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Mumbai: Shelar calls for SIT to probe ₹12,000 Cr BMC scam

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Mumbai: The president of BJP’s Mumbai unit, MLA Ashish Shelar has demanded the constitution of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the Rs12,000 crore corruption in the BMC, which has been exposed,

He told media persons on Tuesday that it is necessary to find out the mastermind behind this huge corruption, which involved a lot of kickbacks. 

Shelar to Shinde: Corruption pertains to 76 works undertaken by nine BMC departments


Shelar has written a letter to Chief Minister Eknath Shinde in this regard. He said the corruption pertained to 76 works undertaken by nine BMC departments and alleged that it took place when the Shiv Sena led by Uddhav and Aaditya Thackeray was in power. 

The CAG report was  from Nov 28, 2019 to Oct 31, 2022 and it does not include the works undertaken during the Covid-19 pandemic. 

Shelar said there is a ‘yellow book’ with the BMC and a national construction code that tells how roads are supposed to be built. However, in brazen violation of all these rules, contracts were awarded without even floating tenders and that too in excess of the amount mentioned in tender documents. There have been cases of manipulation of tenders and breach of norms, he said, adding that perhaps no other governing body in the country has indulged in a scam of this scale. 

“There have been instances where tenders have been awarded to four companies but actually it is only one. In some other cases, tenders have been awarded to those who were not even qualified. Why were these contractors favoured?” he asked, adding that the CAG report exposed “lack of transparency, negligence, sloppy planning and misappropriation of funds”.

According to the Development Plan of 1993, over 32,394.90 sqm of land in Dahisar was reserved for a garden/ playground/ maternity home. Later, in Dec 2011, a decision for acquisition was made. Its final land acquisition valuation was Rs349.14 crore. Using the formula, the property was valued at Rs206.16 crore, which was 716% more than 2011, Shelar said. He alleged that land price valued at Rs130 crore was hiked to Rs349 crore. “It did not stop here. To allow development, the BMC spent another Rs77.80 crore to remove the encroachments. This means that it spent Rs420 crore on land worth Rs130 crore,” he claimed. 

While working as a corporator in the BMC during 2007, Shelar had exposed the scam in the SAP system. At that time, he had protested in front of the offices of the then municipal commissioner and the then Mayor and had demanded an investigation.

Maharashtra

‘Meltdown Of Worst Kind’: Sena UBT MP Priyanka Chaturvedi Hits Back At X User Accusing Her Of Humiliating Pune BJP MP For Speaking In Marathi In RS

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Shiv Sena UBT MP Priyanka Chaturvedi, who presided over the Rajya Sabha session on Thursday, has addressed allegations of attempting to “humiliate” Pune MP Dr. Medha Vishram Kulkarni for speaking in Marathi instead of English. The allegations were made by @MrSinha_, a ‘Hindu rights activist’ who criticised Chaturvedi for allegedly showing bias against Marathi speakers.

Chaturvedi took to X to refute these claims and said that Dr. Kulkarni spoke in Marathi without interruption. She claimed that Dr Kulkarni was repeatedly asked to sit down by her own ally, which she said was an attempt to show disrespect towards the chair. Chaturvedi also criticised @MrSinha_ for lacking an understanding of parliamentary procedures, advising him to review the rules of the Rajya Sabha.

In her post on X, Chaturvedi wrote, “This pawpaw champ bhakt is truly having a meltdown of the worst kind. Dr. Medha Kulkarni and Rajni Patil ji both spoke in Marathi and without interruption, barring when her own ally sitting in the front row had a hissy fit and asked her to sit down multiple times so that he could be disrespectful to the chair. Also paw paw champ, understand parliamentary proceedings in the RS and the rule book. Cry some more.”

@MrSinha_ had earlier criticised Chaturvedi, questioning her respect for Marathi as a language and accusing her of being disrespectful towards the Pune MP.

“Uddhav Thackeray’s RS MP Priyanka Chaturvedi tried to humiliate the MP from Pune, Maharashtra because she was speaking in Marathi but not her “posh” language English? She kept shouting at her…  What does she think of herself? And what happened to UT’s Marathi ashmita?” @MrSinha_ 

Meanwhile, many wondered how Chaturvedi was made to preside over the Rajya Sabha, a chair on which we usually see the Vice President of India. 

