1. Azmi Takes Over Zakir Naik’s Mazgaon School
Parents and students studying in Zakir Naik’s Islamic International School (IIS), in Mazgaon, can now breathe a sigh of relief. The school which was on the verge of shutting down, has been taken over by a welfare trust run by Samajwadi party MLA Abu Asim Azmi.
“Future of 185 students was at stake. Two days back we have signed the rent agreement and now Zakir Naik has nothing to do with it. It will be run by a trust called Niyaz minority, education and welfare trust and will be renamed as Avicenna International School. Avicenna is another name for Ibn Sina, who was a Persian polymath regarded as one of the most significant thinkers and writers of the Islamic Golden Age,” said Azmi.
He added further, “The teachers and other staff have not been changed. Even the syllabus will remain the same but with little changes. We do not wish to disturb the academic year of any student.”
The controversy surrounding Islamic preacher Zakir Naik had put a question mark over the fate of about 185 students studying in IIS. The Mazgaon school was being managed by the educational trust of Zakir Naik’s Islamic Research Foundation (IRF) and conducted classes from nursery to Std X.
After the Centre’s ban on IRF, the government had approached various Muslim educational institutes to take over the school, but no one accepted the offer. One of the institutions approached was Anjuman-I-Islam school, which is the largest Muslim educational institution in the state. But the authorities did not show any interest in running the school. According to Anjuman officials, they declined the offer because IIS followed religious teachings and not the state syllabus they followed.
Moreover, no one wanted to be associated with the school due to the controversy surrounding its founder.
After the ban on IRF in November last year, many worried parents had tried to withdraw their students from the school but they say it is difficult for them to get admission in other schools because of the school’s “reputation”.
State education minister Vinod Tawde had assured worried parents that the students will not be affected by the ban on IRF. “Ban on Islamic Research Foundation will not adversely affect students studying there,” he had said. But the management of Islamic International School had alleged that the education department was “doing everything possible” to shut it down.
Source: Mumbai Mirror
2. CBI Searches Peter, Indrani’s Worli Home
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Tuesday carried out searches at the Worli bungalow of former media baron Peter Mukerjea and his wife Indrani, as part of investigation into a case linked to former Finance Minister P Chidambaram and his son Karti over alleged favours granted in foreign investment clearance to INX Media. Peter and Indrani are in jail in connection with the murder of Indrani’s daughter Sheena Bora.
The CBI simultaneously carried out searches at homes and offices of Karti Chidambaram in Chennai, Mumbai, Delhi, and Gurgaon. The investigating agency had filed a first information report (FIR) on Monday on charges of criminal conspiracy, cheating, receiving illegal gratification, influencing public servants and criminal misconduct.
It is alleged that Karti received money from INX Media, owned by Peter and Indrani, for using his influence to manipulate a tax probe against it in a case of violation of Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) conditions to receive investment from Mauritius. Karti’s father P Chidambaram issued a statement in response to say that the government was using the CBI and other agencies to target his son.
According to the CBI, INX Media said in its records that Rs 10 lakh was given to Advantage Strategic Consulting (P) Limited, a firm “indirectly owned” by Karti, for management consultancy charged towards FIPB notification and clarification. The FIR also alleges that invoices of approximately Rs 3.5 crore were raised in favour of INX Group in the name of other companies in which Karti had substantial interests “directly or indirectly”.
The agency has registered an FIR against Karti, his company Chess Management Services, the Mukerjeas, INX Media, Advantage Strategic Consulting Services, and its director Padma Vishwanathan.
The allegations levelled by the CBI are based on the information given by a “source”, the FIR said. The CBI also searched Chidambaram’s home in Nugambakkam in Chennai
The CBI sources said INX Media was seeking investment from Mauritius, and was allowed by the FIPB and the finance ministry with a condition that only Rs 4.62 crore could be received. It said for investment in INX News Pvt Ltd, a separate proposal was required.
