Mumbai: In a letter to the state govt and the Mumbai University, the Council of Architecture (CoA) has warned that it may consider withdrawing its approval for the architecture programme at Sir J J School of Architecture due to persistent violations of its regulations. The statutory body highlighted a long-standing history of non-compliance by the institute, despite repeated written assurances and legal undertakings to fill vacant teaching positions. The council has requested state authorities to direct the institute to take remedial action.According to the council, the institute and Mumbai University authorities have failed to take corrective measures despite submitting nine undertakings since 2018. The council pointed out that the institution had, on multiple occasions, affirmed through these undertakings that the requisite cadre-wise faculty would be appointed and maintained at all times in accordance with CoA norms. The first such undertaking was submitted on June 20, 2018, while the most recent ones were given in July and Aug last year.

A state govt official, though, said recruitment in the state had been frozen since 2018, which delayed the process. Even after the freeze was lifted, administrative delays occurred following the issuance of new guidelines, he said. The guidelines faced opposition from the teaching community on two occasions, after which a fresh govt resolution was issued last week. The state has also approved the filling of 5,012 teaching posts. The official added the recruitment process will now begin, and these teaching positions are expected to be filled before the start of the next academic session. Sources claimed that over 10 teaching posts are lying vacant at the institute. The council’s letter stated Sir J J School of Architecture had applied for an extension of approval for the 2025-26 academic session to offer the B Arch programme. Based on the assessment report of its inspection committee, the council observed deficiencies in the institute’s physical and academic infrastructure and issued a showcause notice to them. At that time, the institute informed the council that advertisements had been issued for the recruitment of professors, associate professors, and assistant professors, and that the recruitment process was expected to be completed by Oct 2025.In Aug, the university, in a letter, stated the recruitment process was underway and would be concluded within three months. The university also assured the council that adequate budgetary provisions would be made to upgrade infrastructure, including the computer laboratory. Based on these undertakings, from the institute and the university, the council granted conditional approval to the institution for 2025-26. However, the council noted it has not yet received any substantive compliance report. The council has now urged the govt to direct the institute to remove the deficiencies, failing which it will have no option but to consider withdrawal of approval from the next academic session.In another letter, following a Supreme Court directive from Jan 15 to improve efficiency and address rising concerns of mental health among students, the CoA had asked all architectural institutions to fill their vacant posts within four months.

Kalyan: The Manpada police have busted a major counterfeit medicine racket involving fake supplies of Telma AM, a widely prescribed drug used for the treatment of hypertension.Two pharmaceutical distributors have been arrested from Dombivli and Mumbai, while police teams are continuing efforts to trace those responsible for manufacturing the spurious tablets.

According to investigators, the accused were allegedly selling counterfeit Telma AM tablets designed to closely resemble the original product marketed by Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Limited using same label.The case came to light after company representatives received information that bogus medicines were being circulated in the Thane region under their brand name. The matter was subsequently reported to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Maharashtra for verification.During the preliminary inquiry, FDA officials found serious discrepancies in the seized samples. Although the counterfeit tablets reportedly contained similar ingredients to the original formulation, their quality and pharmacological performance were found to be suspect. Laboratory analysis revealed that the fake tablets took longer than standard to dissolve in the body, raising concerns about delayed therapeutic action. Experts warned that such deviations could compromise blood pressure control and pose significant health risks to patients, particularly those with unstable hypertension.FDA inspector Rajshree Shinde initiated an investigation following the complaint. A search conducted at Shree Ram Pharma, a Dombivli-based distributor, led to the seizure of 1,000 strips of the suspected medicine, which were sent for laboratory testing. The analysis confirmed that the tablets were counterfeit. Based on these findings, the FDA lodged a formal complaint with the police.API Mahesh Ralebhat, the investigating officer from Manpada police station, arrested distributor Pankaj Upadhyaye. During questioning, Upadhyaye claimed that he had procured 6,000 strips of the medicine from a Bihar-based company. However, police said the claim was false and alleged that a fake invoice had been generated in the name of that company. Further investigation indicated that the medicines were sourced from another Mumbai-based distributor, identified as Vivek Rai, who has also been arrested.Deputy Commissioner of Police Atul Zende (Zone III) stated that the investigation is being expanded to identify the manufacturing unit behind the counterfeit drug. He said police have secured custody of the accused stockists and are working to dismantle the entire network.Authorities suspect that the racket may have links across multiple states, and inquiries are underway to establish the origins of the raw materials, packaging, and distribution channels.The accused have been booked under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, including Sections 318(4), 336(3), 340(2), 277, 278, and 3(5), along with Sections 18(a)(i) read with 17(B), punishable under 27(b) and 27(c) of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, and Rules 1945.Girish Mishra, a medicine expert with over four decades of experience, said shrinking margins in the pharmaceutical trade could be contributing to such malpractices. He noted that heavy discounting by online and offline pharmacies has severely impacted stockists’ profitability, and in the pursuit of cheaper supplies and higher returns, some distributors involved into purchasing with dubious manufacturers. He cautioned that counterfeit medicines pose a serious threat to patient safety and called for stricter regulatory enforcement.

