Mumbai News

Mumbai Chartered Accountant Dies By Suicide Days After Rape Case Filed
Ndtv | 7 hours ago | |
Ndtv
7 hours ago | |

The Bhandup police in Mumbai had booked Varaiya in a rape case on January 10. (Representational)Mumbai: Days after he was booked in a rape case, a chartered accountant from Mumbai hanged himself at his friend's resort in Maharashtra's Nashik district, a police official said here on Tuesday.CA Chirag Varaiya (45) left behind a suicide note saying nobody should be held responsible for his death. He is survived by his wife and two children, said the official.The caretaker of the resort at Igatpuri alerted the police after he found Varaiya dead on Monday night, said the official.The Bhandup police in Mumbai had booked Varaiya in a rape case on January 10 following which he cooperated with them in the probe. He also assured the investigating officer that he would visit the police station whenever required, said the official.A police official from Igatpuri said, "It is a suicide case. We have not found any foul play. On the basis of primary information, we have registered an accidental death report."PromotedListen to the latest songs, only on JioSaavn.com(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)HelplinesVandrevala Foundation for Mental Health9999666555 or help@vandrevalafoundation.comTISS iCall022-25521111 (Monday-Saturday: 8 am to 10 pm)(If you need support or know someone who does, please reach out to your nearest mental health specialist.)Featured Video Of The DayNick, Who Doesn't Have Arms And Legs, Shows The World How To Live

Mumbai Chartered Accountant Dies By Suicide Days After Rape Case Filed
Four killed as car collides with bus on Mumbai-Ahmedabad highway
Times of India | 11 hours ago | |
Times of India
11 hours ago | |

PALGHAR: Four persons were killed on Tuesday when their car collided with a bus on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad highway in Maharashtra's Palghar district, police said. Two persons travelling in the luxury bus received injuries in the accident which took place at around 3.30 am near Mahalakshmi bridge on the highway, an official from Kasa police station said.The four occupants of the car were travelling from Gujarat to Mumbai, located about 100 km from Palghar, when it jumped a lane and collided with a luxury bus coming from the opposite direction, another official said in the evening. All four persons, including a woman, died on the spot, he said. The bodies were sent to a government hospital for postmortem, the official said, adding two injured persons were hospitalised. The deceased were residents of Bardoli in Surat. Earlier in the day, police said the car had rammed into the bus from behind.(With PTI inputs)

Four killed as car collides with bus on Mumbai-Ahmedabad highway
  • 4 Killed After Car Collides With Bus On Mumbai-Ahmedabad Highway

    • Ndtv

    The dead were residents of Bardoli in Surat. (Representational)Palghar: Four persons were killed when their car collided with a bus on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad highway in Maharashtra's Palghar district on Tuesday, police said.Two persons travelling in the luxury bus received injuries in the accident which took place at around 3.30 am near Mahalakshmi bridge on the highway, an official from Kasa police station said.The four occupants of the car were travelling from Gujarat to Mumbai, located about 100 km from Palghar, when it jumped a lane and collided with a luxury bus coming from the opposite direction, another official said in the evening. All four persons, including a woman, died on the spot, he said.The bodies were sent to a government hospital for postmortem, the official said, adding two injured persons were hospitalised.The dead were residents of Bardoli in Surat.PromotedListen to the latest songs, only on JioSaavn.comEarlier in the day, police said the car had rammed into the bus from behind.(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)Featured Video Of The DaySealed With A Kiss: To Shah Rukh Khan From Deepika And To John From, Ahem, SRK

  • 4 Killed As Car Hits Bus On Mumbai-Ahmedabad Highway

    • Ndtv

    The four car occupants were travelling from Gujarat to Mumbai.Palghar: Four persons were killed when their car rammed into a bus on Mumbai-Ahmedabad highway in Maharashtra's Palghar district on Tuesday, police said.Two persons travelling in the luxury bus received injuries in the accident which occurred at around 3.30 am near Mahalakshmi bridge on the highway, an official from Kasa police station said.The four car occupants were travelling from Gujarat to Mumbai, located about 100 km from Palghar, when their vehicle rammed into the bus from behind, the official said.All the four persons, including a woman, died on the spot, he said.The bodies were sent to a government hospital for post-mortem, the official said.PromotedListen to the latest songs, only on JioSaavn.comThe two injured persons were hospitalised, the police added.(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)Featured Video Of The Day"I'll Just Kiss Deepika's Hand And That Will Be The Answer," Says SRK

