Latest news with #WesternRailway
Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
HC notice to Centre, railways over land-for-job row
Bhopal/Jabalpur: The MP high court has issued notices to the central govt, the railways ministry, and senior officials of Western Railway, seeking their response to a petition alleging failure to provide compensation or employment in exchange for acquired land. Petitioner Ashakrit Tripathi from Satna district said the land was acquired for new rail lines - Rewa-Sidhi-Singrauli and Khajuraho-Panna-Satna. His land at village Karahi in Satna was also acquired but he was not given adequate compensation nor given a job. He should either have got a job or Rs 5 lakh in compensation but he didn't get either of it. He applied for a job several times but his application was turned down each time. He claimed that at the time of land acquisition, publicity was carried out through the office of divisional commissioner, Rewa and district collector, Satna that a job would be given against land acquisition but the promise was not kept.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Time of India
Mumbai train blasts: Shock, anger among those hurt, families of deceased
Shock, anger among those hurt, families of deceased MUMBAI: Shock, anger and a sense of futility overcame the families of those who were killed or injured in the 11/7 serial train blasts. Monday's acquittal of all 12 accused prompted them to ask who actually perpetrated the crime, with some remarking sarcastically, 'No one did it!' Decades of fruitlessness have sealed the lips of Priti Sawant, whose husband, Parag (36), became the face of the tragedy. Parag died in 2015 after a long spell in coma. Priti is currently employed with Western Railway at Bhayander station but declined comment to TOI, saying she did not wish to relive the trauma. She was an expectant mother in 2006, and her daughter was born after Parag's injury. Harshal Bhalerao (23) of Vasai was killed in the blast. His mother Saguna said Monday, 'No verdict will bring my son back. But the guilty must be punished.' Harshal's father, Yashwant, said, 'Not a single victim's family will like this judgment. We have named our bungalow 'Harshal 11/7' after him. He was our only boy, now our daughter takes care of us.' Harshal was on his first day of work in Andheri when he fell victim at Borivli. Artist Mahendra Pitale lost an arm. He said, 'The order is a massive shock. Is it going to take law enforcement agencies another 19 years to find the real perpetrators?' Pitale too was given a job by railways. 'My prosthetic limb is very expensive and I have to find sponsors or depend on trusts to be able to afford it,' said Pitale, who has changed prosthetic limbs seven times in the past two decades. 'No one killed 200 people & injured 700...,' tweeted chartered accountant Chirag Chauhan, who had suffered a spinal injury that left his legs and lower body paralysed. Vishakha Seksaria, sister of Vrindesh, who was killed, said, 'I am unable to digest this news.' Subhash Saboo said, 'I can never forget that day as my father (Nathmal) was on the train towards Malad and he never made it home.' Rishi Bobra (38), who spent a month in the ICU, said he had nothing to say on the verdict and had moved ahead. Garden landscaper Harish Pawar was injured when a train rod pierced his chest. He bubbled over in anger on Monday. 'Why was the evidence that was deemed acceptable by the lower courts for conviction, entirely negated by HC?' Vasai resident Raniya D'Souza lost her father, Manuel (36), when she was just six and a half. Manuel, a chemical engineer and the sole breadwinner, was killed in the Matunga blast. Raniya is grateful to Western Railway for having granted her a job after graduation. Her younger brother, who was only two and a half at the time, does not have any memories of their father. Hansraj Kanojia, who lost a leg, demanded reinvestigation. 'If they are being set free today and go on to commit the same crime again, who will take responsibility? The case should be taken to the SC.'
Time of India
3 days ago
- Time of India
Despair and disbelief overcome victims of Mumbai train blasts as high court verdict brings case back to square one
Mumbai: Shock, anger and a sense of futility overcame the families of those who were killed or injured in the 11/7 serial train blasts. Monday's acquittal of all 12 accused prompted them to ask who actually perpetrated the crime, with some remarking sarcastically, "No one did it!" Decades of fruitlessness have sealed the lips of Priti Sawant, whose husband, Parag (36), became the face of the tragedy. Parag died in 2015 after a long spell in coma. Priti is currently employed with Western Railway at Bhayander station but declined comment to TOI, saying she did not wish to relive the trauma. She was an expectant mother in 2006, and her daughter was born after Parag's injury. Harshal Bhalerao (23) of Vasai was killed in the blast. His mother Saguna said Monday, "No verdict will bring my son back. But the guilty must be punished." Harshal's father, Yashwant, said, "Not a single victim's family will like this judgement. We have named our bungalow 'Harshal 7/11' after him. He was our only boy, now our daughter takes care of us." Harshal was on his first day of work in Andheri when he fell victim to the blast at Borivli. You Can Also Check: Mumbai AQI | Weather in Mumbai | Bank Holidays in Mumbai | Public Holidays in Mumbai Artist Mahendra Pitale lost an arm to the bombing. He said, "The order is a massive shock. We believed the guilty would hang. If these men were not the perpetrators, then who carried out the bomb blasts? Why were they not apprehended? Nineteen years have passed and there is no justice. Is it going to take the law enforcement agencies another 19 years to find the real perpetrators?" Pitale too was given a job by the railways. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Gold Is Surging in 2025 — Smart Traders Are Already In IC Markets Learn More Undo "My prosthetic limb is very expensive and I have to find sponsors or depend on trusts to be able to afford it," said Pitale, who has changed prosthetic limbs seven times in the past two decades. "No one killed 200 people & injured 700...," tweeted chartered accountant Chirag Chauhan, who had suffered a spinal injury that left his legs and lower body paralysed. "Personally, I may have forgiven the terrorists and moved on with my life. But the law of the land has failed to deliver justice today to the people who were left dead or disabled... Today is a very sad day for everyone. Justice got killed..." Vishakha Seksaria, sister of Vrindesh, who was killed, said, "I am unable to digest this news. The accused had been convicted in 2015... how can they be acquitted now? My brother, Vrindesh, was like a pillar of support to us. After losing my parents during the pandemic, I'm now all alone. The court order feels like a blow. I would like to discuss with the other (victims') families and petition the court to reconsider." Subhash Saboo said, "I can never forget that day as my father (Nathmal) was on the train towards Malad and he never made it home. I have been trying to erase the memory for the last two decades but today the sorrow is searing through me and seeing the acquittal order has left me speechless." Rishi Bobra (38), a gritty survivor who spent a month in the ICU, said he had nothing to say on the verdict and had moved ahead. "I work for a securities firm. I drive or take the train to my workplace. l don't want to dwell on the past," he said. In 2016, Bobra had said that he felt the delay not just in this case, but in all cases is a reflection of the Indian legal system. Garden landscaper Harish Pawar was injured when a train rod pierced his chest. He bubbled over in anger Monday. "It appears as if we the commuters are to blame for stepping out for work to support our families. Why was the evidence that was deemed acceptable by the lower courts for conviction, entirely negated by the high court?" Vasai resident Raniya D'Souza lost her father, Manuel (36), when she was just six and a half. Manuel, a chemical engineer and the sole breadwinner, was killed in the Matunga blast. "Our family struggled emotionally and financially, and the void left by my father has not been filled even after all these years," she said. Raniya is grateful to Western Railway for having granted her a job after graduation. Her younger brother, who was only two and a half at the time, does not have any memories of their father. Calling the judgment unjust, Hansraj Kanojia, who lost a leg, demanded reinvestigation. "If they are being set free today and go on to commit the same crime again, who will take responsibility? The case should be taken to the Supreme Court." On Monday BJP leader Kirit Somaiya along with Kanojia and Pitale met additional chief security (home) I S Chahal at Mantralaya. They expressed unhappiness over the judgement and requested the state to challenge the decision in the SC. (Inputs by Nitasha Natu, V Narayan, Somit Sen, Vishal Rajemahadik, Swati Deshpande, Vijay V Singh, Pushkraj Vernekar and Bella Jaisinghani)
Time of India
3 days ago
- Time of India
Paper leak: Eight former Western Railway employees awarded five years in jail, fined 5L
Ahmedabad: A special CBI court here on Monday sentenced eight former Western Railway employees to five years' imprisonment and imposed a Rs 5 lakh fine on each of them after finding them guilty of leaking the paper of an exam conducted by the railways in 2002. The court said that this case is a "glaring example of betrayal of public trust". Those punished are former head clerks Sunil Golani and Prakash Karamchandani, senior cipher operator Mahendra Vyas, signal maintainers Rajesh Goswami and Anand Meraiya, assistant diesel drivers Mehboobali Ansari and Paresh Patel and railway protection force personnel Pappu Khan. The CBI filed a case against them based on a complaint made by the chief vigilance inspector on Aug 17, 2002. They were charged with criminal conspiracy, theft, causing the disappearance of evidence and dishonestly receiving or retaining stolen property after they leaked and sold question papers for the exam to be held on Aug 18, 2002, for the post of probationary assistant station master. The exam was cancelled. You Can Also Check: Ahmedabad AQI | Weather in Ahmedabad | Bank Holidays in Ahmedabad | Public Holidays in Ahmedabad After the trial, special judge D G Rana stated, "This not only caused substantial financial and administrative loss to the govt exchequer but also inflicted deep disappointment and irreparable emotional and intellectual damage to thousands of honest and hardworking aspirants who invested their precious time, effort and resources to prepare for the examination in good faith." by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like He Did THIS at the Wedding—And His Bride Couldn't Hold Back the Tears Read More Undo The court further stated, "This case is a glaring example of betrayal of public trust by those who were expected to protect the sanctity of the recruitment process. The convicts abused their official positions for personal monetary gain, thereby undermining the integrity of Indian Railways and also the govt of India. The offence strikes at the core of public confidence in fair governance and erodes the moral fabric of law-abiding democratic society of India. " The court quoted from the Sanskrit text Prayashchitta Mayukha and verses of Gujarati poet Kalapi and said, "Considering the gravity of the offence, the extent of public loss and the breach of fiduciary duty by the convicts, a deterrent yet reformative sentence is warranted. This court, therefore, imposes the sentence not merely to penalise, but to create conditions conducive to inner transformation, so that the convicts may one day return to society as morally awakened individuals, capable of contributing positively to the nation they wronged. "
Time of India
13-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Western Railway gets new general manager; he conducts special inspection on Sunday
Mumbai: Vivek Kumar Gupta, an IRSE officer from the 1988 batch, has taken charge as General Manager, Western Railway . Before this appointment, he served as the Managing Director of NHSRCL, overseeing India's inaugural Bullet Train Project implementation. After taking charge, Gupta conducted an inspection at Churchgate and Marine Lines stations and a footplate inspection of the Churchgate - Marine Lines section on Sunday. He also interacted with passengers and staff. He took note of safety, train operations, passenger and staff amenities, and cleanliness, an official said. In his previous role, Gupta held the position of Principal Executive Director/Gati-Shakti at the Railway Board, Ministry of Railways. He coordinated seven departments - Civil (Works, Project Monitoring & Station Development), Electrical (RE), Signal & Telecommunication, Traffic, Finance, Planning, and Economic Directorates. His responsibilities included ensuring unified operations for planning and executing major railway projects, including station development under the PM Gati-Shakti initiative. You Can Also Check: Mumbai AQI | Weather in Mumbai | Bank Holidays in Mumbai | Public Holidays in Mumbai
