AJAY Harinath Singh, chairman of the Darwin Group of Companies, has sought anticipatory bail from the Mumbai Sessions Court amid concerns of being arrested in a R200 crore arbitration investigation led by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW). The investigation involves Denron Rea IT Private Limited and Bliss Consultants. Singh defended himself, stating, "I am a victim of circumstances, and there are no grounds for any criminality against me." The court, after reviewing Singh's application, set the next hearing for October 24. Until then, it has prohibited any action against him and directed Singh to report to the EOW's office every other day, ensuring full cooperation with the investigation. In connection to the same case, the EOW had earlier arrested advocate Amit Chaurasiya and his senior lawyer, Dharmendra Patel, who represented Denron Rea IT Private Limited. Fearing arrest, Patel applied for anticipatory bail at the Additional Sessions Court, but his plea was denied. However, he was granted five days of interim relief on the condition of cooperating with the EOW's inquiry. During Patel’s bail hearing, the court reiterated its directives regarding Singh. Patel has since filed for anticipatory bail with the high court, and his hearing is scheduled for next month, offering him some temporary relief while prohibiting his arrest in the meantime. The case stems from a complaint filed by Nikki Shaha, who holds power of attorney for Ashish Mehta, a partner in Bliss Consultants. The complaint alleges that Denron Rea IT submitted fraudulent documents in the Mehta couple's name to secure an arbitration order worth R200 crore. Furthermore, it was alleged that a fake individual, Sabir Rafique Khan, impersonated Mehta before the arbitrator. As a result, the FIR, initially registered at Andheri Police Station, was transferred to the EOW for further investigation. The FIR names Denron Rea IT, along with its directors Hariprasad Akalu Paswan, Rameshkumar Yadav, and Sabir Rafique Khan, as accused. During the investigation, Denron director Hariprasad Paswan denied involvement in the fraudulent R200 crore arbitration case against Bliss Consultants, claiming his signatures were forged, and alleging that the entire operation was orchestrated by Ajay Harinath Singh and his associate Ajay Kumar Pasi. Paswan said, "All fraudulent documents and proceedings against Bliss Consultants have been initiated, orchestrated, and perpetrated by Ajay Harinath Singh, aided by advocate Dharmendra V Patel and Ajay Kumar Pasi for reasons best known to them." The EOW’s investigation revealed that the documents presented had indeed been fraudulently prepared. Advocate Amit Chaurasiya, who assisted Dharmendra Patel in preparing the documents, was arrested. Following Chaurasiya's arrest, Mehta’s lawyer grew suspicious that the transaction documents submitted by Denron to the high court were also forgeries. The court approved an inspection of these documents, and it was found that the signatures on the agreements did not match those of the Mehta couple, according to their lawyer, Hemant Ingle.
19 October,2024 12:29 AM IST | Mumbai | Samiullah KhanThe police said that they carried out their biggest operation in the Baba Siddique murder case on Friday, October 18, leading to the arrest of five individuals connected to the killing of the former Maharashtra minister. The five accused arrested in the Baba Siddique murder case on Friday have been identified as Nitin Gautam Sapre, 32; Sambhaji Kishan Parbi, 44; Ram Phoolchand Kannoujiya, 43; Pradeep Tomber, 37, and Chetan Dilip Pardhi, 33. While Parbi, Tomber and Pardhi are Ambernath residents, Sapre lives in Dombivali and Kannoujiya in Panvel. The five accused have been produced before the Esplanade Court in Mumbai's Fort following their arrest in the Baba Siddique murder case. According to police sources, Sapre and Kannoujiya were the "leaders" of this group. In September, the five accused provided weapons to the shooters involved in Siddique's assassination. They also provided money and local support to two shooters: Dharamraj Kashyap and Shivkumar Gautam, the police revealed. The duo stayed in Karjat with the five arrested accused for a few days. The five men were also in contact with two other accused in the case: Zeeshan Akhtar and Shubham Lonkar, who are currently on the run. Sapre is booked in three other serious cases and has charges of murder and attempted murder registered against him. He is also accused in a case under the Arms Act. Kannoujiya also has several charges against him, the police said. Meanwhile, the Mumbai Crime Branch has issued a Lookout Circular (LOC) against Shubham Lonkar, as they suspect he may attempt to flee to Nepal. Officers have provided his photographs at the Nepal border, but there are currently no details on Lonkar’s whereabouts. According to the officers, Lonkar was active until October 9, three days before Siddique's murder. His profile was used by the Lawrence Bishnoi gang to claim responsibility for Siddique’s murder. Lonkar’s brother Pravin has already been arrested by the crime branch for allegedly providing financial support to the shooters. Siddique, 66, was shot dead on the night of October 12 outside his legislator son Zeeshan's office in Nirmal Nagar area, Bandra, prima facie by three shooters. While Haryana resident Gurmail Baljit Singh, 23, and Uttar Pradesh native Dharmaraj Rajesh Kashyap, 19, have been arrested, Gautam is on the run. The police is also looking for Harishkumar Balakram Nisad, 23, who hails from Kashyap's village.
