Latest news with #Gohil
Indian Express
5 days ago
- Health
- Indian Express
Gujarat HC directs police to investigate fertility centre after man alleges child born through IVF is not his
A Vadodara-based man ended up knocking on the doors of the Gujarat High Court against a prominent fertility centre after his newborn's hospitalisation and subsequent blood tests allegedly revealed that her blood group did not match either of the two parents even as the court directed city police to 'look into' his complaint. The man moved the court after Vadodara city police failed to register his complaint. Based on his plea, the HC on Thursday issued the directive. The man in his plea sought a criminal complaint against the fertility centre for alleged 'cheating and forgery' after the DNA test confirmed that he was not the biological father of the IVF baby that he welcomed with his wife in April this year. Advocate MB Gohil, representing the petitioners, told The Indian Express: 'The couple had approached a prominent IVF franchise centre in Vadodara. They were assured that a lawful and ethical process would be followed. Initially, they tested the sperm samples of the husband and advised some fertility treatment to him. Thereafter, another sample was taken and he was found to be fertile. Then they told the couple to deposit a sum of Rs 5.5 lakh as they could undergo IVF'. Gohil added that the hospital conducted the Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) procedure on his wife and she was successfully impregnated. 'We have mentioned in the petition that it was in March 2024 that the petitioner's semen was cryopreserved (freezed) and the wife underwent an egg retrieval procedure in April 2024. Thereafter, they processed the cryopreservation of five embryos and conducted the first IVF cycle in June 2024. The pregnancy was confirmed in September 2024.' It was when the newborn was hospitalised for severe health issues after her birth in April 2025 that a medical report revealed that her blood group did not match either of the two parents. Gohil said: 'While both parents have O positive blood group, the baby has a B positive blood group, which created a doubt in the mind of the petitioner. When he underwent a paternity test, the DNA did not match. Thus, it was proven that the petitioner is not the biological father of the child and the centre has cheated the couple by inseminating the wife's fertile eggs with sperm of another person.' Gohil added that the petitioner decided to move the High Court as the Vadodara city police did not register his complaint until the plea was filed. Gohil said, 'The petitioner had approached one police station in Vadodara city, which directed him to another police station. There, he visited multiple times and was made to wait but no complaint was taken. Exasperated, he moved a petition before the HC on June 10. On June 21, after learning about the petition, the Vadodara police issued the first summon to the petitioner to record his statement but there has been no update on the case,' Gohil said. The lawyer added that a representative of the IVF center, who initially claimed in her police statement that she was 'only an employee' had also filed an affidavit in the HC as a joining party and claimed to represent the IVF centre. Gohil said, 'We argued that the case in the HC was against the Vadodara city police, seeking directions for criminal action. The representative of the IVF centre has no locus in the case as they are not respondents in the petition… The court has accepted the argument and directed the Vadodara police to file an update in four weeks, failing which, we are at liberty to move a fresh petition.' In an oral order on Wednesday, Justice HD Suthar of the Gujarat High Court directed the police to 'look into the matter and inform about the outcome of the same, preferably in four weeks.' The court also said that it had 'not gone into the merits of the case' and granted liberty to approach 'the appropriate forum against any adverse direction passed by the police authority'.
The Hindu
09-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Congress seeks Gujarat Minister's dismissal over alleged MGNREGA scam
Alleging that Gujarat Panchayat and Agriculture Minister of State Bachubhai Maganbhai Khabad used funds under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) on a plot of land owned by him, the Congress on Monday demanded his dismissal and a court-monitored CBI inquiry. Addressing a press conference, Rajya Sabha member and party spokesperson Shaktisinh Gohil alleged 'a well-planned conspiracy to loot the MGNREGA funds meant for the rural poor labourers'. Different work orders were issued and money was claimed multiple times against the same plot for different types of work, Mr. Gohil claimed. Showing what he claimed to be documentary evidence, the Congress leader said the same plot was shown to be used for the construction of the flood drain, storm wall, dam, well and even for levelling the land and creating a forest through tree plantation. 'The funds were not only siphoned off in the name of work, but the material for the work was also supplied by Raj Constructions, a firm owned by the Minister's son Balwant Khabad,' Mr. Gohil said. The Congress leader said MGNREGA funds were allocated mainly to ensure the employment of the rural jobless, while only a small amount was kept for the supply of material, that was to be bought from the supplier offering the lowest price. 'The contract to supply the material was awarded to the Minister's son though he was not the lowest bidder,' Mr. Gohil said. The Congress leader also expressed shock over the Gambhira bridge collapse which led to the death of at least 12 people. He alleged that it was the result of corruption prevailing in Gujarat under the BJP regime. 'Local people, including zila parishad members, had complained in writing against the dilapidated condition of the bridge as it was shaking but the authorities did not take any note,' Mr. Gohil said. The Congress leader claimed that recently the joints and bearings of the bridge were repaired at a huge cost. 'There should be an inquiry to find out what went wrong despite a huge amount of money spent on its repair,' he said.
