Solving Crime: How a torn train ticket helped Mumbai cops solve a murder case
Sometimes, it is the smallest clue that helps the police solve the most serious crime. Like the 2012 murder case of a senior citizen that was cracked with the help of the unlikeliest of clues – a torn railway ticket discarded in the garbage.
On March 2, 2012, residents of Ayesh Adam building in the Masjid area of South Mumbai called the Pydhonie police after they found a foul smell emanating from the building’s Room No 9. The police broke open the door and found the body of Allarakha Ibrahim Siddi, 72. He was strangled to death using a belt which was found at the crime scene, the police said.
A preliminary probe revealed that Siddi, a Gujarat resident, used to frequent Mumbai occasionally and stayed at this house which belonged to one of his late relatives. When the police enquired with neighbours, they said that Siddi had come to Mumbai on February 28 along with a young man.
From Milind Deora to Ashok Chavan, Baba Siddique to Ritesh Pandey: Leaders who switched parties
With the Lok Sabha elections nearing, the year has witnessed an exodus of leaders from their respective parties citing multiple reasons, including negligence, difference in vision or ideology, and future gains, among others.
In one of the major setbacks to the Congress in Maharashtra, former chief minister Ashok Chavan quit the party to join the BJP. On the other hand, Congress lost a face popular with the business community in Mumbai as Milind Deora exited the party.
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How Ravindra Waikar responded to allegation of switching camps over ED pressure
After joining the CM Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, MLA Ravindra Waikar denied joining the ruling side owing to pressure over an ED case against him. "I have faced all the investigating agencies and have cooperated with them. Once you cooperate with these agencies, the truth emerges," Waikar told reporters.
What is the ED case against Ravindra Waikar?
Ravindra Waikar is being probed by the ED in a case registered for allegedly misleading the BMC and obtaining permission fraudulently between January and July 2021 to construct a luxury hotel on a plot along Jogeshwari-Vikhroli Link Road earmarked for sports and entertainment purposes.
As per the FIR, the plot was allotted to Waikar and others for public utilisation but they allegedly used it for commercial purposes to earn several crore rupees.
Uddhav's close aide Ravindra Waikar joins Shinde-led Shiv Sena
Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Ravindra Waikar, who is being probed by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with alleged misuse of a civic plot to build a luxury hotel, joined the Shiv Sena led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.
It is a jolt to Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray since Waikar, the MLA from Mumbai's Jogeshwari area, is a close aide and was present in a meeting with the former in the Mumbai North West parliamentary seat a day earlier. Waikar is a former standing committee chairman of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, a four time corporator and has been MLA from Jogeshwari for four terms.
'Shinde is taking quick decisions on development works. If these works are not completed, I cannot face my people,' Waikar said.
Country's most modern cyber lab to come up in Navi Mumbai: Fadnavis
The country's most modern and biggest cyber lab to combat crime will come up in Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said.
Addressing a function, Fadnavis, who handles the state's home portfolio, also asked the Maharashtra police to be ready for the three newly enacted laws - the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita and the Bharat Sakshya Act, which will come in to force across the nation from July 1.
Nirupam lashes out at Uddhav over announcement of Mumbai-North West LS seat candidate
A day after Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray announced his party candidate from Mumbai-North West Lok Sabha seat, Congress leader Sanjay Nirupam asked if it was violation of the "coalition dharma" or an attempt to show his party in poor light.
Even as seat-sharing talks are still going on between the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) partners Sena (UBT), NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) and Congress, Thackeray on Saturday said Amol Kirtikar would be his party's candidate from the Mumbai North-West seat for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. Amol's father and sitting MP from the seat Gajanan Kirtikar is affiliated to the rival Shiv Sena headed by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.
