India News

BMW hit-and-run case: HC issues notice to police on Nanda plea New Delhi, Sept 23: The Delhi High Court today expressed its reluctance to grant bail to Sanjeev Nanda, sentenced to five years of rigorous imprisonment for mowing down six persons with his BMW car, saying the car accident was a “serious” offence. Justice Kailash Gambhir, however, issued notice to Delhi Police and sought its response by October 3 on Nanda’s petition challenging his conviction and quantum of sentence in the BMW hit-and-run case. Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for Nanda, contended that the trial court had wrongly convicted him due to publicity in the media and he should not be given more than two years of imprisonment. “The court relied on Alistair Pereira case where the accused was given three years of imprisonment for mowing down people sleeping on the pavement. On the other hand, in this case the accident happened because of the victim’s fault as they were standing in the middle of the road in the wee hours but Nanda was given five years of imprisonment,” Rohatgi said. “Nanda’s offence stands on a lower footing as compared to Pereira and he should not be given more than two years of imprisonment,” he submitted. The Court, not convinced with the contention, said “Do you want to say that the car accident is not a serious offence. People standing on the road were run over by the car”. Seeking bail, 30-year-old Nanda contended in his petition that the trial court had accepted the testimony of controversial prosecution eye-witness Sunil Kulkarni which was not reliable as he was in Mumbai and not in Delhi at the time of the accident. Alleging that the police had delayed the recording of Kulkarni’s statement, the petition said that the court ignored the testimonies of the other defence witnesses. Nanda, who was sentenced to five years of imprisonment on September 5 by the trial court, said that the fact that he had paid a compensation of Rs 65 lakh each to the victim’s family was also ignored by the court. The court had also sentenced co-convict and businessman Rajeev Gupta to one year rigorous imprisonment for destruction of evidence and slapped a fine of Rs 10,000 on him. However, Gupta’s two employees — Bhola Nath and Shyam Singh — were awarded a lesser punishment of six months’ jail term besides a fine of Rs 100 each for the similar offence. All the three were granted bail as their sentence did not exceed three years’ jail term. The court had acquitted Nanda’s friend Manik Kapoor, who was also in the car at the time of the incident. (PTI)

Gowda wants action against Bajrang Dal, Sri Ram Sena New Delhi, Sept 23: Asking the Centre to take decisive action against outfits like Bajrang Dal and Sri Ram Sena, JD(S) president H D Deve Gowda today sought a ban on Bajrang Dal for committing “atrocities” against Christians in Karnataka. Gowda, who staged a sit-in at Raj Ghat here along with members of Christian and Muslim communities, told reporters that the B S Yediyurappa-led BJP government in Karnataka had failed to contain incidents of violence against the Christian community and desecration of Churches there. “The Chief Minister instead of taking stern action against outfits like Bajrang Dal and Sri Ram Sena which are responsible for these attacks in various districts of the state, has been blaming the Opposition parties for creating instability,” Gowda said. The former PM said that he had written to the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and President Pratibha Patil, requesting them to impose President’s Rule in Karnataka and ban the said outfits. Gowda also expressed pain at BJP leader LK Advani’s “non-committal” attitude towards the violent incidents in the state. “Even though he was in Bangalore for his party’s national executive, Advaniji did not even once ask Yediyurappa to control the violent incidents there. This really pained me,” he said. Gowda said that even though a fact finding team of the National Commission of Minorities had gone to Karnataka, the government has not taken any action against the communal outfits, even though some members of the team had on record mentioned the involvement of these outfits in the violent incidents in the state and also blamed the state government for the prevailing situation there. The JD(S) president said that through his protest, he wanted to attract the attention of the Centre towards the unrest prevailing in the country after all that has happened in Kandhamal, Karnataka and the bomb blasts in Ahmedabad, Bangalore and Delhi, “so that it takes action against Bajrang Dal and other similar outfits”. (PTI)

