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Documents on which Thackeray group is relying are fake: Shinde faction lawyer
The documents on the basis of which the Uddhav Thackeray faction is seeking disqualification of 40 rebel Shiv Sena MLAs including Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde are fake, the Shinde group's lawyer claimed on Wednesday. Senior advocate Mahesh Jethmalani, the lawyer of the Shinde-led Sena, told reporters that cross-examination of the witnesses of the Thackeray camp could get over on December 1. He was speaking after the day's hearing on the disqualification petitions filed by the warring Shiv Sena factions against each other's MLAs before assembly speaker Rahul Narwekar ended. The Shinde group could start presenting its witnesses from December 2 or 7, said Jethmalani who is currently cross-examining Sunil Prabhu, who was the chief whip of the Shiv Sena before its split in June 2022. ¿The documents on the basis of which the Thackeray camp is seeking disqualification are fake,¿ the lawyer said, referring to an email sent by Prabhu to Shinde on June 22, 2022. Meanwhile, when asked by reporters whether an extension will be sought from the Supreme Court which has set a deadline of December 31 for Narwekar to give his ruling, the speaker said, "Nothing has been decided so far." "We are trying to finish the proceedings as soon as possible. I will not be able to comment on it now," Narwekar added. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
29 November,2023 10:14 PM IST | Mumbai | PTI
Court denies Mehul Choksi permission to intervene in bank's plea
A special court on Wednesday rejected absconding diamond merchant Mehul Choksi's application seeking to intervene in an application filed by the ICICI Bank for the release of certain mortgaged properties worth Rs 636 crore. Choksi, an accused in the Rs 13,500 crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) scam, is currently living in Antigua in Barbados. The ICICI Bank has sought release of certain properties mortgaged with it. His intervention application took objection to the release of his flats in south Mumbai and a bungalow in Alibaug, attached by the Enforcement Directorate during its probe, in the bank's favour. But special judge for the Prevention of Money Laundering Act cases S M Menjoge said the bank had not sought these properties. The properties which the ICICI Bank was seeking were not owned by Choksi personally but by different companies, hence, he had no right to intervene, the court said. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Enforcement Directorate are investigating diamond businessman Nirav Modi, his uncle Choksi and others in the PNB scam. Nirav Modi, Choksi and the companies owned by them borrowed more than Rs 13,000 crore from PNB through fraudulent Letters of Undertaking and Letters of Credit between 2011 and 2017 in connivance with some bank officials, the central agencies have alleged. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
29 November,2023 09:11 PM IST | Mumbai | PTI
You don't listen to court, at least listen to Parliament: HC to Maharashtra govt
"You don't listen to the court, at least listen to Parliament," the Bombay High Court on Wednesday told the Maharashtra government while reprimanding it for not fully implementing provisions of a central law on the welfare of parents and senior citizens. A division bench of Chief Justice D K Upadhyaya and Justice Arif Doctor noted that the state government was yet to appoint members to the council to be set up under the rules framed in accordance with the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007. "Aap court ki baat maante nahi, kam se kam Parliament (statute) ki baat toh suno ("You don't listen to the court, at least listen to Parliament)!" CJ Upadhyaya quipped. The 16-year-old legislation on the welfare of parents and senior citizens, initiated by Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, was enacted by Parliament. The court directed the government to give details regarding state council, district committees/district co-ordination-cum monitoring committees on implementation of the Act. The bench also asked the state government to file an affidavit giving details of steps taken to implement various provisions of the legislation. The HC was hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by one Nilofer Armani, seeking framing of detailed guidelines for licensing, registration and management of old age homes across the state. The PIL also sought effective implementation of 2010 Rules notified by the state Department of Social Justice and Special Assistance for taking care and protection of senior citizens. As per the Rules, State Council and District Committees would advise the government on effective implementation of the Act and to perform such other functions as it may notify. In June this year, the HC had asked the state government to file an affidavit detailing steps taken to ensure compliances with the legislation. The state government, in the affidavit, claimed it had taken various steps to constitute state council and district committees for welfare of elderly persons. The bench, however, noted state council and district committees were still not functioning. It later posted the matter for further hearing on January 9. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
