Pranav Jain and his younger brother Prakhar, both students of Ryan International (Sanpada) were crowned champions in the U-16 and U-10 boys groups respectively in the Ghatkopar Jolly Gymkhana 5th inter-school badminton tournament yesterday.http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/feb/01Stills-from-the-play-s.jpg
Filled with a cast of unforgettable characters, whose singing is sure to wow you, this Hindi adaptation of Shakespeare's Twelfth Night is certainly one of the best we have seen.
Don't miss the antics of the desi Olivia, Orsino, Malvolio, Viola and others.*Stills from the play*
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*Dharmendra Jore Column: Mumbai legi meri jaan**Environmental activist Sandeep Bangia took this picture of the continuing smog last evening, from his high-rise flat at Palm Beach, Navi Mumbai. He pointed out that as the smoke was rising, high-rise residents were forced to keep their windows shut all day*
Doctors advise citizens to also wear masks, particularly while travelling. Meanwhile, the fire brigade yesterday continued efforts to control the smoke from the dumping ground, while the investigation is on to determine who is responsible for the incident.
*Also Read: Deonar fire doused, but smoke still lingers*
Joint Commissioner of Mumbai Traffic Police Milind Bharambe told this paper, “We have already provided around 3,500 face masks to our personnel and have asked them to compulsorily wear them. The air is already polluted, and the smoke from the dumping ground could lead to health problems. Not just traffic cops, but citizens should also wear masks to prevent any health hazards.”
Dr Om Srivastav, who specialises in infectious diseases, also recommended that people wear masks to avoid breathing problems, particularly patients with respiratory ailments. “People suffering from respiratory diseases like asthma should cover their faces while travelling and take proper medication to avoid any health issues,” he said.
Many have already started following this advice and are using masks or handkerchiefs to cover their faces, as Navi Mumbai resident Kunal Nikam witnessed while travelling on a Vashi local train. However, others said that even with the masks, they were facing problems.
*Read Story: Smog shuts down 74 Mumbai schools for two days*
“The smoke is clearly visible on the road. Even though we cover our faces, while travelling, our eyes itch and this can result in an accident,” said Kharghar resident Shahbaz Ali Sayed, who travels to Mumbai every day on his motorbike.
Abdul Faiz Khan Badruddin (42), a resident of Baiganwadi, said, “I have developed a bad cough for three days and my BP was also high. The doctor has prescribed medicines.”
Residents from Chembur, Vikhroli, Ghatkopar, Navi Mumbai and other places are upset about the smoke and the problems it is causing them and blame it on the BMC.
“It is the BMC’s carelessness that has caused this disaster and health hazard for local residents. We can’t even get out of the house without covering our faces,” said Rajkumar Sharma, a social activist from Chembur who had filed a PIL in Bombay High Court in 2011 protesting the excessive dumping at Deonar.
*Official speak*
KV Hiwrale, deputy chief fire officer of the fire brigade said, “Some three to four kids had started the fire. It was brought under control on Friday afternoon itself, but it started again. Even after we doused the fire, the smoke remains a health hazard. Our officials are on field to tackle this but we avoid working during night, the visibility is low.” He added that 14 fire engines, eight tankers, two water miles and 100 fire fighters were still trying to quell the smoke from the ground.
“People keep entering the dumping ground including ragpickers. Sometimes kids make mischief by burning the waste, resulting in huge fires. We found that there were no fire safety precautions in place, and have booked a few people, including the contractor for the dumping ground. However, he is not ready to cooperate and claims that his contract had ended a day before,” added Hiwrale.
Local Samajwadi corporator Rais Shaikh questioned why no alternatives were found for the contractor earlier if his contract had expired. “The city is facing this problem due to the incompetence of a few officials,” he said.*'Like a gas chamber'*
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis yesterday expressed concern over the Deonar fire and the resulting heavy smog engulfing Mumbai and Navi Mumbai. Noting that the fire released hazardous gases and increased the pollution levels, Fadnavis said if proper preventive measures were not taken, our cities could resemble gas chambers. “The situation could be similar to what was done by Hitler (whose regime built the infamous gas chambers for killing people),” he said.
