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THE VADODARA city police on Sunday launched an investigation after a 30-year-old man alleged that he was assaulted by personnel at the Sayajigunj traffic police station, a day after videos of the alleged altercation surfaced online. The police have also booked the man, identified as Kaushal Jat, for obstructing a public servant in discharge of duties as well as traffic violations.

A day after videos of Jat, purportedly showing injury marks on his body, became public, the police on Sunday released footage from the body worn camera of the traffic police as well as the CCTV footage of the Dandia Bazar-Akota junction, where the incident occurred around 10:30 am on Saturday. The Vadodara city police also released a third video that showed Jat’s parents purportedly admitting that they had no identity card to prove their initial claim of his father being an army personnel.

The incident occurred when Jat was stopped by traffic police personnel at the Dandia Bazar-Akota junction for allegedly riding a motorcycle without a number plate. The traffic personnel also sought Jat’s driver’s licence and noticed that the two-wheeler had a modified silencer – in violation of the prohibitory orders in place. However, police said that Jat could not produce his driver’s licence and was riding the motorcycle without a helmet, while speaking on the mobile phone – four traffic offences in all.

Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), Traffic, D M Vyas, said that when the police personnel attempted to complete the process of penalising Jat for traffic violations, he began arguing with them. “The individual resisted the traffic police action even as they were trying to explain to him that he had violated traffic rules on four counts. I was present at the spot when the matter began to escalate. I asked my commando to sit on his motorcycle as a pillion rider to bring him to the Sayajigunj traffic police station. However, he misbehaved with the traffic personnel, including a woman. The officers then used force to push him into the police vehicle and bring him to the traffic police station,” Vyas said.

According to Vyas, Jat’s family members soon reached the traffic police station and his father claimed to be an army personnel. “When we asked him (Jat’s father) to produce his identity card, he could not do so. They claimed that he was ready to pay the fine for the violations but they could not explain why he (Jat) did not comply with the instructions of the police as the vehicle had to be detained as per process.”

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone 2) Manjita Vanzara, said an FIR was registered on Sunday at the Raopura police station against Jat, on the basis of a complaint by armed police constable Kiran Jogadiya. Vanzara said, “Jat has been booked for voluntarily assaulting the traffic police personnel and obstructing public servants from discharging duty… Regarding the allegation of police assault, we have initiated a probe based on the complaint submitted by Jat but no FIR has been filed yet as the medical reports of the doctors at SSG, including the orthopaedic and surgery department, say that no grievous injuries were found on Jat’s person. Minor injuries have been sustained by him and also by police personnel with whom he was involved in a scuffle.”

Vanzara added that initial inquiry revealed that Jat’s father is attached to the Railway Police in Kheda district and his younger brother has a criminal record, including two confirmed prohibition cases against him at Vadodara city.

Jat has been booked under Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS) Sections 115(2) (voluntarily causing hurt), 221 (obstructing public servant in dischage of public functions, 121(1) (voluntarily causing hurt or grievous hurt to deter public servant from his duty), 351(1) (criminal intimidation), 54 (abettor present when offence is committed) as well as sections of the Motor Vehicle Act for driving without a valid licence and for driving vehicle without registered number plate.
Assistant Commissioner of Police (C Division), Ashok Rathva said the police had not registered a cross FIR yet on Jat’s complaint as he insisted on registering a complaint alleging “police assault using batons.”

Rathva said, “We have not yet come across any CCTV footage showing the police using batons to assault him and the medical report of SSG hospital does not confirm the kind of injuries that he has alleged to have sustained… We had agreed to take his FIR over a scuffle with the police but he has insisted that the FIR should be about assault with batons. Therefore, we are investigating the complaint first…”

On being asked why the traffic police drove Jat to the Sayajigunj traffic police station instead of Raopura police station, under the jurisdiction of which the incident had occurred, Rathva said that the initial altercation was related to traffic offences. Rathva said, “The incident and the argument between the traffic police and Jat pertained to traffic violations that required his two-wheeler to be detained as per law. When the traffic police saw that the matter was escalating and causing public nuisance, they took him to the Assistant Commissioner of Police, Traffic, at the Sayajigunj traffic police station. Until that time, the case pertained to traffic violations only and they could have settled the matter had the individual cooperated…”

Ratva added, “However, from the videos of the body worn camera as well as the CCTV, it is clear that the individual was not a law-abiding citizen or he would have accepted the faults pointed out by the police – These were in clear violation of traffic rules – instead of resisting and misbehaving with the police.”

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THE Gujarat Council on Science and Technology (GUJCOST), working under the aegis of the state Department of Science and Technology, has invited 15,01,249 registered students from Class IX to XII representing all states and all education boards across the country to participate in the ‘National STEM Quiz 4.0 – The Journey of the New Generation’.

