Income Tax department conducts raids at Kripashankar’s residence

During the past 18-months Santacruz Patrika has been regularly reporting on the alleged Kripashankar scandals and disproportionate assets in his wife and sons names. Some of the earlier articles reported by this publication are - 'Will Kripashankar tide over alleged involvement of Rs 4,000 crore scam' dated 18-24th July, 2010; 'Will Kripa be relinquished of Mumbai Chief post dated 8-14th August,2010'; 'Kripashankar suffers a further setback in scam probe' dated 19-25th December,2010; 'HC asks for speedy inquiry into Kripashankar's alleged disproportionate assets' dated 6-12th March,2011.
Mumbai’s chief of Congress and Kalina’s MLA Kripashankar Singh, for the past two years has been entangled into a heap of controversies. In a latest development in the 2G scam money trail, it has come to light that DB Realty promoter Shahid Balwa had paid Rs 4 crore to the son of a prominent Congress leader. Reports today said referring to documents in possession of RTI activist Sanjay Tiwari that the telecom and real estate company paid Rs 4 crore to Mumbai Regional Congress Committee chief Kripashankar Singh's son, Narendramohan Singh. The money is reported to have paid the money in three instalments in 2009. "The money received from DB Realty was part of a business transaction but was returned in March 2010 as the deal did not materialise. All the transactions are reflected in books of accounts and income tax returns," said Narendramohan. Dynamix Realty has issued a statement in this regard. "Dynamix Realty had given a loan to Mr. Narendra Mohan Singh which has been repaid to the company on 12th March 2010." Income Tax department also conducted raids at Kripashankar’s residence today. Tiwari had on March 18 filed a PIL in the Bombay High Court in connection with the case. The HC has ordered the Enforcement Directorate, the Income Tax Department and the Anti-Corruption Bureau to probe Kripashankar Singh and submit a report within 4 weeks.
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; 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.
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.

Kalina-Kurla Bridge partially collapses

About a fortnight ago we had carried a lead story on 'Widening of bridge over Mithi river moving at snail pace'.Despite, the local corporator Alice Therattil regularly following up with BMC on the lethargic behaviour in the speedy work of widening of the Kalina-Kurla Bridge, the work has hardly progressed. Also, MP Priya Dutt and MLA Kripashankar intervened in the matter  but the work has not progressed an inch. Despite, a  tender being floated in 2006 and a contractor alloted the job it is astonishing to note that he has hardly done any work of widening the bridge during the past five years. Also, as per the tender the work had to be completed by September, 2010 and the term of the tender too has expired. It was last week a minor mishap took place on the bridge and blocks of the bridge began cracking. However, while speaking to Johnson Therattil he clarified with Santacruz Patrika and said, " It was last week along with corporator Alice Therattil we had a meeting with Mahanagar Palika officials which included Dy. Chief Engineer Bridges A.P.Pawar, Exec. Engineer  R.B.Tare. In the meeting it was  discussed about the completion of work by April 2011 since the bridge started partially collapsing on the sides as the traffic load is very heavy and the bridge is very old.
"Further, Therattil emphasised," As the condition of the bridge is worsening day by day we had taken up the matter with Jt. Commissioner (Traffic) to divert the traffic through CST Road instead of Kalina Kurla Road so that the widening work could be completed speedily." However, it is strange to note that Sr Inspector (Traffic) has not been permitting the diversion of traffic through   CST  Road despite consent received from Jt Commissioner of Police (Traffic)," clarifies Therattil. Finally,  after the bridge having collapsed partially the vehicular traffic has been diverted to CST Road and the widening of the bridge has begun.
However, ex-coroprator of the ward Mohamed Rafiq Sheikh while speaking to Santacruz Patrika had another version and clarified,"It was in 2006 I had raised the matter of widening of the bridge in Ward Committee meeting and got a tender passed and work sanctioned to a contractor. This is the only bridge of BMC wherein two vehicles cannot pass at a time. Later it was in 2009 before the Assembly elections another inauguration ceremony was performed for the commencement of work in the prersent of distinguished guests. Despite, the work of the widening of the bridge has not progressed and till date not a single concrete beam has been installed." Further Rafiq added, "Even during the Budget session of BMC I had delivered a speech in the House regarding the widening of the bridge and the likelihood of mishaps. But, no progress has taken place," clarified Rafiq. Finally, if the work is not completed we will stage an  'Andolan' in the interest of public cause stated Rafiq. "Further, I have demanded action against the contractor and asked the BMC to blacklist such contractors. It is because of rampant orruption in the BMC  that Engineers hinder the smooth functioning of  projects and the public are the ones to suffer," emphasised the disgusted Rafiq.
Finally, with almost five years passed since the sanction of tender it is surprising that the contractor has not been able to construct a single pilar. With time running out and the bridge getting weaker by the day it would not be far away when the bridge collapses. Now, with the work having started, lets hope there are no further bottlenecks to the smooth progress of the work.  

