Mumbai News Highlights: Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange-Patil arrives in city, set to launch hunger strike at Azad Maidan (2024)

#WATCH | Mumbai | CSMT & BMC heritage building illuminated on the occasion of the 75th Republic Day. #RepublicDay2024 pic.twitter.com/vGgMjeF6d8

— ANI (@ANI) January 26, 2024

Uday Vishwanath Deshpande (Mallakhamb coach): Deshpande is credited for introducing Mallakhamb, the traditional Indian physical practice, in which a group of gymnasts perform aerial yoga and gymnastic postures using wrestling grips in concert with a stationary vertical pole, to millions around the world. Hailing from Maharashtra, the flagbearer of the sport took Mallakhamb to a wide section of people that includes women, orphans, differently-ables, visually challenged.

'It is not an individual honour for me. It is a revolutionary decision for the sport of Malkhamb, which did not have recognition for so many years as a sport from the central government. Now the government is giving the Arjuna award, the Dronacharya award and now the Padma Shri,' he said. (PTI)

Maharashtra Governor Ramesh Bais hoisted the national flag at Shivaji Park in Mumbai and urged citizens to unite to build a new and strong Maharashtra.

He said the state government has always given priority to the interests of farmers.

"More than Rs 2,100 crore compensation has been paid to 45.35 lakh farmers who were in trouble due to adverse conditions in the kharif season of 2023," he said.

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— Governor of Maharashtra (@maha_governor) January 26, 2024

A team of senior Mumbai police officials on Friday met Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange in Navi Mumbai in connection with his proposed stir in the metropolis.

Jarange along with thousand of supporters is camping in APMC area in Vashi and has warned they would march into Mumbai's Azad Maidan for a sit-down agitation from Saturday if a host of demands, including free education for children from the Maratha community, are not met.

An official said the Mumbai police team comprised Additional Commissioner of Police (Special Branch) Virendra Mishra, Additional Commissioner of Police (East) Vinayak Deshmukh and Deputy Commissioner of Police Purushottam Karad.

The details of the discussion between Jarange and the police team were not immediately available as it took place behind closed doors.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Jarange said Maratha agitators are cooperating with the police.

He also said protesters taken into custody must be released immediately. (PTI)

Artisans from across the country have come together under the roof of “Hamari Virasat”, a travelling exhibition capturing the country’s diverse textile heritage, to commemmorate 75 years of the Indian Constitution, which was adopted on January 26, 1950.

On display at Cross Maidan as part of the ongoing Kala Ghoda Art Festival, the exhibition, by Hand for Handmade Foundation, has been drawing young crowd participated in games such asPreambleJumble and engaged in examining the original copy of the Constitution.

Each piece in the exhibition draws inspiration from the Preamble, from its resolve “to constitute India into a Sovereign, Socialist, Secular, Democratic, Republic” to its design that features bull, lotus, elephant, peaco*ck, horse, and lion among geometric and floral motifs. Read more

On this auspicious and proud occasion of Republic Day, I take pride in announcing that Govt. Of Maharashtra is hosting for the first time in our history a mega MSME Defence Expo on 17-19th Feb in Pune.
The Expo is inspired by the pioneer of tri-services, Chhatrapati Shivaji… pic.twitter.com/xVRi8oiwUB

— Devendra Fadnavis (@Dev_Fadnavis) January 26, 2024

Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange on Friday made a fresh demand that the Maharashtra government amend its free education policy to include all Marathas until the benefit of reservation becomes available for the entire community.

He and his supporters would enter Mumbai on Saturday for their planned protest at Azad Maidan ground if their demands were not met by tonight, he warned.

Addressing a rally at Shivaji Chowk in Vashi area of neighbouring Navi Mumbai where he arrived in the morning with thousands of his supporters, Jarange said he will stay put in Navi Mumbai for the day.

"I am taking a step backward," the 40-year-old activist said, adding that he had stopped having food from Friday and was taking only water.

