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Maharashtra: Pune govt hospital's medical officer arrested in Lalit Patil case
The Pune police arrested the Medical Officer and the Chief Medical Officer of Sasson Hospital for their alleged involvement in helping Lalit Patil to be in contact with Bhushan Patil and Abhishek Balkwade. The Pune police arrested Dr Pravin Devkate the Medical officer of the hospital late at night on Monday. The police are currently examining the call records and financial transactions of Devkate, Bhushan Patil, and Abhishek Balkwade. Additionally, they are investigating whether Devkate assisted Lalit Patil in escaping from the hospital. The police also arrested the Chief Medical Officer of Yerwada Prison attached to Sassoon Dr. Sanjay Marsale on Monday. The police alleged that Marsale had played a crucial role in facilitating Lalit Patil's admission into the hospital under the pretext of providing medical treatment. “He had gone out of the way to shift Patil from Jail to the hospital under the pretext of providing medical treatment,” said an officer from Pune. They further alleged that Marsale was in constant touch with Bhushan Patil, Abhishek Balkwade, and Sudhar Ingale. “Marsale had made WhatsApp calls to Balkwade when Patil was in the hospital,” said a source from Pune police. The Pune police had arrested three of the medical staff from the Sasson hospital who allegedly helped Patil. Further investigation is underway.
06 December,2023 12:35 PM IST | Mumbai | Apoorva Agashe
Mumbai: Matrimonial website con men meet their match
Two con men had devised the perfect strategy to make money by cheating men seeking alliance on matrimonial websites. All went well for these two con men until they created a fake profile of a lady magistrate in the Bandra court. When the magistrate of the 12th court in Bandra learnt that someone was using a fake profile of a lady magistrate to cheat, the judge immediately directed the police to register an FIR and investigate. The cyber cell of the Mumbai police crime branch arrested two men for allegedly creating a fake profile of a lady magistrate on a matrimonial website with an intention to cheat a software engineer. The police revealed the identity of the accused persons as Sanket Chavan, 23 and Sushil Modi, 67. Senior police inspector Suvarna Shinde of cyber cell said, “Chavan and Modi have successfully cheated several men seeking alliance on matrimonial websites. Chavan who was adept at mimicking a woman’s voice would talk to the potential victims and make them believe that ‘she’ was interested in the alliance.” The men would then get urgent requests from the prospective bride to transfer money ranging from Rs 5,000 to Rs 10,000. “Many have paid Rs 5000 to Rs 10000 without filing a complaint due to the relatively small amount. They avoided asking for substantial sums to prevent victims from approaching the police," said a police officer. And nobody did until they created the fake profile of a lady magistrate. Amit Bhosale, a software engineer from Mumbai had sent a request to a fake profile of the woman on the matrimonial website in the last week of November. “I sent a request on the matrimonial site as I noticed the woman was a magistrate and she accepted my request the next day. We started talking on the phone and I never suspected the person speaking to me was a male as the woman's voice sounded genuine," said Bhosale. After a day of conversation she asked for Rs 7,000. She claimed she needed it urgently for an online transfer and promised to return it upon her return to Mumbai. “I expressed concern about digital payments due to frauds and suggested sending someone with cash. Upon mentioning fraud, she got angry, sent me purported court orders and threatened me. When I visited the court the next day, I discovered someone else was the judge. I reported the incident to the court staff and the magistrate. The magistrate upon reviewing the chats, instructed the police to file an FIR and investigate," Bhosale said. The cyber cell of the Mumbai police crime branch lured them with the help of Bhosale to collect the cash and arrested them on December 3. The police said Chavan had met Modi inside the Arthur Road jail after being booked in a cheating case. It was inside the jail they had devised the plan to cheat men by posting fake profiles of women on matrimonial websites. They had teamed up after their release from jail a year ago and created the fake profile using the name of Ashwini Pandit and the image of a woman influencer from Pune. In order to win the confidence of their victims, Chavan would pose as the brother of the woman and Modi as her uncle and would meet their victims and convey to them the alliance will materialise. The absence of the prospective bride in the meeting who was otherwise active on social media would be justified with lame excuses that she is busy and wants the family members to meet the man first. If their victims were interested they would seek for more funds in the form of urgent help. The police have got in touch with 15-20 men who had been targeted by the duo in the last month.
