In the wee hours of September 7, a speeding BMW car struck two Ganesh mandal volunteers who were putting up banners on the roadside in Mulund, killing one and leaving the other critically injured. The accident occurred at around 4 am near Akriti Tower in the Gavhanpada area, while the volunteers, Pritam Thorat and Prasad Patil, were preparing decorations for the well-known Ganesh mandal "Mulundcha Raja." According to witnesses, the BMW, travelling at high speed from Campus Hotel towards the Mulund East-West bridge, rammed into both of them, who were standing near the mandap. The driver did not stop to check on the victims and fled the scene, heading towards Mulund West. The impact of the collision killed Pritam Thorat instantly, while Prasad Patil sustained severe injuries and was rushed to a nearby hospital, where his condition remains critical. Local authorities arrived at the scene shortly after the incident and launched an investigation to locate the driver and the vehicle involved. Residents and fellow mandal members have expressed shock and grief over the incident, calling for the immediate apprehension of the driver. The Mulund police have launched a manhunt to apprehend the driver who managed to flee from the scene
07 September,2024 09:08 AM IST | Mumbai | Apoorva AgasheA 44-year-old rickshaw driver allegedly molested a 15-year-old girl going to school in a rickshaw in Mumbai's Borivali area, said police. The accused has been identified as Naresh Moti Singh. The driver fled from the spot when the girl protested, said police. MHB police registered a case and started searching for the absconding accused and arrested him on Friday after five days from the Nalasopara area of Palghar district, added the police. More details into the matter are awaited. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
07 September,2024 08:57 AM IST | Mumbai | ANIA security guard from a housing society in Nalasopara has been booked for allegedly killing a stray dog, following information by a local animal caretaker and resident of the society. The incident, which has sparked outrage among animal rights activists, prompted People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India, to intervene in the matter. The incident took place on August 26, with the animal caretaker and PETA ensuring that stricter legal provisions were applied to the case. The guard has been absconding since the incident. Recounting the events, Kavita Anand Wakode, a resident of Sandeep Heights-Yashwant Gaurav in Nalasopara, told mid-day, “The dog, which we called Rocky, was playing with me when I went to feed the dogs in our locality that morning. Rocky was nearby when a group of other dogs started barking. I moved him away and began playing with him again when another dog came and started barking at Rocky. Suddenly, from behind me, the security guard, Singh, threw a stick at Rocky. Before I could react, Rocky collapsed and died from the injury on the spot. My dear friend suffered a painful death.” Wakode added, “Singh showed no remorse after Rocky died. When I threatened to inform the police, he fled the scene and has been absconding since.” Initially, an FIR was registered against the accused, Pankaj Singh, under Section 11(1)(a) of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PCA) Act, 1960, which penalises causing unnecessary pain and suffering to animals. However, PETA India pushed for the inclusion of more severe charges. In response, the senior police inspector of Nalasopara police station Sadashiv Nikam added Section 325 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, to the FIR. This section makes the maiming or killing of any animal a cognisable offence and provides for a jail term of up to five years, a fine, or both. Intimidating dogs with sticks, chasing them, or throwing stones is considered cruelty to animals under Section 11(1) of the PCA Act, 1960, which prohibits causing unnecessary pain and suffering to animals. PETA India hailed the swift action taken by the Nalasopara police. Virendra Singh, PETA India’s cruelty response coordinator said:“We commend the prompt registration of the FIR and the inclusion of stringent provisions. This sends a strong message that cruelty to animals will not be tolerated.” The case also references a key judgment by the Bombay High Court from April 2023 in Paromita Puthran vs Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai, which affirmed that cruelty toward stray dogs is not only illegal but runs contrary to the country’s constitutional and statutory principles. The court emphasised that actions such as intimidating dogs, chasing them, or using sticks and stones against them constitute cruelty under the PCA Act and should be addressed accordingly. PETA India has also called for the psychological evaluation and counselling of individuals who abuse animals, citing research that links cruelty to animals with a pattern of escalating violent behavior, which may extend to humans. “As the investigation proceeds, we are hopeful that this case will set a precedent for stricter enforcement of animal protection laws and greater accountability for offenders,” said Virendra Singh. Aug 26Day the incident occurred
