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Indian Express
2 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
A day ago, Khadse targeted Mahajan; Opp says misuse of police machinery
A day before the arrest of Eknath Khadse's son-in-law in connection with the alleged drug seizure at a Pune apartment Sunday, the former state minister had launched an attack on BJP minister Girish Maharaj alleging lack of development in Jalgaon. After the arrest as well, Khadse, hinting at his tussle with Mahajan, said: 'I was suspecting that something like this would happen because of the prevailing political scenario.' The Opposition leaders also linked the arrest to Khadse's allegations against Mahajan, claiming that the BJP-led government is using police to target opponents. Meanwhile, minister Mahajan said that if Khadse believed his son-in-law would be framed, he should have alerted him. On Saturday, at a press conference, Khadse targeted his long-time rival Mahajan asking what development has he brought to Jalgaon — both the leaders hail from the district. 'What has he brought for Jalgaon in the name of development ? Where is the textile park project. ? Tell me, which big development project has this minister brought in for Jalgaon district ?…Where is the animal husbandry college ?…For 30 years, several projects of Jalgaon district are pending…I am the only one who was raising issues of Jalgaon and issues of farmers from Maharashtra,' Khadse said. Claiming that he will continue his work on the development front in Maharashtra , he said, 'I have never bowed before anyone and will never bow before anyone…I have always taken things to a logical conclusion.' Challenging Mahajan, Khadse said, 'He should accept the challenge of getting a narco test on Praful Lodha…Why is he running away ?' The Opposition had claimed that Praful Lodha, alleged to be a close aide of Mahajan once, was the alleged mastermind behind a 'honeytrap operation' which was used to bring down the MVA government in 2022. Demanding Mahajan's resignation, Khadse said, 'Girish Mahajan should take moral responsibility and resign…Whenever there is an issue, why is Girish Mahajan's name always right upfront ?' On Sunday, Khadse's son-in-law Pranjal Khewalkar and six others were arrested after the Pune City police said it seized drugs during a raid at an apartment where they were allegedly partying. Minutes after the arrest, Mahajan said, 'At yesterday's press conference Khadse had raised the question as to how drugs are making their way into Chalisgaon. And today, his son-in-law has been caught holding a rave party with drugs.' Mahajan said if Khadse was alleging conspiracy, then he should wait for the investigation to get over. 'His son-in-law is not a small child to be taken away at night,' he said. Slamming the state government over the arrest, Sena (UBT) spokesperson Sanjay Raut said, 'Khadse held a press conference and spoke against the state government with proof and a day later, his son-in-law was arrested. The government is not ready to investigate the allegations made by Khadse but instead it prefers to arrest those who make allegations.' 'Anything can happen during the tenure of the Mahayuti government. The police machinery is being used to target the opponents of BJP,' he alleged. State Congress spokesperson Atul Londhe alleged that the government is going behind those who bring out its wrongdoings. 'We don't trust what the police and the state government have done. They might even have planted the drugs. This government and its police machinery are highly untrustworthy. The Mahayuti government is going after the opposition leaders and their families because we are bringing out their wrongdoings,' he said.
Indian Express
2 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
A day ago, Khadse targeted Mahajan; Oppn says misuse of police machinery
A day before the arrest of Eknath Khadse's son-in-law in connection with the alleged drug seizure at a Pune apartment Sunday, the former state minister had launched an attack on BJP minister Girish Maharaj alleging lack of development in Jalgaon. After the arrest as well, Khadse, hinting at his tussle with Mahajan, said: 'I was suspecting that something like this would happen because of the prevailing political scenario.' The Opposition leaders also linked the arrest to Khadse's allegations against Mahajan, claiming that the BJP-led government is using police to target opponents. Meanwhile, minister Mahajan said that if Khadse believed his son-in-law would be framed, he should have alerted him. On Saturday, at a press conference, Khadse targeted his long-time rival Mahajan asking what development has he brought to Jalgaon — both the leaders hail from the district. 'What has he brought for Jalgaon in the name of development ? Where is the textile park project. ? Tell me, which big development project has this minister brought in for Jalgaon district ?…Where is the animal husbandry college ?…For 30 years, several projects of Jalgaon district are pending…I am the only one who was raising issues of Jalgaon and issues of farmers from Maharashtra,' Khadse said. Claiming that he will continue his work on the development front in Maharashtra , he said, 'I have never bowed before anyone and will never bow before anyone…I have always taken things to a logical conclusion.' Challenging Mahajan, Khadse said, 'He should accept the challenge of getting a narco test on Praful Lodha…Why is he running away ?' The Opposition had claimed that Praful Lodha, alleged to be a close aide of Mahajan once, was the alleged mastermind behind a 'honeytrap operation' which was used to bring down the MVA government in 2022. Demanding Mahajan's resignation, Khadse said, 'Girish Mahajan should take moral responsibility and resign…Whenever there is an issue, why is Girish Mahajan's name always right upfront?' On Sunday, Khadse's son-in-law Pranjal Khewalkar and six others were arrested after the Pune City police said it seized drugs during a raid at an apartment where they were allegedly partying. Minutes after the arrest, Mahajan said, 'At yesterday's press conference Khadse had raised the question as to how drugs are making their way into Chalisgaon. And today, his son-in-law has been caught holding a rave party with drugs.' Mahajan said if Khadse was alleging conspiracy, then he should wait for the investigation to get over. 'His son-in-law is not a small child to be taken away at night,' he said. Slamming the state government over the arrest, Sena (UBT) spokesperson Sanjay Raut said, 'Khadse held a press conference and spoke against the state government with proof and a day later, his son-in-law was arrested. The government is not ready to investigate the allegations made by Khadse but instead it prefers to arrest those who make allegations.' 'Anything can happen during the tenure of the Mahayuti government. The police machinery is being used to target the opponents of BJP,' he alleged. State Congress spokesperson Atul Londhe alleged that the government is going behind those who bring out its wrongdoings. 'We don't trust what the police and the state government have done. They might even have planted the drugs. This government and its police machinery are highly untrustworthy. The Mahayuti government is going after the opposition leaders and their families because we are bringing out their wrongdoings,' he said.