29 November,2023 09:07 PM IST | Mumbai | PTI
Mumbai police's sniffer dog finds kidnapped six-year-old in 90 minutes
A sniffer dog of the Mumbai police's Bomb Disposal and Detection Squad traced a kidnapped six-year-old boy in just 90 minutes, police said on Wednesday. Leo, a Doberman, found the boy 500 metres away from his house in Ashok Nagar slum in suburban Andheri (East) on early Friday morning. The boy's family approached the Powai police a little after midnight after an unidentified person abducted the child when he was playing outside his shanty, said an official. The family told the police that the boy had changed clothes before stepping out. The police brought in Leo and gave him the boy's t-shirt to sniff. Soon, Leo led the police team to the boy, apparently abandoned by the unidentified kidnapper in panic, the official said. Police are conducting further probe, he added. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
29 November,2023 08:35 PM IST | Mumbai | PTI
Mumbai: BMC takes action against 161 shops for not displaying Marathi signboards
The Mumbai civic body on Wednesday 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 Tuesday, 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 Tuesday, 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. 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 Devanagari script in bold letters, the BMC has said, reported PTI. The Supreme Court earlier gave shopkeepers a two-month deadline (which ended on November 25) to install Marathi signboards, reported PTI. Besides prosecuting the violators, a penalty of Rs 2,000 per day may be imposed on shopkeepers and establishments continuously flouting the rule, a civic official said, reported PTI. The Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) on November 22 displayed banners in Mumbai hinting at an aggressive protest if the Supreme Court 'deadline' for putting up signboards of shops and hotels in Marathi (Devnagari script) is not adhered to. Thackeray had earlier stressed on having the signboards of shops and other establishments in the regional language (Marathi in Maharashtra). (With inputs from PTI)
29 November,2023 08:26 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Parts of Thane to face 12-hour water cut on December 1
The Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) on Wednesday announced the suspension of water supply in some areas of Thane for 12 hours. The said hinderance is due to urgent repair and maintenance work on Friday, December 1. According to TMC, there will be no water supply from noon on Friday (December 1) to midnight, 12 am. "Urgent repair and maintenance work is being undertaken at the Barvi Water Purification Plant of the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation near Katai Naka. As a result, water supply will be suspended in some areas of Thane from 12 pm on Friday (December 1) to midnight, 12 am," the civic body said. Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) supplies water to some areas under the Thane Municipal Corporation which include Mumbra, Diva, Kalwa, Majiwada, Manpada and Wagle Estate, the civic body said. The major affected areas that will face a 12-hour water cut are Diva, Mumbra, Kalwa, Rupadevi Pada, Kisan Nagar No. 2, Nehru Nagar, and Kolshet. The TMC said citizens should note that the water supply will be at low pressure for the next one to two days after the water supply is restored. The civic body has also asked residents in the city to store water and use it judiciously. Meanwhile, the Thane Municipal Corporation is gearing up for a significant expansion of its water supply system to accommodate the expected surge in urbanization over the next 30 years. Commissioner Abhijit Bangar has unveiled a comprehensive plan to ensure Thane City's growing population continues to have access to an abundant and consistent water supply. Currently, the city of Thane, with a population of approximately 27 lakh residents, receives a total of 585 million liters of water daily from various sources. This includes 250 million liters from the Municipal Corporation's own water supply scheme, 135 million liters from the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation, Stem Water Distribution and Infra Co. Prof. Ltd., 115 million liters from D.L. Ltd., and 85 million liters from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation. To tackle the impending water supply challenges brought about by urbanization, Thane Municipal Administration has initiated discussions with the Water Resources Department of the Government of Maharashtra, an official press release said. The aim is to secure water reservations from various dams to ensure the city's water needs are met for the next three decades. The Thane Municipal Corporation is also actively engaged in remodeling and upgrading the water supply system across the municipal area, the release said. Additionally, under the Amrit 2.0 scheme of the Central Government, they have received approval for essential projects involving water conveyance, water channel installation for distribution, and the construction of water reservoirs, sump pump houses, and electric pumps.
