IIFA Awards: Shah Rukh wins best actor, 'Animal' named best film
Yas Island (Abu Dhabi) (PTI): Superstar Shah Rukh Khan won the best actor award for his role in "Jawan" while Ranbir Kapoor-starrer "Animal" was named the best picture at the IIFA Awards here.
Shah Rukh hosted the awards extravaganza on Saturday night with actor Vicky Kaushal and filmmaker Karan Johar.
The superstar was in his elements as a host whether it was striking his trademark pose of spreading his arms wide or matching steps with Kaushal on the latter's viral dance steps on "Tauba Tauba".
His "Dil Se..." director Mani Ratnam and music maestro A R Rahman were on stage to hand over the trophy to SRK and the superstar touched the feet of Ratnam before accepting the trophy.
Rani Mukerji won the best actress trophy for her role in "Mrs. Chatterjee vs Norway" and as she walked back after accepting her award Shah Rukh, her co-star in many films, held her pallu to ensure that it did not touch the ground.
SRK was also there to lend his support to singer Shilpa Rao as she won the best playback singer (female) IIFA trophy for "Chaleya" from "Jawan" by doing an impromptu dance as Rao crooned the opening lines.
Kaushal seemed to be enjoying every minute of his hosting duties with SRK, who sportingly matched steps with his "Dunki" co-star on "Tauba Tauba".
The duo also danced on “Mere Mehboob Mere Sanam" from SRK's film "Duplicate" and "Oo Antava" from "Pushpa" to loud cheers from the audience.
Filmmaker Vidhu Vinod Chopra won the best director IIFA award for his film "12th Fail".
Sandeep Reddy Vanga's film "Animal" also registered wins for Anil Kapoor and Bobby Deol in best supporting actor and best negative role categories, respectively.
Deol accepted his award and recreated his popular dance steps on the song 'Jamal kudu' with Vanga providing the prop of an empty glass.
Ranbir Kapoor seems to have given the awards a miss this year to celebrate his birthday with family. The actor turned 42 on Saturday.
"Animal" also won awards for music direction for Pritam, Vishal Mishra, Manan Bhardwaj, Shreyas Puranik, Jaani, Bhupinder Babbal, Ashim Kemson, Harshavardhan Rameshwar.
Bhupinder Babbal for his song 'Arjan Vailly' from "Animal" won the best playback singer (male) award as well as best lyrics award for 'Satranga'.
Johar's directorial venture "Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani" also registered wins. Actor Shabana Azmi, who played lead star Alia Bhatt's grandmother in the movie, won the best supporting actress IIFA trophy while writers Ishita Moitra, Shashank Khaitan, Sumit Roy won best story award.
Outstanding Achievement in Indian Cinema award was given to veteran actor-politician Hema Malini. Shah Rukh Khan gallantly escorted the actor to the stage to receive her award as "Dream Girl" played on.
Alizeh Agnihotri won the best debutante actor trophy while Karan Boolani was named the best debutant director for his film "Thank You For Coming".
Apart from SRK and Vicky's performance on "Tauba Tauba", the song's original singer Karan Aujla was also there to sing live. Rapper Honey Sing performed on his new song "Bonita".
Major dance performances of the night were by veteran star Rekha, Prabhudeva and Shahid Kapoor, Janhvi Kapoor, Nora Fatehi, Kriti Sanon and Ananya Pandey.
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MP HC sets up judicial commission to probe water contamination in Indore
Indore (PTI): The Indore bench of Madhya Pradesh High Court on Tuesday set up a commission of inquiry comprising a former HC judge to probe the issue of water contamination in city's Bhagirathpura, saying the matter requires probe by an independent, credible authority and "urgent judicial scrutiny".
It also directed the commission to submit an interim report after four weeks from the date of commencement of proceedings.
A division bench of Justices Vijay Kumar Shukla and Alok Awasthi constituted the commission while hearing several public interest litigations (PILs) filed simultaneously regarding the deaths of several people in Bhagirathpura due to the consumption of contaminated water.
The HC reserved the order after hearing all the parties during the day, and released it late at night.
The state government on Tuesday told the HC that the deaths of 16 people in Indore's Bhagirathpura area was possibly linked to a month-long outbreak of vomiting and diarrhoea caused by contaminated drinking water.
The government presented an audit report of 23 deaths from the current gastroenteritis epidemic in Bhagirathpura before the bench, suggesting that 16 of these fatalities may have been linked to the outbreak of vomiting and diarrhoea caused by contaminated drinking water.
The report, prepared by a committee of five experts from the city's Government Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Medical College, stated that the deaths of four people in Bhagirathpura were unrelated to the outbreak, while no conclusion could be reached regarding the cause of death of three other people in the area.
During the hearing, the high court sought to know from the state government the scientific basis behind its report.
The division bench also expressed surprise at the state government's use of the term "verbal autopsy" in relation to the report, sarcastically stating that it had heard the term for the first time.
The HC expressed concern over the Bhagirathpura case, stating that the situation was "alarming," and noted that cases of people falling ill due to contaminated drinking water have also been reported in Mhow, near Indore.
In its order, the HC said the serious issue concerning contamination of the drinking water supply in Bhagirathpura area allegedly resulted in widespread health hazards to residents, including children and elderly persons.
According to the petitioners and media reports, death toll is about 30 till today, but the report depicts only 16 without any basis or record, it said.
It is averred that sewage mixing, leakage in the pipeline, and failure of civic authorities to maintain potable water standards have led to the outbreak of water-borne diseases. Photographs, medical reports, and complaints submitted to the authorities prima facie indicate a matter requiring urgent judicial scrutiny, the HC said.
"Considering the gravity of the allegation and affecting the right to life under Article 21 of the Constitution of India and the need for an independent fact-finding exercise, the Court is of the opinion that the matter requires investigation by an independent, credible authority," it said.
"Accordingly, we appoint Justice Sushil Kumar Gupta, former judge of the Madhya Pradesh High Court, a one-man commission of inquiry into the issues relating to water contamination in Bhagirathpura, Indore, and its impact on other areas of the city," the HC added.
As per the order, the commission shall inquire into and submit a report on the cause of contamination -- whether the drinking water supplied to Bhagirathpura was contaminated; and the source and nature of contamination (sewage ingress, industrial discharge, pipeline damage etc).
The panel will also probe the number of actual deaths of affected residents on account of contaminated water; find out the nature of disease reported and adequacy of medical response and preventive measures; suggest immediate steps required to ensure safe drinking water as well as long-term infrastructural and monitoring reforms.
It will also identify and fix responsibility upon the officers and officials found prima facie responsible for the Bhagirathpura water contamination incident, and suggest guidelines for compensation to affected residents, particularly vulnerable sections.
The commission shall have powers of a civil court for the purpose of summoning officials and witnesses; calling up records from the government department, hospitals, laboratories and civic bodies; ordering water quality testing through accredited laboratories; conducting spot inspections.
All state authorities involving district administration, Indore Municipal Corporation, public health engineering department and Madhya Pradesh Pollution Control Board shall extend full co-operation and provide records as sought by the commission, it said.
The state government shall provide office space, staff, and logistical support to the commission, it said.
During the hearing in the day, the state government also presented a status report to the court in this matter.
According to reports, a total of 454 patients were admitted to local hospitals during the vomiting and diarrhea outbreak, of whom 441 have been discharged after treatment, and 11 are currently hospitalised.
According to officials, due to a leak in the municipal drinking water pipeline in Bhagirathpura, sewage from a toilet was also mixed in the water.
