Attack on US woman: Cops question drug addicts

The police have released a sketch and formed four teams in a bid to nab the culprit. GRP sources said they have already questioned 28 people,mostly drug addicts,based on the description given by the victim. Assistant Commissioner of Police (Bandra division) GRP Pradip Bijwe said,“We are questioning not just drug adicts but also thieves and robbers who are history-sheeters.”

According to the officer,the victim,currently recovering from the attack,has confirmed that the sketch released by the police closely resembles her attacker.

mumbai.newsline@expressindia.com

Irrigation scam: State govt defends Ajit Pawar in HC

Mumbai: The state government Tuesday dismissed as “baseless” the allegations of a nexus between Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar,the Konkan Irrigation Development Corporation (KIDC) and F A Group companies that were allegedly awarded 24 dam contracts by the corporation.

A PIL filed by on Pravin Wategaonkar had sought a CBI probe into the alleged Rs 70,000 crore irrigation scam and had urged the court to direct an inquiry into the role of Pawar.

An affidavit filed by Pralhad Sonawane,chief engineer,Konkan Region Water Resources Department,stated that it was compulsory on the part of KIDC to allot a tender to the lowest bidder and hence the question of any favour in awarding contract did not arise.

For every tender invited,there is a tender evaluation committee comprising senior officials,the affidavit said while claiming that the tenders awarded to F A Enterprises and F A Constructions were as per standard procedures.

The next hearing is scheduled for Wednesday.

mumbai.newsline@expressindia.com

MMRDA gives 3rd extension to get bidders for Worli-Sewri corridor

Mumbai: In a bid to attract more bidders for the Worli-Sewri elevated corridor,which was planned as an extension to the showpiece Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL),the city’s development authority has extended the last date for bid submissions for the third time.

This comes after the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) failed to attract any bidders for the construction of the 22-km MTHL even in the third attempt.

“We just want to ensure adequate competition for the project. We had pre-bid meetings earlier and potential bidders had asked for more time,” U P S Madan,metropolitan commissioner at the MMRDA,said.

The developments related to MTHL have not impacted the Worli-Sewri elevated road project in any way and there are no concerns among potential bidders,he added.

The Rs 9,630-crore MTHL project was planned on a public-private partnership basis while the 4.5-km Worli-Sewri elevated road,costing Rs 455.6 crore,is being bid out as a cash contract.

Originally,the last date for bid submission for the Worli-Sewri project was July 17,which was extended to August 2,then to August 22 and now to September 10.

“About 10-12 renowned companies,including Gammon and Larsen & Toubro,had expressed interest in the pre-bid meeting,but the bidders had asked for more time,” said Ashwini Bhide,additional metropolitan commissioner at the MMRDA.

“The Worli-Sewri corridor will connect P D’Mello road and later the MTHL. And if at all MTHL does not work out,we can always make a provision for connecting Worli-Sewri road to the Eastern Freeway,” Bhide added.

mumbai.newsline@expressindia.com

HC dismisses discharge plea of scribe murder accused

MUMBAI: The Bombay High Court Tuesday dismissed a discharge petition filed by real estate developer Vinod Asrani alias Vinod Chembur,an accused in the murder of senior journalist Jyotirmoy Dey in 2011.

Asrani’s counsel Adhik Shirodkar had argued that his was an appropriate case for discharge as the prosecution had no evidence to show Asrani’s involvement in the case. He said that the police had also procured the telephonic conversation between gangster Chhota Rajan and his associate,in which the gangster had said that Asrani had been arrested in the case without any valid reason.

However,additional public prosecutor A S Gadkari told the court that it was Asarani who had identified Dey and pointed him out to co-accused Satish Kalia. Kalia had allegedly fired at Dey in Powai on June 11,2011.

The prosecution said that Asrani had called Dey to a hotel where he identified him in front of the members of Chhota Rajan’s gang that later allegedly eliminated the journalist.

Asrani was arrested a month after the incident. He was,however,released on bail after he cited medical reasons.

mumbai.newsline@expressindia.com