Mumbai News Highlights: Govt appoints Ujjwal Nikam as special public prosecutor in Beed sarpanch murder case

Mumbai News Highlights: Deshmukh was abducted and killed on December 9, allegedly by local strongmen with links to the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).

At the village of Santosh Deshmukh (45), the sarpanch of Massajog in Kaiz tehsil, posters demanding justice for his killing are ubiquitous. (Express Photo)

Mumbai News Highlights: The Maharashtra government Wednesday appointed Ujjwal Nikam as the special public prosecutor in the murder case of Santosh Deshmukh, the sarpanch of Massajog in Kaiz tehsil. Deshmukh was abducted and killed on December 9, allegedly by local strongmen with links to the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).

Meanwhile, the city is reeling under an intense heatwave, with temperatures soaring to their highest February levels in five years. The IMD has issued an alert for February 26 across Mumbai, Thane, Ratnagiri, and Raigad, as the Santacruz observatory recorded a scorching 38.4°C—6.4°C above normal—while Colaba hit 36.8°C on February 25. The heat, driven by strong easterly winds delaying the cooling sea breeze, is expected to persist for at least three more days, with no signs of relief from rainfall, warns IMD scientist Sushma Nair.

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India’s Got Latent row: Podcaster Ranveer Allahbadia, whose controversial remarks on comedian Samay Raina’s YouTube show “India’s Got Latent” kicked up a row, has said in his statement before the Maharashtra Cyber that he committed a “mistake” by making those comments, news agency PTI reported quoting officials. Allahbadia also told the officials that Samay Raina was his friend and he had gone to the show only for the latter, the official said, adding he also claimed that he did not charge anything to attend the show. Two days ago, Allahbadia and YouTuber Ashish Chanchlani appeared before the Maharashtra Cyber Police to record their statements. On Tuesday, social media influencer Apoorva Makhija too appeared before the police. The authorities have also summoned actor Rakhi Sawant on February 27, who had appeared in the show as a guest, the official told PTI.

Live Updates

Feb 26, 2025 09:25 PM IST

Why Shilpa Shetty Kundra’s Bastian Hospitality shut Chinois in a month, and opened Inka, a Peruvian-Asian restaurant

On December 18 last year, the Shilpa Shetty Kundra-led Bastian Hospitality Group launched Bastian Chinois, an expansive fine diner spanning 6,000 sq ft in Peninsula Corporate Park in Mumbai’s Lower Parel. Focused on Asian cuisine, the restaurant had celebrity chef Hemant Oberoi at its helm. However, on January 29, over a month later, it shut its doors with a social media announcement.

“While we poured our passion into creating Chinois, your feedback showed us it didn’t meet the benchmark we’ve set for ourselves. This realisation brings us to a moment of transformation. As they say: No Guts, No Glory. No Risk, No Story,” read the statement on its Instagram page, signed by Ranjit Bindra, CEO, Bastian Hospitality. Read more

Feb 26, 2025 06:44 PM IST

Concerns over bird strike risk at Navi Mumbai airport due to open slaughterhouse in Ulwe

Local activists and residents of Ulwe have raised concerns about a potential bird strike threat to aircraft at the upcoming Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA). The issue stems from open slaughter and meat selling at Ulwe, just 3 km from the runway, violating aviation safety norms.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) states that animal slaughter is prohibited within a 10 km radius of an airport. This guideline is also part of a resolution from the Maharashtra government that established the Aerodrome Environment Management Committee (AEMC) for the Navi Mumbai airport. Read More

Feb 26, 2025 04:52 PM IST

Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation approves Rs 5,684.95 crore Budget for 2025-26

The Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) has approved a budget of Rs 5,684.95 crore for the 2025-26 financial year, prioritizing infrastructure, transportation, and civic amenities. With civic polls due in a month, no new taxes have been introduced, providing relief to residents.

The budget proposal was presented by Chief Accounts and Finance Officer Satyawan Ubale in the presence of Additional Commissioner Dr. Rahul Gethe, City Engineer Shirish Aradwad, and other department heads.

The projected revenue for 2025-26 is Rs 5,709.95 crore, with an expected closing balance of Rs 25 crore. Commissioner Dr. Kailas Shinde, while sanctioning the budget, highlighted plans to position Navi Mumbai as a “growth hub” by enhancing infrastructure and maintaining high public service standards. Read more

Feb 26, 2025 03:25 PM IST

Man kills mother-in-law by setting her on fire, dies himself due to burns

A 56-year-old man allegedly killed his mother-in-law here by setting her on fire inside a tempo and died himself due to the burn injuries suffered during the incident, police said on Wednesday.

A case of murder was registered against the deceased man, Krishna Daji Ashtankar following the incident which took place in Mulund area on Monday, said an official of Navaghar police station. Babi Daji Usare, his mother-in-law, was 72.

Ashtankar, a tempo driver, was living in his vehicle after his wife left him six months ago to stay with a patient in Borivali as a caretaker. His son and married daughter too lived elsewhere, said the official.

As per the preliminary investigation, Ashtankar, who struggled with alcohol addiction, was angry because he had to live alone, and suspected that his mother-in-law encouraged his wife to live apart. As per the victim woman's son, Ashtankar offered to take her to hospital in his tempo on Monday for an eye surgery she needed.

He then apparently closed the tempo's rear shutter and beat the hapless woman with a heavy object before setting her on fire. But he too was engulfed in flames inside the small space and sustained fatal injuries. (PTI)

Feb 26, 2025 02:03 PM IST

Police registers case against man for threatening historian Indrajeet Sawant over call

The Kolhapur police Wednesday registered a case against a man for allegedly threatening historian Indrajeet Sawant and making derogatory comments against Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and his son Sambhaji Maharaj, officials told news agency PTI.

Sawant received a call in the early hours of Tuesday wherein the caller identified himself as 'Prashant Koratkar' and threatened to kill him for allegedly trying to spread hatred against the Brahmin community, the PTI report stated quoting an official. Sawant shared the audio clip of the call on his social media account and also approached the Juna Rajwada police in Kolhapur to lodge a complaint against the caller, the official said.

The caller also made derogatory remarks against Maratha warrior king Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and his son Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, the official said.

The police are verifying the caller's identity, and have also sought technical assistance of the cyber cell for the probe into the case, the official said.

The police have registered a case against the person under various Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita sections, including 196, 197 (both related to promoting enmity or disharmony between different groups), 299 (outraging religious feelings), 151 (protecting autonomy and authority of high-ranking officials) and 352 (provocation, insult), he said.

(PTI)

Feb 26, 2025 11:09 AM IST

Ranveer Allahbadia controversy: Authorities summon actor Rakhi Sawant on Feb 27 for questioning

The Maharashtra Cyber authorities have summoned actor Rakhi Sawant on February 27, who had appeared in Samay Raina's Youtube show "India's Got Latent" as a guest, an official told news agency PTI.

Feb 26, 2025 11:07 AM IST

Allahbadia told cops he committed 'mistake' by making controversial remarks: Officials

Podcaster Ranveer Allahbadia, whose controversial remarks on comedian Samay Raina’s YouTube show “India’s Got Latent” kicked up a row, has said in his statement before the Maharashtra Cyber that he committed a “mistake” by making those comments, news agency PTI reported quoting officials.

Allahbadia also told the officials that Samay Raina was his friend and he had gone to the show only for the latter, the official said, adding he also claimed that he did not charge anything to attend the show.

Two days ago, Allahbadia and YouTuber Ashish Chanchlani appeared before the Maharashtra Cyber Police to record their statements.

On Tuesday, social media influencer Apoorva Makhija too appeared before the police.

Feb 26, 2025 11:06 AM IST

Govt appoints Ujjwal Nikam as special public prosecutor in Beed sarpanch murder case

The Maharashtra government Wednesday appointed Ujjwal Nikam as the special public prosecutor in the murder case of Santosh Deshmukh, the sarpanch of Massajog in Kaiz tehsil.

Deshmukh was abducted and killed on December 9, allegedly by local strongmen with links to the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).

Feb 25, 2025 05:29 PM IST

Man jumps onto safety net in Mantralaya

A high drama unfolded at the Maharashtra secretariat Tuesday afternoon when a male protester jumped onto a safety net of the high-security building.

Prima facie, the man was protesting against the state government over some issue, officials said.

As per the initial information, the man landed onto the safety net of the first floor of the Mantralaya building, around 4 PM.

Police personnel evacuated him to safety. He is being taken to Marine Drive police station, an official said. The safety nets in the main Mantralaya building were set up as a precautionary measure to prevent any potential suicide attempts. (PTI)

Feb 25, 2025 03:33 PM IST

Border row: Maharashtra considering deploying security in Karnataka-bound buses

Maharashtra Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik on Tuesday said they were mulling to deploy security marshals or police personnel in the state transport buses going to neighbouring Karnataka, in wake of an attack on its staff.

Maharashtra Minister of State for Home Yogesh Kadam said it is even the Karnataka government's responsibility to provide security to passengers and if they don't do it, then the (Maharashtra) state government will.

The state government ordered the suspension of Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) buses to Karnataka on Saturday after an attack on a vehicle of the undertaking and its driver in Chitradurga on Friday night allegedly by pro-Kannada activists.

On the same day, a conductor of the state-owned transport corporation bus of Karnataka was allegedly assaulted in Belagavi, bordering Maharashtra, for not replying to a girl in Marathi.

Both the incidents have since heightened tension in the border areas of the two states. (PTI)

Feb 25, 2025 11:52 AM IST

Mumbai News Live Updates: What are new regulations for Maharashtra school buses to be implemented from next academic year?

The Maharashtra transport department is set to introduce a new set of regulations for private school buses starting from the next academic year that will include them to have a panic button, fire suppression sprinklers, GPS tracking systems and CCTV cameras installed. Additionally, schools or private bus operators charging transportation fees from parents must have a centralized CCTV surveillance system for monitoring their fleet.

A committee headed by retired transport officer Jitendra Patil has been appointed to draft these guidelines and has been directed to submit its report within a month.

The decision comes after multiple complaints from parents regarding the functioning of school buses operated by various institutions across the state. The transport department recently held an important meeting to address these concerns and ensure the safety of students commuting by school buses. Read Here

Feb 25, 2025 09:34 AM IST

Mumbai News Live Updates: Mumbai records hottest February in five years; IMD issues heatwave alert

With temperatures soaring above the normal range, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a heatwave alert for Mumbai, Thane, Ratnagiri, and Raigad on February 25 and 26.

On Monday, Mumbai recorded its highest February temperature in five years, with the Santacruz observatory registering 38.4°C—6.4°C above normal. The Colaba observatory also reported an above-normal maximum of 36.8°C.

Feb 25, 2025 09:32 AM IST

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Feb 24, 2025 07:10 PM IST

Mumbai News Live Updates: Maharashtra govt to issue new guidelines for school buses before next academic year

The Maharashtra government will introduce new guidelines for school buses before the next academic year, news agency PTI quoted state Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik as saying on Monday. The move follows multiples complaints raised by parents regarding the unregulated fee charges. A single-member committee headed by former additional transport commissioner JB Patil has been set up to look into the concerns, as per a release issued by the office of the transport minister.

Feb 24, 2025 01:40 PM IST

Mumbai News Live Updates: Mumbai braces for heatwave as temperatures soar

Independent weather experts predict a heatwave in Mumbai over the next 48 hours as temperatures exceed 37°C for four consecutive days. The IMD, however, has not issued a heatwave alert, citing that both Santacruz and Colaba observatories must record over 37°C for two days. The heat is attributed to strong easterly winds delaying the sea breeze. Forecasts indicate temperatures may reach 40-42°C in Kalyan and Thane, while Santacruz and western Mumbai will hover around 37°C. The hot and humid conditions are expected to persist for at least three more days.

Feb 24, 2025 10:47 AM IST

Mumbai News Live Updayes: Maharashtra Budget Session 2025 to begin on March 3, budget on March 10

The state budget session in the Maharashtra Vidhan Bhawan will begin on March 3 and conclude on March 26. The state budget will be presented in the legislative assembly and council on March 10. This marks the first budget of the Mahayuti government, led by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, after its landslide victory in the November Assembly polls. Deputy CM and Finance Minister Ajit Pawar will present the budget.

Feb 24, 2025 10:41 AM IST

Mumbai News Live Updates: Ranveer Allahbadia expected to appear for questioning today over India's Got Latent row

Podcaster Ranveer Allahbadia has been summoned for a second time by the Maharashtra Cyber Police and is required to appear for questioning today.

This comes after he failed to respond to the initial summons and was absent before the Khar police in Mumbai on February 17.

When a police team, accompanied by Assam Police officers, visited his Versova residence, they found it locked and left a notice instructing him to appear soon.

Feb 24, 2025 10:40 AM IST

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