The preliminary online quiz will be conducted from January 7 (11:00 am) to January 10 (6:00 pm). The extended online window ensures a flexible, inclusive and nationwide opportunity for students to demonstrate their knowledge, analytical skills, and problem-solving abilities in STEM disciplines. The GUJCOST calls upon all 15,01,249 registered students to actively participate in the online quiz.

Envisioned as India’s largest STEM learning initiative, the National STEM Quiz 4.0 is designed to ignite scientific temper, curiosity, and innovation among young minds. With Rs 2 crore in STEM scholarships and incentives, the initiative ensures that merit is recognised, talent is encouraged, and opportunity reaches students across diverse regions and socio-economic backgrounds.

To further enrich learning beyond competition, selected students can participate in boot camps at the National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU), Gandhinagar, and gain exposure through visits to premier STEM institutions, including Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Gujarat Science City, and Vikram A Sarabhai Space Exhibition, Ahmedabad.

“To support meaningful preparation, GUJCOST has published sample STEM quiz books for both junior and senior categories in English and Gujarati. These resources have been widely distributed and made available on the official website. Additionally, a three-day mock test window was provided to help students familiarise themselves with the quiz interface, question patterns, and the spirit of competition,” authorities at GUJCOST said.

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THE AAM Aadmi Party’s Gujarat working president and Dediapada MLA Chaitar Vasava got into a face-off with officials of the Narmada District administration on the stage at a government event to inaugurate the Eklavya Model Residential School in Sagbara taluka on Friday. Chaitar Vasava arrived at the event and took the microphone to publicly question the District Collector as well as the Sub-Divisional Officer why he was left out of an event that was organised to inaugurate a school built from the money of the taxpayers, where Gujarat Tribal Affairs Minister Naresh Patel was chief guest.

“I am the representative of the people of this area. Not inviting me is not an insult to me, it is an insult to the people… I want to ask the District Collector, SDM and Project director, do you have a problem with me? I am well aware of how the administrative machinery functions… When Prime Minister Modi recently visited the area, crores of rupees from tribal development funds were spent on the dome, dais and other event management expenses. Do you feel troubled when I ask such questions?” Chaitar said.

He said salaries paid to MPs, MLAs and administrative officials are “paid from the public tax ” and the officials must explain why a public representative was not invited to the programme. The event turned stormy as an official on the dais asked for the microphone to be switched off, leading to the crowd protesting in support of the MLA and prompting BJP MP Mansukh Vasava to intervene to stop the crowd from leaving.

With the civic body polls around the corner, the BJP’s state vice-president Rasik Prajapati on Friday had a word of advice for the sitting elected corporators of the Vadodara Municipal Corporation. Prajapati, who was attending an event to felicitate the appointment of Vadodara Lok Sabha MP Hemang Joshi as the chief of the Yuva Morcha of the state BJP, said in his address to the local leaders, “Corporators have been given five years… It is their responsibility to make the party win by working for whoever gets the ticket.”

Prajapati, who is also the party’s Vadodara district president, added, “People who constantly appear in the papers (in the news) do not come in party activities…” The remarks have since gained traction as a video of Prajapati’s purported statement has been widely shared on social media and political circles. The party will soon begin its hustle for ticket distribution in the wake of the recent reservations for the OBC candidates.

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Early evening on Friday, 74-year-old Hasmukh Patel was seated in the courtyard of his villa in the Akota area in Vadodara when a “delivery agent” sporting an orange T-shirt of an e-commerce platform arrived at the gate with a parcel. As Patel reached the gate to collect the parcel, the “delivery agent” snatched the gold chain from his neck and ran away before Patel could even unlock the gate.

Even as Patel rushed to Akota police station to lodge a complaint and police began a probe, looking into the CCTV footage of the incident, the accused had already fled to Bharuch town, where he had unsuccessfully attempted a similar offence on Thursday evening, approaching a senior citizen at her home, dressed as a ‘delivery agent’. On Friday night, luck ran out for him as officers of the Bharuch C-Division police station nabbed him based on a tip-off.

Identified as Kishor alias Ajay Machhi (46), the accused is currently in the custody of the Bharuch C-Division police station, from where Vadodara city’s Akota police station will seek his arrest through a transfer order.

Police Inspector V A Dodiya of Bharuch C-Division police station said that while Machhi has been targeting senior citizens in a similar modus operandi of delivering parcels, he had been doing it donning the look of an e-commerce delivery agent of late.

“He dressed up as a delivery agent. On January 1, he made a similar attempt in Bharuch town but was unsuccessful and then, he went to Vadodara and committed the offence. He had returned to Bharuch on Friday night in a bid to escape arrest in Vadodara,” Dodiya said.

The police added that Machhi, a resident of Vadodara, is a hardened criminal and recently resorted to using rented two-wheelers to commit the offence to escape the consequences of vehicle confiscation.