*Voices*
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*Also Read: Mentally unstable man tells security his wife wants to blow up Mumbai airport's T2**The five-star hotel was partially launched on January 16, with the first three floors opened to the public. Pic/Nimesh Dave*
Work on Taj GVK’s Rs 110-crore luxury hotel began in 2011, and ran into several delays due to the requirement of permission from the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS). It was finally launched on January 16, but only the first three floors of the 6-storey hotel have been opened, due to security concerns. Over 50 spots have been identified inside and in the periphery of the airport-side hotel that need to be secured by the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF).*At the moment, the view from the hotel doesn’t get better than this — as can be seen, the third floor windows do not have a direct glimpse of the tarmac*
*Short-staffed*
However, at a time when the airport is on high alert and is facing a shortage of security personnel, the CISF finds itself unable to deploy any manpower at the hotel. At present, Mumbai airport is manned by 4,000 CISF personnel but needs an additional 700. The agency can only deploy personnel at the hotel if it receives additional manpower from Delhi.
Read Story: *Owing to constant threat calls, Mumbai airport to remain on high alert till February*
A senior CISF official explained, “After a survey, we identified more than 50 locations that need security arrangement at the hotel. However, it is only after the approval of the Ministry of Home Affairs that CISF personnel can be deployed there, and until then, the hotel cannot commence services on the remaining floors, especially those facing the runway.”
The rectangular building has two sides, one facing the cityside and the other the airside of the airport. The first three floors are now open to all public — whether they are fliers or not. These floors comprise rooms, restaurants, lounge bars and a pool (third floor, airside), but have no clear view of the tarmac. It is the upper three floors that are a concern for the authorities, particularly on the airside, with the tarmac just 150 metres away. Besides having the CISF guards, the rooms will be fitted with bullet-proof windows on the upper floors.
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*Also Read: ATM guard replaces victim's card, steals Rs 92K**The Parksite police with the Activa the couple bought. Pic/Rajesh Gupta*
Assistant Inspector Vijay Jadhav from Parksite police station said, “The two were working in a private company, where they started dating and two years ago, they changed jobs. More joined the Ghatkopar-based Arihant Packaging Company, while Pednekar started working as a delivery boy with a cargo company.”
The couple travelled by public transport, and wanted a bike. “More had her company’s ATM card along with its pin number, so she gave it to her partner and asked him to withdraw Rs 60,000, which she claimed that her employer had agreed to give her,” added Jadhav.
*Read Story: 25-year-old uses uncle's debit pin, steals Rs 11 lakh*
On January 17, Pednekar withdrew Rs 60,000 from a Parksite ATM, and bought an Activa for Rs 64,000 from Sai Auto Motors in his mother’s name.
“The case was registered on January 18, by the company’s manager, Sandeep Phadke and then, as part of investigations, we obtained CCTV footage from the ATM. We had started interrogating every employee of the company. More hadn’t reported to work for three days after the incident. We got her CDR (call detail record) and learnt that she had made many calls to the accused who was seen in the CCTV footage. During their interrogation, the couple confessed to the crime,” said Jadhav.
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The resulting public outrage over Mumbai Police’s moral policing forced the then Commissioner of Police Rakesh Maria to acknowledge that his men had erred and issue a list of dos and don’ts for them. Six months after they were explicitly told to stop harassing couples on the streets, this mid-day investigation shows nothing has changed on the ground.
Here’s how it went down: Our reporters parked their cars in isolated spots and were chatting. In each case, it didn’t take long for patrolmen to come over and harass them. It always began with “What are you doing here” and “Do you know it is unsafe?” It didn’t take long for them to get to the point. In every single instance, it ended with “You’ll have to come to the police station and pay Rs 1,200.” (obscenity in public places)
While this was the indirect bait so that the couple would pay its way out of trouble, there were also instances when policemen shamelessly demanded money up front.
And if you stand your ground in the sure knowledge that you have not done anything wrong, out comes the ultimate Brahmastra — “Chalo, let’s call your parents.”
