01 july 2014

Page 1

Regd. No. MH/MR/South-160/2012-14 RNI Regn. No. 43675/1985 MUMBAI TUESDAY, JULY 1, 2014 32 PAGES `3 Website: www.afternoondc.in

Aft er oo

GUARDHELDGUILTY!

Gold: `29,245 Silver: `45,005 US Dollar: `60.17 Temperature: 320C/270C Humidity: 66%

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Azad Shrivastav | ADC

SECURITY GUARD IS CONVICTED FOR MOLESTATION AND MURDER OF ADVOCATE PALLAVI PURKAYASTHA "Two families have been devastated. Death and nothing less than death should be given."

For two years, my and Avik's family have gone through a lot of trauma. I have lost my daughter and would be son-in law.

Right: Pallavi's father, IAS officer Atanu Purkayastha, was the joint Pallavi secretary in Purkayastha the Agriculture Ministry at the Centre when the incident took place. Her mother Sumita is Director General with the Ministry of Telecommunication. Both were present at the court yesterday to hear the verdict and were visibly moved because they had to relive the trauma of their daughter’s murder on August 9, 2012, all over again. They addressed the large media contingent outside the court.

MUMBHAI Vikas Sabnis

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ecurity guard Sajjad Ahmed Mughal (22), accused for molestation and murder of Advocate Pallavi Purkayastha at her Wadala apartment on August 9, 2012, was convicted by sessions court on Monday. Special judge Vrushali Joshi held Ahmed guilty of murder, saying "A case of murder, molestation and criminal trespass has been proved against you," following which the accused silently nodded. The quantum of punishment will be announced on July 3. Ujjwal Nikam, special public prosecutor, told the ADC that circumstantial evidences played an important role in this case. “As there was no direct evidence, we relied on the circumstantial evidences and the chain of circumstances. DNA samples played an important role. Bloodstains of Pallavi were found on Sajjad's trousers. Though he said that the bloodstains were there because he lifted the victim and took her to the ambulance, there were other evidences also. The complaint made by Pallavi to her live-in partner, Avik Sengupta, was an impor-

tant evidence. She had complained that the watchman had been eying her. The lewd comments the watchman made about the victim while talking to his colleague was also strong evidence. We also presented the call details of the victim and the convict.” Speaking about the quantum of punishment, he said, “I haven't decided about it, but most probably we will demand for capital punishment.” On August 9, 2012, Pallavi Purkayastha (25), a legal advisor at Farhan Akhtar's Excel Entertainment, was attacked and murdered in her rented apartment in Himalayan Heights, Wadala. On the fateful night, Pallavi returned home and found that there was no electricity in her house. She called up her partner and informed him about it. Along with the electrician, the convict Sajjad Pathan, who worked as a watchman in the victim's society, entered the flat and stole the keys to the door. He later used those keys to enter the flat. First, he tried to rape the victim, but Continued on pg 8 «

NCP COULD LOSE ‘NATIONAL’ TAG UNFAIR By Suyash Padate

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Not you, sir! According to them, the CM and the PCC chief are solely responsible for the poll debacle.

By Santia Dudi

he Sharad Pawar led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) is likely to be stripped of its national status. The Election Commission of India (ECI) has started a process in this regard after the party's poor performance in the Lok Sabha elections and the decision is expected in next few days. In the meanwhile, the NCP has denied the reports that it is in danger of losing this status following the debacle in the recently concluded elections. About two weeks ago, the ECI had served show-cause notices to the three parties, including the NCP, seeking explanation on why their national party status should not be withdrawn after their rout in the Lok Sabha elections. According to the criteria set by the poll panel, a national party needs to get at least 6 per cent of votes each from mini-

LOSING OTHER FREEBIES

Under the Symbols Order 1968, a party, on losing national status, does not have the right to fight elections using a common symbol across the country. If the decision to derecognise the NCP is implemented, the clock symbol will not be reserved for all party candidates across the country. It can use it only in Maharashtra and states where it is recognized as a state level party. Apart from this, it is as good as losing the national character of the party. Also, the NCP, BSP and CPI will lose facilities like utilising All India Radio and Doordarshan for poll-eve broadcasts and free copies of electoral rolls, which they enjoyed as national parties.

mum four states, or get 2 per cent of total seats in the Lok Sabha from at least three states, or it should be recognised as a state party in at least four states. However, the NCP, along with BSP and CPI, no longer fulfill any of the above conditions. The three parties had time till June 27 to reply to the EC's show-cause notice and seek a hearing. The NCP is a major constituent in the Democratic Front government in the state and is virtually struggling to maintain its national party status. Significantly, if the NCP, BSP and CPI are derecognised, the BJP, Congress and the CPI (M) will be the only political parties in the country that will continue to enjoy the national status. Speaking to reporters, NCP spokesperson Nawab Malik denied the possibility of losing the national party status. He said, “The Election Continued on pg 8 «

City colleges hold back original mark sheets of their in-house SY/ TY students and give them only the xerox copies to ensure that they cannot seek admission elsewhere

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By Yatin Ingle

hile the First Year junior and degree college admissions have just been completed, a number of Second Year and Third Year degree college students have planned to change their Continued on pg 8 «


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