top of page

By:

Quaid Najmi

4 January 2025 at 3:26:24 pm

Seventy-six mayors ruled BMC since 1931

After four years, Mumbai to salute its first citizen Kishori Pednekar Vishwanath Mahadeshwar Snehal Ambekar Sunil Prabhu Mumbai: As the date for appointing Mumbai’s First Citizen looms closer, various political parties have adopted tough posturing to foist their own person for the coveted post of Mayor – the ‘face’ of the country’s commercial capital. Ruling Mahayuti allies Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Shiv Sena have vowed that the city...

Seventy-six mayors ruled BMC since 1931

After four years, Mumbai to salute its first citizen Kishori Pednekar Vishwanath Mahadeshwar Snehal Ambekar Sunil Prabhu Mumbai: As the date for appointing Mumbai’s First Citizen looms closer, various political parties have adopted tough posturing to foist their own person for the coveted post of Mayor – the ‘face’ of the country’s commercial capital. Ruling Mahayuti allies Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Shiv Sena have vowed that the city will get a ‘Hindu Marathi’ person to head India’s richest civic body, while the Opposition Shiv Sena (UBT)-Maharashtra Navnirman Sena also harbour fond hopes of a miracle that could ensure their own person for the post. The Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) optimism stems from expectations of possible political permutations-combinations that could develop with a realignment of forces as the Supreme Court is hearing the cases involving the Shiv Sena-Nationalist Congress Party this week. Catapulted as the largest single party, the BJP hopes to install a first ever party-man as Mayor, but that may not create history. Way back in 1982-1983, a BJP leader Dr. Prabhakar Pai had served in the top post in Mumbai (then Bombay). Incidentally, Dr. Pai hailed from Udupi district of Karnataka, and his appointment came barely a couple of years after the BJP was formed (1980), capping a distinguished career as a city father, said experts. Originally a Congressman, Dr. Pai later shifted to the Bharatiya Janata Party, then back to Congress briefly, founded the Janata Seva Sangh before immersing himself in social activities. Second Administrator The 2026 Mayoral elections have evoked huge interest not only among Mumbaikars but across the country as it comes after nearly four years since the BMC was governed by an Administrator. This was only the second time in the BMC history that an Administrator was named after April 1984-May 1985. On both occasions, there were election-related issues, the first time the elections got delayed for certain reasons and the second time the polling was put off owing to Ward delimitations and OBC quotas as the matter was pending in the courts. From 1931 till 2022, Mumbai has been lorded over by 76 Mayors, men and women, hailing from various regions, backgrounds, castes and communities. They included Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Parsis, Sikhs, even a Jew, etc., truly reflecting the cosmopolitan personality of the coastal city and India’s financial powerhouse. In 1931-1932, the Mayor was a Parsi, J. B. Boman Behram, and others from his community followed like Khurshed Framji Nariman (after whom Nariman Point is named), E. A. Bandukwala, Minoo Masani, B. N. Karanjia and other bigwigs. There were Muslims like Hoosenally Rahimtoola, Sultan M. Chinoy, the legendary Yusuf Meherally, Dr. A. U. Memon and others. The Christian community got a fair share of Mayors with Joseph A. D’Souza – who was Member of Constituent Assembly representing Bombay Province for writing-approving the Constitution of India, M. U. Mascarenhas, P. A. Dias, Simon C. Fernandes, J. Leon D’Souza, et al. A Jew Elijah Moses (1937-1938) and a Sikh M. H. Bedi (1983-1984), served as Mayors, but post-1985, for the past 40 years, nobody from any minority community occupied the august post. During the silver jubilee year of the post, Sulochana M. Modi became the first woman Mayor of Mumbai (1956), and later with tweaks in the rules, many women ruled in this post – Nirmala Samant-Prabhavalkar (1994-1995), Vishakha Raut (997-1998), Dr. Shubha Raul (March 2007-Nov. 2009), Shraddha Jadhav (Dec. 2009-March 2012), Snehal Ambedkar (Sep. 2014-March 2017). The last incumbent (before the Administrator) was a government nurse, Kishori Pednekar (Nov. 2019-March 2022) - who earned the sobriquet of ‘Florence Nightingale’ of Mumbai - as she flitted around in her full white uniform at the height of the Covid-19 Pandemic, earning the admiration of the citizens. Mumbai Mayor – high-profile post The Mumbai Mayor’s post is considered a crucial step in the political ladder and many went on to become MLAs, MPs, state-central ministers, a Lok Sabha Speaker, Chief Ministers and union ministers. The formidable S. K. Patil was Mayor (1949-1952) and later served in the union cabinets of PMs Jawaharlal Nehru, Lah Bahadur Shastri and Indira Gandhi; Dahyabhai V. Patel (1954-1955) was the son of India’s first Home Minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel; Manohar Joshi (1976-1977) became the CM of Maharashtra, later union minister and Speaker of Lok Sabha; Chhagan Bhujbal (1985-1986 – 1990-1991) became a Deputy CM.