"If an ordinance (to meet his various demands) is not promulgated tonight, I will come to Mumbai tomorrow," he said.

"I will take decision on going to Azad Maidan (in Mumbai) tomorrow at noon. Once I set out, there will be no turning back," the activist warned. (PTI)

Cooling operations are currently underway after a major level - 4 fire broke at Delhi Darbar near Chor Bazar in Grant Road.

While the charred body of one unidentified male was recovered in the morning, no other casualties and injuries have been reported in the incident, senior officials have confirmed.

Ravindra Ambulgekar, CFO of MFB told Express, "The flames were extinguished in the morning while the cooling operations is ongoing. The fire broke out and spread to nearly 400 - 500 shops inside the wood market. Therefore, the fire spread instantly."

He confirmed that only one casualty has been reported in the major fire incident.

Senior officials from the civic Disaster management office added, "The people inside the nearby high rise Building had vacated the building themselves in time ensuring that no one was trapped."

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Friday said his son meeting a history-sheeter, photographs of which went viral on social media, was wrong and should have been avoided.

He said he would gather all details of the meeting between Parth Pawar and gangster Gajanan Marne, though he added that party workers may have take his son there.

"After the incident I categorically told police such elements should not come near him. It can happen to any political leader," the senior Nationalist Congress Party leader claimed.

"What happened was wrong. I am gathering all the details. It seems party workers took Parth there. It should not have happened. I will speak to him," the Baramati MLA added.

Pawar said a history-sheeter was once inducted into the party but was removed immediately after his past came to light.

Photographs of the meeting between Parth Pawar and Marne along with several NCP workers was widely circulated on social media. (PTI)

The Supreme Court has asked the Maharashtra government and its metro rail corporation not to carry out any construction activity at the famous Futala Lake in Nagpur.

The lake, built by Bhosle Kings over 60 acres of land, is one of the important water bodies in Maharashtra.

A bench comprising Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and Satish Chandra Sharma, on Thursday, took note of the submissions of senior advocate Gopal Shankarnarayan that an order of status quo on the ongoing construction was needed to save the water body.

He said concrete structures have come up at the lake.

Observing that "there are anyway few wetlands remaining in the country", the bench asked the authorities to refrain from continuing with the construction activities for the time being and sought to know as to when they will remove the concrete structures including viewers' gallery at the lake. (PTI)

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday said everyone has the right to protest but it should be done peacefully, amid opposition allegations that the government is taking the Marathas for a ride.

Talking to reporters on Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange's plan to march to Azad Maidan in south Mumbai to press for their demands, Fadnavis, who is also the state's home minister, said protests should be done in a peaceful manner without disturbing law and order.

Deputy CM Ajit Pawar said he supports reservation for the Maratha community in government jobs and education. “Chief Minister Eknath Shinde is trying to resolve the issue through talks,” he said.

State Congress president Nana Patole accused the government of disturbing social harmony and said the Maratha quota should be granted in a constitutional manner.

“The 50 per cent cap on reservation should be removed which will pave the way for the (Maratha) quota. Jarange should be given protection and if he is harmed in any way, the government will have to pay a heavy price,” he said.

NCP working president Supriya Sule said the government is taking Jarange and the Maratha community for a ride. (PTI)

Hundreds of Maratha protesters on Friday demonstrated near Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus in south Mumbai, blocking traffic.

The protesters, who were going to Azad Maidan, sat at the intersection near CSMT and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) headquarters, an official said.

The presence of the agitators on the road affected traffic for some time, he said.

Police rushed to the spot and asked the agitators to go to Azad Maidan, said the official.