'Kolovery Village finally gets adequate water supply'- Rafiq Sheikh

The residents of Kolovery Village, Kalina have been suffering for want of adequate water supply for the past 15 years. Finally, unable to face the hardships, a group of prominent residents like Angelo Galbano, Jerome D'Souza, Philo Merchant, Mogi, Rita Galbano, Sanjay Mendonca, Boney Rodrigues, Seema Jainto besides Ram Narayan Pandey, Mohammed Bashir Shah and others visited corporator Mohammed Rafiq Sheikh and took out an agitation against BMC for supply of water. Further, they demanded from BMC that they be provided with a separate line and no builder be allowed to take connections through this line. Taking heed to their demands and the persuasion of Rafiq Sheikh a 9-inch water connection got passed and installed. Asst Engineer (Water Dept) Satpal; Jr. Engineer Amrut and Sub Engineer Rao were instrumental in getting the work done. Also, Patil, Asst Engineer, Maint (H/E ward); Parulekar, Sub Engg, Maint and Komani, Jr. Engg Maintenance played a role in the implementation of the pipeline.
Finally, most of the taps which were running dry sine the past 10-15 years have got the oppurtunity to see water drops from their taps. The residents of Kolovery Village have appreciated the work of the local  corporator. Similarly, the corporator Rafiq Sheikh has appreciated the persuassion of this publication which has on several ocassions raised the issue of water shortage in the village.

Senior citizen brutally attacked for fighting illegal encroachmets

In our last issue we had carried an article on 'BJP worker from Kalina 'dalal' of BMC. In that article we had exposed the nexus between BMC officials and these dalals and the rampant under deals. We had also highlighted the modus operandi of the racket of  corruption and bribe that is being taking place in these underarm deals. The same pertains to the illegal shops that have been demolished by BMC opposite Emerald Apts, Vakola a few days ago. The story goes back to more than 20 years ago when these illegal shops took root. It  is reported that initially  a few shops sprang up with four bamboos. Later they were constructed into full fledged shops. While speaking to Santacruz Patrika, one of the shopkeepers said, "I have been carrying on my business since 1984. It was during the time of Municipal Commissioner G.Khairnar that a mass scale demolition took place. Afterwards, we have been served several notices for  demolition" Adding further he said, "We have got gumasta licence from BMC. Many of us have electricity bills. Despite, we have been facing the problem of frequent demolitions."
Another shopkeeper emphasised, "It was only about three years ago the local corporator Sanjay Potnis took up the job of construction of a gutter. At that  time our shops were demolished and we were off business for almost a week." After constructing the gutter we were allowed to set up our shops above the gutter. And our gumusta licence which had expired has not been renewed as yet despite the assurances received from the corporator," alleged one of the shopkeepers. It is understood that these shopkeepers have  been making franatic trips to BMC for renewal of their liccence but in vain.
It  was about a week ago BMC had issued notices to the shopkeepers for demolition against a complaint lodged by Charandas Khushlani, residing at Emerald Apartments. As the period of the notice expired it is learnt that about 15 shopkeepers visited Sanjay Potnis and requested for help in the matter. One of the shopkeeper who visited Sanjay Potnis told Santacruz Patrika, "During the meeting Sanjay Potnis assured us that he would speak to BMC and hold the demolition for a week and in the meantime he asked  us to immediately get a stay order from the Court." While, we left the meeting with the corporator, we found to our surprise that within 15 minutes the BMC demolition squad along with police came at the site and started demolishing our shops. Almost all the shops were demolished to ground level."

