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Showing posts from March, 2014

ACB seize Rs 48 lakh cash from Edn officer Netam’s residence

Besides cash, documents about three plots, agriculture land was recovered in searches By Dheeraj Fartode Sleuths of Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) have seized Rs 48 lakh cash and property related documents collectively worth Rs 3 crore in searches at residence of Education Officer (Primary) Someshwar Netam. The search which started on Saturday evening continued till Sunday afternoon. A senior officer of ACB told ‘The Hitavada’ that besides cash, Netam also possessed three plots, agriculture land at three places and 21 tola gold ornaments. All valuables and documents have been seized by ACB and Netam was asked to disclose source of income from which these assets were purchased. If Netam fails to disclose sources, he will be booked under relevant provisions of Prevention of Corruption Act. In Soup: A perturbed Education Officer Someshwar Netam snapped at his residence after ACB searches. Netam is set to retire on March 31 and directors and teachers of various

Ignoring good samaritan DCP lands quarreling youth in jail

The youth realised their grave mistake of ‘ignoring’ plain clothes police officer’s intervention By Dheeraj Fartode Men in khaki can control a mob. And what happens when the same policemen in plain clothes appears before the crowd? The reaction of crowd is entirely different. An incident that occurred well past Saturday midnight at Empress mall, proves the above point. A Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) of Nagpur city police who tried to intervene in a brawl was manhandled by the mob. In the melee, the DCP’s spectacle was also damaged. The DCP had gone to watch late night show of ‘Ragini MMS 2 movie’. The DCP was clad casually in T-shirt and jeans. After the movie was over, an altercation occurred between two groups over eve teasing. According the police, the brawl started after a youth molested a girl. Attention of the audience got diverted towards the brawl and the mob immediately gathered around the fighting youth. The enthusiastic DCP intervened in the matter identif

ACB seizes Rs 15 lakh cash from Education Officer Netam’s residence

By Dheeraj Fartode Sleuths of Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB), on Saturday night, conducted searches at the residence of Education Officer (Primary) Someshwar Netam just two days before his retirement. During searches, the ACB seized Rs 15 lakh cash and other documents at his posh flat along Koradi Road. A senior officer of ACB told ‘The Hitavada’ that searches were conducted after court’s permission. A team of ACB raided Netam’s residence in the evening hours and searches continued till late night. According to sources, Netam was to retire on March 31 and directors and teachers of various educational institutions were in touch with Netam to get approvals. ACB kept a watch on Netam’s activities for past 15 days and noticed that many high-profile people associated with educational institutions met him at his house in morning hours. All visitors entered Netam’s house with a packet but came out without it. ACB then approached the court and sought permission to conduct searches a

Government made speed government mandatory for commercial vehicles

By Dheeraj Fartode In a move to restrain reckless drivers of commercial vehicles, Government have made it mandatory for all such vehicles to have speed governors. The Government has fixed the upper speed limit to 80 km/hour for such vehicles and the restriction comes into effect from April 1. As per the amendment to Motor Vehicles Act, the Government has now made it compulsory for manufacturers to roll out vehicles with pre-installed speed governors. State Transport Department have directed all vehicle manufacturers to install the device in their vehicles at manufacturing stage or either at distribution stage. It can be mentioned that Volvo buses, MSRTC buses and other long haul vehicles ply with speed of 100 km/hr and at time beyond it also. Accidents of such public transport vehicles has resulted in deaths on large scale across many parts of States. Speaking on the development, Regional Transport officer (RTO), Nagpur City, Sarjerao Shelke informed ‘The Hitavada’ that th

City and District police gear up for tight vigil ahead of LS Polls

Flying surveillance squads and Static surveillance squads are formed Paramilitary forces to stage flag march at sensitive areas By Dheeraj Fartode Nagpur City and District police are leaving no stone unturned to ensure safe and secure atmosphere during Lok Sabha election campaigning for Nagpur and Ramtek constituencies. 36 Flying surveillance squads and static surveillance squads have been formed in city and 28 squads have been constituted in district. These squads have already swung into action and have launched operation to put check on illegal activities and keep a tab on notorious history sheeters. The district has a total 4,034 polling booths including 2,224 in Ramtek and 1,810 in Nagpur constituency. A special meeting of personnel of the special squads was conducted recently and senior election officers guided the members about action plan. Commissioner of Police K K Pathak informed ‘The Hitavada’ that additional bandobast of 1,200 home guards including 500 men,

