‘Farmer’ Amitabh wants more time

Pune (PTI): Amitabh Bachchan, who was asked by Pune district authorities to submit documents by November 25 in support of his claim of being a farmer, has sought time till December 30.

The actor had purchased 20 acres of agricultural land near Lonavala in the district in 2000 and got it registered on the basis of photocopies of documents allegedly proclaiming him to be a farmer from Jaunpur, near New Delhi.

Under the Tenancy and Agricultural Land Act, 1963, only farmers can buy agricultural land in Maharashtra. The district authorities issued a notice to Bachchan earlier in November, seeking the original documents.

“Bachchan requested us to give him time till December 30? and his request has been acceded to,” a senior district official said.

Karnataka check on schools

Bangalore (PTI): The Karnataka government has directed all private schools in Bangalore to start the process of admission only in April and not before.

The move aims to check the practice by some schools to complete admissions before the new academic year begins and refuse those who approach them in April, minister for primary and secondary education R. Ramalinga Reddy said.

Reddy warned that schools may face de-recognition for dishonouring the circular.

The government has also written to the Union human resource development ministry seeking control over private schools that come under the Central Board of Secondary Eduction (CBSE) in respect of admissions.

Indian doctor

Sydney (PTI): An Indian-born doctor has been charged with manslaughter for allegedly performing an illegal abortion.

Suman Sood, 56, allegedly gave a woman, about 23 weeks pregnant, an abortion drug. She gave birth to a baby the next morning and it died in five hours.

Robber scribe

Devangere (PTI): Five persons, including the editor of a local weekly, have been arrested on the charge of robbery at Devangere in Karnataka. Cash and gold biscuits worth Rs 12.5 lakh have been seized from them. The group had entered a private guesthouse posing as police and left with the booty after threatening to arrest the inmates for smuggling.

Nepalese jailed

New Delhi (PTI): A Nepalese has been sentenced to four years in jail for raping a Class VII student. Ganesh raped the girl when he visited his sister’s house in Malviya Nagar in 2001.A surprise raid on the Faizabad district jail in Uttar Pradesh caught 15 people meeting a prisoner though visitors are not allowed on Saturdays. All 15 have been held.

A surprise raid on the Faizabad district jail in Uttar Pradesh caught 15 people meeting a prisoner though visitors are not allowed on Saturdays. All 15 have been held.