News Analysis India

Tag: Dilip Walse Patil

  • Maharashtra Home minister to meet with key leaders of all parties before decision on loudspeakers

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: Maharashtra Home Minister Dilip Walse Patil on Wednesday said he will hold a meeting with the key leaders of all political parties and some organisations in the state before a final decision is taken over with the use of loudspeakers.

    He made the comments against the backdrop of a strong pitch made by the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) and the opposition BJP over removing high-decibel loudspeakers installed on mosques.

    Interacting with media persons here, Walse Patil also said that loudspeakers can be installed only after seeking permission from the police as per law.

    He said state’s Director General of Police (DGP) Rajnish Seth held a meeting with the top officials on the issue of loudspeakers on Tuesday and submitted a report in this regard to him on Wednesday.

    “He (Seth) has submitted a report to me on what situation may arise in the state over the next some days and steps to be taken in that regard,” the minister added.

    Walse Patil, without naming anyone, reiterated that attempts are being made to disturb law and order in the state and added that the government has taken a “serious view” of the same.

    He requested everyone to desist from taking law into their hands, escalating conflicts and dividing communities.

    “Strict action will be taken if anyone does this and peace will be established,” he added.

    Walse Patil said that the Supreme Court had passed a judgement on noise pollution in 2005, and added the state government had issued some government resolutions (GR) in that regard in 2015 and 2017.

    “Instruction will be issued to authorities concerned to implement the same.

    But before taking a final decision in this regard, I will hold a meeting with leaders of key parties in the state to discuss the issue.

    “I will hold discussions with some organisations as well. After that, a final decision will be made,” he added.

    To a question, Walse Patil said MNS chief Raj Thackeray, who had made a strong pitch for removing loudspeakers from mosques earlier this month, will also be invited for the meeting.

    Walse Patil, however, did not specify the date when the meeting will be held.

    The minister also said he will welcome if people follow the Supreme Court order (on noise pollution) on their own.

    To another question, Walse Patil said Aurangabad police commissioner has received letters seeking to disallow Thackeray’s planned rally in Aurangabad city, and added that cops will take a call in this regard assessing the local situation.

    Walse Patil also said that there is no reason for the government “to oppose if anyone installs CCTVs at temples or any other place of prayers voluntarily” from a security point of view.

    He was replying to a question on the MNS reportedly demanding installation of CCTVs in mosques.

    Asked whether loudspeakers installed without permissions on temples or mosques will be removed, Walse Patil said that it is not the government’s responsibility “to install or remove loudspeakers”.

    “One who wishes to install a loudspeaker, should do so as per law, seeking police permission.

    Loudspeakers cannot be installed if there is no police permission.

    “Those who install loudspeakers, they will have to follow the SC order and government’s GRs,” he added.

    Replying to a query, the minister said the government has inputs about pockets in the state, where the situation may be tense and added that the police have been asked to be fully prepared to face such situations.

    Walse Patil said there is no need to give importance to Amravati MP Navneet Rana and her MLA-husband Ravi Rana’s talk of reading ‘Hanuman Chalisa’ outside Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray’s official residence ‘Varsha’ here.

    Raj Thackeray has earlier asked the MVA government to remove loudspeakers from mosques by May 3, citing noise pollution, and threatened to play Hanuman Chalisa outside mosques in a higher volume if his demand was not met.

    The BJP has supported Raj Thackeray’s demand.

  • Maharashtra Home Minister Dilip Walse Patil halts speech for ‘azaan’; criticizes MNS chief Raj Thackeray over recent statement

    By PTI

    PUNE: Amid a controversial statement by MNS chief Raj Thackeray on countering azaan from mosque loudspeakers with Hanuman Chalisa, Maharashtra Home Minister Dilip Walse Patil halted his speech in Pune’s Shirur area when the Muslim call for prayer was being made nearby.

    A video of the incident went viral on social media platforms.

    His cabinet colleague Ajit Pawar had done something similar while speaking in Pune some time ago.

    Speaking at another event in the district, Walse Patil said there are several real issues such as petrol price hike, inflation, unemployment and the poor economic condition of the country to talk about, but attempts are being to create tension between communities.

    Criticizing Thackeray’s statement on azaan, he said Muslims have faith in their religion, while Hindus have faith in their religion.

    “Instead of thinking about welfare, education and development, there is an attempt to create conflict between two communities and make the country’s politics unstable.

    This can lead to the country getting weakened, after which we will not be able to live in harmony,” Walse Patil said.

    He added that the police will look into such statements.

