A Thane court sentenced two men to seven years of rigorous imprisonment for stabbing and injuring a man over a financial dispute in 2015, reported news agency PTI. Additional sessions judge Abhay N Sirsikar sentenced Maulabaksh Mehandihasan Mansuri (57) and Rajji Ahmed Nabibaksh Mansuri (47) and imposed a fine of Rs 1,000 each. A copy of the order passed on November 14 was made available on Thursday. Additional public prosecutor Rashmi Kshirsagar informed the Thane court that the attack occurred on the night of March 26 2015, when the victim, Kamruddin, and his younger brother Sultan, confronted the accused in a public place in Thane's Rabodi locality, reported PTI. Kamruddin sought Rs 8 lakh that his father had given to Maulabaksh for an investment with a promise of monthly interest, which was never paid, she said. During the altercation, Maulabaksh allegedly pulled out a knife and assaulted the victim with the help of his brother-in-law. The victim sustained stab wounds to his stomach and chin, reported PTI. A case was reported under sections 307 (attempted murder), 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace) and 506 (2) (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code. The defence counsel urged the court to show leniency, citing that this was their first offence. However, the court deemed the gravity of their actions too severe to warrant any leniency. Thane court acquits man of daughter’s kidnap and murder In October, a sessions court in Maharashtra’s Thane district has acquitted a 34-year-old man facing charges for the kidnap and murder of his eight-year-old daughter nearly three years ago, citing lack of evidence. In his order dated October 10, a copy of which was made available on Thursday, Principal District and Sessions Judge S B Agrawal held that the prosecution had failed to back its claims against Anis Mohammad Khan Maldar. As per the prosecution, Maldar was addicted to gambling and would often have minor disagreements with his wife. When his wife was at a hospital on December 3, 2021, she received a call from her husband shortly after midnight saying he had killed their daughter Mahira. Advocate Sagar R Kolhe, who represented Maldar, successfully argued that there were inconsistencies in the prosecution’s claims. “There is no motive attributed to the accused for killing his daughter...the informant (wife) admitted that she used to have minor quarrels with the accused and that the accused loved Mahira,” observed the judge. The court also pointed to discrepancies in the accounts of the policemen who responded to the scene. “As far as kidnapping is concerned, admittedly the accused was the father of the victim, and I fail to understand how an offence of kidnapping would be made out against the accused,” the judge noted. Acquitting Maldar, the court held that the prosecution had failed to establish the charges against him beyond reasonable doubt. (With inputs from PTI)
22 November,2024 03:05 PM IST | Thane | mid-day online correspondentSameer Wankhede, former zonal director of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), has urged the Bombay High Court to transfer the probe into an atrocities case against NCP leader Nawab Malik to an independent agency like the CBI, reported PTI. Wankhede, an additional commissioner in the Directorate General of Taxpayer Services and a member of the Mahar Scheduled Caste, alleged in his plea that police inaction in the matter has caused him and his family significant mental distress and humiliation, reported PTI. The Indian Revenue Services (IRS) officer had in August 2022 lodged a complaint with the suburban Goregaon police against Malik under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, reported PTI. The complaint alleged that Malik had during interviews and on social media made defamatory remarks against Wankhede and his family members based on his caste. Malik has neither been arrested in the atrocities case nor has the chargesheet been filed till date. In his petition filed on November 20 in HC, Wankhede claimed that the police have not probed the matter yet. He has sought the atrocities case to be transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), reported PTI. The IRS officer also sought for the probe to be monitored by the court. The petition is likely to be taken up for hearing on November 28, reported PTI. "The lackadaisical approach of the police machinery has caused grave injustice to the pain and mental distress suffered by the petitioner (Wankhede) and his family members on being humiliated and defamed on the basis of their caste and race," the plea said, reported PTI. It added that in 2021, Wankhede's father had filed a defamation suit in HC against Malik and the court had then directed the leader from the NCP, headed by Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, to desist from making any further remarks. Despite the restraining order, Malik continued to make slanderous and defamatory comments against Wankhede and his family members, the petition claimed. "The respondent no. 2 (Malik) wields political power and has hence influenced the police machinery and thereby tampering with the probe in the case," it added, reported PTI. Wankhede claimed that Malik made the remarks after he arrested his son-in-law Sameer Khan in a drug case in 2021. The IRS officer alleged that after Sameer Khan's arrest, Malik launched a sustained campaign to defame and humiliate him and his family on social media and television, targeting their caste and questioning the authenticity of Wankhede's caste certificate, reported PTI. Earlier, the officer had also filed a complaint with the Scheduled Caste Commission in October 2021, seeking action against Malik. Wankhede had come under the spotlight after his then NCB team arrested actor Shah Rukh Khan's son Aryan Khan following an alleged drug seizure on board the Cordelia cruise ship in Mumbai in October 2021. Aryan was granted bail by the high court after three weeks. (With inputs from PTI)
