Malegaon terror attack: SC reserves order on Purohit’s plea

Agencies
August 17, 2017

New Selhi, Aug 17: The National Investigation Agency on Thursday admitted before the Supreme Court that there have been “several inconsistencies” in the 2008 Malegaon blasts case. But it opposed bail plea by accused Lt Col Srikant Prasad Purohit, saying these things, including retractions of witnesses, could be examined during the trial only.

Purohit, for his part, claimed, “he was caught in political crossfire”. He cited factors like the serious indictment of Maharashtra Anti-Terror Squad by the NIA, no framing of charges despite his nine years of incarceration and no inquiry report by the Indian Army against him, to seek bail.

A bench of Justices R K Agrawal and Abhay Manohar Sapre noted that the NIA in its report had claimed ATS had planted explosive substance RDX to frame Purohit. The court reserved its verdict on the special leave petition filed by Purohit, after hearing arguments from his counsel senior advocate Harish Salve, NIA counsel Additional Solicitor General Maninder Singh and senior advocate Amrendra Sharan, representing one of the victims.

Making his case, Salve challenged the Bombay High Court order of April that refused relief to him but enlarged co-accused Pragya Singh Thakur. Purohit, a Military Intelligence officer, is accused in the case relating to a bomb blast on September 29, 2008, at Malegaon, a communally-sensitive textile town in Nasik district of north Maharashtra. The explosion had claimed lives of six people and left over 100 other injured.

“The case against my client is that he attended meetings of 'Abhinav Bharat'. My boss in Army acceded to during his cross examination in Court of Inquiry that he was giving vital information to him. Nine years have gone by, no inquiry report has come. He is still serving as Army officer and has so far not been removed,” Salve said.

The High Court, however, declined to consider it, saying these factors could be examined during the trial. “His defence is that he was asked to attend meetings of certain organisations. In 2006 Nasik Police Commissioner commended him for his work,” Salve said. He said the NIA had found how ATS used “dubious” ways to make out a case against him. Salve also pointed out it was the Supreme Court which held that no case for stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act could be slapped against the petitioner.

“After nine years of incarceration, give me at least interim bail till the trial court considers for framing of charges,” Salve submitted. He said if charges pertaining to RDX had gone, the remaining accusation is related to being a member of banned 'Abhinav Bharat' for which the maximum punishment is seven years jail only, he said.

Singh, however, maintained there were sufficient materials to frame charges against Purohit. However, he admitted, “I cannot run away from inconsistencies in the case”.

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Agencies
March 14,2020

San Francisco, Mar 14: Microsoft on friday announced that co-founder Bill Gates has left its board of directors to devote more time to philanthropy.

The 64-year-old stopped being involved in day-to-day operations at the firm more than a decade ago, turning his attention to the foundation he launched with his wife, Melinda.

Gates served as chairman of Microsoft's board of directors until early in 2014 and has now stepped away entirely, according to the Redmond-based technology giant.

“It's been a tremendous honor and privilege to have worked with and learned from Bill over the years,” Microsoft chief executive and company veteran Satya Nadella said in a release.

Nadella said Microsoft would continue to benefit from Gates' “technical passion and advice” in his continuing role as a technical advisor.
“I am grateful for Bill's friendship and look forward to continuing to work alongside him,” he added.

Gates left his CEO position in 2000, handing the company reins to Steve Ballmer to devote more time to his charitable foundation.

He gave up the role of chairman at the same time Nadella became Microsoft's third CEO in 2014.

Regularly listed among the world's richest people, William H. Gates was a geeky-looking young man when he and Paul Allen co-founded Microsoft in 1975.

Gates went on to turn his attention from software to fighting disease and other humanitarian challenges with his wife, under the auspices of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

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Agencies
May 30,2020

New Delhi, May 30: The COVID-19 pandemic has left the Indian private healthcare sector in acute financial distress, a new survey said on Friday adding that the healthcare facilities in the country have witnessed at least 80 per cent fall in average revenue.

Post the lockdown from March 24, Indian hospitals have seen a large impact, especially among small and medium-sized hospitals, which are now facing existential challenges.

The survey by healthcare industry body NATHEALTH was conducted in 251 healthcare facilities across nine states and 69 cities to assess the impact of COVID-19 on the domestic healthcare industry.

The findings showed that 90 per cent of the surveyed healthcare facilities are facing financial challenges with 21 per cent facilities facing an existential threat.

"There is a need for a stimulus package to revive the Indian healthcare industry which will be crucial to provide much-needed relief to the healthcare sector which is the frontline defence in this fight against COVID-19," said Dr Sudarshan Ballal, President NATHEALTH.

According to the survey, hospitals in tier 1 and tier 2 cities are experiencing a 78 per cent reduction in OPD footfalls, and a drop of 79 per cent in in-patient admissions.

The study found that 90 per cent of organisations require some form of financial assistance.

The findings indicated that even after the lockdown lift, the situation will remain difficult for the hospitals and nursing homes as patients will hesitate from visiting hospitals.

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News Network
January 18,2020

Mumbai, Jan 18: Maharashtra Tourism Minister Aaditya Thackeray on Friday said shops, restaurants, malls and pubs will remain open 24 hours on an experimental basis in a few areas of Mumbai from January 26.

The areas where these establishments will remain open all night are Fort and Kala Ghoda in south Mumbai and Bandra Kurla Complex in the west.

Thackeray had batted for all-night-open eateries and other establishments in the city during the earlier BJP-Shiv Sena regime too.

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