But on the day of the demolition it is learnt that the complainant Chetandas Kushalani was brutally attacked by some miscreants early morning while he had left for his routine morning walk. While Santaruz Patrika made attempts to contact Kushalani it is learnt that he is admitted in the ICU of Hinduja Hospital and is in a serious condition. However his daughter a corporate lawyer while speaking to Santacruz Patrika elaborated the incident and said," My dad is a 68-year-old diabetic patient who has been fighting against illegal activities. And for his good deeds he has to pay such a heavy price." Adding further she said, " My dad was a dog fan and everyday while going for his routine morning walk  used to feed biscuits for the stray dogs. On the day of the attack, my dad as usual left for his routine. Suddenly, my relative who heard screams witnessed my dad being attacked by two miscreants who had covered their face. We were immediately informed and my brother rushed down to the help of dad. He was beaten very badly and sustained multiple fractures and was also bleeding profously."
"My brother immediately put him in an autorickshaw and one of the miscreants started pulling my dad to push him into a taxi. But my brother  managed to push the miscreant and take daddy  to Vakola Police Station and hospital. Had not it been for the presence of mind of my brother, my dad would have been driven into the taxi and nobody would have known his fate,"narrated his daughter while in tears.
Further, while verifying the attack on Kushalani, a shopkeeper added, "I have heard of the attack. But unsure about the miscreants." He further added by saying,"It was about two years ago Kushalani had lodged a complaint with BMC and we were served demolition notice." But when we approached BMC we were given a compromise package alleged the shopkeeper. He further added that to fulfill the compromise  package all the shopkeepers made a contribution of Rs 6,000 each amounting to Rs 2 lakhs and we handed over this amount to a  BMC official alleged this shopkeeper. Similarly, now too we were asked to pay  a huge amount he alleged.
While clarifying with Kushalani's daughter she said that she was not aware of any compromise. Similarly, Kushalani's son too denied any compromise and said that his dad has been fighting for many years to put an end to the illegal  encroachments. His son said that his father was instrumental in removing a panwallah who used to sit near the gate of Emerald Apts." This panwallah after being removed from the spot vented his anger and smashed the wide screen of my car,"said his son. Further, while speaking to Santacruz Patrika his son clarified, "These miscreants had badly attacked my dad who has been fighting for the rights of the people. These shopkeepers have left no foothpath for the taxpayers to walk and BMC officials by accepting bribe have turned a Nelson eye  to these illegal activities. But, now I am determined to take up these issues in a systematic and professional manner and ensure that we citizens are not deprived of our legal rights instead of these illegal  encroachers enjoying all the luxuries at taxpayers cost."
It is also  learnt that most of the shops have ben encroached by political workers who have rented them out at around Rs 6,000-8,000 pm. A case has ben registered by the Vakola Police Station u/s 326 on Surendra Mane and two unidentified persons. When we spoke to Vakola Police if any arrests have taken place they replied that the culprits will be arrested immediately and will not be allowed to go scot free. Further, clarifying if Surendra Mane was involved in the attack, Kushalani daughter replied,"Since the miscreants attaked my dad from behind he could not identify the attackers. But, since Surendra Mane threatened my dad about 15 days ago to mend his ways or face the consequences, a complaint was lodged against Surendra Mane."It is learnt that Surendra Mane owns two of the demolished shops which have been leased on rent.

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...

