Latest news with #Bhat
News18
2 hours ago
- Politics
- News18
7/11 train bomb blasts case: Acquitted man demands re-investigation through SIT
Agency: PTI Last Updated: Mumbai, July 22 (PTI) Abdul Wahid Shaikh, the sole person to be acquitted by the special court in 2015 in the Mumbai train bomb blasts case, on Tuesday demanded the formation of an SIT headed by a High Court judge to re-investigate the case. Shaikh raised this demand a day after the Bombay High Court acquitted all 12 accused in the case, noting that the prosecution had utterly failed to prove the case. Nine years after he was arrested by the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), the special court in 2015 cleared him of all charges related to the serial blasts case. The court had sentenced five of the 12 men to death and seven to life imprisonment. One of the death row convicts died in 2021. On Monday, the high court released all 12, noting the prosecution utterly failed to prove the case and it was 'hard to believe the accused committed the crime" Shaikh, who works as a teacher, has been vocal about the torture inflicted by the ATS on 12 persons. He had penned a book- 'Begunah Qaidi'- while he was behind bars. The special bench of the HC also stated that the accused had been tortured to extort confessional statements. 'The government should re-investigate the case by setting up a Special Investigation Team to be headed by a High Court judge to ensure that the real perpetrators behind the train bomb blasts are arrested," Shaikh told PTI. His other demands include an apology from the ATS for the botched investigation, Rs 19 crore in compensation to the 12 men who spent 19 years behind bars despite being innocent and government jobs and houses for them. 'Though very late, these people finally got justice. The HC verdict exposed the falsehood of ATS", he said. Shaikh expressed sympathy and demanded justice for the family members of the victims killed and maimed in the synchronised blasts that ripped through Mumbai local trains at various locations on the western line on July 11, 2006, killing more than 180 persons and injuring several others. He remembered the late Assistant Commissioner of Police Vinod Bhat, one of the investigating officers in the train bomb blast case. In his book, Shaikh had claimed that Bhat was being forced to fabricate evidence and create false witnesses against the accused persons. 'Today, the soul of ACP Bhat must be happy. He ended his life in August 2006 due to pressure to frame innocent persons on the same railway track where bomb blasts had occurred," he claimed, adding that the suicide was recorded as accidental death at Dadar railway police station. PTI DC NSK view comments First Published: July 22, 2025, 16:15 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Time of India
17 hours ago
- Time of India
‘Mysterious' death of cop finds mention in book of man acquitted in 11/7 Mumbai train blasts case
Mumbai: The mysterious death of a police officer who was part of the 11/7 serial train blasts probe team had found a mention in a book authored by one of the accused who was acquitted by the trial court in 2015. Assistant commissioner of police (ACP) Vinod Bhat allegedly died by suicide on Aug 29, 2006, a little over two months after the train blasts. Bhat's body was found on the railway tracks between Dadar and Matunga. At the time, the incident was labelled as an "accidental death" by Dadar railway police. At the same time, a book by Abdul Wahid Shaikh, who was acquitted by the trial court, in his book 'Begunah Qaidi (Innocent Inmates)' claimed that Bhat admitted to him being forced to fabricate evidence and create false witnesses against the accused. Bhat reportedly asked his driver to drop him at Tilak Bridge, handed over his personal belongings, except his ID card, and instructed that they be delivered to his wife. His colleagues had said that he was also under pressure because of a case involving his wife in a housing scheme. You Can Also Check: Mumbai AQI | Weather in Mumbai | Bank Holidays in Mumbai | Public Holidays in Mumbai
The Hindu
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Peruvai Narayana Bhat chosen for Bhramari Yakshamani award
Senior Yakshagana artist Peruvai Narayana Bhat has been selected for the Bhramari Yakshagana award for 2025 by the Bhramari Yakshagamitraru Mangaluru Trust. The award will be presented to him at the 'Bhramari Yakshavaibhava' programme to be held at 7 p.m. in the Kudmul Ranga Rao Town Hall here on August 2, a release said. The award comprises a purse of ₹15,000, a citation and a silver medal. Mr. Bhat is a 'Himmela Kalavida' of the Thenkuthittu school of Yakshagana, having been associated with it for the past 45 years. He performed in the Soornadu Ganeshdurga Yakshagana Mandali and the Kateel Durgaparameshwari Yakshagana Mandali. Mr. Bhat shares his knowledge as a resource person in Yakshagana workshops. As a 'guru', he teaches Yakshagana to many students. The trust will also present a Brahmari Yakshaseva Puraskar for 2025 to Yakshasangama of Moodbidri and Vasantha Vamadapadavu, a 'Naepathya Kalavida' (one who assists artists in the green room). The puraskar comprises a cash of ₹6,000 and a citation. Yakshasangama has been organising all-night Talamaddale programmes for the past 25 years, and Mr. Vamadapadavu is a 'naepathya kalavida' for the past four decades. After the award presentation function, a free all-night Yakshagana performance, titled 'Srimathi Parinaya, Sadhwi Sairandri and Vaijayanthi Parinaya', will be held, the release added.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
41st anniversary of The Times of India, Bengaluru: Of fun memes and 'cluesdays'
