Mumbai fire tragedy: Kamala Mills owner's statement recorded

By PTI  |   Published: 04th January 2018 12:20 AM  |  

A view of the charred building in which a fire broke out in Mumbai on early Friday. At least 14 people were killed and as many injured after a major fire in Kamala Mills Compound in Lower Parel. | PTI

MUMBAI: Police have recorded the statement of the owner of Kamala Mills Compound, where a massive fire broke out last week, killing 14 people, an official said today.

The statement of Ramesh Govani, the owner of Kamala Mills Compound, was recorded yesterday by a team from the N M Joshi Marg police station in connection with the fire, he said.
Govani has been accused of violating the norms of the Maharashtra Regional Town Planning (MRTP) Act.

"We have recorded the statement of Ramesh Govani for violation of the MRTP Act norms," Ahmad Pathan, Senior Police Inspector of N M Joshi Marg, told PTI.
Earlier, the police had summoned him for questioning in connection with the case registered against him, another official said.

Apart from the MRTP Act case, the police asked him questions in connection with the fire incident at `1Above' and Mojo's Bistro pub, housed in Kamala Mills, where 14 people were killed and more than 21 injured on December 29, another official said.

On Sunday, the police recorded the statement of Yug Pathak, son of a retired IPS officer and owner of Mojo's Bistro in Kamala Mills, which was gutted in the fire, he said.
The main accused in the case - 1Above pub owners Kripesh, Jigar Sanghavi and Abhijeet Mankar - are still at large.

On Monday, the police arrested two persons - Kevin Bawa and Libson Lopez - who worked as managers at 1Above pub.

They were booked under IPC sections 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 337 (causing hurt by an act endangering life or personal safety of others) and 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention), the police had said.

Advocates need not affix photo ID cards in vakalats 

DECCAN CHRONICLE.

Published Jan 4, 2018, 1:44 am IST

HC passed interim order suspending circular of registrar general mandating advocates to affix photo ID cards in vakalats.



Madras High Court

Chennai: The Madras high court has suspended till March 1, the operation of the new rules, which mandated advocates affix photo identity cards in vakalats. A division bench comprising Justices Huluvadi G. Ramesh and RMT Teeka Raman passed the interim order on a batch of petitions from Madras High Court Advocates Association represented by its secretary R. Krishnakumar and others, which sought to quash the circular issued by the registrar general dated December 29, 2017.

They also sought a direction to the registrar general to pass and number all cases filed in the court, strictly in accordance with the extant rules, excluding the provisions of the impugned circular.

Ordering notice to the suo motu impleaded respondent Bar Council of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry and the registrar general, returnable by four weeks, the bench directed the registrar general not to implement the circular relating to filing of vakalats/memo of appearance.

Following a single judge order, the registry issued a circular notifying that the rules made in the order would come into force from January 2. Aggrieved over the circular, the associations have filed the present petitions.

When the petitions came up for hearing, MHAA president G. Mohanakrishnan, advocates P.V.S. Giridhar and Raghavachari contended that the impugned order as also the judicial order on which it was asserted to be based, encroaches on the legislative powers of constitutional bodies and was a nullity and it was tainted with grave errors of jurisdiction. The single judge sitting on the judicial side and exercising statutory powers under the criminal procedure code has no power or jurisdiction to issue such directions, in any case, the same can be treated as guidelines which were directory and not mandatory, they added.

They said, “Most of the advocates have not renewed their identity card issued by the Bar Council. Now, in view of the new rules, thousands of them have made application to the council to renew the identity cards. Moreover, thousands of petitions were filed yesterday, but yet to be numbered because of the rules mentioned in the circular”, they added.

Over 90 candidates with inflated marks petition TRB 

DECCAN CHRONICLE. | A RAGU RAMAN

Published Jan 4, 2018, 6:04 am IST

The TRB unearthed a major scam in the polytechnic lecturers’ recruitment in which it found out that around 200 candidates qualified with fake marks.



The written exam for 1,058 polytechnic lecturer posts was held on September 16 and 1.33 lakh candidates appeared for the exam.

Chennai: After police initiated an inquiry into the recruitment scam, over 90 candidates who had qualified with inflated marks in the written exam for government polytechnic lecturers’ posts, have now sent representations to the Teachers Recruitment Board (TRB) claiming that they were not aware of the announcement of written exam results and the huge differences in their marks.

The TRB unearthed a major scam in the polytechnic lecturers’ recruitment in which it found out that around 200 candidates qualified with fake marks. These candidates’ marks were inflated from 50 to 100 to qualify them for the next round. Following the scam, the board withdrew the results released on November 7 and released new results with original OMR answer scripts on December 11. In the new results, the marks of these 200 candidates were reduced.

“The board has given one week from December 11 to 18 seeking objections from all candidates. We have received around 100 representations but none of these 200 candidates approached the board over the differences in their marks,” sources said. Following a complaint from the TRB, the Central Crime Branch (CCB) has filed a case against 156 candidates.