Kolovery Cross receives notice for demolition

In accordance to a Supreme Court order, BMC has served notice for the demolition of the Kolovery Cross located near Pride of Kalina, Kalina. While speaking to Santacruz Patrika a local resident of the area who knows the history of the cross said, “The cross is more than 50-years-old and was initially located at Pride of Kalina. But, after Gold Coin Builders took the development of the area he constructed Pride of Kalina building and re-located the cross in the garden. It was only two years ago the cross was fully renovated with the support of residents of Kalina and many well wishers.” “But, now the BMC has served a notice for the demolition of the cross stating that it is obstructing the plans of a 40 feet road that has to be constructed,”emphasised this resident.
As per development plans it is learnt that a 40 feet road is planned from Banquet Plaza, CST Road to Pride of  Kalina. Hence, many argue that if the development work is planned from CST Road, Why have demolition notices not been served to the stream of illegal and encroached structures on the way leading from CST Road to the Cross? Why only a demolition notice has been served on the cross and the illegal structures left un-touched?”Further, there are many SC orders like removal of illegal hawkers, vendors. However, nothing has been done about them and then why are religious structures demolition on the BMC agenda”, echoed any angry resident. Also, a large number of residents pay visit daily to the cross to offer prayers.
It is learnt through residents that MLA Kripashankar Singh has intervened in the matter and has stopped the demolition of the cross. Further, it is also learnt that he has assured the safety of the cross and for that he is ready to go on an andolan and bhook hartal.
 Brihan Mumbai Corporation's (BMC) decision to demolish churches crosses across the city has angered the Christians. The BMC sticking demolition notices on these revered symbols, not just in this suburb, but across the entire city, has left the community fuming. The BMC quotes a 2009 Supreme Court order directing that illegal religious structures obstructing vehicular traffic be removed. Residents say not only are the crosses legal, but that the apex court order had asked states to first formulate a policy on religious structures before ordering demolitions. While the Catholic community is upset with the highhandedness and insensitivity of actually attaching the circular onto these crosses, most of which are historic and legal, the questions many are asking is: why hasn't the civic body attached these same notices onto temples and mosques that are also on the list of structures they have deemed as illegal? Members of the community say they are being targeted.
BMC rder provides for the destruction of religious shrines built after 1964. Local Catholic groups already submitted their papers in 2003 proving the dates of construction of the crosses, all previous to 1964. The municipal authorities deny seeing documents. The demolition is part of a program to improve facilities and infrastructure, which provides for the elimination of places of worship built after 1964 and considered "illegal" because in the way of road widening, road improvements, or constructed on land destined for public services.
Many of these crosses are part of the history and cultural and religious heritage. Previously, they were within the boundaries of Catholic property. When BMC was founded, many areas were reclaimed by the civic body for the construction of roads or other infrastructure, and so the crosses were saved by placing them along the streets

Maharashtra Samarth Kamgar Sanghatana to inaugurate office in Vakola

Nitesh Rane, President of the Swabhiman Sanghatana deeply engrossed while reading a copy of 'Santacruz Patrika' newspaper at his Anand Nagar office, Vakola

Maharashtra is witnessing a new trade union war, with the Maharashtra Samarth Kamgar Sanghatana (MSKS) - backed by Maharashtra’s Industries Minister Narayan Rane - wanting to "take over" Bhartiya Kamgar Sena (BKS) units in a majority of the cities prominent hotels and business establishments. Congress  Minister Narayan Rane aiming to strike at the very support base of the Shiv Sena, his former party, is doing his best to take over trade unions controlled by the Sena-affiliated Bharatiya Kamgar Sena (BKS). The Sena has enjoyed a stranglehold over workers' unions in all these hotels since the 1970s. There is a severe lack of leadership in the Sena. They are not able to interact and solve the workers' problems. Sena's strength among the unions is waning. "The new unions are filling the gap. They are using the same strategies that were used by the Sena in its heydays.
Further, to hot up the war, If Raj’s confidantes are to be believed, the young leader is planning a militant union wing. If Raj succeeds, this will be another debilitating blow for the Shiv Sena. Not long ago, the Bhartiya Kamgar Sena, the Sena’s trade union wing, was breached by Narayan Rane, who walked away with a sizeable number of workers to form Maharashtra Samarth Kamgar Sanghatana.
Not content, Rane has since been relentlessly trying to gain a toe-hold in hotels, airport, hospitals and private limited companies where a Sena union is already in place. Raj’s efforts will, expectedly, hasten the Sena union’s disintegration.
Now, with Nitesh Rane, President of the Swabhiman Sanghatana and Narayan Rane’s son, handling the functioning of Maharashtra Samarth Kamgar Sanghatana various workers and officers from hotels, hospitals, airways, public and private limited companies have been flocking at the newly set up office at Anand Nagar, Vakola to meet Nitesh Rane. During his hectic schedule Nitesh Rane was generous enough to interact with the Editor of Santacruz Patrika and discuss his plans for Maharashtra Samarth Kamgar Sangathana. He also told Santacruz Patrika that the newly formed office at Vakola will be inaugurated sometime in the first week of March.
Earlier, with Shrikant Salmalkar and Jaywant Parab, close confidants of Narayan Rane looking after the union activities, have shown their discontent and expressed their mistake of joining Congress. Shrikant Sarmalkar has also expressed his willingness to go back to the Shiv Sena. Hence, Nitesh has taken it as a challenge and is determined to take Maharashtra Samarth Kamgar Sangathana, a trade militant force to be reckoned in Maharashtra.