NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

Mumbai, Jul 17 (PTI) Following are the top stories from the Western Region at 1700 HRS. BOM11 GA-HC-TEJPAL **** Victim has 'propensity to lie', defence tells HC in sexual assault case against Tarun Tejpal Panaji: Tehelka magazine's founder-editor Tarun Tejpal’s defence team in the 2013 sexual assault case claimed before Bombay High Court on Friday that the victim had a "propensity to lie" and her conduct following the alleged incident contradicted her claims of being in deep shock. **** BOM8 MH-EUTHANASIA-PANELS **** Maharashtra govt orders medical panels in pvt hospitals for passive euthanisia cases Mumbai: The Maharashtra government on Friday issued a directive laying down the framework to set up primary and secondary medical boards in private hospitals to deal with cases of passive euthanasia and "living wills". **** BOM9 MH-SENA UBT- LD SHIRSAT **** Uddhav remembers Ram, Hanuman only during protests: Minister Shirsat Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: Maharashtra Minister Sanjay Shirsat on Friday took a sharp dig at the Shiv Sena (UBT), claiming its agitation over alleged donation embezzlement at the Ayodhya Ram temple proves that party chief Uddhav Thackeray only remembers Lord Ram and Hanuman during protests. **** BOM6 CG-ASSEMBLY-NO TRUST MOTION **** Debate begins in Chhattisgarh assembly over Cong's no-trust motion against BJP govt Raipur: Debate began in the Chhattisgarh assembly on Friday over the no-confidence motion moved by the Congress against the Vishnu Deo Sai-led BJP government, during which the opposition party tabled a 136-point "chargesheet" highlighting the ruling dispensation's "failures". **** BES15 MH-FARMER SUICIDES **** Amravati division sees 415 farmer suicides between Jan-Jun this year; Yavatmal leads with 128 Amravati: A total of 415 farmers committed suicide between January and June this year in Maharashtra's Amravati division, officials said on Friday. **** BOM4 MH-RAUT-BJP **** Fadnavis might get national role; senior BJP leader could replace him in Maharashtra: Raut Nagpur: Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut claimed on Friday that Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis might move to the Centre and a BJP minister could take his post in the state if a cabinet reshuffle takes place in the coming months. **** BES4 MH-GIRL-MURDER-ARREST **** Farm labourer held over death of 12-year-old girl in Wardha; cops suspect sexual assault Wardha: A farm labourer has been arrested in connection with the murder of a 12-year-old girl in Maharashtra’s Wardha district, officials said on Friday. **** BOM5 MH-TEACHER-SUICIDE **** Teacher, his 2 kids drown as car crashes through bridge railing into Godavari; suicide, say cops Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: A school teacher allegedly drove his car carrying his two children through the side railings of a bridge over the Godavari river in Maharashtra’s Nanded district on Friday, drowning all three. Police suspect it was a case of suicide, officials said. **** BOM2 MH-SEA-DROWNING ****Teen drowns, another missing at sea in Palghar district; search operation underway Palghar: A 17-year-old boy drowned while his friend is missing at sea off the popular Arnala beach in Maharashtra’s Palghar district, officials said on Friday. **** PTI RSY