22 November,2024 02:55 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentTwo boys drowned while their friend is missing after they entered a lake in Maharashtra's Thane district, an official said on Friday, reported news agency PTI. The teenagers, in the age group of 13-15, went to the water body in Bhiwandi in the Thane district on Thursday evening for a bath. However, they started sinking, the official said, reported PTI. After being alerted by the locals, firemen rushed to the spot and fished out the bodies of 13-year-olds Gulab Ansari and Sahil Sheikh, reported PTI. A search is underway to trace the third teen, said an official from the Bhiwandi Town police station. Newborn girl's body found in Thane district; two women detained Police have detained two women after the body of a newborn girl was found in a duct of a building in Maharashtra's Thane district, an official said on Friday, reported PTI. Police suspect the baby died after she was dumped in the building duct in the Ambernath area on the intervening night of Wednesday-Thursday, reported PTI. Two women have been detained and a probe is underway to ascertain if the newborn's mother is involved in the crime, the official added. Man held for killing 3-year-old niece in Thane district A 38-year-old man has been arrested for allegedly killing his sister's 3-year-old daughter and trying to burn the body in Maharashtra's Thane district, an official said on Friday, reported PTI. The child from the Ulhasnagar area went missing on November 18 and her partially burnt body was recovered from the bushes near a police station Thursday, reported PTI. Acting on technical inputs and human intelligence, police took the child's uncle into custody. An official said the girl fell and died after the accused slapped her over something, reported PTI. The accused then set the body on fire to destroy it, said senior inspector Anil Jagtap of the Hill Line police station, adding that a probe is underway. (With inputs from PTI)
22 November,2024 02:40 PM IST | Thane | mid-day online correspondentIn a dramatic incident early Friday morning, a speeding BMW rammed into the boundary wall of Sarita Apartments at Bandstand, Bandra West, causing significant damage but fortunately resulting in no injuries. The crash, which occurred around 4:30 a.m., involved driver Sachin Poojari, who was at the wheel of his friend Fedriqc Femanto’s car. According to the Bandra police, Poojari lost control of the vehicle and mistakenly stepped on the accelerator instead of the brake, leading to the collision. The impact caused the society’s wall to collapse, but no residents or passersby were harmed. “The driver was immediately taken for a medical examination to determine if alcohol was a factor. The results confirmed he was not under the influence,” said a police official. The Bandra police are currently in the process of registering an FIR in the matter and will further investigate the circumstances leading to the accident. Residents of Sarita Apartments expressed relief that the crash occurred during the early hours when the area was relatively deserted, avoiding potential casualties. Meanwhile, efforts are underway to assess the damage to the property.
22 November,2024 02:36 PM IST | Mumbai | Shirish NadkarniIn a strategic move to prevent potential poaching ahead of government formation, the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) has decided to keep all of its newly-elected Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) together in Mumbai following the results of the Maharashtra Assembly elections, as confirmed by Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Friday. Speaking to reporters, Raut explained that leaders from the MVA, including himself, party colleague Anil Desai, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP-S) state president Jayant Patil, and Congress leaders Satej Patil and Balasaheb Thorat, had met on Thursday to discuss the political situation and assess the outcome of each seat. The decision was made to house all the newly-elected MLAs in Mumbai to prevent any attempts at poaching by rivals. Raut stated, "We have decided to bring all newly-elected MLAs to Mumbai. As there are no provisions for new MLAs to stay in Mumbai, we will arrange accommodations for them together." The counting of votes for the November 20 Maharashtra Assembly elections is scheduled for Saturday, and all eyes are on the outcome as both the ruling Mahayuti alliance and the MVA, the opposition bloc, vie for control of the state government. Raut expressed confidence that the MVA would secure around 160 seats in the assembly, a result he believes will allow them to form the next government. He also mentioned that some independents, who have strong chances of victory, have already expressed interest in supporting the opposition. When asked about the potential candidate for the Chief Minister's position, Raut reiterated that there was no pre-determined formula for selecting the CM and stressed that the decision would be made collectively by the MVA’s alliance partners, including Sharad Pawar from NCP (SP) and Uddhav