Cops nab man who posted obscene pics of former sister-in-law online

MUMBAI: The Goregaon police on Wednesday arrested a 32-year-old man for posting obscene photographs and video clips of his former sister-in-law on a social networking site. The accused, Vijay Panchal, was produced before a magistrate court and remanded in police custody till November 1.

The victim was married to Panchal's brother Nitesh for several years and later divorced. In 2012, the victim remarried and moved to Goregaon. In August this year, her siblings learnt that some obscene photos and videos of the woman had been uploaded on a social networking site. These were clicked some time ago by the woman's employer who had, on one occasion, spiked her drink. The photos had caused a rift in her first marriage and her employer had handed them over to her first husband. The cyber crime found out that Vijay had posted these pictures on the networking site to get back at her.

Cops arrested Vijay from Bhandup on Wednesday.

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Inflation dampens buying spirit ahead of Dhanteras

The onion crisis is hitting buying sentiment before Diwali. Retail stores report low bookings ahead of Friday's festival of Dhanteras. The demand for gold jewellery, electronic goods and steel vessels, usual yardsticks to judge buying sentiment, is badly hit. The real estate and automobile sectors also have little to write home about.

Consumers commonly place orders ahead of Dhanteras and take delivery on the auspicious day, which marks the start of Diwali.

Traders say government curbs on gold import as well as increased import duties have caused a scarcity of the yellow metal; so, fewer designs are available. "People are turning to silver instead," said Kumar Jain, vice-president, Shri Mumbai Jewellers Association.

On Wednesday, the official rate of 22-carat gold was Rs 28,798 per 10 gram and of 24-carat Rs 30,800. Goldsmiths charge an average of Rs 1,500 more owing to overhead costs. The rate at Waman Hari Pethe, Dadar, was Rs 30,340 for 22-carat and Rs 32,490 for 24-carat gold.

"Sales are flat," said Manoj Kothari of Kothari Jewellers near Andheri market. "In the 28 years since I am running this business, buying sentiment has never been worse. Where do people have money saved up to buy gold when inflation is hitting basic food consumption? Ornaments are lowest on people's list of priorities during bad times."

The jewellers of the Dadar cluster say this has been a dismal season. A representative of S M Pednekar said "nothing" was happening in the run-up to Dhanteras while Khandekar Motiwale said sales of pearl ornaments were sporadic. "We are waiting patiently to see if footfalls improve. There are a few days left for Diwali," laughed Ramakant Khandekar.

Salim Shaikh, sales executive at Satyam Appliances in Bandra, said, "Footfalls are down by 60% as compared to last year. Those who are coming to buy are old customers and most of them are exchanging old appliances for new." In previous years, people would place orders 15 days ahead of Diwali. "Slowly, that gap narrowed to a week and this season, buying started only on Wednesday, just two days before Dhanteras," Shaikh said.

The absence of big cash flows is seeing shoppers focus on low-end items like steel vessels to keep up the tradition of buying on Dhanteras. Over in Kandivli, early birds have been arriving to browse at leisure. "I am advising customers to book their items beforehand because the shop is very crowded on the day of the festival," said Uttam Patel of Kailash Steel.

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Home decorations sell briskly at street bazaars

MUMBAI: Gold and high-end consumer items are finding few takers before Diwali, but street bazaars are like oases in the desert. People are thronging to buy home decorations worth a few hundred rupees to keep up a measure of celebration. Decorative diyas, lanterns, fairy lights and rangoli patterns continue to sell briskly.

The prettiest kandeels, or Diwali lanterns, are found along the pavements of L J Road in Matunga-Mahim. By night, this stretch transforms into fairyland as vendors light up an array of globes, hexagons, octagons and lotus shapes to draw customers. This year, the piece de resistance is the "Gujarat model" kandeel crafted from cloth and elegantly finished with lace and sticks of cane. Each costs Rs 600-650.

All the vendors claim they produce handmade wares at the nearby Kandeel Galli. They draw a niche segment of buyers, given that their paper lanterns cost Rs 400-500 and last but one season. "People who want eco-friendly, handmade products still come to us. They like the traditional lanterns we prepare using classic kandeel paper, even though it fades in sunlight and is no good the following year," said Milind Pawar of Kadri Wadi, who has spent 30 years in the business. The faces of Shiv Sena and MNS leaders shine out this year as well.

Crawford Market is the nerve centre for Diwali shopping. On Tuesday evening, Thane resident Shridhar Narvekar seemed happy with the variety and pricing. "I have bought Chinese lights embedded in long strips that can be stuck to any surface. The bulbs are clad in rubber, minimizing the chance of electric shock. Other Chinese lights actually emit the sounds of firecrackers while they give the visual effect of an 'anar' fountain," he said.

His wife was drawn to patches of readymade rangoli that were encrusted with coloured stones and must merely be arranged on the floor. "Preparing designs in powder rangoli is a painstaking process. One feels bad if it becomes smudged. This is a wiser option," she said.

Narvekar bought a long adaptor cord that had multiple plug points for fairy lights. "You can string this upon the window grille and plug the lights in. You do
not need the services of an electrician anymore, and it costs merely Rs 100," he said.

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Street bazars see brisk sale of home decor

MUMBAI: Gold and high-end consumer items are finding few takers before Diwali, but street bazaars are like oases in the desert. People are thronging to buy home decorations worth a few hundred rupees to keep up a measure of celebration. Decorative diyas, lanterns, fairy lights and rangoli patterns continue to sell briskly.

The prettiest kandeels, or Diwali lanterns, are found along the pavements of L J Road in Matunga-Mahim. By night, this stretch transforms into fairyland as vendors light up an array of globes, hexagons, octagons and lotus shapes to draw customers. This year, the piece de resistance is the "Gujarat model" kandeel crafted from cloth and elegantly finished with lace and sticks of cane. Each costs Rs 600-650.

All the vendors claim they produce handmade wares at the nearby Kandeel Galli. They draw a niche segment of buyers, given that their paper lanterns cost Rs 400-500 and last but one season. "People who want eco-friendly, handmade products still come to us. They like the traditional lanterns we prepare using classic kandeel paper, even though it fades in sunlight and is no good the following year," said Milind Pawar of Kadri Wadi, who has spent 30 years in the business. The faces of Shiv Sena and MNS leaders shine out this year as well.

Crawford Market is the nerve centre for Diwali shopping. On Tuesday evening, Thane resident Shridhar Narvekar seemed happy with the variety and pricing. "I have bought Chinese lights embedded in long strips that can be stuck to any surface. The bulbs are clad in rubber, minimizing the chance of electric shock. Other Chinese lights actually emit the sounds of firecrackers while they give the visual effect of an 'anar' fountain," he said.

His wife was drawn to patches of readymade rangoli that were encrusted with coloured stones and must merely be arranged on the floor. "Preparing designs in powder rangoli is a painstaking process. One feels bad if it becomes smudged. This is a wiser option," she said.

Narvekar bought a long adaptor cord that had multiple plug points for fairy lights. "You can string this upon the window grille and plug the lights in. You do
not need the services of an electrician anymore, and it costs merely Rs 100," he said.

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Traffic cop-MMRDA row delays Kherwadi flyover

MUMBAI: The construction of a flyover at the Kherwadi junction was supposed to start by October 28, but work is yet to begin. And the delay seems to be the fallout of lack of coordination between the planning and implementing authority, MMRDA, and the traffic police.

The flyover, which is aimed at decongesting traffic on the Western Express Highway in Bandra (E), was originally supposed be completed by 2007, but the authorities failed to get a no-objection certificate from the traffic police till recently. The BMC also took inordinately long to cover the stormwater drains for vehicles to use the path to enter the service road.

After MMRDA additional metropolitan commissioner Ashwini Bhide announced a fortnight ago that the work would begin by October 28, traffic authorities conducted a mock drill in the area on October 17 to gauge the problems that may arise during the constructions.

But since then, there has been no headway. Apparently, the traffic police have stalled the work as the MMRDA has not yet complied with its demand. "We asked the MMRDA to instruct its contractor to put up necessary diversion and no-parking signs at strategic points on and around the Western Express Highway. Those boards are crucial to ensure that motorists are aware of all the diversions and do not miss any turn or it may lead to huge snarls. Jams on the highway will affect traffic to and from the airports," said senior inspector Pradeep Temkar.

MMRDA officials, however, maintained they should have been told earlier. They seem to be upset that the traffic police have not yet finalized the road arrangements though the work order for the Rs 28-crore project was issued in May. "We will undertake the work as soon as the traffic police give us the green signal," said Dilip Kawathkar, joint project director, public relations, MMRDA.

Civic activists are incensed by the delay. "The authorities had enough time to execute the preparatory work for traffic management," civic activist Mohammed Afzal said. Anil Joseph, an activist from Bandra, said, "I suspect the delay is a deliberate act on the part of politicians who want to perform the bhoomi poojan just when the elections are round the corner."

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CBI arrests 2 engineers for taking bribe

MUMBAI: In a press statement, the Central Bureau of Investigation, ACB, Mumbai has registered a case against Shri Mukund Arvind Ghodke, Junior Engineer (QS & C), Commander Works Engineer (CWE), Deolali, Nashik for demanding and accepting bribe of Rs. 50,000/- from a complainant for clearing his pending bills of Rs. 60 lakhs.

Case No. RC 30(A)/2013 u/sec. 7 of Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 was registered against Shri Mukund Arvind Ghodke, Junior Engineer (QS & C), Commander Works Engineer (CWE), Deolali, Nashik based on a complaint. The demand was verified wherein accused agreed to accept Rs. 50,000/- against the final bills of Rs. 60 lakhs from the complainant. Thereafter CBI laid a trap and the accused was caught red handed while demanding and accepting the bribe of Rs. 50,000/- from the complainant.

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Eye, throat infections spike in muggy weather

MUMBAI: Increased humidity, fairly high temperatures and sporadic rainfall are forcing Mumbaikars to pay frequent visits to the doctor. Experts say humidity increases the virus load in the air, which in turn makes people vulnerable to conjunctivitis, upper respiratory tract infections and skin infections. If the weather continues to be the way it is for long, viral infections are likely to increase, doctors warn.

Ophthalmologists say conjunctivitis is common in the post-monsoon months. It has been only about 10 days since the monsoon has withdrawn and already quite a few cases have been reported. "When people suffer from cold, they may touch their eyes and thus transfer infection. We see that most patients with conjunctivitis also suffer from cough and cold," said Dr Hemant Thacker, who consults at Jaslok and Breach Candy hospitals.