Nirupam, who unsuccessfully contested the 2019 Lok Sabha poll from this seat, in a post on X said, "Chief of the leftover Shiv Sena announced his candidate as MVA nominee from Mumbai-North West. Despite having over two dozen meetings, the seat-sharing deal of MVA hasn't been finalised yet. I am told that whatever 8 to 9 seats are pending, this constituency is one of them." He sought to know if the unilateral announcement was violation of the "coalition dharma" or was it deliberately done to show the Congress in poor light.
T1 flyover in Mumbai opens up for traffic
The newly constructed Terminal 1 Flyover in Mumbai was opened for public use on Saturday. The flyover was inaugurated by Union MoS Ramdas Athawale, Mumbai Suburban Guardian Minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha, and MMRDA Commissioner Dr Sanjay Mukherjee.
This flyover on the Western Express Highway (WEH) will help improve the traffic around Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport Domestic Terminal (T1) Junction, said experts. The T1 Junction is known to be occupied by thousands of vehicles during peak hours, leading to prolonged disruptions in traffic. Thus, this flyover opening will ease the movement of traffic headed towards Bandra from the International Airport T2, thereby preventing traffic congestion, reducing pollution, and promoting passenger safety on the WEH.
Commuter dies of brain haemorrhage at Reay Road railway station; RPF constable and MSF jawan booked
A Government Railway Police (GRP) constable and a Maharashtra Security Force (MSF) jawan were recently booked for negligence for allegedly not providing medical assistance to a passenger suffering from a brain haemorrhage that led to his death the following day.
According to police, a departmental inquiry has also been initiated against the constable, Vijay Khandekar, and MSF jawan Mahesh Andale. Khandekar is posted at Wadala railway police station and has been suspended from the force.
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Mumbai Confidential: Defections Likely
A likely Sena UBT defection, an audio clip of a BJP minister requesting workers to ensure the victory of his daughter, and more from the political corridors of Maharashtra.
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Mah Lok Sabha seat sharing: It will be done with Prakash Ambedkar, Vanchit Bahujan Aaghadi, says Sanjay Raut
Mumbai BJP launches six ‘digital campaign chariots’
Ahead of Lok Sabha polls, Mumbai BJP president Ashish Shelar on Saturday flagged off six ‘digital campaign chariots’ at the party headquarters in Dadar.
Through these digital chariots the party will reach out to Mumbai residents across the six Lok Sabha constituencies and appraise them about the various development works undertaken by the Narendra Modi government.
Speaking on the occasion, Shelar said the BJP will continue to reach out to every section of the society.
“The BJP has set up a ‘Super Warrior’ system at every polling station. Every worker is working hard to ensure that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is once again elected to power,” he said.
Congress to invite CMs, INDIA bloc chiefs to Bharat Jodo Yatra’s concluding rally
The Congress will invite all chief ministers of opposition parties and presidents of all parties of the INDIA bloc to the concluding public rally of Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra at Mumbai’s Shivaji Park on March 17, which will be the beginning of the opposition’s poll campaign for the Lok Sabha elections.
The yatra will enter Maharashtra on March 12 in Nandurbar district and will travel to Mumbai through Dhule, Nashik, Palghar and Thane districts.
“The concluding rally at Shivaji Park will be one of the biggest in recent times and invitations have been sent to all opposition CMs and chiefs of parties from the INDIA front,” a senior Congress leader said.
Read Alok Deshpande's report.
Mumbai Coastal Road: Inauguration tomorrow, rush to finish last-minute work
With Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC)’s Swaraj Rakshak Chhatrapati Shambaji Mumbai Coastal Road set to be inaugurated on Monday, last-minute works are on in full swing.
A high-speed corridor, the Coastal Road is 10.58-km long, of which 9.5 km will be opened for vehicular movement on Monday, following a flag-off ceremony by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Ministers Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar.
Civic officials said that on Saturday finishing touches were given to road signages, lights and LED screens. Road surfaces were also inspected for glitches, if any, they added. “There will be signages after every 50-100 metres that will allow motorists to know the direction.
Also ahead of every interchange we have set up dedicated boards specifying the direction where each arm leads to,” an official said.
