City Briefs

The state government said in its affidavit that it “does not have the prerogative to invoke the MCOCA”,as the case has been transferred to the CBI.

The affidavit was filed in response to a petition filed by former journalist Ketan Tirodkar seeking invocation of stringent MCOCA in the case. On July 1,the court had asked the state government to explain why the Act was slapped on Sadhvi Pragnya Singh,accused in the 2008 Malegaon blasts case,and not on Patil.

Govandi deaths: Cops to rely on viscera test

Police are still clueless about the cause of death of the two persons found dead in their house at Shivaji Nagar in Govandi on Thursday. They said the doctors have decided to conduct medical tests on viscera since autopsy reports have failed to suggest the cause of death. “The tests will help us confirm the cause of death,” said Senior Police Inspector Radhesham Agarwal of Shivaji Nagar Police Station. The highly decomposed bodies have made it difficult for the doctors to give us a definite answer.”

Draw of lots for ward reservation

The State Election Commission will conduct a draw of lots to decide which electoral wards in Mumbai will fall under various reservations on August 10. The draw of lots is critical for candidates planning to contest elections to the BMC in February 2012,especially after the state government’s decision to reserve 50 per cent seats for women.

Cops find pistols at actor’s godown

The Mumbai Police have recovered two country-made pistols from a godown belonging to Bhojpuri actor Anil Samrat at Goregaon in Mumbai. This was stated in a written reply by Home Minister R R Patil to a question by Prakash Bhoir of MNS and others in the state Legislative Assembly on Friday.

Patil said the Mumbai Police had managed to unearth two pistols from a godown in May. He,however,denied that the weapons had Army markings.

Patil added that a case in this regard had been registered by the Amboli Police and the accused had been arrested.

Actress alleges molestation bid

A television actress has filed a complaint against her former driver for allegedly trying to molest and assault her on Thursday night at Bhayender. Ekta Tiwari,the lead actress in the television serial ‘Tere Mere Sapne’ approached the Navghar police in Bhayender east alleging that her former driver Sajid Sayyed (26),a resident of Mira Road,had tried to molest her at her residence on Thursday. Police are now tracing the whereabouts of Sayyed.

HC expresses shock over orphanages

The Bombay High Court on Friday expressed concern over the condition of orphanages running on government grants.

“The state- run institutions,which are directly under the social welfare dDepartment,are treated on par with other government offices in terms of salaries and funds. The institutions run on government grants,are given a pittance in the name of grants,” Justice D Y Chandrachud said. A division bench of Chief Justice Mohit Shah and Justice Chandrachud was hearing a suo moto petition taking note of a newspaper article highlighting the plight of children at an orphanage.