As per the rules of the Parliament, in the absence of the Vice President of India, who serves as the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, the responsibility of presiding over sessions falls to the Deputy Chairman or a panel of Voice Chairpersons.

Chaturvedi, a member of this panel, was tasked with the role during the session. Her varied approach to presiding, which included moments of stern reprimand and visible enthusiasm, has been noted by many on social media.

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Maharashtra

Mumbai: Central Railway GM Inspects CSMT Lobby After 150 Dead Rats Found; Promises Quick Renovation

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Mumbai: Central Railway GM Inspects CSMT Lobby After 150 Dead Rats Found; Promises Quick Renovation

Mumbai: On Friday, General Manager of Central Railway, RK Yadav, conducted an inspection of the motorman and guard lobby at CSMT amid serious cleanliness concerns. This visit comes in response to allegations that approximately 150 dead rats had been discovered in the lobby, highlighting significant issues with hygiene and pest control.

Sources indicate that the foul smell from the dead rats had forced motormen and guards to work outside the lobby for several days. In response, Central Railway has commenced renovation work on the affected area, with completion anticipated by Monday.

During his visit, GM Yadav addressed the staff’s concerns and assured them that the renovation would be completed promptly. The GM’s inspection also included a review of the ongoing extension project for Platforms 13 and 14, which aims to enhance capacity and passenger experience. Additionally, he evaluated the newly inaugurated toilets in the suburban concourse, which were recently renovated with support from the Dmart Foundation.

“The visit underscores Central Railway’s commitment to improving infrastructure and facilities at CSMT, striving to ensure operational efficiency and a better environment for both staff and passengers” said an official of CR.

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Maharashtra

Mumbai: X User Booked For Derogatory Posts Against Maha Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis

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Mumbai: X User Booked For Derogatory Posts Against Maha Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis

Mumbai: A case has been registered against a user of the social media platform ‘X’ for allegedly posting derogatory memes about Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, police reportedly stated on Friday. The complaint was lodged at Khadakpada police station in Thane district under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for promoting enmity between different groups and public mischief.

X User Posts Morphed Pics With Derogatory Texts

The complaint specifies that the ‘X’ handle @gajabhauX has been creating and sharing derogatory memes featuring morphed photographs of Fadnavis since July 19. The posts contain morphed pictures of Fadnavis portraying Afzal Khan, Aurangzeb and other Mughal personalities.

The posts also contain texts having use of derogatory language against the Deputy CM considering him as the evil villain responsible for all the bad that is happening in the state. The complainant reportedly stated that these posts have created a sense of dissatisfaction and insecurity among people.

Case Filed In Thane

A case was registered on Thursday at Khadakpada police station in Thane district under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for promoting enmity between different groups and public mischief. The police are currently investigating the matter, and no arrests have been made yet.

Fadnavis Reacts To Allegations By Anil Deshmukh

Meanwhile, Devendra Fadnavis recently responded to the allegations of Anil Deshmukh that three years back a close associate of Fadanvis had offered him to make allegations against Uddhav Thackeray, Aaditya Thackeray, Ajit Pawar and Anil Parab in a false case, in return he was assured te be set free from ED and CBI inquiry.

Fadnavis while replying to the allegations warned him that he doesn’t spare anyone who troubles him unnecessarily. Fadanvis said “I never do such politics. I don’t trouble anyone unnecessarily. I want to tell Deshmukh that his party leaders have given me video clips, wherein he was seen saying bad words against Uddhav Thacekray and Sharad Pawar and Sachin Waze. If any one is making false allegations against me, I will not keep quiet and make those clips viral. I never speak without evidence.”

He further said that the Chief Justice of Bombay high court directed to register a case against Deshmukh now Deshmukh is on bail. “CBI chargesheet is saying how pressure was created to put Girish Mahajan behind the bar under a false case. I had given evidence to the CBI and it shows how the MVA government had tried to invoke mocca against opposition leaders.”

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