07 September,2024 08:44 AM IST | Mumbai | Dipti SinghThe Thane Crime Branch's Bhiwandi unit in Maharashtra has arrested nine people and dismantled an interstate marijuana syndicate supply chain, the officials said on Friday. The arrested suspects include suppliers from Odisha, transporters, and local peddlers in Bhiwandi who allegedly supplied marijuana across the metropolitan city, the officials said. The police have seized a total of 553 kilograms of marijuana, worth approximately Rs 2.87 crore, an official said. According to the police, the Bhiwandi Unit officials of the Thane Crime Branch recently received information about a group coming to Bhiwandi for a marijuana deal. This information was provided to Constable Amol Ingale of the Crime Branch. Consequently, a trap was laid by the officials at Ranjoli Naka on the Mumbai-Nashik Highway, where several individuals involved in the deal were detained. The police arrested nine people, including Pati Ram Pangi alias Suraj (38), Arjun Shetty (20), and Amij Babu Sayed (33), all from Padva village in Korapur district, Odisha. These three obtained the drugs from Odisha and arranged for transport to Bhiwandi. The transport was handled by Salim Shaikh (30), Imran Shaikh (36), and Ramzan Ansari (25), who brought the marijuana in a truck with a changed number plate. They were about to deliver the drugs to Nazim Ansari (47), Amit alias Kiran Sonone (35), and Marks Mhaske (36), all residents of Thane district and local suppliers to peddlers across metropolitan areas. Yogesh Awhad, Senior Police Inspector of the Bhiwandi Crime Branch, said, "After receiving the information, we laid a trap and detained the nine individuals who were present for the deal. The three from Odisha arrived by train, three came in the transport vehicle, and three from Thane were local suppliers who came to pick up the delivery. We arrested all nine and seized a substantial amount of drugs from them," Awhad stated. Shivraj Patil, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Thane Crime Branch, confirmed the arrests and said, "We have arrested nine people and busted the interstate marijuana supply chain from Odisha to Bhiwandi. We have seized a total of 553 kilograms of marijuana and a truck, with an estimated worth of Rs 2.87 crore." Patil further added, "We are working to establish further links regarding the source of the drugs in Odisha and the network supplying across metropolitan areas including Mumbai, Thane, Navi Mumbai, and Mira-Bhayandar. Further action will be taken accordingly." A case has been registered by the Bhiwandi Crime Branch under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023 and the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act.
06 September,2024 10:54 PM IST | Mumbai | Faisal TandelThree persons, among them a woman, were held for allegedly drugging a 22-year-old woman and raping her at a birthday party in Maharashtra's Thane district, the police said on Friday, reported the PTI. The incident occurred in an apartment in the Shirgaon area of Badlapur on the intervening night of Wednesday and Thursday, an official said. Based on a complaint, the police have arrested the accused, Santosh Shivram Rupavate (40), Shivam Sanjay Raje (23), and Aliska alias Bhumika Ravindra Meshram (20), he said, the PTI reported on Friday. According to the PTI, Aliska had allegedly invited the victim to her house for her birthday party, and the other two accused were already present there. After the party, the two men started consuming alcohol in the bedroom, the official said. When the victim got up to leave, she complained of uneasiness, and the accused woman offered her a lemonade, he said. The drink was allegedly laced with a sedative, and the victim started feeling giddy after consuming it, the official said. One of the men allegedly raped the victim in the bathroom and left her unconscious, he said. The accused have been booked under sections 64 (rape) and 123 (causing hurt by means of poison, etc., with intent to commit an offence) and other relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the official said, the news agency reported. 30-year-old teacher held for raping 11-year-old girl in Beed A 30-year-old teacher has been arrested in Maharashtra's Beed city for allegedly raping an 11-year-old girl who attended his tuition, police said, reported the PTI. The accused (name not disclosed to protect the victim's identity) taught to children at his home in the district, said inspector A K Mudliyar of Pethbeed police station. He allegedly raped the girl many times after other students left and also subjected her to unnatural sex, the official told PTI. The crime came to light when the girl complained of stomach pain and the doctor realised that she had faced sexual assault. The girl told her parents that the teacher was sexually abusing her for the last three months and had warned her not to tell anyone about it, the police officer said. "We have registered an FIR under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for rape, unnatural sex, and also under relevant sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO). Further investigation is underway," inspector Mudliyar said, the news agency reported on Friday. (with PTI inputs)
