Gorgeous Meghna Naidu and Red Wine !

#misskoffeetales and Meghna E Naidu had a fantastic wine session with oh so gorgeous Megha Naidu. We ended up chatting all the girlie stuff while sipping the glorious Red Wine.

Meghna reveals that as an avid traveller "I like to drink the local wines of that particular countries I visit like Australian wine, French wine. When in India I try Indian brand of wines."

I travelled to Portugal recently . People out there seriously wake up with wine and they use lot of wine in the...

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#misskoffeetales kicks of with Bhairavi Goswami sharing her favourite beverage -Hot Chocolate !

"Hot Chocolate is nature's way of making up for Periods, Mondays & Men."
Hot Chocolate is Like a Hug from Inside!
I don't seem like a Hot Chocolate kinda person so when I go to someone's house & they offer me tea, coffee, cola. I say 'doodh' please. It's the best ever ice breaker & conversation starter. It also tells them I'm still the girl next door & not a glamorous diva. 
If I'm upset I curl up in bed, watch the movie Pretty Woman & drink a giant mug of Hot Chocolate with marshmallows. It makes me forget about everyone & everything.

Click to Read more about Beverage Stories at https://www.facebook.com/Misskoffeetales-910074969127275/

Plot to grab property worth Rs 3 crore foiled

MID-DAY (JULY 2001)

By Skimmy Gupta

Advocate Firoz Ansari was arrested yesterday morning for forging documents and thumb impressions to appropriate the property of the late poet and lyricist Padmashree Sahir Ludhianvi. Seven odd holdings valued at Rs 3.5 crore were in possession of Ludhianvi's ailing sister Shervar Shafi, but Ansari obtained her thumb impressions to transfer them to his daughter's name.

When Ansari made a sudden appearance at Ludhianvi's Juhu residence, neighbours alerted the police.

The ailing Shervar was being looked after by her nurse Felomina Jose and maulana Rabil-Ul-Haq-Sheikh but Ansari had kicked them out.

'Ansari appeared at Ludhianvi's Juhu residence, claiming to be a distant nephew of Shervar who was semi-comatose. She had undergone a major operation and lapsed into a coma when Ansari came and took over the household and threw out the old nurse and caretaker," explained ACP Bhimrao Sonawane.

Shervar expired on June 9 but Ansari had managed to obtain her thumb impression on documents that stated that Ludhianvi's property was left to Ansari's minor daughter. "Instead of preparing for her last rites, the stranger disappeared and returned late in the night. He claimed that the properties had been bequeathed to his daughter and took possession of the flats," alleged neighbours at Parchaiyyan Co-operative Society, Juhu.

According to API Sujata Patil, Ansari had obtained the thumb imprints on property papers after her death and manipulated records to gain possession of Ludhianvi's property.

"Investigations confirm that affidavits were filed in court in the absence of witnesses and Ansari had resorted to manipulation to take possession of the estate. All the poet's relatives are in Pakistan and Ansari took advantage of this to dupe his sister on her deathbed," said Patil.

However, Ansari denied that he had forged documents. "I was Shervar's caretaker and her moral support during her sickness. She expressed her desire to bequeath the properties to my daughter," he claimed from behind bars at Juhu Police Station.

The police claimed that Ansari could not prove his relation with Shervar.

"The accused has five brothers but no one except him is seen in photographs with her. Moreover, Ansari had entered the house only a few days before Shervar's death and complaints of his fights with the caretaker and the nurse are recorded in the police station," said API Patil.

Y2K crackers hit Mumbai this Diwali

MID-DAY (NOV 2001)

By Skimmy Gupta

Y2K is going to hit Mumbai again, but it's not the computer virus this time. Y2K is an aerial firecracker being sold in Mohammed Ali Road.

Boogie Woogie is silent as it zig zags to the sky leaving a trail of light in its wake.

Star Plus shoots silent stars. Other noiseless firecrackers are Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (a set of 10 tubes, each one emitting a different colour), Mela, World War, Blue Zone, Backstreet Boys, Raiders of The Lost Ark, Bad Boys, Mast Mast, 2000 Bug, Hot Girls.

This unusual assortment comes in the wake of a Supreme Court (SC) order banning firecrackers with sounds crossing 125 decibels. Aerial firecrackers, which make a sound high in the air, silent firecrackers and plastic guns are among the most wanted these days. Natubhai, owner of J B Devidas and Sons, Mohammed Ali Road, says, " Bombs and groundcrackers are no longer in demand." All shopkeepers are following the SC directives as regards the nature of crackers, but state that they are not responsible if people do not follow the guidelines set by the SC.