"We have several patients with cough and cold. Though fever subsides in a few days, body ache and a low platelet count persists, thus causing weakness," Dr Thacker said.

Dr Khusrav Bajan, intensivist at Hinduja Hospital, said patients have reported four types of viral infections. "Dengue has been present since the start of the monsoon. But of late, the number of patients suffering from lower respiratory tract infections has increased. They come with high-grade fever and cough that refuses to go for 10 days. Besides, viral gastroenteritis and conjunctivitis, along with skin reactions, are also common," Dr Bajan said.

What happens is that the body is unable to adapt to weather changes, explain doctors. "The cilia, or the protective hair within the respiratory tract, are not able to adapt to changes in the weather outside. Even the immunity system becomes weak, which results in cough and cold. This may go on till weather conditions settle," said Dr Bajan.

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Congress seeks Shivaji Park ground for function

MUMBAI: The Congress on Tuesday assured the Bombay high court that it would not violate noise pollution norms and also protect the cricket pitch at Shivaji Park ground here if it was allowed to use the place for holding its Foundation Day in December this year.

This was stated by Mukesh Vashi, counsel for Congress, before a bench of Justices S C Dharmadhikari and Gautam Patel.

Vashi assured that Congress would lay down a carpet on the ground to protect the cricket pitch.

The court observed that Shiv Sena, which too was granted permission to hold Dussehra rally at Shivaji Park grounds, had flouted the noise pollution norms and also damaged the cricket pitch, despite giving a assurance that it would not do so.

"What is the use of giving an undertaking that laws would be obeyed when in fact they were being violated?" the Judges asked.

However, Congress assured that they would give an undertaking that noise pollution laws would be complied with and cricket pitch protected.

The Judges asked the Congress why it was so keen on holding its function at the Shivaji Park ground which had been declared as a "silence zone" earlier by the high court?

"Why the party was not considering to celebrate the event at some other ground such as MMRDA in Bandra?" the bench asked.

The judges also quipped, "Are you (Congress) ready to pay security deposit in nine figures?"

To this, the Congress' counsel said in a lighter vein, "We are a poor party, Sir".

The court also wondered what was the urgency for the Congress to seek permission for the ground now as the function date was far away. However, the party said it had to invite dignitaries and hence needed time to make preparations.

WeCom Trust, on whose plea the high court had earlier passed orders declaring Shivaji Park ground as a silence zone, said loud speakers or public address system were not allowed at any functions held at this place.

It pointed out that a committee appointed by the high court to monitor noise pollution in this place had stated in its report that Shiv Sena flouted the noise pollution laws.

The matter would be heard on November 12.

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Maharashtra must follow central, BMC cell guidelines on mobile towers: Milind Deora

MUMBAI: Union minister of state for communications Milind Deora has written to the state, asking it to ensure that the new policy on mobile towers doesn't "completely bypass" the guidelines of the Centre and the BMC.

"I urge you to incorporate the department of telecommunications' (DoT) guidelines and the final draft policy of the BMC in the gazette notification of the urban development department," Deora has written to chief minister Prithviraj Chavan. On October 3, the urban development department issued a notification proposing a new mobile tower policy but unlike the BMC, it did not ask for exclusion of cell towers at schools, colleges and hospitals. It also did not mandate a written consent of 70% occupants of the building before a tower is installed there.

Opposed to the state ignoring suggestions from the Centre and local bodies, Deora said in the letter, "The DoT issued revised guidelines on August 1.... These guidelines were issued to all states based on detailed discussions with stakeholders, including citizens' groups of Mumbai. Based on the same guidelines, the BMC, in consultation with citizens' groups and corporators, issued the final draft policy on September 11. The BMC draft guidelines... covered the finer nuances for an urban city like Mumbai having high population density and high rise buildings."

He further pointed out: "Now I am made to understand that the state seems to be ignoring revised guidelines from the Centre and the civic body. This could send out wrong signals to Mumbaikars and citizens of Maharashtra." Deora also offered any technical advice from DoT if the state required. "There should also be an effective redressal mechanism in the revised guidelines," he said.

But allaying fears of negative effects of mobile radiation, a Cellular Operators Association of India said, "If towers are not allowed on schools, colleges, hospitals and other such buildings, it will adversely affect connectivity. It will lead to call drops and you will not be able to make calls properly." Maintaining that it was "safe" to have cell towers on such buildings, he said, "In some foreign countries, cell towers have been installed on schools and hospitals and there has been no health risk."

Anti-radiation activist Prakash Munshi and actress Juhi Chawla had recently met state officials, who apparently assured them that the suggestions from citizens' groups would be incorporated in the new state policy. "We were promised that the central and civic draft policies will not be overruled. Let us wait and watch," Munshi said.

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Doctors report 50% drop in cases of dengue across Mumbai

MUMBAI: After causing havoc for nearly two months, dengue may finally be showing signs of receding. Doctors across the city have witnessed at least a 50% dip in cases from around four weeks ago.

Nearly 800 people have been detected with the virus this month. "Several other viral infections are in circulation now. So, doctors should refrain from indiscriminate dengue testing as that may distort the real picture," said Dr Hemant Thacker, consultant physician with Breach Candy Hospital. The incidence of dengue, a mosquito-borne viral disease, rose since the onset of the monsoon, with cases and fatalities peaking in September and October.

Infectious diseases expert Dr Om Srivastava, who consults with Jaslok Hospital, said that a couple of dengue cases are trickling in daily even as hospitalizations are few. "Dengue usually retreats by the end of October, but this year has been exceptional. We have to wait and watch for another fortnight and remain alert," he said.

Dr Bhupendra Avasthi, director of Surya Child Care, said that four children with dengue are in the Santa Cruz hospital. "The number of patients was much higher till last week. Of the four, three are from the same family," he said. "Hospital admissions will decline as the panic related with dengue goes away. Given the concern with the rise and spread of dengue, parents did not want to take chances and preferred hospitalization."

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Panvel RTO to cut crowd, take 40 cases daily

PANVEL: The Panvel RTO will try to work on crowd management and streamlining the registration process as well, by coming up with an advance registration system from November 1.

"It is very difficult to disperse the crowd which is growing daily. Our staff, including the flying squad, is mostly busy in office work. This has adversely affected the surprise checks of vehicle," said RTO officer Sharad Jichkar.

People can register their name and the requisite service details in advance to get work done within a reasonable time frame.

The new system will take up only 40 cases per day. The work includes issuing new licences and fitness certificates. "This kind of registration system has been successfully introduced in property registration offices in the revenue department," added Jichkar.

With Raigad, Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg districts coming under its jurisdiction, Panvel RTO has to deal with hundreds of applicants every day.

In the last two years, about 65,000 new vehicles have been registered at Panvel. Though the workload has multiplied, the staff strength in the office has not increased proportionately. The peculiar situation has forced the people to make several rounds at RTO office.

Surekha Mhatre, a working woman, had to visit the RTO several times to renew her driving licence after taking leave from her office. Finally, she was forced to entrust the job to an agent who got the work done in a couple of hours. "We are at the mercy of agents and need better work management."

"We hope that the advance registration system can plug the loopholes and increase the efficiency of the services," said Jichkar.

Average 100 applicants visit RTO visit for license and fitness certificate.

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World Vegan Day on November 1 to promote a healthier, better world

MUMBAI: The World Vegan Day will be celebrated on November 1 this year. Vegan is a way of life without animal exploitation, especially, but not limited to what we eat. Vegans eat no animal products - no meat, fish, chicken, eggs, milk or even honey. Sanctuary for Health and Reconnection to Animals and Nature (SHARAN) is a non profit organization campaigning for a Vegan India.. They have enlisted the following benefits of being a vegan:

1. Less suffering from starvation : Today more than 40% of all the grain grown is fed to animals. All this food could be -given or made available- to starving human beings. Eating lower on the food chain is much more efficient. It is said that one billion humans could be saved from starvation if Americans ate just 10% less meat. Imagine what the world would be like if no one ate any meat.

2. Less Water shortages: The world is heading towards a drinking water shortage. On an average it takes 500 litres of water to produce 1 kg of potatoes, 600 for 1 kg of wheat, 2000 for 1 kg of rice, but up to 100,000 -for 1 kg of beef. India is the world's largest exporter of beef. 69 billion land animals are slaughtered each year for food. That's a lot of water saved if the whole world goes vegan.

3. More trees, forests greenery: Our diminishing forests are seriously threatened by grazing animals. 260 million acres of virgin forest in the world have been cleared for cropland to support a meat-centered diet with about 50 million more acres going every year to create more grazing lands or grow animal fodder.

4. More wildlife: More wildlife habitat means more wildlife.

5. More available energy: Eating animals or their products is energy intensive. It is said that the world's petroleum reserves would last for only 13 years if all humans were meat eaters but 260 years if all humans were vegetarian. Every single bit of meat and dairy has to be stored in refrigeration. That alone is energy intensive. The production of meat is also energy intensive -growing food for feed, transporting it to the farm animals (this currently happens across continents), transferring animals to stockyards, then slaughter houses, then packaging units to stores and finally into the consumers fridge or freezer till its eaten.

6. Less global warming: The WHO and FAO released a joint 400 - page document called Livestock's Long Shadow which notes that livestock produce more greenhouse gases than all the vehicles combined!

7. Less pollution of land, air, and water: Manure lagoons from concentrated animal feeding operations pollute our land, air and water supply. The high concentration of manure in the rivers and lakes kill billions of fish and aquatic life and leads to a growing number of abnormalities of marine animals.

8. Better health, less money spent on healthcare: Heart disease and hypertension are the largest causes of death on the planet. Only animals produce cholesterol and animal products are full of saturated fats. We are killing ourselves with our forks. Heart disease, hypertension diabetes, cancer and obesity are all linked to excess animal protein consumption. Healthcare costs would drop dramatically.

9. More social justice: What humans do to animals, they also do to each other. Racial discrimination and species discrimination are connected. Today discrimination, exploitation, sexual exploitation and violation, rape, murder etc have more animal victims than human victims but this is not even being acknowledged by the vast majority. By stopping these injustices on animals, and by attributing every form of life rights, we will create a more just society especially amongst humans.

10. Compassion for other living creatures: 69 billion land animals and countless more sea animals die every year to feed 7 billion humans that could have thrived on plants. Every animal fights till the last for the only thing it owns, its own life.

11. To be amongst celebrities: Bill Clinton, Alicia Silverstone, Amala Akkineni, Ellen DeGeneres, Bryan Adams, James Cromwell, Heather Mills McCartney, Michelle Pfeiffer, Carl Lewis, Kenneth Williams, Mike Tyson, Ruth Heidrich, Venus Williams, Rupert Murdoch, Steve Wynns and many many more are all vegan and thriving.