19 October,2024 12:02 AM IST | Mumbai | Faizan KhanBandra (East) Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) Zeeshan Siddique and his family met Deputy Chief Ministers (CM) Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar on Friday, October 18, to discuss over the probe related to the murder of his father and former Maharashtra minister Baba. The meeting, which took place at official residence of Fadnavis was also attended by senior Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Praful Patel, Joint Commissioner (Crime) Lakhmi Gautam and Mumbai Crime Branch Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Datta Nalawade. During the meeting, the police officers briefed Zeeshan and his family members on the progress made so far in the investigation and the direction it is heading into in the Baba Siddique murder case. The office of Deputy CM Fadnavis informed that the purpose of the meeting was to update the family on the investigation. After the meeting, Siddique posted a cryptic post on social media X. Not all that is hidden sleeps,Nor all that is visible speaks. — Zeeshan Siddique (@zeeshan_iyc) October 18, 2024 Meanwhile, five more people have been arrested in the Baba Siddique murder case, taking the total number of the arrests to nine. The police said the five accused, who have been a part of the conspiracy to murder the former Maharashtra minister, were held in raids conducted in Navi Mumbai, Karjat and Dombivali on Friday. Initially, seven people were detained during the raids, following which the arrests took place. The police have presented the five people arrested on Friday before the magistrate in Esplanade Court at Fort. On Thursday evening, Siddique took to social media X and broke his silence over his father's murder, appealing for justice. "My father lost his life protecting and saving the lives and homes of poor innocent people. Today, my family is broken but his death must not be politicised and definitely not go in vain. I NEED JUSTICE, MY FAMILY NEEDS JUSTICE," he wrote. Earlier on Thursday, Siddique also met Mumbai Police Mumbai Police Commissioner on Thursday. He had met the Mumbai Police Commissioner on Wednesday too, along with senior officers of the Mumbai Crime Branch to discuss the progress of the investigation into the Baba Siddique murder case. Sources indicate that during the meeting, Zeeshan shared certain details and requested that the Crime Branch incorporate them into their inquiry. Zeeshan spent nearly three hours at the commissioner’s office in Crawford Market, meeting with Crime Branch officers in pursuit of justice for his father. Baba was killed on the night of October 12 by shooters near Siddique's office in Nirmal Nagar area of suburban Mumbai.
18 October,2024 11:58 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe special Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) court on Friday, October 18, rejected the bail plea of Vicky Gupta, one of the shooters allegedy involved in firing outside actor Salman Khan's house in Bandra in April. Gupta, along with others, was arrested in connection with the incident that took place on April 14 outside Salman Khan’s Galaxy Apartments. He and co-accused Sagar Pal were involved in the firing while riding a motorcycle. Gupta filed the petition through his lawyers Amit Mishra and Pankaj Ghildiyal. Opposing his bail plea, the police argued that the crime was carried out under the direction of Lawrence Bishnoi, through a syndicate run by the jailed gangster. The police also informed the court that if granted bail, there is a strong possibility that Gupta would inform Lawrence Bishnoi about the investigation conducted during custody and could potentially destroy evidence that is yet to be recovered.