“Fearing criminal action initiated by the board, these candidates have now sent petitions to the TRB with various claims ranging from ignorance of the results to computer illiteracy. The petitions were received after the last date. The candidates who were silent so far about the scam have to face police inquiry,” sources added.

In connection with the scam, the cyber crime wing of the central crime branch arrested Ganesh (28), a call taxi driver and are on the lookout for software engineer Naser who allegedly manipulated the marks. It is expected that TRB officials and employees will also be questioned in the coming weeks.

The written exam for 1,058 polytechnic lecturer posts was held on September 16 and 1.33 lakh candidates appeared for the exam. Of 2,000 candidates who were selected for certificate verification 200 qualified with fake marks.

Each candidate had allegedly paid `25 to `30 lakh to touts. The scam came to light when the TRB verified the marks of the candidates selected for certificate verification with the original answer scripts, following complaints.

Rajinikanth meets M Karunanidhi, seeks his blessings

DECCAN CHRONICLE.

Published Jan 4, 2018, 1:17 am IST

 

 

 

Chennai: The Superstar Rajinikanth has been making a quiet visit in the first week of January every year to the Gopalapuram residence of DMK chief M Karunanidhi to seek his blessings in the New Year. On Wednesday, when the actor, who has just announced his political foray, met Karunanidhi there was a buzz in political circles.

“I informed him (Karunanidhi) about my political foray and he blessed me”, Rajinikanth told journalists who virtually mobbed him as he made his way from the Gopalapuram residence to his car. The actor-politician did not, however, take any more questions from mediapersons.

Karunanidhi and Rajinikanth have shared a great rapport over the past few decades, but the two giants – the former in politics and the latter in tinsel town – will now be in diametrically opposite camps. While the film star has made it clear that he would practice “spiritual politics”, the DMK swears by the Dravidian movement whose bedrock is based on rationalism.

“Karunanidhi is a known rationalist who does not swear by god, but Rajinikanth is a staunch follower of spirituality and believes in god. Their ideologies are diametrically opposite to each other”, a senior DMK leader said. Karunanidhi’s son and DMK Working President MK Stalin also sought to downplay
the visit by saying even Vijayakant had sought Karunanidhi’s blessings when he entered politics.

“Rajinikanth has been meeting Thalaivar (Karunanidhi) for years now. There is nothing to be surprised by their meeting”, Stalin said. He also utilised the occasion to send a strong message to “those who are hoping to demolish Dravidianism”.

Stalin went on to say, “Rajinikanth has made it clear that he would practice spiritual politics. But some people are saying that some force that wants to demolish Dravidianism is directing him.

Tamil Nadu belongs to the Dravidian movement and its leaders Periyar, CN Annadurai and M Karunanidhi propagated the Dravidian ideals. None can dismantle Dravidianism”.

Sources said Rajinikanth has always sought Karunanidhi’s blessings in the New Year. “Even if he was out of town during the New Year he would meet Karunanidhi whenever he came back”, a politician disclosed.

Kids in Erode hamlets leave for school at 5am, return at 10pm

TNN | Updated: Jan 4, 2018, 08:10 IST



At least 18 girls and 14 boys of Gundri region in Erode take the long ride to school every day.

GUNDRI (ERODE DISTRICT): If you are worried the school regimen is stressing your child, digest this: children from 26 hamlets surrounding Gundri in Erode district start for school every day around 5am and get back home at 10pm. The only bus that takes them to their school at Kadambur, 19km away, arrives at Gundri at 5.30am. If they miss the bus, it means an arduous trek through the Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve to attend school for the day.

When reports about the children's punishing routine first trickled in, the rest of the world found it too incredulous to be true. Certainly not in this age, was the unanimous verdict. This correspondent set out for the village along with a photographer to ascertain the facts. They travelled with the children in the bus to school and back and found that life was indeed tough for people in the region.

When TOI brought the issue to the knowledge of state school education minister Sengottaiyan, he said he will order the transport officials to operate a mini-van specifically for school students. "I will convene a meeting with transport officials once I go to Erode district," he said.

More than 5,000 people live at Gundri and its surrounding 26 hamlets. Agriculture is their main source of livelihood.

It was in 1910, that the diocese of Roman Catholics started a primary school at Gundri. In 1975, the school became a government-aided one and it was upgraded as upper primary school. When student enrolment increased, the diocese started a high school (up to Class X) under the self-finance category.

A total of 32 students, 18 of them girls, travel from 26 hamlets in the Gundri region to the Kadambur Government Higher Secondary School. These comprise Class XI and XII students besides those who are not able to afford fees at the Gundri school. Eighteen students, including seven girls, from the region are pursuing higher education at the Government Arts and Science College in Sathyamangalam, about 54 km from Gundri.

Sengottaiyan told TOI that steps would be taken to upgrade the high school at Gundri as higher secondary school in the next academic year. "Meanwhile, I will ask the educational officials to inspect the possibility for upgradation," he said.

