Additional DGP burned badly at home, incident cloaked in mystery

IPS officer Ranjit Kumar Sahay

 

Mateen Hafeez TNN

Mumbai:An additional director general of Maharashtra police was hospitalized on Sunday with 55% burns after what the police described as an “unfortunate incident” at his official Malabar Hill residence. The tragedy was awash in questions, with the police formally not clarifying if it was a suicide attempt or an accident.
    Ranjit Kumar Sahay, a 1986-batch IPS officer posted with the Maharashtra State Police Housing and Welfare Corporation, was rushed to Bombay Hospital around 12.30am by family members and colleagues. He was mauled by fire about a halfhour earlier at his flat in Avanti Apartments, which is home to senior cops. 

    A person close to Sahay told the police he was busy with Ganpati puja when the incident occurred; the contention could not be verified. Nor could the police confirm reports that Sahay had had an argument with his wife.  

 

Senior cop had alleged irregularities in MSRTC

Mumbai: The Mumbai police have made a “diary entry” on the “incident” that led to the hospitalisation of senior IPS officer R K Sahay with 55% burns. He had not too long ago submitted an inquiry report detailing alleged irregularities in the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) during the tenure of its former chief, Deepak Kapoor, a civil servant of 1991 batch . 

    The doctor treating the senior cop, Dr Vinay Jacob, said he had suffered extensive burns; “his face, neck and scalp are the most affected. There are burn injuries on hands and abdomen too.” Dr Jacob said that Sahay was “quite critical, but what was most worrying was the inhalation burns”. “The incident probably happened in a closed room because of which his respiratory tract suffered major damage.” The burn wounds in the respiratory pipe had caused a swelling, which did not allow him to speak. The doctor said it could be at least 2-3 weeks before Sahay is out of danger.
 

    It was the hospital that first alerted the Azad Maidan police. Sahay was admitted to the ICU and at around 1.40am the Malabar Hill police were informed.
    The police stated in a press note: “An unfortunate incident has taken place at the official residence of R K Sahay. He has sustained burn injuries. He is not in a condition to give a statement.” Additional commissioner of police (south region) Krishna Prakash added, “We don’t know what happened. We have not spoken to the family.”
 

    An investigator said it is not known if the incident occurred in the bedroom or drawing room of Sahay’s flat. Nor is it clear if the cause was a gas explosion; no kerosene was found.
    An IPS officer said Sahay had looked disturbed recently. He was empanelled in February by the cabinet appointment committee, which happens only if there are no adverse remarks against an officer.   Sahay was recently in the news for the inquiry report he submitted on the alleged irregularities in MSRTC. He conducted the inquiry as MSRTC’s chief vigilance officer. He was promoted and transferred as additional DG two months ago. 

    Sahay reportedly was not comfortable working under a relatively junior Kapoor and the two had differences during their MSRTC tenure. In a recent meet of the IPS officers’ association, Sahay sought that it ask the government to ensure that IPS officers are not made to work under IAS officers junior to them.

    (With inputs from  Sumitra Deb Roy) 

 

 TRAGEDY STRIKES

RANJIT KUMAR SAHAY | He was born on September 25, 1961, in Bihar and joined the IPS in 1986. He had recently served as MSRTC’s chief vigilance officer and is currently an additional director general at the MSPHC 

 THE INCIDENT | He was rushed to hospital by family and senior cops living in his building, Avanti Apartments, at 12.30am on Sunday. He was admitted to the ICU with 55% burns that were caused in an ‘incident’ around midnight
IN THE NEWS | Sahay had recently submitted an inquiry report detailing alleged irregularities in the MSRTC during the tenure of its former chief, Deepak Kapoor. The two reportedly had differences during their MSRTC tenure 