The Art of Justice: Drawn to Solve

Updated: Oct 22, 2024

The Art of Justice

Forensic sketches, the hand-drawn portraits crafted by skilled artists, have been an invaluable tool in criminal investigations for decades. These simple pencil-paper illustrations remain a cornerstone of criminal justice, bridging the gap between eyewitness accounts and the pursuit of justice.

Forensic artists take scattered fragments and turn them into vivid portraits that can catch a criminal. These sketches are a psychological bridge between memory and reality. When witnesses are unable to recall specific details, forensic artists use interview techniques to draw out hidden memories. But it’s not just about art; it’s about the science behind it. Cognitive psychology plays a crucial role in sketch creation, as artists must understand how memory works under stress.

Forensic sketching originated in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with the early artists who were often police officers with an innate talent for drawing. These officers would sketch suspects based on witness descriptions, and these images were then distributed in the form of “wanted” posters. In India, it gained prominence in the mid-20th century. The use of software like FACES and E-FIT in the late 20th century improved the accuracy and reach of forensic sketches, allowing for quicker and more widespread distribution.

One of the most significant cases in India where forensic sketches played a crucial role was the investigation into the Nithari killings in 2006. The case involved gruesome murders in Nithari, Uttar Pradesh, involving abduction, murder, and mutilation. Forensic artists created sketches based on witness descriptions, apprehending suspects Moninder Singh Pandher and his domestic helper Surinder Koli, narrowing down the search and leading to their conviction.

The notorious “Black Widow” killer involving Jolly Joseph in Kerala is drawn from a witness’s brief encounter, circulated widely, and eventually led to her capture. She is accused of poisoning six members of her family with cyanide-laced food between 2002 and 2016. Without a single photograph or fingerprint, the sketch became the face of the investigation.

Recently, the Uttar Pradesh police released a sketch of the accused man and showed the sketch to the villagers and most of them pointed to the sketch of a man called Kuldeep Gangwar. Eventually, the police arrested the suspected serial killer in August 2024.

The Supreme Court of India has recognized the value of forensic sketches in criminal investigations. In the case of “State of Rajasthan v. Mahesh Kumar” (1986), the Court upheld the accused’s conviction based on a forensic sketch that matched multiple witnesses’ descriptions. The court emphasized the importance of forensic sketches as valuable tools when corroborated with other evidence. It also stressed the need for trained professionals to maintain accuracy and avoid wrongful convictions, underscoring the judiciary’s recognition of their crucial role in identifying suspects.

While the rise of AI and facial recognition software might seem like a death knell for traditional forensic sketches, the truth is that these two worlds are merging. Cognitive interviewing techniques and AI integration are being used to enhance memory recall and identify suspects. AI-powered software can analyse multiple sketches and compare them with existing databases, while virtual reality is being explored for aiding in the recall by immersing witnesses in a crime scene-like environment.

Forensic sketching remains an essential tool in the justice system, complementing modern technologies by capturing the essence of a suspect’s identity with a human touch. Its relevance in criminal investigations is evident in India’s history. The Supreme Court’s recognition ensures that this artistic discipline continues to play a vital role in the pursuit of justice. As technology advances, forensic sketching is expected to become even more effective in helping law enforcement bring criminals to justice.

(Dr. Kumar is a retired IPS officer and forensic advisor to the Assam Government. Das is a researcher with NFSU, Guwahati)

Comments

bottom of page