29 November,2023 07:31 PM IST | Mumbai | Ronak Mastakar
'Maha govt to give aid up to 3 hectares for crop losses due to unseasonal rains'
The Maharashtra government will give financial assistance up to three hectares of land to farmers who have suffered crop losses due to unseasonal rains and hailstorms in the last few days, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said on Wednesday, reported news agency PTI. A cabinet minister separately said the quantum of aid will be decided after completing the ongoing crop damage assessment exercise, reported PTI. Unseasonal rainfall and hailstorms last weekend have damaged crops on nearly one lakh hectares of land in different parts of Maharashtra, including Marathwada and Vidarbha regions, Shinde said on Monday, citing preliminary estimates, reported PTI. During a state cabinet meeting on Wednesday, Shinde directed officials of revenue and agriculture departments to conduct 'panchanamas' (surveys) of crop losses in a coordinated way, reported PTI. "Panchanamas are taking place on a war-footing. A decision has been taken to give relief up to three hectares. The government is committed to stand by farmers," the CM told reporters after the meeting, reported PTI. He said all district guardian ministers must visit affected farmers along with officials from departments concerned, reported PTI. Hitting back at his predecessor and Shiv Sena (UBT) president Uddhav Thackeray, Shinde said those who worked through 'Facebook Live' (during coronavirus pandemic while holding CM post) should not teach a party worker like him how to handle administrative matters, reported PTI. People are intelligent enough to see through these attacks, he said, reported PTI. On Tuesday, Thackeray had slammed Shinde for visiting Telangana for campaigning for a BJP candidate for the November 30 assembly polls amid crop losses in the state due to unseasonal rains, reported PTI. Later, talking to reporters, Anil Patil, Minister for Relief and Rehabilitation, said the exact assistance amount will be decided only after all panchanamas are completed, reported PTI. He said 18 districts, of the total 36, have been affected due to unseasonal rains and hailstorms, leading to crop losses, reported PTI. "Final report will be submitted at the earliest. It is necessary that panchanamas of all farmers (who have suffered crop losses) are done," Patil said, reported PTI. He said major damage was reported in Nashik district for grapes, tomato and onion crops, while foodgrains bore the brunt of untimely showers in Vidarbha, reported PTI. Interacting with reporters before the cabinet meeting, Patil said the crop damage assessment report will be available in the next eight days, reported PTI. "State government officials have been asked to submit the crop damage assessment report in the next eight days. The state government will announce compensation, including financial assistance to farmers, once the state-level final report is with us," said the minister, reported PTI. "Primary assistance in some of the villages and tehsils where unseasonal showers have caused havoc has already been provided. We are currently gathering more details to ensure no affected person is left out of the final list," he maintained, reported PTI. Untimely showers and hailstorms on November 25 and 26 (some areas reported rains on more days) have caused havoc in parts of the state, including in districts like Nashik, Buldana and Ahmednagar, where cash crops, including grape, onion and cotton, have suffered extensive damage, reported PTI. Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition in Legislative Council Ambadas Danve of the Shiv Sena (UBT) has demanded financial assistance of Rs 50,000 per hectare to rain-hit farmers, reported PTI. A memorandum containing four demands, including Rs 50,000 per hectare aid to cultivators, and signed by leaders of the opposition party was submitted to the Divisional Commissioner's office in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar in central Maharashtra on Wednesday, reported PTI. During the day, Danve toured rain-affected areas of Buldhana, Jalna and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar districts and met farmers who have suffered crop losses, reported PTI. The opposition leader and his party colleagues later submitted the memorandum, reported PTI. Danve, in the memorandum, said though initial reports have suggested that crops spread over 60,000 hectares of land in four districts of Marathwada have suffered damage, the actual loss is more than that, reported PTI. He said the crop loss survey should be conducted in the entire region and aid given to all affected cultivators, reported PTI. Unseasonal rains have damaged standing crops on 60158.36 hectares of land in Marathwada, including fruit plantations, an official from Divisional Commissioner's office in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar said in a release, reported PTI. As many as 613 villages in three districts of the region were impacted