Thackeray from Shiv Sena (UBT). He noted, "Everyone will choose the leader of the government." Raut also voiced concerns over possible interference from the BJP in the formation of the government, suggesting that the ruling party may try to obstruct the MVA’s efforts by exerting influence through the governor’s office. He warned that the opposition would take swift action to prevent any delay, as there are fears that President’s rule could be imposed in Maharashtra if a new government is not in place by November 26, when the term of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly is set to expire. As per PTI, these developments come as the MVA prepares for what it anticipates will be a successful bid for power in Maharashtra, despite a highly competitive electoral race with the ruling Mahayuti alliance. (With inputs from PTI)
22 November,2024 02:12 PM IST | MumbaiShiv Sena (UBT) leader Priyanka Chaturvedi expressed strong confidence in the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) regaining power in Maharashtra after the state’s recent assembly elections, while criticising the ruling Mahayuti alliance. Speaking to ANI, Chaturvedi asserted that the people of Maharashtra were ready to “free” the Mahayuti from power for the next 25 years. She also claimed that MVA would secure the majority in the elections, adding, “The government of loot, corruption, and Adani is going to end. We will get the majority. They are booking helicopters because they know people will ask them questions, and they need to run away.” Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut echoed similar sentiments, exuding confidence that MVA would secure 160-165 seats. He also dismissed speculation about the Chief Ministerial candidate for MVA, stating that the selection would be a collective decision involving Sharad Pawar, Uddhav Thackeray, and Congress. Speaking further during a press conference at his residence, Raut launched a fresh tirade against the BJP-led Mahayuti. He claimed that in order to shield their elected MLAs from pressure, particularly from alleged "Khokha-walas", the Mahayuti had arranged a hotel for them to stay together ahead of the results. “The results will be out tomorrow, and we are confident of securing a majority. Around 160-165 of our MLAs will be elected. To protect them from the pressure of ‘Khokha-walas’, we have arranged a hotel for them,” Raut added. On the issue of the CM selection, Raut reiterated that no formula had been decided yet but assured that the MVA would come together to make a unanimous decision. “Sharad Pawar, Congress, and Uddhav Thackeray will all have a role in selecting the CM. The MVA will secure the majority and we will make a collective decision,” Raut said. While the exit polls indicate that MVA will put up a strong performance, they suggest the alliance may still fall short of the majority mark in the 288-member Assembly. According to P-MARQ exit poll projections, the Mahayuti alliance is likely to secure between 137-157 seats, while MVA is projected to win between 126-147 seats. A similar prediction from Chanakya Strategies places Mahayuti at 152-160 seats and MVA at 130-138 seats. The primary contest in Maharashtra remains between the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance and the Congress-led MVA. As per ANI reports, the final results will be announced on November 23. (With inputs from ANI)
22 November,2024 02:09 PM IST | MumbaiEven before the first votes for the Maharashtra elections 2024 are counted, fissures have emerged within the ruling Mahayuti and the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) on who will head the next government with constituents in both camps laying claim over the chief minister's post, reported news agency PTI. After polling for the 288-member assembly ended on Wednesday evening, the ruling as well as opposition fronts have started claiming that mandate will be in their favour when votes are counted on November 23. Soon after polling, state Congress chief Nana Patole asserted an MVA government would be formed in Maharashtra under the leadership of his party. Voting trends suggest the Congress will get the maximum number of seats in the new assembly, he said. His remarks did not go down well with ally Shiv Sena (UBT), whose leader Sanjay Raut on Thursday insisted the chief ministerial face will be decided by all alliance partners jointly once the MVA secures majority. The Rajya Sabha MP said if the Congress high command has told Patole that he will be the CM face then the national party's president Mallikarjun Kharge, and its top leaders Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra should announce the same, reported PTI. The MVA, consisting of the Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (SP) and the Mahayuti, comprising the BJP, Shiv Sena and NCP, have expressed confidence that their respective alliance will form the next government after votes are counted on Saturday. While a majority of exit polls have predicted that Mahayuti will retain power, a few have favoured the MVA. On the Mahayuti side, Shiv Sena MLA and party spokesperson Sanjay Shirsat said the Maharashtra elections 2024 were contested with Chief Minister Eknath Shinde as the face. "Voters have shown their preference for Shinde through voting. I think it is Shinde's right (to be the next CM) and we are confident that he will be the next CM," Shirsat said, reported PTI. BJP leader Pravin Darekar batted for Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for the top post, reported PTI. "I think if anyone