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SeaDrive Yatch Club's maiden Mumbai stopover launched

MUMBAI: State minister for tourism, Chhagan Bhujbal, on Sunday inaugurated the maiden Mumbai stopover of the SeaDream Yacht Club. The voyage will be sailing through Goa, Kochi and Port Blair onto Colombo, Phulet, Langkawi and Singapore.

"The Maharashtra government has declared the formation of an international cruise terminal at Mumbai to attract international cruise tourists from Europe and the US. Mumbai has several attractions to offer. We will provide a lot of facilities at the terminal," Bhujbal said.

Founded in 2001, SeaDream Yacht Club is the yachting venture by Norwegian entrepreneur Atle Brynestad. The company operates SeaDream I and SeaDream II, twin, ultra-luxury mega yachts that operate 5 to 20-night sailings in the Caribbean, the Mediterranean, the Black Sea and the Amazon River.

"SeaDream India was launched last month and there has already been a lot of response from travel agents here," said Sudesh Kishore, President, SeaDream Yacht Club, India.

Gitanjali Balani, Director - In Rhythm & India Representative for SeaDream said, "The elite Indian traveler is open to unique holiday experiences."

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FIR against 2 doctors for claiming 20% cut on medical bills

MUMBAI: An FIR has been registered against two senior doctors after they allegedly demanded bribes from two hospitals for clearing bills and patients' documents meant for grants under a state government medical scheme for the poor.
Dr Dharmendra Singh and Dr Narendra Singh were booked under the Prevention of Corruption Act after Riddhivinayak Critical Care and Cardiac Centre and Sanjeevani Surgical and General Hospital, both in Malad, alleged that they asked for a 20% commission on each of the medical bills sent for approval under the Rajiv Gandhi Jeevandayee Arogya Yojana.

The state has started the Rajiv Gandhi Jeevandayee Arogya Yojana for the economically weak , whose income is less than Rs 1 lakh per annum. Under the scheme , those who cannot meet their medical expenses at hospitals , can apply for a grant from the government that offers Rs 1.5 lakh to every family annually. Over 900 ailments are covered and benefactors can use their cards at any of the empanelled hospitals, public or private.

The government has assigned the task of distributing the funds to National Insurance Co Ltd, which, in turn, has outsourced the work to scrutinize the credentials of benefactors to a private company, MD India that acts as a third-party administrator . "The accused doctors' work was to check the patients' documents and sanction their bills sent from the hospitals where they had sought treatment. But Dr Dharmendra Singh and Dr Narendra Singh demanded a commission of 20% on every medical bill or Rs 20,000 per family ," said an ACB officer.

This is not the first case of doctors allegedly trying to siphon off money from a government fund set up to help the poor. In February, cancer patient Rajesh Singh had levelled a similar charge against former professor of surgery at JJ Hospital Dr T K Shahi and surgeon Wasim Ansari as well as a social worker, Irfan Tamboli. An oral cancer survivor, Singh had stated in his complaint that Dr Shahi, Dr Ansari and Tamboli, who was attached to Balaji Hospital , cheated him of Rs 2.5 lakh. Singh alleged that while the two doctors had charged him for the treatment, they pocketed the money claimed under the Rajiv Gandhi Yojana.

Advocate Vinay Rathi, who took up the case, said the Byculla police had never investigated the matter. "It was a big scam but the Byculla police, from the very beginning, were reluctant to register our complaint. More than seven months have passed but the accused doctors have not been arrested," he said.

Help for the poor

Under the Rajiv Gandhi Jeevandayee Arogya Yojana, residents with an annual income of less than 1 lakh can apply for a medical grant from the state that extends 1.5 lakh to every family annually. The plan covers over 900 ailments and beneficiaries can avail of the scheme at any of the empanelled hospitals.

Charge against docs

Dr Dharmendra Singh and Dr Narendra Singh checked credentials of patients availing of the scheme's benefits and cleared their medical bills sent from hospitals. They allegedly demanded a 20% commission on every bill or 20,000 for sanctioning the bill of every family.

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Plan to bridge Shia-Sunni gap this Moharram

MUMBAI: There cannot be a better time than Moharram to initiate a Shia-Sunni dialogue . As the Muslim month of commemorating the martyrdom of Prophet Mohammed's grandson Imam Hussain at Karbala (Iraq) commences on November 5, a group of clerics and scholars prepare to sit together and narrow the rift between the two major sects. The first of a series of meetings will be held at Islam Gymkhana near Marine Lines on October 30.

Leading the initiative is Islamic scholar and director-general of Wisdom Foundation Dr Zeenat Shaukat Ali. Ali is engaging around 40 senior clerics, preachers and imams for a roundtable discussion. "We want the ulemas (religious scholars) to lead the community in establishing peace. Muslims cannot be agents of peace till they demolish their own wall of sectarian divide," says Ali, a resident of Bandra (W).

A few years ago, a bloody conflict during Moharram in Mumbai's Dongri area was prevented by the timely intervention of elders from both the sects. "We never protest when Sunnis celebrate their festivals. We expect them to allow us to express our grief over Karbala's tragedy the way we want," says Safdar Karmali, president of Khoja Shia Asna Ashari Jamaat. Some are even trying to bridge the gap through audio-visual medium. Mohsin Ali Khan, producer of soon-to-be-released film Ya Rab (O God) has recorded interviews of nine prominent Shia and Sunni scholars and is advocating unity among the followers of the two sects.

Senior Sunni cleric Maulana Athar Ali suggests that one way to prevent a Shia-Sunni conflict is through eschewing use of foul language for the religious figures of the two sects.

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SeaDream Yacht Club's maiden Mumbai stopover launched

MUMBAI: State minister for tourism, Chhagan Bhujbal, on Sunday inaugurated the maiden Mumbai stopover of the SeaDream Yacht Club. The voyage will be sailing through Goa, Kochi and Port Blair onto Colombo, Phulet, Langkawi and Singapore.

"The Maharashtra government has declared the formation of an international cruise terminal at Mumbai to attract international cruise tourists from Europe and the US. Mumbai has several attractions to offer. We will provide a lot of facilities at the terminal," Bhujbal said.

Founded in 2001, SeaDream Yacht Club is the yachting venture by Norwegian entrepreneur Atle Brynestad. The company operates SeaDream I and SeaDream II, twin, ultra-luxury mega yachts that operate 5 to 20-night sailings in the Caribbean, the Mediterranean, the Black Sea and the Amazon River.

"SeaDream India was launched last month and there has already been a lot of response from travel agents here," said Sudesh Kishore, President, SeaDream Yacht Club, India.

Gitanjali Balani, Director - In Rhythm & India Representative for SeaDream said, "The elite Indian traveler is open to unique holiday experiences."

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SeaDream Yacht Club's maiden Mumbai stopover launched

MUMBAI: State minister for tourism, Chhagan Bhujbal, on Sunday inaugurated the maiden Mumbai stopover of the SeaDream Yatch Club. The voyage will be sailing through Goa, Kochi and Port Blair onto Colombo, Phulet, Langkawi and Singapore.

"The Maharashtra government has declared the formation of an international cruise terminal at Mumbai to attract international cruise tourists from Europe and the US. Mumbai has several attractions to offer. We will provide a lot of facilities at the terminal," Bhujbal said.

Founded in 2001, SeaDream Yacht Club is the yachting venture by Norwegian entrepreneur Atle Brynestad. The company operates SeaDream I and SeaDream II, twin, ultra-luxury mega yachts that operate 5 to 20-night sailings in the Caribbean, the Mediterranean, the Black Sea and the Amazon River.

"SeaDream India was launched last month and there has already been a lot of response from travel agents here," said Sudesh Kishore, President, SeaDream Yacht Club, India.

Gitanjali Balani, Director - In Rhythm & India Representative for SeaDream said, "The elite Indian traveler is open to unique holiday experiences."

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Afzal Usmani, absconding Indian Mujahideen operative, rearrested

MUMBAI: Fugitive Indian Mujahideen operative Afzal Usmani, who had escaped from a Mumbai court last month, was rearrested by Maharashtra anti-terrorism squad from a place in Uttar Pradesh on Sunday when he was trying to flee to Nepal, police said on Monday.

Usmani, an accused in the 2008 Ahmedabad bombings case, was arrested outside Rupadia railway station around 3.30 am, Maharashtra ATS chief Rakesh Maria told reporters.

Usmani's arrest materialized after his nephew Javed Nurullah Hussain Khan, who had assisted in his escape from Mumbai, was picked up by the ATS on October 25, Maria said.

The officer said Javed, who was arrested, informed ATS that Usmani was camping at Tatera village in Bahraich district of Uttar Pradesh with his relatives since fleeing the MCOCA court in Mumbai.

Following the input received from Javed, an ATS team reached Tatera village but Usmani managed to slip away. He was, however, tracked down to Rupadia railway station and arrested, Maria said.

He said ever since his escape on September 20, Usmani travelled to Indore, Bhopal and Jabalpur with Javed, son of his sister Safia Khatoon, a resident of Dharavi, before reaching Tatera.

He had sent Javed to Mumbai to fetch some documents which could help him conceal his identity before escaping to Nepal through the porous Indo-Nepal border.

In a major security lapse, the IM operative, who was brought to the Maharashtra Control of Organized Crime Act (MCOCA) court along with 18 others from Taloja Central Jail in Navi Mumbai on September 20 in connection with Ahmedabad blasts, had given police the slip.

According to police, Usmani was involved in stealing four cars which were used to transport explosives to Ahmedabad and Surat. He was also charged with planting bombs.

A series of 21 bomb blasts had rocked Ahmedabad on July 26, 2008, within a span of 70 minutes, killing 56 people and wounding over 200.

Some bombs were planted in tiffin carriers on bicycles. Many of the blasts targeted the city bus service, ripping apart portions of the vehicles. Two blasts took place inside the premises of two hospitals, about 40 minutes after the initial series of blasts.

26 unexploded bombs were found at different locations in Surat between July 28 and 30. Two cars filled with material required for making explosives and detonators were found parked on the roadside near a hospital and other on outskirts of Surat.

In e-mail messages to some TV channels, the home-grown terror outfit had claimed responsibility for the blasts.

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​ACP suspect in stepson’s murder, held

MUMBAI: An assistant commissioner of police was arrested on Saturday for his alleged role in the murder of his 25-year-old stepson. Rohan Jodage (25) was found with his throat slit at his fourth-floor Tilak Nagar flat in the wee hours of Friday.