We caught five policemen red-handed on tape, extorting money from our reporters posing as young couples. (We are not publishing one instance as the footage did not get taped. A couple of other tapes are not exceptionally clear since the recordings were done at spots that had minimal lighting. But what the policemen were up to is quite evident in the tapes.)
The most revealing aspect of our test drive around the city was that all the four instances happened before midnight. We did the drive between 10 pm to midnight so that the cops wouldn’t even have the fig leaf of an argument that it was not safe for a woman to be out so late (Why even that should be an argument, we do not know, but that’s one of the first things they say if they spot a couple late night). The footages show the policemen violating every single point in the department circular on moral policing. In one case, the constables cited the sensational rape-murder of Hyderabad techie Esther Anuhya as a preamble to extort money.
On another occasion, a constable started asking pointed, uncomfortable questions to the woman reporter. The worst case was the one where, despite several reminders to them that they are not supposed to do that, the policemen repeatedly tried to force the woman to go to the police station.
*
Constable Sachin Ranjane*
*(Attached to Kalachowkie police station)*
*Spot:* Tanaji Malusare Road, Kalachowkie
*Date:* January 5, 2016
*Time:* 8.48 pm
Reporters Sagar and Anju parked their car at a secluded spot at Tanaji Malusare Road, Kalachowkie around 8.30 pm. 20 minutes later, a constable, (later identified as Sachin Ranjane) approached the reporters in civil clothes. Without giving any intimation, Ranjane opened the door of the car, probably expecting to catch the couple in a compromising position, so that it would get easier for him to extort money. On spotting the reporters, he asked Sagar to step down from the vehicle for police inquiry.
*Ranjane:* Where do you stay?
*Sagar:* Mulund.
*Ranjane:* Take the car to the police station. Show me your licence and car papers first.
*Sagar:* Sir, everything (all the papers) is in place.
(After going through the papers, to pressurise the couple, the constable shoots some questions at Anju, asking her name and other details.)
*Ranjane:* Where do you stay?
*Anju:* Tardeo.
*Ranjane:* (Pointing to the residential locality around) People stay here and you are sitting here.
*Sagar:* We were about to leave. Besides, we were just sitting here, nothing else.
*Ranjane:* Where do you work?
*Sagar:* I work for a private company.
*Ranjane:* Take your car and the car papers and come to the police station with me. Call your parents, as well as her’s. You will have to pay fine of Rs 1,200 each; that means Rs 2,400.
*Sagar:* Sir, please let us go, we were just sitting here.
*Ranjane:* What is there to understand; pay the fine of Rs 2,400 and you can go.
*Sagar:* Sir, please understand.
(The constable gets a call from the police station and stated he will be reaching the police station shortly. The reporters resist from going to the police station, and plead that their parents should not be called.)
*Ranjane:* Come to the police station.
*Sagar:* Sir, please understand.
*Ranjane:* Come to the police station and pay the fine of Rs 2,400 and go.
*Sagar:* Sir, please let us go.
*Ranjane:* Don’t do anything here, I am trying to make you understand. Call yours as well as her parents to the police station, pay the fine of R2,400 and leave.
*Sagar:* Sir, why are you involving our parents in this?
(Sagar removes Rs 300 from his wallet to hand it over to the constable.)
*Ranjane:* (Refuses to take the money.) Don’t give me Rs 100 or Rs 200. Take all the papers and come to the police station.
*Sagar:* Sir, every paper is in place; please let us go, sir (and hands him some amount.)
Ranjane: Don’t give me this little amount. I can reduce the amount and charge you just Rs 1,200. If you can give it to me, do it as soon as possible.
*Sagar:* Sir, I don’t have that much money, sir, please co-operate.
*Ranjane:* OK, then I am calling the patrolling van to take you to the police station.
*Sagar:* Sir, please don’t call the van, please sort it here.
*Ranjane:* So pay Rs 1,200 and leave. I have co-operated enough, as ideally its Rs 2,400 and you have to pay Rs 1,200.