from the BJP is becoming the CM then it will be Devendra Fadnavis," he said, reported PTI. NCP leader Amol Mitkari pushed the name of his party chief and Deputy CM Ajit Pawar for the coveted job, reported PTI. "Whatever the results, the NCP will be the kingmaker," Mitkari said. Asked about the CM face, Fadnavis maintained all three Mahayuti parties will sit together and take a "good decision", reported PTI. Speaking to reporters separately, BJP leader Darekar claimed the Mahayuti will form the next government, dismissing the possibility of the MVA coming to power, and said the opposition bloc was plagued by "internal rifts", reported PTI. "The people of Maharashtra have given a clear mandate. The Chief Minister will be from the Mahayuti, not the MVA, and certainly not the Congress," he asserted, reported PTI. Highlighting divisions within the MVA, Darekar said, "Congress MP Praniti Shinde and her father and former CM Sushilkumar Shinde supported an independent candidate against Uddhav Thackeray's nominee in a constituency in Solapur district. These internal rifts expose a lack of unity. How can parties without internal coherence decide on a Chief Minister?," reported PTI. The BJP leader said Patole's aspirations to become chief minister were nothing but "Mungerilal ke haseen sapne" (daydreaming). On exit polls, Darekar remarked, "While no exit poll is final, most have predicted a Mahayuti win. Even independent candidates (on winning) are likely to back Mahayuti," reported PTI. Taking a swipe at Prahar Janshakti Party leader Bachchu Kadu, he said, "Kadu speaks with grand bravado, but his own seat is under threat. Let him first declare how many of his candidates are winning," reported PTI. Regarding Rahul Gandhi's statements on the Adani group, the BJP leader quipped, "Rahul Gandhi should go to the US and focus on issues abroad, where his commentary might hold weight. His remarks on the fall of the Union government are childish and baseless." On the alleged involvement of NCP (SP) Lok Sabha MP Supriya Sule and Patole in using bitcoins illegally to fund elections, Darekar said the truth will come out soon. Both Sule and Patole have denied the allegations. "The ED's investigation is uncovering links to MVA leaders. The truth will emerge soon," he asserted, reported PTI. Highlighting the increase in turnout in the November 20 assembly polls in the state, Darekar credited the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) for their grassroots campaign to encourage voting. The final turnout in Maharashtra assembly polls was 66.05 per cent, up from 61.1 per cent in 2019, according to the Election Commission. Darekar maintained the Mahayuti government's 'Ladki Bahin Yojana' has resonated with women voters. (With inputs from PTI)
22 November,2024 02:07 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentA poster depicting Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) Chief and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar as the Chief Minister of Maharashtra was removed ahead of the election result counting scheduled for November 23. The poster, which was placed by NCP leader Santosh Nangare, had caused a stir, as it presented Pawar as the state's potential next CM. As Maharashtra heads into the final stage of election results, the contest remains highly competitive between two major alliances. On one side, the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance, which includes the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Shiv Sena, and the NCP (Ajit Pawar faction), is up against the Congress-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), which comprises Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and the NCP (Sharad Pawar faction). With exit polls predicting a strong performance for the ruling Mahayuti alliance, it is widely anticipated that the coalition will retain power in Maharashtra. Additionally, exit polls have indicated that the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is also likely to hold an advantage in Jharkhand. However, the MVA is expected to put up a tough fight, though it is not projected to secure enough seats to form a majority government in the 288-member Maharashtra Assembly. Exit polls have forecasted varying results, with the P-MARQ exit poll predicting Mahayuti to win between 137 and 157 seats, while MVA is expected to win between 126 and 147 seats, and other parties could secure between 2 and 8 seats. Meanwhile, Chanakya Strategies anticipates Mahayuti to win 152-150 seats, MVA to gain 130-138 seats, and others to win 6-8 seats. In an earlier statement, Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde noted that following the results, leaders of the Mahayuti alliance would meet to collectively decide who would take on the role of Chief Minister. Shinde further emphasised that there was no internal competition within the alliance for the top position. "All leaders will sit together and decide. The goal is not personal competition but to form a government focused on development. In contrast, the MVA spent much of the last two and a half years merely debating who would be the CM, without focusing on public issues," Shinde said to ANI. (With inputs from ANI)