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
17-06-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
Israel stock market shrugs off war concerns as TA-125 trades near record
Equity markets in Israel remained resilient, with benchmark indices hitting record highs despite continued deadly missile strikes exchanged with Iran for the fourth straight day. Even as the West Asia conflict sent shock waves to global stock market and sent crude oil prices soaring, Israel's TA-125 rose 2.7 per cent on Monday to a fresh high of 2,790.07. Since the beginning of the latest attacks on June 13, the index has risen nearly 3 per cent, while the MSCI Asia ex Japan has seen a mere 0.7 per cent gain. In the year so far, the TA-125 index has risen 14 per cent, while the MSCI Asia ex Japan and MSCI World indices are up 12 per cent and 6 per cent, respectively. Israel's stock market is at an all-time high, said Jitendra Gohil, chief investment strategist at Kotak Alternate Asset Managers, and it is a preconceived notion that geopolitical tensions may lead to stock market corrections. "In fact, heightened geopolitical tensions can lead to more fiscal and monetary easing, and the market loves loose policies. This won't be true in the case of countries that face sanctions (Iran, Venezuela, etc.), but today the US's ability to effectively implement sanctions has eroded. Look at Russia. The world is a very different place today, with multipolar forces emerging," Gohil said. On Friday, the Israeli military began airstrikes against Iran, targeting nuclear locations to block Tehran from developing atomic weapons, in an operation dubbed 'Rising Lion'. Israel's Defence Minister, Israel Katz, declared a state of emergency shortly after the strikes. The head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Hossein Salami, was killed in the strikes. The risk-off sentiment soared with oil prices spiking over 10 per cent, making it the biggest weekly gain since 2022. Brent prices can touch $150 a barrel (bbl) — up a whopping 103 per cent from the current levels — in the worst-case scenario if the Israel–Iran geopolitical tensions escalate, suggest analysts. Read more Back home, stock markets remained cautious on hopes that high oil prices would not always dampen market sentiment. The BSE Sensex index was at 81,604.18, lower by 192 points or 0.23 per cent, while the Nifty50 was at 24,890.2, down 56 points or 0.22 per cent. Despite the escalation of the Iran-Israel conflict globally, stock markets are steady and resilient, according to VK Vijayakumar, Chief Investment Strategist, Geojit Investments. "The decline in the US volatility index CBOE suggests that markets are unlikely to correct sharply unless the conflict takes a dramatic turn for the worse."
Indian Express
07-06-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Lack of primary facilities in Punagam: Gujarat Human Rights Commission directs SMC Commissioner to attend June 26 hearing
The Gujarat State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) has directed Surat Municipal Commissioner Shalini Agrawal to remain present, in person or virtually, on June 26 as a petition filed by a social worker — claiming rights violation over non-provision of primary facilities to residents of Punagam area — is heard. On the directions, SMC Commissioner Agarwal said, 'We have come across the directive from the State Human Rights Commission. We are preparing the data of the work done by us.' Punagam was incorporated into the municipal corporation limits in 2006. As per the petition filed by a social worker from the area, Kuldeep Gohil, a town planning scheme for the area was laid out in 2019. The petitioner said that according to the scheme, the SMC was supposed to provide 'urinal blocks, government schools, community hall, Shishu Kunj (play area for children), Shanti Kunj (parks for the elderly), vegetable markets'. 'The citizens had complained to the local councillors, municipal commissioner, and chief minister over the lack of provisions,' the petitioner said. The petition further adds, 'As per sections 68 and 69 of the Town Planning Act, the ruling party and civic organisation have to provide basic facilities, but they failed to do so. The roads are not up to the plan at block no. 443 and 446. There are encroachments on different roads.' Punagam, which is represented by around eight corporators, had a majority of BJP councillors. But after the 2015 Patidar quota agitation, the Congress leaders earned a majority. In the last municipal election, the seats were won by Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders. The area is dominated by the Patidar population, hailing from different districts in Saurashtra who settled in Surat and are into diamond trade, textiles, and embroidery industries. Lack of basic facilities has remained a constant pet peeve here. Taking up the issue, Gohil had filed a petition against SMC with the Gujarat State Human Rights Commission (GSHRC) on March 21 this year. Gohil told The