Noted Writer Ram Puniyani intimidated by men posing as CID
Human Rights organisations demand enquiry
Mumbai: In an incident reported from Mumbai, prominent Human Rights Activist and renowned writer Prof. Ram Puniyani was recently questioned by three men posing as the CID officials. They visited his home in the garb of an inquiry for passport, which neither Prof Ram Puniyani nor anyone from his family had applied for.
According to the reports, Prof Puniyani and his family were asked ‘Objectionable questions’.
Prof Puniyani spoke to Vartha Bhatati about the incident and said “On March 9, a group of 3 people claiming to be from Maharashtra CID came to our house in Mumbai. The team claimed that they were inquiring about a passport request filed by us. But neither I nor anyone from my family had applied for passport. Even after informing them about this , they continued questioning us.
“They asked me about my family members, what they do? Why did I leave IIT? etc. I am not sure if they were from CID . I am thinking about filing a police complaint in this regard”.
Prof Ram Puniyani, who was a professor in biomedical engineering at the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology Bombay had taken voluntary retirement in December 2004 to work full-time for communal harmony in India. Author of many books on communal harmony and secularism, he writes regularly in different publications to strengthen voices of sanity and has consistently questioned and challenged divisive forces of various kinds. He has received the prestigious Indira Gandhi Award (2006) and National Communal Harmony Award (2007) apart from many other awards for his work.
Human rights organizations and activists condemned the incident and termed it an attempt to frame Prof Puniyani into legal hassle to silence his voice. They have appealed to the Mumbai Police Commissioner to take action against the forces behind the incident . They have demanded a fair investigation into the matter and those behind this be brought to justice at the earliest.
“We demand that an inquiry be ordered into this whole episode and the guilty be brought to book for their act of intimidating a widely known writer and noted activist” a petition to Mumbai Police Commissioner said.
The website also sought support and endorsements for the cause. Those willing to support Prof Ram can send their endorsements to Ms Shabnam Hashimi at shabnamhashmi@gmail.com latest by 11 am on13 th March.
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Rupali Chakankar resigns as NCP state women's wing chief
Mumbai (PTI): Under fire over her association with rape-accused 'godman' Ashok Kharat, NCP leader Rupali Chakankar on Friday resigned as the party's Maharashtra women's wing chief.
"Following a discussion over the phone with (NCP president and deputy Chief Minister) Sunetra Pawar this morning, I am tendering my resignation as state president of the Nationalist Congress Party's women's wing," she said in a post on X.
Earlier, Chakankar had stepped down as chairman of the Maharashtra State Commission for Women after her links with Kharat came to light.
In the letter shared on the social media platform, Chakankar said that she had clarified her stand on the Kharat case on the very first day, asserting that she had no direct or indirect connection with his financial dealings or alleged wrongdoings.
Her stand remains clear and firm, and the truth would emerge in the course of investigation, Chakankar added.
The allegations being levelled against her in the media without any evidence are "painful" but the truth would ultimately prevail, she said.
Kharat, who headed a temple trust at Mirgaon in Nashik district, was arrested on March 18 after a woman accused him of raping her repeatedly over three years. A total of eight FIRs have been registered against him since then.
Chakankar was a member of the temple trust.
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