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Business Wire
2 days ago
- Politics
- Business Wire
The Army Corps of Engineers is Reviewing the Petition Filed By Green Oceans and A Coalition of Tribal Nations, Fishing Organizations, and Conservation Groups to Revoke Revolution Wind's Permit
LITTLE COMPTON, R.I.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Army Corps has confirmed it is reviewing the Green Oceans' petition to revoke Ørsted's Revolution Wind permit. The petition cites a deeply flawed Public Interest Review that fatally tainted the Revolution Wind approval process and failed to comply with federal law. The petitioners include Green Oceans, the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head/Aquinnah, Narragansett Indian Tribe, Responsible Offshore Development Alliance, Long Island Commercial Fishing Association, Fishermen Against Offshore Wind, and the Rhode Island Commercial Fishing Association, as well as Save the East Coast, Protect Our Coast Long Island NY, Save Our Bay, Brayton Point, ACK For Whales, Save Greater Dowses Beach, and Protect Our Westport Waters. The petition raised three red flags: The Corps ignored the project's repeated discharges of arsenic, which exceeded 1000% of allowable levels, and other toxic chemicals, into Narragansett Bay and surrounding wetlands. The Corps disregarded interference with the only East Coast early warning radar system for ballistic missiles, as well as airport surveillance radar critical for aviation safety. It misrepresented the economic impacts—never accounting for lost jobs in the fishing industry or the economic harm from increased electricity rates this project will impose on New Englanders. 'This petition demands environmental justice and accountability from a government that fast-tracked these destructive projects without following the law,' said Dr. Lisa Quattrocki Knight, President of Green Oceans. The petition, filed in June, says the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) relied heavily on the Corps' Public Interest Review for its Record of Decision and final permit authorizations. The flawed review violated the Corps' statutory responsibilities and tainted BOEM's decisions. 'Revolution Wind threatens our environment, burdens ratepayers, -- particularly working families and those on fixed incomes -- and undermines national security,' said Dr. Knight. 'It devastates the marine ecosystem without any proven benefit to the climate. This project isn't sound policy; it's political theater at the public's expense.' Green Oceans is a nonpartisan, nonprofit, community organization dedicated to combating climate change without jeopardizing the health of the ocean or the life it sustains.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Time of India
Bombay HC raps EOW for inacion, transfers builder fraud case to crime branch
MUMBAI : In a rare and significant move, the Bombay High Court transferred the builder fraud case-registered under the Maharashtra Protection of Interest of Depositors (MPID) Act-to the Mumbai Crime Branch, citing serious lapses in the investigation by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW). The move came after the victims, who had alleged a scam of over Rs 100 crore, filed a petition expressing loss of faith in EOW's probe. In its detailed order dated July 7, the court strongly criticised EOW DCP Sangramsinh Nishandar for failing to take concrete steps since taking over the case in March 2024. "Ex-facie we find that the concerned DCP has hardly taken any efforts in the investigation. An amount of approximately ₹100 crore was siphoned off by the accused and the DCP is unable to follow the money trail." The high court was particularly scathing about the freezing of bank accounts, noting that some had negligible balances of around ₹2,000 to ₹3,000, stating that none of the accused's personal accounts, vehicles, or immovable properties had been attached, barring one project site. 'Laxity and negligence' The affidavit submitted by Nishandar on July 15 drew further criticism, with the court calling his justifications "lame excuses." He claimed that an anticipatory bail order barred coercive action against the accused, which limited his investigation. However, the court rejected this reasoning, saying the order merely protected against arrest and did not restrict investigation. The court also pulled up Nishandar for blaming the Income Tax Department, BKC, for not providing property details linked to PAN numbers. Upon reviewing records, the court found that the EOW's letter merely asked for PAN details, and not property records. "A false blame is put on the Income Tax Department whereas the Senior Police Inspector himself has shown laxity and negligence," it stated. Another major lapse involved the failure to track property transactions. The court noted that a notice was sent on October 20, 2023, to the Joint Sub Registrar of Assurances, Andheri-IV and VI, regarding fresh registrations linked to the accused. Despite subsequent agreements being registered, no action was taken to collect or examine them by the EOW. The court held this demonstrated a lack of initiative on the part of EOW Investigating Officer Mr. Kate. Further, the court pointed out that notices sent to the Inspector General of Registration in November 2023 and March 2024 seeking property details of the accused yielded no results as no follow-up efforts were made by the EOW. In December 2023, the BMC's Building Proposal Department provided project-related documents, including approved plans and IOD receipts, but the EOW again failed to act on this information. Failure to freeze accused's accounts The