Around Town

Court quashes FIR against USM

The Bombay High Court on Wednesday quashed an FIR filed on a complaint by the Kamla Raheja Foundation (KRF) alleging cheating by the Upnagar Shikshan Mandal (USM),which runs the Kamla Raheja Vidyanidhi Institute for Architecture.

The FIR was lodged pursuant to a statement made by the USM before the Charity Commissioner that no agreement was made to include two nominees of the foundation in its management board. However,KRF filed the criminal complaint alleging that USM had dishonored the agreement made between the two in December 1995,which amounted to cheating. Justice B H Marlapalle and Justice U D Salvi,while hearing the case,said,“The dispute between the USM and the foundation is purely of a civil nature,and is under the jurisdiction of the Charity Commissioner. There is no material,even prima facie,that would justify the registration of such an FIR.”

Mobile blood bank launched

The Mumbai District Aids Control Society (MDACS) launched a specialised mobile blood bank van on Monday to mark world blood donor month. MDACS said the van will travel to corporate houses and shopping malls where there is a greater intensity of people to improve visibility. “The annual target as per NACO guidelines for Mumbai is 1,35,000 units. We crossed the mark in 2010 and look forward to achieving our numbers this year as well. Average collection and storage capacity in a single day is that of 60-80 units. We are looking at meeting these targets through the mobile blood bank van,” said Dr. S S Kudalkar,Project Director of MDACS.

BMC ward no 111 bypoll put off

The bypoll to ward no 111 of the BMC in Bhandup have been postponed as a candidate has challenged her disqualification in the High Court. The BMC had disqualified Shiv Sena corporator Meenakshi Patil for carrying out illegal construction in her bungalow without permission from the ward office. The bypoll was to be held on June 26,but have been postponed indefinitely now as the disqualification has been challenged by Patil. BMC election officials are now in touch with the state election commission to decide on a new date.