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NDTV
2 days ago
- Sport
- NDTV
Amid Bengaluru Stampede, Mumbai's T20 World Cup Victory Parade In Focus
Quick Read Summary is AI generated, newsroom reviewed. The Mumbai police's successful crowd management during the victory parade after India's T20 World Cup win last year is in focus amid the Bengaluru stampede incident in which 11 people died. Mumbai: The stampede in Bengaluru amid celebrations over RCB's IPL win that resulted in 11 deaths has brought into focus the feat of Mumbai police, which helmed a massive victory parade with picture-perfect arrangements and clockwork precision following India's T20 World Cup win last year. Despite the iconic Wankhede stadium and almost the entire stretch of the picturesque Marine Drive turning into a sea of blue on July 4 as almost three lakh people gathered to greet the Indian team, precise placement of barricades, a steady stream of real-time announcements and on the spot decisions of crowd control saved the day, officials said on Friday. "We had just 36 hours to prepare. We were on our toes and managed around three lakh people. We told the Mumbai Cricket Association that tickets should be issued for such free public events so that crowds can be managed properly. If online tickets are kept for such events, the entry and exit of the people can be monitored and crowding can be avoided," a senior police official told PTI. While police personnel were being briefed about the event at the 32000-capacity stadium, the massive din outside, which signalled the amassing of a huge crowd, gave authorities a sense of scale, he said. "Initially, we planned to open the gates around 4 pm. But sensing the crowd build-up, the gates were opened at 2:30 pm, and all were seated in the stadium by 4 pm. While 35,000 persons were in the stadium, the rest were to be accommodated on the roads around. Announcements began to be made about the stadium being out of bounds as it was full," the official said. People arriving in the area were asked to move in an orderly manner to Marine Drive, the official said. "Just two days before this event, a stampede in Hathras in Uttar Pradesh had killed 121. So the attention to detail was absolute. Moreover, we had experience of hosting the Indian Air Force's air show at Marine Drive in January (2024), which was attended by several thousand persons," he said. A highlight of the arrangements, the official recollected, was the binding instruction not to resort to lathi-charge for untoward incidents. It was decided that barricades would play a vital role in crowd management and flow, along with heavy deployment of police at all points, he said, adding that constant announcements from loudspeakers kept everyone in the loop about the situation and what was expected of them. He praised the crowd for following the instructions of the police properly. "The Indian team came in cars till NCPA (at the southern tip of Marine Drive) and then got on to the bus, which moved through the crowd of revellers. The bus was given two layers of security," the official said. Then police commissioner Vivek Phansalkar and special police commissioner Deven Bharti, who incidentally heads the metropolis' force now, personally monitored the crowd. Minor incidents of suffocation and stampede-like situations reported near Churchgate station were defused with the timely intervention of police, with people arriving at the station by trains being asked to go back, the official said. The event was held successfully because police had given attention to even minute issues, like asking people not to bend down to pick up slippers that get left behind, as such acts can trigger a chain of events ending in stampedes, he said. Three trucks full of footwear were collected by civic workers following the event, the official pointed out. The stampede in Bengaluru occurred on Wednesday evening in front of the stadium, where a large number of people thronged to participate in the RCB team's IPL victory celebrations. Eleven people died and 56 were injured in the incident.
