New Delhi, October 11
As part of its ongoing probe into the alleged nexus between officials and builders in carrying out unauthorised constructions in the Capital, the CBI today conducted searches at the premises of 15 MCD officials, including a Secretary rank official formerly posted as Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Civil Lines Zone and 3 SEs, and 13 builders.

The CBI searched the residential premises of BRS Rathore, former DC of Civil Lines Zone who is currently posted as Secretary with Delhi Government’s SCERT, three Executive Engineers — Nazrul Islam (Civil Lines Zone), S P Gautam (Shadara Zone) and A K Gupta (South Zone), sources said.

Besides, searches were conducted at the premises of 9 Assistant Engineers (AE) and Junior Engineers (JE).

These include S R Pal, N K Kaushik and R C Meena (all Civil Lines Zone) and Anil Kumar (South Zone). Among the JEs raided today are Rajeev Narang, B P Rathore, Kuldeep Singh and Rohtas Singh.

The builders whose premises were searched include B P Choudhary, who had constructed a huge commercial complex on MG Road in South Delhi which has now been sealed; Rajender

Tyagi, who constructed a shopping complex named Rajender Tyagi Complex in Burari in North Delhi; Rampal, who constructed a shopping arcade on government land on 100 ft road in Burari and Mohammad Farhan, who constructed a four-storey building at a public park.

During the searches, the CBI claimed to have recovered Rs 35 lakh from Rathore’s residence at 18, Delhi Government Officers’ Flats, Greater Kailash-I. It also claimed to have recovered documents pertaining to shares and property from a premises in Noida.

The CBI also claimed to have recovered a large number of documents indicating amassing of wealth and property beyond the known sources of income which would be scrutinised.

The CBI also claimed to have detected several illegal commercial and residential buildings, which were supposed to have been demolished as per Delhi High Court order, standing intact.

It charged that wrong affidavits had been filed before the court about the compliance of the order by MCD officials.

The searches were conducted after the CBI filed five ‘regular

cases’ yesterday regarding collusion of MCD officials with private individuals and builders to allow unauthorised construction and encroachments in the Capital.

With these five cases, the total number of cases registered by the CBI in this regard as gone up to 10.

It may be recalled that Delhi High Court, acting on a PIL, had directed the CBI to probe the ‘nexus’ between politicians, officials and builders in unauthorised constructions in the Capital.

New Delhi, October 11
Three weeks after the first dengue death was reported in the national Capital, the spread of the mosquito-borne disease continued unchecked with 72 new cases reported in Delhi today, taking the total number of affected people to 1,111.

Of these, 709 are from Delhi, while the rest are from neighbouring states.

Taking note of the increasing cases, the Health Minister, Mr Anbumani Ramadoss, today visited the AIIMS to take stock of the situation. During his half-an-hour visit, he met dengue patients in various wards of the hospital. At present, 179 patients are under treatment at the institute. Most of the patients admitted to the AIIMS are from Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan.

He confirmed that during the last 24 hours, no death of dengue patient was reported at AIIMS.

The Municipal Health Officer said that 72 cases of dengue were reported today from various hospitals of Delhi. Now, the total number of dengue cases has shot up to 1,111.

In an effort to get a grip over the situation, the health department of Delhi convened a review meeting to discuss the situation, the Health Secretary said.

During the meeting, the officials talked about the colonies identified as the dengue-prone and the measures being taken to control the growth of mosquitoes in these areas, he said, adding that the issue of availability of blood in 53 licensed blood banks in Delhi was also discussed.

Meanwhile, Delhi chief minister, Ms Sheila Dikshit, has expressed concern over the growing cases of the dengue and urged upon the medical community to devise innovative and cost effective strategy to contain the spread of such ailments.

Inaugurating a seven-day MTNL Perfect Health Mela, she called upon the medical professionals to check the increasing commercialisation of medical services and the costly diagnosis and surgical procedures that were out of the reach of the common man.

The dengue, caused by the bite of the female Aedes aegypti mosquito, which breeds in stagnant water, is marked by high fever, skin rashes and joint pain. A sharp drop in blood platelet count can prove fatal.

New Delhi, October 11
The Leader of Opposition in the MCD, Mr Subhash Arya, and BJP councillor Vijender Gupta today accused Delhi Jal Board (DJB) of not taking adequate measures to prevent mosquito breeding, alleging that 50 per cent of the total water supplied by the Board were found leaking from pipes at various parts in the city providing a source for breeding of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes.

They said that Aedes mosquito breeds in clean stagnant water and water leaked from the pipes was clean. The government should direct the DJB to make repair of pipes wherever leakages were noticed, they demanded.

“Health is fundamental duty of the MCD but it failed on all fronts. This issue was raised in the July, but the Congress-ruled corporation did nothing to control the dengue. When it has spread across the city, the government is now issuing advertisements creating awareness among the citizens,” the two leaders alleged.

They also criticised the corporation for being late in buying granule liquid medicine that can kill larva of mosquito. “The MCD has purchased the medicine when the disease has afflicted thousands of people,” they said.

Both the leaders claimed that the MCD used to launch a sanitation-cum-cleanliness drive before the beginning of the festival season. But this year no such drive had been launched, they added.

They alleged that vehicles used for transportation of garbage were not functioning properly. “About 30 per cent of the total fleet remains standstill at workshops. The supply of diesel is also not regular. Lime and phenyl are also not available in Municipal stores,” they alleged.

New Delhi, October 11
The Expenditure Finance Committee (EFC) of the Delhi Government has given its nod to four projects of the Public Works Department. The projects were cleared in an EFC meeting presided over by the Delhi Finance and Planning Minister, Dr A.K. Walia.

Briefing the media after the meeting, Dr Walia said that the Master Plan Road No. 102 from DDA Chilla Sports Complex to Khoda Chowk in Mayur Vihar Phase-II would be widened from 4 to 6 lane at an estimated cost of Rs 9.96 crore. This work will be completed by July 2007.

Dr Walia added that the widened road would ultimately link the DDA Chilla Sports Complex to NH 24 via New Kondli area, relocated Khari Baoli Market & Fish Market. He further said that the EFC had also approved strengthening of Road No. 66 from Gokulpuri Flyover to the GT Road at an estimated cost of Rs 6.03 crore within 12 months.

Dr Walia said the EFC had also cleared construction of a service road along Agra Canal from Kalindi Kunj to Palla Bridge at an estimated cost of Rs 5.83 crore within six months.

This would replace a ‘kachcha’ road at the same place and facilitate the smooth and safe movement of vehicular traffic.

The parking space on Marginal Bond Road near Lalita Park to Bank Enclave side would be reconstructed at an estimated cost of Rs 1.44 crore within 12 months.

Noida, October 11
In spite of child labour having been banned in the country from Tuesday, a large number of minors continue to work in Noida shops, factories, brick-kilns, restaurants and households. While the child workers are not aware of the law passed to safeguard their future, those employing them feign ignorance. The labour department officials said they would launch an inspection campaign from October 16 to 31 in the district. The officials, however, confessed that they had no alternative plan to rehabilitate the workers.

According to data compiled by a private agency, between 20,000 and 25,000 child workers are being exploited in Noida daily. It is surprising that the labour department has not taken any step so far to stop this illegal child labour. All that they do is to give out a small press note for publicity in newspapers from time to time.

The campaign to be launched on October 16 will identify the places where systematic exploitation of child labour is flourishing. While most of the child workers come to work out of poverty, the employers not only pay less wages to the minor workers but also ill-treat them.

The labour department will now serve notices to all those guilty of employing children and ask them to explain as to why action should not be taken against them under the law, the Assistant Commissioner, Labour said. The guilty can be punished with a fine of Rs 20,000 and one-year imprisonment. A case can be filed against them under the CJM’s court also, Mr Joshi said. “If we have 1,000 child workers, we can send a proposal to the government. There is a provision under which 50 students can be admitted to each school,” the Asst Commissioner said.

Gurgaon, October 11
Welcoming the decision of the Central government of banning all types of child labour, the Bonded Labour Liberation Front (BLLF) has raised the issue of rehabilitation of such children.

The general secretary of the BLLF, Prof Sheotaj Singh, said that there would be now no difference between hazardous and non-hazardous works for the children as they could not be employed anywhere. But the country at present has millions of children in different workstations, and there is no rehabilitation package for them in the notification, added Mr Sheotaj.

The family circumstances, poverty or otherwise, force them to work in different sectors from 8 to 12 hours a day, he added. The government side by side must ensure the rehabilitation of these children, otherwise the notification would make no difference on their workings and future, demanded the general secretary.

Gurgaon District Magistrate R P Bhardwaj informed that the administration has already started formulating action plans for identification and rehabilitation of child labour.

The administration has taken various steps to sensitize the people in this regard.

The officer informed that the Central government intended to prohibit the employment of child labour as domestic servants on ‘dhaba’ or roadside eateries, restaurants, hotels, motels, tea-shops, resorts or other recreational centres by adding the same in part A of the schedule appended to the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986.

Gurgaon, October 11
Honda Motors and Scooter India Limited (HMSI) signed an agreement with their labour union representatives at a ceremony held at plant in Manesar yesterday. This pledge was taken jointly in the presence of all workers and the senior management as an endeavour towards setting standards in production, productivity, quality and customer satisfaction. The agreement is for three years.

Mr Yukihiro Aoshima, president and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), HMSI, said that Honda believed that the mutual trust and respect between the management and the union would become stronger in the years to come. The two-wheeler market is currently growing at the rate of 15% per annum of which motorcycles are growing at the rate of 20% per annum.

Honda’s current market share is 6 per cent and in the years to come, the company intends to take it up to 10 per cent, revealed Mr Aoshima.

The plant is currently producing 12 lakh vehicles per year and with the co-operation of the workers, the company will be successful in increasing its rate of growth in the years to come and give the workers a brighter future, added the company president.

Mr Suresh Gaur, president, labour union of HMSI, said that the union was a representation of the workers and they always worked towards solving their problems and improving their standards of living.

This pledge is a symbol of renewed dedication and commitment from both the management and the workers to create new benchmarks in industrial relations and take the company to new heights, added Mr Gaur.

Established in 1999, HMSI is a wholly owned subsidiary of Honda Motor Company Japan. With last year’s turnover at Rs 1,700 crore, HMSI is India’s 4th largest manufacturer of two wheelers and the largest manufacturer and exporter of scooters in India, informed a senior officer of the company.

Honda uses non-asbestos and lead-free environment-friendly material in manufacturing its products, thereby fulfilling its responsibility as an eco-friendly company, he added.

New Delhi, October 11
Intensifying their agitation on the sealing issue, Delhi traders today announced they were observing an ‘anti-sealing week’.

The week, starting from today, will be marked by putting large hoardings, banners and posters across Delhi, the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) said in a statement.

A meeting was called by trade leaders in Delhi today, in which the action plan for the ‘anti-sealing week’ was decided. — PTI

New Delhi, October 11
The Delhi High Court today reiterated its earlier order directing the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) to provide basic amenities to the students in all schools run by it within three months.

A division bench said the MCD should provide basic amenities to the students in a stipulated timeframe.

Forty-five schools being run in tents should be shifted to concrete buildings and water coolers be fixed in six months, the court said.

All the government schools should have grievance cells to invite complaints from the students, the court directed, while hearing a PIL by Advocate Ashok Agrawal.

The Director of Schools (Primary Education) of Delhi Government 
submitted that concrete buildings of at least 45 schools were under construction and might take another two years for shifting the students from the tents.

The government was initiating action to provide water coolers in all the schools, said the director.

New Delhi, October 11
The CBI has filed chargesheet against a Delhi police official for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 60,000 for releasing the passports he had taken from a travel agent.

Filing the chargesheet in the court of a Special Judge, the CBI accused Sub-Inspector Hukam Singh under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. The case was registered on October 3, 2005, on a written complaint by one Rajavara Prasad, a resident of Hyderabad, who accused the official of demanding Rs two lakh for releasing the passports taken over by him.

The matter was settled for Rs 60,000. However, Prasad informed the probe agency which laid a trap and caught the sub-inspector while he was allegedly accepting the bribe, the chargesheet said.

Hukum Singh, posted at Pahar Ganj here, had also threatened Prasad that he would be in trouble if he complained the matter to his seniors. Prasad, a travel agent from Hyderabad, had come to Delhi for arranging tickets for his client, the chargesheet said. 

New Delhi, October 11
The Narcotics Branch of the Delhi Police today claimed to have seized 23.25 kgs of heroin (brown sugar) worth Rs 23 crore in the international market from three inter-state drug traffickers in the last two days.

Following a tip-off, one Sohail¸ a ‘drug trafficker’ from Uttar Pradesh, was arrested when he was allegedly on his way to deliver a consignment in front of Gagan Cinema. Around 17 kgs of heroin was allegedly seized from his bag. During interrogation, the accused allegedly confessed to having indulged in the trafficking of the heroin from Rampur in UP to Delhi, Mumbai, West Bengal and Ghaziabad.

In another incident, one Ayyub, hailing from Rajasthan, was arrested yesterday near Dhaula Kuan allegedly with 6 kgs of heroin. On interrogation, he allegedly told the police that he used to prepare heroine from opium, as most of the farmers in his vicinity were engaged in opium cultivation.

In yet another incident, one Delhi-based lady drug peddler Saraswati, a resident of Sunder Nagari, was apprehended on charges of possessing 225 grams of heroine near Nand Nagari yesterday.

According to the police, the woman has already been facing trial in two cases of violation of the NDPS Act.

Further investigations are on and separate teams have been dispatched to Rampur and Mandsaur districts for tracing the source of supply, a police official claimed.

New Delhi, October 11
A 35-year-old woman was allegedly stabbed to death by her husband following an altercation in Patel Nagar area of West Delhi.

Kiran was stabbed by her husband, Rakesh, who suspected her of infidelity, yesterday night at their Sangam Colony residence in Patel Nagar after she confronted him over his allegation, said sources. Quarrel between them began after Kiran, who had kept ‘Karva Chauth’ fast, waited for Rakesh till late in the evening.

The husband’s late arrival infuriated Kiran and she shouted at him which was followed by an argument that turned ugly. In a fit of rage, Rakesh, who worked in a factory at Mayapuri, allegedly stabbed her to death.

The couple had three sons - aged 14, 12 and 8.

Police said they had registered a case and were trying to get Rakesh who was absconding. 

New Delhi, October 11
A minor fire broke out in a generator room at the AIIMS here today.

The fire was spotted immediately after it broke out at around 01:30 pm. Three fire tenders were rushed to the hospital, fire brigade officials said.

The generator room is owned by the NDMC.

Greater Noida, October 11
A married woman was allegedly poisoned to death today by her in-laws over dowry demands. Relatives of Manju, in a complaint with police, alleged that her husband and in-laws in Kasna village had been asking for Rs 1 lakh in cash and a car.

When her parents could not meet the demand they killed her, the complaint said.

A case has been registered at Kasna police station against seven named accused, all of whom are absconding. — PTI

New Delhi, October 11
With the arrest of four persons – Ramji Lal (26), Ajay (20), Pawan (24) and Manoj (21) – from Kalyanpuri area in East Delhi, the police today claimed to have busted a gang of burglars involved in more than 50 cases of robbery in Mumbai.

‘Stolen booty’ worth Rs 1.90 lakh has allegedly been recovered from their possession.

The accused allegedly confessed to having involved in a burglary at an automobile showroom in Ghazipur in which Rs 10 lakh in cash was stolen. — OC

New Delhi, October 11
Additional Sessions Judge M. P. Kaushik yesterday sentenced a 60-year-old to 10 years’ rigorous imprisonment for raping a minor.

The convict, Surender, raped the minor, who was working as a maid, on September 15, 2002.

The judge also imposed a fine of Rs 25,000 on Surender besides ordering a compensation of Rs 1 lakh.