court also recalled that on June 11, 2025, another bench directed Home Department officials present in court to begin attaching the accused's properties and prevent the sale of assets, yet, significant sums were allowed to move through various accounts. In one instance, ₹45 crore was parked in an account that should have been frozen earlier. By the time action was taken, nearly the entire amount was withdrawn. Similarly in another account, ₹13.14 crore was credited after the FIR, and ₹13.16 crore was later withdrawn. A third account saw ₹3.16 crore credited and quickly moved out. "Now, notices are being issued to identify companies having independent accounts," Nishandar claimed in his affidavit. But the court dismissed this move as "too little too late", while remarking: "We are reminded of an old English phrase: 'locking the gates of the stable, after the horses have bolted.'" The court also noted that the accounts listed in the affidavit now contain merely ₹5,000 to ₹10,000, despite the fraud running into ₹45 crore. "It is quite glaring that though the affidavit runs into 15 pages and refers to a dozen documents, not a single copy has been placed on record. It appears the affiant does not want this Court to examine them," the bench said. Given the petitioners' plea to change the entire investigation team, the court has transferred the probe to the Mumbai Crime Branch under Joint Commissioner Lakhmi Gautam, who has been asked to shortlist his team. The matter will next be heard on July 30. What is the case? An FIR was registered at Amboli Police Station in September 2023 against prominent developers Imtiyaz Maredia , Pyarali Maredia , and others. for allegedly defrauding 139 homebuyers of ₹45 crore. The amount was collected under the pretext of building luxury residential towers named Meridian Heights in Jogeshwari. However, the project has remained incomplete since 2008. Victims have also alleged that the collected funds may have been diverted for personal use. Victims speak "I bought a flat in between 2020 and 2021, and possession was promised by 2023. As per RERA, the builder was to hand it over by the end of 2024, but the project is still incomplete," said Abdul Malik Khan, one of the victims. "Work has only reached the 12th floor, and construction has been stalled for the last 5 years. The site is completely shut. Every time we asked, the builders assured us that work would resume in 15 days and promised 'good news'-which never came. We're under immense mental stress. Despite paying around ₹2 crore, I'm still living in a rented apartment." Another victim, 62-year-old Ruknuddin Mansoori, said that he planned to return to India from UAE but now has nowhere to live. "In August 2008, I invested ₹87 lakh in Meridian Heights. The builder, Imtiyaz, promised me possession, but I had to push them to even sign an agreement in 2016. I'm a senior citizen. This flat was supposed to be my retirement home, bought with my hard-earned money. I don't want a refund-I just want my flat, where I dreamt of living with my children. I have tried calling the builders several times, but he doesn't respond." Mirror reached out to Nishandar, but he refused to comment. Sources in the crime branch have said that a different team has been formed.
India Today
3 days ago
- India Today
Eight months on, no chargesheet: Court tightens grip on NIA over Jiribam massacre
The Manipur High Court has granted the National Investigation Agency (NIA) a final extension of one month to file a chargesheet in the high-profile Jiribam killing case, in which six individuals — including three minors — were allegedly abducted and murdered in November 2024. The court warned that any further delay would be taken order was passed during the hearing of Public Interest Litigation (PIL) No 18 of 2024, clubbed with Miscellaneous Case (PIL) No 28 of 2025, filed by Soram Tikendrajit and another petitioner, seeking court-monitored progress in the investigation of the killings. The case has drawn widespread public and media attention due to its brutal nature and the lack of closure nearly eight months after the the hearing, a division bench comprising Chief Justice Kempaiah Somashekar and Justice Ahantham Bimol Singh noted the "grave and shocking" nature of the case. The NIA submitted two sealed cover reports outlining the current status of the investigation, which the court ordered to be placed in the safe custody of the Registrar General until further orders. Appearing for the petitioners, Senior Advocate Kh Tarunkumar informed the court that the incident occurred on November 11, 2024, when six individuals, including three children, were reportedly abducted under suspicious circumstances. In the days following the incident, all six bodies were recovered one by one from the Barak River in Jiribam district, triggering public outrage and demands for further highlighted that although an FIR had been registered and the case was later handed over to the NIA, no chargesheet had been filed to date, raising serious questions about the pace and intent of the investigation. Tarunkumar urged the court to ensure time-bound accountability, citing the trauma faced by the victims' families and the continued unrest in the affected NIA, represented by Deputy Solicitor General of India (DSGI) Kh. Samarjit, assured the court that the investigation had reached its final phase and that the agency was preparing to file the chargesheet under relevant sections of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) and the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) Act, in court were several senior NIA officials — DIGP D. Sharavan, SP Ashish Kumar, Public Prosecutor Lokesh Kumar, and DSP Vikas Kumar. Advocate General Lenin appeared for the Government of Samarjit requested more time on behalf of the NIA to finalise its findings and submit the chargesheet. Granting the request, the bench fixed the next date of hearing for August 25, and cautioned that failure to show progress by then would attract judicial scrutiny. The personal appearance of NIA officials was waived for the next hearing, unless otherwise Jiribam killings remain one of the most disturbing criminal cases in recent times in Manipur, highlighting concerns over law and order and the effectiveness of investigative processes. Civil society groups, including child rights organisations and human rights defenders, have repeatedly demanded transparency and swift justice for the victims.- EndsMust Watch