06 September,2024 08:09 PM IST | Thane | mid-day online correspondentThe police have registered two cases against a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) worker on the charges of outraging the modesty of a woman at a temple in Maharashtra's Thane city, an officer said on Friday. According to the police, the incident occurred during a meeting convened by local leaders at a temple to review preparations for the Ganeshotsav 2024 festivities, reported news agency PTI. A case has been registered against BJP worker Vijay Tripathi and three others under sections 74 (assault or use of criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 298 (injuring or defiling a place of worship with intent to insult the religion of any class) and other relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the above-quoted officer said. As per the woman's complaint, the accused allegedly entered a temple wearing footwear to attend a meeting for the Ganeshotsav 2024 celebrations on Wednesday night. When the complainant objected to it, the two accused touched her inappropriately, the officer said. The first information reports (FIRs) against Tripathi and the other three accused was filed on Thursday following complaints lodged by the woman as well as another man who accused the four men of verbally abusing him and passing remarks about his caste. According to the man, the four accused hurled abuses at him during a meeting called by former corporator from Shiv Sena Vikas Repale, the officer said. A case under sections 115 (2) (voluntarily causing hurt) and 352 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace) of BNS and the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, was registered against Tripathi and the other accused, he said. The police had earlier registered a case against Repale over an attack on a 25-year-old Dalit man after the meeting at the temple. Talking to the media, Repale claimed he was not present at the spot, and his name was dragged into the matter owing to an old rivalry. In another similar incident from the city, in August, the Thane Police registered a case against four people for molesting a woman and assaulting her two friends after a minor road accident. (With PTI inputs)
06 September,2024 07:16 PM IST | Thane | mid-day online correspondentThe Bombay High Court on Friday transferred the probe into the murder of former Shiv Sena (UBT) corporator Abhishek Ghosalkar to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), the PTI reported. According to the PTI, the court noted that the Mumbai Police had not investigated certain angles in the case. A division bench headed by Justice Revati Mohite Dere allowed a plea filed by Ghosalkar's wife, Tejasvee Ghosalkar, raising concerns over the investigation carried out by the city police in the case and thus seeking a CBI probe. The bench said the police had not probed certain angles in the case. "Such lapses cannot be allowed to continue as it may result in miscarriage of justice," the court said. Ghosalkar was shot dead by local businessman Mauris Noronha at the former's Borivali office during a Facebook Live session on February 8. Noronha later shot himself dead soon after. The police later arrested Noronha's bodyguard, Amarendra Singh, whose pistol was allegedly used in the shooting. He is currently out on bail. The police had claimed that Noronha was upset with Ghosalkar over various issues and allegedly believed that the latter had a hand in getting a rape case registered against him and scuttling his political career. The Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Abhishek Ghosalkar was killed earlier this year after being shot multiple times in Dahisar area of Mumbai during a Facebook live session. A video of the incident had also gone viral on social media platforms following the incident. The video was said to be of a Facebook Live where a man and Abhishek Ghosalkar can be seen sitting together and telling people their plans for the betterment of the locals in the area. Moments later, several shots can be seen being fired at Ghosalkar. Abhishek was the son of Vinod Ghosalkar, a senior leader of the Shiv Sena (UBT). The attack took place in the office of Noronha, known as Mauris Bhai. They had patched up recently and Abhishek was reportedly invited to Noronha's office for an event where the latter allegedly shot Ghosalkar before shooting himself. The entire incident was live streamed on Facebook. (with PTI inputs)