Dodiya said, “The two-wheeler used for the offence has been rented for a month. He realised over the years that confiscation of the vehicles hampers his next move. So, now that the two-wheeler will be confiscated, it will not be his loss….”

The Bharuch C-Division police station said that an initial probe has revealed that Machhi has close to 28 cases of theft and chain snatching registered against him at various police stations in the state, including six in Gandhinagar Sector-7 as well as Anand district, Mehsana, Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Banaskantha, Sabarkantha, Kheda and Junagadh since 2005.

He has also been sent to Porbandar Jail under the Gujarat Prevention of Anti-Social Activities Act, 1985, a law allowing preventive detention of individuals involved in repeated criminal offences.

Police Inspector DV Baldaniya of Akota Police station in Vadodara city said that the process to seek Macchi’s arrest on transfer has been initiated. “We have lodged an offence based on the complaint of the senior citizen on Friday. The accused has been nabbed in Bharuch town and we have initiated the process to seek his custody on transfer order,” Baldaniya said.

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BRIBES SYSTEMATICALLY collected as “speed money” to expedite change of use applications for agricultural land in Surendranagar district is among the primary allegations levelled against former collector Rajendrakumar Patel, deputy mamlatdar Chandrasinh Mori and two other staff members of their office.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has said it found that the former collector would download the applications filed on the Integrated Online Revenue Applications (IORA) portal of the Revenue department of Gujarat for change of land use and then “fixed bribe rates ranging from Rs 5-10/sq metre,” as per the remand application filed before the court on Friday. On Friday, Patel was remanded in the ED’s custody until January 7.

On downloading the applications, “… columns were added whereby, the bribe rates were fixed ranging from Rs 5-10/ sq. mt based on the nature of application and the sections applicable under law.” The bribe was collected in cash and the accused IAS officer was the final approving authority, the agency said.

The agency added that it traced more than 800 such applications that had allegedly resulted in “generation of proceeds of crime to the tune of more than Rs 10 crore, which is part of the larger proceeds of crime.”

Quoting the statement of an individual who allegedly paid Rs 65 lakh in bribes for multiple applications at the rate of Rs 10 per square metre, the ED told the court that the person has made diary entries that described the payments as “Collector Office Bribe Expense”.

The ED told the court, “Rajendrakumar Mahendra Patel himself demanded and accepted huge amounts of bribe in lieu of providing speedy approvals to the applicants applying for change of land use from agriculture land to non-agricultural land. He is the biggest beneficiary of the proceeds of crime as per evidence on record.”

The ED also said it found expensive mobile phones in Patel’s residence during searches on December 23, the “source of which he could not explain”. The agency found that an apartment was purchased in Patel’s name and that he had been receiving rental income from the same in his mother’s account. The ED also claimed that Patel had not paid school fees for his two children and the agency believes that these transactions had taken place in cash “from the bribe money.”

The Headquarters Investigation Unit (HIU-II) of the ED, Delhi, on Friday received 5-days remand of 2015-batch IAS officer Rajendra Mahendra Patel, the since-transferred District Collector of Surendranagar, in a corruption and money laundering investigation. This development came a day after deputy mamlatdar and Executive Magistrate Chandrasinh Bhupatsinh Mori was sent to judicial custody following the end of his seven-day remand on January 1.

On January 2, the ED team arrested Rajendra Patel, a 2015-batch IAS officer, from his home in Surendranagar and produced him before the Special PMLA court of Ahmedabad (Rural).

On December 23, 2025, a zero FIR was filed under sections 12, 13(1)(d), 13(2) and 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, at the ACB police station in Ahmedabad, on the basis of which an FIR was registered (transferred) to the ACB police station in Surendranagar. This FIR has been deemed “sensitive” by the ACB.

Since the sections mentioned in the FIR also constitute scheduled offences under section 2(1)(y) of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), the ED filed an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) 43/2025 on the same day, and began its investigation.

The next day, on December 24, 2025, the state government transferred Patel out of Surendranagar and placed his service at the disposal of the General Administration Department until further orders. He was posted in Surendranagar since February 1, 2025 and previously served as Municipal Commissioner in Surat city.

What is the primary accusation?

During investigation under the provisions of PMLA, the ED claims it found “large-scale corruption and generation of proceeds of crime through systematic extortion, demand, and collection of illegal gratification by public servants in the Office of the District Collector, Surendranagar, Gujarat, in connection with grant and processing of applications for Change of Land Use (CLU) and related statutory permissions under the Saurashtra Gharkhed Tenancy Settlement and Agricultural Lands Ordinance, 1949.”

Allegation against revenue official Mori

The ED, seeking remand of Chandrasinh Mori, told the court, “He was posted as Deputy Mamlatdar & Executive Magistrate in the Collector’s Office, Surendranagar, and was entrusted with title verification and processing of applications relating to Sections 54, 55, 65 and 65(B) of the said Ordinance, a position which enabled him to influence and control the pace and outcome of applications.”