*Sagar:* Sir, please understand. I am giving you all the money I have in my wallet (and tried to give Rs 500 to him. But even this was not enough for the constable and he refuses to accept this. Ranjane again fires some questions towards Anju to put pressure on Sagar.)
*Ranjane:* Take money from her (Referring to Anju) and give me Rs 1,200.
*Sagar:* Sir, please do not involve her in this.
*Ranjane:* Why not? Even she has come with you (Referring to Anju). Where does she stay?
*Sagar:* Tardeo.
*Ranjane:* Call her parents, she stays close by. They can easily come and pay the fine.
*Sagar:* Sir, why are you involving parents in this?
*Ranjane:* You will have to pay at least Rs 1200 as fine or I am calling the police van.
*Sagar:* Sir, please do not call the van, I am giving you the money.
*Ranjane:* We are getting call after call. Take the car to the police station.
(Pretending to talk with someone over the phone, Ranjane calls someone and asks for the police van in five minutes.)
*Ranjane:* You stay in Dombivli? Where do you stay?
*Sagar:* Mulund.
*Ranjane:* Why have you come so far?
*Sagar:* We left for a long drive. We came and sat here after that.
(Realising that Ranjane would not settle for less than Rs 1,000, Sagar removes the money and gives it to him.)
*Ranjane:* (After pocketing the cash) Leave this place immediately before our police van comes. How much is this?
*Sagar:* Sir, please co-operate.
*Ranjane:* No! Rs 2,400 is the fine and I am asking for Rs 1,200. Tell me if you can pay, otherwise come to the police station. Whatever you want to decide, do it fast.
*Sagar:* Sir, please take Rs 1,000 and leave us.
*Ranjane:* No! This is too less.
*Sagar:* Sir, I have given you everything I had in my wallet, please let us go.
*Ranjane:* Leave immediately.
Reporters leave the spot.
*
Constable Vilas Gojre*
*(Attached to Vikhroli police station)*
*Spot:* Eastern Express Highway, stretch between Kanjur Marg and Mulund
*Date:* Jan 6, 2016
*Time:* 10.51 pm
This time we chose to park at a crowded place that had maximum flow of traffic which is frequented by the cops on patrolling duty. Sagar and Sailee parked the car on the Eastern Express Highway, stretch between Mulund and Kanjur Marg station. As expected, in less than 30 minutes, two constables arrived at the spot in a patrolling van.
One of the constables was identified as Vilas Gojre.
*Gojre:* Come out of the car and show me your licence.
(Sagar gets out of the car and gives him the licence.)
*Gojre:* What is the registration number of the car?
*Sagar:* **********
*Gojre:* What is your name and where do you stay ?
*Sagar:* Sagar Rajput. And I stay in Mulund.
*Gojre:* What is the name of the girl?
*Sagar:* Sir, let it be, we were just sitting in the car.
*Gojre:* Is this the time to sit here?
*Sagar:* Sir, please let us go.
*Gojre:* Just tell me her name and give me your mobile number.
*Sagar:* Sir, please let us go.
*Gojre:* Tell me the name of the girl and give me your mobile number.
(Sagar pleads to the constable to leave him, simultaneously his accomplice in the car number MH-01-AN-1418 tells him to shut up)
*Gojre:* Give me your cell number.
Sagar: **********
*Gojre:* Now tell me the name of the girl.
*Sagar:* Sir, please leave us
*Gojre:* You know Esther Anuhya? She was burnt and killed very close to this spot.
*Sagar:* Sir, please let us go
*Gojre:* Someone may hit you, take her (pointing towards Sailee) and rape her.
*Sagar:* Sorry sir.
*Gojre:* You don’t read newspapers? A South Indian girl who had come to LTT and she was killed here.
*Sagar:* Sir, let me go sir.
*Gojre:* Give me your address and her name.
*Sagar:* Sir, let us go sir
(Sagar fishes out Rs 300 from his wallet and tries to hand the money to Gojre)
*Gojre:* What are you giving me?
*Sagar:* Sir, how much do I pay you?