From noon onwards, authorities have closed the Mahapalika Marg and D N Road and diverted the buses that run on these roads to reach Hutatma Chowk and Metro Cinema. (PTI)

Watch | Rally led by #Marathaquota activist Jarange-Patil arrives in city, set to launch hunger strike at Azad Maidan soon

Click here for Mumbai Live updates: https://t.co/zBEJ7tN4fI pic.twitter.com/vfoeCwdigb

— The Indian Express (@IndianExpress) January 26, 2024

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's establishment of 'self-rule' and respect for women in his 'kingdom of the people' formed the highlight of Maharashtra's Republic Day parade tableau.

The tableau depicted Rajmata Jijabai giving lessons in governance and politics to a younger Shivaji.

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj carved out his independent kingdom from the Adilshahi Sultanate of Bijapur, which formed the foundation of the Maratha Empire.

The tableau depicted Shivaji's Ashtapradhan Mandal, with some women seen raising their concerns in a court.

The backend of the tableau depicted Chhatrapati Shivaji, Rajmata Jijabai and other courtiers with forts and the royal seal in the background.

The tableau also showed the edict of Chhatrapati Shivaji and his royal insignia.

The country celebrated 350 years of the coronation of the Maratha warrior last year. (PTI)

Former Union minister and Uttar Pradesh governor Ram Naik, renowned music director Pyarelal and noted Marathi filmmaker Rajdutt are among the 12 personalities from Maharashtra selected for the prestigious Padma awards this year.

Hormusji N Cama (literature and education-journalism), Ashwini Mehta (medicine), Ram Naik (public affairs), Dattatraya Ambadas Mayaloo, alias Rajdutt (art), Pyarelal Sharma (art) and Kundan Vyas (literature and education-journalism) will receive the Padma Bhushan.

The Padma Shri awardees from the state are Uday Deshpande (sports), Manohar Dole (medicine), Zahir Kazi (literature and education), Chandrashekar Meshram (medicine), Kalpana Morparia (trade and industry) and Shankar Baba Pundalikrao Papalkar (social work).

The highest civilian awards were announced by the Ministry of Home Affairs on the eve of the 75th Republic Day celebrations, on Thursday. The President has approved the conferment of 132 Padma Awards including five Padma Vibhushan, 17 Padma Bhushan and 110 Padma Shri Awards.

Naik (89) has represented the Mumbai North Lok Sabha Constituency for several years, served as the Union minister for petroleum and natural gas and held the position of governor of Uttar Pradesh.

Legendary music composer Pyarelal has a career of over seven decades with the late Laxmimant and was hailed as the king of melodies, while Marathi filmmaker Rajdutt (90) has made several films on patriotism and social issues over six decades.

Hormusji N Cama is a senior publisher and has been leading the Gujarati newspaper ‘Bombay Samachar' for four decades.

Among the other Padma Bhushan winners from the state, Ashwin Mehta (84) is a distinguished interventional cardiologist who pioneered angiography in India, while Veteran journalist Kundan Vyas has been leading the media group Janmabhoomi for five decades.

Of those selected for Padma Shri from the state is Uday Deshpande, a veteran Mallakhamb coach known for revitalizing and promoting the sport across diverse groups and countries.

Manohar Dole (94) is an Ayurveda doctor who transformed healthcare for the marginalized across rural Maharashtra. He has conducted 1.75 lakh free eye surgeries.

Zahir Kazi is an educationist who worked to promote education, especially among minorities. He is the president of Anjuman I Islam and Allana Institute.

Chandrashekar Meshram is a neurologist known for championing brain health awareness. He is known for his contribution to neurological education and research.

Kalpana Morparia (74) is a veteran woman business leader from the Banking sector, while 81-year-old Shankar Baba Pundalikrao Papalkar is a divyang social worker from Amravati who has dedicated his life for the rehabilitation of the disabled, orphaned and destitute children. (PTI)

#WATCH | Maharashtra | RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat unfurls the national flag at RSS headquarters in Nagpur, on #RepublicDay2024 pic.twitter.com/W2ZmlYwOb5

— ANI (@ANI) January 26, 2024

Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange-Patil arrived in Navi Mumbai with thousands of his supporters this morning. They plan to raise their demand for reservation for the Maratha community once again, by launching a hunger strike at Azad Maidan.