06 September,2024 04:14 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe police on Friday said that a case has been registered against a 38-year-old woman from Maharashtra's Thane city who allegedly duped her friend of Rs 8.17 lakh on the pretext of claiming her deceased father's life insurance and promising a cut from the money, reported news agency PTI. Based on a complaint, the police on Wednesday registered a case under section 420 (cheating) and other relevant provisions of the Indian Penal Code against the accused, Sonia Suresh Nair, at Vishnunagar police station in Dombivili, an official said while sharing an update on the Thane crime, reported PTI. Nair allegedly approached her friend claiming that her deceased father had a life insurance policy worth Rs 88 lakh and the funds were frozen in a joint bank account she held with him, as it was inactive, he said while sharing an update on the Thane crime, reported PTI. The accused told the complainant that she needed Rs 8.17 lakh to pay the activation fee to get the policy amount and promised him a share of the payout, the official said, reported PTI. The complainant paid Rs 8.17 lakh to the accused through online transactions between July 2023 and January 2024, he said. No arrest has been made in the case yet, and further probe is underway, he added. Woman held for stealing Rs 22 lakh, jewellery from father's house A woman has been arrested here for allegedly stealing Rs 22 lakh in cash and gold jewellery from her father's house, police said on Tuesday, reported PTI. Aarti Dinesh Dwivedi, the accused, had also kept her marriage hidden from her family, said an official of Vanrai police station, reported PTI. As per her father Dinesh Dwivedi, who runs a paan shop, he had handed over Rs 22 lakh and jewellery intended for her brother's wedding to Aarti over the years for safe keeping, reported PTI. In May, she disappeared, and then the family learnt that she had secretly married a man six years ago. They also found that the cash and gold were missing. Dwivedi filed a complaint against his daughter in July, and after probe, police arrested Aarti earlier this week. Further probe was on, reported PTI. (With inputs from PTI)
06 September,2024 02:58 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentAn official on Friday said that the police in Maharashtra's Thane district have arrested a 25-year-old man for allegedly sexually harassing a teenage girl and manhandling her parents, reported news agency PTI. Accused Sagar Wagh had been stalking the 14-year-old girl since July, despite her parents asking him to stay away from their daughter, reported PTI. On Thursday, Wagh entered the girl's house in the Bhiwandi area when she was alone and touched her inappropriately, reported PTI. When the girl's parents went to Wagh's home to inform his family about the crime, he pushed them, the police official said while sharing an update on the Thane crime, reported PTI. Based on a complaint by the teen's mother, police booked Wagh for sexual harassment, stalking and voluntarily causing hurt under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, senior inspector Bharat Kamath of the Narpoli police station said while sharing an update on the Thane crime. Badlapur station shooting: Accused booked for attempt to murder The railway police in Maharashtra's Thane district have registered an attempt-to-murder case against a 25-year-old man after he allegedly opened fire at two persons at Badlapur station and injured one of them, an official said on Friday, reported PTI. The incident, which police said was the fallout of business rivalry, took place at platform number 1 at around 6 pm on Thursday when the suburban station on the Central Railway route was chock-a-block with commuters, reported PTI. Senior Inspector Pandhari Kande of the Kalyan GRP (Government Railway Police) said an FIR has been registered against the arrested accused Vikas Nana Pagare for attempt to murder under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and under the Arms Act, reported PTI. Police are also trying to find out if more people were involved in the shooting besides Pagare. The incident was captured on cameras and a video of it went viral on social media within minutes. After opening fire, Pagare ran towards railway tracks in his attempt to flee, but he was chased and pinned down by policemen on duty with the help of some commuters, reported PTI. Police identified the injured person as Shankar Sansare, while the second man targeted by Pagare escaped unhurt, but his identity was not revealed, reported PTI. Sansare was rushed to a local hospital, where he was treated for gunshot wounds, said the GRP, reported PTI. The assailant and also the duo he targeted have criminal records and the firing was linked to professional rivalry over TV cable business between them in the area, said the police, citing preliminary probe, reported PTI. Initially, there was a fight between Pagare and the duo outside the railway station. As Sansare ran inside the station, the gunman followed him and fired at him and the other person accompanying him from his revolver, they said, reported PTI. The GRP have sent the revolver and pellets for forensic analysis. Badlapur was under the spotlight last month after two kindergarten girls were allegedly sexually assaulted by a male attendant at a private school there. The incident triggered a massive protest in the town, with thousands of people blocking trains at Badlapur station on August 20. (With inputs from PTI)