The company allegedly violated the conditions and received investment to the tune of 26 per cent in the capital of INX News which included foreign investment. It allegedly generated more than Rs 305 crore of FDI in INX Media against the approved inflow of Rs 4.62 crore by issuing shares to foreign investors at a premium of more than Rs 800 per share.
Source: Mumbai Mirror
3. Quick-witted Man Saves Toddler From Leopard Attack In Aarey
Nearly three years after the last man-leopard conflict in Khadakpada, a tribal hamlet inside the forests of Aarey Milk Colony, a three-year-old boy was attacked last night by a leopard in his backyard. Luckily, the child survived the encounter after a neighbour scared the animal away by raising a ruckus.
The incident took place between 8.30 pm and 8.45 pm on Monday night, when Ritesh Valvi was playing behind his uncle's home. The leopard was crouched behind a pile of firewood, and was first spotted by a neighbour, Ravi Bhusare.
At first, Bhusare mistook the big cat for a dog, but soon realised otherwise. "I immediately warned all the children playing outside to go inside. Ritesh went running towards his uncle's home, when the leopard pounced on him. On seeing that the leopard had grabbed Ritesh, I raised a din. Within seconds, the animal fled the spot," recalled Bhusare.
Ritesh has suffered injuries on his chest and throat and was treated at a private hospital at Vijay Nagar, Marol. He is out of danger and likely to be discharged tomorrow.
Ritesh and his parents live in Marol and were in Khadakpada to attend a family wedding. "Since the summer vacations are on, the mother and child decided to stay at our place for a day and were going to leave on Tuesday. But on Monday night, the leopard attacked the child," said Ritesh's uncle, Sandeep Baraf.
Locals are shaken up by the incident since it's been three years since the last man-animal conflict was witnessed here. While leopards are commonly sighted in these forests, they usually prowl in search of poultry or stray dogs. The villagers believe the leopard may have mistake the child for prey. Residents claimed they once again saw the leopard nearby after the incident.
Following the episode, the Thane Forest Department (Territorial) has increased patrolling in the area and camera traps have been installed to check the activity of the big cats in the area. The process of issuing compensation to the victim's family has also begun.
Khadakpada is surrounded by a forested patch, and villagers continue to demand that authorities install more powerful streetlights to keep leopards at bay.
Chief Conservator of Forest, Thane (Territorial), Sunil Limaye said, "The incident that took place is really unfortunate and our officials are investigating it. Camera traps have been installed in the pada to check the movement of leopards."
Source: Mid-day
4. Do Not Mess With My Bus
Do not change the colour of the city’s buses: that’s the message a large number of Mumbaikars have for the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport Undertaking (BEST). They say that changing the colour of the buses from red to white and yellow would be akin to changing the character of the city. The feedback is in response to a survey conducted by the beleaguered BEST, which is attempting to begin things anew.
On April 27, BEST had introduced two buses, including an air-conditioned vehicle, on a pilot basis. The buses, part of a month-long survey, featured a new colour scheme, which was designed by a group of JJ School of Art students. BEST’s then general manager, Jagdish Patil, had said that the company would make a final decision on the colour after collecting feedback from regular commuters. The survey is nearly complete, and, according to BEST officials, an overwhelming number of commuters still prefer red.
“90% of commuters have favoured the original red colour. I, too, prefer it that way. The red BEST bus is iconic and an integral part of Mumbai’s identity,” said Sunil Ganacharya, BEST committee member. His colleague Ravi Raja, too, opted for red. “Though I am waiting for the final report of the survey, I feel that the BEST bus should be red, as it is part of Mumbai’s heritage.”
It is not clear if the first bus run by the then Bombay Electric and Tramways Co Ltd – the service was from Afghan Church to Crawford Market – was red, but, according to BEST officials, their buses have been red since Independence. When the BMC took over the BEST Company in 1947, 242 buses operated on 23 routes and serviced 2.38 lakh passengers daily. Today, around 4,000 buses ferry 30 lakh passengers on over 500 routes.