18 October,2024 10:37 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentA college student was allegedly harassed by three people who posed as police personnel and demanded a fine of ₹50,000 after accusing her of violating the law by smoking an e-cigarette in an autorickshaw. According to sources, the complainant smoked an e-cigarette while heading home from college in an autorickshaw. The accused, who were following the woman on a bike, stopped her rickshaw. One of them got inside the autorickshaw and introduced himself as a police personal. He then told the woman that e-cigarettes are banned and that she had violated the law. He also threatened to take her to the police station if she failed to pay a fine of Rs 50,000. The student repeatedly apologised to the accused but they did not budge. The complainant said that she was a student and did not have such a huge amount of money. She also promised not to repeat the mistake, but the men threated to take her to Powai Police Station for legal action. They then asked the student to call a friend and send them Rs 10,000. The student contacted her brother and explained the situation. The brother felt something amiss and asked her to take a video of the interaction between the student and the three men. When she began recording them, the accused hurled abuses at her and fled the spot. The complainant then approached Powai Police which transferred the case to MIDC Police Station for further investigation. After the woman tweeted about the incident with the video of the accused, the police sprung into action. Under the supervision of Zone 10 Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Sachin Gunjal, Senior Inspectors Paratparao Kadam and Anand Rao Kashid and their team traced the accused using CCTV footage and call data records, and subsequently arrested them, an officer from MIDC Police Station said. The accused were identified as Jogeshwari resident Dilshad Khan and Andheri residents Simranjeet Singh and Mohammed Rafique Chaudhary. During the interrogation, it was revealed that all three are cleanup marshals assigned on a contract basis in the K-East Ward (Andheri) of Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation. The accused were charged under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and were remanded in police custody, the officer added.
18 October,2024 10:07 PM IST | Mumbai | Samiullah KhanAn official on Friday said that a revenue official from Maharashtra's Thane district, who had demanded a bribe from a company, is absconding after the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) apprehended a private person acting as his conduit, reported news agency PTI. The firm's owners recently purchased 5 acres of land at Shenve village in Shahapur taluka and applied to talati (revenue official) Dyaneshwar Devidas Shisode to get its details updated in government records, said ACB Deputy Commissioner of Police Harshal Chavan, reported PTI. However, Shisode demanded Rs 8 lakh through middleman Ashok Dattatraya Varkute (62) to get the work done, he said, reported PTI. After receiving a complaint, the ACB laid a trap and nabbed Varkute on Thursday when he accepted a bag containing Rs 2 lakh cash and bundles of dummy notes, reported PTI. However, the revenue official got wind of the ACB action and went underground, the official said. A case has been registered under the Prevention of Corruption Act, he said, adding that efforts are being made to trace the absconding talati. Educational institute director held for taking Rs 1.10 lakh bribe in Thane The Anti-Corruption Bureau has arrested the director of a well-known educational institution in Maharashtra's Thane district for allegedly taking a bribe of Rs 1.10 lakh from an employee for restoring his annual increment, ACB officials said on Tuesday, reported PTI. The person's increment was held up for two years. For restoring it, the accused, who is the director and joint secretary of the educational institution in Shahapur taluka, allegedly demanded money, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Thane ACB, Dharmaraj Sonke said in a release, reported PTI. The person, who did not want to pay the bribe, approached the ACB with a complaint. The ACB laid a trap and caught the accused accepting the bribe amount of Rs 1.10 lakh from the complainant at a bus stop near a school in Khinavli area on Monday, the official said, reported PTI. An FIR was registered against the accused under provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act, the ACB said. (With inputs from PTI)