*Gojre:* Rs 1,250 is the fine
Another constable who had accompanied
*Gojre:* Don’t give us anything, come to the police station along with us, We will see there.
*Sagar:* Which police station, sir?
*Gojre:* Vikhroli.
*Sagar:* Please, don’t take us to the police station.
*Gojre:* We will take you to the police station and our officers will interrogate you.
*Sagar:* Please let us go, sir.
*Gojre:* Then pay Rs 1,250 now.
*Sagar:* I don’t have this much money sir. Please take Rs 500 and let us go. I don’t have more money.
*Gojre:* Take some money from the girl.
*Sagar:* No sir, it would affect my impression.
*Gojre:* Take money from her and tell her that you will repay
*Sagar:* Sir no.
*Gojre:* Ok. Give me Rs 1,000 then.
*Sagar:* Please sir, take Rs 500 and let us go.
(Gojare asks his accomplice and after his approval takes R500 and leaves from the spot)
*
Constable Sanjay Munde*
*(Attached to Matunga police station)*
*Spot:* Five Gardens, Matunga
*Date:* January 11, 2016
*Time:* 9.13 pm
Accompanied by reporter Sailee, Sagar parked his car in a remote spot near Five Gardens, Matunga. After waiting at the spot for around an hour, Munde arrived in a police van. The questions fired by Munde were more or less similar to what Ranjane had asked.
*Munde:* Where do you stay?
*Sagar:* Mulund.
*Munde:* You stay in Mulund, then why are you sitting here in the car?
*Sagar:* We were just sitting, sir.
*Munde:* When did I say you were doing something? You are a resident of Mulund. The highway leads to Mulund, so what is the motive behind you sitting here?
*Sagar:* No motive as such, we were just sitting.
*Munde:* Give me the reason you are sitting here in such a secluded location.
*Sagar:* This area is not secluded. Besides, we were just sitting in my car.
(Three constables seated in the car ask the reporter for his name, address and licence.)
*Munde:* You are sitting at a very wrong place.
*Sagar:* Sorry sir, I made a mistake, please let me go.
*Munde:* I am not here to trouble you, but the way you are treating us is very wrong.
*Sagar:* What do you mean?
*Munde:* (Yells) You are treating us in a very wrong way.
*Sagar:* So how do I treat you, sir? What are you trying say? I am not able to understand.
*Munde:* How do I explain this to you? I mean, the place where you are sitting is not your daily route.
*Sagar:* Sir, I made a mistake, please let me go.
(The constable accompanying Munde claimed there was a call to the control room about someone sitting in a white car there.)
*Munde:* We came here looking at each and every car parked in this lane.
*Another constable:* They informed us that a suspicious car is parked in this lane.
*Munde:* Now you tell me, what are we supposed to inform the control room? That no one was here?
*Sagar:* Control Room?
*Munde:* You want us to lie? People staying in the area called the police control room and informed them. We are well aware about the area. The caller claimed that someone is seated in a white car, so we came to check the entire lane. We thought the call was about a white Toyota car, but we found some old man was sitting in it, so we came ahead and found you.
*Sagar:* Please sir, let us go.
*Munde:* We will leave you. We are not here to trouble anyone. What benefit would we have by taking you to the police station? Are you our enemy that we want to trouble you?
*Sagar:* That’s true, sir. Sir, take something and leave us, sir. Take R500 and leave us.
(The constable takes the reporter aside.)
*Munde:* Don’t wait here, somebody will call the control again.
*Sagar:* Sir, please let us go. Take Rs 500 and leave us.
*Munde:* (Takes the cash) — OK, don’t wait over here (He leaves from the spot).
*
Constable (not identified)*
*Attached to Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) police station*
*Spot:* Bharat Nagar, BKC
*Date:* January 18, 2016
*Time:* 9:10 pm
*Constable:* Where do you stay?
*Sagar:* Mulund.
*Constable:* What are you doing here?
*Sagar:* We were just sitting in the car, sir.
*Constable:* You stay in Mulund. What are you doing here? Where do you work?