Nine nominations for Nagpur, Ramtek LS seats rejected during scrutiny

Muslim League, TMC candidates failed to get past even scrutiny stage 45 forms accepted for Nagpur LS and 27 for Ramtek LS By Dheeraj Fartode As many as nine nominations for Nagpur Lok Sabha were rejected during the scrutiny on Monday and three in Ramtek Lok Sabha constituency. Most of the rejected nominations were filed by independent candidates and dummy candidates of political parties. Addressing a press conference, District Returning Officer and Collector Abhishek Krishna informed that 84 nominations forms of 51 candidates were received. During scrutiny, nomination forms of six candidates were rejected as they did not fill the paper properly while 45 forms were properly filled and hence accepted. Nomination papers of Aslam Khan Rashid Khan of Indian Union of Muslim League, Uttam Janglu alias Baba Mendhe of Akhil Bharatiya Trinmul Congress, Archana Nilkanth Kadsait-Bagde of Aam Admi Party (AAP), Siddharth Asharam Kurve candidate of Dalit Panthar of India, Chandrashek

Muttemwar and Wasnik file papers

Both sitting MPs from Nagpur and Ramtek confident about their victory MPCC Chief, other senior Congress-NCP leaders and thousands of workers were present By Dheeraj Fartode Seven-time Congress MP Vilas Muttemwar and former Union minister Mukul Wasnik on Friday filed their nomination papers for Nagpur and Ramtek Lok Sabha (LS) constituency amid huge fanfare. Flanked by thousands of Congress workers and amid slogan shouting, Muttemwar and Wasnik submitted their nomination papers before the Returning officers at Collectorate. Both Muttemwar and Wasnik paid floral tributes to Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar at Samvidhan square and reached the District Collectorate in a huge procession. MPCC President Manikrao Thakre, Health Minister Suresh Shetty, Minister of State for Finance Rajendra Mulak, Saoner MLA Sunil Kedar, PRP President Jogendra Kawade, BEM president Adv Sulekha Kumbhare, Rajya Sabha MP Avinash Pande and Hussain Dalwai, former MP Balkrishna Wasnik, AICC secretary Swaraj Jee

Nitin Gadkari, Krupal Tumane file papers

By Dheeraj Fartode Former National President of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Nitin Gadkari and Shiv Sena leader Krupal Tumane, on Saturday, filed their nomination papers for Nagpur and Ramtek Lok Sabha (LS) constituencies respectively after a huge rally taken out from Samvidhan Square. The rally was a show of strength of the ‘Mahayuti’ comprising BJP, Shiv Sena, and RPI (Athawale). Gadkari and Tumane both paid floral tributes at Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar statue at Samvidhan Square. Later, Gadkari garlanded statue of Nagpur’s founder Raje Bakht Buland Shah. The rally reached the District Collectorate in a huge procession. Gadkari and Tumane submitted their nomination papers before the Returning Officers of Nagpur and Ramtek constituencies at Collectorate at 2.30 pm. BJP candidate Nitin Gadkari and other leaders Former MP Banwarilal Purohit, BJP State chief Devendra Fadanvis, Leader of Opposition (Legislative Council) Vinod Tawade, Rajya Sabha MP Ajay Sancheti; BJP MLAs Kris