18 October,2024 02:06 PM IST | Thane | mid-day online correspondentMumbai has been witnessing several cases of road rage since earlier this week. The latest case happened at Kandivali where some motorists got into a verbal altercation with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's Pay and Park contractors. Thankfully, the police saved the day by intervening in the nick of time. A video of the incident has been going viral on social media. In the viral video, one of the parking lot attendants was aggressive during a verbal altercation with a couple. Other parking lot attendants had also gathered around while another man was seen trying to diffuse the situation. Several people had gathered around as the altercation seemed to be escalating. MNCDF Citizen Welfare Forum also shared an undated video of the incident from their X (formerly Twitter) handle alerting the civic agency about the contractor's behaviour. The welfare forum tagged the BMC's official handle and wrote, "Goonda behaviour of BMC's Pay and Park contractors at Mahavir Nagar in Kandivali west, Mumbai. Five to six of them (in orange t-shirts) abusing and almost about to hit a couple over a small dispute on parking. A Mumbai Police constable nearby ensured the fight didn't escalate further. #WATCH 🚨🚨'Goonda' behaviour of BMC's Pay and Park contractors at Mahavir Nagar in Kandivali west, Mumbai. Five to six of them (in orange tshirts) abusing and almost about to hit a couple over a small dispute on parking. A Mumbai Police constable nearby ensured the fight… pic.twitter.com/lFGTTTGG6s — M.N.C.D.F (@MNCDFbombay) October 16, 2024 They also urged the Mumbai Police to take action before "we have another road rage incident". Eighteen detained after road rage incident in Kandivali escalates into fight Kandivali suburb had witnessed another road rage incident on Thursday evening after which 18 persons were detained. Reportedly, a violent fight had broken out as a result of a road rage incident involving an auto-rickshaw driver and a local woman. The altercation began after the woman was struck by the auto-rickshaw while crossing the street. The bystanders quickly intervened and attacked the auto driver in revenge. The argument escalated when the driver, in his defence, made a run to the adjacent Lalaji Pada police station. An angry mob reached the police station and attempted to assault cops demanding the driver be handed over. During the fight, the mob vandalised the auto-rickshaw parked in front of the police station. Police personnel on duty quickly sought reinforcements. The additional troops restored order, and 18 persons were detained. They were charged under several provisions of the Indian Penal Code, including rioting. According to DCP Anand Bhoite of Zone XI, the auto-rickshaw driver has also been charged with reckless driving.
18 October,2024 01:25 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe Worli Police have filed a case in connection to the threat message received by the Mumbai traffic police on Friday demanding Rs 5 crore from Bollywood actor Salman Khan as extortion. The Mumbai Police had said that a threatening message was received on the WhatsApp number of Mumbai Traffic Police, demanding Rs 5 crore from actor Salman Khan "to end his long-standing rivalry with Lawrence Bishnoi." The person who sent the death threat message claimed to be associated with the Lawrence Bishnoi gang and threatened to endanger Bollywood actor Salman Khan's life if the extortion money was not paid. According to the Mumbai police, "A threatening message was received on the WhatsApp number of the Mumbai Traffic Police, demanding Rs 5 crore from Bollywood actor Salman Khan to settle his long-standing rivalry with Lawrence Bishnoi." The sender warned, "Don't take this lightly. If Salman Khan wants to stay alive and resolve his enmity with Lawrence Bishnoi, he must pay Rs 5 crore. If the money is not paid, Salman Khan's fate will be worse than Baba Siddique's." The Salman Khan death threat incident comes in the backdrop of the recent murder of Nationalist Congress Party leader Baba Siddique. Earlier on Thursday, the Mumbai Police issued a look-out circular (LOC) for Shiv Kumar Gautam and Zeeshan Akhtar who shot at NCP leader Baba Siddique. The Mumbai Police had initially issued a Look Out Circular against only Shubham Lonkar, and now it has issued it against these two as well, police suspect that they might flee to Nepal. According to the police, the information about the accused has been given at every border and airport and the search for the accused is ongoing. So far, the Mumbai Crime Branch has arrested four accused, while three remain at large, with police actively searching for them. The NCP leader and former Maharashtra Minister Siddique was shot outside his office in Nirmal Nagar. He sustained two gunshot wounds to the chest and was taken to Mumbai's Lilavati Hospital for emergency treatment, where he succumbed to his injuries on October 12.