In death, Rizwanur forgave the Todis! New Delhi, Sept 23: Rizwanur Rehman, the computer graphics teacher from Kolkata who allegedly committed suicide after his wife Priyanka was taken away forcibly, had “forgiven” his father-in-law Ashok Todi, named in CBI’s charge sheet for abetting the “suicide”. In the suicide note, deleted from the hard disk of his computer but retrieved by the CBI, Rizwanur said, "We live in this so-called secular country! In the past 20 days I saw the true face of our administration which runs on money. There is no law protection for the commoners... “...So I have decided to take my life. I forgive my father-in-law, Mr Ashok Todi because he is a father after all...,” Rizwanur said in his suicide note which has been attached with the charge sheet filed in the 14th Metropolitan Magistrate’s court in Kolkata. “I know there are still good people left in our country. I want them to know the love story of me and my wife Priyanka whose dreams were killed... May God forgive me for the pain I am giving to my loved ones. To them I would just say my world stopped after Priyanka was taken from me,” the suicide note read. Besides Todi, the charge sheet names Pradeep Todi, family friend Anil Saraogi, then Deputy Commissioner of Police Ajoy Kumar, then Assistant Commissioner of Police Sukanti Chakraborty, Sub-Inspector Krsihnendu Das and family friend of the victim, S M Mohiuddin alias Pappu. In its charge sheet, the CBI said the suicide note was kept in a folder named “Rizwan — Priyanka” which was created on September 20, 2007, a day before he committed suicide. The same folder was allegedly deleted by the family members of the victim but it was, however, retrieved by the experts at Hyderabad. Before allegedly committing suicide, Rizwanur sent SMSes to Ashok Todi’s mobile, his wife Bimla Todi and his family friend Alpana Jolly saying that if Priyanka was not returned he would kill himself. Todi was charged with abetting Rizwanur to commit suicide by saying Tumhara jo ji me aye karo, bhaar me jao (Do whatever you want to do). Rizwanur’s body was found on the railway track on September 21, 2007. He had “secretly married” Priyanka Todi, daughter of influential Kolkata businessman on August 18 last year. (PTI)

Law panel report on decriminalization of suicide attempt soon New Delhi, Sept 23: Maintaining that counselling, not punishment was required for those who attempt suicide, the Law Commission of India is likely to recommend decriminalisation of attempt to suicide in a report which is likely to be submitted to the government “shortly”. Law Commission chairman Dr Justice A R Lakshmanan told PTI “The report (number 210) on 'Humanisation and Decriminalisation of Attempt to Suicide' is ready and would be submitted to the Government shortly.” The Commission is believed to have resolved to recommend to the Government to initiate steps for the repeal of the “anachronistic” law contained in Section 309 of the Indian Penal Code which would “relieve the distress” of a person who attempts to commit suicide. The Commission is also likely to suggest that criminal law must not act with misplaced over zeal and it is only where it can prove to be apt and effective machinery to cure the intended evil that it should come into picture. In its 42nd report submitted in 1971, the Commission had recommended repeal of section 309 of the IPC. Since the Lok Sabha was dissolved, the Bill lapsed. Under the section, there is a provision of one-year simple imprisonment or fine, or both for those who attempt suicide. In Gian Kaur Vs State of Punjab case, a Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court held that Article 21 (right to live) cannot be construed to include within it the right to die as a part of the fundamental right guaranteed therein and, therefore, it cannot be said that section 309 is violative of Article 21. After the pronouncement of the judgement in Gian Kaur case, the Commission submitted its 156th report in 1997 recommending retention of section 309 of the IPC. However, it is now felt by the public at large, and in particular the views expressed by the WHO, that steps should be initiated for the repeal of the anachronistic law contained in section 309 of the IPC, the Commission's draft report on the matter said. Decriminalisation of attempt to suicide is also favoured by the International Association for Suicide Prevention (France). This has been the practice in most countries in Europe and North America and is also supported by the Indian Psychiatric Society, the report prepared by Dr Justice Lakshmanan said. (PTI) Railways to expand telemedicine network in all zonal railways New Delhi, Sept 23: Taking medical facilities to far-flung areas, the Indian Railways have decided to expand their telemedicine network across the country. “Currently available in 18 places including Rangia, Badarpur, Guwahati, Sonpur, Ratlam, Bhavnagar, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Chennai, Vadodara and Rajkot, the telemedicine facility will soon be accessible in about 20 more places in Maharashtra, Jharkhand, Orissa, Karnataka and Goa” said a senior railway official. Implemented by Konkan Railway, telemedicine project is the use of electronic communication and information technologies to provide health care when distance separates medical specialists from the patient. Though rail connectivity has been established in far-flung and