Kripashankar suffers a further setback in scam probe

Mumbai’s chief of Congress and Kalina’s MLA Kripashankar Singh, for the past two years has been entangled into a heap of controversies. Last year raids were conducted by the Income-Tax department and the Enforcement Directorate into Kripashankar’s alleged involvement of the Rs 2,000-crore Madhu Koda scam. Investigators are examining, among his other assets, savings bank accounts of his family that show disproportionately large transactions between 2006-07 and 2008-09, and several discrepancies in documents that suggest forgery.

Eight savings bank accounts of his family members and close associates are under the scanner. Three of these accounts show cash deposits and transfers of nearly Rs 65 crore in two years by Kripashankar’s wife Maltidevi Singh and son Narendra Mohan Singh. These transactions unearth at a time when Kripashankar was All-India Congress Committee (AICC) observer for Jharkhand, exactly when Koda, an independent MLA then, was sworn in CM with Congress support. Further, at that time his son, Narendra Mohan married Ankita, daughter of Jharkhand politician Kamlesh Singh, in April ’08. Ankita’s dad Kamlesh Singh was then water resources minister in the Koda government and is a key accused in the scam.
Both Koda and Kamlesh Singh were arrested in November last year; the Jharkhand vigilance bureau filed preliminary charge sheets against them for holding assets disproportionate to known sources of income. Kamlesh Singh’s assets were estimated at nearly 130 per cent more than his sources of income. However, it is alleged that a considerable sum of scam money may have been diverted through his daughter, son-in-law and the latter’s father. Also, on investigations it is revealed that the Koda diary, incidentally, mentions a “Kripashankar a/c” with several entries against it. Kripashankar has denied it was him, but investigators have placed him and his family under scrutiny.
Kripashankar’s family owns properties in projects executed by one of the real estate companies which deposited huge amounts into his son’s account; the company also has infrastructure projects in Jharkhand. Also, there was a sudden rise in the wealth and property acquisitions of the Kripashankar family in Mumbai during the years Koda held sway in Jharkhand (first as mines minister in the Arjun Munda-led BJP regime, and later as CM). This includes a large duplex apartment near Mumbai airport, a bungalow on Bandra’s Carter Road, known as one of the costliest property prices of real estate in Mumbai, office spaces and shops at key locations in projects by either of the two real estate companies associated with the family, and land in Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh.
Also, Kripashankar appears to have acquired a second PAN card in complete violation of law. His election affidavit 2009 mentions number CFYPS989P as his PAN, but in the affidavit he filed in September 2004 for the assembly election, he gives his PAN as AVAPS1485L. Possessing two PAN cards is a crime and cannot possibly be an oversight, says an investigator. Was the second PAN card acquired to conceal transactions that take the trail back to Koda, Kamlesh Singh and others in the scam? However, Kripashankar says he has returned one of the cards and also denies any links with Koda and his associates, and insists his relationship with Kamlesh Singh is purely at a family level. He also terms the entire episode as fabricated without any truth in the allegations. It is nothing but a political conspiracy hatched by his political rivals.”

Now, once again Mumbai Congress chief Kripashankar Singh suffered a setback after the Bombay High Court reviewed the status of investigations by three investigating agencies into corruption allegations against him and directed them to continue their probe. The Bombay High Court asked Anti-corruption Bureau, Income Tax department and Enforcement Directorate to continue their probe against city Congress chief Kripashankar Singh in an alleged disproportionate assets case and for violation of various laws.

The court also set a deadline for these investigating agencies to complete their probe by March 3, 2011, and asked them to file a comprehensive report by then. The court is hearing a PIL alleging that Singh, MLA from Kalina and former Maharashtra minister of state for home, was possessing assets disproportionate to his known sources of income and that he had violated various laws.