Business this Diwali is as usual, going by the number of people crowding firecracker shops. Most shops open at around 8 am and close by 10.30 pm.

" There are no new brands of firecrackers; everything s the same as last year," said Natubhai. However, street vendors are finding it tough to survive this year. According to G Shaikh, who sells crackers opposite the New Variety Shop in Mohammed Ali Road, Osama bin Laden is responsible for the downfall. " It is because of him that a war has started and recession has hit Mumbai. People don't have money to buy crackers," said Shaikh.

Rauf Bhai, a vendor on the same street who sells plastic guns, agrees, " This year is not as good as last year." Most shopkeepers refused to comment on how the war affects business and say, " Please keep us out of all this."

In areas like Chembur, Kurla and Govandi, bombs and rockets like Y2K, Chameli, Raja, Shamma and Panther are stocked along with the 5,000 or 10,000 wali ladi, as vendors call it. Business is not so great here either.

" The craze is gone. People are now not as keen as they used to be, so I sell only the phool jhadi and the chakri that is bought by the kids," said Ashok Patil, a fire cracker vendor in Chembur.
Firecrackers are available in the range of Rs 20 to Rs 10,000. The ladis, fountains and chakris are still in demand. Guns, too, are a craze with kids. As one shopkeeper puts it, " Kids love guns, but elders avoid them."

Most shopkeepers in Dadar and Matunga have stocked aerial firecrackers, as they are more in demand than ground crackers. " Many buy these because they are safer compared to the rasi bomb or the ladi," said Anand Mhatre, a shopkeeper near Dadar station.

Similarly Shashikant Bhende, a roadside vendor in Dadar, has stocked toofan rockets and chavi rolls too. " Guns are in demand. There is one type of gun that comes with both a rocket and a roll," he said.

Aerial crackers are costly and can cost up to Rs 500 to 600 a piece, but people will spend. " They look great when the burst in the sky. The whole sky lights up,"said A K Anna, a firecracker vendor near Matunga Station.

As for the 125-decibel rule, it is summed up by a vendor in Kurla, " What is 125 debal?"

Ragpicking wives await govt compensation

MID-DAY (MAY 2001)

By Skimmy Gupta

On April 3, 1999, four workers Sadaiyyan (40), Senthil Kumar (30), Mannar (38) and Venkatesh (30) died after inhaling the poisonous gases emitted by the septic tanks they were cleaning at Amar Industrial Estate, Saki Naka, Andheri (East).

Within a few days, Marathi dailies carried reports of the then chief minister Narayan Rane having promised Rs 50,000 from the chief minister' s relief fund as compensation to each of the bereaved families. But two years later, the wives of the deceased, residents of Sitladevi zhopadpatti, D N Nagar Andheri (West) are still running from one office to another to procure the promised compensation.

Sadaiyyan is survived by his wife Paunamma and six children, Senthil Kumar by wife Laxmi and two and Mannar by wife Shivagami and a child. Venkatesh and his wife Raja had no children.
Former councillor Jaywant Parab has acknowledged the receipt of letters sent by the widows, which he forwarded to the tehsildar, Mulund.

The women are also in possession of an acknowledgement made by Rane to their application for allotment of compensation amount.

The women now work as rag pickers and earn no more than Rs 20 daily. Their children are deprived of education, adequate food and shelter. The families often have to contend with one meal a day.
Paunamma told Mid-Day, " Not a single penny has been given to us by anybody. Even the people who had employed them had told us that we would be compensated, but we are merely being sent from door to door begging for our food."

Shivgami added, " Nobody understands that our husbands died working for those who employed them. If our husbands had been alive, our lives would have been better and our children would have had a better future."

Kavita, Sadaiyyan' s daughter said, " For the last two years, people have been rude towards us. We were pushed out of police stations, municipal offices, Mantralaya, the Bandra collector' s office, and the Mulund collector's office like stray dogs."

C S Sangeetrao, collector of suburbs said, " I will definitely look into the matter and will bring it to the notice of the relevant authority. Any of the affected family members can approach me with a simple letter."

Narayan Rane was unavailable for comment during the past month.

