Latest news with #Sherni
Time of India
2 days ago
- General
- Time of India
Dredging of Mhadei at Sonal without WRD nod
Keri: Dredging of the Mhadei has been undertaken by some locals at Sonal posing a serious ecological threat to the river in Sattari. The locals have neither informed the water resources department (WRD) about the dredging nor have they taken permission. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The work at Movacho Guno has been taken up without understanding the local ecology, and the hydrological aspects of the river. 'We have not been informed about the dredging work and we also have not authorised anybody to undertake it,' said Shailesh Pokle, executive engineer of WRD at Valpoi. Every year, sand mining is carried out in the river at Sonal on a massive scale. This threatens the natural course of the Mhadei. Assuming that the sand mining would lead to blockages to the free flow of water, some locals took up the dredging work without informing the authorities concerned. Chandrakant Virdikar, who recently visited the spot, said that though desiltation has the potentiality to improve the hydraulic performance of a river, at Sonal, it has been found that a bulldozer was employed indiscriminately for the work. 'Desiltation helps by removing accumulated sediment, debris and silt from a river, but at Sonal, it has been found that bulldozer was employed and shrubs of Sherni (Homonoia riperia) have been uprooted along with other vegetation that play role in protecting floodplains of river,' he said.
Hindustan Times
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
From ex-CM's wife to Vidya Balan to Col Sofiya Qureshi: MP minister no stranger to controversy
For Madhya Pradesh Tribal Affairs Minister Vijay Shah, currently under fire for his comments aimed at Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, this is not the first time he has been embroiled in a controversy. In the past, the tribal leader was accused of making offensive comments on former chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan's wife and kicking up a row with a dinner invite to Bollywood actor Vidya Balan during a film shoot in MP. On the orders of the MP High Court, police have booked Shah for making objectionable remarks about Col Qureshi, who gained nationwide prominence along with another woman officer, Wing Commander Vyomika Singh, during media briefings on Operation Sindoor. During a public event in Indore district on Monday, Shah tried to present Col Qureshi as the 'sister of terrorists', prompting the HC to take suo motu cognisance of it. In April 2013, Shah had made crass remarks on Chouhan's wife while addressing a public function in the tribal-dominated Jhabua district. The unpalatable comments created a political firestorm and cost him his job as a minister. Abhay Tiwari, state Congress general secretary in-charge of media and research, said Shah was forced to resign from the MP cabinet in 2013 over his tasteless talk concerning the then CM's wife. 'Now, when he has made a shameless comment on the Army, the BJP is silent. Is this their nationalism,' he asked. Congress spokesperson Bhupendra Gupta said when Shah was using the 'language of gutter', as mentioned in the HC order, the ex-culture minister and Mhow MLA, Usha Thakur, was seen laughing in a video of the event. 'Is this the culture of the BJP,' he asked. Shah had triggered another row in November 2020 when he was the forest minister. 'He reportedly invited actor Vidya Balan for dinner during the shooting of the film 'Sherni' in Balaghat district. The film star turned down the offer, after which Shah's department withdrew the permission for the shoot,' Gupta claimed. According to media reports, vehicles of the film production team were allegedly stopped from entering a forest area for shooting, a day after the actress declined to join Shah for dinner, Gupta said. Shah had rubbished the allegations, saying he had turned down an invitation for lunch/dinner from those who took permission for shooting. The eighth-term MLA from the Harsud (ST) seat has also served as the school education minister. The 62-year-old tribal leader, popular among voters for doing benevolent work, remained undefeated in the constituency from 1990 to 2023. However, the latest controversy drew the attention of the high court, which took suo motu cognisance of the matter. The HC on Wednesday castigated Shah for passing 'dangerous', "scurrilous" remarks and using "language of the gutters" against Colonel Qureshi, and ordered the police to file an FIR against him for promoting enmity and hatred. The division bench of Justices Atul Shridharan and Anuradha Shukla said the remarks were 'disparaging' to the armed forces, which is 'perhaps the last institution in the country' that reflects integrity, discipline, sacrifice, selflessness, character, honour and indomitable courage. State Congress chief Jitu Patwari on Thursday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi should ask Vijay Shah to resign. His party colleague Digvijaya Singh said Shah had a mentality similar to that of the 'BJP's troll army', and the PM should clarify whether he found the minister's comments appropriate. Amid criticism, Shah has said if anyone is hurt by his statement, he is ready to apologise 10 times, adding that he respects Colonel Qureshi more than his sister.