*Sagar:* I work for a private company in South Mumbai.
*Constable:* If people are sitting in the dark, then there is a problem.
*Sagar:* But sir, we were just sitting in the car and were leaving from here.
*Constable:* Come to the police station with me.
*Sagar:* Sir, why are you taking us to the police station? We were just sitting, sir.
*Constable:* Are you both married?
*Sagar:* No, she is just my friend.
*Constable:* She is your friend and you stay in Mulund. Then what is the reason for both of you to sit here?
*Sagar:* Sir, no reason as such. We were just sitting in the car and talking to each other.
*Constable:* Come to the police station with us. We will verify your identities by calling your parents to the police station
*Sagar:* Sir, why are you involving our parents.
*Constable:* Come, we will call your family members.
*Sagar:* Sir, please let’s solve this here.
*Constable:* You wont be able to pay the fine. Both of you call your parents to the police station and pay the fine. We will hand both of you to your parents
*Sagar:* Sir, please let us go.
*Constable:* Should I call the patrolling van?
*Sagar:* Sir, please why do you want to call the patrolling van?
*Constable:* Is this a VIP area? There isn’t any security here. The other day one incident took place inside there. (points towards a random spot)
*Sagar:* What happened sir?
*Constable:* (Giving false information) Some goons sexually harassed a couple. It is so dark there, can you see anyone walking here? Buses are parked. Can you see anything there?
*Sagar:* That’s why I didn’t sit there sir. I was sitting here.
*Constable:* Come now. Come with me to the police station.
*Sagar:* Let’s solve the matter here. (Tries to hand him some money)
*Constable:* Rs 100 is not sufficient.
*Sagar:* Sir, it’s 200, not 100.
*Constable:* Even Rs 200 won’t do. How can we settle the matter for Rs 200?
*Sagar:* Sir, please take Rs 400 and leave us.
*Constable:* Suppose if someone comes, shows you some weapon. What would you do alone? How much is this? (Pointing towards the cash)
*Sagar:* How much do I give you, sir?
*Constable:* Rs 1,000. Pay one person’s fine and go.
*Sagar:* Sir, Rs 1,000 is too much.
*Constable:* Then come with me to the police station and pay the fine.
*Sagar:* Sir, just for sitting here you are taking us to the police station?
*Constable:* Don’t do it again, a lady and a man aren’t supposed to sit here.
*Sagar:* OK, sir.
*Constable:* Do not wait here. Just leave.
*Sagar:* Under which police station does this area (BKC) come?
*Constable:* How much is this?
*Sagar:* Sir, Rs 400.
*Constable:* Where do you work?
*Sagar:* I work in a private company.
*Constable:* Do your parents know that you are here with a girl?
*Sagar:* But sir, we were just sitting.
*Constable:* I am not saying whether you were sitting or not. Have you seen the spot inside there?
*Sagar:* But this area comes under which police station
*Constable:* (fumbling) — Vakola, BKC and Kherwadi. Why do you know someone?
*Sagar:* No, I am just asking.
*Constable:* Don’t come here again. You stay in Mulund, so be there.
*Police circular (August 20, 2015)*
>> Though they were told about this before, it has come to light that police officers and inspectors make unnecessary inquiries with younger and older couples roaming in public places such as Mumbai’s malls, beaches, gardens, hotels, and enter hotel rooms/ flats and take action against couples as per the Maharashtra Police laws.
>> While patrolling, police officers/ inspectors should not criticise or make suggestions as to how citizens should behave and what they should wear.
>> Such incidents have happened in Mumbai though the police don’t have the authority to interfere in a citizen’s privacy.
>> All Mumbai police officers and inspectors are ordered not to take any such action that could malign the image of police in citizens’ minds.
>> As per the notice of the Joint Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) given before, do not take any action under Prevention of Immoral Trafficking Act before taking the permission of the concerned Deputy Commissioner of Police.