    “Some people have decided to go to court. After court orders, we will take appropriate measures,” he said.

  • Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray denies being miffed with NCP’s handling of home ministry

    Express News Service

    MUMBAI: Amid the crackdown by central probe agencies against Maha Vikas Aghadi leaders, the Shiv Sena is said to be miffed with ally NCP’s handling of the home ministry, especially the soft treatment of BJP leaders.

    Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, however, denied that he was upset with Home Minister Dilip Walse-Patil, who belongs to the NCP.

    The CM’s Office released a statement quoting Thackeray as saying that he had full trust and faith in his cabinet colleagues and that Walse-Patil was doing a good job. The clarification came after the minister met the CM at his bungalow on Friday noon.

    Thackeray later met the home minister again along with Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut in an attempt to address the growing unrest among his party leaders, who feel that the home department should have been kept with the Sena.

    The Shiv Sena chief was said to be unhappy with Walse-Pail’s reply in the Assembly to former chief minister Devendra Fadnavis’ allegation that the MVA government was conspiring to frame up BJP leaders in false cases.

    The NCP minister had announced a probe by the CID into the matter. Raut, too, had made his displeasure with the home department public saying the action taken by Central agencies like the ED against Maharashtra leaders was an attack on the state home department.

    After the meeting, however, he said,  usually the CM holds the home portfolio butMVA was a three-party government and there were limitations. Hence, the Sena could not keep all important portfolios with it.

    Earlier, Shiv Sena leader Chandrakant Khaire had also demanded that the home department should be with the party. “During the recent Maharashtra assembly session, Leader of Opposition Devendra Fadnavis brought a pen drive and ‘exposed’ the government, but home minister Dilip Walse-Patil gave a meek response. There are many cases registered against BJP leaders, but the home department has developed cold feet,” said a senior Shiv Sena leader.

  • Witnesses turning hostile, ATS lawyers to be present at Malegaon blast trial: Maharashtra Home Minister Dilip Walse-Patil

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: Noting that prosecution witnesses in the 2008 Malegaon blast case are turning hostile, Maharashtra Home Minister Dilip Walse-Patil on Saturday said the lawyers of the state ATS would attend the ongoing trial before the special NIA court.

    The case had been initially investigated by the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad before the National Investigation Agency (NIA) took it over.

    “Recently some witnesses have turned hostile…we will have our lawyers present in the court during the hearing from now on,” Walse-Patil told reporters.

    The Additional Chief Secretary (Home) would communicate with the central agency on this, he added.

    Earlier this week, state Congress working president and former Minister of State for Home Naseem Khan had met additional director general of police Vineet Agarwal who heads the ATS over the issue.

    In a memorandum to the ATS, Khan demanded that ATS lawyers be present in the NIA court here during the trial.

    The accused in the case include Pragya Singh Thakur, the BJP MP from Bhopal who is out on bail.

    So far, 16 out of 223 witnesses who deposed have turned hostile, accusing the ATS of torturing and forcing them to give false statements, Khan had said in the memo, adding that to defend the state and ATS’ image, its lawyers should be present in the court.

    Six people were killed and over 100 injured when an explosive device strapped to a motorcycle went off near a mosque in Malegaon, a communally sensitive town in north Maharashtra, on September 29, 2008.

  • Centre has initiated disciplinary proceedings against Param Bir Singh: Maharashtra Home Minister Dilip Walse Patil

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: The Centre has initiated disciplinary proceedings against suspended IPS officer Param Bir Singh, Maharashtra Home Minister Dilip Walse Patil said in the state Assembly on Wednesday.

    Singh was placed under suspension earlier this month after he was named as an accused in multiple cases of extortion in Mumbai and Thane.

    The former Mumbai police commissioner had earlier accused then state home minister Anil Deshmukh of corruption.

    On Wednesday, Walse Patil submitted a written reply in the Lower House in response to a question asked by Abu Asim Azmi (of the Samajwadi Party), during the Question Hour on the first day of the state legislature’s winter session.

    “The Centre has initiated proceedings for disciplinary action under the All India Service Rules against Param Bir Singh,” the minister said.

    He said the state home department has got recommendation for the suspension of 28 police officials.

    The home department has got information of serious offences involving 30 police officials, including Param Bir Singh, he said.

    The state Director General of Police (DGP) has given a proposal for their suspension to ensure free and fair probe into the charges against them, Walse Patil said.

    The home department has sought more details into the charges against them.

    These officials include five deputy commissioners of police (DCPs) and five assistant commissioners of police (ACPs), he said.

    So far, Param Bir Singh and Parag Manere (who served as the DCP) have been suspended, the minister informed.