Shivaji K Naravne, ACP, protection & security branch, was arrested based on Rohan's mother's statement that he was the last person seen with her son and had called her up before leaving at 4am around the time the crime allegedly took place .

"The victim's mother Nanda (45), said Naravne had called her from the flat at 4am on Friday, around the time Rohan is believed to have been killed, and told her that 'her son won't disturb her any longer'," a Tilak Nagar police official said.

Though Naravne has not confessed to the crime, he was booked under IPC section 302 (murder). He will be produced before the Bhoiwada holiday court on Sunday," Tilak Nagar police said.

Naravne, Rohan's stepfather, was initially called for questioning on Saturday. "He came to the police station only after additional commissioner of police (east region), Quaiser Khalid ordered him to be available for the inquiry," a policeman said.

Rohan had an argument with his mother Nanda on Thursday evening in the presence of his siblings, a friend and Naravne. "They had a heated argument when Rohan demanded that his mother transfer the flat in his name and another Rs10 lakh to start his own business. At 10pm, Rohan's mother claimed she went to her uncle's house in the neighbourhood while her younger son, daughter, Naravne and Rohan's friend stayed back. At 1.30am his brother, sister and friend left after a few drinks, leaving Rohan in the house with Naravne," said the police.

Four men who lived on the same floor said they found the flat door ajar early in the morning and saw Rohan lying in a pool of blood, but were too scared to report it. The murder came to light only when the police control room received a call at 10.12am on Friday. "The post-mortem report says Rohan was killed between 3-4am. Naravne left the house around 4am after calling Rohan's mother. His name cropped up when she was arrested on suspicion as the police team which reached the spot found her standing on the ground floor, not ready to enter the house. He is the prime suspect," police said.

Rohan's father, a doctor, left the family in 2009 after he learnt of his wife's extra-marital affair with Naravne. She reportedly married the cop in a temple the same year in Ratnagiri, where he was later posted. "He was then senior inspector in the same police station where he has been arrested in the murder case. Rohan's mother returned from Ratnagiri more than a year ago, when Naravne was transferred back to Mumbai," said the police. The ACP had arrested Rohan on several occasions for theft. "Rohan took to crime when he was given a meagre allowance after his father left," police said. Nanda said Rohan was a drug addict and unemployed and had often asked her to transfer the house in his name. She said she gave him only Rs20 for his daily expenses.

"Besides Naravne's role in the murder, we are also probing his marriages (approximately six) in the city," police said. Police have also seized the sharp object used in the murder.

The Victim

Rohan Jodage (25) was a school drop-out. His parents separated in 2009 after his father learnt of his mother's extra-marital affair with Shivaji K Naravne, then a senior inspector. His mother owns two flats at Tilak Nagar. He lived with his mother, younger brother and sister. His mother married Naravne in 2009, but Rohan and his stepfather were not on cordial terms.

Prime Suspect

Shivaji K Naravne joined the force in 1983 as a sub-inspector

He has served in various police stations in Mumbai and Thane

He was an inspector at the Ghatkopar and Shivaji Nagar police stations between 2003-07

He was a senior police inspector with Tilak Nagar police station in June 2007-November 2009

He was promoted as deputy superintendent and transferred to Lanja in Ratnagiri in 2009

He returned to Mumbai two years ago as assistant commissioner of police with the protection & security branch

Dispute, drinks & a murder

Thu, 7pm | Rohan had a tiff over property with his mother, sister, younger brother and ACP S K Naravne in his mother's fourth-floor Tilak Nagar flat. Rohan's friend was also present. Later Rohan, his brother, friend and Naravne had a few drinks

10.30pm | Rohan's mother left the house saying she would stay the night at her uncle's house, in the neighbouring building

Fri, 1.30am | Rohan's siblings and friend left the house, but Naravne stayed back

4am | Naravne left after calling Rohan's mother to say that her son will not trouble her any more

10.12am | Police reached the spot and arrested Rohan's mother who revealed that Naravne was the last person present in the house with her son

Sat, 8pm | Naravne was arrested under section 302 (murder) after detailed interrogation. However, he didn't confess to his involvement

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Akshay Kumar receives death threats

MUMBAI: Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar has received death threats over the phone from a man, who claims to be fugitive gangster Ravi Pujari, police said on Saturday.

"The caller recently threatened Akshay and talked about a domestic help, who was sacked by the actor a few days ago," said a crime branch officer.

Police suspect that it was just a prank call. "Prima facie it appears that it was a prank call," the officer said adding that the investigation was on.

Introducing himself as gangster Ravi Pujari, the caller threatened the actor, saying he made a mistake by removing his domestic help, the officer added.

The 46-year-old actor sacked his domestic help for some undisclosed reasons.

Despite repeated calls, Akshay's manager was unavailable for comments.

Recently, producer Boney Kapoor, producer-director Karan Johar, director Ram Gopal Varma and singer-composer Sonu Nigam had received threatening calls from underworld, police said.

Meanwhile, Mumbai Police chief Satyapal Singh plans to convey a meeting with Bollywood fraternity to instil confidence among them in the backdrop of alleged underworld calls.

"If the meeting takes place, then we would like to inform the Bollywood personalities that police are with them and they should not be worried of such calls," the officer said.

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Maharashtra CID to tell high court how it probed Mumbai girl's mysterious death

MUMBAI: Bombay high court is slated to hear on Monday a petition urging direction to the Central Bureau of Investigation to take over the probe into the death of a Mumbai girl who died mysteriously after partying in Pune.

The state crime investigation department been asked to reveal how it has conducted the probe by a division bench of Justice SC Dharmadhikari and Justice Gautam Patel. The petition is filed by Andheri resident Nagina Hasan, the mother of Sanam (19) a second year student of Bachelor of Fashion Communication at Symbiosis Institute of Design, who was staying at the college hostel. On October 3, 2012 a birthday party was thrown for her by employer at an apartment in Vadgaon Sheri. The next morning her parents, who were also in Pune, were called to Ruby Hall Clinic where she was already dead. The Sassoon Hospital chemical analysis report revealed Sanam died due to an ischemic heart and alcohol consumption. But her parents contested this saying she was an active football player.

CID took over the probe on November 2, 2012. A DNA test was conducted at Kalina Forensic Laboratory. When Hasan moved HC, her advocate Aniket Nikam had argued that the viscera initially sent to Sassoon Hospital was not of Sanam's because the DNA test at Kalina Forensic Laboratory revealed it was a male heart and the vaginal swabs did not match either.

On October 21, 2013, prosecutor Poornima Kantharia said to eliminate doubts "the samples are being sent to the forensic laboratory at Hyderabad". The judges questioned the alleged mix up of samples. "What were those samples? Where did they come from," asked Justice Dharmadhikari. The judges also asked if the investigation officer did not find all this suspicious. "Does your team prima facie accept that there is something not natural" asked Justice Patel.

The judges sought to know on what foundation the police proceeded with their probe. They asked if the premise was that there is something unnatural so as to answer the "parents' concern" and also added that "the police must be sensitive enough". The judges asked if there was CCTV footage and he was told by Nikam that there is none. Nikam also said since it was her birthday, Sanam received calls but there were no logs in her phone. Directing a detailed affidavit on the probe including medical inputs and all records, they judges added that, if necessary, a personal affidavit should be filed by the IO at the next hearing on October 28, 2013.

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Shekhar Suman spotted at a pre-Diwali celebration

Entrepreneur Anand Pandit and wife Roopa hosted a pre-Diwali get-together at their Juhu residence recently.

Among others, we spotted Sajid Nadiadwala, Bhushan Kumar, Kishan Kumar, Ramesh Taurani, Sunil and Krishika Lulla, Robin Bhatt, Annu Kapoor, Saawan Kumar Tak, Markand and Kaanchan Adhikkari, Himalaya and Bhagyashree, Daboo Malik, Harry Anand, Parag Sanghvi, singer Aishwarya Majumdar, and Mohomed and Lucky Morani.

Shekhar Suman, Raju Srivastav and Shailesh Lodha were seen bonding at the do. Music composer Anand Raj Anand paid tribute to legendary singer Manna Dey by singing his all-time gems like Kasme Vaade.

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Celebs at the launch of Salt Water Cafe

Entrepreneur Anand Pandit and wife Roopa hosted a pre-Diwali get-together at their Juhu residence recently.

Among others, we spotted Sajid Nadiadwala, Bhushan Kumar, Kishan Kumar, Ramesh Taurani, Sunil and Krishika Lulla, Robin Bhatt, Annu Kapoor, Saawan Kumar Tak, Markand and Kaanchan Adhikkari, Himalaya and Bhagyashree, Daboo Malik, Harry Anand, Parag Sanghvi, singer Aishwarya Majumdar, and Mohomed and Lucky Morani.

Shekhar Suman, Raju Srivastav and Shailesh Lodha were seen bonding at the do. Music composer Anand Raj Anand paid tribute to legendary singer Manna Dey by singing his all-time gems like Kasme Vaade.

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2 kg gold seized from passenger at Mumbai airport

MUMBAI: The Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) of Mumbai customs seized two kg gold worth around Rs 52 lakh from a passenger who flew in from Dubai on Sunday, sources said.

Arif Abdullah, a passenger who allegedly possessed the yellow metal, walked through the green channel, though only those passengers with nothing to declare are supposed to do so, AIU sources said. Those who have possessions to declare are supposed to take the red channel.

Acting on a tip-off, a team led by AIU assistant commissioner Rishi Yadav intercepted Abdullah, a resident of Kerala, after he walked through the green channel. A thorough frisking of Abdullah led to the seizure of the gold concealed in false pockets of his trousers. "We have seized gold bars worth around Rs 52 lakh and have recorded his statement. We still have to find out if there are others involved in this racket," sources added.

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Encourage students to learn ancient languages: Maharashtra governor

MUMBAI: Maharashtra governor K Sankaranarayanan has welcomed the trend among students to learn foreign languages, but added students should also be encouraged to learn languages like Sanskrit, Pali, and others which hold a vast treasure of knowledge and ancient wisdom.

In this connection, the governor expressed apprehension that if Indians did not study their own language, culture and history, they might have to take the help of foreign scholars and experts to understand India's history and culture.

The governor was speaking at the inauguration of the 22nd Session of the Indian Art History Congress in Mumbai.

The three-day Congress has been organized by the Heras Institute of Indian History and Culture in collaboration with St Xavier's College and the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalay.

Paying rich tribute to Father Henry Heras, the founder of the Heras Institute, the governor said even though Prof Heras was born in Spain, he was drawn by the influence of Indian history and culture and chose to dedicate his life to the study of the same.