06 December,2023 11:38 AM IST | Mumbai | Faizan Khan
Mumbai
Maharashtra CM Shinde, Fadnavis, Pawar pay tributes to Dr B R Ambedkar
Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy chief ministers Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar paid tributes to Dr B R Ambedkar on his 67th death anniversary on Wednesday, reported news agency PTI. The death anniversary of the chief architect of the Constitution is observed as 'Mahaparinirvan Diwas'. The leaders paid floral tributes to Dr B R Ambedkar at his memorial 'Chaityabhoomi' at the Shivaji Park in Dadar area of Mumbai. Every year, thousands of people from across the state converge at Dr B R Ambedkar's memorial 'Chaityabhoomi' on December 6, who died on this day in 1956. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has set up temporary sheds, mobile toilets, drinking water and medical stalls at the Shivaji Park, in view of the huge rush of B R Ambedkar's followers. Maharashtra government has declared that a public holiday will be observed in Mumbai on December 6 to mark the death anniversary of Dr Ambedkar. As per a circular issued by the government on Tuesday, all state government and administrative offices in Mumbai and its sub-districts will remain closed on Dr Ambedkar's death anniversary on Wednesday. Meanwhile, the Central Railway will operate 18 special long-distance trains to and from Mumbai and 12 extra local services to cater to the rush of people in the city on B R Ambedkar's death anniversary, observed as Mahaparinirvan Din, on December 6. Additional personnel of the Railway Protection Force (RPF) and the Government Railway Police (GRP) are being deployed at Dadar and other stations in Mumbai. The CR will operate 18 special long-distance trains (eight towards Mumbai and 10 from Mumbai), besides 12 extra suburban services to facilitate the movement of people from different locations on Tuesday and Wednesday. An additional 140 personnel of the RPF and 250 personnel of the GRP are being deployed at Dadar station on Tuesday and Wednesday, besides the deployment of 24 extra personnel of the RPF each at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT), Lokmanya Tilak Terminus (LTT) and Kalyan stations, a release said. For easy flow of public, extra commercial staff- 40 at Dadar, 20 at CSMT, and 10 each at Kalyan and LTT stations - will be deployed, as per the release issued by the Central Railway. Extra counters of enquiry and Unreserved Ticketing System (UTS) will be operated at Chaityabhoomi and two extra UTS counters at Dadar and CSMT stations. Among other measures, auto announcements about the trains will be made and details about the special trains will be provided through the app of the Railways and private ones. Help desks will be set up at the CSMT and Dadar stations. The entry and exit points at Dadar station will be made unidirectional to ensure crowd movement remains smooth, the CR said. Doctors and paramedical staff are being deployed round-the-clock at Dadar, Kalyan, Thane and CSMT stations on Tuesday and Wednesday, the release said. (With inputs from PTI)
06 December,2023 10:09 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Mumbai's air quality continues to remain in 'moderate' category, AQI at 146
Mumbai's air quality continued to remain in the 'moderate' category on Wednesday morning. According to the SAMEER App, Mumbai's air quality continues to be 'moderate' with an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 146 at 10 am. Although, on Wednesday morning, a light haze had settled over the city. The SAMEER App dashboard on Wednesday showed Worli's AQI as 114 and Borivali's AQI as 156. Bandra's AQI continued to remain in the 'moderate' category at 118. While Chembur's AQI and Malad's AQI were in the 'moderate' category at 113 and 205, respectively. Meanwhile, Shivaji Nagar's AQI slipped to the 'poor' category at 201. An AQI between 201 and 300 is considered 'poor', 301-400 'very poor', and 401-500 'severe', while the AQI between zero and 50 is considered 'good', 51 and 100 'satisfactory' and 101 and 200 'moderate'. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) in their daily forecast for the city and surrounding areas, said that fog and mist in the morning is very likely and partly cloudy sky later. The maximum temperature is likely to be around 34 degrees Celsius. While the minimum temperature is likely to be around 22 degrees Celsius. Meanwhile, the Air Quality Index (AQI) across Delhi improved slightly from 'very poor' on Tuesday to 'poor' on Wednesday morning, as per the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). As per the data from CPCB, the AQI at Anand Vihar stood at 291, in the IGI airport area at 279, in the ITO at 252, and in the Narela area at 283 on Wednesday. The India Meteorological Department has predicted no rainfall in the National Capital till December 11. There will be clear skies with shallow to moderate fog in the morning across the city. Earlier on Tuesday, the Air Quality Index (AQI) across Delhi dipped into 'very poor' category in several areas. Delhi has been experiencing air quality in the range of 'severe' to 'very poor' over the last few weeks. Light rains lashed several parts of Delhi-NCR on Sunday, bringing respite to citizens breathing high levels of air pollution. Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai last week said that Grap-3 has been lifted in the national capital but the government is trying to ensure that Grap-1 and 2 are strictly implemented. (With inputs from Agencies)
