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Malegaon 2008 case: End threats, enticement of witnesses, urges Congress

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In a significant development, the Maharashtra Congress on Thursday urged the Maha Vikas Aghadi government to ensure that the witnesses in the sensitive Malegaon 2008 blasts case “are not pressurised, threatened or enticed”.

In a letter to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and Home Minister Dilip Walse-Patil, Congress state Working President Arif Naseem Khan said the terror case has prominent names as prime accused, including Bharatiya Janata Party MP Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur, Col. P.S. Purohit, retired Major Ramesh Upadhyay, Dayanand Pandey and several others.

“I have learnt that in order to save all these accused in the Malegaon 2008 bomb blast case, some organisations and individuals are threatening, pressurising and luring the witnesses to make them ‘hostile’ before the court,” Khan said.

The blast occurred in Malegaon on September 29, 2008, near a mosque when Muslims were offering prayers, and left at least nine dead and another more than 80 injured, and the subsequent probe revealed the involvement of what was called ‘saffron terror groups’.

Khan urged Thackeray and Walse-Patil that such groups or persons should be investigated by a high-level committee and stringent action must be initiated against them for influencing or harassing the witnesses.

The case was probed by the Maharashtra Anti Terrorist Squad and later taken over by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), and has a total of 495 witnesses.

From these, 220 witnesses have already testified, out of which 15 have already been declared ‘hostile’, with the likelihood of more witnesses going against the probe agency owing to pressures exerted by some organisations and persons, Khan pointed out.

The Congress leader said that Walse-Patil had assured he would do the needful in the matter in order to ensure a free and fair trial at the day-to-day hearing before a Special Court.

Khan’s letter assumes significance, coming a day after a witness in the case made a shocking claim that he was allegedly detained for a week by the ATS in 2008 and then compelled to name five RSS leaders, including Yogi Adityanath, who is now Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh.

The witness, who is one of the trustees of Abhinav Bharat, a right-wing group, also contended that the ATS did not record his statement though the agency had attached his purported five-pager statement in its charge sheet filed in 2009.

During the cross-examination, the witness named Adityanath, Swami Aseemanand, Indresh Kumar, a Prof. Deodhar and one Kakaji, whose names he was allegedly forced to take by one police official Chavan, DCP Shrirao and an IPS officer Param Bir Singh.

Crime

मुंबई के पायधोनी में करोड़ों रुपये के ड्रग्स के साथ 9 आरोपी गिरफ्तार, इनमें 3 महिला तस्कर भी शामिल

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मुंबई : ड्रग्स के खिलाफ एक बड़े ऑपरेशन में, पायधोनी पुलिस ने 1 करोड़ रुपये से ज़्यादा की हेरोइन ज़ब्त करने और दो पुरुष और दो महिला ड्रग पेडलर को गिरफ्तार करने का दावा किया है। जानकारी के मुताबिक, 16 दिसंबर को दोपहर 2:30 बजे पायधोनी पुलिस स्टेशन की सीमा में पी.डी.मेलो रोड पर एक सर्च के दौरान, 37 साल के राम नटवर ठक्कर और 27 साल के वसीम सैयद के पास से 326 ग्राम से ज़्यादा हेरोइन बरामद की गई। आरोपियों को गिरफ्तार कर लिया गया और उन पर एनडीपीएस एक्ट के तहत मामला दर्ज किया गया। जांच के दौरान, आरोपियों ने बताया कि वे ड्रग्स कहां से लाए थे। उसके बाद, पुलिस ने 30 साल की रुबीना सैयद को गिरफ्तार किया। उसने बताया कि वह शबनम शेख के संपर्क में थी। उसे राजस्थान के अजमेर से गिरफ्तार किया गया। जब यह पता लगाने के लिए जांच की गई कि इन दोनों महिलाओं ने ड्रग्स कहां से हासिल किए थे, तो शबनम शेख को ड्रग्स बेचने वाले व्यक्ति, मुस्कान समीउल्लाह शेख 19 साल को मस्जिद बंदर इलाके से गिरफ्तार किया गया। पुलिस को जानकारी मिली थी कि अब्दुल कादिर शेख और मेहरबान अली मुस्कान को ड्रग्स सप्लाई करने आ रहे हैं, जिस पर पुलिस ने जाल बिछाकर अब्दुल कादिर को गिरफ्तार कर लिया। उसके पास से ड्रग्स भी बरामद हुए। जोगेश्वरी में उसके घर की तलाशी के दौरान नवजीत गुलाबी खान, शारिक सलमानी, समद गुलाबी के पास हेरोइन मिली। उनके पास से कुल 33 करोड़ से ज़्यादा कीमत के ड्रग्स ज़ब्त किए गए। इस ऑपरेशन में पुलिस ने तीन महिलाओं और 6 पुरुषों को गिरफ्तार किया और करोड़ों रुपये के ड्रग्स ज़ब्त किए। यह ऑपरेशन मुंबई पुलिस कमिश्नर देविन भारती के निर्देश पर डीसीपी विजय सागरे ने किया।

