IT professional claims 'godwoman' cheated him of Rs 14 cr, seeks FIR
Pune (PTI): An IT professional has approached Pune Police alleging he was cheated by a self-proclaimed godwoman of Rs 14 crore under the pretext of healing his two daughters with health issues through her "spiritual powers".
Pune Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar on Wednesday confirmed that police had received the complaint application and forwarded it to the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) for further action.
The complainant, Dipak Dolas, claimed the godwoman assured his family that she could heal his daughters by invoking "divine intervention".
She persuaded them to sell their properties, including a house in the United Kingdom, properties in Pune, and agricultural land in their native village. Dolas transferred nearly Rs 14 crore to the woman over a period of time, the complaint claimed.
He alleged that despite paying the money, their daughters' health did not improve, prompting them to approach the police.
They have sought criminal action against the woman, a police official said, adding that the application is being verified.
Dolas' advocate Vijay Thombre Patil said his client approached the police commissioner and submitted a complaint application.
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'Someone must be held accountable': HC converts civil suit on Goa nightclub tragedy into PIL
Panaji (PTI): The Bombay High Court on Monday converted a civil suit against Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub into a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) saying "someone has to be held accountable" for the tragedy in which 25 people were killed.In a stern observation, Goa bench of the High Court of Justices Sarang Kotwal and Ashish Chavan said the local panchayat had "failed to take suo motu cognisance" of the club and had taken "no action despite complaints."
The division bench directed the Goa government to file a detailed reply on the permissions granted to the nightclub.
The High Court, while fixing January 8 as the next date of hearing, pointed out that commercial operations were continuing in the structure despite it having been served a demolition order.
The original petition was filed after the December 6 tragedy by Pradeep Ghadi Amonkar and Sunil Divkar, the owners of the land on which the nightclub was operating.
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Advocate Rohit Bras de Sa, the lawyer representing the petitioner, was made amicus curiae in the matter and has been asked to file a detailed affidavit in the matter.
In their petition, Amonkar and Divkar highlighted "the alarming pattern of statutory violations that have remained inadequately addressed despite multiple complaints, inspections, show-cause notices, and even a demolition order".
They contended that these violations posed "immediate threats to public safety, ecological integrity, and the rule of law in the state of Goa."
Investigations by multiple agencies into the nightclub fire have revealed various irregularities, including lack of permissions to operate the nightclub.
The Goa police arrested five managers and staff members of the club, while co-owners Gaurav Luthra and Saurabh Luthra have been detained in Thailand after they fled the country.