06 December,2023 09:58 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Mumbai
BMC sets up expert panel to review rebuilding of colonial-era water reservoir
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) said on Tuesday it has set up a committee of experts, including IIT Bombay professors, to review the proposal to rebuild a colonial-era water reservoir constructed beneath the iconic Hanging Garden in south Mumbai, reported news agency PTI. The expert panel is going to inspect a portion of the reservoir from inside on December 7, leading to water cut in some parts of the city that day, said a BMC release, reported PTI. The committee, comprising IIT Bombay professors, local residents and civic officials, will review the proposal to rebuild the reservoir from where water is supplied to most parts of south Mumbai, said the release, reported PTI. The panel is expected to suggest the correct procedure to rebuild the reservoir in the upscale Malabar Hill area that was constructed in the 1880s, reported PTI. The committee is going to inspect compartment No. 2 of the reservoir from inside on Thursday for two hours -- from 8 am to 10 am. To facilitate this process, the compartment will be emptied and as a result, there will be a 10 per cent to 100 per cent water cut in some parts of the city, said the release, reported PTI. The BMC has decided to reconstruct the more than a century-old water reservoir due to leakage issues, but local citizens and political parties have opposed the proposal as more than 300 trees are required to be cut for the work, reported PTI. Meanwhile, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Monday invited bids to set up a desalination plant with a capacity of 200 MLD per day in the western suburbs, reported PTI. The civic body has called for bids for the construction of the desalination plant in the Manori area, and the operation and maintenance for 20 years, an official said, reported PTI. Though the bids have been invited for setting a 200 MLD capacity plant, it should be "expandable to 400 MLD", he said, adding that the intended parties have been given one month to submit their bids, reported PTI. "The project has already received the approval of the Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority (MCZMA) and all other sanctions are also in place," the official told PTI. The project will be set up on 12 hectares of government land under the control of the Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation at Manori, he said, reported PTI. The civic body had earlier said that the desalination plant would require a capital investment of Rs 1,600 crore and Rs 1,920 crore in operational costs for 20 years, reported PTI. (With inputs from PTI)
06 December,2023 09:31 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Thane
Assistant commissioners told to ensure implementation of Marathi signboards
Thane Municipal Commissioner Abhijit Bangar on Tuesday asked nine assistant civic commissioners to ensure implementation of Marathi signboard order. Bangar asked nine assistant civic commissioners to ensure that signboards of shops and other establishments in the city are displayed in the Marathi (Devnagri) script in bold letters as per Maharashtra government rules, reported news agency PTI. An official release by the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) said the responsibility of ensuring the usage of Marathi on signboards has been fixed on the civic corporation and Bangar has cited a Supreme Court ruling in this regard and issued orders, reported PTI. Hence, he fixed the responsibility of ensuring compliance with the SC order on the nine assistant commissioners of Thane, said the release, reported PTI. Suitable action should be taken against shops and establishments not complying with the direction of displaying their signboards in the Marathi (Devnagri) script in bold letters, said Bangar, reported PTI. As per Rule 35 and Section 36C of the Maharashtra Shops and Establishments (Regulation of employment and conditions of service) Rules, 2018, and the Maharashtra Shops and Establishments (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) (Amendment) Act, 2022, respectively, the signboards of establishments must be in Marathi Devnagri script in bold letters in the state, reported PTI. The Supreme Court earlier gave shopkeepers a two-month deadline (which ended on November 25) to install Marathi signboards, reported PTI. Meanwhile, the Mumbai civic body on November 29 took legal action against 161 shops and establishments for not displaying their signboards in the Marathi (Devanagari) script in bold letters in violation of a Supreme Court directive and provisions of the Maharashtra legislation on the issue, reported news agency PTI. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) said in a release that the teams of civic officers from the Shops and Establishments Department inspected 3,575 shops and establishments across the megalopolis and found signboards of 161 shops and establishments violating the apex court directive and rules about Marathi signboards, reported PTI. On the first day of the drive on November 28, the BMC teams had inspected 3,269 shops and establishments, and took action against 176 of them for the violations, reported PTI. In two days starting November 28, the civic administration inspected a total of 6,844 shops and took action against 337 establishments for violating the signboard rule, reported PTI. The civic body has constituted teams of facilitators in all the 24 civic wards and they have been given powers to take legal action against the violators, reported PTI. (With inputs from PTI)