The Hindu
4 days ago
- The Hindu
NIA submits reports on Jiribam killings, Manipur HC gives one month to file chargesheet
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has submitted two sealed reports to the Manipur High Court on the progress it has made in the Jiribam case in which six women and children of the Meitei community were abducted and later found dead in the Barak River in November last year. Taking it on record, the court told the probe agency to submit a detailed report in terms of the chargesheet within one month. This comes after a Bench of Chief Justice K. Somashekar and Justice Ahanthem Bimol Singh had, earlier this month, said that it had been a considerable time since the incident and yet no chargesheet had been filed in the case. It had then directed the NIA to submit a detailed report on the investigation before it. In the hearing on July 24, the NIA submitted the detailed progress reports related to the case in two sealed covers, the High Court's order said. It added that considering the 'peculiar facts and circumstances' of the case and submissions made by the NIA and the State's Advocate General, the reports will remain in the custody of the Registrar for 'safe custody' until further orders. However, the court did not specify in the order what circumstances it was referring to beyond noting the 'concern' expressed by the Deputy Solicitor General of India (DGSI) representing the NIA and the Advocate General of the State. The High Court noted, 'It is made clear that if there is no progress made, the matter would be viewed seriously.' The court noted that the DSGI had submitted that the NIA was 'in the process of completion of the investigation and filing of charge sheet against the culprits/accused'. The court also said it was taking on record the submissions of the petitioners, who said that after the filing of FIR, no action seemed to have been taken. The court said it will take up the case for next hearing on August 25. The developments follow a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) the Manipur High Court has been hearing over the case in Jiribam. The PIL was filed by office-bearers of the civil society organisation Uripok Apunba Lup, a conglomerate of dozens of local clubs in the Uripok area. They sought detailed progress reports, and speedy and fair probe into the incident. After the November flare-up in the ethnic conflict in Manipur's Jiribam district, the NIA had taken up two other cases for investigation apart from the abduction and killing of the six women and children from the Meitei community. One was for the alleged rape and burning alive of a Kuki-Zo woman in Jiribam on November 7, and the alleged attack on a CRPF post in Jiribam's Borobekra on November 11, in which 10 armed persons were gunned down.
New Indian Express
4 days ago
- Business
- New Indian Express
Highways dept appeals Madras HC order to demolish two pillars of Avinashi road elevated flyover project
COIMBATORE: The Madras High Court ordered the Special Projects wing of the State Highways department officials (Coimbatore division) to demolish two pillars built for the ramps of the Avinashi Road elevated flyover project. The move comes after a landowner alleged that the construction of the pillars appears to favour a private star hotel on Avinashi Road. Meanwhile, the highways department has filed an appeal against the order. Justice Bharatha Chakravarthy observed that the pillars, originally spaced 30 metres apart, had been repositioned without structural justification. The judge ordered the demolition of the relocated pillars and reconstruction at the originally-sanctioned spots, citing risk to the structural integrity of the flyover. He also imposed a personal fine of Rs 1,000 each on two senior highways engineers, and directed that the relocated pillars be marked with the Tamil Nadu Government's motto "Vaaimaiye Vellum" (Truth Alone Triumphs), and be known as the "Pillars of Truth." The 10.1 km-long, Rs 1,621.3 crore flyover project, connecting Uppilipalayam and Goldwins, is one of Tamil Nadu's largest infrastructure undertakings. Originally, the project included five pedestrian subways at high-traffic points to ensure safe crossings under the flyover, as well as service roads to maintain access to properties alongside the corridor. Kathirmathiyon, secretary of Coimbatore Consumer Cause and a member of the Coimbatore District Road Safety Committee filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) against the highways department for omitting key pedestrian infrastructure and a service road in the ongoing Avinashi Road elevated flyover project. The PIL, filed before the Madras High Court, flags the silent removal of five approved pedestrian subways and the dropping of a service road near a private hotel, both of which were part of the original sanctioned plans.