    Meanwhile, during discussions over a question on illegal sand trafficking, Maharashtra Revenue Minister Balasaheb Thorat told the House that the state government will “fix the offset price for auction at Rs 600”.

    There is also a plan to reduce the time period to take a decision on the auction, and also consider invoking provisions of the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) after discussing the same with the law and judiciary department, he said.

    So far, penalty amounting to Rs 1.21 crore has been recovered for illegal sand trafficking, he added.

  • Panel to probe incidents during protest against Tripura violence in Maharashtra

    Express News Service

    MUMBAI: Maharashtra Home Minister Dilip Walse Patil on Sunday said that they will set up the probe panel to investigate the violence that occurred during the protest against Tripura violence in some parts of Maharashtra.

    Patil said that the police are collecting information such as who had sought permission for the protests, participants and people who indulged in stone-pelting, damaging the shops and other untoward incidents in Malegaon, Amravati, Parbhani and Nanded.

    “The panel will probe all these things through every angle such as anyone deliberately instigated the violence, delivered hate and inflammatory speeches, sharing videos and messages on social media etc.

    “Besides, after the minority protest in Amravati, during the BJP bandh, the stone pelting and damaging shops incident took place that incident will be also probed by the panel. Whether this was preplanned or natural reactions? The situation in Amravati is peaceful. However as precautionary measures, the curfew has been imposed and even internet service has been suspended for the next four days in Amravati,” the home minister said.

    ALSO READ | Tripura violence: Two Delhi-based women journalists detained by Assam police

    Meanwhile, the state home minister also confirmed that Milind Teltumad, who was a central member of the Maoist organisation, was killed in the anti-rebel operation in Gadchiroli on Saturday. Patil said it was a big and successful operation that will be noted in the history of India.

    “Gadchiroli police carried out the operation for more than ten hours on Saturday at the dense forest area of Gadchiroli. The death of Milind Teltumade is a big achievement of our police force. There was Rs 50 lakh bounty over Temtumade for the several years.

    “In this operation, 26 Maoists were killed that including 20 males and 6 females. The police also recovered 29 weapons from these deceased Maoists that include AK-47, SLR, AK with UBGL attachment, 303, 12 bore, pistol etc,” Patil added.

    Eknath Shinde, Guardian Minister of Gadchiroli said that in this major anti-rebel operation, four jawans got injured, however, they are fine. “I personally spoke with two jawans over the phone. We congratulate them on such big operations. We have deployed additional force in this area for a few more days. The situation is under control but we are taking utmost care and precautions if there is any retaliation,” the minister said.

  • Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray to write to PM Modi over NCB’s ‘harassment’ on celebrities

    Express News Service

    MUMBAI: Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray will write to Prime Minister Narendra Modi raising concern over the malafide actions of Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) and other central agencies on Bollywood celebrities and extorting them as it will have an adverse impact on Mumbai and the country’s economy.

    Maharashtra minister Nawab Malik met Thackeray and home minister Dilip Walse Patil demanding a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe into the allegations of NCB’s malafide raid and extortion racket. Malik said that the chief minister also raised concerns over the the anti-drug agency’s malafide raids on Bollywood personalities on flimsy charges and the following harassment.

    “The chief minister said that after Hollywood, Bollywood is the only major entertainment industry in the world which not only spreads our culture but generates jobs as well. The industry’s contribution is two to three per cent in they country’s GDP and if it is damaged, then not only Mumbai will suffer but the country’s economy will also,” Malik said

    Meanwhile, the NCB has formed a five-member team to probe extortion charges against is Mumbai zonal director Sameer Wankhede.

    A five-member NCB team including deputy DG (North) Gyaneshwar Singh will leave Delhi for Mumbai on Wednesday to probe the charges against Wankhede of extortion, planting drugs and framing Bollywood celebrities along with politicians .

    NCP spokesperson Sanjay Tatkare alleged, “Gyaneshwar Singh is the same person, who not only defended the agency’s functioning but also protected Wankhede as well  after minsiter Nawab Malik’s big expose on the involvement of a private citizen (KP Gosavi) and BJP leader Manish Bhanushali in the cruise party raid case. So, how can we expect a fair probe against Wankhede,” Tatkare alleged.

    Prabhakar Sail, an independent witness in the cruise drugs case, had on Sunday revealed in an affidavit and a video message that Wankhede, his middle man Sam D’Souza and Gosavi had demanded Rs 25 crore from Bollywood star Shahrukh Khan to release his son from a drug case.

    ALSO READ| NCB Mumbai director Sameer Wankhede visits Delhi headquarters

    He had also alleged that Sameer Wankhede had forcibly taken his signature as a witness on ten blank pages in the cruise raid case.

    Meanwhile, Malik, who welcomed the NCB’s probe against Wankhede, also submitted another set of  allegations against Sameer Wankhede where it was alleged that Wankhede used to plant drugs in celebrities’ houses, frame them and extort money later.

    The ‘Special 26’ charges against Wankhede was anonymously shared by the NCB officer with Malik by post. The NCP leader submitted it to the NCB asking the charges are very serious in nature and it should should be included as part of their probe against Wankhede.

    Reacting to this anonymous letter, NCB’s deputy DG (South-West) Mutha Ashok Jain said that they have received the letter and decided to take cognizance of the same.

    Malik further alleged that Wankhede was illegally intercepting phones of some people with the help of two private citizens in Mumbai and Thane and also said that Wankhede is checking the call records of the minister’s daughters. “He is intruding into a citizen’s privacy by intercepting their mobiles phone and then trapping and framing them. This is a syndicated crime that has to be probed fairly,” Malik said.

    ALSO READ| Prabhakar Sail stands by allegation of extortion attempt in Aryan Khan drugs case

    He also asked the Wankhede family that if the birth certificate of Sameer Wankhede shared by him is fake then they should share his original certificate and added that a complaint will be filed in the alleged fake caste certificate case.

    “ManyDalit activists and organisations are in touch with me and soon they will be filing a complaint. Wankhede has snatched the right of an eligible SC student for becoming an IRS officer by using a false certificate,” the minister said.

    Meanwhile, senior lawyer and former attorney-general Mukul Rohatgi made a strong argument in the Bombay High Court during the hearing for the bail application of Aryan Khan. He said that though Aryan neither had possession of nor did he consume any drug, he was still sent to jail for 20 days.

    Justice NW Sambre of the Bombay HC adjourned the hearing on Wednesday where the bail plea of other accused Arbaz Merchant and Munmum Dhamecha will be also heard.

  • Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray to write to PM Modi over NCB’s ‘harassment’ of celebrities

    Express News Service

    MUMBAI: Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray will write to Prime Minister Narendra Modi raising concerns about what he sees as the malafide actions of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) and other central agencies against Bollywood celebrities as he believes these will have an adverse impact on Mumbai’s and the country’s economy.

    Maharashtra minister Nawab Malik met Thackeray and home minister Dilip Walse Patil demanding a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe into the allegations of NCB’s malafide raid and extortion racket. Malik said that the chief minister also raised concerns over the the anti-drug agency’s malafide raids on Bollywood personalities on flimsy charges and the following harassment.

    ALSO READ| Mumbai Police record Prabhakar Sail’s statement over extortion allegation

    “The chief minister said that after Hollywood, Bollywood is the only major entertainment industry in the world which not only spreads our culture but generates jobs as well. The industry’s contribution is two to three per cent in they country’s GDP and if it is damaged, then not only Mumbai will suffer but the country’s economy will also,” Malik said

    The NCB has formed a five-member team to probe extortion charges against its Mumbai zonal director Sameer Wankhede.

    A five-member NCB team including deputy DG (North) Gyaneshwar Singh will leave Delhi for Mumbai on Wednesday to probe the charges against Wankhede of extortion, planting drugs and framing Bollywood celebrities along with politicians .

    NCP spokesperson Sanjay Tatkare alleged, “Gyaneshwar Singh is the same person, who not only defended the agency’s functioning but also protected Wankhede as well  after minsiter Nawab Malik’s big expose on the involvement of a private citizen (KP Gosavi) and BJP leader Manish Bhanushali in the cruise party raid case. So, how can we expect a fair probe against Wankhede,” Tatkare alleged.

    Prabhakar Sail, an independent witness in the cruise drugs case, had on Sunday revealed in an affidavit and a video message that Wankhede, his middle man Sam D’Souza and Gosavi had demanded Rs 25 crore from Bollywood star Shahrukh Khan to release his son from a drug case.

    ALSO READ| NCB Mumbai director Sameer Wankhede visits Delhi headquarters

    He had also alleged that Sameer Wankhede had forcibly taken his signature as a witness on ten blank pages in the cruise raid case.

    Meanwhile, Malik, who welcomed the NCB’s probe against Wankhede, also submitted another set of  allegations against Sameer Wankhede where it was alleged that Wankhede used to plant drugs in celebrities’ houses, frame them and extort money later.