06 December,2023 09:22 AM IST | Thane | mid-day online correspondent
Mumbai: Chaos derails attempt to bury girl’s body
The teenaged killer and his father had planned to bury the minor girl’s body inside the same room where her decomposed body was discovered in Vasai. However, the chaos of the search for the missing girl in the neighbourhood disrupted their plans. They gave up digging and joined the search operation for the girl. The eight-year-old girl’s decomposed body was found in a room adjacent to her brother’s. The killer, still at large, hasn’t been arrested, but his father has confessed to the crime. The police found the girl’s slippers at the killer’s house. The crime scene was a room in a row house, the girl’s body was discovered in room number 5. Her brother had rented the next room number 6. The killer and his father attempted to bury the body in another vacant room but abandoned the plan due to the chaos in the area’s search for the missing girl. The girl went missing on December 1; her decomposed body was discovered on December 4. The police detained the killer’s parents suspecting the sudden disappearance of the boy. The parents eventually confessed on December 5 after initial denial. The killer’s father claims ignorance about the reason behind the murder. “The killer’s father revealed the suspect killed the girl in their room. He then helped dispose of the body in another vacant room,” said an officer involved in the investigation. The killer’s current whereabouts are unknown, and efforts to locate him, including visiting his hometown in Jalna, are ongoing. The Pelhar police have registered the case under relevant sections including kidnapping, murder, and evidence tampering. The killer has not carried a cell phone with him so tracking him down has become challenging for the police. The deceased’s father mentioned that the killer had assisted in the search and asked if anyone was suspected. “The killer kept asking me, ‘Uncle, apko kisi pe shak hai kya?’ I would reply that if I had doubts about anyone, I would have informed the police immediately,” said the deceased’s father, who runs a garage in Vasai East. “Since we had been searching for my sister, our relatives and friends had gathered on December 4. So, the well-wishers sat outside room number 5 when a foul smell started to emanate. Room number 5 was empty; it was not locked, but its gate was shut. When I opened it, I found a nylon bag with my sister’s decomposed body stuffed inside. We informed the police, ,” said the girl’s brother. The father added, “We had been searching for her everywhere and had also posted many flyers. Although I tried to enter room number 5, the killer and her parents would always prevent me from entering.” The police suspect a potential act of revenge as an argument between the girl’s relatives and the killer’s family occurred days earlier. The investigation revealed the killer’s connection to a yellow belt, similar to one used to tie the victim’s legs. The deceased hailed from Bihar, while the killer’s family is from Jalna. The police are searching for the killer in Jalna. The post-mortem report indicated multiple bruises on the body. Though the cops are unsure about sexual abuse, her viscera has been preserved for further examination. The injuries suggest the possibility of a forceful impact causing her demise. 08Age of the girl
06 December,2023 05:44 AM IST | Mumbai | Diwakar Sharma
Mumbai: Taps in Cuffe Parade to run dry on Thursday
As the Malabar Hill reservoir will be emptied to facilitate an inspection by an expert committee on Thursday, December 7, water supply in south Mumbai will be severely affected particularly in Cuffe Parade. BMC said there will be no water supply to Cuffe Parade and Ambedkar Nagar, 50 per cent cut to Nariman Point and G D Somani Road, 30 percent cut in the Military Zone in A ward. All other areas in A ward and entire C ward will face a 10 percent cut in water supply. Water supply will be reduced by 20 per cent to Peddar Road and other areas will get 10 per cent less supply. G North and G South wards received 10 per cent less water. BMC had decided to construct an additional tank and repair the old reservoir on Malabar Hill, but residents opposed this plan as it entailed removal of 389 trees at Hanging Garden. After a demand from residents and the local MLA, BMC formed a committee including IIT professors, a BMC engineer and locals to study the reconstruction of a water tank on Malabar Hill. “The committee is expected to review the current proposal and suggest the appropriate course of action regarding the reconstruction of the reservoir. Therefore, an internal inspection of tank number 2 will be conducted and so the tank will be emptied. Homes and establishments in A, C, D, G North, G South wards will get water supply with low pressure,” said a BMC official.