remote areas, proper medical facilities have not reached these areas yet. “We are trying to establish telemedicine facilities where medical facilities are not upto the optimal level. There are no equitable health care services with availability, accessibility, affordability posing major concerns,” said the official. Therefore to bring specialist care to the doorstep of the railway beneficiary stationed at distant centres, it has been decided that telemedicine facility should be made available in all the zonal railways at various levels in a phased manner, said the official. Innovative technologies have brought a paradigm shift in delivery of health care. With the rapid growth of Internet, transmission of all types of health data, including web transfer of text and audio-video images through dedicated optic fibre cable has improved accessibility to specialists opinion from remote places. “We are in the process of setting up telemedicine facility at Cuttack in Orissa and Ranchi in Jharkhand shortly,” said the official. (PTI) Journalist to hold rally at Sonia’s residence New Delhi, Sept 23: Agitated over the delay in the government notifying interim relief, journalists and non-journalists from different parts of the country will hold a rally outside the residence of UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi tomorrow. All national federations, trade unions and local unions belonging to the newspaper industry will take part in the rally to be held under the aegis of the Confederation of Newspaper and News Agency Employees’ Organisations. “Concerned over the delay in announcement of interim relief, Confederation leaders have decided to stage a demonstration before the residence of the Congress President,” Confederation Secretary General M S Yadav said here today. He said if their demands were not met immediately, Confederation would be left with no other option but to go in for a nationwide strike. The Wage Boards for journalists and non-journalists have recommended 30 per cent interim relief which has to be notified by the government for its implementation. Meanwhile, journalists from different states have started arriving in Delhi. “We have full faith in Sonia Gandhi as she has always helpful to the journalistic community. She understands our problem and only with her intervention our genuine demand is going to be fulfilled,” trade union leaders from Uttar Pradesh and Chandigarh said. Yadav said, the Confederation leaders had met several Cabinet Ministers, including Labour Minister Oscar Fernandes, for early issuance of the notification to give effect to wage board notification on interim relief. Agitated over the delay in the government notifying interim relief, journalists and non-journalists from different parts of the country will hold a rally outside the residence of UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi tomorrow. The confederation leaders had also raised the matter with some Opposition leaders but all their efforts have not yielded any result, he said. “The UPA government is delaying the notification under the pressure of newspaper owners despite the fact that not a single penny is to be paid by the government,” Yadav said. He said soaring prices of essential commodities had hit hard the commonman, including employees of the newspaper industry. The Centre had recently implemented the report of the Sixth Pay Commission for its employees but was “doing nothing” for the journalistic community, Yadav said and demanded 40 per cent interim relief for employees of the newspaper industry. (PTI) CBI asked to probe Ghaziabad court provident fund scam NEW DELHI, Sept 23: The Supreme Court Tuesday asked the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to probe the fraudulent withdrawal of funds worth Rs 70 million from the Ghaziabad court treasury with several higher judiciary judges, including one from the apex court, allegedly benefiting from it. Transferring the probe to the CBI from the Ghaziabad police, a bench of Justice Arijit Pasayat asked the agency to submit within three months its status report on probe into the fraudulent withdrawal of provident funds of Ghaziabad court staffers between 2001 and 2008. The bench, which also included Justice V.S. Sirpurkar and Justice G.S. Singhvi, however, granted the CBI freedom to complete the probe, if possible, and file its report on it to the relevant trial court before the stipulated deadline. “The court before which the final report/charge sheet will be placed will deal according to the law,” it said. It asked the CBI director to nominate a suitable investigating officer to head and supervise the probe with the freedom to take assistance of Uttar Pradesh government officials. The bench also directed the state government to provide all possible logistic, infrastructure and manpower support to the agency. It instructed the CBI to prepare the microfilms of all evidentiary and other documents, gathered by the Ghaziabad police till now, and submit the copy to it, while keeping the original