“What have you done for registration of FIR?. Did you approach state police?” the CJ asked, repeatedly stressing how, without an FIR, the criminal law cannot be set in motion.
The bench asked senior counsel Vikram Nankani, appearing for Singh, to first satisfy HC on maintainability of the PIL and whether the court can direct investigation without an FIR in order to get interim relief. The interim relief sought is ‘safe custody’ of CCTV footage from outside Deshmukh’s residence.
Nankani read out Singh’s letter and referred to the report by Rashmi Shukla, former commissioner (intelligence) to the Director General of Police to submit the issue is “related to interference by political masters.” He said Singh was not challenging his transfer order of March 17.
Members of the state task force said Maharashtra could continue to see the surge through April
MUMBAI: Maharashtra recorded over 6.6 lakh new Covid -19 cases in March, which is the highest addition of cases in a month since the pandemic began and a 400% jump from February, when 1.3 lakh cases were logged. It took the state over 3.5 months from mid-October to February to add 6.5 lakh cases.
Mumbai added 83,457 cases in March, again the highest in a month since the outbreak started.
On Wednesday, 39,544 cases were added in the state, the second highest daily addition so far, taking the total caseload to 28.12 lakh. It is nearly the same as Germany, which is the 10th worst affected country with 28.16 lakh cases.
Covid-19 tests at the Mother and Child Hospital, Turbhe, on Wednesday
MUMBAI: The number of children and adolescents affected in the second wave of coronavirus appears to have increased significantly compared to the first wave. Data shows that 15,500 children up to 10 years of age are among the over six lakh infected in the state in the March surge. That number rises to more than 55,000 when clubbed with the adolescent bracket of 11 to 20 years. Together, they account for 10% of the total positive cases.
Data analysed from the daily report generated by the medical education department shows that the worst hit in the March spurt were those between 31 and 40 years old. They accounted for 22% or 1.34 lakh cases, followed by the 41-50 age-group, where 18% of the infections occurred. Young adults, or the 21-30 age group, contributed to 17% of the cases, or more than a lakh infections.
Versova-Lokhandwala bridge project will cause mangrove loss, say residents
MUMBAI: Supreme Court recently stayed cutting of mangroves for construction of a vehicular overbridge at the junction of Yari Road and Lokhandwala back road in Versova, Andheri.
The bench of Chief Justice of India S A Bobde and Justices A S Bopanna and V Rama Subramanian issued notices to the central and state governments, BMC, MMRDA and Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority in a petition filed by group of residents largely from Versova. Their counsel Devadutta Kamat argued that forest clearance for the project was pending and, hence, felling of mangroves must be stayed.
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In a setback to the real estate industry as well as flat buyers, the state government on Wednesday decided not to extend the cut on stamp duty on property registrations. Ready reckoner (RR) rates, though, remain unchanged for the 2021-22 financial year.
The slashing of stamp duty in Mumbai from 5% to 2% from September to December 2020, and 3% till March 31, 2021, had boosted residential realty sales.
On a brighter note, the 1% stamp duty waiver for women home buyers, as announced in the state budget on March 8, would come into effect from Thursday. The concession is only for residential units and not for land. Besides, the concession will not be applicable if there is a male co-owner of the unit.