Though, crime rate soars, detection fails to keep pace

Cases 2011 2012 2013 Murder 99% 99% 95% Att to Murder 100% 96% 100% Dacoity 100% 85% 93% Robbery 56% 52% 55% HBT 27% 25% 19% Extortion 100% 94% 97% Cheating 79% 82% 80% Kidnapping 90% 94% 81% Rape 100% 100% 100% Molestation 100% 100% 96% Total 60% 57% 55% ”I have directed police station to register every case and give justice to common man,” said CP K K Pathak By Dheeraj Fartode While Nagpur expanding in haphazard manner giving a tough time for police machinery to exercise control, a more worrying factor for citizens must be the fall in rate of detection. The non regulated residential growth is making it more difficult for cops to keep tab on illegal activities in its jurisdiction. But this is just an excuse because even city police machinery is not making use of latest techniques to tackle the

With jump of 8%, City police touches 22% conviction rate in 2013

HEADS 2011 2012 2013 Murder 21% 25% 32% Att Murder 13% 29% 12% Rape 20% 135 22% Kidnapping 3% 0% 20% Total Thefts 3% 9% 9% Cheating 4% 6% 0% Dowry Death 0% 25% 0% Molestation 2% 0% 21% Sexual Harassment 6% 21% 33% Total 4% 13% 22% More rapists, murderers, dacoits sent to prisons by courts By Dheeraj Fartode Under fire for growing spurt in street crime, City Police has at least one good reason to smile. After years of setback on legal front, the investigating machinery has finally ensured a better conviction rate and it has touched a new high of 22 per cent in the year 2013. Compared to 14 per cent in 2012, the conviction rate has witnessed a healthy eight per cent jump in one single year, that is, in 2013- a high for any one year. The conviction rate was only 4 per cent in 2011, sending alarm bells among t

Two of Inter-state gang arrested in Civil Lines dacoity

Accused hired six hardcore criminals of an inter-state gang from Uttar Pradesh By Dheeraj Fartode IN A significant breakthrough, Crime Branch sleuths arrested two members of a gang of hardcore criminals who had looted cash and jewellery collectively worth Rs 15 lakh from the bungalow of beetulnut merchant Lalit Kothari in upscale Civil Lines area on February 25. The accused have been identified as Mushtaq Ahmed alias Bhaijaan Abdul Khalid (40), a resident Mominpura, Nagpur, and Nanbabu alias Jitendra alias Baccha Bachhulal Mourya (31), a resident Chitrakoot, Chhattisgarh. However, six other members of the gang are still at large. Mushtaq was one of the accused persons in the sensational Lakhotia brothers douple murder case of May 2008. It is learnt that Mushtaq got information that Lalit Kothari had kept cash and jewellery worth crores of rupees in his Civil Lines bungalow. He passed on the information to his close friend Nanbabu. He, in consultation with Nanbabu, hatched

Statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in Arabian sea

Shivaji Maharaj statue in Arabian sea, Mumbai 190m high Statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj By Dheeraj Fartode Statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj will be constructed at an 18-acre islet, four km into the sea from Marine Drive and a km from Raj Bhavan. The proposed 309 feet grand memorial will come up on an 18-acre island four km into the sea from Marine Drive and one kilometer from the Raj Bhavan. Shivaji Maharaj statue in Arabian sea, Mumbai A team of experts was asked to suggest an ideal location. After conducting feasibility survey of three sites in the Arabian Sea, the experts have drawn a conclusion that the islet, situated between the Governor's house and Navy Nagar, would be ideal for the statue. The Shivaji memorial will house an open-air theatre, a library and a museum showcasing the Maratha warrior's life. In 2009 the cost was pegged at Rs 350 crore. With delay in the project the cost is likely to escalate further.

Only Rs 32 crore ayed for repair work of damaged infrastructure

ZP in its report had estimated Rs 900 crore was need to restore damaged road network By Dheeraj Fartode Maharashtra Government has belied expectations of people as it has sanctioned a petty amount of Rs. 32.44 crore for repair of infrastructure damaged in Nagpur District due to heavy rainfall. The estimated losses was pegged at Rs. 900 crores in the survey and administration is wondering how to spread the amount and what to repair? Vice-president of Nagpur Zilla Parishad, Chandrashekhar Chikhale informed reporters about the development just after Standing Committee meeting held on Monday. ZP in its report had estimated Rs 900 crore was need to restore damaged road network. Chikhale further said that Rs 29.34 crore and Rs 3.08 crore was approved for repairing work of roads and bridges respectively. ZP is to receive the amount shortly and work order would be issued soon after. The Standing Committee also approved expenditure of Rs 3.73 crore from District Planning Committ