 Khadse demands independent probe
 BJP leader Eknath Khadse has demanded an independent probe into the incident that led to the hospitalisation of R K Sahay. “I have asked the CM for a high-level probe. It should be entrusted with an independent agency,” he said. Khadse had met Sahay last Friday. “For the last six months, he was trying to meet home minister R R Patil, but the latter did not. During our meeting, Sahay said he had exposed alleged corruption in MSRTC. He gave me copies of letters he had written to the chief secretary on the MSRTC and the manner in which he was being harassed in Maharashtra State Police Housing Corporation”. — Prafulla Marpakwar

The Times of India, September 16, 2013

Snatcher stabs woman on Marine Drive

The spot on Marine Drive where the victim was attacked around 5.45 in the morning

Mateen Hafeez TNN

Mumbai: A spurt in crimes in the bustling Marine Drive area has rendered even this showpiece stretch of the city increasingly unsafe. On Friday, a 32-year-old morning walker was stabbed on both her forearms by an unidentified man when she thwarted his attempt to snatch her mobile phone near the Air India building junction. 

    The attacker fled on a waiting bike with an accomplice when the victim, Tardeo resident Meher Jaan Mohammed Lamberaj, raised an alarm .   The incident comes two weeks after additional municipal commissioner Mohan Adtani’s cell phone was snatched while he was on evening walk on Marine Drive.

 

 UNSAFE MUMBAI

 

 Police to use CCTV footage to trace Marine Drive accused

    Tardeo resident Meher Jaan Mohammed Lamberaj, who was attacked in a failed mobile phone theft attempt, was subsequently rushed to Bombay Hospital. She has been kept under observation for 24 hours.  The Marine Drive police have registered a case of hurt and attempted robbery. “Lamberaj left her residence around 4.15am. She sometimes comes here for her morning walk. The incident took place around 5.45am,” said an officer.
   

 “She was listening to music on earphones during her morning walk on Marine Drive when one of the two accused tried to snatch her phone,” the officer added.
 

    “Hearing her screams, several walkers ran to help her. This frightened the thief who fled on the waiting bike. She was attacked with a blade-like sharp object but she resisted till the attacker fled,” said Krishna Prakash, additional commissioner of police, south region.
 

    A morning walker said even Marine Drive—the iconic stretch visited by thousands every day—has become an unsafe place today. “It’s the police’s duty to increase patrol teams and keep a tab on anti-social elements. If we are not safe on Marine Drive, where should we go for walks? How come criminals have become so daring that they are attacking people anywhere in the city? It shows poor policing and unplanned law and order in the city.”
 

    A police officer said, “We have got CCTV camera footage of the incident and the accused. Now, we have to identify them since it was dark. It may take some time to get a clear picture of the accused.”     Banker Rakesh Paul, who helped Lamberaj, said, “We were on our walk when heard someone shout out ‘chor chor’ and saw a bleeding woman lying on the footpath and a man fleeing. I, with the help of several others, rushed her to Bombay Hospital and informed the police and her family.” 

    Lamberaj was admitted to Bombay Hospital at 6.30am. “She is stable,” said Dr Sagar Sakle, spokeperson of the hospital. “She has suffered stab wounds on her forearms but they are not very deep. We have kept her under observation for 24 hours, after which she can go home.”
 

ADVISORY FOR WALKERS & JOGGERS
Do not wear jewellery or carry money and expensive gadgets
Be aware of your surroundings. Don’t let your earphones cut out all outside sound
Some criminal elements may have noticed your daily routine and may be lurking around to strike
If you have a fixed routine, befriend other walkers so that you are not perceived as alone
If you notice any suspicious activity, alert others immediately and then the police  

(Inputs by Pratibha Masand)
 

 

HER RESCUERS Several fellow walkers rushed to help Lamberaj

THE VICTIM Meher Jaan Mohammed Lamberaj
(32) works as a manager with a private firm. She is married to a jeweller 

 

5.45am | Meher Jaan Lamberaj reached Air India junction on Marine Drive during her morning walk

A man approached her and tried to snatch her mobile phone worth 6,000. When she resisted, he attacked her on her forearms with a blade-like object. She raised an alarm

Other walkers heard the scream ‘chor, chor’ and rushed to help a bleeding Lamberaj who, by now, had fallen on the footpath. The attacker fled on a waiting bike with his accomplice