Reports Pratip Acharya.
2 more RPF cops dismissed in train hate killings: ‘failed to discharge duty’
Two Railway Protection Force (RPF) constables — who were on the Jaipur-Mumbai Central Superfast Express on July 31 last year, when Constable Chetansinh Chaudhary allegedly gunned down a senior colleague and three passengers — have been dismissed from service.
The dismissal orders for Constables Amay Acharya and Narendra Parmar, issued by S K S Rathod, senior divisional security commissioner, RPF, Mumbai Division, Western Railway, on Friday, cited their “failure to discharge their duty”.
Chaudhary, who was dismissed from service earlier, is currently in Akola jail. He is accused of gunning down three passengers — Abdul Kadar Mohamed Hussain Bhanpurawala, Syed Saifuddin and Asgar Abbas Sheikh – and RPF Assistant Sub-Inspector Tikaram Meena. After killing the four people, he allegedly gave a hate speech, according to purported video clips of the incident.
Continue reading.
Weather today:
Mumbai skies are expected to be mainly clear on Sunday, according to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD).
Maxmimum temperature and minimum temperature are expected to be 36 degrees celsius and 20 degrees celsius, respectively.
Uddhav Thackeray declares Amol Kirtikar as party candidate from Mumbai North-West
Even though seat-sharing talks between the Maha Vikas Aghadi partners remain inconclusive, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Saturday announced that Amol Kirtikar would be his party's candidate from the Mumbai North-West Lok Sabha constituency.
Notably, Amol's father and sitting MP from the seat Gajanan Kirtikar is affiliated to the rival Shiv Sena headed by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.
Thackeray announced Amol's candidature while addressing party workers in the constituency, though the talks among MVA partners (Sena (UBT), NCP (SP) and Congress) are still going on.
In his speech, Thackeray ridiculed the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation for the blunder in the reconstruction of Gokhale Bridge, and also took potshots at commissioner Iqbal Chahal over alleged corruption in the BMC which does not have an elected body for nearly two years. (PTI)
Sharad Pawar declares Supriya Sule as party candidate from Baramati
Sharad Pawar, who heads the NCP (SP), on Saturday declared MP Supriya Sule as their candidate from Maharashtra's Baramati Lok Sabha seat, amid speculation that Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar's wife Sunetra Pawar could be fielded from there.
The octogenarian leader made the announcement during a rally organised by the opposition bloc Maha Vikas Aghadi in Bhor tehsil of Pune district. Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Raut of Shiv Sena (UBT), an MVA constituent, was also present at the event.
The Election Commission will announce the Lok Sabha poll schedule on March 14 or March 15, said Sharad Pawar. The EC has allotted “man blowing turha (a traditional trumpet)” symbol to his outfit.
“The elections will decide the future of our country. Nobody was so anxious about the future of the country so far, but now a change is needed. Today, PM Modi is not paying any attention towards farmer suicides. Instead, he is focussing all his attention only on Gujarat,” he said.
The NCP founder also accused the government of misusing its power. (PTI)
Maharashtra is engine of Indian economy, has got more FDI than Guj, Karnataka or UP: Fadnavis
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said on Saturday that the state is the engine of the country's economy and it has garnered more Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) than Gujarat, Karnataka or Uttar Pradesh.
He was addressing a ‘Viksit Bharat' (developed India) event at Pune's Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute.
Though late president Dr APJ Abdul Kalam envisaged the ‘Viksit Bharat' concept, no work was done on it between 2000 and 2014, alleged Fadnavis.
“The actual work started in 2014 and last year we made our mark in the world's top five economies. In the past many years, we witnessed corrupt practices and many scandals. Earlier, FDI inflow was low due to policy paralysis.
“However, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has started taking the country on the path of progress by emphasising the ‘perform, reform and transform' model. Maharashtra is the engine of the Indian economy and the nation cannot make any development without Maharashtra,” he asserted.