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Rail enthusiasts can hop onto one of India's last steam engines

MUMBAI: Here's a bit of good news for railway enthusiasts. They can hop onto one of India's last surviving steam engines named 'Akbar' for a vintage train experience. The steam tourist train which was recently spotted in Bollywood film 'Bhag Milkha Bhag' consists of two bogeys and will be available for tours between Delhi and Alwar from October 26.

Akbar, named after the erstwhile Mughal emperor is one of the last surviving vintage steam locomotives in India and was manufactured at Chittranjan Locomotive Works. It is capable of speeds up to 110 kmph. Out of service for many years, it was restored and overhauled at the Amritsar workshop of Northern Railway in October 2012.

The tourist steam train is scheduled to start its journey from Delhi Cantonment Station and head to Alwar (138 kms) in Rajasthan via Rewari. Tourists can also stop by for some tiger spotting at the Sariska National Park near Alwar.

The unique experience will be available for tourists from October, 2013 to April, 2014 on every second and fourth Saturdays, stated a railway ministry official.

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States should acknowledge role of unpaid work

MUMBAI: An independent United Nations expert has underlined the need for more gender equality in the sharing of household work such as cooking, cleaning and caring for children and the elderly, an issue that is crucial but often overlooked in countries like India.

"I call on States to recognize unpaid care work as a major human rights issue," UN Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty, Magdalena Sepulveda, told the UN General Assembly's main social, humanitarian and cultural body (Third Committee) in New York. She pointed out that unpaid care that is not shared ingrains poverty and social exclusion for women.

Unpaid work has often been overlooked in policy making resulting in women who shoulder the double burden of work often laboring for longer hours than their male counterparts, at lower wages. The 2013 Global Gender Gap Report released just this week showed how no country had reached wage parity between the sexes, with women in most countries drawing lower salaries for the same work than that done by a man.

Sepulveda urged States to "ensure that the necessary public services and infrastructure - including childcare, healthcare, water and energy provision - are in place to support care, especially in disadvantaged areas."

Valuing unpaid work is a crucial step in valuing and empowering women in a particular society.

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Decide on civic police force : HC tells Maharashtra

MUMBAI: Bombay high court on Friday directed the State government to decide within 12 weeks on proposals by civic bodies for setting up a civic police force to deal with unauthorized constructions and encroachments. It also directed the government to expeditiously decide on establishing special courts.

A division bench of Justice Dhananjay Chandrachud and Justice Shirish Gupte on October 25, 2013 gave their verdict on a public interest litigation by Harit Vasai Sanrakshan Samiti regarding illegal constructions in Vasai-Virar belt. The PIL's scope was expanded to cover entire Thane district after more petitions were filed on the inaction of the civic authorities.

In 2009 the court constituted a high power committee headed by the chief secretary to evolve concrete solutions. The PIL was pending and in August 2013, HC was informed of the creation of a dedicated police force and special courts.

The judges directed the government to expeditiously consider and take a final decision not later than 12 weeks on the proposal for independent police stations and dedicated staff of police personnel submitted by Kalyan Dombivli Municipal Corporation, Thane Municipal Corporation, Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation and CIDCO. They said in the event of a corporation or council not submitting its proposal for independent police stations with staff, the government shall issue appropriate directions to them under the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning Act to constitute them. They disposed of the petition granting liberty to petitioners to move court in case of non-compliance by any authority or any difficulty.

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Cannot re-probe Laila Khan murder case: CBI tells HC

MUMBAI: Central Bureau of Investigation has told Bombay high court that it cannot reinvestigate the killing of actress Laila Khan and her family members.

CBI was responding to a petition filed by the Laila's father Nadirshah Patel seeking direction to the agency to re-investigate the murders saying he is not satisfied with the probe done by local police as it contains several loopholes.

In his affidavit filed on October 25, 2013 deputy superintendent Subhash Singh said Supreme Court has said CBI probe should be directed in exceptional situations and Maharashtra/ Mumbai police have specialised cells equipped with manpower and better infrastructure. He said the murders have already been investigated and chargesheet has been filed in the trial court.

Singh's petition said Patel has not laid any foundation before the court to issue the direction for reinvestigation of the case by CBI. Also that CBI is investigating many cases of sensitive nature referred by the various high courts and the Supreme Court,.`` Thus CBI is already overburdened with cases,'' said Singh, urging rejection of Patel's petition.

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HC transfers probe into principal's death to CBI

MUMBAI: Bombay high court on Friday directed Central Bureau of Investigation to take over the probe into the killing of a college principal saying the State Crime Investigation Department made no endeavour to arrest the real culprits.

A division bench of Justice S C Dharmadhikari and Justice Gautam Patel on October 25 heard a petition by the widow for transfer of probe saying her husband was killed in his office in Sangola village, Solapur district, on the night of March 1, 2010. The widow's petition said her husband received a call before he left home. Her petition said the college was an HSC exams centre with two policemen on bandobast and a police station nearby. After she moved HC alleging police inaction, the case was transferred in Jan 2011 to State CID (Solapur). HC in June 2013 directed the superintendent (Pune) to head the probe and a special team was formed.

At the previous hearing, the widow's advocate Machhindra Patil argued that the real culprits have not been arrested even two years after CID took over the probe. He said instead she was told because of her husband's very loose morals he met such an end.'' The judges said it is unfortunate'' that this the attitude of the police and added that his character has nothing to do with it. ''

On October 25 , judges said CID did nothing despite specific allegations that the accused are deliberately and intentionally being shielded. They said CID kept seeking adjournments and even today sought further 2-3 months times Nothing is likely to emerge. This will only give support to the doubts of the petitioner,'' the judges said, transferring the probe.

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Family smells rat in Mira Road youth's death in Hyderabad

MUMBAI: The parents of a 20-year-old youth studying engineering at a college near Hyderabad have alleged foul play in his death on September 12, this year. The Mira Road residents have accused the Moinabad police near Hyderabad of negligence and cover-up in the probe into Ahmed Raza's death.

Though the autopsy report says Raza died of "electrocution",the family alleges that it is a case of murder which the cops "are reluctant to investigate" .

Son of Nasim Ahmed, a former imam and a small trader at Naya Nagar in Mira Road , Raza was doing BTech (Civil ) final year at S VEngineering College at Tholkatta village near Hyderabad . On September 13, Raza's college principal and police informed his father that he had met with an accident. "On my arrival , doctors at Hyderabad's Osmania Hospital told me that Raza had died due to electric shocks at a farmhouse , around 12 km from where he lived . Till today, copshave nottold mewhy my son went to the farmhouse so late at night," said Ahmed .

Raza's body was brought to Mira Road the nextday andburied at a cemetery. Relatives allege that Raza might have died due to electric shocks ,but itwas done by professional killers .His body was thrown at the farmhouse ,his relatives allege .Their suspicion has also grown because cops took Ahmed's signature on two blank papers before handing over Raza's body over to him . Investigating officer Ravi Chandra told TOI: "The case is under investigation." He said the call data records of Raza's cellphone are being procured from the service provider and his laptop will be sent to the forensic expert.

UNANSWERED QUESTIONS

Family says Raza had injury marks on head & chest and veins in his legs were cut. Why did cops dismiss it as death due to electrocution?

Why did police take signatures of the deceased's father on blank papers?

The farmhouse where he was "electrocuted" is 12 km from where he lived. What was he doing there at night?

Why have cops not shared call records of Raza's cellphone with his family?

Why have his diary and laptop not been checked?

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4,578 cell towers without BMC nod, activists say

MUMBAI: The city has 4,578 cellphone towers that are yet to get the BMC's clearance.

Calling it a serious issue, anti-radiation activist Girish Kumar said the "illegal" towers can pose a health hazard to thousands of people. But the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) called the towers legal. Its director general, Rajan Mathews, said on Thursday, "Civic permissions for the towers are pending, but we will obtain them in due course. None of the towers poses any health risk."
The COAI said its records show that Mumbai has a total of 9,000 cell towers, of which 4,422 have civic permissions . It is not clear why the BMC maintains a different set of statistics, which show not morethan 3,620illegal cell towers in the city.

Mathews said there is "unwarranted panic" in the city on the cell tower issue and emission levels in norms set for Mumbai (and India) are so low that there is no need for even an exclusion zone. He was referring to the BMC's draft policy that bans celltowers on schools,colleges , hospitals , orphanages , child rehabilitation centres and old-age homes . He said emission levels in India are 90% less than WHO-approved levels and so there are "adequate safeguards for all segments of the population".

Anti-radiation activist Prakash Munshi said, "The COAI is misleading us. There has been no change in radiation levels after the socalled safe norms were adopted in September 2012... Radiation levels did not go down to 10% of existing ones in most parts of the city."

T R Dua , senior director of Tower and Infrastructure Providers Association (TAIPA ), said it will be difficult to remove any tower in Mumbai as this can affect connectivity and result in call drops and inconvenience to people .

Mathews said , "A month ago , the WHO clearly stated that international studies provide no indication that environmental exposure to radio frequency fields, such as from base stations , increases the risk of cancer or any other disease ."

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Activist withdraws plea for fast hearing of plaint against SRK

MUMBAI: Social activist Varsha Deshpande, who had filed a complaint against Shah Rukh Khan for sex determination of his third child born through surrogacy, today withdrew a petition she filed in the Bombay High Court seeking a direction to a lower court to hear her matter expeditiously.

Deshpande had approached the High Court for early hearing of the complaint filed by her in a magistrate court seeking action against Shahrukh, Gauri and Jaslok Hospital and its doctor under the Pre-conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex Selection) Act.

She had sought early hearing on the ground that the Supreme Court said all cases under the PCPNDT Act should be heard and decided within six months.

Justice Sadhana Jadhav was today told by Shah Rukh's lawyer Pranav Bhadekar that the magistrate court had yesterday rejected Deshpande's application under section 28(3) of the PCPNDT Act seeking copies of the inquiry report prepared by the BMC.

"The magistrate has now posted the matter for recording the complainant's statement on November 13. Hence, nothing survives in this petition," Bhadekar said.

A lawyer, appearing on behalf of Deshpande, also agreed and said they would like to withdraw the petition.

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Rs 5-10 /litre fuel cess, double tax for 2nd vehicle proposed

MUMBAI: Car owners in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region may soon have to pay a special cess, that of Rs 5-10 for every litre petrol or diesel. And those buying a second car may have to shell out double the vehicle tax.

