CIP student fights for justice, Institute in denial mode

September 10, 2010

VIJAY DEO JHA RANCHI

Social psychologists Ross, Lepper and Hubbard painstakingly experimented to bring us ‘Belief Perseverance Theory’ to explain unwillingness of some people to admit that their foundational premises of beliefs were incorrect even when shown convincing evidence to the contrary.

The theory seems to be dominant upon the Central Institute of Psychiatry (CIP) at least in the case of ragging and molestation of one of the students of the institute Sneha Tripathi by two senior doctors; Dr Amrit and Dr Sanjay, during a picnic spree.

Tripathi pursuing PhD course in clinical psychology from the institute, was allegedly molested by the duo — hit her by volleyball and plunging her head in the water body of Panchghagh waterfall at Murhu on September 5.

Tripathi has lodged a formal complaint with the director of the institute S Haq Nizami. A two member committee has been formed to investigate the case.

The committee is yet to come to a conclusion but the jury are out to pass the judgment. Jury number one: Nizami. “It a matter between two individuals. It is not the case of ragging or molestation,” Nizami told The Pioneer after much prodding. “The committee will soon give its report.” Nizami unknowingly dropped a broad hint about what could be the findings of the report.

Tripathi on Thursday narrated her woe before the media on the premise of the institute alleging authorities for hushing up the case. “I have not gone to the police to lodge my complaint so far. But now I doubt to get justice from the institute.” Tripathi is singularly fighting knowing well she is neither “first nor the last student of the institute who was humiliated in the name of ragging.

While Amrit is a pass out of the institute, Sanjay works as a doctor here. But instead of admitting the wrong and administering exemplary dose of discipline the CIP authorities initially even refused to acknowledge the fact.

Dr D Ram, administrative officer of CIP changed his version twice — half acceptance at one moment and a very quick denial the very next minute.

“Institution is in such a denial it is because of the fact that both the doctors enjoy the patronage of the professors and management of the institute…otherwise the fact remains what Tripathi has said,” observed one of the students of the institute.

Sadly enough, the dirty departments have clandestinely cropped on the institute’s premise running whisper campaign to prove her a compulsive liar. Some have gone up to the extent of investigating the medical history of her family desperately trying to prove her a case of psychological disorder.

Dr Amrit defended himself terming it a minor brawl after the volleyball inadvertently hit her. “I had promptly sought apology. But she is exaggerating the case complaining that I pushed her head in the water during the game.”

Psychological experts will explain you that the person holds his view more tenaciously even after the fact is attested as true by many others.

“Ragging? What ragging you are talking about? No molestation. No case,” the institute reminded. Call it Belief Perseverance; call it an attempt to deny justice: as you like.

picture by Mukesh Bhatt



Binod Sinha sent to 10 days CBI remand
September 19, 2010

Vijay Deo Jha | Ranchi

Former Jharkhand CM Madhu Koda’s close aide and co-accused in the Rs 4,000 crore money laundering scam; Binod Sinha, had obtained a fake driving licence in the name of Amit Yadav.

He used this driving licence as a document to travel across the country. The CBI while arresting Sinha on Wednesday in New Delhi seized the driving licence from his possession issued from Jharkhand. Sources in the CBI however refused to reveal the details of the driving licence.

“The agency strongly doubts Sinha used the driving licence to book tickets and only might have used it as identity proof while boarding the flight,” a source said, refusing to share details of the driving licence.

During the raid, the source said, the CBI seized a dozen hair wigs, artificial beards, moles and other cosmetic items. It only goes on to suggest that Sinha used makeup to hide his persona to evade his arrest. The CBI during the raid also found at least 16 SIM cards of different countries and several international calling cards. Besides the aforesaid things the CBI has also laid its hand on a diary.

Sinha who was arrested in New Delhi was brought to the State capital Ranchi on Saturday under tight security. Sinha was taken to the CBI headquarters where he was subjected to intense grilling for an hour. Later on he was produced before the court of Pankaj Kumar. Sinha was sent to 10 days CBI remand.

Public prosecutor Rakesh Prasad appeared on the behalf of the CBI while Pandey Niraj Roy argued on the behalf of Sinha.

Before producing Sinha before the CBI court in Ranchi the CBI had secured transit remand from the court of special judge AS Yadav from a Delhi court.

The court allowed the CBI to take the accused on transit remand, disregarding his contention that there was a stay on his arrest by the apex court as he failed to substantiate his arguments with documentary evidence.

In another development, the Supreme Court, on Friday; rejected the bail petition of Vikash Sinha, brother of Binod Sinha. Vikash was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate for his alleged involvement in hawala and illegal transactions in a similar case, last year.

Vikash has been charged under Sections 409, 420, 465, 120-B of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and other provisions of Prevention of Corruption Act by the ED.

A bench of Justices B Sudershan Reddy and SS Nijjar upheld the decision of the Jharkhand High Court that had dismissed his bail plea sought on medical grounds.

The bench while terming the case as “serious in nature” observed that the accused can seek relief after three months.

No role of industrial houses in Govt formation: Munda
September 20, 2010

VIJAY DEO JHA | RANCHI

Chief Minister Arjun Munda refuted the media reports that industrial houses were behind the Government formation exercise in Jharkhand. Speaking to the media at the Ranchi airport on Sunday afternoon, Munda denied the allegation. "It is a false charge. There was no involvement of the industrial houses in the Government formation exercise," said the Chief Minister.

Munda was reacting to reporting in some of the section in the media that Nagpur-based industrialist Ajay Kumar Sancheti (member of BJP national executive body and close aide of party's national president Nitin Gadkari) and two others --- Tulsi Ram Agarwal (an industrialist from Bhubaneswar) and Sandeep Kalia played active role in Government formation.

The revelation exposed the bickering in the Jharkhand BJP after the State BJP president Raghuwar Das told a TV news channel that Sancheti had asked him to call the party meeting to anoint Munda party candidate for the CM post.

"I do not know and have not seen what Raghuwarji said," Munda said adding: "Sancheti and his family have a long association with the BJP and the RSS. Where is the involvement of industrial houses?

Munda put a lid over the controversy when asked about the involvements of other two. "It is Opposition's ploy to malign the party and the Government. But the party insiders said that the controversy has already snowballed into a major contention.

Munda, nevertheless, appeared unruffled over blunt talk of Das but sources close to him confided that the former has asked his flanks to stay alert to take on Das.

However, Das refused to be labeled as bad catalyst who added one more controversy in the party over Government formation at time when top central leadership, including LK Advani, Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitely had disliked Munda's plan to form coalition Government with the help of the JMM.
"
Please go through my verbatim over screen. I said nothing over the role of industrial house since I do not know anything about it," Das told The Pioneer.

"Sanchetiji had called me that night. I told him that I will follow the instruction of the party president; be it my resignation or holding legislative meeting of the party to elect a new leader," Das clarified.

Known for their differences, Das and Munda have been airing different views over Government formation from the very first day the party had withdrawn its support to the Shibu Soren Government in April.

Interestingly, BJP sources expressed no surprise over the role of industrial houses behind Government. "Nowadays industrial houses playing active role in Government formation and even as chief negotiator is an acceptable phenomenon," a senior party leader said.

"In the month of the April when the BJP was trying to renegotiate with the JMM to form Government; same people and houses were actively backing the effort," he pointed out.

"The only difference is that last time industrialists and people including Sancheti had backed Das for the CM post even after he enjoyed no support of party MLAs. This time Munda wrested the opportunity because he emerged as the front runner," the leader said.