Indian Express, 'I am resident of Punagam ward no. 17. Till date, no primary works like library, vegetable market, Shishu Kunj (children play garden), Shanti Kunj (elderly people garden), community hall and other basic facilities have been not developed by SMC, as per the plan. The roads are quite narrow and have not been widened. We have complained regularly to the SMC Varachha East zone. But nothing has been done. Apart from this, there are five reservation plots of SMC, which have been given to private people who run a food court, and SMC generates good revenue from it.' Payal Sakariya, AAP councillor from Ward no. 16, Punagam West, said, 'We have been regularly raising the issue about basic and other facilities to be provided by SMC in the area, to the citizens of Punagam area, but no action is taken. In the final TP of 20 in Punagam, the roads are narrow, and the population is over 1.50 lakh. There are over 150 residential societies (each society has over 200 houses with multiple floors). As per TP scheme rules, along with basic facilities like water, roads, drainage, etc., SMC has to provide other facilities which the civic organisation has failed to do.' Commenting on the issue, Vijay Panseriya, former Congress corporator Punagam East, said, 'The reason behind inadequate facilities is political enmity. After the area had been added to the SMC limit, BJP candidates were elected till 2015. During the Patidar movement, the voters switched over to Congress in the 2015 municipal election, and for the first time, Congress candidates won our ward. In 2021, AAP candidates won in this ward.' Surat Municipal Corporation Varachha A zone executive engineer Karan Bhavsar told The Indian Express, 'I am new to this zone. We have provided water, drainage roads, electricity and other facilities.'
Indian Express
06-06-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Gujarat Congress general secy held over post on Opration Sindoor
The Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee General Secretary, Rajesh Soni, was on Friday arrested by the Gujarat Police Cyber Crime Cell over an alleged objectionable social media post on Operation Sindoor, officials said even as GPCC president Shaktisinh Gohil criticised the move. According to police officials, Soni allegedly made disparaging statements about the Armed Forces in his post. Cyber Crime Cell Superintendent of Police Dharmendra Sharma told The Indian Express, 'Soni was booked under BNS Sections 152 (endangering the sovereignty, unity and integrity of India) and 353 (making, publishing or circulating statements that could lead to public mischief) for demoralising the army.' SP Sharma confirmed that earlier in the day, Soni was detained from his home in Ahmedabad and subsequently placed under arrest. He was produced before court, which then sent him to judicial custody. Demanding 'immediate bail' from Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel for 'social leader and political activist' Rajeshbhai T Soni, GPCC president Shaktisinh Gohil said, 'Last night, just like a terrorist is being caught, Rajeshbhai T Soni was arrested by Gandhinagar Cyber Crime. If we look at the post, the only thing that is clear is that the soldiers of our brave army should get credit for the bravery they have shown and the money from the public treasury should not be used for publicity and … political gains should not be taken in the name of Operation Sindoor.' Soni had uploaded around three to four posts on social media platforms on Operation Sindoor. 'This has been in the minds of all the citizens of the country that the credit for the brave work done by our army should go to them. Seeing the way the government is doing publicity, they have expressed their concern that the soldiers will not get credit. If they only raise their voice for the army or express their concern that they will not get credit, how can it be a crime?' Gohil said. He further said, 'The Supreme Court recently took note of the government's policy of filing cases through misuse of the Gujarat Police and severely criticised the police. I hope the police use wisdom…Rajeshbhai Soni is not a terrorist… he should be released immediately. The entire country and Congress are on the side of the army.' Gohil also put out his statement on the microblogging site X, saying: 'The whole country and the Congress are in favor of the army. If it is a crime to take the side of the army only, then all the Congress workers including me will post and raise their voices in favor of the army. if they have courage, then the government should put all of us in jail.' Gohil's post tagging Gujarat Minister of State for Home Harsh Sanghvi, Gujarat Police stated, 'When late Manmohan Singh ji was the Prime Minister, many BJP leaders and supporters used to write false things at will, but the Congress government at the Centre or the states did not try to curb the fundamental freedom of expression or register a case' Gohil demanded immediate bail for the political functionary.
