Mumbai Beat

Dalit leaders protest EC directiveDalit Panther leaders Namdeo Dhasal and Jambuvantrao Dhote held a demonstration on Monday in front of M...

Dalit leaders protest EC directive

Dalit Panther leaders Namdeo Dhasal and Jambuvantrao Dhote held a demonstration on Monday in front of Mantralaya to protest the Election Commission8217;s EC decision debarring Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray from exercising his right to vote.

Shouting slogans against EC about 50 activists demanded that the ban be revoked with immediate effect. When the demonstrators tried to forcibly enter into Mantralaya, zonal Deputy Commissioner of Police Sanjay Barve directed the police to arrest them. The activists were taken away in police vans and later released on personal bonds.

N Chandra gets bail

Film director and producer N Chandra was let off on bail after he presented himself at the Juhu police station in connection with a cheque bouncing case this morning.

Chandra has been charged under the Negotiable Instrument Act. The Mazgaon Court had issued a non-bailable warrant after Chandra failed to present himself before the court. Chandra has produced anddirected sucessful films like Ankush, Pratighat, Tezaab and Wajood.

Govt to move SC on toll

The state government will be moving the Supreme Court against the recent order of the Bombay High Court staying the toll collection at the Dahisar check naka. While the papers are being readied, it is expected that the state will move the apex court on Wednesday. The division bench of Justice A V Sawant and Justice R J Kochar, in a petition filed by the Mira-Bhayander Small Scale Industries8217; Association, had held that the toll levied at the Dahisar check naka was arbitrary and a misuse of power by the state.

The bench had then stayed the toll collection at Dahisar naka the order for which was given on July 30, 1999. A separate clutch of public interest litigations against toll collections is being heard by the division bench of Chief Justice Y K Sabharwal.

Youths steal car at Dadar

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Three unidentified youth beat up the driver of car belonging to a former college principal near Mayor8217;s bungalowat Shivaji Park and sped away with the vehicle this morning. Driver Ganesh Devar was sitting inside the Fiat Uno car MH01 U 624 parked at the busy Lady Jamshetji Road at around 11.45 am. He was waiting to drive his employer Urmila Roy, who is the director of a college of architecture at Panvel, when the incident occured. The armed youths stabbed Devar on his right shoulder and dragged him out of the car, grabbed the car keys and sped towards Mahim. The driver informed the police that three youths were medium built and between 20-25 years old. The police immediately launched a nakabandi, but the car is yet to be traced.