1. 2008 Malegaon Blast Case: Was a Military Mole in Abhinav Bharat Meetings: Lt Col Purohit
Lieutenant Colonel Shrikant Prasad Purohit, an accused in the 2008 Malegaon blast case, told the Supreme Court on Thursday that he was caught in a “political crossfire” and was in jail for nine years without even charges being framed against him.
Purohit accepted that he had attended meetings of Abhinav Bharat, a right wing organisation whose members were accused of conspiring in the Malegaon blast, but claimed he had acted as “an army officer” and passed on the information to his senior officers about the group's activities.
A bench of Justices RK Agrawal and AM Sapre reserved its verdict on Purohit's plea seeking interim bail. Senior advocate Harish Salve, appearing for Purohit, said, “My client has got himself caught in political crossfire. He has been in jail for nine years but still he is serving in the Indian Army. Since 2001, he has got numerous recommendations for infiltration. From an unsung hero, he has been now called an incarcerated hero.”
(Source: Mumbai Mirror)
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2. Mira-Bhayandar Civic Polls: Fadnavis, Uddhav Train Guns on Each Other
As campaigning in the Mira-Bhayandar Municipal Corporation (MBMC) elections draws to a close, the war of words between the BJP and Shiv Sena continues to heat up. Both parties, which are contesting the polls separately, held well-attended rallies yesterday, and its leaders – chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray – never missed an opportunity to try and upstage the other. While Fadnavis emphasised that he took the important decisions, Thackeray slammed the government on various issues, including the chaos at the Mumbai University caused by the onscreen assessment system and the Gorakhpur tragedy.
The Sena chief promised that his party would scrap property tax on flats of 500 sq ft, and provide concessions on apartments under 700 sq ft. Thackeray also referred to the death of sixty children in BRD Medical Hospital, in Gorakhpur, and said that the government had money to distribute to voters, but no funds to pay for oxygen. While both alliance partners staked their claim on infrastructure development in Mira-Bhayandar such as the Metro project, and the Surya Dam, Fadnavis said that the buck stopped with him.
(Source: Mumbai Mirror)
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3. Not Moving to Delhi: Fadnavis
Seeking to dispel speculation in a section of media over his continuance as Maharashtra chief minister, Devendra Fadnavis said on Thursday there was no possibility at the moment of his moving to Delhi.
“There is no possibility as of now of my shifting to the Centre,” he said, adding he will continue as the CM “till Delhi calls”.
Addressing the state BJP executive meeting at Borivli in north Mumbai, Fadnavis also ruled out replacement of Maharashtra BJP president Raosaheb Danve from the post.
(Source: Mumbai Mirror)
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4. Top Crime Branch Cop Stripped of Powers for Being Rude, Unpunctual
Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime) KMM Prasanna has been stripped of his powers by Police Commissioner Dattatrey Padsalgikar following a spate of complaints, ranging from being rude towards his colleagues, to not reporting to work on time. Crime Branch sources said among the complainants were several women officers, who have accused Prasanna of `harassment' and showing `condescending attitude'.
Mirror has learnt that a fortnight ago, Prasanna, a 2000-batch Indian Police Service officer, was summoned to the Police Commissionerate and told he would now only look after the Crime Branch's administrative operations. "The meeting was also attended by Sanjay Saxena, the joint commissioner of Crime Branch, and it was made clear to Prasanna that he was to no longer assign any work to his subordinates. Even the three deputy commissioners who reported to him are now directly taking orders from Saxena," a Crime Branch source said.
(Source: Mumbai Mirror)
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5. Encounter Specialist Pradeep Sharma Returns to Police Force
Controversial encounter specialist Pradeep Sharma, 55, has resumed service in the police force. Senior Inspector Sharma, who has 113 encounter killings to his name, was dismissed from service under Article 311 of the Constitution in August 2008 for alleged links with underworld don Dawood Ibrahim.
He is said to be the inspiration behind the Ram Gopal Varma film, Ab Tak Chhappan (starring Nana Patekar).
(Source: Mid-Day)
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6. Fee Regulator Refuses to Entertain Parents' Plaints
In a blow to parents who challenged exorbitant fee hikes at schools, state fee regulator – Divisional Fee Regulation Committee (DFRC), Mumbai, --disposed of long-pending cases of parents in light of a recent High Court order.
The Bombay High Court ruled last month that only schools managements, and not individual parents, can move the DFRC with fee-related issues. A division bench of Justices Bhushan Gavai and Riyaz Chagla said the statute under which DFRC was constituted “does not provide for initiation of proceedings before DFRC, at the behest of individuals.”
(Source: Mumbai Mirror)
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7. No Immediate Solution in Sight for Mumbai Sailors Stranded in Scotland
It's been over a year, but there seems to be no help on the way for the 12 crew members, most from India (Navi Mumbai and Mumbai), detained on a supply vessel at Aberdeen Harbour, northeast of Scotland, UK, after their Mumbai-based company went bankrupt and said it couldn't help with their return. Supplies - fuel and food - have been depleting rapidly, with prospect of a rescue dim. The crew hasn't even got salary since then, making life difficult for their loved ones back home.
Running out
That very day (August 10), a crew member from Juhu, Clay Vaz, 52, said, the Scotland court had passed an order after listening to arguments from both sides that the vessel should be sold and the crew paid salary up to July 2017.
(Source: Mid-Day)
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8. Orbit Buyers Stare at Case Being Stalled
Over eight months after approaching the Bombay High Court and making two offers to the banks to settle the debts of Orbit Corporation, flat buyers of one of the projects may actually see the proceedings coming to a standstill with the State Bank of India filing insolvency proceedings at the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT).
Justice SJ Kathawalla, who is hearing the case filed by buyers of flats at Orbit Terraces, a luxurious residential project in Lower Parel, to take over the project by pooling in funds on their own, was informed on Thursday that the SBI filed the proceedings on August 14.
(Source: Mumbai Mirror)
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9. Wife Knifes Man for Watching TV With Kids, Ignoring Her
Upset that her husband was watching TV late at night instead of talking to her, a 31-year-old woman attacked him with a knife. The RCF police have now booked the woman on the basis of her husband's statement.
Out all day
The incident took place on Monday night at Vashi Naka, Chembur East, where the couple live with their two children. The woman, Shanti Das, had been at her mother's home all day. Her husband Suresh, a real estate, came home from work at 6.30 pm and found the house locked. Since the kids were already at his sister's house, he went there as well. At 11.30 pm, Suresh and kids returned home and waited another 15 minutes until Shanti arrived and unlocked the door.
(Source: Mid-Day)
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10. Now, Mandana Karimi Turns Teacher
Mandana Karimi, of Bigg Boss 9 fame, was in the news recently for filing a domestic violence complaint against her husband of six months, Gaurav Gupta, further alleging that at his behest, she had turned down films and television offers and was now without work. A month later, she withdrew the complaint and has taken up a teaching job with an NGO.
“I am trying to get back in shape and looking for an apartment. I haven’t got back to acting and modeling yet, instead I’m working with Angel Express and teaching underprivileged kids Maths and English from Monday to Friday. I have always wanted to be associated with an NGO.
(Source: Mumbai Mirror)
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