22 November,2024 02:06 PM IST | MumbaiThe Central Railway announced on Friday that it will operate 10 special train trips between Mumbai and Nagpur to facilitate candidates appearing for the RRB exams. "Central Railway will operate 10 special train trips between Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, Mumbai, and Nagpur to assist candidates appearing for the Railway Recruitment Board (RRB) exams," the railways announced. Following are the details the details of the special train: 01103 RRB special will depart from CSMT at 15.30 hrs daily from 23.11.2024 to 27.11.2024 and arrive at Nagpur at 10.50 hrs the next day. (5 trips) 01104 RRB special will depart from Nagpur at 13.30 hrs daily from 24.11.2024 to 28.11.2024 and arrive at CSMT at 04.10 hrs the next day. (5 trips) Halts: Dadar, Thane, Kalyan, Igatpuri, Nashik Road, Manmad, Chalisgaon, Jalgaon, Bhusaval, Malkapur, Jalamb, Shegaon, Akola, Murtizapur, Badnera, Dhamangaon and Wardha Composition: Two AC-3 Tier, 8 Sleeper Class, 8 Second Class seating including 2 Brake Vans. Central Railway: Fatalities from accidents on tracks in Mumbai went down by 14 per cent The Central Railway on November 18 in an official statement announced a remarkable decline in incidents of deaths and injuries on its tracks in Mumbai. The Central Railway has attributed the decline in the deaths to the ongoing effective safety initiatives. From January to October, the number of fatalities owing to accidents on the railway tracks in Mumbai decreased by 14 per cent, dropping from 2,755 cases in the same period in 2023 to 2,388 cases till the first 10 months. This is a decline by 367 deaths, the statement read. Additionally, injuries have also seen a notable reduction of 10 per cent, falling from 1,352 cases to 1,211 cases in the same period. In total, the incidents of death and injury combined have decreased by 508 cases, representing a 13 per cent reduction from 4,107 cases in 2023 to 3,599 cases from January to October 2024, said Central Railway. A thorough analysis of these incidents has revealed that trespassing remains a primary contributor accounting for nearly 40 per cent of all cases with 1,429 incidents of death and injury related to this issue. Of the 2,388 deaths recorded on the tracks, 1,210 were attributed to trespassing, which constitutes more than 50 per cent of the fatalities. Alarmingly, incidents of trespassing not only lead to loss of life but also result in serious injuries, with approximately 18 per cent of cases involving limb loss. While trespassing is a significant concern, other causes of deaths and injuries include 653 cases due to falling from moving trains and 91 cases due to falling into the gap between the platform and the train. 1,423 cases due to various other causes, including suicides, electric shocks, and natural causes like heart attacks, illness, etc.
22 November,2024 01:56 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe Sakinaka police have detained two suspects for allegedly conducting a recce of senior Congress leader and Chandivli constituency candidate Arif Naseem Khan. Sachin Gunjal, DCP of Zone 10, Mumbai police, confirmed that the suspects are currently being interrogated. According to sources, the two individuals visited Khan’s office and requested a meeting with him. However, their behaviour raised suspicions among the politician’s security guards, who promptly alerted the police. The suspects were detained for questioning shortly afterwards. Speaking with mid-day, Arif Naseem Khan said, “I was informed by my workers that on the day of voting, the suspects were in Hiranandani, Powai, where I had gone to visit voting booths. They were asking for my details. On Thursday afternoon, the same individual came to my office to meet me. My security guard noticed something suspicious in their body language and alerted me. I met one of the suspects in my chamber and found his behaviour rude and suspicious, so the police were informed.” DCP Gunjal confirmed, “We have detained two persons and are questioning them.” Khan further stated, “We checked the WhatsApp conversations of one suspect and found messages exchanged with someone named Lokesh. The chats were suspicious, mentioning the Delhi police and a firing incident.” The former MLA also alleged that one of the suspects came from Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, on November 15 and had been conducting a recce of his locations. “I believe the Mumbai police will uncover if there is any conspiracy. The murder of Baba Siddique was a failure of city police intelligence, as the shooters conducted a month-long recce without being detected,” Khan added.
22 November,2024 01:47 PM IST | Mumbai | Faizan KhanA pedestrian underpass at Kherwadi, Bandra East, along the Western Express Highway has been shut for a long time. But, if you take a peep inside, you will find a bunch of children enjoying a swim in the water that has accummulated there during the monsoon. A shopkeeper nearby said there has been no maintenance work done here ever since the subway was shut. After someone broke open the grille gate, kids from the nearby slums come every day for a swim. The shopkeeper said, when warned against going inside and playing in the filthy, garbage-filled water, the children argue back and continue to come here. When mid-day attempted to contact Additional Municipal Commissioner Abhijeet Bangar and Girish Nikam, head of the roads and bridges department, through calls and messages, neither responded. Swapnaja Kshirsagar, assistant commissioner of H East ward, too, did not respond to queries. An official with the BMC, who did not wish to be identified, said that the subway has been closed after there were complaints of severe leakage inside. It now needs major repairs before it can be reopened. The job comes under the roads and bridges department.
22 November,2024 01:40 PM IST | Mumbai | Prajakta KasaleADVERTISEMENT