"We have submitted the proposal to the government. Funds generated from the cess on petrol and diesel will be used exclusively to strengthen the urban transport infrastructure in the Mumbai region. The money should be given to the BEST for the procurement of new buses and development of infrastructure," transport commissioner V N More told TOI on Thursday. "The additional vehicle tax will also be utilized for the development of mass transit system."

According to More, if the government accepts his proposal of Rs-5 cess, the total amount will work out to around Rs 200 crore and for Rs 10, the amount will be Rs 400 crore. "Whatever it comes to, the amount will be entrusted with the BMC's transport undertaking," More said.

Besides generating funds for infrastructure development, the additional taxes will also deter people from using their personal vehicles or buying second cars, which only add to Mumbai's already overburdened roads. With over 22 lakh vehicles on the streets, it is beyond the city's capacity to accept more vehicles. "We can't stop an individual from buying a car, but if we can strengthen the urban transport system, people can benefit from it. Moreover, the policy will discourage citizens from using personal vehicles," More said.

Currently, the transport department is charting a one-time vehicle tax, which is pegged at 10% of a car's cost. "If a person buys a second vehicle, then s/he will have to pay 20%. Our efforts are aimed at discouraging people from buying personal vehicles," More said.

Pointing out that the proposals have only been submitted to the government and no final decision has yet been taken, More said, "I feel the state must consider all the options to reduce vehicular congestion in the city."

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Rs 5-10 /litre fuel cess, double tax for 2nd vehicle proposed in Mumbai

MUMBAI: Car owners in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region may soon have to pay a special cess, that of Rs 5-10 for every litre petrol or diesel. And those buying a second car may have to shell out double the vehicle tax.

"We have submitted the proposal to the government. Funds generated from the cess on petrol and diesel will be used exclusively to strengthen the urban transport infrastructure in the Mumbai region. The money should be given to the BEST for the procurement of new buses and development of infrastructure," transport commissioner V N More told TOI on Thursday. "The additional vehicle tax will also be utilized for the development of mass transit system."

According to More, if the government accepts his proposal of Rs-5 cess, the total amount will work out to around Rs 200 crore and for Rs 10, the amount will be Rs 400 crore. "Whatever it comes to, the amount will be entrusted with the BMC's transport undertaking," More said.

Besides generating funds for infrastructure development, the additional taxes will also deter people from using their personal vehicles or buying second cars, which only add to Mumbai's already overburdened roads. With over 22 lakh vehicles on the streets, it is beyond the city's capacity to accept more vehicles. "We can't stop an individual from buying a car, but if we can strengthen the urban transport system, people can benefit from it. Moreover, the policy will discourage citizens from using personal vehicles," More said.

Currently, the transport department is charting a one-time vehicle tax, which is pegged at 10% of a car's cost. "If a person buys a second vehicle, then s/he will have to pay 20%. Our efforts are aimed at discouraging people from buying personal vehicles," More said.

Pointing out that the proposals have only been submitted to the government and no final decision has yet been taken, More said, "I feel the state must consider all the options to reduce vehicular congestion in the city."

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Drunk man arrested for stripping, assaulting wife

BHIWANDI: The Shanti Nagar police in Bhiwandi on Thursday arrested,a- 30 year old man for attacking and outraging the modesty of his 28 year old wife.

The police said accused Kamal Ansari suspect over his wife character. On last Wednesday night under influence of alcohol he dragged her wife outside house, made her undress and stabbed her with sharp weapon at several places on body.

The victim is admitted at IGM (Indira Gandhi Memorial) hospital in Bhiwandi, where she is out of danger.

After the incident Bhiwandi based NGO 'Jago Bhiwandi Jago' accused police that they are going soft in case against accused by slapping normal case.

On Thursday, NGO protested outside Deputy Commissioner of Police demanding to slap attempt to murder charges against accused to get him maximum punishment in the case.

Following to the incident on Thursday some NGO protested outside DCP Bhiwandi office and demanding to lodge attempt to murder case against accused to get him maximum punishment in the case.

On Thursday after protest the police acted in case and arrested accused from his residence. Police sources said that accused is not filling guilty for his crime which he had committed.

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‘Most Indians stay socially connected even on holidays’

MUMBAI: For Indians, it seems that a holiday is not a holiday till they can brag about it on social media networking sites. After Indonesians, Indian tourists are the most likely to be hooked to their mobile phones as they constantly feel the need to update status and post pictures, said a survey done by an online travel portal.

"Nine out of 10 Indians (96%) admit to being attached to mobile technology when on a holiday, ranking above the global average (87%) and second only to Indonesians (98%)," said the survey, adding that more than a third of Indian travellers (37%) admit to showing off on the social media. "While 14% admit that they do it to make their friends jealous, 23% say it wouldn't be a holiday unless their friends know about it. Globally, only 19% of travellers use social media channels for these two purposes combined."

Commenting on tourist's mobile dependency during a holiday, psychiatrist Harish Shetty said, "They can't be in the moment in spite of spending lakhs on a holiday. Even on a holiday they are lonely, and instead of enjoying and breaking free from routine, they are more attached to their phones."

Constantly posting photographs on social media points to the need to display one's prosperity and to convince oneself that one is happy. "The addiction to social networking sites is so strong that they feel a compulsive desire to remain connected and there is a lot of insecurity in being disconnected from it," he added.

The survey also said that travellers from Indonesia are the most inclined to do use mobile phones on the road (98%), followed by Indians (96%).

Globally, 18 to 24 year olds are the most avid cellphone users while travelling (94%) and women (88%) are slightly more attached to their devices while on a holiday than men (85%), said the online survey carried out in 26 countries in June-July by TripAdvisor. It covered 10,469 accommodation business owners and 19,692 adults, who had booked online and had taken at least one trip in the past year. A total of 509 consumers and 466 accommodation business owners in India participated in the survey.

They [travellers] cannot be in the moment in spite of spending lakhs on a holiday. Even on a holiday... instead of enjoying and breaking free from routine, they are more attached to their mobile phones.

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Inspector in drag faces ‘unnatural sex’ plaint

MUMBAI: Two young men from Kurla have alleged that a cross-dressing inspector at the Chunabhatti police station has been sexually exploiting them for months.

The inspector forces them to come to his cabin at the police station, where he dresses up like a woman, dances in front of them, plays with their private parts and has unnatural sex with them, the men have said in a written police complaint.

"He calls us separately at odd hours. When we go there, he locks his cabin from the inside and forces us to have unnatural sex. When we resisted the first time, he threatened to frame us in false cases. We were terrified by his behaviour and did not know what to do," the men, aged 25 and 24, told TOI in unison. One is an electrician and the other an employee of an event management company.

Salim Qureishi, a social worker, who brought the two to the additional commissioner of police (east), Quaiser Khalid, said they narrated their ordeal to the officer and demanded the inspector be arrested for forced sex.

"I lost my phone around five months ago. I went to the police station to write a complaint so that I could get my SIM reissued. That is when the inspector first met me. He took me to his cabin, inquired about my mobile phone—where and how I lost it, etc. He told me to come later," said one of the complainants. "When I went back, he took me to his cabin, asked me to remove my pants and began doing weird things after putting on a saree, lipstick and kajal. He had sex with me. He released me with the threat that if I told anyone, he would not spare me."

The other complainant said the inspector had forced him to have sex at least 10 times. "He even asked me to bring to him my bodybuilder friends."
Qureishi said the number of the inspector's victims was more. "Once we register an FIR, more victims will come forward. Everyone is afraid of the police and nobody wants to invite trouble."

"We are verifying the allegations , which are serious. An ACP (Milind Bhise, Chembur division) is conducting an inquiry and will submit his report in a couple of days. Based on the report, we will take action," said Khalid, who is learnt to have summoned the inspector for questioning. TOI contacted the inspector, who denied there was any inquiry against him.

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Inspector in drag faces ‘unnatural sex’ allegations

MUMBAI: Two young men from Kurla have alleged that a cross-dressing inspector at the Chunabhatti police station has been sexually exploiting them for months.

The inspector forces them to come to his cabin at the police station, where he dresses up like a woman, dances in front of them, plays with their private parts and has unnatural sex with them, the men have said in a written police complaint.

"He calls us separately at odd hours. When we go there, he locks his cabin from the inside and forces us to have unnatural sex. When we resisted the first time, he threatened to frame us in false cases. We were terrified by his behaviour and did not know what to do," the men, aged 25 and 24, told TOI in unison. One is an electrician and the other an employee of an event management company.

Salim Qureishi, a social worker, who brought the two to the additional commissioner of police (east), Quaiser Khalid, said they narrated their ordeal to the officer and demanded the inspector be arrested for forced sex.

"I lost my phone around five months ago. I went to the police station to write a complaint so that I could get my SIM reissued. That is when the inspector first met me. He took me to his cabin, inquired about my mobile phone—where and how I lost it, etc. He told me to come later," said one of the complainants. "When I went back, he took me to his cabin, asked me to remove my pants and began doing weird things after putting on a saree, lipstick and kajal. He had sex with me. He released me with the threat that if I told anyone, he would not spare me."

The other complainant said the inspector had forced him to have sex at least 10 times. "He even asked me to bring to him my bodybuilder friends."
Qureishi said the number of the inspector's victims was more. "Once we register an FIR, more victims will come forward. Everyone is afraid of the police and nobody wants to invite trouble."

"We are verifying the allegations , which are serious. An ACP (Milind Bhise, Chembur division) is conducting an inquiry and will submit his report in a couple of days. Based on the report, we will take action," said Khalid, who is learnt to have summoned the inspector for questioning. TOI contacted the inspector, who denied there was any inquiry against him.

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Vote for Mumbai's most popular 'Butterfly'

MUMBAI: Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) has introduced an interesting concept "Mumbai's Butterfly", wherein Mumbaikars can vote on Facebook to elect their favourite butterfly species found in Mumbai. They can also register for the upcoming "Breakfast with Butterflies" event at BNHS Conservation Education Centre and vote for their favourite butterfly.

Mumbai's chaotic environment with its acute space crunch, has still managed to accommodate 150 species of butterflies. This represents an astonishing 10% of India's butterfly diversity. In comparison to some other cities, Mumbai fairs better in its butterfly diversity. Bengaluru has about 140 species, Pune has about 120 species, Delhi has over 90 species, while Kolkata has around 80 species. It's time we acknowledge the bliss and solace these flying jewels bring to our hurried lives.