K Akalya, a Class XII student who lives at Mahalithotti, 3km from Gundri, says she wakes up at 4.30 am every day to catch the bus. "I'm forced to skip school if I miss the bus," she laments.

M Priya, a second year B Com student at the Government Arts and Science College in Sathyamangalam, says she did her schooling in Coimbatore when her father worked there. After they shifted to Kovilur, near Gundri, she commutes to college and back daily. "I have to wait for three hours for the bus to get back home as my classes get over at 4pm," she says.

The schoolchildren too face this problem when they have examinations. "Our exams get over at 1pm, but we have to wait till 8.30pm to catch the bus at Kadambur, said S Parimala, a Class XI student.

It's equally hard on parents. Mothers are up at 3am to prepare breakfast and lunch for the children. "I go to sleep at 11pm after serving dinner to my daughter and get up at 3 am to prepare food for her," said C Lakshmi.

Close-knit communities in villages are a saving grace. People often lend a hand to students who miss the bus. Siddesh, a Class XI student from Kariyagoundanpayil hamlet, and M Manikandan from Mahalithotti of the same class were late for the bus. A local villager on way to work picked up the duo in his bike and dropped them in their school.

The Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation, attached to the Coimbatore division, operates just one bus service from Sathyamangalam to Gundri. The 54-km journey takes three hours as a 44-km stretch is part of the ghat road that passes through STR. The bus has 38 stops, including Gundri. Though the distance between Mahalithotti and Kadambur is 19 km, it takes 2 hours and 30 minutes.

TNSTC sources said the average daily collection for the service is Rs8,000. "The collection could double if the TNSTC operates additional services," said G V Ravichandran, former panchayat president.

Erode collector S Prabhakaran told TOI that he had received a petition from the villagers for additional bus services and to change the bus timings. "I already have instructed the transport officials to check the feasibility for bus timings convenient to school and college students," he said.

When contacted by TOI, Erode district Chief Educational Officer (CEO) R Balamurali said he was aware of the difficulties the villagers faced in commuting. "I have sent a letter to the transport officials to alter the bus timings to suit school students," he said. He hoped that they would change the timings at the earliest.

School Education Secretary Pradeep Yadav told TOI that he would check with the Erode district educational authorities and transport officials about the problems the villagers were facing. He ruled out any violation of the Right To Education Act. "RTE is applicable only up to Class VIII," he said, adding that he would ask Erode district education officials to check the possibility of upgrading nearby government schools to help the higher secondary students.

Rajinikanth feels Karunanidhi welcomed him to politics with a smile 

B Sivakumar | TNN | Updated: Jan 3, 2018, 22:17 IST

Highlights

Rajinikanth called on DMK president M Karunanidhi at the latter’s Gopalapuram residence.
The superstar told Karunanidhi that he has entered politics.

The DMK chief, who can't speak now, smiled and nodded his head "as if welcoming me to politics," Rajini said.

Rajinikanth calls of DMK president M Karunanidhi on Wednesday



CHENNAI: Tamil superstar Rajinikanth called on DMK president M Karunanidhi at the latter's Gopalapuram residence in Chennai on Wednesday evening.

After the meeting, Rajinikanth told reporters: "I told Kalaignar that I have entered politics. He smiled and nodded his head as if welcoming me to politics."

Karunanidhi is not keeping well over the past one year and can't speak.

The actor arrived at the former Tamil Nadu chief minister's residence around 7.50pm. DMK working president MK Stalin welcomed him.

Earlier, speaking to reporters at his Poes Garden residence, Rajinikanth had said he was meeting Karunanidhi as he wanted to wish him New Year.

Tamil Nadu yet to implement ‘Samay Vahan’

Ram Sundaram | TNN | Jan 3, 2018, 05:50 IST






CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu is yet to implement the 'Samay Vahan' portal in toto and let the police have seamless access to details of vehicles registered with the state transport department. As per an initiative of the ministry of road transport and highways (MORTH), a state transport department has to upload data on vehicles registered with it on a central server, this is then synchonised with the traffic police in the state so that those in the field can have ready access to vehicle records and past violations.

Delhi and few other states have successfully implemented the facility which helped law enforcement agencies to narrow down on criminals. Without the details readily available, traffic personnel will not be able to check the validity of a licence for an offender who has been booked. "We cannot ensure that the people whose licences have been suspended would not drive or ride their vehicles in the city," said a senior police officer.

But uploading information on violations is done manually. The challans and documents are sent to RTOs by post which takes time. "We get hard copies of the data from the police once in a month and feed in the data in the system," said an official from the enforcement wing of the transport department.

'Samay Vahan' is not the only arrangement that would aid enforcement. In 2010, the Chennai police had planned to implement Integrated Traffic Management System (ITMS) at a cost of Rs 150 crore. But the work stalled midway as senior police officers from the city were replaced with a new team of officers. Had ITMS been implemented, the city police could have been monitored live traffic movement online today. The project has been successfully implemented by the Hyderabad police.