Was a part of NCP in 1999, claims builder
The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) faced an apparent embarrassment on Wednesday as Riyaz Bhati, a city builder accused of links with the underworld, said he was an active member of NCP when it was founded in 1999.
The NCP clarified that Bhati was inducted in the youth wing for a period of four months and was later removed.
Bhati made news after NCP alleged that despite having links with gangster Dawood Ibrahim, he was patronised by Mumbai BJP chief Ashish Shelar and got inducted into BJP as well.
On Wednesday, Bhati presented an appointment letter (without a date) which stated that he was appointed the general secretary of North West district of NCP’S youth wing.
“I was inducted in 1999, the year NCP was founded by Sharad Pawarji and was active for the next four years,” Bhati claimed.
But Malik claimed that the builder was a member of the youth wing of the party for only four months in a district which comparatively had no significance. “Despite this, I apologise (on behalf of the party) for taking him into the party. But the chief minister should answer how Bhati secured bail in just three days after his arrest when he was found with two passports at the Mumbai airport?”
He added, “How was the charge sheet was filed in a day when the NCP pointed out delay in the case and on what grounds was he (Bhati) provided a security cover?”
The Chembur police are on the lookout for a man and a woman who had allegedly broken into three shops early on Wednesday and had also attempted to steal from two more shops.
The incident occurred on Wednesday between 4.47 am and 5.15 am near Chembur vegetable market. When the shopkeepers arrived on Wednesday morning they noticed the shutters of the shops were open and their goods stolen.
They soon called the police who reached the spot and after going through the CCTV camera footage they came to know that a couple had looted their stores. According to sources, in the footage, a man was seen opening the shutters with a screwdriver. The duo decamped with clothes and cosmetics worth Rs91,800 from the shops.
Sources in the police stated that the faces seen in the CCTV footage are not clear but they are trying to identify the accused using it. They are also investigating in the locality to find clues in the case.
According to the police, thieves thrive on such seasons when people stay out of their houses for a long duration. “House break-ins increase during this season and we appeal people to stay alert and inform us immediately if they come across any information,” said Shahji Umap, deputy commissioner of police, zone 6.
The police have increased night patrolling in order to avoid such incidents.
A case has been registered against the unidentified duo under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code .
The Maharashtra State Pollution Control Board (MPCB) in Thane has issued immediate closure notices to three large scale units in Tarapur MIDC area.
It has also been served show cause notices for causing pollution in the vicinity, particularly water bodies and creeks.
AF Deshmane, regional officer of MPCB in Thane has issued the closure notices to three textile majors and chemical units. All the three units were flouting pollution norms, claimed Deshmane.
“We had ordered the Maha rashtra Industrial Develop ment Corporation (MIDC), Tar apur and Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Limited (MSEDCL), Tarapur to disconnect power and water supply to the three polluting units and they have complied with it,” said the MPCB regiona officer.
According to the MPCB offi cials, the three errant compa nies were discharging untreated effluents in the open which was harmful to the sur rounding environment.
Tarapur is leading among the top five polluted chemical zones in MIDC in Palghar district.