The ED claimed, “Bribes were systematically demanded and collected as “speed money” for processing applications without delay. The bribe amount was pre-fixed, calculated on a per-square metre basis depending on the nature of application. Payments were routed through identified intermediaries/commission agents/dalals, whose names, roles, and contact details were recorded by him.”

The ED seized Rs 67.50 lakh in cash concealed in a bedroom at Mori’s residence.

‘Hisaab’ sheets: Records of ‘corruption’

The ED claimed that the accused, Chandrasinh Bhupatsinh Mori, in his statement recorded under Section 17 of the PMLA on December 23, allegedly, “categorically admitted” that the seized cash represents bribe money demanded and collected by him, directly and through intermediaries, from applicants seeking expedited or favorable processing of statutory land-use applications.

After Mori’s remand ended and the ED sought to seek remand of Rajendra Patel, it told the court on January 2, that Mori had named Patel as “beneficiary of half the bribes”.

Mori allegedly also told the ED that the ‘hisaab’ for the same was kept by the PA of District Collector who would also collect the Collector’s half of the money, and hand it over to him.

Pending investigation

The ED told the court that they are yet to investigate the “layering and integration of proceeds of crime”. They are also yet to determine the properties generated out of these proceeds of crime, as well as to glean the roles of other persons involved in the money laundering process.

Defence: ‘Illegal arrest, no unbroken money trail’

The IAS officer’s defence team claimed that Rajendra Patel’ arrest was “illegal” and so was the search at his home. Their argument was, “There was sufficient material available on record at the time of searching the premises of relatives of the arrestee. These satisfaction notes and the file showing the application of mind by AD, DD, JD, SD and Director, ED, may be preserved for judicial scrutiny. The same may be directed regarding the arrest. In the absence of these documents, the search and arrest may be declared as vexatious…”

Advocate Sameer B Gogda, appearing for Patel on Friday, also argued, “The arrest be treated as an illegal arrest, as there is no material on record to form reasons to believe that the arrestee is guilty of money laundering. No material to show that the arrestee is involved in any predicate offence or the arrestee had dealt with proceeds of crime arising out of a predicate offence.”

Gogda also argued that there is “no material on record to show an unbroken money trail leading to Rajendra Patel.”

Brendan Dabhi works with The Indian Express, focusing his comprehensive reporting primarily on Gujarat. He covers the region's most critical social, legal, and administrative sectors, notably specializing at the intersection of health, social justice, and disasters.

Expertise

Health and Public Policy: He has deep expertise in healthcare issues, including rare diseases, Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), the complex logistics of organ transplants, and public health challenges like drug-resistant TB and heat health surveillance. His on-ground reporting during the COVID-19 pandemic and Mucormycosis was critical in exposing healthcare challenges faced by marginalized communities in Gujarat.
Social Justice and Legal Administration: He reports on the functioning of the legal and police system, including the impact of judicial philosophy, forensics and crucial administrative reforms (. He covers major surveillance and crackdown exercises by the Gujarat police and security on the international border.
Disaster and Crisis Management: His work closely tracks how government and civic bodies respond to large-scale crises, providing essential coverage on the human and administrative fallout of disasters including cyclones, floods, conflict, major fires and reported extensively on the AI 171 crash in Ahmedabad.
Civic Infrastructure and Governance: Provides timely reports on critical civic failures,  including large scale infrastructure projects by the railways and civic bodies, as well as  the enforcement of municipal regulations and their impact on residents and heritage. ... Read More

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All’s well that ends well. Barely 10 days after the court halted the diksha ceremony of a seven-year-old girl, her parents, who were separated for a year, have agreed to a reunion to save their marriage before the Family Court in Surat. One of the conditions in the compromise formula is that if their daughter’s initiation into monkhood takes place in future, consent of both parents is needed and there should be “no pressure tactics” for the same.

On Friday, both parties (the girl’s mother and father) appeared before Judge S V Mansuri of the Family Court with a compromise formula, subject to certain conditions. The court accepted the conditions, after which the husband and wife embraced outside the courtroom.

The couple had been engaged in a legal dispute over their separation, the custody of their children, and their elder daughter’s proposed initiation into Jain diksha at a ceremony scheduled to be held in Mumbai in February.

Under the compromise formula, both the petitioner (father) and the respondent (mother) will withdraw all pending applications from the court and the Surat police.

On Friday, both the children met their father, and sweets were distributed to those present at the family court complex. Sweets were also distributed to the lawyers of both parties and relatives who were present in the court complex.

The document submitted to the court said, “Both parties should not repeat old mistakes and harass each other. They should live together happily. Both of them should be respectful of each other.”

The document further states, “No initiation into monkhood of the girl should take place as mentioned in the earlier affidavit submitted by both parties to the court. They should strictly adhere to it. In the future, if the initiation into monkhood of their daughter takes place, the consent of both parties – the father and mother – should be obtained. No pressure tactics should be used.”

