Defence Ministry Clears Acquisition Of Army Hardware Worth ₹84,560 crore
MUMBAI: Former policeman Sachin Waze, an accused in the Antilia bomb scare and businessman Mansukh Hiran murder case, has sought the court's permission to have a laptop in prison to prepare his defence and to write a book.
In the handwritten plea filed before a special court, Waze said he has written various books in Marathi and English, and claimed his book on the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks has been translated to English from Marathi by a renowned author from England.
During the current incarceration, he is working on publishing the extended edition of his book and is also in the process of writing a treatise on anti terrorism and allied laws, Waze said in his plea.
"For this purpose I've already written over 35,000 pages while in detention and referred to more than 20,000 judgments on the subject matter. Without a computer it is impossible for me to access, read, analyze and otherwise examine huge electronic data related to his case," he said.
It will be cumbersome to complete the research for the proposed treatise without accessing electronic copies of judgments and typing extensive documents without software such as MS office, his plea said.
"Under these circumstances it is utmost essential that I must possess and access a computer, preferably a laptop computer while undergoing incarceration," Waze said.
However, the jail authorities opposed his plea citing security concerns in the prison.
The applicant has performed his duties as an officer in the police administration but he is currently accused of very serious illegal activities, the response said.
The jail authorities said if he is allowed to posses a computer then other accused too may make such requests.
There is a high possibility of misusing it (computer) for anti-national activities and anti-administration conspiracy, the jail authorities told court.
On his plan for writing a book, the jail administration said it will be essential to take prior permission of the state government, failing which prison authorities may land in trouble.
The jail authorities cited the example of Pravin Mahajan, arrested for murdering his brother and political leader Pramod Mahajan.
Pravin Mahajan was kept in Arthur Road Jail and his writings in prison, which were published in the form of a book resulted in a big political storm in the the state, it said.
The Maharashtra government had asked the jail administration for its response and it brought disrepute to the prison administration, the response mentioned.
Taking into consideration all these factors and prison security, Waze's plea shouldn't be allowed, the jail authorities said.
The matter will be next heard on February 28.
NEW DELHI: The defence ministry on Friday cleared procurement of military hardware worth ₹84,560 crore including multi-mission maritime aircraft to boost overall combat capabilities of the armed forces.
The procurement proposals were cleared by the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), headed by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.
The proposals cleared by the DAC include new generation anti-tank mines, air defence tactical control radar, heavy weight torpedoes, medium range maritime reconnaissance and multi-mission maritime aircraft, flight refueller aircraft and software defined radios.
The DAC approved procurement of medium range maritime reconnaissance and multimission maritime aircraft for strengthening the surveillance and interdiction capabilities of the Indian Navy and the Indian Coast Guard, the defence ministry said.
A proposal to procure air defence tactical control radar was also approved with an aim to strengthen the air defence systems, especially the capabilities to detect slow, small and low-flying targets, it said.
"In order to enhance the operational efficiency and domination in the tactical battle area for engaging targets that are beyond visual line of sight by the mechanised forces, the AoN (approval of necessity) under Buy (Indian-IDDM) category has been accorded for procurement of canister launched anti-armour loiter munition system," the defence ministry said.
It said the DAC accorded AoN for procurement of Flight Refueller Aircraft for enhancing the operational capabilities and reach of the Indian Air Force.