06 December,2023 05:40 AM IST | Mumbai | Prajakta Kasale
Mumbai: How burqa clad trio filched gold worth Rs 3 lakh from jewellery store
Three women dressed in burqas stole two gold bracelets valued at Rs 3 lakh from a jewellery store at Malwani in Malad on November 22 while pretending to be customers. The burqa-clad perpetrators headed in different directions after leaving the shop to evade detection The perpetrators—Sajida Bashir Ansari alias Annu, 45; Tahira Khurshid Ahmed Ansari, 35; and Mubasshira Mohammed Rizwan Ansari, 30—had provided a fake mobile number and handed over Rs 1,000 to the shop owner as an advance payment for two bracelets they didn’t intend to buy. They had boarded an autorickshaw at JB Nagar, Andheri East, that dropped them off at Malwani. The cops eventually traced the vehicle Following an extensive 12-day investigation, the Malwani police apprehended the accused from Malegaon on December 4. The stolen jewellery, valued at approximately Rs 3 lakh, was recovered during the arrest. Footage of a CCTV camera in JB Nagar revealed that the trio had got down from a Swift car before getting into the rickshaw According to police sources, the women targeted Pooja Jewellers Shop at plot number 20 in the New Collector Compound. Posing as customers interested in purchasing a gold bangle and necklace weighing five tolas, they distracted the shop owner, Amit Jain. Upon realising that two bangles were missing, Jain viewed CCTV footage and informed the cops. A search led to the identification of the car’s last owner, who revealed that it had been sold to a garage owner in Malegaon. The garage owner then sold it to another person. The last owner disclosed the identity of the man who drove the women to Mumbai Under the guidance of DCP Ajay Kumar Bansal and senior police inspector Chimaji Adav, API Gokul Jagtap brought the accused to book with the help of his detection team, comprising Sajid Shaikh, Gyaneshwar Kale, Rakesh Shinde, Divesh More, Ganesh Shinde, Rupesh Kambli and Amruta Gosawi. All three were detained and arrested on December 4. The interrogation revealed that the three women were habitual criminals who had executed similar thefts at numerous jewellery shops in and around the city December 4Day the arrests were made CCTV footage of the accused inside the jewellery store at Malwani in Malad on November 22
06 December,2023 05:33 AM IST | Mumbai | Samiullah Khan
Mumbai: 35 per cent of Ambedkar memorial work completed, says MMRDA
The Dr B R Ambedkar memorial, which is being built at the Indu Mills compound in Dadar, won't be finished until 2026, but more than 35 per cent of the work has been completed, according to the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA). An MMRDA official said, “The anticipated date of completion is May 2026. In total, 36 months are required to complete the project—30 for the statue and six for external development work. The detailed construction schedule by M/s Shapoorji Pallonji & Company Private Limited is awaited. To date, 35 per cent of the work has been completed.” Progress report He added, “If we look at the components-wise progress, ancillary structures are 52 per cent complete; 95 per cent of work related to two parking basements has been finished; 80 per cent of work related to the entrance plaza has been completed while 70 per cent of the lecture hall, 75 per cent of the library and 55 per cent of auditorium and exhibition foyer work has been completed.” An aerial view of the under-construction project at the Indu Mills compound in Dadar. Pic/Atul Kamble The official said, “If we talk about the progress of monument and statue, overall 18 per cent of work has been completed of which 45 per cent of pedestal building work is in progress.” The statue comprises a structural steel armature skeleton clad with bronze metal skin panels. A 25-foot model has been approved by the government of Maharashtra and the work of the statue in 1:1 scale in thermocol for preparing moulds