However, the Mumbai police has denied permission to carry out the strike in the city.

Police cited concerns about disrupting Mumbai’s financial activities and transport systems, suggesting an alternative gathering location.

Jarange, determined to proceed, emphasised that the Republic Day celebrations won’t be disrupted. Government officials attempted to dissuade him, offering discussions to resolve the issue.

Navi Mumbai police also urged a change in the march route due to a hospital along the way.

Level 4 fire breaks out at Grant Road in in Mumbai. The fire erupted in the early hours of Friday. pic.twitter.com/RkML4csgNc

— The Indian Express (@IndianExpress) January 26, 2024

A massive fire broke out at a restaurant in Kamathipura, Mumbai, on the intervening nights of Thursday and Friday, officials said.

Speaking to The Indian Express, Ravindra Ambulgekar, the chief fire officer (CFO) of Mumbai Fire Brigade (MFB) said that the fire operations are still underway. "The building erupted in the Jaffer Bhai Delhi Darbar restaurant and then spread quickly as the building comprises several wood godowns. Because of the wooden objects inside the godown the fire spread rapidly. The operations are still underway.

So far, we have recovered one body from the premises." He maintained, "There are no other people inside."

A level IV fire broke out at Jaffer Bhai’s Delhi Darbar restaurant in Kamathipura, Grant Road, on January 26 at 2:07 am.

The fire, spreading to 400-500 shops, was declared level IV at 3:03 am. A charred body of an unidentified male was found in the restaurant’s bathroom. Preliminary reports suggest the fire is confined to electrical wiring, wood, and chemicals in a 7000-8000 sq. ft. area.

Rescue operations by the Mumbai Fire Brigade include 18 lines of 16 fire engines. Nearby high rise building and Platinum mall have been evacuated. Enquiries about injuries and missing persons are ongoing.

For the first time in the three-centuries old history of Bombay Sappers, a woman officer will be leading the regiment's all-men contingent at the Republic Day parade in Delhi.

For 31-year-old Major Divya Tyagi, who was commissioned into 115 Engineer Regiment of the Corps of Engineers eight years ago, this is a singular achievement. She will lead the contingent, comprising an officer, two junior commissioned officer and 144 Other Ranks, who have been relentlessly practicing hard for the parade for the last six months, an officer told PTI.

Major Tyagi will be the first woman officer to lead the all-men contingent of the Bombay Sappers at the Republic Day parade as the Contingent Commander.

An employee of the Ahmednagar Municipal Corporation who has studied upto only Class 1 was found to be collecting information as part of the survey that has been launched to establish the backwardness of the Maratha community.

After a video showing his incompetence went viral, he was relieved of the survey duty, said an official.

A viral video showed one such enumerator, named Manoj, being asked by respondents whether he had received any training. He replied that he was a helper with the electrical department, and though he received training, he did not have much knowledge about the task as he has studied only up to Class 1. He did not even know how to use a smartphone and was taking the help of a youth, he said. The enumerators, notably, are using an app while collecting information.

The Mumbai police denied Maratha activist Manoj Jarange-Patil permission to hold a hunger strike in the city, even as he was to begin his protest at Azad Maidan on Friday. He and his supporters have reached Navi Mumbai as part of their Maratha Arakshan Morcha.

In a notice issued under section 149 of the Criminal Procedure Code, which enables police to prevent cognisable offences, the police said, “Mumbai is the financial capital of the country and various financial institutions, international advocacy and other financial centres are working in Mumbai. Approximately 60 to 65 lakh citizens travel by train and other means of transport for jobs in Mumbai every day. If the Maratha protestors reach the city in their vehicles, it will have an adverse effect and the everyday transport system in the city will collapse.” Read more

Over a dozen people have been held and some establishments demolished in Thane district of Maharashtra in the last five days after communal clashes broke out at several places, including Mira Road, Naya Nagar and Bhayander amid the consecration of Ram Temple in Ayodhya.