The senior BJP leader said that 60 crore people in the country have opened bank accounts, seeking to highlight the central government's achievements. (PTI)
Senior citizen duped of Rs 1.12 crore in online stock investment scam; one arrested
A 34-year-old man has been arrested by the cyber crime department of Mumbai Police for allegedly cheating a senior citizen of Rs 1.12 crore with a promise of high returns on stock market investment.
Bharat Deepak Chavan, the accused, was nabbed from suburban Bandra on Friday and Rs 82 lakh lying in 33 bank accounts were recovered, an official said here.
Chavan had opened multiple bank accounts in which Rs 1.12 crore were received between December 2023 to February this year, he said.
Sandip Deshpande (68), the complainant, told police that he got several WhatsApp messages from different numbers in December, inviting him to join a share trading group.
He joined the group and the accused told him that a trading account had been opened in his name. Deshpande deposited money as asked, and he was shown that he was earning good returns. (PTI)
Woman killed in stampede at BJP event in Nagpur
A 65-year-old woman was killed and four others were injured in a stampede at a programme organised by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Maharashtra's Nagpur city on Saturday, police said.
The incident occurred at a camp organised by the BJP's Nagpur city unit at Kavivarya Suresh Bhat Auditorium in the Reshimbagh area around 10.30 am, an official from Kotwali police station said.
The party had arranged the camp to distribute utensils and other essential items to workers registered with the Maharashtra Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board, he said.
People started gathering outside the venue around 5 am, and a massive crowd had formed by the time the gates were thrown open to the beneficiaries, the official said.
As the crowd rushed in, some women fell and sustained injuries, he said. (PTI)
Golden jackal injured in road accident rescued in Navi Mumbai
A golden jackal severely injured in a road accident was rescued in Navi Mumbai, a forest official said on Saturday.
The injured animal was found on a road in Uran on Thursday and a local organisation alerted the forest department, the official said.
The Resqink Association for Wildlife Welfare (RAWW) was roped in to rescue and treat the animal, said Pawan Sharma founder-president of RAWW and also the honorary wildlife warden with the forest department.
The jackal had sustained multiple internal and external injuries and was in severe pain and trauma, veterinarian Dr Rina Dev said.
Jackals are found in the mangrove habitats bordering some highways and main roads in Mumbai, Thane and Navi Mumbai, Sharma said, adding that measures need to be put in place to avoid such accidents. (PTI)
South-bound corridor of Mumbai coastal road to be opened on Monday: Official
Ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, the south-bound corridor of the coastal road between Worli and Marine Drive in south Mumbai is set to be opened for traffic on Monday, municipal commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal said on Thursday.
Chahal had earlier said the south-bound corridor of the coastal road will be opened for traffic on Saturday.
During the day, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde inspected construction of the ambitious project, the work on which had started on October 13, 2018, and whose projected cost is Rs 12,721 crore.
A world-class Central Park spread over 320 acres will come up along the `Dharmaveer Sambhaji Maharaj Coastal Road', Shinde said on this occasion.
The south-bound corridor will be opened for traffic on Monday (March 11), civic commissioner Chahal told PTI.
A 10.5-kilometer-long stretch will be opened for traffic in the first phase, an official said, adding that motorists can enter the coastal road from Worli Seaface, Haji Ali interchange and Amarson's interchange points, and exit at Marine Lines. (PTI)
Mumbai BJP launches digital campaign vehicles
The Mumbai unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party on Saturday launched six digital campaign `chariots' or vehicles for the Lok Sabha elections.
City BJP president Ashish Shelar, who flagged off the vehicles, said they will apprise residents of the six Lok Sabha constituencies in the city of various development works undertaken by the Narendra Modi-led Union government.
The BJP has stolen a march over other parties on all fronts, and started campaigning for the coming elections and released its first list of candidates before others, he added.
It is reaching out to all sections of society including women self-help groups, Anganwadi workers (who serve at government-run pre-primary schools) and health workers, Shelar said.
"In 2047, when India will be celebrating the centenary of Independence, it will no longer be an underdeveloped or developing nation but it will be a developed country. It is the dream of 140 crore Indians. And Prime Minister Narendra Modi is striving to realize this dream," the former Maharashtra minister said. (PTI)
ED attachment of Baramati Agro assets politically motivated: Rohit Pawar
Maharashtra MLA Rohit Pawar, who belongs to the NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar), on Saturday described the ED attachment of assets of a sugar mill owned by his company Baramati Agro Limited as politically motivated, “wrong" and “illegal”.
A total of 161.30 acres of land, plant, machinery and building of the Kannad Sahakari Sakhar Karkhana Limited (Kannad SSK) located in Kannad village of Aurangabad district has been provisionally attached under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, the ED said in a statement on Friday.
Rohit Pawar has been questioned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) twice in the past after it searched the premises of Baramati Agro, Kannad SSK and some others in January.
In a statement issued by Baramati Agro, the Karjat-Jamkhed MLA and Sharad Pawar's grandnephew said that the case by the ED is based on an FIR registered by the Economic Offences Wing of the Mumbai police.
The EOW had alleged Kannad SSK was fraudulently sold by the then officials and directors of Maharashtra State Cooperative Bank (MSCB) at throwaway prices to their relatives and private persons ignoring due procedure, it said. (PTI)
Country-made liquor worth Rs 26.94 lakh seized in Thane district; two held
The state excise department seized country-made liquor worth Rs 26.94 lakh and arrested two persons in Maharashtra's Thane district, an official said on Saturday.
A flying squad of the state excise department intercepted a tempo in Kalyan town on Friday and recovered 48,400 bottles packed in cartons concealed under sanitary napkins, said Nilesh Sangde, superintendent of Central Excise, Thane.
Sainath Nagesh Ramgirwar (27) and Amardeep Shantaram Fulzele (29), who were transporting the contraband, were arrested under the Prohibition Act, he said.
The seized liquor is valued at Rs 26.94 lakh, and the tempo worth Rs 26.2 lakh was also impounded in the operation, the official said. (PTI)
Marathas should not fall prey to false promises on reservations, says Raj Thackeray
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray on Saturday said he had told quota activist Manoj Jarange that reservations for Marathas will not be technically possible and urged the community to not fall prey to false promises.
Speaking at an event organised to mark the party's 18th foundation day in Nashik, Thackeray said if one community gets reservations in government jobs and education, all communities will make similar demands.
"When I met Jarange, I had told him that it would not be technically possible to grant reservation to the Maratha community. For this, a session of the Lok Sabha is necessary.
Moreover, this issue is not limited to the Marathas alone but communities in every state. If one community gets reservations, all communities will make the same demand. I request the Maratha brethren not to fall prey to false promises," Thackeray said.
The MNS chief further said that the party will decide its strategy for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls later, and he would share more thoughts about it during the party's Gudi Padwa meeting on April 9. (PTI)
Positive talks held on Mahayuti alliance for LS polls, 80 pc issues resolved: Fadnavis
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday said positive discussions were held in Delhi on the Mahayuti alliance for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections and "80 per cent" of the issues have been resolved.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday held talks for seat sharing in Maharashtra with coalition partners Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde and NCP president Ajit Pawar. Fadnavis was also present in the meeting.
The Mahayuti alliance comprises the BJP, Shiv Sena and NCP.
Speaking to reporters in Nagpur, Fadnavis said, "Very positive discussions were held in the meeting yesterday. I can say that 80 per cent of our issues have been solved, and talks are going on for the remaining 20 per cent. And, I believe that the remaining issues will be resolved, and a good alliance will be formed." Shinde-led Shiv Sena, Pawar-led NCP and the BJP will contest the Lok Sabha elections in alliance in Maharashtra, which sends 48 members to the lower house of Parliament. (PTI)
2 years without elected reps, how state-appointed administrator has been calling the shots at BMC, India’s richest civic body
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Friday completed two years under an administrator’s rule, making it the longest tenure the civic body has functioned without elected representatives in its 135-year history.
The five-year term of municipal corporators was dissolved on March 7, 2022, since the civic elections did not take place in time due to reorganisation of the municipal ward boundaries and the Supreme Court (SC) decision to scrap the Other Backward Classes (OBC) quota in local body elections.
The two-year period under an administrator’s rule was not without its fair share of controversies. (Pratip Acharya reports)
Around Town: Mumbai’s iconic Parsi eatery Sassanian turns 111, continues to offer value-for-money experience
Time seemed to pause as we entered Dhobi Talao-based Sassanian Boulangerie, a Parsi eatery. The dimly lit space with yellow walls adorned with wooden panelling, vintage mirrors, and reverse glass paintings – all quintessential features of an Iranian restaurant in Mumbai – exudes nostalgia. Original bentwood chairs and marble-topped tables fill the room, while Iranian landmarks adorn the walls alongside old-fashioned signages. With its 111-year-old charm, it promises a timeless and budget-friendly dining experience.
Established on Nowruz (Persian New Year) in 1913 by Rustam K Yazdabadi as K R Sassanian Bakery and Restaurant, the Parsi eatery started as a whole-day breakfast joint serving omelette, brun maska, pudding, mawa cake and biscuits. Like many eateries of its era, it doubled as a general store, selling essentials like soap and toothpaste. (Click here to read more)
Weekend Watch | Shaitaan movie review: Ajay Devgn steps into Drishyam mode in predictable horror-thriller
A family weekend gets hijacked by a terrifying set of events: ‘Shaitaan’, which combines elements of home invasion laced with pops of black magic, falls neatly into the supernatural horror category which Bollywood keeps revisiting.
Once we have the set-up — loving husband and smart dad Kabir (Ajay Devgn) who keeps a sharp eye on the company his teenage daughter Janvi (Janaki Bodiwala) keeps, and knows his precocious son Dhruv’s (Angad Raaj) passwords — we are flung into the second act, which is all about the ‘shaitaan’ (R Madhavan) who appears out of nowhere to take over their lives. (Read the full review here)
Gateway's Queen: Sarika Randive Drives Through Adversity to Mumbai's First Female Kaali Peeli Driver
arika Randive, also known as Gateway ki Raani, has overcome challenges to become a symbol of resilience. From being a child bride to breaking barriers as Mumbai's first woman to drive a kaali peeli taxi, Sarika's journey is one of determination and grit. Alongside her husband, she provides for their family of five, refusing to succumb to the gender biases prevalent in her profession. Despite facing obstacles as a woman in a male-dominated field, Sarika's unwavering belief in hard work fuels her aspirations for a brighter future for her children.
‘Gateway ki Rani’ donned several hats before driving a Kali Peeli in Mumbai
Amid the cacophony of voices calling for passengers outside the CSMT station in Mumbai, Sarika Randive’s (34) voice stands out. “I will take you to the Gateway of India, come,” she strings together a sentence in English on spotting a foreigner.
Breezing through the streets of South Mumbai in her Kali-Peeli taxi, Sarika Randive, popularly known as “Gateway ki Rani”, is a rare sight in a trade dominated by men. As one of the city’s first woman taxi drivers, she hit the streets in 2022 and has not looked back since. (Read More)
Maharashtra unveils fourth women’s policy focussing on eight key areas
Marking International Women’s Day, Maharashtra government on Friday unveiled the 4th Women Policy of the state after the delay of more than one and half years.
The policy focuses on eight principles which are Health, Nutrition and Wellbeing; education and skill; ending sexual and gender-based violence; gender responsive livelihood enhancement; gender inclusive infrastructure; gender responsive governance and political participation; gender sensitive natural resource management – Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Management and special sports policy for women and girls. (Read More)
Maharashtra hints at 1000 more govt medical seats from upcoming academic year, parents wary
Maharashtra’s medical education department is positive of finally having 1000 more seats in government medical colleges (GMC) from the upcoming academic year.
It has issued orders for approval of posts of teaching and non-teaching staff to be appointed in these colleges, hoping to apply for approval from the National Medical Council (NMC) before June. In the absence of a clear timeline however, students and parents are wary of keeping high hopes. (Pallavi Smart reports..)
Reducing LPG cylinder prices an election gimmick, says Cong's Prithviraj Chavan
Senior Maharashtra Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan has said the reduction in LPG cylinder prices were a gimmick ahead of the Lok Sabha polls.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced a reduction in LPG cylinder prices by Rs 100 to mark International Women's Day and had said in a X post that it would ease the financial burden of millions of households and benefit the country's "Nari Shakti".
"Already prices were so high. It had gone up from Rs 400 during Congress rule to Rs 1000 and above now. Increase and then reduce is an election gimmick," Chavan, a former chief minister, told PTI. (inputs from PTI)
Trial run on corridor conducted: Speed limit of 80 kmph set for Mumbai Coastal Road, 40 kmph in tunnels
As the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) gears up to open the first phase of the Mumbai Coastal Road Project (MCRP), a trial run of a double-decker BEST bus along with regular vehicles was conducted on Saturday afternoon.
Officially named Dharamveer Swaraj Rakshak Chhatrapati Shambaji Mumbai Coastal Road, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Ministers Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar is scheduled to inaugurate the high-speed corridor on Monday, March 11 as well as officially open it to the public.
Civic officials said a maximum speed limit of 80 kmph has been set for a major portion of Coastal Road, 60 kmph while driving through the undersea tunnels and 40 kmph at interchanges. (Pratip Acharya reports)
Latur: 200 fall ill after eating food at religious event
Around 200 persons fell ill after eating food at a religious event in Latur in Maharashtra, an official said on Friday.
The incident took place during a ‘Harinam saptah’ function in Waghnalwadi in Deoni tehsil on Thursday night, the official said.
“Since it was Ekadashi on Thursday, ‘bhagar’ (made from barnyard millets) was served at 5pm. By midnight, around 200 persons complained of uneasiness and several of them started vomiting,” the official said. (Read More)
BMC opens its first working women's hostel; five more to come up in a year
The BMC opened its first hostel for working women to mark International Women's Day on Friday, an official said. The hostel is located in Goregaon in the western part of the city and there are plans to open five more such facilities, he added.
"The 16-storey hostel can accommodate 180 women. It has recreational activities on the first three floors. It also has a canteen as well as arrangements for women to cook their own food. The hostel is close to the railway station," a civic release informed.
Five more hostels of this kind will be opened within a year, Mumbai suburban district guardian minister Mangalprabhat Lodha said. (inputs from PTI)
Uddhav slams move by former Calcutta HC judge to join BJP
Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Friday criticised the move of Abhijit Gangopadhyay to resign as judge of the Calcutta High Court and join the Bharatiya Janata Party and also took a swipe at Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar while citing conflict of interest.
Gangopadhyay, who resigned as judge on Tuesday, joined the BJP in West Bengal on Thursday claiming his “objective was to oust the corrupt Trinamool Congress regime in the state”. (Read More)
Gadkari to contest from Nagpur Lok Sabha seat: Fadnavis
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday said that Union roads minister Nitin Gadkari will contest from Nagpur Lok Sabha constituency in 2024 Lok Sabha polls.
On Monday, Gadkari had met Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Nagpur airport just days after the first list was released though the party dismissed the meeting as part of protocol. Gadkari, who is among the top four Cabinet ministers, was expected to feature in the first list along with Modi, Union Home minister Amit Shah and Union defence minister Rajnath Singh. (Read More)