documents with itself. The apex court transferred the probe to the CBI on a plea by the Ghaziabad Bar Association (GBA), which had submitted to the court that the local police might be ill-equipped to investigate the matter as the names of several sitting and retired judges, including those of the Allahabad and Calcutta high courts besides an apex court judge, had cropped up as beneficiaries of the fraudulent fund withdrawal. GBA counsel Anil Diwan on Sep 9 told the court that even the Ghaziabad senior superintendent of police (SSP) has repeatedly written to the state’s director general of police (DGP) about the difficulties in probing the matter further apparently due to the involvement of the members of judiciary. The Ghaziabad police too accordingly wanted the probe to be handed over to the CBI. (IANS) ‘Manmohan Singh Govt the most inefficient’ Dhumka (Jharkhand), Sept 23: Senior BJP leader and party prime ministerial candidate L K Advani today alleged that the Manmohan Singh Government is the most inefficient one which compromised national security and pushed the price-graph due to its financial mismanagement. “The Narasimha Rao Government was corrupt, but the present government is the most inefficient and corrupt as its financial mismanagement has led to rising inflation and the voting during trust vote exposed its compromise on national security,” Advani accused during the ‘Sankalp] Rally at Dhumka. The former deputy prime minister said the Congress’ welfare programmes had been named after Gandhi family, ignoring several other leaders who sacrificed their lives fighting for India’s independence. (PTI) Ammunition box triggers panic in Howrah station Kolkata, Sept 23: A green painted ammunition box of the army with 'Explosives' marked on it found in an empty compartment of a Bhadrak-bound passenger train, sparked a scare at the Howrah station today. But a Defence Ministry spokesman clarified that the box contained no explosives and that it posed no danger. Earlier, bomb disposal squad and police cordoned off the spot after Railway Protection Force found the box and took it out of the compartment. “Passengers were asked to keep a safe distance and a sniffer dog was pressed into service as the spot was cordoned off which led to suspension of trains from the platform, Superintendent of Railway police B L Meena said.” (PTI) Indian airspace management headed for sea change NEW DELHI, Sept 23: Indian airspace management would undergo a sea change in the next few years with the implementation of a slew of measures, like a satellite-based air navigation system, for seamless and cost-effective use of the skies by civilian and military aircraft. As part of the steps being taken by various agencies, the Indian Air Force is already in the process of reviewing the ‘Restricted’ and ‘Dangerous’ air zones in a bid to expand areas for civilian air traffic, official sources said here. “We are moving ahead step by step. One after the other recommendations of a high-level technical committee are being taken up for implementation”, the sources said. When contacted, Director General of Civil Aviation Kanu Gohain said “as far as we are concerned, we have implemented the flexi-use of airspace. Now, the next steps in this direction are being taken by the military authorities.” Two weeks ago, the Union Cabinet had approved the implementation of GPS-aided Geo Augmented Navigation (GAGAN) system at an estimated cost of Rs 774 crore to enable satellite coverage of the entire Indian sky, including the oceanic airspace around it. GAGAN, being developed by the Airports Authority of India and the Indian Space Research Organisation, would make India the fourth in the world after the US, Japan and the European Union to have such a system. The GAGAN would depend on 29 satellites giving GPS coverage to provide seamless navigation to aircraft using the Indian airspace. The project, to be operationalised by May 2011, would provide straight-line fuel-efficient routes and precision approach landings, thereby reducing fuel burn substantially. GAGAN would also improve airport and airspace access in all-weather conditions and provide precision-landing approaches to aircraft even at airports, where Instrument Landing Systems do not exist. It would enhance safety by enabling use of three-dimensional approach to help the pilots. ISRO would put in orbit the navigation payload of GSAT-4 satellite, the officials said, adding that orders have been placed for supply and installation of GAGAN’s ground network, including hardware for eight reference stations, a Master Control Centre and the uplink stations. The high-level technical committee, headed by former Civil Aviation Secretary Ajay Prasad, had proposed a Master Plan for next-generation futuristic Air Navigation Services, including enhanced flexibility in airspace use by civilian and military aircraft, the sources said. It had recommended several steps to strengthen air traffic control (ATC) systems and procedures, especially at metro airports, to