Four unidentified people allegedly assaulted a SUV driver and took off with his car and other valuables after throwing him out of the vehicle

The incident took place in Kharadi in the early hours of Monday.

Police said that the driver was stripped completely by the crooks before being thrown out.

Santosh Raskar (27), a resident of Shirur, is a driver of a private SUV. He was on his way home and feeling very sleepy. So he decided to park his car and take a nap near a private firm in Vimannagar on Ahmednagar Road.

“As he was resting four unidentified people approached the car and woke him up. One of the suspects told him that they want to hire the car, but Raskar told him it was not for hire,” said Dilip Naukudkar, police inspector of Airport Police station.

Suddenly, another person, on the other side of the vehicle, opened the door of the car and threatened Raskar with a knife to hand over his mobile phone and whatever money he had.
“Raskar gave him Rs 500 and his mobile phone. Three of the crooks stripped him while another started driving the vehicle,” Naukudkar said.

After a while, the four accused threw Raskar out of the car along with his clothes.

The driver then approached his owner and the police were also alerted.

“We have registered a case under section 392 (robbery) of the Indian Penal Code and a manhunt has been initiated to trace the road robbers,” Naukudkar informed.

CARDIFF: World champions India outplayedSri Lanka in all departments of the game on Thursday to advance to the final of the Champions Trophy against hosts England.

After restricting Sri Lanka to 181 for eight from their 50 overs under the floodlights on a gloomy Cardiff day, India eased to an eight-wicket victory with 15 overs to spare.

The final will be staged at Edgbaston in Birmingham this Sunday.

Shikhar Dhawan, the tournament’s top scorer before Thursday’s semifinal with 264 runs including two centuries, cut loose again when India set off in pursuit of their modest target.

Dhawan, who recorded the fastest test century by a debutant playing against Australia this year, passed 50 for the third time in the tournament off 73 balls with six fours and a six.

He survived three dropped catches to reach 68 when he was stumped by Kumar Sangakkara off leg-spinner Jeevan Mendis with victory already assured.

Virat Kohli (58 not out) then took charge, hitting a six to reach his half-century, as India romped to victory before a noisy crowd of predominantly Indian supporters.

Sri Lanka needed Lasith Malinga to produce something special if they were to have any hope of beating the form team of the tournament.

But the Indian batsmen know all about the Sri Lanka strike bowler, playing against him regularly in the Indian Premier League, and before Thursday his wickets against India had cost 40.88 runs each.

The two teams have played each other 45 times in the past five years and India, who beat Sri Lanka in the 2011 World Cup final in Mumbai, have now won seven of their last eight games against their Asian rivals.

Dhawan signalled his intentions by driving two fours off Malinga through the covers and upper-cutting him for six off the final ball of his third over.

But he should have been out twice on 18 caught off Nuwan Kulasekara. Sri Lankan captainAngelo Mathews dropped the left-hander diving to his right at first slip. Sangakkara, standing up to the stumps to the medium pacer, then missed a thin outside edge.

Kulasekara was the unlucky bowler again when substitute fielder Sachitra Senanayake dropped a head-high chance at point after Dharwan had scored 62.

MATHEWS TOP SCORER Mathews top-scored for Sri Lanka with a battling 51 from 89 deliveries after his opposite number MS Dhoni had opted to field under heavy cloud cover with moisture in the air following a 30-minute rain delay.

Dhoni set attacking fields throughout and even relinquished his wicket-keeping kit after the 22nd over to bowl his medium-pacers. In 222 previous one-day internationals Dhoni had bowled only two overs.

Dinesh Karthik, also a specialist wicketkeeper, took over from Dhoni who won an lbw decision against Mahela Jayawardene with his second delivery.

However, umpire Aleem Dar was forced to reverse his verdict when Jayawardene asked for a review and the television replay showed the batsman had got an inside edge on to the pads. After bowling four overs for 17 runs, Dhoni resumed his wicketkeeping duties.

The India pace bowlers zipped the ball both ways off a full length and Kusal Perera (4) andLahiru Thirimanne (7) quickly fell to smart catches at second slip by Suresh Raina.

Mumbai – Former athlete Milkha Singh Wednesday launched the music of Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra’s “Bhaag Mikha Bhaag”, saying he hoped that the film inspires the youth of today to take part in the Olympics and win laurels for their country.

“The coming generation does not know about Milkha Singh. I hope that they see this movie and get inspired to take part in the Olympics and make their country proud,” he said at the launch in Mumbai.
He also revealed that he was approached by three to four directors to make a film on his life story.

“Three to four directors approached me saying that they wanted to make a film on my story. My son was there when Rakeysh-ji (Omprakash Mehra) came and he decided that I should make it with him,” he said.

Produced and directed by Mehra, “Bhaag Milkha Bhaag” is based on the real life struggle of the former athlete. The film stars Farhan Akhtar and Sonam Kapoor and is all set to release on July 12.–IANS

Asad Rauf (Pakistani umpire who was officiating in IPL 6): “Do you know my birthday is coming up?”

Vindu Dara Singh (film and TV actor): “Asadbhai, don’t worry, we will take care of it. I will convey the message to Pawanbhai.”

