductive deafness” during treatment at Nanavati hospital on September 20. The condition should ideally dissipate in 10 days, but Sharma says his doctor at government-run SMS Hospital in Jaipur have given a dim prognosis.
(Source: Mumbai Mirror)
7. Mobile Thief Puts Cops on Track in Khar Robbery
Over a month after three men tied up the wife and daughter of a Khar-based businessman and made off with Rs 63 lakh from his apartment, investigators on Monday detained two men who may have been involved in the crime. The breakthrough came about after they were tipped off by a thief, who was picked up for stealing a mobile phone last week.
“During questioning, the thief revealed that he knew the men involved in the Khar robbery. Based on the information, we picked up two of the men. We are in the process of questioning them and will be able to comment only afterwards,” said an officer.
(Source: Mumbai Mirror)
8. Sohrabuddin Shaikh Fake Encounter Case: Life of Star Witness in Danger, Says Wife
A special CBI court has ordered that a star witness in the Sohrabuddin Shaikh and Tulsiram Prajapati fake encounter case be given tight security while being brought presented in court, after his wife approached the court with an application claiming there was a threat to his life.
Interestingly, several accused in the case are deputed in the police force in the state from where he is being brought.
(Source: Mumbai Mirror)
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