Maharashtra
Umesh Kolhe killing: Ex-CM Thackeray’s alleged phone-call to be probed
In a major jolt, the Maharashtra government on Friday ordered a probe into whether former Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray had pressurised the Amravati Police to probe the killing of local chemist Umesh Kolhe from the robbery angle.
Minister Shambhuraj Desai said that the State Intelligence Department (SID) will investigate whether Thackeray had asked the Amravati Commissioner of Police Arti Singh to examine the robbery angle in Kolhe’s killing, now being handled by the National Investigation Agency (NIA).
Desai’s stunning announcement came after Amravati independent MLA Ravi Rana raised the issue in the Assembly through a calling attention motion on Friday.
Rana said that Kolhe was murdered on June 21, when Thackeray was the CM of the Maha Vikas Aghadi government, but the police allegedly probed the case through the robbery angle.
“It was Uddhav Thackeray who called up the Police Commissioner Arti Singh to investigate the robbery angle in the case at the behest of a local Congress leader. We want that his phone call must be probed through a special investigation team,” demanded Rana.
It may be recalled that Rana and his independent MP wife Navneet Kaur-Rana have been at loggerheads with the Thackerays, especially after the Hanuman Chalisa row that erupted in April-May this year.
The couple had been arrested after they attempted to enter Thackeray’s private residence to recite Hanuman Chalisa and spent several days in custody, during the MVA regime.
Replying on behalf of Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Desai assured the SID probe on who called whom, whether attempts were made to suppress the matter and the report would be submitted to (Fadavis) for suitable action.
This is second big rattler for the Thackeray father-son duo, coming a day after the state government announced a Mumbai Police SIT to probe the killing of former celeb-entrepreneur Disha Salian case.
Several BJP leaders including Union MSME Minister Narayan Rane, his MLA son Nitesh Rane, ex-MP Kirit Somaiya and others have claimed the involvement of Aditya Thackeray in the matter, though he has stoutly denied it.
Kolhe, 54, was killed by three attackers late on June 21 when he was returning home from his pharmacy shop for allegedly posting messages supporting the then Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson Nupur Sharma’s alleged controversial comments on Prophet Mohammed.
After the MVA government collapsed, the new government handed over the Kolhe case to the NIA which filed its charge-sheet this week.
Maharashtra
Mumbai: 3 Feared Dead After Ferry Travelling From Gateway Of India To Elephanta Island Capsizes
Mumbai: In a shocking incident, a ferry which was travelling from Mumbai’s Gateway of India to Elephanta Island started sinking in the Arabian Sea on Wednesday. There are reports that around 30 passengers onboard the ferry when the incident occurred. Rescue operation is being carried and the passengers are being taken out from the sinking boat.
As per reports, the boat named Neelkamal was traveling with 30 to 35 passengers onboard. Currently, a rescue operation is underway by the defense forces. Neelkamal ferry boat was hit by the Pilot vessel at stern which led to the capsize of the boat. The incident occurred near Uran, Kunja.
As per reports, another speed boat which is said to be a patrolling boat collided with the ferry from behind due to which the ferry capsized. The collision led to the boat overturning, with around 50 passengers onboard. Rescue operations were immediately launched in coordination with the Navy, Coast Guard, and Marine Police.
A total of 15 boats have been deployed in the area, including 11 Navy boats, 3 Marine Police boats, and 1 Coast Guard boat. Additionally, four helicopters are actively conducting search and rescue (SAR) missions to locate and assist survivors. So far, 66 people have been rescued from the waters. Unfortunately, three casualties have been confirmed, with their bodies recovered. The exact number of missing persons and potential casualties remains uncertain as the rescue efforts continue.
Maharashtra
Maha Congress: BJP trying to ‘murder’ Indian democratic system through EVMs, ONOE
Nagpur (Maharashtra), Dec 17: Continuing to take potshots at the government, Maharashtra Congress President Nana F. Patole claimed that the Bharatiya Janata Party-led NDA is attempting to ‘murder’ the Indian democratic system through Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), here on Tuesday.
Speaking to the media, Patole said that the EVMs used in the Lok Sabha elections were not utilised for the Maharashtra Assembly elections, for which EVMs were allegedly brought here from Gujarat.
“There is a gross misuse of EVMs. BJP members are sitting on the board of directors of the companies manufacturing EVMs. The EVMs deployed during the Lok Sabha polls were not used for the state Assembly polls and for this, the EVMs were sent from Gujarat,” contended Patole.
He again slammed the Election Commission of India (ECI) for “failing to exercise its constitutional powers” and alleged that all its operations are conducted at the behest of the BJP, “thus revealing their (ECI’s) mindset” – though the government and ECI have rubbished all anti-EVM allegations.
Taking a swipe at the One Nation-One Election, Patole added that the BJP-RSS’ machinations to end the country’s democracy are evident by the ‘One Nation, No Election’ bill brought before Parliament on Tuesday.
Earlier, the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) legislators continued their strong protests for the second day against EVMs, the plight of farmers, the custodial death of a Parbhani Dalit man Somnath Vyankat Suryawanshi in judicial custody, and the killing of a Beed Sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh.
The MVA legislators of Congress-Shiv Sena (UBT)-Nationalist Congress Party (SP) raised slogans and carried placards condemning the MahaYuti government, targeted the police for alleged atrocities in Parbhani and protecting the culprits in the Beed case, plus sought action against the officials concerned in both matters.
Amid the growing clamour from the Opposition, the Speaker said that the Parbhani matter would be taken up for discussion on Wednesday by the Assembly.
Maharashtra
Rare bonhomie on display between Uddhav Thackeray and Devendra Fadnavis
Nagpur, Dec 17: After a bitter fight and war of words during the recently held Assembly election, Shiv Sena-UBT chief Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday met Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in Vidahan Bhavan and congratulated him for MahaYuti’s victory.
Thackeray, who was accompanied by his son and former minister Aaditya Thackeray and party legislators, spent a few minutes in the CM’s chamber and gave him a bouquet wishing him his successful tenure. Both exchanged their views in a lighter atmosphere. A rare bonhomie between Thackeray and Fadnavis was on display.
“I wished Fadnavis for taking over as the chief minister and also congratulated him for MahaYuti’s victory in the state Assembly. There is a rich tradition in Maharashtra for a healthy dialogue between the ruling and opposition party leaders. I also wished him under his chief ministership Maharashtra will further progress,” said Thackeray.
Thackeray also met the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar and congratulated for his election as the Speaker.
The Shiv Sena-UBT chief has clarified that there was nothing political about his meeting with the chief minister.
Ahead of the Assembly election, Thackeray had slammed Fadnavis, likening him to an “insignificant dhekun (bed bug)” and stressing on the need “to get rid of it”. In another public meeting, Uddhav called him “tarbuz (watermelon)” that “should be dumped in potholes”.
Fadnavis hit back saying that something had affected Uddhav Thackeray’s health and he should get well soon.
Thackeray had recently targeted Fadnavis saying “Either you will remain, or I will.” However, after taking over the CM’s charge on December 5, Fadnavis downplayed Thackeray’s statement and said, “Both are in politics.”
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