Law

HC raps cops for failing to trace 'kidnapper'

Mumbai police can't be that helpless, says court

The Sion police, in their investigation reports submitted to the high court on February 24, stated that they examined 33 women in two weeks but were unable to trace the 'kidnapper' of Mohan and Mohini Nerurkar's child allegedly stolen from Sion Hospital on January 1. The court, however, seemed far from impressed.

Additional public prosecutor KV Saste told the court that the police were putting in "serious efforts" to locate the child and the woman suspect who allegedly stole the newborn. Justice Nazki, however, remarked, "We have heard that before. Even a clerk could have made a report like that."

Registration plates probe gathers steam

The Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) has collected the documents pertaining to the tender process of high security registration plates (HSRP) or number plates for vehicles. The bureau has started its probe after a special anti-corruption court directed the ACB director-general to initiate an inquiry into the alleged corruption in the Rs400-crore tender for HSRP in February end.

Ajit Singh, additional director general of ACB, said, "An SP-rank official has been appointed as the investigating officer in the case and the probe has begun. The court has directed to complete the investigation and present the report on April 21.

Explain custody death in Prez's bro case: HC

The Bombay High Court on Wednesday asked the state government to explain how one of the accused in the September 2005 murder of Jalgaon Congressman Vishram Patil, in which President Pratibha Patil's brother Vishram Patil is also allegedly involved, died in custody.

The court had asked the police to explain how the same accused gave an interview to a TV channel while in custody. Additional public prosecutor Aruna Kamat-Pai told the court that Mali had given the interview while he was in the hospital, without permission from the jail authorities. Pai said that the constables in-charge were suspended and denied two increments.

'Jail food is not fit for humans'

'Jail food is not fit for humans'Prisoners complain meals are so unhygienic one loses 10kg a month

It is not just Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur. People who have served sentences in Arthur Road and Byculla jails also say that the food served to convicts and undertrials is "unpalatable" and "not fit for human consumption".

High court likely to get more judges

The number of judges in Bombay High Court may soon rise to 68, with the Centre on Wednesday informing the court that the four names recommended by the Chief Justice (CJ) for elevation to the post of judges are "in the advanced stage of consideration".

The HC has a sanctioned strength of 75 judges. Currently, it has 64 serving judges. Senior lawyer MP Vashi had filed a PIL for filling up vacant posts of judges and a review of the sanctioned strength of judges.

Probe officer lands in court, forgets to carry case diary

The city sessions court on Wednesday deferred the hearing on the revision application filed by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) till Thursday after investigating officer, assistant commissioner of police PL Mal, forgot to bring the case diary of the Naroda case to court. The application had been filed against an earlier order of the metropolitan court sending former second inspector of the Naroda police, VS Gohil, to judicial custody. “Mal forgot the case diary at the Gujarat high court during a hearing. Because of this, he could not bring it to court today and the sessions court deferred hearing in the case till Thursday,” a highly placed source said.

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