NEW DELHI: Grief-stricken and resolute, Inna Makan, mother of 23-year-old Sahil Dhaneshra who died in a road crash in Dwarka earlier this month, has alleged that her son’s death was the result of “reckless stunt driving for social media reels” and demanded strict action against those responsible.Speaking to news agency ANI, Makan claimed that on the morning of Feb 3, Sahil was heading to work when an SUV allegedly driven by a minor veered into the opposite lane at high speed near Lal Bahadur Shastri College.

“My son was going to the office. The Scorpio driver, along with his sister, was out making fun reels. The speed is clearly visible in the video,” she said.According to her, the SUV performed a stunt near a bus before colliding with Sahil’s motorcycle. “There was an e-rickshaw on one side. The Scorpio rammed into my son’s bike, then hit a parked car. They didn’t even apply brakes,” she alleged. A taxi driver was also seriously injured in the multi-vehicle collision.Calling the incident “criminal activity,” Makan said, “This is not just an accident. My son died due to their fun reel. Some people think they can do anything on the road because their parents are wealthy.”She further alleged that the minor had multiple prior overspeeding challans and was driving without a licence. “Despite repeated fines, his father did not stop him. No action has been taken against the vehicle owner yet,” she said.

Police investigation

Delhi Police said an FIR was registered at Delhi Police’s Dwarka South police station under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita after a PCR call was received around 11.57am reporting a serious crash.“Three vehicles were found in accidental condition. The motorcycle rider, Sahil Dhaneshra (23), was declared dead at the scene,” an officer said. The injured taxi driver was shifted to IGI Hospital, and his statement has been recorded. Final medical opinion is awaited.Police confirmed that the SUV driver was a minor and did not possess a driving licence. He was apprehended at the spot, produced before the Juvenile Justice Board, and sent to an observation home.On Feb 10, the JJB granted the juvenile interim bail on the grounds of his Class X board examinations. Police said all vehicles involved have been seized and mechanically inspected, and CCTV footage has been collected. Further investigation is underway.

A mother’s loss

At her Dwarka home, reminders of Sahil’s aspirations remain untouched — medals on the walls and handwritten motivational quotes. Sahil, in the final semester of his BBA course, had secured admission to a university in Manchester and was preparing to leave for the UK later this year.Raised by Makan as a single parent amid financial hardship, Sahil managed his university applications independently and had taken up a part-time job to support his education.Since the crash, Makan has turned to social media to press for accountability. An online petition on an Instagram page titled “Justice for Sahil” has gathered thousands of signatures.“I will keep posting till I get an answer as to why action can’t be taken against someone who was not supposed to drive in the first place,” she said.Her petition seeks strict legal action against the minor driver, accountability of the vehicle owner, and stronger enforcement of traffic laws to prevent similar tragedies.

Despite a challenging start to the T20 World Cup with two ducks and a stomach infection, Abhishek Sharma will look to get going in the dead rubber against the Netherlands. The Indian team’s batting coach Sitanshu Kotak remains confident in his aggressive approach, highlighting that opponents’ meticulous planning against him is a testament to his threat.

TimesofIndia.com in Ahmedabad: An hour before the Indian cricket team’s scheduled arrival at the Narendra Modi Stadium, the groundstaff was in overdrive with their preparations. Rolling was underway on the practice square and the makeshift nets were placed around the pitches the Men in Blue would use for their first, and only, session at the venue ahead of the final group game against the Netherlands in the T20 World Cup.The Super Eight berth is already sealed following three convincing wins, but this game will attract significant interest. First, because the same venue will host the Super Eight clash against South Africa on February 22 and second, and more importantly, due to Abhishek Sharma.

