Mumbai Scape

According to the police, the trio Champalal Malviya 32, George Swamidas 40 and Jyotiba alias Jyotya Patil 32 had demanded Rs 50 lakh from a businessman dealing in the manufacture of optical frames.

The trio along with an associate Afzal, then brought down the demand to Rs 15 lakh and asked the complainant to meet them near Hotel Rasraj at Vile Parle. The police were then informed and a trap was laid. While Malviya and Swamidas were nabbed on the spot, Patil was arrested from Vakola.

Goods worth Rs 11 lakh recovered

The Air Intelligence Unit of Customs on Friday arrested two persons for smuggling 105 mobile phones and 70 pieces of ear-phones valued at Rs 11.40 lakh. According to custom officials, Mahesh Arora and Sunil Deshmukh had arrived by the Air India flight AI 439 fromSingapore and Madras respectively. Search of their baggage resulted in the recovery of the above articles.

Loknyayalay held at Borivali

The first ever Loknyayalay at the Borivli Metropolitan Magistrate8217;s court was held on Saturday, August 14. The Loknyayalay was inaugurated by Justice D K Trivedi of the Bombay High Court.

Five panels headed by senior advocates heard 137 cases which were mostly related to dishonouring of cheques. Fifty four cases were settled through negotiations. According to chairman of the advocates panel, Kishore Joshi, the panels would work on alternate Saturdays for counselling and disposal of the cases.

Candidates8217; pledge

Candidates to the Amboli Andheri West Assembly constituency promised greater investments in health and education at a Meet Your Candidates event organised by the Action for Good Governance Networking in India AGNI at DN Nagar on Thursday.

Aiesha Sheikh of the Samajwadi Party/NCP spoke specifically of more money for basic education andsecondary education, primary health centres in slums and mobile dispensaries.

Sitting Member of the Legislative Assembly Shantaram Amre of the Shiv Sena was represented by local vibhag pramukh Shailesh Phanse. The Congress was not represented.

Meet on MLAs8217; scheme

A city level seminar to discuss the Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme8217; and also that of the Members of Legislative Assembly MLA and the Municipal Corporators is scheduled on Monday, August 23. The venue for the meeting is: Asha Kiran Hall, St Pius College, Aarey Road, Goregaon East, Mumbai-400 063; Tel: 8756953/8767993, Fax: 8749023. The programme is being organised jointly by DRTC, YUVA and Apnalaya. The registration for the seminar will start at 9.30 in the morning and the discussion is expected to continue till at least 5:30 in the evening.

The Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme provides each MP the choice to suggest the District Collector or the concerned authority the development worksubject to the guidelines8217; to the tune of Rs 2 crore a year. The work suggested will be taken up in his/her constituency by the concerned agencies including the NGOs.