for bronze panels will start shortly. In August this year, a parliamentary committee on the welfare of scheduled cast and scheduled tribes, chaired by MP Kirit Solanki, visited the site of the memorial. The panel, comprising 30 members, including 25 Members of Parliament, had the opportunity to witness the grandeur and significance of the memorial firsthand. The committee was presented with a detailed overview of the construction and design of the memorial by MMRDA commissioner Dr Sanjay Mukherjee. Statue details The highlight of the memorial complex is the 350-foot bronze statue of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar, which will be atop a 100-foot-tall pedestal. The pedestal building comprises Chaitya Hall, which has 24 copper-clad rib domes; an internal spiral ramp, museum and exhibition gallery spaces and five lifts to transport visitors from the hall to the statue base. The complex also boasts 68 per cent open green areas, providing a serene and peaceful environment for visitors. There is also a research centre with a 100-seat lecture hall and library block, as well as an auditorium with a capacity of 1,000 seats. An open meditation area spanning 1,050 square metres is also included in the design. The project includes the development of a promenade along the seafront, enhancing the overall experience for visitors, and has been designed with green building certification in mind, showcasing the commitment to sustainable and environmentally friendly practices. A total of R1,089.95 crore will be spent on the project. 350 ftBronze statue of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar
06 December,2023 05:29 AM IST | Mumbai | Ranjeet Jadhav
Dr BR Ambedkar death anniversary: BMC gears up ahead of commemoration
Ahead of the 67th death anniversary of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar on Wednesday, December 6, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has set up a number of facilities including huge tents, toilets, mobile charging points, and creches for people who will be visiting Chaityabhoomi. Temporary toilets have been installed at multiple locations. Pic/Pradeep Dhivar Every year, lakhs of people visit Shivaji Park and Rajgrih (a residence of Dr Ambedkar) in Dadar to mark his death anniversary, known as the Mahaparinirvan Diwas. The BMC will provide temporary shelters, canopies, VIP rooms, a control room, ambulances, health care services, drinking water system, bathrooms, toilets, mobile charging facilities with an electrical system, etc. A creche facility at Chaityabhoomi and Shivaji Park for women and newborns has been added by the BMC this year. A dedicated space for the Mumbai Fire Brigade “The tributes at Chaityabhoomi will be telecast on a big screen at the event and live on social media,” said Ramakant Biradar, deputy commissioner of Zone 2. The arrangements are being made by the G North ward. Prashant Sakpale, assistant commissioner, G North, said, “A temporary shelter and a canopy are ready at Shivaji Park for followers who come from all over the country. Also, to cater to any emergency, temporary accommodation will be provided at six civic schools.” BMC also publishes one lakh copies of a booklet providing information about Dr Ambedkar every year. The booklet will be distributed among the attendees. Set up of other services >> Control rooms near Dadar (West) Railway Station and F North ward, Chaityabhoomi and Shivaji Park, Swaminarayan Temple Dadar East>> Bhikkhu accommodation at Scout Guide Hall>> Covering of walkways to prevent dust on the grounds>> Balloons at a height of 100 feet to guide people>> Roofed areas and benches to serve those waiting in queue>> Toilets, temporary shelters at Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar College, Wadala and Lokmanya Tilak Terminus (Kurla Terminus) besides Shivaji Park Dec 6Death anniversay of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar
06 December,2023 05:25 AM IST | Mumbai | A Correspondent