'Surprise visit' rescues woman

MID-DAY (MAY 2002)

By Skimmy Gupta

A surprise visit by members of a women' s welfare committee recently led to the rescue of Zarina Ahmed Khan (25), of Sion-Dharavi, who was allegedly harrassed by her in-laws with whom she was living.

On May 5, Maria Ishwaran, Jancy Simon and Nasima Nafis Khan, of the Mohalla Committee Women' s Cell, paid a visit to Zarina' s residence at Sion Social Nagar, Mohmadi Chawl, Sion-Dharavi, where she was being physically and mentally harrassed by her in-laws.

Earlier, in November 2000, Zarina' s case had been registered with the Bandra cell of the committee. At that time, after several meetings with both Zarina and her in-laws, the two parties had reconciled. However, the entire family had been asked to visit the women' s cell at least once a month, which it never did.

According to Ishwaran, co-ordinator of the women' s cell, " We always make surprise visits to these houses to check if things are fine. So when we went to Zarina' s house, everybody was shocked. Zarina looked both mentally and physically harassed and was in a shabby and ragged condition. She had been confined in a tiny room for many days, without ventilation and food. We then had a discussion with the family and warned them that this behaviour should not occur in the future. They all agreed politely and assured us nothing untoward would happen."

But, according to sources, as soon as the three women left, Zarina was physically assaulted and made to sign a blank paper so that her in-laws could lodge a complaint against the cell. The torture is said to have continued for two days, till it became unbearable. Finally, Zarina escaped on May 7 with her two daughters and contacted the women' s cell.

Zarina said, " I would have died if these women hadn' t come that day. It was only after seeing them that I gathered courage and took this bold step. Now I will surely fight for the rights that I have been sacrificing the last 11 years."

Zarina had been married to Mohammed Ahmed Khan at the age of 14. Since Mohammed' s second marriage, Zarina' s physical, mental and sexual harassment is said to have begun. She is planning to go to the family court to sue for her maintenance.

25 pc of smuggled goods are computer hardware

MID-DAY (JULY 2001)

By Skimmy Gupta

"Information Technology products (computer hardware) accounted for 25 per cent of the total seizures in the past three months at the international airport," says Ahmed Hussain, Additional Commissioner of Customs, Sahar Airport.

According to custom officials, 13 IT seizures were made in the last three months. The bulk of the products seized were computer periherals including P3 and P4 processors, motherboards, RAM (Random Access Memory) modules, hard disk drives, VGA (display) cards, sound-cards all of which form major building blocks for computer systems. Laptops were also seized.

Hussain says, "Recently efforts have been made to smuggle a lot of computer hardware but our officers are always alert. They have seized IT products worth Rs 3,06,75,924 in the local market in the first quarter of the current financial year. The IT seizures in the year 2000 were valued at Rs 70,04,330."

The main reasons for the sudden surge in smuggling of these parts is attributed to the demand. Secondly, the latest versions of computer peripherals available abroad are in greater demand and sell briskly with huge profit margins in the Indian market. Compact and minimal space consuming parts like RAM modules, processors etc. are usually smuggled in huge quantities.

Sanjay Parelkar, Deputy Commissioner, said, "We recently had a major seizure of Rs 1.5 crore worth of sophisticated electrical equipment for database programs. The smuggled goods were flown in by a courier company not registered in the list of the importer. In the past couple of months, RAMs/ROMs have been seized from passengers' handbags and chips concealed in cigarette cartons."

"Preventive measures in our security are upgraded regularly to reduce the inflow of smuggled goods. The shuffling of officials from one place to another and manning more areas helps ensure that the baggage is not sneaked out from the aircraft. Within the next few months X-Ray machines will be installed in conveyor belts, thus increasing security."

Retired 'super cop' Julio Ribeiro targets cop

MID-DAY (JULY 2001)

By Skimmy Gupta

India's retired 'super cop' Julio Ribeiro is taking his job as executive chairman of the Mohalla Committee Trust Movement (MCMT) seriously. And when a fellow policeman obstructs the functioning of the MCMT, Ribeiro will not remain silent, he says.

The MCMT voiced the people's demand for justice against the perpetrators of crimes against two women in Behrampada in a space of two months. But the police weren't willing to cooperate.

In a closed door meeting held on July 21 at Nehru Centre, MCMT members have decided that the high-handedness of an inspector will not silence them.