*Share your views at mailbag@mid-day.com, tweet your reactions @mid_day, write to us on our Facebook page* *or leave a comment below.**'Cops can't harass couples like this. Will take action'*
With Datta Padsalgikar having just taken over as Commissioner of Police, Mumbai, we spoke to him about our investigation and what couples can do if they are harassed by policemen.*Datta Padsalgikar took over as police commissioner yesterday. Pic/Atul Kamble*
During the course of the interview, Padsalgikar admitted that corruption at the lower rungs is a major problem with the city’s police force. He also promised swift action against errant policemen caught in our investigation.
*Q. Can cops approach couples just sitting in cars if they are not indulging in any act of obscenity in public?*
*A.* No one can harass anyone unnecessarily. Strict instructions are giving to the department personnel for the same. They clearly should not indulge in it.
*Q. Can the policemen call couples to the police station?*
*A.* No. Not in such cases.
*Q. Can policemen ask a woman to come to the police station in the night?*
*A.* Not at all, under any condition. Legally, it is not right.
*Q. What should couples do if someone approaches them like this?*
*A.* If a couple is stopped by policemen, in such situations they should ask the policemen for their names and ask them their purpose for asking such irrelevant questions. The couple can also call 100 and ask for help.
*Q. What is your message for youngsters in city?*
*A.* The city youngsters — both boys and girls — are very good and wise. They know what is good and bad. I ask them to keep their eyes and ears open and stay alert. They should contribute to the city and help the police. If they find any suspicious elements they should inform cops.
*Q. Your comments about the investigation and what action will be taken?*
*A.* Nobody at any level should be doing this. I would not tolerate corruption at any cost. Proper steps for the same will be taken.
*'Call 100 if cops misbehave or harass for bribe'*
One thing that stood out during our investigation was the manner in which the policemen constantly kept using the threat of taking the couple to the police station as a threat to squeeze out a bribe.*Criminal lawyer Rizwan Merchant*
We spoke to leading criminal lawyer Rizwan Merchant about this ploy of policemen to coerce bribes out of law-abiding citizens and what people should do under such circumstances.
*Q. Can policemen approach couples just sitting in cars and not indulging in any obscenity and call them to the police station?*
*A.* As long as the couple is not indulging in any obscene or shameful act, the police have no right, authority or permission to summon them to the police station either under the Bombay Police Act or any other law for the time being, in force.
*Q. Do their repeated attempts saying ‘come to police station’ count as coercion with the aim of taking bribe?*
*A.* Repeatedly summoning the couple to the police station in the absence of any law providing for action against couples not indulging in any obscene or shameful act, would compel a person to reasonably believe that the persistence by the police in doing so is laced with an ulterior motive – maybe to make fast money under the pretext of “moral policing”.
*Q. Is it legal to call a woman to the police station in the night?*
*A.* Law prohibits summoning a woman before sunrise and after sunset. Needless to say, this law being known to the police, there can be no reason behind doing so, save and except that under the pretext of moral policing and knock out fast money from couples who generally don’t like to get into the limelight and consequently become soft targets.
*Q. What should a couple in such a situation do?*
*A.* The safest way is to call up the control room (100) and report the name of the concerned constable or officer, their patrolling vehicle number or two-wheeler number. Else, if the couples are confident that they have done no wrong, then they should visit the police station nearest to the spot and report the misdemeanour of the said officers to the duty officer and insist upon a report in writing so that the same could be reported to the senior officer of the said police station.
--------------------
*Related stories...*
*Mumbai CP Rakesh Maria orders probe into Madh Island, Aksa hotel raids*
*Mumbai: Couples picked up from hotel rooms, charged with 'public indecency'*
*Rakesh Maria's diktat to Mumbai cops: Don't harass couples at public places*
*Cop stopped me saying I looked like a foreign prostitute, says singer Vandana Vadehra*
http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/feb/Beyonce-s.jpg
"It's art, not a documentary. I saw a tweet saying something along the lines of "a white man's interpretation of India." Well, guess what! It is. What's so wrong with that?"*Beyonce in the video. Pic/Youtube*
However for those worried about whether it was the usual wham bang and thank you ma'am instance of white man forays into the country here's some cheer. Saluja has also been asked to assist in Coldplay's gesture of appreciation to the kids of Worli Koliwada who featured in the video as a thank you.*Coldplay at the shoot*
And what was it like hanging with Chris Martin and his gang? "Chris' girlfriend, Annabelle Wallis, was here too and they spent some time doing their own thing after the shoot. They're just a regular bunch of guys, so down to earth and friendly," he said.