All the three agencies submitted reports on progress of the probe in a sealed cover to Chief Justice Mohit Shah and Justice SV Kathawala who perused the papers and directed the authorities to continue with the investigations.  The next hearing of the case would be on March 3 next. The PIL, filed early this year by social worker and RTI activist Sanjay Tiwari, had linked Singh with the Madhu Koda scandal and raised questions about his assets. The petitioner was represented by senior counsel Mahesh Jethmalani and Mihir Desai. The petitioner contended that in 2006 when Singh was an AICC observer for Jharkhand, he was instrumental in installing the Madhu Koda government. Koda was arrested along with his then ministerial colleague Kamlesh Singh. Incidentally, Kamlesh Singh's daughter Ankita is married to Kripashankar's son Narendra alias Sanjay Singh.

He also pointed out that Singh used chartered flights often and it was "obvious that large sums of money were paid for this purpose and this needs to be investigated". The petitioner further alleged that he has not declared his wife's property details when he stood for elections in 2009. The petition alleged that Singh's daughter Sunita has two ration cards and her husband Vijay Kumar Singh was a resident of UP and a government employee there till April 1997. Yet, Vijay Kumar was allotted a house in Maharashtra in joint name from CM's discretionary quota on the basis of fake documents.

Are Dawri Nagar Slum dwellers taken for a ride?

The SRA proposal initiated by the government has become a haven for unscrupulous builders, smugglers, goondas, land grabbers, politicians, unemployed and many. All in the name of SRA re-development they have been harassing the innocent slumdwellers and compelling them sign documents or face the consequences. Last month, a chaos and mass protest was demonstrated by the slum dwellers of Ganesh Krupa Society, Khar (E), against the developer Shivalik Ventures. An area spread across 140 acres, Jawahar Nagar in Khar (West) is one of the biggest areas open for redevelopment under the Slum Rehabilitation Authority’s (SRA) jurisdiction. But after two incidents of debates between residents and the developer for the area, resident Datta Mane was beaten up by unknown miscreants and a police complaint was lodged.

Similarly, last week a slumdweller, Sadan Shah residing at Adarsh Lane Chawl, Gate No 1, Dawri Nagar was stabbed at Vakola Bridge since he objected against signing of any agreement or handing over his documents to the society which has been collecting documents from slum dwellers on pretext of development of slums at Dawri Nagar.

It is learnt that a Saidham Co-Op Hsg Soc, Dawri Nagar was formed in 2005 for the development of Dawri Nagar. Now, it is understood that the name has been changed to Saidham Co-op Madhyavarthi Samiti. It is alleged that since the past couple of months the society has been collecting documents and getting forms signed from the slum dwellers of Dawri Nagar on the pretext that a builder has received NOC for the development of Dawri Nagar. It is learnt that many slum dwellers have signed documents and alleged that others who have not signed are forcibly made to hand over documents and accept the proposal.

Last week, a slum dweller Sadan Shah, who has been residing at Dawri Nagar, has been selling tomatoes on handcart opposite Saidham Co-op Hsg Soc office. It is learnt that society members/agents have been torturing him since July to sign the documents accepting the proposed of development scheme. But, Sadan has been reluctant and was unwilling to accept the scheme. While speaking to Santacruz Patrika, Sadan admitted and said, “In October Mukhtar Patel and Abdul Razzak Nagani came over to me and asked me to hand over chawl documents to the society. Since I was reluctant they threatened me that if I do not submit my documents to the society, I will not be allowed to continue my business of selling tomatoes. Also, Farida Chappan Mastan Sheikh, Gate No4, Dawri Nagar threatened me and told me that I will have to deposit documents in society office”

Fearing threat Sadan lodged a police complaint against Mukhtar and Razzak vide NC No 5775 dt 19.11.2010. However, on 3^rd December, while Sadan was finalizing his business dues with his creditor it is alleged that an unknown person approached Sadan and asked him if he recognizes Mukhthat and Razak. “Since I spoke in the negative, this unidentified person removed a knife to stab me. Since I turned I was brutally stabbed in the back, “admits Sadan.

He was rushed to V.N.Desai Hospital and given treatment and discharged. A complaint was lodged at Vakola Police Station. Sadan received about 14-15 stitches. However, on 6^th December as he was vomiting and a severe pain near the stab wound, Sadan was admitted at V.N.Desai Hospital for treatment. A case No 533/10 u/s 324,504,507 IPC has been registered by Vakola Police.