Ribeiro said, "I strongly object to any police officer spreading unauthentic rumours about the MCMT. They should understand that the trust's members are not working for themselves but that they bring up people's problems. If needed, we will approach Police Commissioner M N Singh for further action." The inspector concerned is Nadaab Sheikh of Nirmal Nagar Police Station.

Anjum Sheikh (22), resident of Behrampada, was raped by her brother-in-law Ayub Hanif Sheikh and burnt by her in-laws on May 21.

In spite of a public outcry, a case was registered against the accused only after the intervention of politicians.

In another incident, Jamroonissa (28) was set afire by her neighbours Shamim and Shano on June 7 over the issue of her three children playing in the lane. She succumbed to her injuries on June 22.

"Anjum's case was the first in which we managed to gather the support of the people of Behrampada Inspector Nadaab Sheikh's threats of making false cases against people have affected the unity of the people. Whenever we went to the police station, he harassed us and said, Mohalla committee members have no status and grade, yeh toh jhaadu marne waale hain."

We have now decided to file a written complaint against Sheikh for harassing of women," said a member of the MCMT, Behrampada.

M Ishwaran, coordinator of the Women's Cell of MCMT told Mid-Day, "All MCMT members were employed in 1992-93 when communal riots started in Mumbai. Since then they have been working for the welfare of society. The members of Behrampada have done appreciable work as far as family disputes and other women related issues are concerned. If they are unnecessarily targeted, then the plight of a common man can be imagined."

Members of the Behrampada and Dharavi mohalla committees met DCP, Zone VIII, Sanjay Saxena on July 23 and put forward their grievances. said, "Nobody from Behrampada has approached me on this issue. I will definitely look into the matter. I will speak to the commissioner, if needed."

Escaped girl gets no pity

MID-DAY (OCT 2001)

By Skimmy Gupta

It would have been better if she had consumed poison and died. She has brought disgrace to the family. This is what the uncle of Pooja Oberoi, the girl who escaped yesterday after allegedly being held captive for six years by her paramour, had to say.

Pooja's mother, Anita Pawar, too distanced herself from the situation, though her daughter is now staying with her at Khar. " I am not concerned with Pooja as she was away from home for the past six years. I am being dragged into this matter unnecessarily," she said.

Sub-Inspector Mukhtar Sheikh of Oshiwara police station said, " Pooja did not get along with her mother and step-father because of her affair with the accused Sanjay Bhatti." But others are more sympathetic. " It's all Allah's karam that Pooja escaped," said Rumi Jaffery, into whose house she fell, after jumping from a sixth floor flat.

Jaffery, a film scriptwriter, who stays on the fifth floor of building D1/2, Yamuna Nagar, Oshiwara, said, " I was out on Tuesday night and there were only two servants at home. At 9.15 pm, they saw Pooja fall on the balcony grill and into the room. I came back then to find her crying hysterically. She said she wanted to call her mother and asked us to call the police. She said that that man (Bhatti) tortured her. I called the police."

The building's managing committee members blame the estate agents for renting a flat to Bhatti, and allege that it was done without verifying Bhatti's credentials. But the estate agents, Ali and John P, said Bhatti had registered Pooja as his wife in the biodata submitted to them, though there were no documents or photographs to confirm the marriage.

The biodata was attested by the local police station. Ali said, " The police gave the green signal and we were satisfied with the man' s details. How would we know what a tenant will do in future?" John P asked. " Once our deal and agreement is over, we have no concern with the party," Senior Inspector Arun Kulkarni of Oshiwara Police Station said.

He added, " Investigations will be conducted at all levels. We have also come to know Bhatti was earlier involved in forgery and default of credit card payments. Cases have also been registered at a few police stations."

Sources revealed that Pooja was still under the influence of sedatives, which, she claimed, was given to her by Bhatti. She refused to speak to the press. Bhatti is currently in custody of the Oshiwara police.

Sacked Leela guard burns himself on premises

MID-DAY (OCT 2001)

By Skimmy Gupta

Alleging injustice at the hands of security officials at the noted five-star Hotel Leela, a 30-year-old watchman yesterday set himself ablaze on the hotel's premises and was admitted to Cooper Hospital, where his condition was said to be extremely critical.

Rajendra Vithalrao Mahahale was admitted to the male surgical ward, where the doctor on duty said, "His chances of survival are very dim. He has suffered severe 100 per cent burns all over his body."