18 October,2024 12:35 PM IST | Mumbai | Apoorva AgasheAn official on Saturday said that a 21-year-old woman's husband and his brother have been arrested over her murder in Maharashtra's Palghar district which they tried to pass off as death due to health reasons, reported news agency PTI. Vasai resident Ismail Choudhary (27) got into a fight with his wife Khurshida Khatun on Wednesday accusing her of not being faithful to him and later strangled her, the official said citing the FIR, reported PTI. He then took the body to his brother's house and made a fake death certificate showing that Khurshida had died due to some ailment. He also told Khurshida's brother in Pune that she succumbed to some health complications, the official said while sharing an update on the Palghar crime. On a complaint by the woman's kin, the Naigaon police probed the matter and arrested Choudhary and his brother on Thursday for murder and destruction of evidence, the official said while sharing an update on the Palghar crime, reported PTI. Thane man on the run after killing wife held from Varanasi A 27-year-old man has been arrested from Varanasi nearly ten days after he killed his wife in Maharashtra's Thane district for allegedly not taking care of their daughter, an official said on Friday, reported PTI. Accused Vicky Baban Londe strangled his wife Rupali Vicky Londe (26) and slit her throat on October 8 at their home in the Ambernath area, said Sailesh Salvi, public relations officer of Thane police, reported PTI. Police used human and technical intelligence to track down Londe in Varanasi. A Thane police team arrested Londe from the temple town in Uttar Pradesh on Thursday. He is being brought to Thane, the official said, reported PTI. Londe, who got married three years ago, was staying with his wife and their one-year-old daughter in a housing complex in the Palegaon area of Ambernath town. He was apparently upset with her for not taking proper care of their baby. Thane court acquits man of daughter's kidnap, murder A sessions court in Maharashtra's Thane district has acquitted a 34-year-old man facing charges for the kidnap and murder of his 8-year-old daughter nearly three years ago, citing lack of evidence, reported PTI. In his order dated October 10, a copy of which was made available on Thursday, Principal District and Sessions Judge S B Agrawal held that the prosecution had failed to back its claims against Anis Mohammad Khan Maldar. (With inputs from PTI)
18 October,2024 12:11 PM IST | Palghar | mid-day online correspondentMumbai Crime Branch is recording detailed statements of the security personnel assigned to late NCP leader Baba Siddique, who was assassinated last week. The move came after his son, MLA Zeeshan Siddique, during a recent meeting with the top officials questioned why statements of the former Maharashtra minister's security personnel were not recorded. Zeeshan, in conversation with the cops, also questioned why the guards failed to respond when Baba Siddique was shot dead in front of them. Baba Siddique murder: NCP leader killed outside son's party office NCP leader Baba Siddique was assassinated on October 12 outside his son, MLA Zeeshan Siddique's party office in Bandra's Nirmal Nagar area. He was hit by two bullets in the chest and succumbed to his injuries at Lilavati Hospital. This is breaking news; further details awaited
18 October,2024 11:53 AM IST | Mumbai | Faizan KhanAn official on Friday said that a 27-year-old Thane man has been arrested from Varanasi nearly ten days after he killed his wife in Maharashtra's Thane district for allegedly not taking care of their daughter, reported news agency PTI. Accused Vicky Baban Londe strangled his wife Rupali Vicky Londe (26) and slit her throat on October 8 at their home in the Ambernath area, said Sailesh Salvi, public relations officer of Thane police, reported PTI. Police used human and technical intelligence to track down Londe in Varanasi. A Thane police team arrested the Thane man from the temple town in Uttar Pradesh on Thursday. He is being brought to Thane, the official said, reported PTI. Londe, who got married three years ago, was staying with his wife and their one-year-old daughter in a housing complex in the Palegaon area of Ambernath town. He was apparently upset with her for not taking proper care of their baby. Thane court acquits man of daughter's kidnap, murder A sessions court in Maharashtra's Thane district has acquitted a 34-year-old man facing charges for the kidnap and murder of his 8-year-old daughter nearly three years ago, citing lack of evidence, reported PTI. In his order dated October 10, a copy of which was made available on Thursday, Principal District and Sessions Judge S B Agrawal held that the prosecution had failed to back its claims against Anis Mohammad Khan Maldar. As per the prosecution, Maldar was addicted to gambling and would often have minor disagreements with his wife. When his wife was at a hospital on December 3, 2021, she received a call from her husband shortly after midnight saying he had killed their daughter Mahira, reported PTI. Advocate Sagar R Kolhe, who represented Maldar, successfully argued that there were inconsistencies in the prosecution's claims. "There is no motive attributed to the accused for killing his daughter...the informant (wife) admitted that she used to have minor quarrels with the accused and that the accused loved Mahira," observed the judge, reported PTI. The court also pointed to discrepancies in the accounts of the policemen who responded to the scene. "As far as kidnapping is concerned, admittedly the accused was the father of the victim, and I fail to understand how an offence of kidnapping would be made out against the accused," the judge noted, reported PTI. Acquitting Maldar, the court held that the prosecution had failed to establish the charges against him beyond reasonable doubt. (With inputs from PTI)
18 October,2024 10:50 AM IST | Thane | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