The colour change is one among many measures planned by BEST to lift itself out of a deep financial trough. These include providing free Wi-Fi and entertainment options for passengers.
Source: Mumbai Mirror
5. Want Meds? Give Us Your Debit Card And Pin, Says Kem Hospital's Pharmacy
Even as 74 countries round the globe are dealing with a sophisticated ransomware cyber attack, locally, patients at one of the largest tertiary hospitals are being subjected to a vulnerability of the silliest variety. At KEM Hospital, with ATMs running dry and no wireless card machine, the pharmacy is expecting customers to simply hand over their debit cards and their PINs to a stranger behind the counter, or else figure out a way to pay in cash.
On May 15, this reporter went to verify the reports out of the hospital, and headed to the pharmacy inside KEM, only to be met with a serpentine queue.
mid-day also spotted the man at the counter seeking the customers' debit cards and making them write their PINs on a piece of paper. When some refused, they were asked to simply pay in cash — which at the time was not possible considering the ATM machines in the premises are all running dry.
Justifying the demand
When a patient questioned the absurd practice, one of the attendees replied, "We don't have wireless card machines, so we have to take it to another counter to swipe," adding, "A wireless swipe machine becomes costlier for patients, as the charges go up and the patients start shouting about it, so we do this."
However, cyber experts say that the practice of making patients write down their ATM pins makes them vulnerable to cyber crime or card siphoning.
Patients miffed
Saumya Pandey, an IT professional, was at the KEM Hospital for dental treatment when she was made to hand over her pin.
"I tried to withdraw money from the ATM in the hospital, but as it is dysfunctional, I decided to pay through my card. I was shocked when they asked me for my pin number after taking my card. Then one of the pharmacists went to another counter inside the emergency ward and swiped my card."
Source: Mid-day
6. Penguins Are Proving To Be Costly
This is a classic example of double whammy. Taxpayers, who have already spent Rs 60 crore on the Humboldt penguins, will have to shell out Rs 100 every time they want to view the flightless birds at the Byculla zoo, if the proposed 20-fold hike in zoo entry fee is cleared by the civic standing committee on Friday.
The BMC is keen to increase ticket prices for entry to the Veermata Jijabai Bhosale Udyan and Zoo from Rs 2 to Rs 25 for children up to 12 years and from Rs 5 to Rs 100 for adults or a family of four.
Entry is free for students of municipal schools and senior citizens.
The proposal, which was passed by the civic body’s garden committee on Monday and will now get forwarded to the standing committee for final nod, has been variously dubbed as “double taxation” and “interest fee” by members of Save Rani Bagh Botanical Garden Foundation (SRBBGF) and NAGAR, an NGO fighting to save open spaces in Mumbai.
“First, the BMC imports the penguins from South Korea and taxpayers paid for it. Then, taxpayers’ money was spent on building an enclosure and paying the contractors for the upkeep of the birds.
Now, we, as taxpayers, have to again pay entry fee to enter the zoo, which is obviously drawing crowds because of the penguins. The issue is of restricting access to people, who otherwise can enter Byculla zoo for free. Morning walkers and botanists, who regularly visit the area, will be the worst-hit,” said Hutoxi Rustomfram of SRBBGF.
DM Sukhtankar, former municipal commissioner, agreed that there was no rationale behind the proposed entry fee hike for Byculla zoo.
“Just because penguins are attracting more visitors, the BMC is charging Rs 100 to bring down the footfall,”Sukhtankar said.
Meher Rafat from NAGAR claimed that the law prohibits any authority from erecting a physical barrier and allowing only selective entry.
“This is a monetary barrier created by the BMC and it is circumventing the law. In a judgment, the Bombay High Court has spoken about paramount importance of open spaces in people’s lives,” said Rafat.