    The ‘Special 26’ charges against Wankhede was anonymously shared by the NCB officer with Malik by post. The NCP leader submitted it to the NCB asking the charges are very serious in nature and it should should be included as part of their probe against Wankhede.

    Reacting to this anonymous letter, NCB’s deputy DG (South-West) Mutha Ashok Jain said that they have received the letter and decided to take cognizance of the same.

    Malik further alleged that Wankhede was illegally intercepting phones of some people with the help of two private citizens in Mumbai and Thane and also said that Wankhede is checking the call records of the minister’s daughters. “He is intruding into a citizen’s privacy by intercepting their mobiles phone and then trapping and framing them. This is a syndicated crime that has to be probed fairly,” Malik said.

    ALSO READ| Prabhakar Sail stands by allegation of extortion attempt in Aryan Khan drugs case

    He also asked the Wankhede family that if the birth certificate of Sameer Wankhede shared by him is fake then they should share his original certificate and added that a complaint will be filed in the alleged fake caste certificate case.

    “ManyDalit activists and organisations are in touch with me and soon they will be filing a complaint. Wankhede has snatched the right of an eligible SC student for becoming an IRS officer by using a false certificate,” the minister said.

    Meanwhile, senior lawyer and former attorney-general Mukul Rohatgi made a strong argument in the Bombay High Court during the hearing for the bail application of Aryan Khan. He said that though Aryan neither had possession of nor did he consume any drug, he was still sent to jail for 20 days.

    Justice NW Sambre of the Bombay HC adjourned the hearing on Wednesday where the bail plea of other accused Arbaz Merchant and Munmum Dhamecha will be also heard.

  • Police protection given to cruise drugs case witness Prabhakar Sail: Maharashtra Home Minister

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: Maharashtra Home Minister Dilip Walse Patil on Monday said police protection has been given to Prabhakar Sail, an independent witness in the drugs-on-cruise case who has claimed Rs 25 crore was demanded by an NCB official and other persons to let off Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan’s son Aryan Khan in the case.

    Sail visited the Mumbai police commissioner’s office in the morning and met Joint Commissioner of Police (crime) Milind Bharambhe, an official said.

    He later approached the Sahar police in suburban Mumbai, seeking security whenever he comes to meet his wife, children and mother-in-law, who live in the Sahar village here, officials said.

    Walse Patil, speaking to reporters in Mumbai, said, “Prabhakar Sail has been given police protection. However, as I have not met (minister and party colleague) Nawab Malik yet, I can not comment on what he had indicated earlier.”

    ALSO READ: Court refuses to pass blanket order over Wankhede plea on witness ‘extortion’ affidavit

    Malik claimed earlier in the day that Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) zonal director Sameer Wankhede used forged documents, including his birth certificate.

    Malik tweeted a photo of the purported certificate, saying “Sameer Dawood Wankhede ka yahan se shuru hua furjiwada. (Sameer Dawood Wankhede’s document forging started from here).”

    Wankhede, an IRS officer of the 2008 batch, slammed the minister, saying his action was defamatory in nature and an invasion of his family’s privacy.

    “I had a brief discussion about this issue (alleged forging of documents by Wankhede) with Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray. I was here to attend a meeting related to another topic,” Walse Patil said while responding to a question about the meeting.

    “Central agencies have been so active for the first time in history. I have never seen such activism earlier in my career by one government against another,” said the home minister in response to another query.

    ALSO READ: NCB’s Wankhede slams minister Nawab Malik over forged birth certificate claims 

    On Sunday, Sail told media persons that he feared a threat to his life.

    The witness had claimed Rs 25 crore was demanded by an official of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) and other persons, including absconding witness K P Gosavi, to let off Aryan Khan in the cruise drugs case.

    Sail had said he overheard Gosavi telling one Sam D’Souza over the phone, after Aryan Khan was brought to the NCB office following the October 3 raid on the cruise ship about a demand of Rs 25 crore and “to settle at Rs 18 crore as they have to give Rs eight crore to Sameer Wankhede”, the zonal director of NCB.

    However, a senior NCB official had denied the allegations, terming them as “completely false and malicious”.

    Wankhede on Sunday wrote to Mumbai police commissioner Hemant Nagrale, seeking protection from likely legal action “being planned” against him by unknown persons to falsely frame him concerning an alleged vigilance related issue.

  • Terror suspect nabbed by Delhi cops was under watch, no intelligence failure by Maha police: Minister

    The Delhi Police #39;s Special Cell on Tuesday busted a Pakistan-organised terror module with the arrest of six men out of whom one person hails from Mumbai.