Tardeo RTO’s special squad nets Rs 2.40 lakh from errant taxi drivers in south Mumbai in 5 months
Times of India | 11 hours ago | |
Times of India
11 hours ago | |

MUMBAI: Tardeo Regional Transport Office (RTO) has collected a fine of 2.40 lakh in five months since a special squad and helpline number was set up to help passengers lodge complaint against errant taxi drivers.The special squad can be contacted on 9076201010 (7am to 7pm). Beyond 7 pm you can whatsapp or text message the complaint and also email on mh01taxicomplaint@gmail.com. Regional Transport Officer (Tardeo) Bharat Kasalkar said, “The total fine collected between September 2022 and January 2023 was ? 2.40 lakh.”A total of 975 complaint had been received, of which 915 were of fare refusal, 35 of overcharging and 9 of rude behaviour.Out of the 975 cases, 170 cases were solved on the spot. Apart from these notices were served in 589 cases. Tardeo RTO is the first to start such an initiative in Maharashtra with an objective to ensure citizens have hassle-free journeys by cabs. It has entrusted three officials dedicated to this squad along with a special vehicle which can be summoned to any part of the island city. The squad have made visits to railway stations -- Mumbai Central, Dadar, Matunga, Churchgate and CSMT -- and interacted with taxi drivers and union leaders at the stands in initial stages to counsel them to refrain from rude behaviour, refusals or charging excess fare from passengers.The squad has been trained, a control room has been set up, and two additional staffers have been provided for back-end support in sending show-cause notices to drivers. Every call is attended by an officer of rank of assistant inspector or inspector.

Tardeo RTO’s special squad nets Rs 2.40 lakh from errant taxi drivers in south Mumbai in 5 months
Eknath Shinde Declares 'Jai Jai Maharashtra Majha' As State Song
Ndtv | 14 hours ago | |
Ndtv
14 hours ago | |

The song was written by Raja Badhe and sung by balladeer Krishnarao Sable. (Representational)Mumbai: The Maharashtra government on Tuesday recognised 'Jai Jai Maharashtra Majha' as the state song.The song will be adopted on February 19, the birth anniversary of the founder of the Maratha empire Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.The decision was taken by the Maharashtra cabinet, headed by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.PromotedListen to the latest songs, only on JioSaavn.comOne of the iconic songs in Marathi, 'Jai Jai Maharashtra Majha, Garja Maharashtra Majha', which means 'Glory to Maharashtra', was penned by Raja Badhe and sung by balladeer Krishnarao Sable, popularly known as Shaheer Sable.(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)Featured Video Of The DayOn Camera, Huge Clash At Ajmer Shrine Between Pilgrims, Officials

Eknath Shinde Declares 'Jai Jai Maharashtra Majha' As State Song
Car falls 200ft in gorge, family of 5 escapes with minor injuries in Maharashtra’s Mangaon
Times of India | 23 hours ago | |
Times of India
23 hours ago | |

NAVI MUMBAI: Five people of a family from Andheri had a miraculous escape after their car plunged 200ft into a gorge at Mangaon, about 140km from Mumbai, on Saturday afternoon. All five escaped with minor injuries.The car owner Ninad Raul, who was at the wheel, lost control at a bend at Vihule village. The vehicle first hit a tree, flipped and landed on a plain surface off the highway, said the police. Raul's wife, son and parents were the others in the car. The family was returning from a trip to Shrivardhan.A villager, who happened to see the car veering off the highway and then descending into the gorge, alerted the police, said inspector Rajendra Patil of Mangaon police station.All the five occupants were trapped in the vehicle before they were rescued. A team of locals who are familiar with the terrain around the accident spot was brought in to help in the rescue operation. All five car occupants were brought out within half an hour after the rescue operation began. They walked up through a pathway that leads to the highway. The car was pulled out on Sunday. The police said they will record statements of all the five before deciding on whether or not a complaint should be filed.

Car falls 200ft in gorge, family of 5 escapes with minor injuries in Maharashtra’s Mangaon
Builder buys land in Thane for Rs 655 crore
Times of India | 23 hours ago | |
Times of India
23 hours ago | |

MUMBAI: In a big-ticket property sale in Thane, the House of Hiranandani (Surendra Hiranandani) has picked up a 24-acre land parcel for Rs 655 crore. The 96,180 sq m plot has been sold by Nerolac (Kansai Paint). In a declaration to the Bombay Stock Exchange, Kansai Nerolac Paints Ltd said its board of directors had approved a proposal for monetisation of idle land parcels of the company at Kavesar in Thane. "The sale is subject to completion of procedures and approvals as may be necessary in this regard," it said. Hiranandani was not available for comment.