Indian Express
30-04-2025
- General
- Indian Express
On Mumbai police chief Vivek Phansalkar last day, senior officers extend a farewell. Here's all about the pulling-out ceremony
As Vivek Phansalkar's tenure as the Mumbai police chief ended Wednesday, he got into an open jeep covered with orange and yellow garlands and laden with flowers of different hues at the parade ground in Naigaon, where the rank and file of the force assembled. After a while, senior police officers, including the new Mumbai police Commissioner, Deven Bharti, ceremonially pulled the vehicle with the two ropes tied to it — carrying out the 'pulling out' ceremony. The 'pulling out' ceremony, where an outgoing senior officer is given the honour, is a military tradition dating back several decades. Mumbai police historian Deepak Rao said S G Pradhan, who headed the force between 1970 and 73, was the first city police chief to adopt the tradition. 'Since then, whenever the DGP or a police unit chief like the Mumbai police commissioner retires, the tradition has continued,' he said. Rao added that as the jeep goes ahead, the tune of Auld Lang Syne, a Scottish song usually sung to bid farewell, is played. A Mumbai police officer said junior officers assemble at the parade ground in Naigaon on the final day of the outgoing commissioner, who then meets them, waves out from his jeep, and the 'pulling out' ceremony follows. 'We jokingly say that since officers in powerful positions try to remain longer in the post, the 'pulling out' ceremony is indicative of him being pulled out by juniors so that a new person can come in,' said a retired Indian Police Service (IPS) officer. Another officer said that after the ceremony at the parade ground, the commissioner goes back to the Mumbai police headquarters, and eventually hands over the charge to the next person in the evening. The officer then leaves for his residence in the official vehicle one last time with a pilot vehicle ahead. The officer said only the Maharashtra director general of police and the Mumbai police commissioner were given the honour earlier. 'Now, chiefs of other police units like Pune and Nagpur are also given the ceremonial gesture,' added the officer. In recent times, the honour has also been extended to senior officers who were transferred to rural areas, when they wear colourful turbans, with locals throwing flowers, and pulling their vehicles. Videos of a few such farewells have been widely shared on social media. Later, this prompted DGP Rashmi Shukla to write to police units to avoid this pomp and ceremony in case of routine transfers.
Indian Express
22-04-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
51 lakh citizens lost Rs 15,483 crore in investment frauds, Mumbai police re-starts Economic Intelligence Unit
Five years after its dissolution over corruption allegations, an intelligence unit for the effective prevention of economic offences has now been newly formed by Mumbai police. Vivek Phansalkar, Mumbai Police Commissioner, passed an order on April 16 (a copy is available with The Indian Express) for formation of a new designated Economic Intelligence Unit (EIU) under the Economic Offences Wing (EOW). The Indian Express on January 11 had first highlighted the absence and significance of such an intelligence unit in Mumbai after the Torres Ponzi scheme mass fraud surfaced, in which nearly 15,000 victims lost around Rs 150 crore to a well-organised fraud allegedly committed by Ukrainian-based masterminds. In the absence of a financial crime intelligence unit and the lack of oversight, a fertile ground was created for foreign nationals, including those behind the Torres scam, to establish operations in Mumbai, offer unprecedented financial returns, and dupe unsuspecting investors — all without the police having any prior knowledge or intelligence about the scheme. Thus, such mass frauds flourished without any checks. As per the police commissioner's order, the new EIU cell would be headed by a senior inspector (SrPI) rank officer assisted by two sub-inspectors or assistant inspectors and eight men (constables). 51 lakh people lost Rs 15,500 crore in 10 years in Mumbai Underlining the need for having an intelligence unit for financial crime, the police commissioner's standing order stated, 'In the last 10 years since the formation of the Economic Offences Wing of the Mumbai police, there have been approximately 100 cases (96) registered under the provisions of the MPID (Maharashtra Protection of Interest of Depositors) Act. These cases involve a defrauded amount of approximately Rs 15,500 crore and over 50 lakh victims. The magnitude of the problem is therefore evident. In this context, it is felt that a mechanism for preventing the occurrence of such offences be brought into force. How EIU will function The mandate of the EIU will include, collection of information regarding ongoing deposit schemes operating in the jurisdiction of the zone on a monthly basis. This report must be sent by the Zonal DCPs by the fifth of every month (to the EIU). In addition, the EIU must also suo motu collect such information from field and social media sources and put them up before the joint commissioner of police, EOW. The data collected (by EIU) will later be categorised into regulated and unregulated schemes. In the case of the latter, a primary inference regarding the applicability of the BUDS Act (Banning of Unregulated Deposit Schemes) may be drawn. If the scheme is found to be in the nature of an unregulated deposit, the zonal DCP should forward it to the JtCP, EOW only for information. He/she should proceed with further action under the BUDS Act, wherever applicable. Based on the inputs collected and due permission from the commissioner, appropriate discreet enquiry may be done (by the EIU). 