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Hindustan Times
CBI gives clean chit to ex-Mumbai CP Pam Bir Singh in two more cases
MUMBAI: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has given a clean chit to former Mumbai police commissioner (CP) Param Bir Singh in two extortion cases that were registered against him when the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government was in power. The retired officer had earlier been exonerated in two other criminal cases out of five cases registered against him during the MVA regime. File photo of Param Bir Singh (HT Photo) All five cases against Singh were taken over by the CBI from the Maharashtra police pursuant to a Supreme Court order dated March 24, 2022. Singh had approached the apex court seeking transfer of all the five cases to an independent agency. On July 18, the CBI filed its charge sheet in a Thane court in an alleged extortion case registered in 2021 on the basis of a complaint by businessman Ketan Tanna. There was 'no prosecutable evidence to attribute criminal liability' on Singh, who served as Thane's police commissioner during 2015-18, the CBI mentioned in the charge sheet, which sought to prosecute seven other accused, including former encounter specialist and then head of the Thane anti-extortion cell, Pradeep Sharma. Earlier, on May 19, the CBI filed its supplementary charge sheet in an alleged extortion case registered by the Marine Drive police station on July 21, 2021, based on a complaint from businessman Shyam Sunder Agrawal. The businessman alleged that Singh and the other accused had, in pursuance of a criminal conspiracy, extorted money and properties from him after threatening to implicate him in false cases. In the supplementary charge sheet submitted in a magistrate court in the city, the CBI sought to prosecute two police officers – deputy commissioner of police Akbar Pathan and retired assistant commissioner of police Siddharth Shinde. The agency gave a clean chit to Singh and retired assistant commissioner of police Sanjay Patil as 'no prosecutable evidence' revealing their involvement in the crime had surfaced during the probe. In the charge sheet filed in the case in February 2022, the police had named four other persons, including then police inspectors Asha Korke and Nandkumar Gopale, and private individuals Sanjay Punamiya and Sunil Jain. On March 15, 2022, the competent authority had granted sanction to prosecute Korke and Gopale under the Code of Criminal Procedure, while the sanction required for prosecution of Pathan and Shinde is still awaited from the state government. The sanctions will be submitted as and when they are received, the CBI informed the court. When contacted on Saturday, Param Bir Singh said, 'All the five cases registered against me and taken over subsequently by the CBI were false, fabricated.' The cases were lodged at the behest of a former state minister and a former IPS officer, Singh told HT. The motive behind the cases was to harass him, and some criminal elements had been contacted to implicate him in the cases, he said.