Her rescuers took her to Bombay Hospital, where she has been kept under observation. There are no arrests so far

The Times of India, September 14, 2013

ATS to quiz Bhatkal first on 13/7 triple blasts in city

Ahmed Zarar Siddibapa alias Yasin Bhatkal

Mateen Hafeez TNN

Mumbai: The state anti-terrorism squad, which executed the transfer warrants of suspected Indian Mujahideen founder Ahmed Zarar Siddibapa alias Yasin Bhatkal and his aide Asadullah Akhtar, will grill them first on the 13/7 blasts.

    On July 13, 2011, three bombs exploded at Opera House, Zaveri Bazar and a bus stop in Dadar, claiming 27 lives.   “Though Yasin is wanted in cases that are as old as 2008, we want to question him first in the Opera House and Zaveri Bazar blasts as Akhtar is also a co-accused in these cases. If we sought his custody in the 2010 Pune’s German Bakery blast or terror emails in 2008 Gujarat blasts, we won’t get Akhtar’s custody. Hence, we decided to question them where they have common role,” said a senior ATS officer. 

    While Yasin with the help of his elusive accomplice Tehseen Shaikh allegedly planted a bomb at the Dadar bus stop, Akhtar planted a bomb at Opera House. “Akhtar and his accomplice Tabrez had rented a room in Habib apartment in Byculla after Yasin instructed to stay them there. They made the bombs in this room and ferried them to the sites on July 13, 2011,” the source said. The accused has also got SIM cards for mobile phones using forged documents. “The first tip-off about the bombs came while the ATS was probing the SIM card fraud,” the officer said.
 

    The ATS may keep Yasin in custody for two months for the 13/7 blasts, two SIM card fraud cases, two bike theft cases, 2010 German Bakery blast and conspiracy to bomb Dagdusheth Halwai Ganesh Temple. Then the Mumbai crime branch will secure Yasin’s custody to question him in connection with three emails that were sent before and after the 2008 Gujarat blasts and four car theft cases. The cars were stolen from Navi Mumbai and used in the blasts.

The Times of India, September 13, 2013

Women’s safety cops’ priority this Ganpati

Nitasha Natu & Mateen Hafeez | TNN

    City police commissioner Satyapal Singh hinted that organizers of Sarvajanik Ganpati mandals are likely to face the heat if crimes against women are reported at their pandals this year. Speaking at a meeting with suburban Ganpati mandal members at Juhu on Saturday, Singh said it is the responsibility of mandal organizers and volunteers to ensure women devotees are safe. “If any instance of eve-teasing or chain-snatching is reported, it will go against the mandal. We would consider revocation of permission to them for erecting pandals next year,” Singh said. 

    Actor Shilpa Shetty, who attended the event at Juhu along with actors Farhan Akhtar, Sachin Khedekar, Sachin Pilgaokar and singer Sonu Nigam, said girls should start carrying knives on them. “Why depend on people to save you? Become self-reliant,” she told TOI.
 

    Meanwhile, senior police officers said there was a vehicle-borne threat and no vehicles would be permitted to park near pandals and on visarjan routes. But they added no specific terror inputs have been received. The Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) would be watching crowds of devotees.
 

    “50 roads will be kept shut and 56 others made one-way during the festival from September 9 to 18,” said joint commissioner (traffic) Vivek Phansalkar. 