It is further learnt that Dawri Nagar Bachao Samiti has been formed in October to raise protest. While speaking to Santacruz Patrika, Subash Sawant said, “Since the past few months the slum dwellers are being fooled and compelled to sign documents. As far as my understanding goes Dawri Nagar is situated on Central government land and no NOC has been granted by Central government for development. The innocent slum dwellers are taken for a ride and forced to part with documents on the pretext that the builder has got an NOC and the documents have to be submitted to the builder. On two earlier occasions forms have been signed and the innocent have been fooled.” Adding further Sawant said, “Last week a slum dweller has been stabbed and is in hospital. In this regard an NC had been lodged at Vakola Police Station and a written letter has been submitted to DCP.” “In the interest of the slum dwellers the culprits have to be booked as their agents despite giving threats and committing crimes are not arrested. To raise protest against these illegal activities our Dawri Nagar Bachao Samiti will fight to the last”, concludes Sawant.

EDITORIAL

Who is responsible for Maoist Rebellion? 

Seeing the condition in some areas it persuades me to think whether the rise of Maoist rebellion is really unjustified. If some body is deprived the very basic needs like food , water and shelter in a democratic system for as long as long as six decades, even a sensible man would lose its faith in democracy system. The same has happened with simple, peace loving tribal people of Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, Orissa and some parts of Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat. Why are we not seeing the root cause of rebellion? In state like Chhattisgarh which is rich in good quality raw mineral, is being leached out by mining industries, resulting in the annihilation of the tribal people and depriving them the natural resources. Maoist rebellion is result of fear of annihilation among the tribals. It’s totally imperative that growth of India is necessary and mandatory but the bigger question is at what cost. Do not the tribals in India have the same rights as people like us who consider our selves as educated, enlightened and responsible citizens? Aren’t they the citizens of India? When will our system recognize the very root cause of this issue? Will it take some more Dantewada events for the system to understand the ground reality? The 76 CRPF solders who died in the massacre are martyrs, but they were slayed not by some foreign terrorist organizations, but by our own citizens of this country. If a mother has more than one kid and if she cares and adores one of them most of the times, the other siblings are bound to get rebellion as they are not getting fair share of caring and affection which is their right. The governments forcibly possess fertile agriculture lands for diversion to SEZs, mining and industries thereby caring more for the industrialists than tribals….which retaliates into rebellion acts... One such case is the Mahuva region in the District of Bhavnagar of Gujarat which has arguably among the most fertile land where farmers grow three crops per annum, and also export mangoes, coconuts and other fruits. The abundance of farm produce has spun off agro processing units such as vegetable dehydration plants and cotton ginning units. The 51 dehydration plants reportedly employ 10,000 people churning a turnover of Rs.3 billion; whereas the corresponding figures for 18 ginning plants are 3000 people and Rs.35 billion. The region thus provides livelihood opportunities to about 10,000 farmers, 13,000 agro-industry employees and another 30,000 or odd farm labourers and artisans taking the total over 50,000 people. Recognising the agri-potential of this region the Gujarat government had invested tens of millions of public money during the last decade to build structures for water conversation and to prevent ingress of salinity in this coastal region. Contrary to its own earlier wisdom, Gujarat government decided to give 8,200 acres (720 for factory + 7,500 for limestone mine) of land in this very area for Nirma’s cement factory that would employ less than 500 people instead of the 50,000. Naturally, people of this region were horrified when they taught of this new development devoid of any thought for the welfare of the people whose interests the government is supposed to represent. For over one year people from at least 15 villages have been peacefully resisting the Gujarat government’s move for the ‘enclosure’ of their fertile lands just to benefit a corporate house. This project will destroy the livelihoods of over 50,000 people and eventually pauperize them and force them migrate to cities to eke out a miserable existence. Nobody would acquiesce in being pushed into beggary quietly and neither are these people silent about the assault on their livelihoods. .After a year long non violent protest and efforts to make the Government see reason failed 11,500 people signed a petition with their blood requesting it to desist from dispossessing them described as a frontal assault on democratic and human rights of these people. From Dantewada (Chattisgarh, Lalgarh (West Bengal), Jaitapur (Maharashtra), Narayanpatna (Orissa), to Mahuva (Gujarat); or from BJP, Congress, CPM, BJD, to DMK; it doesn’t matter which state or political party is ruling. The message is ominously the same. Mining and Industry is more important than people’s welfare or food. State cares about feeding hungry corporates having bottomless appetites with minerals, raw materials, land, water, forests and other common resources at the cost of the people in whose name they rule. While the talk is of development and progress for the poor and common people, the deeds are aimed at fattening the corporate, the legal persons, by pauperizing the citizenry, the real persons. The duplicity of the state is writ large everywhere. Time to act is now.