Pawan Jaipur (bookie) to Vindu: “I am sending a watch worth Rs 6 lakh and a gold chain for Asad through Prem Taneja (another bookie) in Delhi. Please ask Asad to collect it from Delhi.”

These conversations, tapped separately in April, are the clearest evidence so far that Rauf, who fled India after his name cropped up in the IPL betting-fixing racket, was hand in glove with the bookies and solicited gifts.

The transcript of the conversation tapped through three mobiles of Vindu Dara Singh, arrested for his role in the spot-fixing scandal, was shared with TOI by police sources.

The source said in another conversation around the same time, Rauf is heard insisting that Pawan send the bill for the gold chain or else Rauf would have problems with customs.

The bills for this package as well as two other parcels sent later with gifts for Rauf are with the Mumbai crime branch. In May, the crime branch seized the two parcels containing branded shoes, clothes and other personal effects sent by bookie Prem Taneja to Rauf from Delhi airport’s cargo section. The umpire, sensing trouble, had fled barely a day before Vindu’s arrest on May 22 without collecting them.

Vindu is also accused of helping bookie-siblings Pawan and Sanjay Chabra alias Pawan and Sanjay Jaipur flee Mumbai at the height of the crackdown on the betting-fixing rackets.

The crime branch on Wednesday had prepared to strongly oppose the applications moved by the absconding brothers for anticipatory bail, but the court adjourned the matter to July 3.

Senior lawyer Adhik Shirodkar, who appeared for the brothers who own a big jewellery showroom, Motison Jewellers, in Jaipur, pleaded that the police be at least directed to withdraw the lookout notices issued against the duo so that they could return to the country.

The court refused, saying there was no hurry and a decision would be taken after the court has gone through the evidence.

Opposing the bail, the crime branch said since Rauf is not available for interrogation, they need to grill the brothers, who have given the umpire expensive gifts, to uncover their roles in the cricket scandal.

“These two bookies were in touch with Pakistani umpire Asad Rauf and had even paid his shopping bills in the country. They also reportedly own a benami stake in the Sri Lanka Premier League,” said an officer.

Police said the Chabras fled to Dubai immediately after Vindu alerted them about Mumbai Policeraiding super bookie Ramesh Vyas’s betting den at Kalbadevi.

LONDON: Mumbai-born Parsi lawyer Sarosh Zaiwala Wednesday notched a remarkable success in a bank case in the British Supreme Court, with major ramifications on the international banking system, an official said.

By the court verdict, the British government’s sanctions on Iran’s largest private bank, Bank Mellat, were lifted after the its security service’s “Secret Court” failed to produce significant evidence in the matter – which has been widely followed in the international banking circles.

Bank Mellat has succeeded in getting the British sanctions held against it as unlawful after the Supreme Court dismissed claims that its banking services facilitated Iran’s nuclear programme.

“The verdict by a 9-judge bench has shown to the international community that in the UK and Europe, international sanctions are judicially reviewable and that sanctions should be substantiated by evidence,” Zaiwalla told IANS on the phone from London.

The Bank Mellat, slapped with a listing under the Iran nuclear sanctions list, was represented by Indian legal eagle Zaiwalla, Senior Partner, Zaiwalla & Co., Solicitors, in Britain.

Owing to the importance of the case, Bank Mellat’s appeal was heard by a nine-judge bench. The court has 12 judges.

The landmark ruling follows Bank Mellat’s victory in the European Court in January, where no evidence was found connecting the bank to its government’s nuclear programme.

In Oct. 2009, Her Majesty’s Treasury (HMT) had invoked the Section 7 of the Counter Terrorism Act, 2008, restraining the financial sector from any dealings with Bank Mellat. This was challenged at several levels by the bank.

The ruling comes at a significant time as Iran has a newly-elected president, who commentators hope will aim to progress towards a mutually acceptable resolution of Iran’s nuclear activity, according to international observers.

Zaiwalla said that the Supreme Court, during the course of hearing Bank Mellat’s appeal, had reluctantly entered into “secret session” for the first time in its history – effectively barring the bank from accessing the evidence against it.

“The failure of the HM Treasury to produce compelling evidence, despite the controversial new powers, puts the spotlight back on to the Justice and Security Bill, which expanded the system of closed courts to civil cases,” Zaiwalla pointed out.

He had argued against the imposition of closed courts on the ground that this contravenes the British common law principle of open justice.

The Supreme Court is now expected to order the British Government to pay Bank Mellat all of its legal costs and damages for the wrongful listing on the sanctions list.

Thiruvananthapuram—The Kerala government Thursday decided to help migrants returning from Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, following the tightening of labour laws there, by arranging alternate jobs or self-employment schemes for them, said Chief Minister Oommen Chandy.

“We had a detailed presentation by the Non-Resident Keralite Affairs (Norka) department on the various self-employment projects that these returning migrants can take up,” said Chandy told media persons here after a special cabinet meeting.

“Norka will next week give the complete details of the self employment schemes that these return migrants can take up. I will also meet up with the commercial banks representatives to see what sort of assistance they can provide for these projects,” he added.