by spells of untimely rainfall, it said, reported PTI. Primary crop loss survey was flashed by the divisional commissioner office on Wednesday. The land having crops, fruit plantations have been affected by unseasonal rains, reported PTI. According to a report put out by the Divisional Commissioner's office, rains in Marathwada on November 26-28 impacted 509 villages in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district, 75 in Parbhani, 15 in Jalna and 14 in Beed, reported PTI. Two persons, on each in Hingoli and Beed districts, died in rain-related incidents in the region, said the report, reported PTI. As many as 207 animals also perished in the region during rainfall with Jalna district recording the highest fatalities at 79, it said, reported PTI. The highest rain-affected farmland was in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, where crops on 46,202 hectares (including fruit plantations) were damaged. It was followed by Jalna (13,049 hectares), Parbhani (692.36 hectares) and Beed (215 hectares), the report said, reported PTI. (With inputs from PTI)
29 November,2023 07:07 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Maharashtra govt approves Rs 221 crore for development of new airport at Karad
The Maharashtra government on Wednesday approved Rs 221 crore to develop the existing airstrip at Karad in Satara district into an airport. A government resolution (GR) said Rs 89 crore will be spent on acquiring 45.82 hectares of land for the project, while Rs 29.73 crore will be spent on increasing the length of the existing airstrip, construction of an apron and developing navigation and communication systems. Besides this, Rs 20 crore were approved for the acquisition of 2.9 hectares of land to rehabilitate the project-affected people. The government will also spend Rs 14.59 crore for the tasks like flattening the land, construction of the compound wall and creation of channels for water accumulated during the rainy season, the order issued on Wednesday said. There are many tourist places around Karad and once the airport becomes operational, it will boost tourism, it said. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
29 November,2023 06:59 PM IST | Mumbai | PTI
Maharashtra
Winter session just for 10 days not enough to discuss key issues: Wadettiwar
Leader of Opposition in the Maharashtra legislative assembly and senior Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar Wednesday expressed displeasure over the duration of the upcoming winter session of the state legislature. He claimed that only 10 working days of the House are not sufficient to discuss key issues. Talking to reporters on the premises of the Vidhan Bhavan, the state legislature complex in Mumbai, he also accused the Eknath Shinde government of not being serious about holding the winter session of the legislature, newswire PTI reported. "In the upcoming winter session, the Maharashtra government has kept only 10 working days. We are completely dissatisfied with this schedule. We want to discuss unseasonal rains, corruption in the administration and other important issues, but the government has decided to let the House function only for 10 days," Wadettiwar said. "Our demand is to have at least 15 working days in the winter session. We are not sure whether the next budget session will last just a couple of days or will be of longer duration," the Congress legislator, who represents the Bramhapuri assembly constituency in Chandrapur district, said. PTI ND Winter session of Maharashtra legislature from December 7 to 20 in Nagpur Earlier in the day, officials in Maharashtra said that the winter session of the Maharashtra legislature will be held between December 7 and 20. It will be held in the state's second capital Nagpur as per the tradition, they said. "The winter session of the Maharashtra legislature will start on December 7 and end on December 20," an official of the Vidhan Bhavan, the state legislature complex here, said. Also read: Maharashtra: Five booked for seeking Rs 1 crore from builder in Panvel As per the schedule, the session will have 10 working days, he said. The opposition parties are likely to corner the Eknath Shinde-led government over Maratha reservation, unseasonal rains, investment into the state and other issues. Meanwhile, Maharashtra government on Wednesday approved Rs 221 crore to develop the existing airstrip at Karad in Satara district into an airport. A government resolution (GR) said Rs 89 crore will be spent on acquiring 45.82 hectares of land for the project, while Rs 29.73 crore will be spent on increasing the length of the existing airstrip, construction of an apron and developing navigation and communication systems. Besides this, Rs 20 crore were approved for the acquisition of 2.9 hectares of land to rehabilitate the project-affected people. The government will also spend Rs 14.59 crore for the tasks like flattening the land, construction of the compound wall and creation of channels for water accumulated during the rainy season, the order issued on Wednesday said. There are many tourist places around Karad and once the airport becomes operational, it will boost tourism, it said. (With inputs from PTI)