Injured Kalina lady is finally compensated by BMC

About a month ago, we had reported about a Kalina resident, Annie Fernandes (37), who sustained grievous injuries when a tree fell on her. The BMC drew flak for the incidents and it decided to take action on the housing societies. Prior to that, a month ago, Annie Fernandes, a widow residing at Kolivery Village, Kalina while crossing the road a tree fell on her. She was grievously injured and was lying at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Hospital where she underwent treatment. Annie being a widow lost her husband about 3 months ago and has a 2 year-old child. Her father works as an employee in the office of Our Lady of Egypt Church, Kalina.

After the accident, the Asst. Commissioner and Engineer, Garden dept visited the site. But when the time came to paying the injured lady compensation it is alleged that the Asst. Commissioner showed reluctance. However, Rev. Fr. Adrian Ferreira, Parish Priest, Our Lady of Egypt, Kalina intervened and shot a letter to the Corporator, Alice Therattil. After a lot of persuasion and follow-up by Alice Therattil with the Mayor, garden Dept of BMC, Municipal Commissioner, Anand Walhalkar, AMC and C.B.Rokade, DMC she finally managed to get an amount of Rs 50,000 cleared by BMC.

It was on 6^th December; Corporator Alice Therattil  finally handed over  a cheque of Rs 50,000 from BMC to Annie at her residence since she is still not in a movable condition. Being a widow Annie is still in financial difficulties since for no fault of hers she had to undergo huge medical expenses and liability. However, corporator Alice Therattil taking into consideration of her huge financial liability has requested the BMC to provide further assistance through other funds of Mumbai Mahanagarpalika.

Santacruz Patrika had also raised the question - When BMC is ready to pay Rs one Lakh compensation to relatives of dead and Rs 50,000 to injured. Hence, in this case - Why should Annie Fernandes not be compensated by BMC? While elaborating Alice Therattil spoke to Santacruz Patrika and said, “After a lot of persuasion with BMC I finally managed to get compensation paid to Annie Fernandes.” 

‘What the Church & School needed, we provided’ - Therattil

The Catholic community of Kalina badly needed a beautiful access to the Church and School.  The question that was left unanswered for long was - A new entrance to the Church, the School, an entrance keeping in time and tune with 2010’s needs.  We all know that for many decades a shop existed just outside attached to the OLEP church/school gate, selling unhygienic and non-essentials. A shop that threw a spanner in all of BMC’s plans.  It stood in the midst of school programmes, church festivities, processions, free movement of school buses, school children activities and was an eye sore.  The School, the Church, the mighty and the meek all wanted its removal, but the shop managed to challenge the powers, and overcame several odds to remain unfazed, and posed a challenge to everyone.  People were resigned to our fate and for several decades accepted our fait accompli.  But ultimately their prayers were answered. During conversations immediately after Mrs. Alice Johnson Therattil became BMC Corporator of Ward 84, she and her husband Mr. Johnson G Therattil, both regular visitors to the institution were against the shabby entrance to these glorious Institutions, on several occasions they asked the authorities if both of them could serve the School and Church’s special needs.

And lo and behold – the shop, the eyesore, dominating the entrance, became the focal point once again as a thorn to the Institution. However, they got an assurance from the Therattils that they would help to remove this thorn that has been causing a nuisance to the institution.  Their sentiments were upbeat – the scenario changed - from the depths of despair and depression to a sea change in the approach – they had assured the shop’s life was but short-lived.