He also said that he is going to call a meeting of the rich and influential businessmen who hail from Kerala but doing business in Middle East to see if they can provide employment to those people who return from Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.

Chandy noted that there was speculation that a huge number of people would return from Saudi Arabia, “but now that appears not to be true because not many Keralites have registered with Indian Embassy there”.

He thanked the Saudi authorities for “kindly agreeing to India’s requests.

“They have agreed that they will have no objection if those who are asked to leave return with proper documents and they (the migrants) are free to seek employment in other Middle East countries,” added Chandy.

He said the situation in Kuwait is such that even those with valid documents are sent back.

“We will again ask the Indian government to make a similar effort – as they did in Saudi Arabia – with authorities in Kuwait, so that they take a lenient step,” said Chandy.—IANS

London–Indian-born Amol Rajan has been appointed editor of the London morning daily The Independent, making him Fleet Street’s first non-white editor, the newspaper reported Monday.

Rajan, 29, was previously the daily’s comment editor.

Oliver Duff, who was executive editor and news editor of The Independent, has been named editor of sister title, i, while another executive editor, Lisa Markwell, has been named editor of The Independent on Sunday.

This means two women and two men will serve as editors of the four titles owned by Evgeny Lebedev.

Sarah Sands is the editor of the group’s fourth title, the Evening Standard.

The Independent’s previous editor, Chris Blackhurst, has been given the new post of group content director, charged with the responsibility of overseeing editorial output and content creation across the newspapers, the website, and London Live TV scheduled to be launched next spring.

“Our businesses are at a critical stage and a bold approach is needed for our industry,” Lebedev was quoted as saying in a statement after the new appointments.

“Today I am continuing this approach by appointing as editors two highly talented young journalists. Their energy, creativity and resourcefulness will invigorate both The Independent and i.”

He added that the group’s goal “is to develop a pioneering and integrated newsroom for the 21st century, providing print, digital and television output 24/7”.

According to the Huffington Post, Rajan, who is a columnist for the Evening Standard, has long been seen as a potential future editor.

He had previously served as deputy comment editor and sports and news correspondent in the newspaper.

According to the Post report, he is also a keen cricket fan, and has authored a book on cricket’s best spin bowlers.

Rajan, who was born in Calcutta, as Kolkata was then called, moved to Britain when he was three and studied at a state school.—IANS

NEW DELHI: With CBI questioning two formerPMO officials in the coal scam, BJP on Wednesday demanded the resignation of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh saying he is “tainted” and should step down to ensure fair probe.

“A tainted Prime Minister has to step down so that there can be a fair investigation into the criminal offence conducted by his office. A person who is tainted cannot be heading the very organizationwhich is investigating his office,” BJP spokesperson Meenakshi Lekhi said here.

Questioning the Coal scam probe carried out by CBI which was working directly under the PMO, she said, “What kind of fair investigation we are expecting from officers who are reporting to PM directly? And they are supposed to investigate the role of the PMO andthe Prime Minister who was the then coal minister.”

Lekhi said it will be in the country’s interest that truth on this matter must come out expeditiously. “It is to be investigated whether PM acted of his own or was part of a larger conspiracy and was only complying with his role.”

She alleged that CBI is being “misused and manipulated” in both coal and Ishrat Jahan cases.

No mandatory procedure was followed either in selecting the companies or in refusing the allocations, she claimed. “That is the strangest form of allocations we have seen.”

“Only after the interrogation of the tainted PM the details of the conspiracy will be unravelled,” she said.

The coal block allocation scam is India’s “hall of shame” and has exposed the UPA government’s “corrupt” empire headed by (PM) Manmohan Singh, the BJP spokesperson said.

The four public sector non-life companies, which have a 70% share of individual health policies, have received approval from the regulator to raise rates for individual mediclaim policies. Prices are set to rise by 20-30%, depending on the age group of the insured.

While Chennai-based United India brings into effect new rates from this month, Mumbai-headquartered New India Assurance will roll out the new policies from August. Kolkata-based National Insurance (NIC) will revise rates from October and Delhi-based Oriental is also looking at raising rates from the second half.

It had been reported in the media earlier that that general insurers were looking at raising health cover premiums.

Brazil superstar Neymar scored one goal and set up the other to give hosts Brazil a 2-0 win over Mexico in their Group A game and all but assure them of a place in the semifinals of the Confederations Cup in Fortaleza on Wednesday.

The 21-year-old took his tally to 13 goals in his last 15 games for his country with a superb left-footed volley early in the first-half, and then produced a brilliant shimmy between two Mexican defenders in second-half stoppage time to set up Jo for the second goal.

While Brazil – who had lost six of their last seven meetings with the Mexicans – are all but in the semis, Mexico’s hopes hang by a thread after two defeats as Japan, who lost 3-0 to Brazil in their opener, must beat Euro 2012 finalists Italy later on Wednesday to give them any hope of reaching the last four.

For Brazil it was a much cheerier occasion than the last time they played in Fortaleza in 2002 as their celebrations at winning the World Cup in South Korea and Japan fell flat as Mexico beat them 1-0.