India Gazette
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- India Gazette
Actor Vijay Raaz acquitted in sexual harassment case by Gondia Court
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], May 16 (ANI): Actor Vijay Raaz known for his roles in 'Stree', 'Delhi Belly' and others, has been acquitted of sexual harassment and stalking charges filed by a colleague on the sets of the film 'Sherni' also starring Vidya Balan. The Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate's Court in Gondia acquitted actor Vijay Razz of all charges in a sexual harassment case filed against him in 2020 during the shooting of a film in Gondia and Balaghat. The Court found him innocent after completing the trial, and he was acquitted of all charges against him. The judgment, pronounced by Judge Mahendra Keshao Sorte, cleared the 51-year-old actor of allegations under Indian Penal Code Sections 354-A (sexual harassment) and 354-D (stalking), citing lack of evidence and failure of the prosecution to establish guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. The case dated back to October 25-29, 2020, when a female crew member accused Razz of inappropriate behaviour, including unwelcome physical contact and suggestive remarks, during a film shoot at Hotel Gateway in Gondia and later at Jatashankar College in Balaghat. His advocate and noted celebrity lawyer Saveena Bedi Sachar, stated that the actor who was shooting near Nagpur for 'Sherni' had to not only leave the film shoot midway but also lost work thereafter. However, he has now been declared innocent and she hopes that this case serves as an example for people who declare every accused as guilty as soon as allegations are levied against him. According to the FIR filed on 3 November 2020, the actor allegedly tried to touch the complainant, adjusted her mask without consent, and made comments about her physical appearance. The woman later reported the incident to her seniors and filed a complaint at Ramnagar Police Station. The incident dates back to November 4, 2020, when Raaz was arrested in Balaghat, Madhya Pradesh, over allegations of molesting a crew member at a hotel where the film crew was staying. He was released on bail the same day. During the investigation, police seized CCTV footage from the hotel and recorded statements of witnesses. However, the court noted that: Key witnesses did not directly witness the incident. CCTV footage failed to conclusively support the allegations. The main complainant was unavailable to testify, as she had died before the trial concluded. Prosecution witnesses turned hostile or could not confirm the seizure procedures or content of documents. As a result, the court concluded that the prosecution failed to prove the accused's involvement in any sexual misconduct and declared Razz not guilty. The court also ordered the cancellation of Razz bail bond, the return of the surety amount, and the destruction of the seized footage after the appeal period. He has been directed to furnish a surety bond of Rs. 7,000 for six months under Section 437-A of CrPC to ensure presence if any appeal is filed. (ANI)
Mint
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Mint
Actor Vijay Raaz acquitted in sexual harassment case by Gondia Court
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], May 16 (ANI): Actor Vijay Raaz known for his roles in 'Stree', 'Delhi Belly' and others, has been acquitted of sexual harassment and stalking charges filed by a colleague on the sets of the film 'Sherni' also starring Vidya Balan. The Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate's Court in Gondia acquitted actor Vijay Razz of all charges in a sexual harassment case filed against him in 2020 during the shooting of a film in Gondia and Balaghat. The Court found him innocent after completing the trial, and he was acquitted of all charges against him. The judgment, pronounced by Judge Mahendra Keshao Sorte, cleared the 51-year-old actor of allegations under Indian Penal Code Sections 354-A (sexual harassment) and 354-D (stalking), citing lack of evidence and failure of the prosecution to establish guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. The case dated back to October 25-29, 2020, when a female crew member accused Razz of inappropriate behaviour, including unwelcome physical contact and suggestive remarks, during a film shoot at Hotel Gateway in Gondia and later at Jatashankar College in Balaghat. His advocate and noted celebrity lawyer Saveena Bedi Sachar, stated that the actor who was shooting near Nagpur for 'Sherni' had to not only leave the film shoot midway but also lost work thereafter. However, he has now been declared innocent and she hopes that this case serves as an example for people who declare every accused as guilty as soon as allegations are levied against him. According to the FIR filed on 3 November 2020, the actor allegedly tried to touch the complainant, adjusted her mask without consent, and made comments about her physical appearance. The woman later reported the incident to her seniors and filed a complaint at Ramnagar Police Station. The incident dates back to November 4, 2020, when Raaz was arrested in Balaghat, Madhya Pradesh, over allegations of molesting a crew member at a hotel where the film crew was staying. He was released on bail the same day. During the investigation, police seized CCTV footage from the hotel and recorded statements of witnesses. However, the court noted that: Key witnesses did not directly witness the incident. CCTV footage failed to conclusively support the allegations. The main complainant was unavailable to testify, as she had died before the trial concluded. Prosecution witnesses turned hostile or could not confirm the seizure procedures or content of documents. As a result, the court concluded that the prosecution failed to prove the accused's involvement in any sexual misconduct and declared Razz not guilty. The court also ordered the cancellation of Razz bail bond, the return of the surety amount, and the destruction of the seized footage after the appeal period. He has been directed to furnish a surety bond of Rs. 7,000 for six months under Section 437-A of CrPC to ensure presence if any appeal is filed. (ANI)
News18
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Actor Vijay Raaz Acquitted In 2020 Sexual Harassment Case Due To Lack Of Evidence
Last Updated: Vijay Raaz is known for his roles in films like 'Stree', 'Delhi Belly' and 'Dedh Ishqiya. A court in Maharashtra on Thursday acquitted Bollywood actor Vijay Raaz in a sexual harassment case filed by a colleague in 2020, holding that the 'prosecution failed to present sufficient evidence against him". Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate (Gondia) Mahendra Sorte dropped the charges under IPC sections 354-A (sexual Harassment) and 354-D (stalking) pressed against the actor. A crew member had alleged that the actor sexually harassed her during the shoot of the movie 'Sherni' about five years ago. As per the complaint filed at the Ramnagar police station in Gondia, the alleged offence was committed between the night of October 25, 2020, and the morning of October 29, 2020. On November 4, 2020, Raaz was arrested in Balaghat, Madhya Pradesh, where the film crew was staying. He was released on bail the same day. The complainant stated that the incident took place in a hotel, but the investigating officer did not visit the spot, the order said. The judge said the complainant mentioned the names of two to three persons working at the hotel, but their statements were not recorded. 'The investigating officer did not conduct any further investigation. Therefore, the evidence presented by the prosecution appears weak and insufficient. Even the seized CCTV footage does not clearly show the accused committing the alleged act," the court said. The prosecution has 'failed to conclusively prove the guilt of the accused", so the benefit of doubt goes to the accused, held the court. The court said the oral evidence presented by the prosecution was not sufficient to convict the accused. Hence, he is acquitted, it added. The actor's lawyer Saveena Bedi Sachar said that Raaz, who was shooting near Nagpur for 'Sherni', had to not only leave the film shoot midway but also lost work thereafter. Since he has now been declared innocent, this case should serve as an example for people who declare every accused as guilty as soon as allegations are levied against him, the advocate added. Raaz is known for his roles in films like 'Stree', 'Delhi Belly' and 'Dedh Ishqiya. First Published:
