Mumbai Confidential: Pawar Scion Eyes Bypoll

Amid the ongoing political uncertainty in Maharashtra, Congress and NCP may lock horns over the Pune LS bypoll, which is likely to be announced soon. Sources indicate that the son of a powerful NCP leader who is yet to achieve electoral success is making moves to bring ticket to NCP, even as the seat stands with Congress as of now. Will that be the beginning of yet another political stand-off?

Stamp Vendors Force Reshuffle

THE STATE government earlier this week transferred Inspector General of Registration and Controller of Stamps (IGR) Shravan Hardikar and IAS officer H S Sonawane was appointed as the new IGR. The move came after a week-long strike of stamp paper vendors in the city which ended after the intervention by the state government on Monday. Even as the government claimed it to be a routine transfer, bureaucrats say that the officer was shunted out owing to the imposition of controversial rules with regards to sale of stamp papers that was opposed by stamp paper vendors and they went on an indefinite strike. The new rules said that anyone wishing to buy a stamp paper will have to go in person to buy it and they can’t be bought through a third party.

Rapper Gives Cops A Miss

Raj Mungase, whose rap song landed him in trouble with an FIR being registered against him, evaded multiple police forces looking for him — a feat that many seasoned criminals haven’t managed. Mungase eventually appeared only after having secured anticipatory bail. Many in the police believed that he was being sheltered by some political parties due to which he could give the police forces a slip for days on end.

Patil Invites Shah Wrath

Senior minister Chandrakant Patil has been asked to refrain from making controversial comments that has often left the BJP embarrassed. The directives to Patil has come from none other than the central leadership and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Patil, who had questioned the role of Shiv Sena and Bal Thackeray in the Babri Masjid demolition, has been told to speak less. A party insider revealed, “Shah has expressed his displeasure.” Not surprisingly, Patil, who is seen in BJP as Shah’s confidante, was nowhere in the forefront during the Union minister’s Mumbai tour.