increase their air traffic handling capacity. These include implementation of the Required Area Navigation (RNAV) and Required Navigation Performance (RNP) procedures at Mumbai and Delhi, the sources said. The AAI has already begun the process of putting up ten radars to help reduce the spacing of aircraft and increase the capacity of airspace. All radars are to be networked within this financial year and the ten new Radars would be operated from Delhi and Mumbai, they added. (PTI ) Zorabian searching for meaty’ roles Mumbai, Sept 23: Perizaad Zorabian, who will soon be seen in three “interesting” movies, says she only wants to do “meaty” roles to impress her 10-month-old daughter “once she grows up”. “I have some interesting projects in my kitty. Moreover, now I only want to do meaty roles so that I can impress my daughter once she grows up,” Perizaad told IANS in an interview. The actress will soon be seen in N Chandra’s Breaking News, a romantic comedy Kabhi Up Kabhi Down with Sanjay Suri and Highway 203 with Kay Kay Menon. More than the movies, Perizaad she is completely focusing on her daughter Zaha, who demands all her attention and care. “I am virtually holidaying, as my daughter requires personal attention and care and I don’t want to deprive her of my love,” she said with a smile. “I don’t want to miss any moment - her smiles, cries and whatever she does. She is so adorable, cute and beautiful,” the new mother gushed. Why did she name her daughter Zaha? “I didn’t want a Parsi name for her, so we chose this Persian name that means splendour and joy. She has brought joy to our lives,” the actress explained. So, is Zaha the best thing in her life?Perizaad smiled naughtily and replied: “No, she is the second best thing. The first great thing that has changed my life is my hubby Boman. He is so understanding.” “And the second best thing wouldn’t have happened if the first best thing hadn’t,” she quickly added. As for her husband Boman Irani, whom she married two years ago, Perizaad admitted there was a lot of confusion about his identity. The media initially assumed she was dating Bollywood actor Boman Irani, who is very much older than she is.“Initially, there was a lot of confusion. People used to ask me whether I was doing a Jogger’s Park in real life also,” the actress winked. In Jogger’s Park (2003), the lissom Perizaad played the role of a young girl Jenny who falls in love with an elderly man played by actor Victor Banerjee.“I had to make it clear that the person I was dating was a builder and not the actor. It’s just a coincidence they share the same name. Now, the confusion is over,” she added. Perizaad began her career with Nagesh Kukunoor’s Bollywood Calling (2001) and, apart from Jogger’s Park, has also featured in movies like Mumbai Matinee and Morning Raga. (IANS) ‘Just a good body won’t make you sexy’ Mumbai, Sept 23: Glamorous Bipasha Basu, who sizzled in Race and Bachna Ae Haseeno, says confidence, poise and intelligence are a must to look sexy. “For me, being sexy is an amalgamation of many factors — definitely a good physique and a perfect-10 for health. A good face helps. But confidence, poise and intelligence are musts. Just a body won’t do,” Bipasha told IANS in an interview. The actress, who was selected Asia’s sexiest woman last year by the Eastern Eye newspaper in Britain, says she enjoys her “sexy” image. “I’m sure any man or woman would be flattered being called the sexiest. I don’t see why I’ve to justify myself for being happy about being called sexy. I feel elated about it. You can’t take it away,” she said. Excerpts from the interview: How do you define sexy? It’s defined differently from person to person. Those who know me know I’m a very down-to-earth girl with no pretensions to being a diva. For me, being sexy is an amalgamation of many factors - definitely a good physique and a perfect 10 for health. A good face helps. But confidence, poise and intelligence are musts. Just a body won’t do. You were selected as Asia’s sexiest woman last year. Yes, and I’m proud of it. I read a journalist taunting me about how serious I tried to sound about being chosen the sexiest woman in Asia. I’d just like to see how she’d react if she got the same title. I’m sure any man or woman would be flattered being called the sexiest. I don’t see why I've to justify myself for being happy about being called sexy. I feel elated about it. You can’t take it away. How do you fob off unwanted attention? I’ve no time or opportunity to think about unwanted attention. Most of the day I’m at work. Besides sets, the only place I go to is the gym. Otherwise, I enjoy being at home. I may be a very sexy person, but I lead a very boring life. Unwanted attention? Yes, there’re intrusions. I completely shut it out. I’ve been blessed with blindness. I’m so myopic I don’t see people staring at me. Maybe that’s why I don’t understand this whole concept of wearing a robe on top of your shooting clothes. Because you’re going to shed the robe in front of the