“If a quarrel again erupts between them, they should mutually sort it out,” the document reads.

“The father (petitioner) should withdraw the application filed with the family court to get custody of the daughter. The pending application with the Child Welfare Committee should be withdrawn. The mother should withdraw the application submitted with the Surat police commissioner against her husband,” the document said.

“The witnesses in the compromising formula are also responsible if something goes wrong with the couple. If any of the parties violates the compromising conditions, the other party can file a legal complaint against the other,” it adds.

Speaking to The Indian Express, the parents expressed happiness over the happy ending.

The girl’s mother said, “We are happy that we are reunited. We have given an assurance to the court that we will not repeat old mistakes and live a happy life. Both my children are excited as well…they were missing their father.”

She said that nobody has pressured her on reaching a compromise. “The decision to work on a compromise formula was taken in a meeting convened by our community religious priest and other leaders with our family members and relatives, a few days ago. We mutually agreed on it for the better future of our children,” she said.

“After ‘Kamurta’ (the period considered inauspicious which ends January 14 this year), I will visit my in-laws’ place, and we will start staying together. Meanwhile, my husband can come to my house and see the children and me. We can even go out and spend time together with our children,” she says.

The father, a share market trader by profession, said that “he was alone for a long time” and that “such a reunion cannot be described in words.”

“I am happy now. We are also thankful to the court. I was alone for a long time, and now I will get my lost family, and such a reunion cannot be described in words. I can also concentrate on my business now,” he says.

The couple, both residents of Surat, married as per Jain rituals on June 29, 2012. They have two children, a 7-year-old girl and a 5-year-old boy. The wife left her in-laws’ place with her two children and started staying with her parents and elder brother in 2024.

Meanwhile, the mother sent her minor daughter under the charge of a Jain spiritual leader for a year, at the end of which she agreed to have her daughter enter monastic life at an upcoming event to be held in Mumbai from February 4 to 8, 2026.

When the father learnt about this from an “invitation card in one of the messages in the Jain community WhatsApp group” of Surat, he reportedly tried to meet his wife to stop it, but she remained adamant, he had told The Indian Express earlier.

He then moved an application before the family court to stop the Diksha ceremony of his daughter, under The Guardian and Wards Act 1890 Section 7 (empowers a court to make orders regarding a minor’s guardianship if it is determined to be in the minor’s welfare), and Section 24 (Duties of a guardian of the person, stating they are responsible for the ward’s custody, support, health, education, and must fulfill other requirements under the law applicable to the ward.)

In his application, he also stated that he is financially sound and can provide for his wife and children. “My daughter is a minor and taking Diksha will snatch her better future. If such a Diksha ceremony takes place, the bright future of my daughter will be snatched away. A person can serve the community not only by becoming a religious priest but also by becoming a lawyer, doctor, engineer, or bureaucrat, etc,” he said in his application.

On December 22, Surat family court Judge S V Mansuri passed an order halting the Diksha ceremony of the girl on the petition of her father. The order came after the mother (respondent) had submitted an undertaking that her daughter would not participate in the diksha ceremony to be held in Mumbai on February 8, 2026.

Kamal Saiyed is a senior Correspondent for The Indian Express, providing extensive, on-the-ground coverage from Surat and the broader South Gujarat region and the Union territories of Daman, Diu & Dadra Nagar Haveli. With a reporting career at the publication spanning back to 2007, he has established himself as a high-authority voice on the industrial, social, and political pulse of one of India’s fastest-growing urban hubs.

Expertise
Industrial & Economic Beat: Based in the "Diamond City," Saiyed offers expert reporting on the diamond and textile industries. His work tracks global market shifts (such as De Beers production changes), local trade policies, and the socio-economic challenges facing the millions of workers in Surat’s manufacturing hubs.
Civic & Infrastructure Coverage: He consistently reports on urban development and public safety in Surat, including:
Traffic & Urban Planning: Monitoring the city's 13-fold increase in traffic violations and the implementation of new municipal drives.
Public Safety: Investigative reporting on infrastructure failures, fire safety NOC compliance in schools and commercial buildings, and Metro rail progress.
Political Reporting: Tracking the shifting dynamics between the BJP, Congress, and AAP in South Gujarat and the neighboring Union Territories (Daman, Diu, and Dadra & Nagar Haveli).
Crime beat: Armed with a good source network Saiyed has been able to bring out the human side of crime stories in his region ... Read More

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The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, Ahmedabad (Additional), has held The Oriental Insurance Company Limited guilty of ‘deficiency in service’ for illegally repudiating a mediclaim on the ground of alleged pre-existing disease.

Allowing the complaint partly, the Commission has directed the insurer to pay Rs 5 lakh (sum insured) with 7 per cent interest, along with compensation and litigation costs. The case pertained to the husband of the complainant who was hospitalised for the treatment of palpitation in a private hospital in 2018 and subsequent ailments from 2019.