06 September,2024 02:53 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentAn official on Friday said that the railway police in Maharashtra's Thane district have registered an attempt-to-murder case against a 25-year-old man after he allegedly opened fire at two persons at Badlapur station and injured one of them, reported news agency PTI. The Badlapur station shooting incident, which police said was the fallout of business rivalry, took place at platform number 1 at around 6 pm on Thursday when the suburban station on the Central Railway route was chock-a-block with commuters. Senior Inspector Pandhari Kande of the Kalyan GRP (Government Railway Police) said an FIR has been registered against the arrested accused Vikas Nana Pagare for attempt to murder under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and under the Arms Act. Police are also trying to find out if more people were involved in the Badlapur station shooting besides Pagare. The Badlapur station shooting incident was captured on cameras and a video of it went viral on social media within minutes. After opening fire, Pagare ran towards railway tracks in his attempt to flee, but he was chased and pinned down by policemen on duty with the help of some commuters. Police identified the injured person as Shankar Sansare, while the second man targeted by Pagare escaped unhurt, but his identity was not revealed. Sansare was rushed to a local hospital, where he was treated for gunshot wounds, said the GRP. The assailant and also the duo he targeted have criminal records and the firing was linked to professional rivalry over TV cable business between them in the area, said the police, citing preliminary probe. Initially, there was a fight between Pagare and the duo outside the railway station. As Sansare ran inside the station, the gunman followed him and fired at him and the other person accompanying him from his revolver, they said. The GRP have sent the revolver and pellets for forensic analysis. Badlapur was under the spotlight last month after two kindergarten girls were allegedly sexually assaulted by a male attendant at a private school there. The incident triggered a massive protest in the town, with thousands of people blocking trains at Badlapur station on August 20. (With inputs from PTI)
06 September,2024 02:37 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentAn official on Friday said that the police in Maharashtra's Thane district have registered a murder case after the body of a man was found on a roadside, reported news agency PTI. A passerby alerted the police after spotting the body in the Ghodpada locality of Bhiwandi on Thursday, the official said while sharing an update on the Thane crime, reported PTI. It appears the man, aged around 40, was strangled, the official said. The body has been sent for post-mortem, reported PTI. An FIR has been registered under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) sections 103-1 (Murder) and 238 (causing disappearance of evidence), the official said while sharing an update on the Thane crime. Man held for harassing teenage girl in Thane district Police in Maharashtra's Thane district have arrested a 25-year-old man for allegedly sexually harassing a teenage girl and manhandling her parents, an official said on Friday, reported PTI. Accused Sagar Wagh had been stalking the 14-year-old girl since July, despite her parents asking him to stay away from their daughter, reported PTI. On Thursday, Wagh entered the girl's house in the Bhiwandi area when she was alone and touched her inappropriately, reported PTI. When the girl's parents went to Wagh's home to inform his family about the crime, he pushed them, the police official said, reported PTI. Based on a complaint by the teen's mother, police booked Wagh for sexual harassment, stalking and voluntarily causing hurt under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, said senior inspector Bharat Kamath of the Narpoli police station. Woman booked for cheating friend of Rs 8.17 lakh in Thane A case has been registered against a 38-year-old woman from Maharashtra's Thane city who allegedly duped her friend of Rs 8.17 lakh on the pretext of claiming her deceased father's life insurance and promising a cut from the money, police said on Friday, reported PTI. Based on a complaint, the police on Wednesday registered a case under section 420 (cheating) and other relevant provisions of the Indian Penal Code against the accused, Sonia Suresh Nair, at Vishnunagar police station in Dombivili, an official said, reported PTI. Nair allegedly approached her friend claiming that her deceased father had a life insurance policy worth Rs 88 lakh and the funds were frozen in a joint bank account she held with him, as it was inactive, he said, reported PTI. The accused told the complainant that she needed Rs 8.17 lakh to pay the activation fee to get the policy amount and promised him a share of the payout, the official said, reported PTI. The complainant paid Rs 8.17 lakh to the accused through online transactions between July 2023 and January 2024, he said. No arrest has been made in the case yet, and further probe is underway, he added. (With inputs from PTI)
06 September,2024 02:26 PM IST | Thane | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT