Navi Mumbai prison chief pulled up for non-compliance in 2011 serial blast case.

The Case

On Thursday, a special court in Mumbai requested the superintendent of the Taloja Central Prison in Navi Mumbai to explain why he should not face contempt charges for disobeying court orders.

The court asked him this after the special judge issued numerous directives but Nadeem Shaik, an accused who was leading his trial in person as a party in the Mumbai triple explosion case, had not been physically presented in court. On July 13, 2011, three explosions occurred in Mumbai’s Zaveri Bazar, Opera House, and Kabutar Khana, resulting in over 140 injuries and 21 fatalities.

Police claim that Yasin Bhatkal, a co-founder of the Indian Mujahideen, was crucial in obtaining explosives and creating the improvised explosive devices, or IEDs, that were used in the explosions. Nadeem Shaikh, Naqi Shaikh, Haroon Rasheed Naik, and Kanwarnain Pathreja were all taken into custody in January 2012. Eleven defendants were detained in relation to the case; one of them passed away while the trial was still ongoing. Some are in a Bengaluru prison, and others, like Yasin Bhatkal, are detained at the Tihar Jail.

There was also no video conference used to produce the accused who were stationed outside of Maharashtra. The witnesses’ evidence is presently being recorded by the court. In this case, 123 witnesses have been questioned by the prosecution thus far. “As Nadeem Shaikh is conducting this case as a party in person, the Superintendent of Central Prison, Taloja, has already been repeatedly asked and directed to bring Shaikh personally before this court. But special Judge BD Shelke stated, “The Superintendent of Central Prison, Taloja, is not following the orders given by this Court.”

Thus, the judge had ordered the jail administration to bring Shaikh in person before this court on all scheduled dates. In addition, the Prison Superintendent was instructed to submit his response explaining why he should not be found in contempt for disobeying the court’s orders on occasion. “If he doesn’t submit his response in a week, a contempt case will be brought against him. The judge said, “An authenticated copy of this order will be sent to Superintendent, Central Prison, Taloja.”

Kharghar hills dazzle with rare Karvi bloom.

The Blossom

Residents are celebrating the rare bloom of the Karvi flower, which has begun adorning Kharghar Hills. Known for its striking purple-bluish hue, the Karvi (Strobilanthes callosa) blooms once every eight years, with the last occurrence in 2016. This year, the hills are transformed by the flower’s breathtaking display, which is visible during September and October.

Found in places like Goregaon Film City and Sanjay Gandhi National Park, Kharghar remains a prime spot for viewing this phenomenon. The Karvi is a large shrub, growing up to 20 feet, and thrives in the Western Ghats’ moist climate. It supports various insects and disperses its seeds after blooming through masting.

Nature activist Jyoti Nadkarni emphasised the flower’s medicinal properties, which Adivasis often use for their anti-inflammatory benefits. She also highlighted the demand for the thick, dark Karvi Honey produced during this bloom.

While praising the Forest Department’s efforts in protecting the area, Nadkarni raised concerns over encroachments and habitat destruction. She urged the government to preserve these ecosystems for future generations, noting that other wildflower species like Ceropegia and sundews also need protection.

This rare bloom not only adds beauty but underlines the need for conservation in Kharghar’s rich biodiversity.

The Belapur Circle Officer filed a new First Information Report (FIR) on September 17, 2024, in response to the chopping of mangroves behind the T.S. Chanakya Maritime Institute. This action took place six months after the incident in March 2024, which alarmed individuals who care about the environment and are now calling for prompt action to save the surviving mangrove plants.

In March 2024, environmental activists Sunil Agarwal and Advocate Pradeep Patole used the Mangrove Suraksha App to file complaints against the removal of 150 mangroves in the area.

Sources were the first to raise the problem, and the activists quickly got a response from the app. Based on these concerns, a team of police conducted an area survey on April 29, 2024. Declaring the results of the site inspection, Advocate Patole said, “Since the sites are under the ownership rights of CIDCO, action should be taken through CIDCO first.”

This most recent FIR is the second one filed about the mangrove cutting in this area, and four months have gone since that inspection.

The Save Navi Mumbai Environment Group’s founder, Sunil Agarwal, stated, “More than 150 mangrove trees have been cut, and a FIR was filed against an unknown person, despite Mistry Construction Company being the primary beneficiary of these incidents.” Along with other activists, he urges CIDCO to take the required actions to protect the remaining mangroves and requests that the Revenue Department act immediately.