The order in the case of complaint filed on behalf of wife of the insured by the Consumer Education and Research Centre (CERC) — a not for profit organisation working for consumer protection and empowerment — on December 24, the Commission observed that the insurer failed to prove suppression of material facts regarding hypertension, which was cited as a pre-existing disease to deny the claim.

“Relying on medical records and the treating doctor’s certificate, the Commission noted that mere reference to hypertension — commonly a lifestyle disease — without establishing a nexus with the hospitalisation cannot justify repudiation,” said Anusha Iyer, deputy general manager, CERC.

The Commission also rejected the insurer’s objection on limitation, holding that the complaint was within time in view of the Supreme Court’s suo motu orders extending limitation during the Covid-19 period.

“The judgment reinforces that insurers must strictly prove non-disclosure of pre-existing diseases and cannot repudiate claims mechanically, thereby strengthening consumer protection in health insurance matters,” she further added.

‘…it is also relevant to consider that, as per certificate of the treating doctor has been produced on record for the complainant side, wherein it has been specifically mentioned that, “No history of D M, HTN since 2O14 and Underlying Cause of present ailment : Not known…..On the contrary neither the explanation was asked to the treating doctor nor any adverse as well as expert opinion has been presented for the lnsurance Company on record’ simultaneously it is also relevant to consider that, at the time of the policy the age of the insured was 75 years, yet no facts regardlng the medical examination has been produced on record. Therefore due to lack of such cogent facts on record the commission declines to agree with the contentions for the Opponent Insurance company’ the order stated.

The Commission also considered the ‘relevancy of the case of Bajaj Allianz General Insurance Co. Limited V/s Valsa Jose lV 2012’ of the National Commission that, “Hypertension is usually a lifestyle disease and easily controlled with conservative medicine .”

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A pet owner on January 1 handed an application to the Surat police demanding legal action against Surat Municipal Corporation’s (SMC) marketing department over the purported death of his pet dog.
In his application to Icchapore Police, Sunilkumar Singh alleged that on December 29, 2025 at 9:45am, a dog-catcher team from SMC’s marketing department caught his Pomeranian dog (female) outside the house in the lawn area.

Singh was at work in the morning and learnt about his pet’s disappearance after returning home in the evening.

On checking the CCTV cameras installed outside his house and those of other neighbours, he saw two youths catching the pet using a net tied to one end of a stick, and carrying it to the SMC vehicle.

The video footage showed the SMC team had left the spot without informing the neighbours.

The next day, Singh reached the SMC market department office to enquire about his pet.

In his application, Singh said that while interacting with SMC officials, they had accepted that the “lower-level contractual staff” had mistakenly caught the pet.

Singh then approached Icchapore police to register an offence against the people involved in the “death of his pet”.

Ichhapore police inspector AC Gohil said, “We have received the application and have started a probe to get information about what actually happened. It is unknown whether the pet is alive or dead. Once we take statements from all the suspects, the picture will be clear.”

Sunil Singh said, “I have been taking care of a Pomeranian dog for the last five years. I live with my family members. The dog catcher team caught our dog from our lawn without notifying my family members. We call my pet “Jadiben” and it was like my child. I still don’t know whether my pet is dead or alive…”

SMC market department officials did not respond to phone calls .

Kamal Saiyed is a senior Correspondent for The Indian Express, providing extensive, on-the-ground coverage from Surat and the broader South Gujarat region and the Union territories of Daman, Diu & Dadra Nagar Haveli. With a reporting career at the publication spanning back to 2007, he has established himself as a high-authority voice on the industrial, social, and political pulse of one of India’s fastest-growing urban hubs.

Expertise
Industrial & Economic Beat: Based in the "Diamond City," Saiyed offers expert reporting on the diamond and textile industries. His work tracks global market shifts (such as De Beers production changes), local trade policies, and the socio-economic challenges facing the millions of workers in Surat’s manufacturing hubs.
Civic & Infrastructure Coverage: He consistently reports on urban development and public safety in Surat, including:
Traffic & Urban Planning: Monitoring the city's 13-fold increase in traffic violations and the implementation of new municipal drives.
Public Safety: Investigative reporting on infrastructure failures, fire safety NOC compliance in schools and commercial buildings, and Metro rail progress.
Political Reporting: Tracking the shifting dynamics between the BJP, Congress, and AAP in South Gujarat and the neighboring Union Territories (Daman, Diu, and Dadra & Nagar Haveli).
Crime beat: Armed with a good source network Saiyed has been able to bring out the human side of crime stories in his region ... Read More

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An incident on a bridge along the Sabarmati River in Ahmedabad on Friday reinforced the goodness of human nature towards those in need and highlighted the need for stronger suicide prevention measures along the largest water body in the city.