Builder buys land in Thane for Rs 655 crore
Teen student falls to death from 8th floor of rental flat in Panvel
Times of India | 1 day ago | |
Times of India
1 day ago | |

NAVI MUMBAI: A 19-year-old girl student has died after allegedly falling from the 8th floor of her rental apartment in India Bulls residential complex in Sector 3 at Kon village in Panvel on Sunday morning. Senior inspector of Panvel taluka police station, Anil Patil said, "The girl belonged to Kottayam in Kerala. She was pursuing fashion designing course at an institute. The police are probing if the girl fell off her apartment's balcony after losing balance or she died by suicide. However, no suicide note has been found."Patil said an accidental death case has been registered.A small quantity of 'ganja' has been found from the apartment, according to Patil. "We have registered an FIR under NDPS Act against a 20-year-old student hailing from Bengalure, who was the deceased girl's classmate and shared the flat with her. He has been booked for consuming drugs," Patil said.Police said as the drug was found in the society apartment, they would be questioning the society office-bearers as well.

Teen student falls to death from 8th floor of rental flat in Panvel
PhD enrolments in Maharashtra grow 109% in 5 years: Report
Times of India | 1 day ago | |
Times of India
1 day ago | |

MUMBAI: With increasing focus on research, enrolment in PhD courses in Maharashtra has more than doubled (109%)in the last five years. Nationally, the number has grown by 50% in the same period, shows data from the All-India Survey of Higher Education (AISHE) 2020-21 report, released in New Delhi on Monday.Enrolment in postgraduate courses in the state has seen a decent growth of 30%, with girls outnumbering boys significantly. More than half the students pursuing their master's programmes are girls in Maharashtra. In undergraduate courses, which involve the maximum number of students, enrolment has gone up by less than 10% in five years.The figures contradict the general perception that enrolment across courses dropped in the first pandemic year of 2020-21. Both national and state data from the report paint a completely different picture.‘Better results followed online exams, boosted enrolment’Even as the All-India Survey of Higher Education (AISHE) 2020-21 report showed more enrolment in the first year of the pandemic in 2020-21, S Mali, former vicechancellor of North Maharashtra University, said the pandemic impacted the assessment process across universities and more students may have cleared exams. “There was no significant impact on enrolments,” he said. A state government official said as more students cleared the class XII exams, enrolment may have gone up in the undergraduate courses. Online exams could have boosted scores at undergraduate level as well, leading to an increase in postgraduate enrolment at some places, said a principal. Maharashtra has the second highest enrolment numbers in higher education, after Uttar Pradesh. Compared to 2016-17, students pursuing PhD went up by 109% in the state in 2020-21. The official said PhD has become important in recruitment of faculty members, for career advancement schemes and other incentives. “Many teachers have realised it and are completing their degrees. The state government is also emphasising on having qualified teachers in colleges for sponsored schemes,” said the official. PhD enrolment went up by 31% in the pandemic year (from 2019-20 to 2020-21), showed the AISHE report; nationally, it was up less than 5%. In Maharashtra, research centres in autonomous colleges would have largely contributed to the drastic increase in numbers, said a vice-chancellor. Mumbai University has the highest numbers of autonomous colleges in the state. Over the last few years, an increasing number of girls in the state are pursuing postgraduate courses. In 2016-17, a thousand more boys were in PG courses compared to girls. Then the numbers started tilting, with over 75,000 more girls enrolled in PG programmes in 2020-21. “This increase is possible because of the rural regions in the state,” said Mali, who was also on the state’s committee to draft the statutes of the Maharashtra Public Universities Act of 2016. “In rural regions, we have seen an increase in the number of colleges, better transportation and more hostel facilities. All these could have boosted the numbers of girl students pursuing higher studies. It is a big plus for them,” he said. In Shivaji University, Kolhapur, Mali said, he has seen girls comprising 70-80% of the total admissions in some departments. More coverage of institutions under AISHE could be another reason for the rise in numbers, he added. Though the state has done better in both postgraduate and PhD education, the numbers in undergraduate education has not seen a significant growth. Nationally, enrolment rose by 15% in undergraduate programmes, as opposed to the state’s 9%. Speaking about the increase in enrolment numbers in 2020-21, an official from the Centre’s higher education department said it showed students continued with their education online despite the uncertainty. “There is a possibility the vulnerable sections of society in some states may have taken a hit, but better enrolment in other regions may have compensated. Positive initiatives in some states for better coverage of AISHE may have helped in the increase in enrolment. Government scholarships also largely covered the vulnerable section, who were financially hit in the pandemic,” said the official.

