Mumbai: Legendary actor Dilip Kumar was admitted to Hinduja Hospital at Khar on Sunday morning after he experienced breathing difficulty. NCP president Sharad Pawar called on the actor to inquire about his health condition. The 98-year-old was admitted around 8.30 am. Sources said his condition was stable. “He was unwell today morning and had breathlessness. He is here at Khar Hinduja non-Covid hospital for investigation,” his wife Saira Banu told PTI.

The family also posted an update on Dilip Kumar’s Twitter handle, saying he was admitted for routine tests and investigations. “Dilip Sahab has been admitted …for routine tests and investigations. He’s had episodes of breathlessness. A team of healthcare workers led by Dr Nitin Gokhale is attending to him. Please keep Sahab in your prayers and please stay safe,” the tweet read. The doctors are likely to assess his health condition on Monday and take a call on the further course of treatment.

Pawar’s tweet said, “Visited legendary actor Dilip Kumar at Khar Hinduja Hospital to check on his health and treatment with veteran actress Saira Banu. I wish Dilip Kumar ji speedy recovery and good health”. 

The thespian has been admitted to the same hospital several times last month for health checkups. Kumar, who made his acting debut with ‘Jwar Bhata’ in 1944, has appeared in several iconic films in a career spanning over five decades. He was last seen on the big screen in 1998.

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Sena-run civic body's decision to demolish Kangana Ranaut's home office after her vitriolic attack seems so harebrained that even Sharad Pawar, MVA ally and master tactician, is irked
MID-DAY (September 10, 2020)

After the war of words between actor Kangana Ranaut and Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut, the action in the ugly drama following Sushant Singh Rajput's death moved on ground, with the BMC initiating demolition of the actor's office it deemed illegal. Ruling partner Sharad Pawar said the timing of the action will raise more questions than answers.

The civic body started demolishing the alleged illegal constructions done at actress Kangana Ranaut's Pali Hill office on Wednesday morning but was stopped in its tracks by the Bombay High Court by noon which issued a stay order.

Meanwhile, there were 52,154 complaints against illegal structures across the city between January 2016 and July 2019, as per BMC's reply to an RTI application. Till last year, the BMC acted on 12,157 complaints.

On Wednesday, a team from the H West ward broke the wall and gate of the office during the demolition. Ranaut had approached the court challenging the notice and sought a stay. The high court also questioned the BMC on why it entered the property when the owner was not present at home.

An inspection of the office was done on Monday and a stop-work notice was pasted outside it on Tuesday morning. The notice was served under Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act which gives citizens 24 hours to produce relevant permissions.

On Tuesday evening, Ranaut's lawyer, in his reply to the BMC, asked for more time for the actress to furnish relevant information. On Wednesday, the corporation stuck a fresh notice saying it was not satisfied with the response and that the demolition will be carried out at her own risk and cost.

NCP chief and MVA architect Sharad Pawar said on Wednesday, "The timing of the demolition would raise doubts in the current situation (the actor's row with the Shiv Sena). I do not know the nature of the structural illegality of the office space and illegal work isn't a new thing in the city."

Opposition leader Devendra Fadnavis said, "This is an act of revenge and cowardice. You cannot use government force to maim a person who speaks against you. This has never happened in the history of Maharashtra and the people here will never accept such an act."

94k Plaints In 43 Months
In its reply to an RTI application by activist Shakil Ahmed Shaikh, the BMC said they have received 94,851 complaints of illegal structures in the past three years.

In the span of 43 months from 2016 to 2019, 42,697 were duplicate complaints. Out of the 52,154 unique complaints, maximum complaints were received from L (Kurla) ward at 4,966. K west (Andheri W, Vileparle W) ward received 3,680 complaints and P North (Malad) ward had 3,690 complaints.

The corporation closed 7,230 complaints without notice and issued notices to 21,873 structures. Out of these, 5,461 structures were demolished and 12,157 complaints were closed till July 2019.

"Shiv Sena is taking action against Ranaut's office just to retaliate. There were so many disasters due to illegal constructions — Kamala Mills fire, Bhanu Farsan Mart, Hotel City Kinara, Sai-Siddhi buildings. But the BMC is not keen on taking action against these illegalities," said Shaikh. He added that the BMC spends at least Rs 20 crore on demolitions annually. And annually, an average of 15,000 structures are served notices, while demolition is carried out against 10 to 20 per cent of them.

14 Booked For Protests
While local police were deployed at the actress's office during the demolition to prevent law and order problems, a DCP rank officer was a part of the team that escorted the actress from the airport to her Khar residence.

"It is our duty to protect every citizen and we are committed to it. After her arrival, there were a lot of people protesting against her so we escorted her from another gate of the airport," a senior IPS officer told mid-day.

Police teams continue to be deployed at the actress's office and residence.

Khar police also registered a case against 14 people for unlawful assembly and violating the lockdown as they protested against BMC's demolition drive outside the office. According to the police, they were allegedly brought by a national TV news reporter to demonstrate in support of Ranaut. The protesters came with placards with the slogans #BharatForKangna #IndiaForKangna #WarriorsForSSR. "We are investigating the role of a journalist who brought them at the spot for his coverage. The TV channel was carrying the news with the same hashtags as seen on the protesters' placards," the officer added.

No Quarantine
Mayor Kishori Pednekar said that BMC's action is for the illegal structure and there is nothing wrong in it.

Also, P Velarasu, additional commissioner, said that the actress was exempted from quarantine as there is an online exemption application stating that she is on a short visit. Since she is staying for less than a week, she is exempted under the short term visitor category.

Prafulla Marpakwar (THE TIMES OF INDIA; September 10, 2020)

Mumbai: NCP chief Sharad Pawar has expressed disquiet over the manner in which the BMC demolished a portion of the Bandra bungalow of actor Kangana Ranaut.

The NCP leader has taken the view that the civic action was in haste, and as a result, drew censure from the Bombay high court.

“I have no information on the illegal construction. Illegal and unauthorised constructions are not new for BMC. But questions have been raised, in view of the current situation and timing of the demolition. Certainly, BMC has its own rules; the officials involved in the demolition process must have followed the procedure,” Pawar said.

Later in the day, Pawar had a prolonged meeting with Uddhav Thackeray at Varsha, CM’s official residence. According to reports, they discussed the Ranaut issue, the Supreme Court verdict on Maratha reservation, and the Covid pandemic.

While Congress did not react to Pawar’s statement, senior NCP leaders endorsed his views. “In Mumbai, there are 95,000 unauthorised structures, but BMC is taking action selectively. The demolition has had an adverse impact on the MVA government,” a senior NCP minister told TOI.

Pawar did not name Ranaut, but indicated that undue importance was being given to her comments. “...People of Maharashtra are aware of the confidence and professionalism of the Mumbai as well as Maharashtra Police. If someone compares the force with those in Pakistan or any other country, there is no need to take cognizance. Media should not give undue publicity to such statements.”

On the threat calls received by him, Pawar said home minister Anil Deshmukh has given him the details. “According to information from the home minister, I have received seven calls. In the past too, I had received similar calls, but he never attached importance to them.”
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Governor summons principal advisor to CM, criticises ‘inept handling of Kangana episode’

Prafulla Marpakwar (THE TIMES OF INDIA; September 10, 2020)

Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari showed his displeasure over chief minister Uddhav Thackeray’s “inept handling of the Kangana Ranaut episode”, particularly the haste shown by the Shiv Sena-controlled BMC in demolishing sections of the actor’s Bandra bungalow. Koshyari is likely to submit a report to the Centre on the controversy.

According to reports, Koshyari summoned the CM’s principal advisor Ajoy Mehta to discuss the situation arising out of Ranaut’s statements and demolition of bungalow. “The governor expressed displeasure over the inept handling of the Ranaut episode. Her office was demolished a day after she issued statements against the state government. Mehta was asked to convey Koshyari’s sentiments to Thackeray,” a senior official said.

Koshyari and Thackeray have been at loggerheads ever since the former took over the gubernatorial assignment in 2019. First there was the prolonged row over Thackeray’s nomination on the legislative council as a governor nominee—he was ultimately elected after PM Modi intervened—followed by the issue over conducting final-year exams. The latest flashpoint is the 12 nominations for legislative council seats.

Sujit Mahamulkar & Bella Jaisinghani | TNN (THE TIMES OF INDIA; September 10, 2020)

Mumbai: Kangana Ranaut landed in Mumbai on Wednesday, bearing an arsenal of tweets against chief minister Uddhav Thackeray and BMC which kept circulating in social media through the day. She also posted videos of the demolition of unauthorised extensions in her bungalow, quoted the Bombay high court stay order in her favour, and questioned the silence of “fancy feminists, Bullywood activists, candle march groups and award vapsi gang” which have “no comments on what High Court said about open murder of law and order in Maharashtra”. “Well done, thank you for proving me right always, you all deserve the treatment you get from me," she tweeted.

“Such is the wheel of life. Remember time does not remain the same forever. In fact, I feel you have obliged me. I am now feeling what Kashmiri Pandits must have felt. I will make a film on Ayodhya as well as on Kashmir,” she went on.

At the airport, when she landed, Shiv Sena activists, most of them ground staff of the airport authority, had organised a protest, sources said. With saffron and even black flags, displaying placards with a message condemning the actress over her remarks, they shouted slogans against her. There were also a few from the Republican Party of India (A) and Karni Sena who had gathered in support of her.

Union minister Ramdas Athawale had declared that his RPI workers would provide protection to Kangana during her stay in Mumbai. The sloganeering went on for 40-45 minutes. However, all activists dispersed after they realised she had left the airport through another exit amid police protection.

Earlier, images of her at Chandigarh airport surrounded by a phalanx of security guards drew howls of dismay and cheers in equal measure on social media. Many lamented “wastage of taxpayer money” while others drew comparisons with similar favours done by previous dispensations. The actor was granted Y-Plus security by the Union home ministry in the light of the present controversy.

As for her tweets, they continued intermittently through the day. She said no due process was followed by the BMC in its actions and that the demolitions at her bungalow had damaged her furniture. “Paid sources of Maha government are spreading fake info, BMC never sent any notice to me until yesterday, in fact I got all the documents cleared myself from BMC for renovations. @mybmc at least have the courage to stand by your audacity. Why lie now,” she said.

She claimed a notice against another property owned by her “was not just to me but to entire building... this is not my flat issue but a building issue which builder needs to deal with... this building belongs to Sharad Pawar we bought the flat from his partner so he is answerable for this not me...”

BJP supporters rallied in her favour, some calling her a “lioness” that subdued the state,others offering to back her in her fight.
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BJP slams Maha govt, CM for demolition, calls it vindictive act, case of intolerance

New Delhi: Senior BJP functionaries, including Union ministers, on Wednesday slammed the Shiv Sena-led Maharashtra government over razing of some “illegal alterations” at the bungalow of actress Kangana Ranaut in Mumbai, calling it an example of “intolerance” and “vindictive action” against a woman who was not afraid of speaking the truth.

“An immoral, intolerant government which intimidates its people will perish on its own. A vindictive government can’t threaten its people for too long,” said water resources minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat.

Senior BJP member and former general secretary (organisation) Ram Lal tweeted: ‘The foundations of truth can’t be shaken by hammers of lies’. BJP’s IT cell head Amit Malviya shared data about performance of the Uddhav Thackeray government, alleging how the “Mahaagadi” government’s priorities are misplaced.

BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra said Kangana lost a few bricks but the Thackeray government lost its reputation across the country. “One should ponder as if bricks are more valuable than reputation,” he added.

Party’s secretary Satya Kumar claimed BMC had not taken action against illegal constructions but action against Kangana was taken out of vendetta. “As per a Maharashtra govternment affidavit to Bombay HC, there were around 2.5 lakh illegal constructions in Mumbai, including small buildings to multi-storeyed apartment complexes. How many of them have been demolished, Uddhavji?” Kumar asked.

Goswami was charged with using derogatory language against CM, NCP chief; Ranaut was charged for comparing Mumbai to PoK
Dharmendra Jore (MID-DAY; September 9, 2020)

The Maha Vikas Aghadi members in the Maharashtra Legislature have moved a breach of privilege motion against the editor of a private news channel, Arnab Goswami, and Bollywood actor Kangana Ranaut.

Senior Shiv Sena MLA Pratap Sarnaik submitted the motion against Goswami in the Assembly, charging him for using derogatory language against Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) boss Sharad Pawar.

Congress veteran Bhai Jagtap filed the motion against Kangana in the upper house for comparing Mumbai to Pakistan occupied Kashmir. Both personalities have also been accused of defaming the Mumbai police.

The presiding officers hadn't decided on accepting the motion for further action which includes cross examination of the people involved by a privilege committee of the houses. The committee recommends punishment, including imprisonment, for the guilty. In some instances, journalists, activists and bureaucrats have been punished.

MVA Vs BJP
Sarnaik's motion was supported by parliamentary affair minister Anil Parab, who said Arnab acted like a judge and used foul language against the CM and Pawar. "He is a tin pot journalist, who has been contracted (by some people) to malign the image of our leaders. If this house can make a law to protect journalists from violence, it can also take action against such a journalist," said Parab.

Parab asked the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) whether it gets hurt when someone insults the prime minister. "You should support our move and condemn such journalists," he said. Senior minister Chhagan Bhujbal also spoke in support of the motion. But prompted by certain remarks from the MVA side, the opposition took up a noisy protest. The house was adjourned twice before Deputy speaker Narhari Zirwal said due procedure will be followed.

'What About The PM And Governor?'
Debating the supplementary demand later in the day, opposition leader Devendra Fadnavis asked the government if it wanted to suppress the media by using legislative tools. "We don't support derogatory language against the CM or any other leader. Will you apply the same yardstick to Saamana (Sena's mouthpiece) that uses highly objectionable words against the PM and the Maharashtra governor?

We definitely want the CM to be respected, but we don't like your double standard in respect with the PM and governor," said the ex-CM, adding that he could say the Mumbai police was the best after working five years as the home minister, but didn't understand who put them under pressure to delay and divert the Sushant Singh Rajput death probe. Fadnavis reminded the house that (the CM) Thackeray had also insulted the police by saying that "their ability was restricted to the job of cleaning utensils'.

Priya Gupta (BOMBAY TIMES; February 13, 2014)

Sanjay Gupta’s films are about gangsters, real life incidents and style. We have now learnt that Sanjay is ready to shoot his next film titled Mumbai Saga, which again is based on a real-life gangster of the 80s and the 90s, who changed the skyline of Mumbai. This gangster, being played by John Abraham, will be shown from the age of 22, where he was a vegetable vendor, to the age of 45, when he became a narco smuggler and the ganglord of Mumbai, who ruled the businesses of drugs, arms and real estate. He was responsible for breaking the strong nexus between the mills and the politicians at that time. He, in effect, became the broker for builders and was responsible for buildings being built in place of mills. But he did something so terrible that he had to get his face changed without which he would have been caught. He had turned gangster for the sake of his brother, who he wanted should become a chemical engineer from London. While his brother did become that, ironically, he finally became a gangster himself.

Great actors Anil Kapoor and Manoj Bajpayee return in this Sanjay Gupta film. Interestingly, Anil will be seen playing the leader of the ruling political party then, who was no less than the tiger of Mumbai’s jungle. It’s a no-brainer to guess who that could be.