Mahahale, resident of Saibaba Nagar, Powai, burnt himself inside the service gate of the hotel in Andheri (E) at 8.30 pm, after accusing Leela's security bosses of sacking him from his seven-year job there without prior notice. After the incident, there were only some ashes of burnt clothes and about two to three litres of spilled petrol on the scene.

Marol resident Ratan Asware, eyewitness to the burning and a special executive officer for the city, recorded his account of the grisly incident. He said, "At 8.30, Rajendra, a watchman with Hotel Leela, went into the service gate. A tussle broke out inside the hotel's premises. Within 30 to 35 feet of the hotel's main entrance, inside the hotel's premises, he poured petrol on himself and set himself alight, shouting, 'Nair, Nair.' It was very shocking that even after getting burnt he was talking in his senses and shouting about injustice done to him."

The Nair who Mahahale was shouting for was apparently Shivdas Sakuni Nair, a staff security officer at Leela. Nair and others took the burnt man to Cooper at Andheri.

Samuel George, shift manager at Leela, and a hotel duty manager who refused to be named also refused to reveal any information. "We cannot disclose anything at this moment," George said.

A case has been registered at Sahar Police station, where an assistant police inspector (API), who also refused to be named, said, "Rajendra was employed as a watchman with Hotel Leela for the last seven years. On June 27 he was expelled from his job without prior notice. There seemed to be a cold war between the security guards' union and the hotel's security management. Rajendra said they were pressuring him into giving some kind of written statement.

"After being burnt, while being taken to Cooper, in his own words he told us that a security manager was pressuring him to write on a blank paper, 'Union nahin karoge.' Rajendra was repeating these words constantly till he reached Cooper. He also said that 21 people, including him, refused to give the written statement and were expelled from their jobs in June."

The API further stated that Mahahale alleged he had not been paid for one month of service. However, the API added that a hotel security officer said that the sacked staff had been hired on contract and when their tenure was complete was asked to leave. The API said that he denied all allegations by Mahahale.

The API said hotel staff will be questioned as the investigation continues. "We will question the duty managers and some other relevant authorities. The hotel's officials seem reluctant to talk to us."

Captive woman survives suicide attempt

MID-DAY (OCT 2001)

By Skimmy Gupta

Captive woman survives suicide attempt By: Skimmy Gupta October 17, 2001 A 24-year-old woman attempted suicide yesterday by jumping out of a sixth floor flat, but landed on the balcony grill of the flat below.

Pooja Oberoi decided to end her life to free herself from Sanjay Bhatti (36), who she claims held her captive for six years after having lured her with false promises of marriage. But after having jumped out of the sixth floor flat at Building D 1/2, Yamuna Nagar, Oshiwara, that Sanjay had acquired on rent, she landed on the balcony of the flat belonging to film writer Rumi Jaffry.

After she was rescued, Pooja said, " I was being harassed for years. He kept promising to marry me but never did. He has ruined my life."Soon after, Bhatti attempted to flee but was nabbed by residents who beat him up.

A resident, K Merchant, said, " We realised only today that they had an illegal affair. After hearing her screams we rushed out and saw this man trying to escape. So we caught hold of him and informed the police."

Residents said Bhatti had rented the flat five months ago, saying he was a bachelor, who worked in the film industry. None of the residents were aware of the girl's presence in the flat. Sanjay came and went at odd hours. He had reportedly placed two guards to ensure that Oberoi couldn't escape.

" Pooja was never seen in the building compound or premises," a resident said.
Salim, who lives in an adjoining building said, " Pooja was three years my senior at Bans School, Nashik. She was studying BCom at Mithibai College, Juhu. Seeing her today in this condition was a shock."

Sub-Inspector Mukhtar Sheikh of Oshiwara police station said, " The girl is under the influence of sleeping pills. She has consumed over 10 pills. She claims this is the first time she has been in open air since Sanjay made her hostage six years ago." A case has been registered against Bhatti who is in police custody. He was taken to Cooper Hospital after being beaten up by irate residents.
Assistant Police Inspector Sudhir Dalvi, Oshiwara Police Station, said, " We are sending the girl to her mother's place in Khar which she left six years ago. We cannot keep her in the police station at night because we have no women constables."

The doctor on duty at Cooper Hospital said, "During her medical check up, Pooja said she was beaten by Sanjay and that he forced her to take sedatives which resulted in memory loss. She did not remember the day and time when she jumped from the flat. There are minor injuries on her body and serious bruises on her hands and arms."