    Police personnel in mufti as well as uniformed cops will mingle with crowds to identify eve-teasers. The anti-eve-teasing squads formed at local police stations will be roped in for checks. “A special helpline number ‘22633333’ has been launched. It will be manned 24 hours by an officer,” said joint commissioner (law and order) Sadanand Date.  This year, cops have launched a campaign, ‘Mumbai ke liye ek minute,’ exhorting devotees to check surroundings for suspicious items.
    (With inputs from Bharati Dubey) 

 
     

HELPLINES Special helpline for
Ganpati which will be manned by a Mumbai police officer | 22633333
Womens’ security helpline | 103
Traffic control room | 24939717
 

BANDOBAST FOR GANPATI Mumbai Police | over 25,000 personnel SRPF, CRPF, RAF, BSF | 18 paramilitary companies
Traffic police officers and constables | 3,344  

 

SOME OF CITY’S TOP MANDALS
A steady stream of Ganpati idols will wind their way from workshops in Lalbaug-Parel to their home turf on Sunday, a day ahead of Ganeshotsav. In this final, part 2 of its series, TOI lists the creative pandals to visit this year

Tejukaya Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mandal Trust LOCATION | TEJUKAYA MANSION, LALBAUG
USP: Some of the most creative themes and elaborate sculptures rise from this famous chawl in Lalbaug. Idol-maker Rajan Zhad is a resident of Tejukaya and gives his best to his home turf. Mandal member Rahul Dhumne says this year’s 23-ft tall Ganesh drew 300-400 visitors as soon as the idol was completed on Friday

Balgopal Mitra Mandal LOCATION | SHRADDHANAND ROAD, VILE PARLE (E)
USP: The team behind the Vile Parlecha Peshwa manages to create exquisite, tall idols from tissue paper without engaging a professional murtikar. This season too, an 18-ft Ganesh in six different colours is the highlight. Children as little as six or seven operate the documentary to go with the theme

Akhil Chandanwadi Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mandal LOCATION | CHANDANWADI, MARINE LINES
USP: The recent drought in Maharashtra as well as the Uttarakhand tragedy have stirred the mandal’s imagination this year. A documentary on the need to respect water resources goes with the theme

Makba Chawl Ganeshotsav Samiti LOCATION | BYCULLA
USP: The 49-year-old mandal that was once the pride of Byculla is struggling to keep pace with rising costs and dipping revenues, says former secretary Anil Yewale. Several residents have migrated northward, but a few hold fort. This season a beautiful Ganesh made with grains of rice, corn and nachni holds centrestage

Ekta Mitra Mandal, Borivli LOCATION | MAGATHANE, BORIVLI USP | The Upanagarcha Raja of Magathane is one of the tallest idols in the western suburbs. For this reason, it has suffered the worst of Mumbai’s potholes on the journey home from the workshop in Parel. This year the organisers wisely decided to sculpt the Raja on site 

 

 The Times of India, September 8, 2013

Four accused in August 22 case sent to Arthur Rd jail

To Make Mill Premises Safe, Judge Directs Pruning Of Undergrowth, Wall Construction Between Compound & Rly Tracks

 

Mateen Hafeez | TNN

Mumbai: The four men arrested for allegedly gangraping a photojournalist in the Shakti Mills compound on August 22 were on Thursday remanded in judicial custody till September 19. They will be subjected to an identification parade on Friday at Arthur Road jail. In a bid to tighten security in the city, the police also hinted that they would rope in BMC officials to survey isolated spots that are increasingly becoming hotspots for crimes.

 

    Earlier, a report compiled by the police stated that the city had 272 such desolate spots; but not convinced by the high number mentioned by the police stations, senior officers want BMC officials to work with them to confirm the places and make them secure. The plan is to issue notices to the owners of those establishments, asking them to either maintain proper exit and entrance points of the premises or put security system in place.
 

    The abandoned Shakti Mills compound, which had become a den for drug-addicts and criminals, was the spot chosen by the five accused, Salim Ansari, Qasim Shaikh, Vijay Jadhav, Siraj Khan and a juvenile, to allegedly brutalize several women besides the photojournalist. Three among the five, along with a minor and absconding accused Ashfaque Shaikh, have also been booked for the gangrape of a callcentre employee on July 31. “In the July 31 case, the accused are likely to be booked for robbery as well as they stole the mobile of the survivor’s boyfriend, now husband,” said the police. 