Soon, action took its root and all the concerned authorities - the traffic police, the corporation personnel’s and all seemed to spell the death knell for the shop owner who was adamant.  And on 27^th March 2010, the shop was ultimately and finally demolished.  The hard work and persuasion of the Therattils brought results. A wish had been fulfilled.

Disqualified Corporator continues to use identity on banners!

After the last BMC elections, 15 corporators had been disqualified for having produced fake caste certificates. Almost four years on, the wards of 14 of those leaders have new corporators, who had either finished second in the 2007 BMC elections, or won by-elections subsequent to the disqualifications.The ward that remains without a corporator is number 86 in Santacruz East. Shiv Sena’s Vishwanath Mahadeshwar, disqualified, appealed in High Court that ruled in his favour, before the matter became the subject of litigation again. Indeed, all 15 corporators had gone to court, asking for a stay order on a BMC scrutiny committee’s findings. Some of them had moved the court of small causes; others had approached the Bombay High Court directly. While the cases were in court, the corporators did not have the right to attend the BMC’s house and general body meetings, and had no voting rights. Suspended members will not be able to attend any meetings of BMC, make any decisions, use their funds or partake in any civic activities. They will also not be liable for the honorarium from the civic body.  After Mahadeshwar’s election, his Congress opponent Suryavansh Thakur had filed a case against him in the court of small causes alleging inconsistency in his caste certificate. The Bombay High Court stayed the by-election to ward 86 in Santa Cruz (Golibar to Vakola Bridge) following a petition by Congressman Suresh Thakur that he be declared elected since Shiv Sena corporator Vishwanath Mahadeshwar had been disqualified for submitting a fake caste certificate. Earlier, Rafique Sheikh, another Congressman, was declared elected from ward 85 Santa Cruz (Kalina to Bharat Nagar in Bandra-Kurla Complex), after the disqualification of Samajwadi Party corporator Lalji Yadav was upheld by the court. Sheikh, who had lost to Yadav by 150 votes, had appealed to the court to declare him elected and also prevented a by-election in the ward. 
Mahadeshwar, who was also a standing committee member, had been disqualified by the Konkan commissioner, which scrutinises caste certificates, after it found that the certificate submitted at the time of the civic elections in February was fake. Mahadeshwar had challenged the decision in the high court which upheld the disqualification. In August, he approached the Supreme Court, which refused to intervene. 
Similarly, the fate of Mahadeshwar Pandurang, Shiv Sena (accused of submitting fake caste certificates) and Suresh Thakur, Congress has been in the courts for almost four years. Mahadeshwar Pandurang who was declared winner was challenged by Suresh Thakur in the Courts. After fighting a long-drawn legal battle in courts challenging Mahadeshwar Pandurang’s fake caste identity the matter has finally reached the tip of the ice-berg. Suresh Thakur while speaking to Santacruz Patrika clarified and said, “Caste certificates of Vaishyawani and Kulwant Wani under OBC has been dismissed by the High Court and orders passed to remove from OBC.” He further added, “Mahadeshwar Pandurang had appealed for a stay but the HC pronounced an order dismissing the caste certificate of Mahadeshwar.”  However, while speaking to Santacruz Patrika, Mahadeshwar Pandurang clarified and said, “The HC came to a conclusion that the GR of 1995, 96 and circular of 2008 issued by the government was not proper and correct and accordingly the case was squashed.” I have done no wrong and submitted my caste certificates of Vaishyawani as per order. But if the court does not treat it as correct I have no say and have to respect the HC order. My elder brother and my son have got validity as Vaishyawani by the government and why I have been discriminated. The next recourse of action available to Mahadeshwar is to move the Supreme Court. And it is learnt that he has moved the Supreme Court challenging the order of HC. Mahadeshwar admits that the order of the HC of dismissing Vaishyawani from OBC is not a good decision. What will be the fate of employees employed under this category? What will be the fate of Medical, Engineering and various students who have taken admission as Vaishyawani under OBC? The order has put everyone’s fate at stake and will be challenged.However, in the tussle in courts the sufferers are the  people of the ward since they are without a corporator. They have no one to address their civic problems and grievances and the ward is left unattended. Pandurang Mahadeshwar was a corporator in the ward for only four months and was was disqualified sometime end July, 2007. However, it is alleged that Pandurang Mahadeshwar still keeps putting up hoardings with his photograph as a Municipal Councillor which is a violation of law and cheating the public. While speaking to the residents of TPS 3 they clarified that because there is no corporator in the ward, a lot of illegal hawker stalls have come up in the vicinity. This has spoilt the entire beauty of the area. There is nobody to listen to our woes. Similarly, a lot of illegal stalls and chawls have sprung up in Golibar. With the matter being dragged in courts, the electorates are the innocent who are made to face various hardships.

