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Jumbo Covid Centre Scam: EOW Summons MMRDA Officials

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The Mumbai police’s Economic Offences Wing (EOW), probing the irregularities in jumbo Covid centres, has summoned Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) officials for questioning. The EOW’s special investigation team (SIT), which scrutinised the BMC contracts to vendors, suppliers and manpower management services for jumbo centres, has detected several irregularities in payments at inflated costs to select favoured contractors. It has now asked MMRDA to provide details of the contracts awarded for makeshift Covid hospitals at BKC and Malad.

On July 4 exclusively reported the alleged irregularities in the rentals paid to wedding tent suppliers and tarpaulin makers for two temporary Covid hospitals at BKC and a makeshift jumbo centre at Malad. While MMRDA had given a contract to Mumbai-based Jess Ideas Pvt Ltd for the construction of a 1,000-bed temporary hospital at BKC ground at highly inflated monthly rentals of Rs2.18 crore for two years, another Delhi-based tent supplier and wedding contractor NK Kapur and Sons was awarded contract for an additional 2,000-bed Covid hospital with 300-bed ICU facility for Rs2.5 crore rental by MMRDA during the pandemic’s second wave in 2021.

In fact, the makeshift hospitals erected by Jess India suffered major water leakages and flooding during monsoons, forcing doctors to shift several hundred patients to Worli NSC and Goregaon Nesco Centres in heavy downpour. The then MMRDA commissioner RA Rajeev had objected to the makeshift centre in Malad in late 2021 but a senior MVA minister prevailed on the administration to award the contract to wedding contractor NK Kapur and Sons. “Only 74 patients were treated at the Malad centre in two years,” confirmed an EOW investigation official.

BMC paid a huge amount every month to NK Kapur and Sons

The BMC paid a huge amount every month to NK Kapur and Sons for two years in anticipation of the third wave which never came. “It was a colossal waste of public money,” alleged a former MMRDA official in his statement. The highly inflated rentals contracts for temporary makeshift Covid centres are being probed for alleged kickbacks to officials and associates linked to political leaders. Jess India and NK Kapur directors did not respond to calls and mails for comments despite repeated attempts.

Crime

Moments after India claimed Champions Trophy, communal tension erupts in MP’s Mhow

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Bhopal, March 10: Moments after Rohit Sharma and his team triumphed over New Zealand by four wickets in a thrilling final of the cricket Champions Trophy, celebrations turned chaotic in Mhow near Indore, Madhya Pradesh, late Sunday night.

The festive atmosphere quickly escalated into tension among two communities as stones were pelted at the joyous crowd.

The incident occurred around 10.30 p.m. on Sunday, when a procession in the Jama Masjid area sparked a dispute over firecrackers. This quickly escalated into a confrontation, with stone-pelting spreading to several areas, including Manak Chowk, Patti Bazaar, and Market Chowk, among others.

The situation spiralled out of control when two opposing groups faced off, further intensifying the chaos. Numerous videos have emerged showing individuals from a specific community targeting jubilant cricket fans with stones. In response to the incident, a heavy police presence has been deployed to prevent further unrest.

Additional security forces have been called in to maintain control, a senior police officer told media over the phone.

Even with the police present, the stone-pelting persisted, reports said, and some individuals brandished weapons.

Anger boiled over, leading to the torching of shops and vehicles by miscreants. The violence was exacerbated by the use of petrol bombs, video footage, and reports revealed. To quell the unrest, the police resorted to using mild force through lathi charges and fired tear gas shells. The violence left two houses, four shops, and a “magic” vehicle damaged. Over a dozen vehicles were set ablaze and vandalized, unconfirmed reports said.

However, the police took over and brought the situation under control. The full extent of the damage will be determined after further investigation.

The police continue to work towards restoring order, but the area remains on edge

As soon as the Indian cricket team won the Champions Trophy 2025, jubilations erupted across the country, with lakhs taking to the streets to celebrate the win.

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Business

₹122-Crore New India Co-op Bank Scam: EOW Issues Blue Corner Notice Against Ex-Chairman Hiren Bhanu & Wife

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Mumbai: The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) has intensified its crackdown on Hiren Bhanu and his wife Gauri, the absconding couple in the Rs122 crore scam at New India Cooperative Bank.

Blue Corner Notice Issued

The EOW has issued a Blue Corner notice against Hiren, the alleged mastermind and former chairman of the bank, and Gauri, who was the acting vice-chairman. Investigators have traced Hiren to Abu Dhabi and Gauri to Thailand, leading to the issuance of the notice. The EOW had initially issued a lookout circular.

Now, with confirmed foreign locations, the alert has been issued. The Blue Corner notice will help track Bhanus’ locations, monitor their activities, and facilitate their arrest.

According to EOW sources, the duo fled abroad just before the scam was exposed. As per the probe, Hitesh Mehta, the bank’s general manager, executed the fraud under the instructions of the Bhanu couple.

Reports indicate that they received Rs28 crore from the embezzled funds. Hiren fled to Dubai on January 26, while Gauri left for Thailand on February 10 just before the scam was uncovered on February 12.

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Crime

Minor Girl Harassed In Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar; Parents Brutally Beaten With Wooden Sticks For Questioning Daughter’s Harassment; 3 Booked

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Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar(Maharashtra): A shocking incident took place in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar where a minor girl’s parents were brutally assaulted with wooden sticks, fists and kicks when they confronted a group of men for harassing their daughter. The incident occurred in Waluj’s Jogeshwari area on Wednesday, March 5, at around 5:30 am. The police have registered a case against the three accused.

The victim, a 14-year-old girl, lives in a rented house in Jogeshwari with her parents, brother and sister. Both her parents work in private jobs. On Tuesday, while returning home from school, she was followed and harassed with obscene gestures by three men identified as Nilesh Dubile, Rishikesh Dubile and Pratik Rajput, reported media. She informed her family about the incident upon reaching home. When her mother stepped outside to confront them, the trio fled the scene.

Accused Harassed Minor, Made Lewd Remarks Repeatedly

The next morning, at around 5:30 am, the girl was sweeping outside her house when the same three men saw her and started making lewd remarks. When questioned, they began abusing her and attacking her mother. The assailants used wooden sticks and anything they could find to hit her. The victim’s mother was kicked in the chest and struck on the head with a stone, leaving her injured.

The father also became a target when he intervened. Seeing the violence escalate, locals attempted to stop the assault but were also attacked and abused. It is suspected that more individuals were involved in the attack. The commotion drew a large crowd of onlookers.

Case Filed Against 3 Accused

Following a complaint by the 39-year-old mother, a case has been registered at Waluj MIDC Police Station against Nilesh Dubile, Rishikesh Dubile and Pratik Rajput. The police have since taken the accused into custody.

Following the investigation, the police booked Pratik Satish Rajput, Rishikesh Ramnath Dubile, Rohit Shankarsing Bahure and Nilesh Ramnath Dubile under relevant sections of the law at Waluj MIDC Police Station. The accused have been taken into custody, and further investigation is underway.

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