On Friday evening, a young man, who allegedly jumped off the Dadhichi bridge into the river, appeared to realise that he made a mistake and began thrashing for help, barely able to keep his face above the water surface.

Traffic came to a crawl on the bridge as people stopped their vehicles to see if they could help the young man.

Fortunately, an autorickshaw transporting goods passed through the bridge at the same time and the driver, realising the emergency, pulled out a rope used to latch goods to the rear portion of his vehicle and threw one end into the water near the youth, who was struggling to keep his head above the water and breathe. Videos that surfaced on social media showed the young man catching hold of the rope.

Meanwhile, someone at the spot informed the fire control room and a River Rescue Team soon reached the spot.
Bharat Mangela, one of the two members of the River Rescue Team, told the Indian Express, “The incident took place around 4 pm and we received a call shortly afterwards. When we reached the spot below Dadhichi bridge, the youth was holding on to the rope that was being held tight by multiple people on the bridge. We pulled him into the boat and he was fine after a while.”

However, the River Rescue Team also said the youngster they rescued was “barely an adult” and when coaxed, told them that his family was in dire financial straits and that “he had nothing to live for”, which is why he tried to take the extreme step.

The young man was handed over to the Riverfront (East) police station. The Police Station Officer (PSO) told the Indian Express that they had taken a statement of the young man, called his parents and sent him home with them.

Need for mental health access
The incident took place just four days after The Indian Express, reported on the need to replace the missing suicide prevention signboards on the bridges over the Sabarmati river in Ahmedabad, once again proving that the physical metal barriers are not enough, and that more interventions are required to provide help to those looking to attempt suicide.

There have been several incidents over the last two years when people, having seen the suicide prevention signboards with the toll free number (1800-233-3330) of the Jeevan Aastha Helpline (JAH) have been saved in the nick of time by counselling and rescue by dispatch of police personnel. However, this youth did not get such help as the signboards put up in February 2025, went missing by the end of the year. The Indian Express reported on this phenomenon in the story, “Missing Lifelines: Why have suicide helpline signboards vanished from Ahmedabad’s river bridges?” on December 29, 2025.

Second Incident in 37 days
Notably, a similar incident took place on the same Dadhichi bridge just 37 days ago on November 26, 2025, when a young man climbed over the 6-ft-tall bridge barrier, and positioned himself on the outer ledge, about to jump into the river in a bid to end his life. He was saved by bystanders who stopped a bulldozer and made the operator put out its front scoop over the metal fence, and then pulled up the youth, saving his life.

Deaths on the Sabarmati River
The Sabarmati River is a major suicide spot in the city, with 2,392 attempts in 11 years (2014-24), which amounts to two suicide attempts every 3 days.
Data shows that 1,908 lives were lost in the past 11 calendar years between 2014 and 2024. This amounts to one death every two days.
With only 484 people having been saved alive from the river in 11 years, the mortality rate in the city’s largest water body is nearly 80 per cent.

Brendan Dabhi works with The Indian Express, focusing his comprehensive reporting primarily on Gujarat. He covers the region's most critical social, legal, and administrative sectors, notably specializing at the intersection of health, social justice, and disasters.

Expertise

Health and Public Policy: He has deep expertise in healthcare issues, including rare diseases, Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), the complex logistics of organ transplants, and public health challenges like drug-resistant TB and heat health surveillance. His on-ground reporting during the COVID-19 pandemic and Mucormycosis was critical in exposing healthcare challenges faced by marginalized communities in Gujarat.
Social Justice and Legal Administration: He reports on the functioning of the legal and police system, including the impact of judicial philosophy, forensics and crucial administrative reforms (. He covers major surveillance and crackdown exercises by the Gujarat police and security on the international border.
Disaster and Crisis Management: His work closely tracks how government and civic bodies respond to large-scale crises, providing essential coverage on the human and administrative fallout of disasters including cyclones, floods, conflict, major fires and reported extensively on the AI 171 crash in Ahmedabad.
Civic Infrastructure and Governance: Provides timely reports on critical civic failures,  including large scale infrastructure projects by the railways and civic bodies, as well as  the enforcement of municipal regulations and their impact on residents and heritage. ... Read More

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In a landmark decision to boost the green cover and rejuvenate the riverine landscape of 185 rivers of the state, the Gujarat government on Friday said it had approved a proposal of the Forest Department to plant trees along the riverbanks under the Riverine Landscape Management Plan. The Department of Forest and Environment will be designated as the nodal agency for steering the initiative to identify priority stretches, define approaches, and guide the process of riverine landscape management.

Gujarat Minister for Forest and Environment, Arjun Modhwadia, said the work of forest conservation and propagation of trees on both banks of all 185 rivers of the state has been entrusted to the Forest Department. “Under the project, the required land will be identified and demarcated for tree cultivation. Using GIS mapping and verifying the condition of the land, especially those that are unused will have to be mandatorily used to increase green cover… no commercial activity will be carried out on the lands under this scope of work.”