Indian Express
4 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
‘MVA failure to oppose Urban Naxal Bill in Assembly sent wrong message, it must hit streets now': CPI(M)'s Dhawale
The smooth passage of the Maharashtra Special Public Security (MSPS) Bill in the state Assembly recently saw the members of the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), which includes the Congress, NCP(SP) and Shiv Sena (UBT), failing to even express their dissent against the legislation dubbed as 'Urban Naxal Bill', which seeks 'effective prevention of certain unlawful activities of Left-wing extremist organisations'. The only dissenter from the Opposition ranks on the floor of the House was CPI(M) MLA Vinod Nikole. The Bill's critics have warned that it grants sweeping powers to the State that could criminalise dissent and ideological activity under the pretext of curbing Naxalism, raising fears of arbitrary arrests. In an interview with The Indian Express, CPI(M) Politburo member and All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) chief Ashok Dhawale says the MSPS Bill marks a 'direct assault on democratic rights and civil liberties', calling the MVA MLAs' silence in the House 'unfortunate'. Excerpts: The CPI(M) has come out strongly against the MSPS Bill. Could you explain the reasons behind your opposition? We are completely opposed to this Bill. At its core, it is a direct attack on democratic rights and civil liberties. The government is using the so-called 'urban Naxal' threat as a red herring, an excuse to target dissent and silence critics of the ruling BJP and their corporate backers. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has publicly stated that the Naxal issue in Maharashtra is confined to just two tehsils in Gadchiroli. Union Home Minister Amit Shah also has publicly stated that the Naxalite Maoist problem has largely been eliminated nationwide. So, the question arises if the threat is under control, why this new law now? The government claims it is a security measure. Are you saying there is more to it? This law is not about security, it is about silencing voices. There are already enough draconian laws in place — UAPA at the national level, and MCOCA in Maharashtra. Some provisions in this new Bill are even more draconian than UAPA. So clearly, it's not about lack of legal tools. We believe this is being brought in to suppress growing people's movements in the state like the farmers fighting against land acquisition for the Shaktipeeth Highway, or resistance to corporate-led projects in Dharavi, Wadhwan port, and areas like Gadchiroli and Chandrapur. These projects, pushed by big corporates, especially mining projects in districts like Gadchiroli and Chandrapur for which land acquisition process has started, often violate forest and land rights. The Bill is a tool to criminalise these legitimate struggles. While you have criticised the Mahayuti government, several of your own allies in the MVA have been criticised for not opposing the Bill. What is your take? The record of the MVA who are our allies has been mixed. I would describe what happened in the Assembly as unfortunate. However, to be fair, several top MVA leaders joined earlier protests against this Bill. On June 3, there was a massive dharna at Azad Maidan, and leaders like Supriya Sule, Jayant Patil, and Uddhav Thackeray were present where they were categorical about their opposition to the Bill. On April 22, nearly 50,000 people protested against this Bill across Maharashtra. Though that was a Left-led call, many MVA leaders joined in solidarity. However, we were disappointed that when the Bill was introduced in the Assembly, only our MLA Vinod Nikole of the CPI(M) stood up to oppose it. Not a single MLA from the MVA bloc spoke out. On the same day we had an online meeting with NCP (SP) leader Jayant Patil and we raised this issue with him. We were told that several MVA MLAs who were part of the Select Committee had already opposed the Bill in that House Committee. But we believe that not opposing it on the Assembly floor sent the wrong message. It has not gone down well with the people of the state. To their credit, the very next day in the Legislative Council, the MVA rectified this mistake, where they unitedly opposed the Bill and walked out in protest. That act did some damage control, and we welcomed it. What are your expectations from the MVA now? And, are you planning to take any legal recourse against the Bill? Of course, we will examine legal options, but we are realistic. Generally, courts do not interfere in legislative processes. So we are not placing much emphasis on legal challenges. The real battle is on the streets. The farm laws passed by Parliament were ultimately repealed through mass struggle. Similarly, if we want to defeat this draconian Bill, we need a broad-based, united mass movement. We are trying to bring all forces together to make that happen. Speeches alone will not see the end of this Bill. We, including the major constituents of the MVA, will need to hit the streets. We are trying to persuade them. Let us see what happens. Would you like some provisions of the Bill to be diluted, or you want the bill to be repealed? The government had called for suggestions and objections to this Bill and it received 12,500 suggestions. Out of these, 9000 suggestions sought a complete scrapping of the Bill while another 3,000 called for amendments. We believe that the Bill in its entirety is harmful for the citizens of the state. We are not protesting so that the government tweak this law — we want it to be thrown out entirely.
Time of India
5 days ago
- Time of India
Mini school vans in Thane violate safety norms endangering students
Thane: Nearly two out of every ten mini school vans transporting thousands of students to and from schools and homes in Thane city were found to be blatantly violating crucial safety regulations. The shocking data surfaced after a surprise inspection drive carried out earlier this week, led by the Regional Transport Office (RTO) in coordination with the Thane traffic police. Rohit Katkar, Deputy RTO at Thane, said around 47 out of the 250 mini school vans checked were found operating illegally and without safety standards, potentially endangering the lives of the schoolchildren travelling in them. The surprise checks were carried out near various schools during peak hours. The vehicles were operating in violation of basic norms, such as using private vehicles for transport purposes without mandatory permits, overloading, lack of proper seating and safety kits, absence of safety bars on windows, and operating vehicles without the mandatory yellow colour designated for school buses, among other issues. "We have registered cases under the relevant sections of the MVA and issued memos to the owners. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like American Investor Warren Buffett Recommends: 5 Books For Turning Your Life Around Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo The drive will continue, and strict action will be taken against operators who endanger student lives by flouting norms," said a transport official. You Can Also Check: Mumbai AQI | Weather in Mumbai | Bank Holidays in Mumbai | Public Holidays in Mumbai The crackdown comes close on the heels of the Ambernath incident, where two students crammed inside a mini-van suffered injuries after falling off the vehicle. The issue was also discussed at a joint meeting between the school bus operator association and Thane traffic police recently, leading to the joint action over the last few days, officials explained. Meanwhile, startled parents, many of whom assumed the school vans they had hired were regulated and safe, are now demanding accountability. "We pay fees and trust these operators with our kids. This is sheer negligence," said a parent whose child uses van services.