All the pre-tournament build-up focused on the dashing opener from Punjab. Since breaking into the team, the belligerent southpaw carved a reputation for his consistent destruction at the top of the order, and he was the sole reason opponents burned the midnight oil while planning his downfall.Meticulous planning by the opposition — the USA and Pakistan — means he is yet to score his first run in the World Cup. A severe stomach infection, sandwiched between those two contests, hasn’t helped either. A golden duck in the tournament opener was followed by a four-ball duck against Pakistan in Colombo. Prior to these outings, the 25-year-old, who enjoys a healthy average of 35.05 and a menacing strike-rate of 193.29 in the format, failed to open his account twice in the five-T20I series vs New Zealand at home.

Abhishek Sharma

Four ducks in the last seven innings is not the ideal reading for a player who has instilled fear in opponents. On Wednesday he gets another opportunity to regain his form before the T20 World Cup’s business end gets underway. The optional nets session on the eve of the game was a long and lonely grind for the opener who spent significant time working on his range against spinners Varun Chakravarthy and Washington Sundar. The usual big ones were on display but they weren’t the cleanest hits with the sweetest sound off the bat.​​​Rightly so, he was allowed a free hand during the hit as head coach Gautam Gambhir stood behind the net where Tilak Varma and Rinku Singh were batting. The bat flow and swing are such integral parts of his batting that the moment they return to normal, runs flow at the pace everyone is used to seeing from the left-hander. Even when the connection wasn’t ideal, Abhishek achieved a better flow and extended his elbows well while navigating different pockets of the stadium.​“Last game he got out in first over. So one thing we definitely do, we unnecessarily don’t over-analyse,” was batting coach Sitanshu Kotak’s response when asked about Abhishek’s failures in two outings.“He is someone who has got his plan sorted and he follows the way he wants to and obviously we discuss about the opposition, their bowling, their bowling strength, whatever they’ve been doing in the last few games they’ve played. All that is normal for everyone, not only for Abhishek,” added the coach.​

​India have followed a high-risk template in T20Is under captain Suryakumar Yadav and coach Gautam Gambhir. Every batter’s primary intent has mostly been to pressure the bowlers from the start. This dominance explains their strong run in the format and why they have been a high-scoring team in the bilaterals preceding the multi-nation tournament.“Abhishek has made runs in the matches before that. Now in the T20 format, sometimes in 10 balls, 30 runs are just as important. Secondly, honestly, we focus on all the batters or all the players. We don’t think that one player didn’t get his runs. Because in T20, there is a high-risk game, somewhere or the other, a player will get out. If we start stressing so much, I think players will be under unnecessary pressure. So he’s in a good form. He’s got clear plans. He’s got a clear mindset. And that is what matters for us,” Kotak explained when asked about the team’s mindset.The coach is instead looking at the brighter side. He is very happy that the teams are worked up about keeping Abhishek quiet. Pakistan head coach Mike Hesson’s admission after the defeat to India was the latest instance of how opponents have identified the fearless batter as the real deal in the Indian line-up.

Abhishek Sharma is yet to get off the mark in the ongoing T20 World Cup. (PTI)

“See, first of all, a lot of credit to Abhishek, if they plan and talk about him. Because I am sure he must be doing that well, that they are so concerned about Abhishek. But we plan, he also comes up with his ideas. Even in the last game, I don’t think anyone can plan to get him out at mid-on. He sat up and got out. That’s okay. And if they are so concerned, that’s a great sign for us and it’s great credit to him the way he plays,” said Kotak.For a setup that has successfully embraced the high-risk template, the focus remains on playing the situation and doing what the team demands at that stage. Just as Suryakumar had to dig deep against the USA, and both he and Tilak had to hold their shots when Pakistan applied the spin choke in Colombo.“I think playing aggressive cricket is important but not because of a player’s couple of failure will change. If anything, the plans will change according to situation. So no matter whether somebody has scored runs for two innings or not, or somebody… But it’s more what team needs at that time, in that conditions,” explained Kotak.However, the same rules don’t apply to Abhishek. He doesn’t play by the regular book and has a very straightforward approach. See the ball, whack the ball. While the think-tank isn’t losing sleep over his lack of runs, the entire nation will surely sleep well, and opponents will return to sleepless nights, if Abhishek returns to form and adds significantly to his T20 World Cup tally — which is yet to get off the mark.