    After the alleged attack on the photojournalist, teams from central forensic science laboratory of Delhi and Gujarat collected evidence from the crime scene at the mill compound. The panel included two psychiatrists who conducted a layered voice analysis (LVA) on the accused; the technique is designed for truth verification and deceit detection. The police are have also sought call data records of three unknown numbers retrieved from the cellphones of the five accused to find out if any one of them belonged to the juvenile whose phone could not be retrieved.
 

    A crime branch team that went to Mumbra on Thursday to nab Ashfaque returned empty handed; besides, three teams have already been searching for him. In a bid to make him surrender, the police have detained Ashfaque’s wife since Wednesday. “They are making his wife call on his mobile but he is not taking her calls,” said a relative of Ashfaque, waiting outside the N M Joshi Marg police station. 

 

The Times of India, September 6, 2013

Unlicensed driver hits woman on Marine Drive

‘SET UP CHOWKY’

Mumbai: A 45-year-old woman was knocked down by a speeding car on Marine Drive on Thursday morning. This is the fifth such accident on this stretch of the main arterial road in the recent past.
 

    The Marine Drive police said the incident took place around 7.30am. They said the victim,
Shobha Phulare, was walking towards Ahura Mahal on G-Road in Marine Drive, where she works as a house help. A college student, Rano Samant (20), who was driving the Hyundai, was nabbed by the locals and handed over to the police. He was booked for rash and negligent driving and causing hurt due to rash and negligent driving. The victim, who suffered injuries to her leg, was rushed to a nearby hospital by the police.
 

    Four years ago, the Marine Drive Residents’ Association had proposed a glass chowky under the flyover bridge but necessary permissions have yet not been granted by the police authorities.
 

    “We are shocked at the lack of signal lights, speed-breakers and cops posted on the promenade. We want an assurance that the said police chowky will be manned by at least two constables at all times,” said Chandresh Shah, former president, MDRA. Police said the car is owned by a Samant’s father’s friend. He had taken the car for a drive and did not have a driver’s licence. 

 

—Linah Baliga & Mateen Hafeez 

 

 

The Times of India, September 6, 2013

Bizman’s teen son rams Merc into car on sea link, 3 injured

COLLISION COURSE: Two of the Maruti’s (L) three occupants will require surgeries

Mateen Hafeez & Sumitra Deb Roy TNN

Mumbai: Three persons were injured after a businessman’s 19-year-old son rammed his Mercedes into a Maruti Estilo on the Bandra-Worli sea link on Saturday night. 

 
    The accused, Jagbir Jagjit Parmar, claims the accident took place as he lost control of the car after it skidded on the sea link.   The Estilo’s three occupants— Sham Narayan Ardekar (36), Soni Prem Singh (26) and Nandkumar Dalvi (48)—were admitted to Nanavati Hospital in critical condition.
    Parmar was not driving drunk and did not try to flee, said the police. The Worli police registered an accident and grevious hurt case and seized Parmar’s Mercedes. The collegian was later released on bail. 

    The accident took place around 12.30am on Sunday, said the police. “Parmar said that it had rained and he had put on the wiper to clean the windscreen when suddenly his car skidded,” said an officer.
    “He told us that he tried to move the car to the right to keep it in one lane but it rammed into the other car from behind.” The Estilo was damaged in the accident. The front and rear portion of the Mercedes, too, was damaged. Parmar and his friend Sahil Shaikh, who were going towards Bandra, escaped unhurt. 

    When TOI contacted Parmar, he claimed to be busy and said he would call back. But he did not respond to calls later.    While Parmar had given his residential address as Almas Apartment, Jacob Circle, a parking pass of Belvedere Court in Mahalaxmi and an entry pass of the National Sports Club of India, Worli, were pasted on his car’s windscreen.

    Parmar has been booked under IPC sections 279 (rash driving or riding on a public way), 280 (rash navigation of vessel), 337 (causing hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others), 338 (causing grievous hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others) and 427 (mischief causing damage to the amount of Rs 50).
 

    Dr Ashok Hatolkar, medical superintendent, Nanavati Hospital, said Singh and Dalvi have sustained serious injuries and will require surgeries.

The Times of India, September 2, 2013