Singer Monali Thakur recovering in Mumbai after falling ill during stage show in West Bengal
Kolkata, Jan 23 (PTI): Popular Bollywood singer Monali Thakur, known for her song ‘Moh moh ke dhaage’ from ‘Dam laga ke haisha’, who fell ill during a live performance in West Bengal's Cooch Behar district on January 21, is now stable and recovering in Mumbai, a source close to her said on Thursday.
Monali felt unwell during her performance at Dinhata Festival, forcing her to stop while singing but didn't need hospitalisation, the source clarified.
She apologised to the audience before halting the show, saying, "I am not feeling well now. But as I promised the organisers, I came and performed for as long as I could. You have been so supportive and energetic. I am sorry."
Monali was taken to a hospital but not admitted there and she returned to Mumbai on January 22. She is now "absolutely okay," according to the source.
Her other hit film songs include ‘Sawar Loon’ from the film Lootera, ‘Nachlay Nachlay’ from ‘Hum Hai Raahi Car Ke’ and ‘Hip Hop Pammi’ from ‘Ramaiya Vastavaiya’.
In a statement, Monali said, "I truly appreciate all the love and concern but I want to make it clear that I am not dealing with any breathing issue and I was not admitted to any hospital."
"I was feeling unwell recently due to not getting enough time to recover from a viral infection/flu causing it to relapse and cause a slightly severe sinus and migraine discomfort and pain in flights. That's all there is to it," she said in the statement on Thursday evening.
"I am now back in Mumbai, getting treatment, resting and recovering. I will be absolutely fine in no time," she asserted.
This incident comes after the tragic death of singer KK on May 31, 2022, following a live performance in Kolkata. KK had complained of uneasiness after the show and was declared dead upon arrival at a hospital.
Monali, who is also an actress, made her Bollywood debut with Nagesh Kukunoor's 2014 film 'Lakshmi'. She was seen in a guest appearance as a Kashmiri girl in 'PK' (2014). Thakur has also a played a cameo role in 'Secret Superstar' (2017).
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Prez nod for FIR against AAP's Manish Sisodia, Satyendar Jain in Rs 2,000-cr classroom 'scam'
New Delhi, Mar 13 (PTI): President Droupadi Murmu has given her approval for the registration of an FIR against AAP leaders Manish Sisodia and Satyendar Jain in an alleged scam of Rs 2,000 crore in the construction of classrooms in Delhi government schools, sources said.
In 2022, the Delhi government's vigilance directorate recommended a probe into the alleged scam and submitted a report to the chief secretary.
The President has given her approval for registering the FIR against Sisodia and Jain in connection with the alleged scam during their tenures as ministers in the Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi government, the sources said.
The Central Vigilance Commission (CVC), in a report dated February 17, 2020, highlighted "glaring irregularities" in the construction of classrooms in Delhi government schools by the Public Works Department (PWD).
The President's approval came under Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act that pertains to "enquiry or inquiry or investigation of offences relatable to recommendations made or decision taken by public servant in discharge of official functions or duties".
Reacting to the development, senior AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj accused the BJP of carrying out a witch-hunt against its political rivals.
The BJP has no interest or intention to fulfil the promises it made to the people of Delhi. Its only agenda is to carry out a witch-hunt against its political rivals to stifle the voice of people, the former minister said in a statement.
The BJP-led central government has already decided to prosecute every political adversary of the party and grant approvals to move the case forward but it should wait for the judicial process to begin, he said.
In July 2019, BJP leader Harish Khurana and then AAP rebel MLA Kapil Mishra, now a minister in the Delhi government, lodged a police complaint about the alleged scam.
According to a report prepared by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) of the Delhi government, the complainants alleged that there was a scam worth over Rs 2,000 crore in the construction of classrooms and school buildings in Delhi. The work was done at a highly inflated cost by the Delhi government.
The alleged scam involves the construction of around 12,748 classrooms.
The ACB report said the total expenditure incurred for constructing the classrooms and school buildings was around Rs 2,892.65 crore. They were allegedly constructed at the rate of Rs 8,800 per square feet, whereas it was common knowledge that the average construction cost (even for a builder of flats) was around Rs 1,500 per square feet.
The total cost for constructing a classroom and school building, according to the tender awarded, was allegedly around Rs 24.86 lakh per room, whereas such rooms are easily constructed in Delhi at around Rs 5 lakh per room, it said.
The prices were increased almost five times to defraud the taxpayer by siphoning off money from the public exchequer in the garb of construction cost, the report said.
Even for a 5-star hotel, top ultra-luxury quality construction is around Rs 5,000 to Rs 5,500 per square feet, it said.
The complainants submitted a copy of documents in which information received under the RTI Act in respect of the construction of 18 classrooms in the Govt Girls Senior Secondary School, Nathupura, Burari (school ID:-1207111) revealed that they were constructed at a cost of Rs 12 crore, the ACB report said.