BNHS Conservation Education Centre (CEC) has organized a event to vote and elect "Mumbai's Butterfly" in order to promote butterfly watching and conservation. One can vote on the BNHS CEC Face Book page https://www.facebook.com/cec.bnhsor register for the upcoming "Breakfast with Butterflies" workshop that will take place on October 27. The idea is to choose the most charismatic yet commonest butterfly of Mumbai. Any one of the shortlisted five species can be voted for. One can choose a butterfly for its beauty or for being the most common butterfly seen in Mumbai. The five contenders to choose from are: Plain Tiger, Common Crow, Common Mormon, Common Emigrant and Tailed Jay.

Mumbai's butterflies and BNHS: Mumbai's largest butterfly is the handsome Blue Mormon measuring up to 15 cm. It is a migrant from the neighbouring hilly region and visits Mumbai during monsoon. The smallest one is the Grass Jewel, which is the smallest in the country. It measures just 2.2 cm. Other prominent butterfly species in the city include Commander Butterfly that prefers Kadamb trees for laying eggs, Common Jay that prefers Mast Tree (Asupalav) for laying eggs and Red Spot Butterfly. Presence of butterflies in a locality indicates a relatively decent environment.

BNHS has been a pioneer in promoting butterfly watching in India. The comprehensive butterfly field guide "The Book of Indian Butterflies" by Mr Isaac Kehimkar has been one of the foremost and the favourite companions of butterfly lovers. Since 2004, BNHS CEC has been conducting the unique "Breakfast with Butterflies" event. The "Mumbai's Butterfly" concept has been organized to celebrate the 10 years of Breakfast with Butterflies. To register for the workshop one can contact BNHS CEC during working hours on 9594929107 or 9594953425.

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Nexus between local municipal authorities, private developers in Bandra

MUMBAI: The nexus between the local municipal authorities and private developers was once again laid bare early this week when a commercial building which caught fire in Bandra (west) was found without the mandatory municipal occupation certificate.

The building was fully functional with offices and shops. Fortunately, the fire brigade succeeded in evacuating people trapped inside. Euphemistically called the Queen of the Suburbs, Bandra west, has been pillaged beyond imagination, thanks to the presence of a building mafia, the underworld and some crooked politicians, who are allegedly hand-in-glove with several local, civic and police officials.

Over the past decade, locals have watched in utter horror their once pristine and quaint suburb decline. Building norms are blatantly flouted, illegal restaurants have sprouted in virtually every nook and corner, unauthorized hawkers are everywhere and the narrow roads are so congested that it is a curse to drive - and also a curse for those who want to walk. There are hardly any footpaths to walk on like on the landmark Hill Road.

Till the 1950s, Bandra had its own municipality; things were very clean and local citizens had a say in all matters concerning civic life. This suburb once consisted of agricultural hamlets with a large population of farmers and fisher folk. Residents remember of open paddy and rice fields and where Europeans lived in spacious bungalows on Pali Hill. The gaothan parts of Bandra comprised villages like Kantwadi, Pali, Sherly, Mala, Rajan and Chuim, which still exist today. But many of the pretty cottages have given way to high rise structures.

Today, one finds 15-20 storey towers on narrow roads, which are packed with cars and on most days there are huge traffic jams. Bandra is no longer what it used to be.

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Affected families of the Kasam Nagar slums to get compensation

MUMBAI: A massive procession led by Senior Shiv Sena leader and former minister Gajanan Kirtikar has resulted in fourteen families residing at Kasam Nagar, Andheri, affected by a fire getting compensation to the tune of Rs. 50,000 and advance rent for one year.

On 18th October a fire that broke down at Kasam Nagar slums in Andheri had left fourteen families bereaved. The slums were a part of an SRA project. On receiving complaints from the residents, Mr Kirtikar took out a procession to the office of M/s Chamankar Developers Pvt Ltd, the developer of the project. The developer assured Mr Kirtikar that he would give the 14 affected families an advance rent of one year along with an immediate compensation of Rs 50,000. "Some slum dwellers have been facing issues with the developer. There have been many complaints of lack of transparency and selective payment of rent. Many residents were apprehensive that the developer would try to usurp their houses through unfair means," said Kirtikar.

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Strike hits Nhava Sheva port

Mumbai/NAVI MUMBAI: Shipping operations at Nhava Sheva port near Mumbai have been badly hit due to wage disagreements between workers and the management at Nhava Sheva International Container Terminal (NSICT), one of three independent ports in the area. This comes at a time when the government is trying to push exports to address the problem of an expanding current account deficit. NSICT is an associate company of DP World of Dubai and has Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) as a partner.

The disruptions in the entire port area, which also has the government-run JNPT and privately-owned GTI, started after labour troubles at NSICT on October 15. The port's labour union alleged that NSICT had declared a lockout which was illegal. This was denied by the company. On its part, NSICT alleged that trouble started after labourers adopted a 'go slow' strategy. The three ports together handle the largest volume of containers in India. As a result, movement of traffic around the port area has been affected. Police said that because of the strike, multi-axle trailers which were unable to enter the ports were stranded along the road leading towards JNPT area.

A shipping agent told TOI that some foreign shipping companies have started calling off ships from coming to the ports at these facilities due to the slow movement of cargo. According to data from the Indian Ports Association, JNPT alone handled 64.5 million tonnes of traffic in 2012-13 which ranked it as the second biggest port in India.

According to C N Patil, union leader at NSICT, the company declared an illegal lockout at its facility at Nhava Sheva on October 15 and kept the labourers out of the area. NSICT got people from some other Indian ports to handle regular operations inside the port area, he further alleged.

The genesis of the trouble is the wage agreement between NSICT and the labour union. Patil said that in July 2011, the two sides signed an agreement under which NSICT agreed to a wage hike but later retracted on the same. They alleged that the labourers have not been given any hike for several years, but the company said that the wage is negotiated every four years. The last wage agreement, according to NSICT, was concluded in July 2013.

In an email to TOI, NSICT said that the workers "under instructions from their union leaders, commenced this go-slow in operations even though the matter regarding their request for wage increases is under conciliation at the office of the Assistant Labour Commissioner (Central)".

The company also said on Tuesday it received "an injunction from the Industrial Court Maharashtra to restrain the union and its officers from stopping any vehicle/container plying in and outside the terminal" and also from stopping "the ingress and egress of willing workers entering and leaving the terminal".

As a fallout of the troubles at NSICT and the decline in operational efficiencies at adjoining ports, shipping companies are diverting vehicles from NSICT, according to an email accessed by TOI from a shipping company to its shipping agents in Mumbai. Officials at shipping agencies said that the magnitude of the trouble is such that even if it is resolved amicably in a day or two, it would take about two weeks for normalization of operations.

(With inputs from George Mendonca & Ashish Gherat)

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Strike hits Nhava Sheva port operations

MUMBAI/NAVI MUMBAI: Shipping operations at Nhava Sheva port near Mumbai have been badly hit due to wage disagreements between workers and the management at Nhava Sheva International Container Terminal (NSICT), one of three independent ports in the area.

This comes at a time when the government is trying to push exports to address the problem of an expanding current account deficit. NSICT is an associate company of DP World of Dubai and has Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) as a partner.

The disruptions in the entire port area, which also has the government-run JNPT and privately-owned GTI, started after labour troubles at NSICT on October 15. The port's labour union alleged that NSICT had declared a lockout which was illegal. This was denied by the company. On its part, NSICT alleged that trouble started after labourers adopted a 'go slow' strategy. The three ports together handle the largest volume of containers in India.

As a result, movement of traffic around the port area has been affected. Police said that because of the strike, multi-axle trailers which were unable to enter the ports were stranded along the road leading towards JNPT area.

A shipping agent told TOI that some foreign shipping companies have started calling off ships from coming to the ports at these facilities due to the slow movement of cargo. According to data from the Indian Ports Association, JNPT alone handled 64.5 million tonnes of traffic in 2012-13 which ranked it as the second biggest port in India.

According to C N Patil, union leader at NSICT, the company declared an illegal lockout at its facility at Nhava Sheva on October 15 and kept the labourers out of the area. NSICT got people from some other Indian ports to handle regular operations inside the port area, he further alleged.

The genesis of the trouble is the wage agreement between NSICT and the labour union. Patil said that in July 2011, the two sides signed an agreement under which NSICT agreed to a wage hike but later retracted on the same. They alleged that the labourers have not been given any hike for several years, but the company said that the wage is negotiated every four years. The last wage agreement, according to NSICT, was concluded in July 2013.

In an email to TOI, NSICT said that the workers "under instructions from their union leaders, commenced this go-slow in operations even though the matter regarding their request for wage increases is under conciliation at the office of the Assistant Labour Commissioner (Central)".

The company also said on Tuesday it received "an injunction from the Industrial Court Maharashtra to restrain the union and its officers from stopping any vehicle/container plying in and outside the terminal" and also from stopping "the ingress and egress of willing workers entering and leaving the terminal".

As a fallout of the troubles at NSICT and the decline in operational efficiencies at adjoining ports, shipping companies are diverting vehicles from NSICT, according to an email accessed by TOI from a shipping company to its shipping agents in Mumbai. Officials at shipping agencies said that the magnitude of the trouble is such that even if it is resolved amicably in a day or two, it would take about two weeks for normalization of operations.

(With inputs from George Mendonca and Ashish Gherat)

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Ex-gratia Diwali bonus for Mira-Bhayander civic employees

MUMBAI: Mira Bhayander Municipal Corporation (MBMC) employees will get an ex-gratia Diwali bonus of Rs 11,000 this year.

The civic administration cleared the bonus at a recent general body meeting. The employees union had demanded an ex-gratia of Rs 15,000. Till last year, the employees were getting an ex-gratia of Rs 7,800 for Diwali.

The civic administration has set aside Rs 2 crores that will be disbursed among the 1,452 class II to IV employees, drivers and link workers.

The news of the ex-gratia was welcomed with fire crackers by the employees at the civic headquarters in Bhayander (west).

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Centre seeks Maharashtra govt's view on reducing Sanjay Dutt’s jail term

NEW DELHI: The home ministry has sought opinion of Maharashtra government on reducing sentence of Bollywood star Sanjay Dutt and two other convicts in the 1993 Mumbai serial bomb blasts.

The move came after Press Council of India chief Justice (retd) Markandey Katju petitioned President Pranab Mukherjee seeking relief for the actor and two others, including a 70 year-old women, on humanitarian grounds.

Sources told PTI that the home ministry sought the opinion of the Maharashtra government after the President forwarded applications of Katju and a few others seeking reduction of their sentences.

"We have asked the state government to provide its opinion, the jailor's comment on the actor's conduct and a few others issues," sources said.

Dutt, who was lodged in Pune's Yerawada Central Jail to serve his remaining sentence in connection with the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts case, is currently at home on furlough.