29 November,2023 06:58 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
What wrong did he say?: Sanjay Raut after ex-Mumbai mayor Dalvi arrested
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut on Wednesday slammed the Eknath Shinde-led NDA government in Maharashtra after police arrested former Mayor of Mumbai Datta Dalvi for allegedly using "objectionable" language against the Maharashtra Chief Minister, reported news agency ANI. "Former Mayor of Mumbai and Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Datta Dalvi has been arrested for allegedly using objectionable language against Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde," an official of the Bhandup Police station said, reported ANI. Following his arrest, workers of the Shiv Sena (UBT) faction staged a protest outside the Bhandup police station. Sanjay Raut also visited the Bhandup police station and spoke with mediapersons, reported ANI. Asked whether the arrest of Datta Dalvi was a reaction to Uddhav Thackeray's reported "Nalayak" remark against the Chief Minister, Sanjay Raut said, "If he (Uddhav Thackeray) called him (Eknath Shinde) "nalayak," what wrong did he say?", reported ANI. "Is there censorship in this country? Is there a dictatorship or an emergency?...It is not an unparliamentary word...," he said, reported ANI. "Calling him (Eknath Shinde) ''Hinduhrdayamrat" is an insult to Veer Savarkar and Balasaheb Thackeray. For this insult, an FIR should be registered against him (Shinde)...Datta Dalvi objected to the remark..." Sanjay Raut added, reported ANI. He also mentioned that State Agriculture Minister Abdul Sattar "abused" NCP MP Supriya Sule, Narayan Rane and "his Nepali son.", reported ANI. "No action was taken against them but against our leader," Raut added, reported ANI. Raut further alleged, "No matter how many atrocities you commit against us, you all will go to jail in 2024." The action was taken following a case registered against the leader at the Bhandup Police Station under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). "A case against Dalvi was registered under 153A(1)(a), 153B(1)(b), 153A(1)(C), 294, 504 and 505 of the IPC," the police officials said, reported ANI. According to Bhandup Police, a meeting was organized by the Uddhav Thackeray faction near Bhandup Police station on Sunday where Dalvi allegedly used objectionable language against Shinde. "After that, a case was registered against Dalvi by the people of the Shinde faction," Bhandup Police said, reported ANI. (With inputs from ANI)
29 November,2023 04:15 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Maharashtra legislature's winter session to be held from Dec 7-20 in Nagpur
Maharashtra legislature's winter session is scheduled to take place from December 7 to December 20 in Nagpur, the state's second capital, stated an agency report quoting officials. According to the report, on Wednesday, an official from the Vidhan Bhavan, the state legislature complex in Mumbai, mentioned that the session would consist of 10 working days. The official told the media that during the session, opposition parties are anticipated to raise concerns over various matters including Maratha reservation, unseasonal rains, state investments and other issues. Meanwhile, the Maharashtra Legislative Council Deputy Chairperson Neelam Gorhe also confirmed the discussion of the Maratha reservation issue during Maharashtra's legislature's winter session. The reservation topic gained prominence last month when activist Manoj Jarange went on a hunger strike to push for Maratha community reservation in government jobs and educational institutions. The agitation for quota turned violent in certain parts of the state. Speaking further on the quota issue, Gorhe said that the reservation issue would be deliberated upon in both houses during the winter session although no resolution to this effect was passed. She expressed hope for a lasting resolution to be found. Preparations for the session are underway, including arrangements for the safety of police officers and government employees, as well as provisions for food, lodging, and childcare. Manoj Jarange, an activist, accused Maharashtra Minister Chhagan Bhujbal of inciting communal strife by opposing the Maratha community's inclusion in the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category. Jarange demanded blanket OBC caste certificates for Marathas and gave the government until December 24 to address their reservation demand. Jarange chastised Bhujbal for allegedly using provocative language at rallies, questioning whether this was the approach of the state government. The two have been arguing, with Bhujbal opposing Jarange's proposal to classify Marathas as Kunbis under OBC.
29 November,2023 02:48 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent