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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

Teen kills his elder brother, sister-in-law, nephew with sharp-edged weapon in UP’s Gorakhpur

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Gorakhpur, June 22: A shocking incident has emerged from Uttar Pradesh’s Gorakhpur district, where a 16-year-old boy allegedly murdered his elder brother, sister-in-law, and three-year-old nephew with a sharp-edged weapon. The gruesome crime reportedly took place around 3 A.M. in the wee hours of Monday.

Upon receiving information about the incident, police teams rushed to the spot and launched an investigation. The bodies were sent for post-mortem examination, while the accused was taken into custody. Senior police officials, including the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) and Superintendent of Police (South), visited the crime scene and conducted an inspection.

According to the police, preliminary investigations suggest that the murders were the result of a family dispute. The deceased have been identified as Amit Gupta, his wife Ranjana Gupta, and their son Reyan Gupta.

The Bansgaon police have registered an FIR based on a complaint filed by Amit Gupta’s father and have initiated legal proceedings against the accused. Police have also recovered the weapon allegedly used in the crime.

SP (South) Dinesh Puri said that police received information about the triple murder at around 3 A.M. Following the alert, local police personnel and senior officers reached the scene, and a forensic team was called in to collect evidence.

During the investigation, it was found that Amit Gupta, his wife Ranjana, and their son Reyan were sleeping in the same room when the accused allegedly attacked them with a sharp-edged weapon, leading to their deaths.

The officer said the complaint was lodged by the deceased’s father, after which the bodies were taken into custody and sent for post-mortem examination. The accused has been detained and is currently being questioned by the police.

Authorities believe that a family dispute may have triggered the crime, although the exact motive behind the killings is yet to be established. The incident has sent shockwaves through the locality, leaving residents stunned and creating an atmosphere of grief and fear in the area.

Police said further investigation is underway, and additional details are expected to emerge after questioning the accused and examining forensic evidence.

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Crime

NEET candidate in police custody after being caught using phone hidden in flush tank at exam centre in Hyderabad

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Hyderabad, June 22: In a shocking incident Hyderabad police apprehended an 18-year-old candidate appearing for the NEET re-test as he was caught allegedly using a mobile phone concealed inside a washroom flush tank at the exam centre to cheat.

The incident occurred on Sunday during the NEET re-examination at a government school in Ragannaguda under the Adibatla Police Station limits.

The candidate, a resident of Achampet, was apprehended at the examination centre located at ZPHS, Ragannaguda.

Police said he had allegedly planned the malpractice in advance by hiding the mobile phone inside the school premises before the examination began.

As per his plan to commit cheating, the student came to the school around 7 A.M. and placed a mobile phone in the washroom ventilator. He managed to access the washroom ventilator as it was adjoining the school compound wall. At 11 A.M., he entered the washroom and concealed the phone in a zip-lock cover before hiding it in a flush tank.

Although police security teams had thoroughly inspected the premises twice, once at 6 A.M. and again at 11 A.M., and conducted strict frisking of all candidates at the entrance, the phone hidden inside the flush tank remained undetected during the initial checks.

During the examination, the accused complained of stomach pain and requested to use the restroom. The washroom, which serves as the only common facility for the entire centre, is situated far away from the school building.

After the invigilator found that the student had spent an unusually long time in the toilet, he sent a few staff members to check about his availability. The accused was caught red-handed inside the washroom actively searching for answers on his mobile phone, police said.

Upon being alerted, the police team immediately seized the mobile phone used in the crime. A thorough inspection of the device revealed that he was using Google Chrome to search for answers, with no other active applications of concern besides Instagram. The accused confessed to the act during interrogation and is currently in police custody.

Following a formal complaint by the school administration, the police have registered a case under Section 318(4) BNS and section 10 r/w 3 Public Examinations ( Prevention of Unfair Means) Act -2024.

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Crime

Crossed all limits of barbarity: Congress on Begusarai gang-rape

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New Delhi, June 20: Reacting to the gang-rape and brutalisation of a woman in Bihar’s Begusarai district, the Congress on Saturday termed the incident deeply shameful and unfortunate, saying it had crossed all limits of barbarity.

Speaking to MEDIA, Congress MP Manoj Kumar said, “The incident that has occurred there is deeply shameful and unfortunate. The governance and administration in Bihar have failed completely. They are merely making hollow claims and making promises, while the morale of criminals remains high.”

Questioning the state government’s handling of law and order, he asked, “Who is responsible for all of this? Who is responsible for such an inhuman act?”

Referring to reports surrounding the incident, Kumar said, “It is being said that the woman had gone to the police station seeking protection before the crime took place. She was helpless. The accused subjected her to extreme cruelty. Her hands were restrained, and she was brutally assaulted.”

He further alleged that such incidents have become increasingly common in the state.

“Such things are happening frequently in Bihar. Incidents of crime against women are reported almost every day. However, the kind of brutality seen in this case has crossed all limits of barbarity,” he said.

The Congress leader also questioned the silence of those who claim to champion women’s rights.

“Bihar has traditionally been a state that respects women. Why are those who once spoke about women’s dignity silent today?” he asked.

Recalling debates around the Women’s Reservation Bill, Kumar said, “A few months ago, several special discussions were held in Parliament regarding the Women’s Reservation Bill. Women MPs and leaders came out in support of the legislation and accused us of being against women’s rights. Today, the question is: Who is in power in Bihar, and what action are they taking to ensure women’s safety?”

Meanwhile, the investigation into the heinous gang-rape and brutalisation of a woman in Bihar’s Begusarai district, that is reminiscent of the 2012 Nirbhaya gang-rape case in the national Capital, intensified on Friday. Senior officials of Bihar Police launched a detailed enquiry into the shocking case and took disciplinary action against the Chakia SHO Rajiv Ranjan on Friday, for negligence.

The case, which pertains to an incident reported in the Chakia police station area on the night of June 11, gained widespread attention after allegations surfaced that a bullet, piece of wood and a stone were later recovered from the victim’s private parts during medical treatment.

Begusarai Range DIG, Shailesh Kumar Sinha, visited the victim at Sadar Hospital and met her family members to gather information about the horrific crime.

He also reviewed the progress of the investigation with police officials and sought details regarding the action taken so far in the case.

The DIG subsequently held discussions with the medical team, including the Civil Surgeon, and obtained a detailed briefing on the victim’s examination and treatment.

In a significant administrative action, Chakia SHO Rajiv Ranjan has been suspended.

According to the DIG, preliminary findings indicated negligence in handling the case, prompting departmental action against SHO Rajiv Ranjan.

Police have registered an FIR in connection with the case and constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to identify and arrest the accused.

Senior officers, including the DIG and district police officials, have inspected the alleged crime scene as part of the ongoing investigation.

Officials stated that a fresh medical examination has been conducted by a medical Board, and investigators are awaiting the final report, which is expected to play a crucial role in determining the next course of action.

The police have assured that all accused people involved in the crime will be arrested and brought to justice.

Investigators are examining evidence, recording statements, and verifying all aspects of the case.

Authorities have emphasised that further legal and departmental action will be taken based on the findings of the medical report and the SIT’s investigation.

The case has generated widespread public concern and drawn attention to the handling of crimes against women in Bihar, with senior officials closely monitoring the developments in the case.

According to an official, the incident occurred within the jurisdiction of the Chakiya police station on the night of June 11.

The 30-year-old woman had stepped out of her home to use the toilet when she was allegedly intercepted by five men, who forcibly dragged her to a secluded location, tied her hands and legs with her clothes and gang-raped her.

In a show of cruelty and depravity, the rapists inserted a cartridge, wood, and a stone into the hapless woman’s her private parts.

The woman’s family has also accused the local police of failing to respond appropriately and sending them back home when they first attempted to lodge a complaint in the case.

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