Good conduct is one of the criteria for granting furlough, which is sanctioned from prisoner's accumulated leave.

Dutt, 53, is serving the remaining 42-month jail term for possessing illegal firearms, part of the cache of weapons which were supposed to be used during the 1993 bombings.

He was shifted to Yerawada jail from Mumbai's Arthur Road Jail on May 22 in a hush-hush pre-dawn operation.

In its March 21 verdict, the Supreme Court had reduced Dutt's jail term from six years to five. The actor had already served 18 months behind bars.

On May 10, the Supreme Court had dismissed Dutt's plea seeking review of its judgement on his conviction and the five-year jail sentence.

After getting recommendation from the state government, the matter may be put before the President, if required, sources said.

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Financial aid for needy women in Mira-Bhayander raised

MUMBAI: The women and child welfare department of the Mira Bhayander Municipal Corporation (MBMC) has raised the financial aid for needy women.

The civic administration had early this year offered Rs 5,000 to widows and single mothers for funding their daughters' marriage expenses. The amount has now been raised to Rs 12,000 and will cover the educational expenses of girls and boys.

Children of needy women studying in 1st to 5th standard will get Rs 3,000. Those in 6th to 8th class will get Rs 4,000 while students in class 9 to 12 will get Rs 5,000. Students studying graduation will get Rs 6,000. An amount of Rs 15 lakhs has been set aside for providing the financial aid.

The proposal to help needy women was first moved by the Congress corporator Sunita Patil in February. It was seconded by the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) corporator Asnela Mendonca.

In 2011, the municipality had approved a proposal to create a fixed deposit of Rs 25,000 in the name of a second girl child born to a couple residing in the Mira-Bhayander region. The aim was to control female foeticide.

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HC tells police to probe allegations that Jiah was killed

MUMBAI: The Bombay high court on Wednesday asked police to carry out further investigations on allegations made by the mother of actress Jiah Khan in a petition that the latter had been murdered and had not committed suicide.

A bench of Justices S C Dharmadhikari and Gautam Patel asked Juhu police to record statement of Jiah's mother Rabia Khan on October 26 at 11am in the police station.

The judges asked police to carry out further investigations on the material furnished before the court that the actor had been killed.

Government pleader K V Saste informed that police was all set to file chargesheet in the trial court within a week.

The court did not stop police from filing chargesheet in the trial court but ordered them to carry out further investigations on the basis of material provided by Jiah's mother indicating that the actor had been murdered.

"If necessary, additional chargesheet can be filed by police on the aspect of murder," the court said while disposing of Rabia's petition.

The pleader said that police had recorded statement of Rabia three times earlier. However, the court asked him what was the difficulty in recording yet another statement on the basis of allegation that the actor was murdered. To this, the pleader replied that the police would once again record Rabia's statement.

To a request made by Rabia's lawyer Abad Ponda, the court asked police to record her statement on October 26.

Rabia was present in the court today. Ponda argued that his client wanted truth to prevail. At the moment, she was not pressing for transfer of probe to the CBI as pleaded in the petition.

The court, therefore, did not pass any order on Rabia's plea to transfer investigations to CBI.

Jiah's mother alleged that it has come to light that her daughter may have been killed and made to look as if she committed suicide.

To support her argument, Rabia annexed to the petition an independent forensic expert's report which indicated this case to be of homicidal death rather than suicide.

Alleging shoddy investigations by police only to help Jiah's boyfriend Suraj Pancholi, Jiah's mother demanded a CBI probe into the case.

Rabia said "she had strong reasons to suspect that the probe was carried out by police in a manner to look as if it was a suicide."

She alleged that Suraj is son of actor Aditya Pancholi and the family used their clout to "manage" police.

The petition alleged that Jiah may have been hanged after being killed. It cited reasons to support this theory.

The petition argued that a person who commits suicide would have his or her eyes popping and tongue protruding out, while in case of Jiah it was not so. Also, in such cases lung or brain hemorrhage is generally noticed but in this case this was not observed.

The petition said that besides ligature marks that occur in death due to hanging, injury marks were noticed on face and body of the actor. An injury was noticed on right side of her lips and a mark on her left arm as if someone had held her tightly.

While police claimed that Jiah had hanged herself with a muslin 'dupatta', forensic expert Dr R N Jerajani opined that the depth of ligature marks in Jiah's case was difficult to achieve with a soft material.

Dr Jerajani opined that ligature marks on Jiah's neck were not the ones which are usually found on the body of a person who hangs self from a ceiling fan. The possibility of strangulation is not ruled out in this case, he said in the forensic report.

The petition further said that CCTV camera showed Jiah had entered her house a few minutes before she committed suicide. At that time, she was wearing a track suit but her body was discovered in a night gown. Would a person about to commit suicide change her dress, the petition asked?

It said that the ceiling fan was located in between two single beds and it was not possible for Jiah to hang herself without a stool and there was no stool in her house.

On June 3, Jiah was found hanging from her ceiling fan in the house. A week later, Suraj was arrested. He was released from jail on July 2 after the Bombay high court granted him bail.

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Teacher uses schoolkids as domestic help

MUMBAI: The headmistress of a state government-run zilla parishad school in Boisar and her husband were arrested on Monday for allegedly forcing two minor girl students bunk their classes and do menial jobs in their house.

The couple were later released on bail.

According to the police, for the past five months, Madhuri Sankhe (45) and her businessman husband Madhukar (60) have been asking the two students — each from Class III and IV — to report at their residence in Ostwal Empire of Boisar, around 95 km from

Mumbai, at 10 am. The girls, aged nine and 10, would allegedly stay back till 5 pm and do household chores like washing utensils, sweeping, cutting vegetables and other menial jobs. They would return home after school hours. The couple would occasionally even make the girls give them a massage, said PSI Saheba Pote of Boisar-MIDC police station.

The matter came to light on October 18 when the elder sister of one of the girls said that her sister had showed disinterest in studies as well as attending school. In her complaint, she stated that her sister was coming up with excuses to not attend classes. When asked, the girl said that she had not been attending school for the past five months and was instead doing odd jobs at Sankhe's home. Once in a while, the students were given chocolates as a reward for their work, the police said.

The couple were booked on Friday under Section 23 of the Juvenile Justice Act. On Monday, they were arrested and released on bail at the police station itself.

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Mumbai lacks in paediatric cardiac care

MUMBAI: The refusal of BMC-run hospitals to admit a three-day-old baby turning blue and his subsequent death last week show up Mumbai's poor health infrastructure, especially for children with heart problems.

The megacity has only three hospitals with dedicated teams to treat babies with heart problems. Most public hospitals don't have dedicated teams but operate on kids along with adult patients. "The gap between demand and supply in the paediatric cardiac cases in Mumbai is shocking,'' said Dr Vinod Agarwal, paediatric heart surgeon at Fortis Hospital in Mulund. Besides Fortis, Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital in Andheri (W) and SevenHills in Andheri (E) are the only centres with dedicated teams to handle such cases.

Contrast Mumbai with Chennai, which has nine hospitals offering paediatric cardiac operations. Babies have tiny hearts, little bigger than a grape, making their operations a complex procedure.

Secondly, states like Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka offer insurance support for children needing cardiac surgery. "Maharashtra too has such a programme in the Rajiv Gandhi Arogya Yojana, but it offers monetary support only to children operated in public hospitals and a few private ones," said a doctor working in a civic hospital.

Considering that 2 lakh children are born every year with congenital heart problems, it's important for governments to work out means to financially support such families with heart operations, said a doctor. The doctor added that if more hospitals were included in the Rajiv Gandhi Yojana, then more families could benefit.

On October 16, Chembur residents Babasaheb Dagabkhaire and his wife roamed the city with their three-day-old baby for eight hours in search of a hospital bed and ventilator support. In the end, the baby died. The couple has filed acase with Chembur police.

BMC's additional municipal commissioner Manisha Mhaiskar said the BMC was working on ways to improve paediatric cardiac care. "By December 2013, we will set up NICUs in five peripheral hospitals," she said. The BMC will also upgrade some of its maternity homes to mother-and-child centres. "We will augment our NICU set-up in existing hospitals in the next financial year," she said.

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Bollywood celebs graced Moेंt Hennessy India's launch party

Moet Hennessy India launched Chandon — its first sparkling wine made in India, for India, at a five star hotel in Mumbai.

Mark Bedingham, Regional Managing Director, Moet Hennessy Asia Pacific, played perfect host to the city's swish set. He said, "A recent addition to the 'new world', Nashik is certainly the wine-making heartland of India and offers grape growing conditions that are conducive to creating worldclass sparkling wines. With this launch, we aim to bring wine-making and the wine culture in India to new heights."

A mystical garden was created for the occasion, with sprawling creepers, flowers, trees and topiaries, all suspended upside-down, from the ceiling, giving guests a taste of French whimsy. Adding to the vibe of the night was a spectacular set by Parisian DJ Stephane Pompougnac, who was specially flown down for the launch.

The guests included a mix of faces from the fashion, film and industrial circles. Among those spotted included Nisaba Godrej and Kalpesh Mehta, Michelle and Yohan Poonawala, Komal and Rajiv Wazir, Aditya Mittal, Radhika Ruia and Abhishek Kapoor.

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Using mobiles for drug information prevents adverse events in nursing homes

MUMBAI: Using mobile devices in healthcare settings can save lives. A new study from the University of Pittsburg School of Medicine shows that nearly nine out of 10 nursing home doctors in the US had prevented at least one adverse drug event in the last month by using mobile devices to look up information about prescription drugs. This finding has been published in the Journal of the American Medical Directors Association.

Incidentally, the medical schools in Mumbai have banned doctors and nurses from using mobile devices at the workplace because they distract'' the staff from patient-care.

Adverse drug events cause 93,000 deaths and $4 billion in excess healthcare costs in the US each year. "Most US nursing homes do not have electronic medical record systems and, as a result, physicians frequently do not have access to current medication information at the point of prescribing," said lead investigator Steven M Handler from the University of Pittsburg School of Medical. But this lack of timely medication information could lead to adverse drug-drug interactions. Our hypothesis was that if physicians could look up drug information first, many of these mistakes could be avoided," a press release from the university quoted him as saying.

Over 550 nursing home doctors were surveyed for the study. Around 42 % of the participants said they used a mobile device to check drug information, and greater use was more common amongst those who had been in practice for less than 15 years. Eighty-eight per cent of the participants reported that using a mobile device to check drug information prevented one or more potential adverse drug events in the previous four weeks, leading to greater patient safety.

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