'If there is indication of fund diversion for purposes other than those from which assured returns may be reasonably expected, this fact must be noted. Alternatively, it may be a case of multi-level marketing or incentive-based referral schemes. All schemes categorised under the Red Category would be brought to the notice of the JtCP EOW by the EIU through proper channel, on file. The JtCP would then submit it to the CP Mumbai, who would decide the appropriate legal recourse to be adopted, the commissioner's order reads. In the year 2020, the EOW's 'Intelligence Cell', which was in operation since the formation of the EOW, was dissolved following corruption allegations. Since its disbandment, the EOW has lacked a dedicated mechanism to gather intelligence on large-scale financial crimes and investment frauds. Former police commissioner Sanjay Barve, who once called EOW the 'Settlement Branch', believed that the Intelligence Unit, under the then Deputy Commissioner (DCP) of EOW, had been assigned more investigative cases than it was designed to handle. Despite the unit's primary mandate being the gathering of intelligence, not conducting investigations, Barve raised concerns about the overreach. Additionally, amid corruption allegations against some officers, Barve decided that the Intelligence Unit was no longer necessary. At his direction the unit was dissolved. EIU lacks power? Sources within the police force have indicated that the newly formed EIU provides less rights to the officers working in it. If you are re-forming a crucial unit after 4-5 years then it should be upgraded once, but that's not the case with EIU. The order for new EIU also does not speak anything on their specialised training. The old unit, which was specifically tasked with gathering intelligence on individuals and schemes targeting gullible investors with promises of high returns, consisted of a team of four to six highly trained and well-informed officers, supported by a group of tech-savvy constables. These officers underwent regular training by industry experts to enhance their ability to gather intelligence on economic offences. The old Intelligence Unit (of EOW) coordinated with the Fraud and Recovery Intelligence, Risk Containment Units, and Vigilance Units of major financial institutions, including the RBI and commercial banks. Through collaboration with these vigilance units, the Intelligence Unit was able to advise organisations on preventive measures against fraud and gather advance information on suspicious transactions. This early-warning system allowed the police to monitor potentially fraudulent activities before they could escalate. After mass frauds like Torres, and CA Amber Dalal ponzi schemes surfaced, many had felt the need to revive the economic offences intelligence unit. Many officials argued that dissolving such an essential unit over corruption allegations was a poor choice. They contend that there are alternative measures, such as transferring or disciplining the rogue officers, rather than dismantling an entire unit that had a critical role in addressing rising financial crimes. Major ponzi schemes & investment frauds in Mumbai * Torres ponzi scheme mass fraud: In this cashback form of investment fraud, people were lured into investing money, promised weekly interest ranging from 4 to 12 per cent. Nearly 15,000 victims from Mumbai, Thane, Navi Mumbai and Mira Road lost around Rs 150 crore to a well-organised fraud allegedly committed by Ukrainian-based masterminds. * Amber Dalal case (2024): CA Amber Dalal defrauded 2,009 investors of ₹1,100 crore through a ponzi scheme, promising monthly returns of 1.5%-1.8%. Assets worth ₹67 crore were attached by the ED after his arrest. * Heera gold investment fraud (2018): Prime accused Nowhera Shaikh of Heera Gold group of companies along with her associates allegedly carried out an investment fraud in which over 250 people were duped to the tune of Rs 18 crore. Shaikh is facing multiple fraud cases across India for allegedly duping thousands of people to the tune of Rs 500 crore across the country. * Conman Chandrashekhar (2015): Chandrashekhar, posing as an MP, duped 500 people of ₹19 crore via Lion Oak India. He was arrested along with actress Leena Paul. * Qnet scam (2013): Around five lakh investors lost ₹1,000 crore in a pyramid scheme run by Michael Ferreira and others under QNET. * City Limousine Scam (2007): Over 65,000 investors were swindled of ₹980 crore in Mumbai alone, with total liabilities exceeding ₹2,885 crore. * SpeakAsia scam (2010): The company duped 24 lakh investors of ₹2,276 crore, funneling ₹900 crore abroad through fraudulent marketing surveys.