Modhwadia said the Forest and Department through its (district) offices will be responsible for protecting, maintaining and conserving such lands identified to become part of the Riverine Forest Landscape Management. Modhwadia said, “The work related to Riverine Forest Landscape Management of the rivers passing through the protected areas and forest areas will be done by the Social Forestry Department, after selecting the site through the office of the respective District Collector, all further work will be carried out.”

Speaking to The Indian Express, Gujarat Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) Dr AP Singh said the Riverine Landscape Management is a futuristic programme focussing on restoration of the riverine, biodiversity, conservation, habitat improvement as well as soil erosion on the contours. Singh said, “In Gujarat, the combined forest and tree cover accounts for 11.03% of the state’s geographical area as per India State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2023. As per National Forest Policy 1988, envisions 33% green cover of its geographical area. The forest and tree cover of Gujarat is much below the stipulated proportion, and being an industrialized and urbanized state, it is striving to enhance its green cover for environmental and ecological sustainability and also to contribute substantially towards achieving forestry-related Nationally Determined Contribution Targets (NDCs) of the country…”

Singh explains that as per the ISFR 2023 report, the state’s forest cover stands at 15,016.64 km², accounting for 7.65% of its geographical area. Complementing this, Gujarat also has a significant tree cover of 6,632.29 km², representing 3.38% of its geographical area. “Together, the total green cover (forest + tree cover) amounts to 21,648.93 km², covering approximately 11.03% of the state’s geographical area. In addition, Gujarat is home to some of the richest mangrove ecosystems in India, with 1,164.06 km² of mangrove cover along its coasts, providing vital ecological and climate resilience services…”

As per the proposal of the forest department, conceptualised by Singh, Gujarat’s diverse region features approximately 185 river basins. Mainland Gujarat has 17 rivers, while Saurashtra and Kachcch have 71 and 97 river basins, respectively. Perennial rivers such as the Narmada, Tapi, and Purna flow through the mainland, providing a reliable water source. In contrast, the rivers in Saurashtra and Kachchh are seasonal and depend on monsoon rainfall.

“Some of the issues faced by the riverine ecosystems in Gujarat are erosion, formation of ravines, siltation and reduced channel capacity, invasive species, loss of native flora and plants, fragmented institutional mechanisms… The proposal developed by the Forest department to manage vegetation across the rivers in Gujarat will help in soil and water conservation, climate resilience, biodiversity recovery and community co-benefits,” Singh said, especially citing the Kerala Basin Management Act (2025) in the proposal put forth to the State government last year.

“Following the devastating floods, Kerala adopted a river-basin framework in law, forming multi-tier committees with forest, irrigation, environment, etc. to plan “natural hydrological” catchment-based restoration. This model underscores the need for cross department coordination in river corridors… A holistic approach is required to conserve and restore riverine landscapes integrating scientific methods, community participation, and inter-departmental coordination, anchored in the larger vision of Gujarat’s green growth…” Singh said.

Aditi Raja is an Assistant Editor with The Indian Express, stationed in Vadodara, Gujarat, with over 20 years in the field. She has been reporting from the region of Central Gujarat and Narmada district for this newspaper since 2013, which establishes her as a highly Authoritative and Trustworthy source on regional politics, administration, and critical socio-economic and environmental issues.

Expertise:

Core Authority & Specialization: Her reporting is characterized by a comprehensive grasp of the complex factors shaping Central Gujarat, which comprises a vast tribal population, including:

Politics and Administration: In-depth analysis of dynamics within factions of political parties and how it affects the affairs in the region, visits of national leaders making prominent statements, and government policy decisions impacting the population on ground.

Crucial Regional Projects: She consistently reports on the socio-economic and political impact of infrastructure projects in the region, especially the Statue of Unity, the Sardar Sarovar Project on the Narmada River, the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail bullet train project as well as the National Highway infrastructure.

Social Justice and Human Rights: Her reporting offers deep coverage of sensitive human-interest topics, including gender, crime, and tribal issues. Her reports cover legal proceedings from various district courts as well as the Gujarat High Court (e.g., the Bilkis Bano case remission, POCSO court orders, Public Interest Litigations), the plight of tribal communities, and broader social conflicts (e.g., Kheda flogging case).

Local Impact & Disaster Reporting: Excels in documenting the immediate impact of events on communities, such as the political and civic fallout of the Vadodara floods, the subsequent public anger, and the long-delayed river redevelopment projects, Harni Boat Tragedy, Air India crash, bringing out a blend of stories from the investigations as well as human emotions.

Special Interest Beat: She tracks incidents concerning Non-Resident Gujaratis (NRIs) including crime and legal battles abroad, issues of illegal immigration and deportations, as well as social events connecting the local Gujarati experience to the global diaspora. ... Read More

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