*The world's watching*
"The very name "curative petition" describes this judicial process. It seeks to 'cure' any infirmities in a judgment because there is no infallibility in any human endeavour," said one of the country's leading gay rights activists, Ashok Row Kavi, on the historic Supreme Court judgment, which is awaited tomorrow on the contentious Article 377.*Ashok Row Kavi*
"The petition really has many grounds to make it a valid complaint to the Supreme Court." However, according to the gay icon, the success rate of all judgments heard under the curative petitions section petition is 0.38. "Mostly they are heard by the same set of judges" he said by way of explanation. But according to Row Kavi all is not lost.*Television interns run to reporters after a US SC decision on gay marriage. PIC/AFP*
"This petition is going to be heard in open court and there is enormous national international interest in its outcome. The whole world will be watching India tomorrow," he said. We still recall the sight of ecstatic interns racing across America's Supreme Court grounds to inform the world that their country had legalised gay marriage. Will such a scene be repeated in India for it's first small step towards gay rights? Tomorrow we'll know.
*It's a bird, it's a plane..*
To be honest she's the kind of woman who appears to be on a zippy set of wheels 24/7, which is why, when mom to champ athletes, wife of director Kamal Sadanah, and Bandra bright spark, Lisa Sadanah, started showing up every where wearing a nifty helmet, no one was really surprised.*Wowing Mumbai at lunch, doing weights and having a pedicure*
"I wanted to make my friends smile. People need to know that life can just pass you by if you don't have fun," she explained. The unusual choice of permanent headgear began innocently. Wanting to infuse some cheer in a bleak season ("It was only the beginning of the year and so many of my friends had parents who'd passed away or were ailing.") Sadanah bought a helmet online and shared a selfie of herself wearing it with some friends. "They found it funny and encouraged me to wear it in my everyday life," she said.
What resulted was a life changing moment. Lifting weights, or at a restaurant, getting a pedicure, or just cuddling her daughter, helmet girl has become one of Bandra's more interesting features with a blog all her own. "I am Helmetgirlbandra, and my superpower is that with all that's going on in my life, I will still find time to make you smile…" Needless to say - we like!
*Leaving for Delhi*
Even as the name of Mumbai's newly-minted police commissioner was doing the rounds yesterday, sources in Delhi say that one of the contenders who was passed up for the post, has campaigned for a transfer from the state and will be moving to the Capital to take up an important position shortly. "The officer in question is of stellar credentials and outstanding achievements, but for reasons best known to the powers that be, was not picked - so they're voluntarily moving him out of Mumbai," said the source, adding, "Sad."
*Micky Mouse and miso soup*
It is not often that we leave our comfort zone to dine outdoors. But when we do, it's nice to have a decent experience. Good food and service, a pleasant atmosphere, happy diners around, you know what we mean.*Adarsh Jatia*
Unfortunately a spontaneous holiday lunch at San Qi at the Four Seasons left us sorely underwhelmed: Sushi not much better than the fare served at fast food chains, wasabi prawns with deep fried pakoda-like batter; as for the soup-yikes! If this was Miso — then I'm Micky Mouse!
What's more, service was slow, the decor looked tired and the staff dropped cutlery with harmonious precision. And we were not the only ones disappointed. The couple next to us were so frustrated that we heard them speed dialing some hotel big wig to complain.
We have not paid credence to sources claiming that Four Seasons' Adarsh Jatia was concentrating on an upcoming residential complex to the detriment of his hotel, ("They're making enough money from bar sales and hosting pop up events in the banqueting areas," said an industry insider) — but perhaps there's some truth in it?
As for the couple that complained they didn't look much happier even as we paid the bill and departed. Reported by Mid-Day 3 hours ago.