1. ESIC Hospital Fire: 20 Cylinders Found Stashed Inside ESIC Canteen, Says Report
The fire department's investigation into the massive blaze at the ESIC Hospital in Marol on December 17, has revealed that more than 20 LPG cylinders were stored in the hospital's canteen. The probe report said the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has not yet received documents related to permissions for setting up the canteen.
The report said sparks/burning spatters from welding work passed through the opening of the second floor fire duct and came in contact with combustible material like stocks of nitrite rubber insulating materials, wooden boxes, adhesive, tins of paint and packing materials kept for renovation work in the ground floor storage area. It states that as the hospital doesn't fall under the BMC's jurisdiction, it was difficult to go through the required approvals of the hospital building, but still they want the MIDC chief fire officer to inspect the premises to find out whether there were irregularities.
Source: Midday
2. Sahgal’s Invite Rescinded As She Planned To Speak On Lynchings: Shiv Sena
The Shiv Sena on Tuesday alleged that author Nayantara Sahgal’s invite to the 92nd Akhil Bhartiya Marathi Sahitya Sammelan at Yavatmal was rescinded after the organisers learnt about her plan to speak on cow-related lynchings, politics of hatred and “misuse” of government machinery for political revenge.
An editorial in Sena mouthpiece Saamana said: “Sahgal, in her printed speech that was sent to the organisers already, said that all the citizens should feel ashamed of the cow-related lynchings, politics of hatred, using the government machinery for political vendetta, political pressures on the journalists, and the murders of the authors in broad day light. The organisers might have thought commercially that Sehgal coming to the literary conclave means losing government favours.
Source: The Indian Express
3. ‘Peter Mukerjea Played No Role In Plotting Sheena Bora’s Murder’
The lawyer of former television executive Peter Mukerjea told the special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court on Monday that his client had no role to play in the conspiracy to murder Sheena Bora.
Mr. Mukerjea, who was arrested by the CBI on November 19, 2015, has been in judicial custody from December 2015. His last bail plea was rejected on November 16, 2016. Advocate Shrikant Shivade said Mr. Mukerjea had only made a few phone calls to his wife Indrani Mukerjea, and prima facie there was no material to deny him bail.
Source: The Hindu
4. Key Witness In Kidney Racket Case Commits Suicide Near Mumbai
A 26-year-old man was found hanging from a ceiling fan at his residence in Diva, on Tuesday afternoon. Thane Police suspect Sunder Singh Jatav, who was a key witness in the 2016 kidney transplant racket, was driven to commit suicide after his marriage fell apart.
Jatav’s body was discovered by a neighbour who called a close friend of Jatav’s to report a foul smell coming from his flat. “Jatav had fought with his wife on January 3 after which she left the residence. She told us about their fight and did not wish to go back to Diva. The next day, she boarded an express train to reach her hometown in Bihar,” said Jatav’s friend who reported the death to the police. He had tried calling Jatav, but wasn’t able to get through. “A neighbour informed me that foul stench was emanating from the flat after which I reached Diva and later informed the police. They broke open the door and found him hanging in the kitchen,” said Jatav’s friend.
Source: Hindustan Times
5. Uproar In BMC Over Loss Of Six Prime Plots In Mumbai
The general assembly of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) witnessed noisy scenes over the Shiv Sena giving up six prime plots in the city. The plots were reserved for setting up amenities proposed in the Development Plan (DP).
However, the Sena-led Improvement Committee ruled that the plots could not be acquired as they had been encroached upon. The Opposition criticised the Sena for the move and took to task the Improvement Committee chairman, Dilip Lande.
Source: The Hindu
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