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Crime

Family members of Unnao rape survivor, activists protest outside Delhi HC against Sengar’s bail

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New Delhi, Dec 26: The family members of the Unnao rape survivor, along with women’s rights activists, on Friday staged a protest outside the Delhi High Court against the suspension of the sentence of Kuldeep Sengar, who was convicted in the Unnao rape case. The demonstrators raised slogans and expressed anger over the court’s decision to grant him conditional bail.

Protesters gathered near the court premises, holding placards and chanting slogans such as “Peedit rahe asurakshit aur balatkari kare aish? Humein nahi manzoor,” in support of the survivor and demanding strict action against the convicted former MLA. The protesters said the decision had “shaken public faith and sent a wrong message regarding crimes against women”.

Speaking to Media, the survivor’s mother said she still had faith in the justice system and the Supreme Court.

“If the Public Prosecutor stands with me and supports my lawyer, and if the CBI Public Prosecutor also takes a firm stand, there is hope. Honestly, I do not have much faith in the CBI, but I do have faith in the Public Prosecutor. I trust the Supreme Court and will keep knocking on its doors,” she said.

She further added that the bail should be cancelled and demanded the strictest punishment for the guilty.

“Any MLA, irrespective of religion or caste, who commits such a crime against a girl or a minor should be given capital punishment. That is all we want. I believe we will get justice,” she said.

Social activist Yogita Bhayana also criticised the system, stating that the survivor had been failed at multiple levels.

“First, she was raped and then gang-raped by a powerful person. It was not an ordinary criminal, but someone with influence. When a powerful person is involved, the system is often manipulated. It is very unfortunate that someone like Mr Sengar, who was extremely powerful, managed to get relief,” she said.

Bhayana added that activists would continue their fight for justice.

“We are seeking relief, and we should get it. If we do not get relief here, we will approach the Supreme Court,” she said.

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday suspended the jail sentence of Sengar.

A bench comprising Justices Subramonium Prasad and Harish Vaidyanathan Shankar granted him bail, directing him to furnish a personal bond of Rs 15 lakh along with three sureties of the same amount.

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Crime

Mumbai Crime: Malwani Doctor Arrested For Allegedly Molesting Minor Girl In Clinic; Unauthorised Practice Suspected

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Mumbai: The Malwani police have arrested a 44-year-old doctor following allegations of sexual abuse and molestation involving a 12-and-a-half-year-old girl. The incident reportedly took place within the confines of his clinic during a medical examination, sparking concerns over patient safety and the legitimacy of the practitioner’s medical credentials.

The victim, a resident of the local area, had visited the clinic alone to seek treatment for a lip fracture. , the doctor, a resident of Kandivali who has operated the Malwani-based clinic for several years, allegedly exploited the situation.

The minor alleged that during the procedure, the doctor instructed her to lie down and proceeded to touch her inappropriately. The victim reported experiencing severe mental distress and embarrassment following the encounter, which led to the formal complaint.

Upon receiving the complaint, Police Sub-Inspector Shivaji Mohite registered the initial First Information Report. The case was later handed over to Assistant Police Inspector Prashant Mundhe, who led the investigation and moved to take the accused into custody. According to the report, the 44-year-old has been booked under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Sections 10 and 12 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

Beyond the criminal charges of assault, the investigation has expanded into the doctor’s professional background. Initial inquiries revealed that while the accused holds a degree in acupuncture, he was allegedly performing a wide range of medical treatments for which he may not have been authorized. Police officials stated that they are currently in the process of verifying all degrees and certificates displayed at the clinic to determine if the accused was practicing medicine beyond his legal scope. The accused was produced before the sessions court on December 24.

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