Police nab six in Tumsar Sarafa family murder case

Rs 5 cr dacoity and brutal murder cracked One accused arrested from Hudkeshwar area by City Crime Branch By Dheeraj Fartode Bhandara police on Friday cracked sensational Tumsar murder-dacoity case in barely 12 hours and detained six persons so far. Motive behind the murder was dacoity only and the accused had killed bullion trader’s family so as to hide their identity. Superintendent of Police (SP) Bhandara Kailash Kanse told ‘The Hitavada’ that six persons are detained in the case and many more would be arrested soon. “We are on the right track,” he said. One of the accused Sohail, a resident of Tajbagh has been nabbed by Nagpur crime branch led by senior PI Madhav Giri and handed over to Bhandara police. Informing the crime story, the SP said that Sanjay Chimanlal Soni used to sell gold ornaments in local areas of Gondia and Bhandara district. Sanjay along with his driver used to travel in the area in his car. He always took help of local drivers. The local driver, w

Cops still clueless in Civil Lines dacoity

CCTV footage is the only concrete evidence with the police to track down the accused By Dheeraj Fartode City police force is still hunting for clues to get breakthrough in daring dacoity at beetelnut merchant’s Civil Lines residence, which falls under the jurisdiction of Sitabuldi police station area. The police have explored records of all history-sheeters and still crawling for angle of investigations. The police, with well pictured CCTV footage, are not sure about identity of the decoits and whether the accused were locals or outsiders. Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP Zone-I) Abhinash Kumar said that the police have all information and would take about 48 hours to crack the case. However, he denied to share any details of investigation or clues saying everything would be disclosed only after proper breakthrough. Sprawling bunglow of Lalit Kothari, Temple road, Civil Lines. Frontal image of the goon captured by one of the CCTV camera resembled with a kno

Three arrested in Gaffar Ali’s shoot-out case

Nandanvan police is yet to recover guns used for gunning down the property dealer By Dheeraj Fartode Nandanvan police have arrested three persons in connection with murder of Gaffar Ali Ramjan Ali (40), brother of goon Shamsher Ali. Gaffar was shot dead at his eatery located at Aurangzeb Square, Hasanbagh, on Tuesday evening. The accused are identified as Alim Khan Taslim Khan (43), Kalim Khan Taslim Khan (51), and Maehfuj Ahmed Kabul Hasan (24), all residents of Hasanbagh. The trio were locked in dispute over a prime land with Shamsher Ali who at present is behind the bars in an attempted to murder case. Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP Zone-IV) Chandra Kishore Mina said that the accused were taken into custody and their interrogation is on. However the police are yet to recover weapons used in the crime, Mauser pistols. Special teams are formed by the police for investigating the case, sources informed. It can be mentioned that Gaffar was involved in property dea

Dacoits loot ornaments worth Rs 50 lakh on knife point

While one of two youth held the two, the other got busy in locating cash and ornaments inside the sprawling house By Dheeraj Fartode A gang of youth pulled of a sensational dacoity at a bungalow of beetulnut merchant in upscale Civil Lines area on Thursday night. The incident occurred around 8.15 pm when five youths stormed at the residence of Lalit Kothari. The sprawling bungalow of Kothari is located on Temple Road, in the lane adjacent to Labour Court. According to preliminary estimates booty wroth Rs. 50 lakh was looted by the gang. At time of incident Kothari’s wife and his daughter were at home. The youth first rang the door bell and moved away from front door. Kothari’s wife saw through key hole but could not find anyone at the door and hence stepped out to verify as to who had rang the bell. This proved to be big mistake as the youth who had taken position by side of wall grabbed her and pushed her inside the bungalow and latched the door. Bunglow of Lalit Kothari