PhD enrolments in Maharashtra grow 109% in 5 years: Report
E Shinde, Devendra Fadnavis's Flight Returns To Mumbai Due To Bad Weather
Ndtv | 1 day ago | |
Ndtv
1 day ago | |

The flight took off from Mumbai, but had to return due to "bad weather". (File)Mumbai: A flight carrying Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis returned to Mumbai on Monday after it encountered bad weather, an official from the Chief Minister's office said.Eknath Shinde and Devendra Fadnavis were headed to Jamner in Jalgaon district to attend a programme.PromotedListen to the latest songs, only on JioSaavn.comThe flight took off from Mumbai, but had to return due to "bad weather," the official said.(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)Featured Video Of The DayOn Camera, Huge Clash At Ajmer Shrine Between Pilgrims, Officials

E Shinde, Devendra Fadnavis's Flight Returns To Mumbai Due To Bad Weather
Foreign national duped of Rs 47,000 in electricity bill fraud in Mumbai
Times of India | 1 day ago | |
Times of India
1 day ago | |

MUMBAI: A 36-year-old foreign national, staying in Bandra (West), became the latest victim of the light bill scam when a fraudster siphoned off Rs47,000 from her bank account after she was asked to download a remote access app on her mobile to update last month's bill that the fraudster claimed was unpaid. The case was registered with the Bandra police on Saturday. Police said the fraudster stole the victim's banking details after she followed the instruction to download the "Any Desk" app and logged into her net banking to transfer Rs100.The woman, employed as a supervisor at a private company in Mumbai, has been staying on rent in Bandra and was duped after she received a text message warning that the power supply will be disconnected by 10.31pm for non-payment of last month's light bill. "She called on the number that was mentioned in the message and the fraudster asked her to download the app and pay Rs 100 so that the bill which she had paid last month can be updated in the system. The fraudster got access to her mobile after she downloaded the app and carried out the fraudulent fund transfers," said a police officer of the Bandra police station.

Foreign national duped of Rs 47,000 in electricity bill fraud in Mumbai
Fraudsters use fake cop ID card to commit cybercrime in Mumbai
Times of India | 1 day ago | |
Times of India
1 day ago | |

MUMBAI: Beware of the identity card 'Naresh Gupta Banerjee'. Neither has the card been issued to a cop, nor is someone posted with Mumbai police by such a name. Mumbai police chief Vivek Phansalkar pointed out that the ID card looks foolproof, which is what makes it dangerous. Cyber experts said fraudsters have duped at least a hundred individuals in recent months using the fake ID card. After selecting a would-be victim, the team of fraudsters threaten him or her by impersonation as a cop.This is what the fraudsters do: they call the target and say they are from the call centre of a known courier service. They state the reason for the call as the target receiving a Taiwan parcel with the target's name and address. The target is told that the parcel was intercepted during checks at the call centre. She was also sent the fake police ID card. "I fell prey and lost Rs 1.9 lakh when the fraudsters sent me a passbook statement of my bank account, showing what they claimed were 'money laundering transactions'. Later I learnt from the police that I had been duped and the ID card of the cop that was sent on my WhatsApp number was fake," a 21-year-old student from Shimla told TOI. She said she was alone at home when this occurred and she transferred the money out of fear when the caller told her she would be booked in a money laundering and drugs case."Naresh Gupta Banerjee (on call) pretended to record my statement about where I work, and how I got to know about the parcel, if I suspect anyone, has my Aadhaar card been stolen or lost... He also said we had received CCTV footage of the warehouse where the parcel was dropped," the New Delhi resident tweeted. Cyber expert Ritesh Bhatia said this type of cybercrime is growing and hence it is important that the government acts immediately. "In the last 15 days, four victims have approached me and out of them one has lost around Rs 2 lakh. The other three were very scared and as soon as they said they would visit the local police station the scamsters hung up," said Bhatia. He said cybercriminals will keep coming up with such novel methods of cybercrime and the onus to prevent crime cannot be only on citizens. "The government and police need to be one step ahead by preventing such crimes and more importantly by having effective grievance redress mechanisms. Lack of support and quick action by intermediaries such as banks, telecom providers, digital platforms, and others is one of the reasons for encouragement for such fraudsters," he said.The courier company in a statement posted online said it does not request via unsolicited call, mail, text, or email, payment or personal information in return for goods in transit or in custody. "If you receive any of these or similar communication, do not reply or cooperate with the sender," the firm said in its statement.

Fraudsters use fake cop ID card to commit cybercrime in Mumbai
Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation property tax kitty still 45% short of year’s target
Times of India | 1 day ago | |
Times of India
1 day ago | |

MUMBAI: With two months left for the financial year to end, property tax collections in Mumbai by the civic body stand at Rs 3,859 crore. The targeted property tax collection for the year as announced in the civic budget 2022-23 by the BMC chief was Rs 7,000 crore. This means around 55% of the targeted property tax has been collected for the year. However, with the pandemic now having eased, the officials are confident of meeting the collection target, and even surpassing it. BMC officials said the collection in tax mostly picks pace towards the last two months of the financial year and so there is no reason to be concerned yet. This year's property tax collection is also slightly higher than last time when at the same time the collections stood at Rs. 3,738 crore. In financial year 2021-22 the total collection stood Rs 5,792 crore. This was exceeding its target to recover Rs 5,400 crore and overachieving the same by Rs 392 crore. According to civic data, last financial year the highest recovery of Rs 538 crore was made from K/East which covers Andheri East, Jogeshwari.Prior to it in the pandemic year, property tax collections had taken a major hit as civic data shows that collections in fiscal year 2019-20 was only Rs 3,735 crore. A senior civic official said already those flats measuring up to 500 sq ft of carpet area are exempt from property tax. "Owing to this the BMC collection by around Rs 500 crore has taken a hit. However, this has not deterred us in any way and we are ensuring that collections are happening on a timely basis. We will also be acting against defaulters whose bills are pending," said the official.Former corporators are of the opinion that at times BMC does not send citizens their tax bills on time which also leads to loss of revenue.

Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation property tax kitty still 45% short of year’s target
Over 350 form human chain against blasts at Navi Mumbai International Airport site
Times of India | 1 day ago | |
Times of India
1 day ago | |

NAVI MUMBAI: Over 350 residents formed a human chain at CBD Belapur on Sunday morning, protesting against the high-intensity blasts carried out to flatten solid, rocky hills for the construction of Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA). Protestors silently held banners from one end of the Joggers' Track at Sector 15, CBD-Belapur, highlighting the suffering of residents in the nearby locality. While some pointed out how the frequent loud blasts resulted in wide cracks in their buildings, others complained of window glasses shattering. The banners also conveyed messages demanding structural audits of the buildings by government or NMIA and reducing the intensity of blasts. "We have nothing against the airport, but the blasts have been causing a lot of trouble to us. It also leads to massive dust pollution," said Rohit Agarwal of Arenja Cooperative Housing Society, CBD Belapur. "After the chief minister responded to our complaints last week and asked the state aviation and urban development departments to intervene, we expect the government to order a structural audit of the affected buildings," said NetConnect director B N Kumar.

Over 350 form human chain against blasts at Navi Mumbai International Airport site
Want to set up economic & cultural centre at Bandra Kurla Complex: Taiwanese diplomat
Times of India | 2 days ago | |
Times of India
2 days ago | |

MUMBAI: India and Taiwan need to deepen their ties as both countries, intertwined by history and civilisation, are destined to play a key role in shaping the geo-politics of South-East Asia in the years to come, Mumin Chen, deputy representative of Taipei Economic and Cultural Centre in New Delhi, said on Friday.Although Taiwan is yet to set up a full-fledged diplomatic chancery in New Delhi, the two countries have robust trade ties - the bilateral trade touching $7.7 billion in 2021, Chen said. "Taiwan needs India's support and goodwill to gain entry into the United Nations and to neutralise China's hostile policy," he added. Chen was speaking at 'Mumbai Talks', a conclave hosted jointly by Y B Chavan Centre and Nehru Centre to discuss issues germane to international diplomacy. Jatin Desai, noted commentator on South-East Asia affairs, chaired the meeting.Having set up a liaison office in Mumbai way back in 1992 and economic and cultural centres in New Delhi and Chennai later, Chen has now fixed his gaze on Mumbai. "We wish to start a similar centre at BKC," he said. Students of international affairs and academicians turned out in large numbers. Supriya Sule, executive president, Y B Chavan Centre, extended greetings to Taiwan and its people who, she said, were fighting for peace and dignity. She mentioned 'Life of Pi', Taiwanese filmmaker Ang Lee's Academy award-winning 2012 movie, as proof of the country's creative energy and resilience.Peppering his hour-long presentation with facts, slides and gentle humour, Chen said Taiwan was a global giant in superconductors, IT and bicycles. "We invested in IT way back in the 1980s; we set up science parks too and provided our entrepreneurs a nurturing base of operations for high-tech industry. Today, Foxconn is a familiar name across the globe," he said. "Taiwan's export is pegged at around $329 billion. Nearly 98% literacy and 79% urbanisation places Taiwan in a coveted position."Pointing out that Taiwanese are grateful to Japan - which ruled Taiwan between 1624 and 1945 - for introducing them to modernity, Chen said, "However, China has taken a hostile view of Taiwan. Once known as country of Chinese immigrants, today Taiwan has its own identity thanks to its demography, freedom and a firm belief in human rights."Expressing satisfaction over New Delhi's growing interest in Taiwan, Chen said, "...Today, Indians have become more aware of global affairs and more attention is being paid to us. Taiwan has over the last few years been making steady investment in India in pharmaceuticals, auto parts and shoe-making...Compared with China, India has a good image, especially because of it's special status as soft power." An old India hand, Chen loves things Indian. "I can't tell you what is more yummy - masala dosa or the masala Hindi films," he told TOI on the sidelines of the conclave.

Want to set up economic & cultural centre at Bandra Kurla Complex: Taiwanese diplomat
In Mumbai, bail for NRI businessman in Rs 8 crore bank fraud case
Times of India | 2 days ago | |
Times of India
2 days ago | |

MUMBAI: A Dubai-based NRI businessman who was booked along with his father for allegedly cheating a foreign bank of Rs 8 crore was granted bail by the sessions court after the businessman contended that the property towards security of loan facility availed to him with the bank is already auctioned by the bank and the entire amount with due interest has been recovered and the chargesheet already filed.Additional Sessions judge SM Tapkire directed Economic Offences Wing of Mumbai Police that in event of arrest, the accused, Mahesh Choudhary, be released on executing a personal bond of Rs 10 lakh. The court observed that the chargesheet has already been filed and the custodial interrogations were not necessary and directed Choudhary to cooperate with the investigation, not tamper with evidence and not leave the country without prior permission. The court observed that since 2014, the BKC police registered the cheating case against Choudhary and his father, police did nothing to arrest the accused and even the bank which had filed four cases of cheque bouncing against the accused's company withdrew them in October.

In Mumbai, bail for NRI businessman in Rs 8 crore bank fraud case
Former Shiv Sena neta tried to bargain with builder for activist in Mumbai: Chargesheet in extortion case
Times of India | 2 days ago | |
Times of India
2 days ago | |

MUMBAI: Former Shiv Sena corporator Yogesh Bhoir had tried to bargain with the complainant developer on behalf of RTI activist Bhimsen Yadav, who was harassing and threatening him, seeking information on his Kandivli redevelopment project from government departments and demanding extortion money, claimed the chargesheet filed by Mumbai Police's crime branch.Police have chargesheeted Bhoir and Yadav for extortion, issuing threats and criminal intimidation under the Indian Penal Code. Yadav was arrested in December for allegedly demanding Rs 2 crore from the developer and accepting Rs 25 lakh. Bhoir managed to get anticipatory bail in this case, but was later arrested in another extortion case. Along with the 350-page chargesheet submitted last week, the crime branch's unit 12 has also annexed recorded conversations between Yadav and the complainant, CCTV footage and call detail reports of Yadav and Bhoir. In the secretly recorded conversation, Yadav is heard saying that he has readied seven RTI applications and if he sends them to various departments, the developer will have to pay huge penalties for violations. Yadav is also heard saying that he is well connected and has the capacity to bump off the developer despite his bodyguards, said the chargesheet. Police have also annexed complaints/RTI applications filed by Yadav in BMC, Mhada, collector's office and various police stations against the complainant. A senior officer said besides electronic evidence, 12 witnesses have given evidence of the alleged harassment and extortion demand.The case pertains to a complaint by Harshal More, an official of the SD Corporation which is carrying out a redevelopment project in Samta Nagar. More alleged that since 2018, Yadav had been harassing the company's officials by filing RTI queries in various government departments to extort money. Bhoir was booked for allegedly conspiring with Yadav in gathering information on the builder and misusing it for extorting money from him.Based on the complaint, in December, crime branch unit 12 laid a trap and arrested Yadav when he was allegedly accepting money. As Bhoir got anticipatory bail from a sessions court, the crime branch moved the Bombay high court; the matter is pending. Bhoir's wife Madhuri is also a former corporator.

Former Shiv Sena neta tried to bargain with builder for activist in Mumbai: Chargesheet in extortion case
Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri visits ONGC
Times of India | 2 days ago | |
Times of India
2 days ago | |

MUMBAI: Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri met with ONGC Chairman Arun Kumar Singh and ONGC Director Om Prakash Singh while rededicating ONGC's iconic drilling rig Sagar Samrat as a Mobile Offshore Production Unit (MOPU).

Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri visits ONGC
Weapon exhibit held in Mumbai’s Mulund
Times of India | 2 days ago | |
Times of India
2 days ago | |

MUMBAI: Indian Army and Yuvak Prerna foundation, vision smart India today organised a weapon exhibition, showcasing state-of-the-art military equipments. A large number of school and college students and civilians participated in the exhibition "Know Your Army" in Mulund.

Weapon exhibit held in Mumbai’s Mulund
Navi Mumbai hawker gets 1 year rigorous imprisonment for hammering civic official
Times of India | 2 days ago | |
Times of India
2 days ago | |

NAVI MUMBAI: An adhoc assistant sessions judge in Panvel has sentenced a Kalamboli hawker to one year of rigorous imprisonment and fined him Rs 3,000 for assaulting a superintendent of Panvel city municipal corporation. The incident was reported in 2017 during a civic drive against hawkers. Kalamboli police had booked him for assaulting an on-duty public servant and voluntarily causing hurt.On September 7, 2017, five municipal officials were evicting vegetable stalls of unauthorised hawkers near Swami Samarth Temple in sector 4. Objecting to this action the accused, Tukaram Gunjal (57), had argued, abused and assaulted superintendent Bhagwan Patil with a hammer. The hawker assaulted Patilwith the hammer on his back and a second attempt was foiled by Patil's colleagues. Assistant public prosecutor Madhuri Thalkar had represented the case. Seven witnesses were examined.

Navi Mumbai hawker gets 1 year rigorous imprisonment for hammering civic official
Take care: Cop kills self in Mumbai, leaves note
Times of India | 2 days ago | |
Times of India
2 days ago | |

MUMBAI: A 38-year-old assistant police inspector who was under depression committed suicide at his residence at police quarters in Chunabhatti early morning Sunday. The police have identified the deceased as Prakash Kashinath Tetle who was attached to Koparkhairane police station in Navi Mumbai and was recently transferred to Mumbai. The police said on Sunday that he was found hanging to the ceiling of his police quarters. A suicide note saying, "take care" was sent to his wife who stays in a village in Maharashtra. He is survived by his parents, wife and brother. The police said he wasn't getting his salary for the past four years and was undergoing treatment for TB for which he was diagnosed in May 2022. He was addicted to alcohol and always missed duty.

Take care: Cop kills self in Mumbai, leaves note
Dabbawalas in Mumbai get free oral checkup
Times of India | 2 days ago | |
Times of India
2 days ago | |

MUMBAI: Around 500 dabbawalas in the city received a free oral health checkup on Sunday. Organised by Indian Dental Association (IDA) and Jain Alpsankhyak Seva Sanstha, the free oral health checkup camp saw the dabbawalas undergoing screening and consultation with the dentists. A tobacco cessation and counselling session was also held for the benefit of the dabbawalas. IDA's secretary Dr Ashok Dhoble said that records of all the dabbawalas who attended the free oral checkup camp would be kept for further investigation and advice. "Those found with pre-cancerous and cancerous lesions were advised to do biopsy," said Dr Dhoble.

Dabbawalas in Mumbai get free oral checkup
Pathaan stir in Mumbai: 9 held from Bajrang Dal
Times of India | 2 days ago | |
Times of India
2 days ago | |

MUMBAI: Bajrang Dal activists on Sunday destroyed banners of Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika Padukone starrer movie 'Pathaan' at Maxus Mall in Bhayander (west). Bhayander police later arrested nine men and a search has been launched for other 15-20 men. At around 4 pm, when the movie was running in the theatre, a mob armed with lathis reached the mall, began damaging the posters of the movie placed in glass boxes and shouted slogans of 'Jai Shree Ram'. The protestors did not enter the movie theatre. While the show continued, cops reached the theatre and arrested a few protestors. The others fled. Heavy police bandobast has been deployed outside the theatre after the incident. The shows continued as per schedule. 'Pathaan' released on January 25. Bajrang Dal had earlier protested in Gujarat.

Pathaan stir in Mumbai: 9 held from Bajrang Dal
4 attack cop in Mumbai while fleeing post robbery, arrested
Times of India | 2 days ago | |
Times of India
2 days ago | |

MUMBAI: The Azad maidan police have arrested four accused who while fleeing after a robbery attacked a police constable and injured him in South Mumbai. Based on the CCTV footage and human intelligence, the Azad Maidan police in the wee hours of Saturday arrested Rohit Singh, Ram Naido, Shabbir Shaikh and Sanjay Waghmare. The police said that on Saturday, complainant Pintu Yadav was near Kayani bakery when the accused gang threatened him with a sharp object and robbed him and fled. When Yadav raised the alarm, an alert constable Tushar Pawar tried to nab Singh but the accused attacked Pawar and fled from the scene. The Azad maidan police later on Saturday arrested all the four accused. The cops have also seized the purse stolen from the victim and have intimated the arrest of the four accused to their kin. The accused have been booked under relevant IPC sections for assaulting an on-duty government servant,robbery, and for threatening. The police have also recovered a knife used in the crime from their possession.

4 attack cop in Mumbai while fleeing post robbery, arrested
PM Narendra Modi likely to flag off 2 Vande Bharat Express for Maharashtra on February 10
Times of India | 2 days ago | |
Times of India
2 days ago | |

MUMBAI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to flag off two Vande Bharat Express trains - CSMT-Solapur and CSMT-Shirdi - during his visit to Mumbai on February 10. As per a tentative schedule drawn by officials, Modi is expected to visit CSMT to flag off these trains that will provide easy connectivity to popular pilgrimage towns in Maharashtra. The inaugural run is tentatively scheduled at 3pm from CSMT to Shirdi and Solapur to CSMT.Maharashtra will be the first state to have two intra-state Vande Bharat Express. This will be the third Vande Bharat to operate from Mumbai, with the first running between Mumbai Central and Gandhinagar Capital. Sources said CSMT-Solapur train will run 6 days a week, the exceptions being Wednesdays from CSMT, and Thursdays from Solapur. The train is expected to depart from Solapur at 6.05am and arrive at CSMT at 12.35pm. From CSMT, the departure time will be 4.10pm; it will reach Solapur at 10.40pm. The train will take 6 hours and 30 minutes to cover this distance as against 7 hours, 55 minutes by Siddeshwar Express. Enroute, the train will have halts at Dadar, Thane, Lonavala and Kurduwadi.For regular runs, the CSMT-Shirdi will depart from CSMT at 6.15am and arrive at Sai Nagar Shirdi at 12.10pm. On its return journey, the train will leave from Sai Nagar Shirdi at 5.25pm and arrive CSMT at 11.18pm. This train will take 5 hours and 55 minutes to travel between these two destinations as against 6 hours by the existing CSMT-Sai Nagar Shirdi Express, and will halt at Dadar, Thane and Nashik road. It will run 6 days a week, except Tuesdays.Both Vande Bharat Expresses will have 16 coaches that can accommodate 1,128 passengers. Indigenously produced under Atmanirbhar Bharat, Vande Bharat has better ride comfort (Ride Index 3.2 against 3.8 earlier). It has faster acceleration with 160 kmph in 129 second as against 146 second earlier.

PM Narendra Modi likely to flag off 2 Vande Bharat Express for Maharashtra on February 10
100 crore smuggled gold seized in 1 month, 24 people arrested
Times of India | 2 days ago | |
Times of India
2 days ago | |

MUMBAI: With gold prices crossing Rs 58,000 per 10gm the profit from the gold smuggling too has increased from 15 to 20%. The Central agencies-Customs and DRI continue to bust smuggling rackets. In the last one month alone the agencies have arrested around 24 people including foreign nationals and have seized gold worth more than Rs 100 crore.In last three days the Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) of Customs has seized around 9.5kg gold valued at Rs 4.75 crore in eight cases. This includes two Azerbaijan nationals who arrived from Dubai on Saturday with six kg gold valued at Rs. 2.99 crore. Accused Mikayilov Faig (65) and his son Mikayilov Huseyn (32) were placed under arrest under the Customs act. Investigating officer Sudhir Jadhav sought their judicial custody. Public prosecutor S Natrajan for Customs argued that the case is at preliminary stage and a big nexus is involved. He added that if the accused are set free they may flee the country and not be available for investigations. Accused's lawyer Sujit Sahu told the court that his clients were innocent and they would be released on bail. The court granted judicial custody to both the accused.Last month the Customs had arrested a 37-year-old Azerbaijan National identified as Mahir Aliyev who had arrived from Dubai hiding three kg gold worth Rs 1.5 crore in his body at Mumbai International airport. A day later when he was sent to Arthur Road jail, the jail officials seized around 700gm gold dust hidden in his trouser.

100 crore smuggled gold seized in 1 month, 24 people arrested
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