camera. Since I wear skirts, dresses and shorts in real life, why should I get coy about them on sets? I believe in comfort clothing. I wear a robe on the sets only when I’m extremely cold. I know it gives people a shock to see me walking up and down in shorts. But my logic is simple. I can’t see them. So they can’t see me. Do you wear non-comfort clothes for a role? No. I think it’s very important for me to be comfortable in what I’m wearing even on screen. I’m in good shape and I am not body-conscious. There’s no clothing that would look alarming on me. Having said that, I must say I live in a protected environment and can wear what I want and be how I want. I’ve people cordoning off what you call unwanted attention. I don't represent the working-class girl. But I do understand the predicament of the girl on the road because I used to be one. (IANS) Central team reviews Karnataka situation Mangalore/Hubli, Sept 23: A Central team deputed to review security measures taken in the aftermath of attacks on churches in Karnataka arrived here today to assess the situation. The team led by Special Secretary (Internal Security) M L Kumawat held discussions with state police officials and obtained details about the attacks. The delegation comprising Union Home Ministry Joint Secretary A K Yadav visited Kulashekara church, Fr Muller Institutions at Kankanadi and Milagres church, which bore the brunt of the attacks on September 14. Kumawat refused to talk to media persons saying “we have just begun our visit”. As the central team arrived for review, Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa criticised the UPA government’s move asserting that the “law and order situation is very good”. “What is happening in Delhi? Everyday innocent people are being killed by terrorists. The Centre is keeping quiet, but sends letters to Karnataka”, Yeddyurappa told media . “More than two crore Hindus who were forced out of Kashmir are on streets in Delhi and what action the Centre has taken to restore normalcy and ensure their return?” Yeddyurappa asked. (PTI) Naseer replaces Amitabh in Maharathi Mumbai, Sept 23: After Jagmohan Mundhra’s Shoot On Sight, thespian Naseeruddin Shah has once again replaced Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan in the comic thriller Maharathi, a film inspired by a hit Gujarati play starring Paresh Rawal. “He (Amitabh) opted out because the role had shades of grey”, said Paresh, who also directed the play. “Amitji explained his point of view in detail to me. And I agreed with him. So my dear friend Naseer, who was supposed to do another role in the screen adaptation, stepped into the role.” Amitabh opted out of Shoot On Sight, based on the July 2007 London bombings, because he found it too controversial for his liking. In the film, Naseer finally played the role of Tariq Ali, a Muslim police officer at Scotland Yard, who is asked to track down suspected suicide bombers involved in the bombings. Roping in Naseer is not the only change Maharathi underwent - originally Vikram Bhatt was to direct it, but he was replaced by Shivum Nair. Paresh says he avoided directing the movie because he could not remove theatre from his sensibility.“ I have often been asked why I haven’t directed the film myself. The truth is the play is still fresh in my mind. But I didn’t want the grammar of the stage to be applied to the film version. Then what is the point doing a film? My mind is filled with the play. I couldn’t have detached myself from the stage. “I needed a fresh cinematic vision to improve on the play. After doing plays for 21 years, I can’t remove theatre from my sensibility.” All in place, Paresh is now just waiting to wrap up the shooting and see the end result on the big screen. “It’s been a while since I felt this way about any film of mine. ‘Maharathi’ is based on my own play. When I did the play, I had to hunt around for backers for more than two years. We went on stage with the play in 1987. “I did more than 700 shows. History repeated itself for the film when I had to hardsell my script for almost three years. Finally, I found a producer in Shree Ashtavinayak Cine Vision Ltd”, he said. “Now I am doing the work that I would talk about, like Maharathi. It is a very classy comic thriller. And I got to work with actors I really respect, like Naseer, Om Puri, Boman Irani. It’s a healthy commercial film. I’m sick of doing the unhealthy kind. I enjoy doing a film that takes me back to my roots and to work with the people I wanted to work with”. Paresh himself plays the same role in the film that he did in the play. “I play a driver who accidentally meets Naseer’s character. Maharathi doesn’t sacrifice logic for suspense. The script is watertight. Everyone and everything are in place.” Paresh hopes to repeat the success of the play. “We used to have audiences coming repeatedly for the play although the suspense was out during the first performance. We had to revive it thrice on public demand. I hope to see the same success for the film.” (IANS)