Connect with us
Saturday,09-August-2025
Breaking News

Maharashtra

Mumbai News: Report Exposes Rot In JJ Hospital

Published

on

Mumbai: The authorities of the biggest state-run Jamshedji Jeejeebhoy Hospital were aware or had turned a blind eye towards the clinical drug trial which was being conducted at its pharmacology department since 2018 under their nose. The recent final report of the five-member committee submitted to the dean, Dr Pallavi Saple, has suggested action against three doctors, including a former dean, as per the Maharashtra Civil Services Rules. The report is likely to be submitted to the medical education department authorities. 

A senior state official said, “As per the final report, former dean Dr Mukund Tayade illegally rented three rooms of 4,500 sqft on the hospital premises without paying rent. Disciplinary action should be taken against him and the extent of financial dealings over the past five years should be ascertained.”

90 lakh as fees from doctors who conducted the trials

The hospital, meanwhile, has so far received nearly ₹90 lakh as fees from doctors who conducted the trials. This institute fee is usually 10% of the payment received by the principal investigators. However, as per India’s clinical trial rules, a hospital has to be paid a sum by the doctor designated as principal investigator by the pharmaceutical company conducting the trial.

Dr Tayade has been named in the report for signing a Memorandum of Understanding with Parshwa Life Sciences and ₹2lakh was paid as rent to the hospital for using three rooms in the pharmacology department. As per PWD rules, commercial rent should be charged from private organisations renting out space in government bodies.

Doctor guilty of negligence

The findings also reveal that Dr Akash Khobragade, a former medical superintendent of JJ Hospital’s sister institute, St George’s Hospital, was the coordinator and guilty of negligence as he lacked knowledge of clinical trials underway.

The senior official said that it was Dr Khobragade’s responsibility to oversee the disbursement of funds and ensure rules were followed, but he failed to carry out his duty as the coordinator. 

Dr Khobragade and Dr Hemant Gupta, an honorary professor from the medicine department, conducted the maximum number of trials. “Dr Gupta turned up for the inquiry last week and paid the institute fees,” said another state official. Dr Gupta has also been named in the Enforcement Directorate’s investigations into an alleged scam involving the jumbo Covid centres. Sources said that Dr Gupta is associated with Parshwa as well. While Dr Gupta has deposited ₹26 lakh, Dr Khobragade has deposited ₹12 lakh as fees.

Committee set up by the JJ Hospital dean to investigate the matter

A committee was set up by the JJ Hospital dean on June 21 to investigate the matter. Nearly 28 doctors from the hospital involved in clinical drug trials with pharmaceutical companies have been questioned in the last month. The committee’s preliminary report was submitted to the Directorate of Medical Research and Education (DMER) on July 11.

“The committee has advised a financial audit of all the clinical drug trials conducted since 2018 and the rent paid. It has also suggested institution guidelines for such trials,” said the official.

Crime

Mumbai: 53-Year-Old Junior Film Artist Succumbs A Day After Road Accident In Goregaon

Published

on

Mumbai: A 53-year-old woman, Ambubai Sonawane, succumbed a day after a road accident in Goregaon East. She was riding pillion on a motorcycle driven by her 29-year-old acquaintance, Shubham Ghatwal, when the incident occurred at the Goregaon check naka while attempting to overtake a BEST bus on August 5. She was declared dead during treatment on August 6.

About The Accident

According to the police, Sonawane, a junior artist in the film industry, resided in Shanti Niketan, Goregaon East, with her family. On August 4, she went to Dadasaheb Phalke Chitranagari for a film shoot. The next morning, around 8.30 am, while returning home, she met Ghatwal, who offered her a ride. As they headed towards the Goregaon check post, Ghatwal attempted to overtake a bus and collided with an oncoming two-wheeler.

Sonawane fell, sustaining serious injuries. She was first taken to Seven Hills Hospital, Andheri. After receiving first aid, she was brought home. Later, her son took her to Trauma Care Hospital in Jogeshwari East, where she was declared dead during treatment.

Continue Reading

Maharashtra

Mumbai Police Deports 112 Illegal Bangladeshi Nationals, Year’s Tally Reaches 719

Published

on

Mumbai: In a major crackdown on illegal Bangladeshi immigrants in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), police on Thursday deported 112 people, 92 from Mumbai and 20 from Mira-Bhayander and Thane.

The immigrants were first taken to Pune on Wednesday and then transported to the Assam-Bangladesh border in a special Indian Air Force (IAF) aircraft on Thursday, where they were handed over to Bangladesh security forces.

719 Deportations In Mumbai Alone

With Thursday’s action, deportations from Mumbai alone have reached 719 this year, compared to 152 in the entire year of 2024, a senior police officer said. The documents reveal the illegal immigrants were detained from across Mumbai between June 12 and August 5. Of the 92 from Mumbai, 40 were women, 34 children, and 18 men. The breakup of the 20 detained from Mira-Bhayander and Thane was not available.

“This time the government decided to drop the illegal immigrants at the Assam-Bangladesh border, which is heavily secured and manned by the Indian Army, making illegal re-entry almost impossible. They were handed over to the Bangladesh border security force.

Another officer confirmed that between January 1 and August 5, Mumbai Police deported 719 Bangladeshi nationals found staying illegally in the city. Most were detained in the last week of July after being found to have violated visa norms and entered India illegally through the Indo-Bangladesh border.

Series Of Crackdown On Illegal Immigrants In Mumbai

A senior IPS officer said they were deported under Section 3(2)(c) of the Foreigners Act, 1946, after completing all legal procedures. The first deportation of the year took place in February when 12 people were sent back.

The crackdown intensified after the January 16 arrest of Shariful Islam, a Bangladeshi national accused of attacking actor Saif Ali Khan in his Bandra residence, who was found with a duplicate Aadhaar card and an illegally procured Indian SIM card.

Police said the operation began after informants tipped them off about suspicious individuals at building construction sites. Suspects were called to police stations, and evidence such as call records to Bangladesh and suspicious bank transactions was gathered before detentions were made.

The data shows that Amboli in Andheri recorded the highest number of arrests, with 11 immigrants caught. In at least four cases, only mothers were found living illegally with their minor children.

Continue Reading

Maharashtra

171 Maharashtra Tourists Safe, Search On For Missing Woman In landslide-hit Uttarakhand

Published

on

Mumbai: A woman tourist from Maharashtra has remained untraceable since landslide and flash floods hit Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand, state Disaster Management Minister Girish Mahajan said on Saturday.

The minister’s office in a statement said that 171 out of the 172 tourists from Maharashtra, who were stranded in the Dharali area, could be contacted, and they were all confirmed safe.

The Statement

“Only one person, Kritika Jain, is still missing, but the authorities are trying to locate her. Efforts are underway to establish contact with the tourist, and the Uttarakhand State Emergency Operations Centre (SEOC) has been instructed to conduct a search for her,” the statement said.

Of the 171 tourists from Maharashtra, 160 are safe at various locations – 31 are in Matli, six in Jolly Grant, and 123 in Uttarkashi – and have continued their journey as planned. The remaining 11 tourists are safe in Harsil and will be airlifted to safety, it stated.

Mahajan is overseeing the rescue operation on-site in Uttarkashi to ensure the safety of tourists.

The Maharashtra State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC) is in constant touch with its Uttarakhand counterpart, the district control room, the district emergency operations centre in Uttarkashi, and the National Emergency Response Centre in New Delhi.

According to the statement, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis is monitoring the situation.

As per information shared by Uttarakhand authorities, the airlift of tourists stranded in Harsil was scheduled for Saturday morning. Army, NDRF, SDRF and local rescue teams are operational in Dharali.

The landslide and floods have damaged roads and disrupted communication networks. Efforts are underway to restore connectivity and basic infrastructure.

A satellite phone has been deployed by IGP Rajeev Swaroop, and the Army has been alerted for immediate response.

The Maharashtra SEOC is coordinating rescue arrangements, updating information, and assisting the concerned families, the statement added.

Continue Reading

Trending