A Sunday evening at Church Street gets as lively as it could, with people of all age groups making it the city's most chosen hangout spot. Its stoned pavements adding to the aesthetics of the walking street. While for some, this stretch may be the go-to place to have a drink or unwind with friends after a week-long work, for a few, the street pubs are also a destination to spend their time testing their intellect and knowledge. Bengaluru is one of the few cities in India that can boast of a rare 'pub quizzing' culture, and Church Street Social has been one regular spot that hosts such events. Usually, these quizzes are hosted by third parties who are invited by the pubs. 4edge Quizzing is one group that conducts quiz events across pubs in the city throughout the week. The group was founded in 2016 by two friends, Himadri Banerjee and Anand Bhat, over their shared passion for quizzing. You Can Also Check: Bengaluru AQI | Weather in Bengaluru | Bank Holidays in Bengaluru | Public Holidays in Bengaluru Though certain quiz events in the city are themed around pop culture and anime, those conducted by 4edge follow a light general theme. Unlike Olympiads, these quizzes feature fun meme rounds and social media references. According to Bhat, meme-related questions play a huge role in making sure that everyone has a good time. 'The memes round is something that we've made a USP of ours because in these pub quizzes, we see a lot of beginner crowds, and we don't want it to be too daunting. So, we just try to include things that are relatable and based on current events,' he added. As soon as the quiz begins, the 20-odd teams participating in it get their eyes glued to the screen, and with each passing round, the competition intensifies. 'The team with the funniest name gets a shoutout,' Bhat announces through the microphone. The heterogeneous teams even include families. One such unit bearing the name 'Hot Chips' said it's a good way to spend time together as a fun activity, despite all of them being from different generations. At the end of the final round of one quizzing competition, a team named 'They bombed so I ran', comprising four men in their late 20s, is named the winner. 'It's good that they are making it very accessible because quizzing was usually done only by organisations or colleges as part of their annual fests. But this is pastime as an intellectual pursuit, that's what they've got right. A lot of people wanted that and the pubs have been very receptive towards staging these events,' said Suhas Pai, a team member. Pai's teammate Pranav Nandha, a corporate employee, feels quizzing is a great activity, especially on weekends. 'For the corporate lot, weekends are usually chosen for parties. But for us, this is a great way to spend some time and expand our knowledge.' Despite the prize for the winning team being a bottle of wine, both organisers and participants agree that such events have also made teetotallers enjoy pubs and bars. 'I'm a teetotaller. When I win, I pass the bottle on to my friends who drink. I didn't come here for the prize. Yes, there is joy when you get the answer right, but we've all been doing this for a very long time. So, it's a good recreation and we can meet new people as well,' Niyam Joshi, another participant, expressed. The Vapor Pub in Indiranagar has been organising a quiz called 'Cluesdays' on Tuesdays every week for the past 11 years. 'Cluesdays' works with a democratic model by allowing all regular participants to organise on a weekly rotation basis. Rajesh Radhakrishnan is one such participant who has been attending the quiz since its inception. When asked about the business aspect of pub quizzing, Radhakrishnan replied: 'On a Tuesday night, not many people would come in. In the case of 'Cluesdays', they (pub) take care of the drinks ordered by the winning table. But obviously, the other people will have to pay for it. It is very good of the pub that they're doing it because other quizzes don't fetch such a big prize.' Radhakrishnan further said that there are themed quizzes based on topics such as sports, music, and cinema. 'I generally host a full film and music quiz, but again, I try to keep it generic. All famous films and famous songs, equal mix of Hollywood and Bollywood,' he said. And it's not just limited to quizzing. 'Pool' and 'foosball' tables also figure prominently at the pubs. Roshan, a regular pool player at the city's watering holes, feels thatdrinking alcohol alone is not enough to keep the city engaged at night. 'Just drinking is not fun enough. For example, we play pool here and our bill goes shoots up because we spend more time here. Hence, there's also an incentive for the business, and I think the cityis maturing in terms of what it wants from a space right now, because back then, you opened an empty room and played some decent music and ran a pub. Now, people want something to do because the phone is already a distraction,' he explained. 'The pool table has been here only for four months, mostly working people come in to play. Most of them would at least purchase a bottle of beer while enjoying the game,' Hum Rana, the manager of a popular pub in Indiranagar, echoed Roshan's point. Rana also added that several bars and pubs around the city put an extra emphasis on sports and games. 'Doff Pub' in Indiranagar is one of the popular sports bars of Bengaluru. The space features around 20 screens, allowing for the simultaneous display of several sports. Rakesh Mohan, a regular at Doff, passionately said: 'I mostly come here to watch Formula One, there's a huge rivalry between the supporters of Red Bull and Ferrari. I'm a Max Verstappen fan and I love bantering when Max wins.' 'Not just foosball, but every sport is serious. We go crazy while playing foosball. It provides me with an adrenaline boost. Games are what keep these pubs going. I would love it if they introduce a mini basketball hoop as well, it would make the nightlife here and the pub culture even better,' Rakesh said before he got busy at the foosball table with his co-worker.
The Hindu
3 days ago
- General
- The Hindu
Yakshagana artist Pathala Venkataramana Bhat passes away
Senior Yakshagana artist Pathala Venkataramana Bhat passed away at his residence in Uppinangady in Dakshina Kannada on Saturday. He was 92, and is survived by four daughters and two sons. A well-known 'stree veshadhari' of yesteryears, he had performed in Yakshagana melas of Dharmasthala, Kanchana, Soukuru, and Mulky. He joined Dharmasthala mela in 1963 and retired after performing for 18 years. Later he had settled in Uppinangady. Bhat was popular as 'shilabalike' of Yakshagana, as he had mastered the Yakshagana 'natya'. He was known for performing the roles of Mohini, Rambhe, Urwashi, Menake, Ambe, Poothani, Draupadi, Devi, Shoorpanakha, and other woman roles. Bhat was the recipient of Karnataka Rajyotsava award, Karnataka Janapada Academy award, Yakshamangala award of Mangalore University, Deraje Seetharamaiah award, Malpe Shankaranarayana award, and Kuriya Vitala Shastri award. His son, Ambaprasad Pathala, is also a noted 'stree veshadhari' of Yakshagana.