Souce: Mumbai Mirror
7. Suspended Encounter Specialist Reinstated
Controversial police officer Pradeep Sharma, who was suspended in connection with the killing of Chhota Rajan aide Ram Narain Gupta alias Lakhan Bhaiya in an encounter in 2006, has been reinstated in the force.
Though the Maharashtra Administrative Tribunal (MAT) had revoked Sharma’s suspension in 2009, he did not immediately move an application for his reinstatement. Sharma applied to get his job back only this year and his plea was accepted.
Confirming Sharma’s reinstatement, Director General of police, Satish Mathur, on Tuesday said: “Government has issued orders in compliance with the Maharashtra Administrative Tribunal order.”
This is the third time that Sharma, who has around 105 encounters to his name, has been able to overturn his suspension from the force. Earlier, he was suspended in 2006 in connection with the custodial death of the 2003 serial train blasts accused Khawaja Yunis and in 2008 he placed under suspension for his alleged underworld connections.
Sharma, who joined the force in 1983 as a sub-inspector, was part of a clutch of officers known for bumping of criminals when the underworld was at its peak in the late nineties. The others bestowed upon with the dubious title of encounter specialists were -- Daya Nayak, Prafful Bhosale and Vijay Salaskar, who laid down his life fighting terrorists in November 2008.
Though Sharma was acquitted in the Lakhan Bhaiya encounter case, his associates, senior inspector Pradeep Surywanshi and thirteen constables and seven civilians, were convicted for the murder.
Lakhan Bhaiya was picked up on November 11, 2006 from Vashi in neighboring Navi Mumbai on the suspicion of being a Chhota Rajan gang member along with his associate Anil Bheda. He was killed the same day in an encounter near the Nana Nani Park in Versova. Cops said Lakhan Bhaiya was fired at when he tried to escape. In July 2011, Bheda was found dead in Thane. Sharma’s life as a cop was reprised by Mahesh Manjrekar in a Marathi film titled ‘Rege’ in 2015. Sharma has two years of service left before retirement.
Source: Mumbai Mirror
8. BJP Nudges BMC To Reach Out To ‘Sister Cities’ Overseas For Byculla Zoo Revamp
After its calamitous shot at roping in a local contractor for the penguin project as part of the Byculla zoo revamp, the city administration, nudged by Bharatiya Janata Party which holds the civic reigns with Shiv Sena, is looking for international contractors who can finish reanimating the zoo without scandal, but there are no takers.
Official said that the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation is struggling to find global firms for the revamp, a Shiv Sena enterprise, since they are hesitant to commit to the scam-tainted project.
The BJP, meanwhile, wants the BMC to reach out to ‘sister cities’ like Yokohama (Japan), Shanghai (China), Busan (South Korea), and Stuttgart and St Petersburg (Germany) and see if they can share their know-how in giving the zoo a facelift. In all, Mumbai is linked with 10 sister cities and many of them have world-class zoos.
Civic officials in turn said they could contact zoos in these cities for help if they fail to find reputable contractors with sound experience in building zoos.
The Rs 2.52-crore project of importing the penguins and building enclosures for them saw a number of hiccups and anomalies, especially the involvement of a fraudulent contractor who lied about his credentials, making bogus claims of a joint venture with foreign firms to grab the project.
Calling attention to this mismanagement of the first half of the project, BJP group leader in the BMC, Manoj Kotak, wrote to municipal commissioner Ajoy Mehta last week to make a case for enlisting help of the sister cities. “This issue has proven to be the biggest setback to the BMC and has caused irreparable damage to its image. Mumbai is connected to several international cities through the Sister-City International (SCI) concept. These cities have world class zoos and have the expertise in constructing and maintaining them too. The BMC must take advantage of their experience instead of banking on local contractors,” Kotak said in his letter.
SCI is a non-profit citizen diplomacy network that creates partnerships between communities through the establishment of ‘sister cities’. Through this web, local bodies can seek global cooperation at the municipal level, among other things.
Source: Mumbai Mirror
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