First Nano will roll out in October: Buddhadeb

Kolkata (PTI): A day after Ratan Tata threatened to pull out the small car project from Singur in the wake of violence and disruptions, West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee on Saturday said the first 'Nano' car would roll out in October।

"Some state governments have offered land to the Tatas to shift their small car plant from Singur, but I would like to assert that the project will be a reality," Bhattacharjee told a hurriedly-called press conference here।

"I hope it will be implemented in time and the first car will roll out in October। Nobody can obstruct it," he said.

Stating that he shared the concern of the Tata Motors chairman, Bhattacharjee urged him to stay in the state। "We want the project to grow here."

He said 85 per cent of the project's construction was over and work in the ancillary units was in progress.

BMW sting case: Lawyers protest HC's verdict

New Delhi:, August 23, 2008 : The Delhi High Court may have sent a strong message by punishing criminal lawyers R K Anand and I U khan in the BMW sting case। But lawyers in the Capital are unhappy with the verdict.

On Friday Bar Association in the Delhi district court went on strike, protesting against the order।

Lawyers in Delhi were up in arms a day after the Delhi High Court held R K Anand and I U Khan guilty of contempt of court and barred them from practicing for the next four months।

All four district courts in the Capital wore a deserted look as the Bar Association went on strike protesting the HC judgement।

"We are upset with the verdict because the judge has barred two very senior lawyers from practicing in Delhi, whereas it is not up to him to decide this," says Patiala house Bar Association's Santosh Mishra।

The High court had found Anand and Khan guilty of trying to bribe witness Sunil Kulkarni to favour accused Sanjeev Nanda in the BMW hit-and-run case।

However, the Bar Association argues that the punishment given is unjustified, as barring a lawyer from practice is the job of the Bar council and not the court।

"We've had a very successful strike today as lawyers on their own didn't practice today without any pressure since they understand that the verdict is unjust," says Patiala house Bar Association's R K Wadhwa।

But senior members of the legal fraternity point out that striking work is only damaging the reputation of the Bar।

"The entire Bar of Delhi could have chosen to file a petition in the SC or in the HC। Instead of resorting to strike as a strike gives a wrong message to the people," says advocate K T S Tulsi.

A year and a half ago the Bar council had initiated inquiry against Anand and Khan, but no action had been taken so far। And as protests continue.

questions are being raised - is the bar council serious enough to send a strong message by punishing the offending lawyers?

Musharraf in 'protective custody'

Islamabad:, August 23, 2008 : Former Pakistani president Pervez Musharraf is under protective custody and will be allowed to move freely only after a new head of the state is elected and the judges he sacked after declaring an emergency in November 2007 are restored, an official said।

"He is under protective custody but is free to meet friends and relatives," said the official, adding this is mainly because of security reasons।

"Once the new president is elected and judges are restored Musharraf will be allowed to leave the country," he said।

According to sources, Musharraf, who resigned Monday, wanted to visit the US but was stopped by the authorities। "It has been conveyed to him that he will allowed (to travel) after three-four weeks after the election of the president," said the source.

The Presidential election, which was scheduled for September 17, has been brought forward to September 6।

"Some officials are suggesting Saudi Arabia as Musharraf's destination because of security reasons। There are suggestions that he would be sent to the kingdom, where he will stay for at least six months before leaving for any other country," said another official.

The official said that Musharraf would not be allowed to shift into his five-acre farmhouse in Islamabad that is under construction for the last three years. Musharraf had bought the property, valued at $5 million, after he seized power in 1999.

Pune BPO rape victim hit by tragedies

Pune, August 23, 2008 : The woes of the 22-year-old victim of gang rape just seem to be multiplying। While the woman, who was working as a customer care executive at IBM Daksh at Phursungi on Pune-Solapur road, lost her father - a goldsmith - on Thursday, doctors treating her at Jehangir Hospital have diagnosed her with severe blood clotting in the brain (Cortical Venous Trombosis).

Deputy superintendent of police (Pune Rural) Ravindra Sinh Pardeshi told DNA that the clotting had affected her speech and comprehension, as a result of which the police was unable to record her statement, which is vital to make an headway in the case।

"She is also suffering from continuous headaches due to the blood clotting in her brain। However, the treatment administered to her is helping her recover," he added.

The victims 25-year-old friend had lodged a police complaint that she was gang raped by about eight to 10 persons, allegedly by the cab drivers hired by the company, on the night intervening of August 7 and 8।

Pardeshi told DNA that the woman, who was earlier admitted to the Sassoon General Hospital, has now been shifted to Jehangir Hospital for treatment।

According to a city neurosurgeon, the cortical venous thrombosis is caused due to various infections such as pelvic infection among pregnant women and pressure on the backbone। "Its the blockage of the veins at the surface of the brain," he said.

Though, the victims brother and mother have been by her bedside at the hospital, they havent told her about her fathers death. "Her father wasnt well since the last few days. His health deteriorated after learning about his daughter. Unfortunately, he passed away on Thursday," said Pardeshi.