Digging of roads a nuisance to commuters at Vakola

A Fire Brigade, an emergency service provider held in the traffic jam at Vakola Bridge

Mumbai might aspire to be like Shanghai but all is not well in the Metropolitan City. The lifeline of the metro, its roads, is clogged due to the numerous spots that have been dug up. This results in traffic jams and adds to the commuters woes. Roads are dug up for various reasons. One such department excavating the roads is the storm water drains department (SWD). They are digging roads to replace age old pipelines, which is necessary. However, after their job is done they don’t bother to repair the roads properly. As a result of this, the roads in many places have sunk. Many parts of the road near Vakola and Kalina have been dug up resulting in total disarray of traffic and chaos amongst commuters. The signal at the Express Highway junction to Vakola Bridge junction has now become a choke up point. During the peak hour, you can be stuck here for hours.”

Especially, every evening many commuters are trapped in their vehicles for hours because of the work being carried out. Most people believe it is the lack on planning on the part of officials that is responsible. “I find myself late for work every evening because of the chaotic traffic jam that I encounter at the Vakola Bridge junction. The authorities should plan well in advance before undertaking any road work. Also once the work is done, the roads must go back to how they were. Leaving behind open ditches with red flags or twigs on them is unacceptable,” says an angered commuter.

In fact while speaking to Santacruz Patrika, a contractor who has taken up the digging of road for the extension of skywalk said, “We are hardly allowed to complete our work on schedule or at a stretch. Most of the time our work is either stopped by the BMC, MTNL, Reliance Infra or other telecom operators, prohibiting us to dig fearing their cables or pipes may get damaged. This inconvenience caused to the public cannot be taken care of.” Also an urban planner, thinks that most of the road works carried out are not well planned and executed properly. He says, “Heavy vehicles cannot run on all roads. When a road is being dug up, there should be a restriction on the kind of vehicles that should be allowed on the road. This can stop traffic from clogging up.”

Then there are other commuters who complain that the authorities just abandon the half worked on roads for months together. “The work at Vakola Bridge has been going on for more than eight months and has left a big ditch on the road. Besides, more than 50% of the road has been cornered by its equipments or has been fenced. This narrows the road leading to heavy traffic jam at the junction of Vakola Bridge. Nothing has been done about it and I don’t think anything will do about it soon. No one supervises the contractors, echoed an angered commuter.

However, it was in the evening that this reporter was held in the traffic jam for hours at Vakola Bridge. But the plight was that a Fire Brigade and Ambulance too were held at the junction for almost an hour. Despite continuously blowing the siren it went unheard as there was no way for an exit in the chaotic traffic jam. What will be the condition of a serious patient in an ambulance? It’s time the authorities work out a solution.

The bad condition of various roads in the city is because of the storm water drains department (SWD). The SWD is central agency and if they are digging up roads, it is the duty of this agency to make sure that the roads were as they were before this agency has passed on the repairing work to its own contractors. However, there is no one who supervises the work of these contractors. They just do their work and leave behind shoddy roads. Moreover, no department takes up the responsibility of maintaining the roads that they dug up. Most contractors who are hired to patch up the roads are not qualified to do so. The work that they do is just a show. We have taken up the issue with the authorities but no action has been taken. As a result of that the roads have sunk. It is the people who suffer in these circumstances. Replacing sewage pipelines is important but people should stop passing the buck. They should take responsibility and restore the roads to what they were before the work.