Cityscan — Mumbai

Mahanor resigns in protestNoted poet and former legislator N D Mahanor has resigned from all Government organisations to protest against ...

Mahanor resigns in protest

Noted poet and former legislator N D Mahanor has resigned from all Government organisations to protest against the uncalled-for remarks from Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray against eminent litterateur Vasant Bapat, who is also the president of the All India Marathi Sahitya Sammelan.

In a brief letter to Chief Minister Narayan Rane, Mahanor, who has done pioneering work in the field of horticulture, submitted that since prominent personalities in the literary field are being deliberately insulted by none other than members of the ruling party, it will not be possible for him to associate himself with Government organisations. At the moment, Mahanor is the member of the Maharastra Rajya Sahitya Sanskriti Mandal and Maharashtra Bhasha Vikas Parishad. Prominent litterateurs, including Ram Shewalkar and Gangadhar Gadgil, have already resigned from official committees to condemn the statement of Thackeray against Bapat.

Custom house agent arrested

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A custom house agentwas arrested by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) on Friday, in connection with duty drawback to the tune of Rs 7.40 crore.

According to the DRI, Satish Suganchand Gupta, the acting Director of Sharp Travels India Limited, had exported old garments in the name of five non-existent and fictitious firms which were based in Delhi. The fraud came into light, when the 26 containers, which stored old garments, were sent to Dubai and were overvalued and misdeclared. On verifying the given address by the concerned firm, it was found that there was no such address. A duty drawback to the tune of Rs 7.40 crore was established out of which Rs 3.87 crore was disbursed. During investigations, it was found that the goods in the container were passed without examination and the containers were already delivered to Dubai. It was also found that the consignee was fictitious. Gupta, during interrogation, said that one K Karunakaran had contacted him for exporting the goods on the behalf of the firms. Gupta wasproduced before the holiday court on Saturday and was remanded to judicial custody upto February 23, 1999, by Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate N B Pokharkar.

One killed in building collapse

A 40-year-old man was killed and seven others injured in a building collapse at Wagle Estate in the adjoining Thane district of Maharashtra today. According to police, a double-storey structure collapsed at around 9:40 am. Some additional floors had been built illegally, which might have led to the collapse, police said. The deceased has been identified as Ramesh Jain. The injured were rushed to the Thane civil hospital, police added.