According to police, the first of the clashes broke out in Naya Nagar on Sunday night in which a few people were reported injured. A mix of provocative slogans, rumours and a surprising absence of local police is what is said to have led to the violence in the area. Here is what we know happened

Ahead of the Maratha Arakshan Morcha, when Maratha reservation activists are expected to throng the city in huge numbers, the Mumbai police have cancelled all leave for the next three days.

An officer said the decision had been made in order to ensure the police remain prepared when lakhs of Maratha activists enter the city on Friday, which is also Republic Day. Leave pertaining to health grounds will be excluded. Read more

Twenty years ago, a ghastly discovery of decomposed remains of bodies by the villagers of Nandos in Maharashtra’s Sindhudurg district unearthed a sordid tale of greed, deceit and murder.

On December 20, 2003, the then superintendent of police (SP) received anonymous letters and phone calls informing him about villagers spotting decomposed bodies on the hillocks and adjoining agricultural lands of Nandos village.

Read the full story here

Identity cards of children studying in government schools in Maharashtra will now have visible green or red dots, indicating vegetarian or non-vegetarian food preferences of students, to facilitate the distribution of bananas (or any local fruit) or eggs under the Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti scheme. The state has asked school management committees to take required steps for the new arrangement.

The decision has drawn flak from across the education sector with educationists calling it an “unnecessary classification”. Read more

The Eknath Shinde government misled the Marathas on quota and that is why community members are marching to Mumbai, Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole said in reference to the stir headed by activist Manoj Jarange.

"The fact that the Maratha community is coming to Mumbai is the biggest failure of the Shinde-BJP government. The Shinde-Fadnavis-Ajit Pawar government misled the Maratha community. Where are the two ministers who held discussions with Jarange hiding," Patole questioned.

The state government held talks with Jarange and continued to assert it would give quota to the Maratha community but did nothing, he said, adding the ruling dispensation did not take any step even when the activist began his march to Mumbai along with thousands of supporters. Two state ministers were constantly in touch with Jarange but they are nowhere to be seen, and no discussions were held even after the activist set a deadline for quota for the community and nor has any decision been taken, Patole claimed.

Responding to INDIA Alliance seat-sharing tactics, Maharashtra Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis told ANI, "INDIA Aalliance is not really an alliance. They are all singing their own tunes. There's no chorus in their song... Every regional party has a rift with the Congress party. They will never want to move forward with the Congress..."

Watch video here:

#WATCH | Mumbai: On INDIA Alliance seat-sharing tactics, Maharashtra Dy CM Devendra Fadnavis says, "INDI alliance is not really an alliance. They are all singing their own tunes. There's no chorus in their song... Every regional party has a rift with the Congress party. They will… pic.twitter.com/VFMcDu2jIP

— ANI (@ANI) January 25, 2024

Manoj Jarange Patil, who leads Maratha quota agitation, will reach Panvel by car today.His roadshow from Panvel will travel from Kharghar, Belapur and Nerul to Vashi.

Manoj Jarange Patil, who rose to limelight over Maratha quota agitation, will travel to Panvel by car today. Patil's roadshow from Panvel will travel from Kharghar, Belapur and Nerul to Vashi.

“He will be staying at Vashi’s Agriculture Produce Market Committee along with others who are travelling with him,” said Bhaiya Patil, who is part of a team coordinating the protest march. Patil said the Maratha community was voluntarily donating food, rice, water bottles as well as fruit for all participating in the march.

On Republic Day morning, Jarange-Patil will travel to Chembur where he will garland the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and will start the roadshow towards Dadar. “He will travel to Azad maidan at southMumbai from Dadar via Byculla,” said Virendra Pawar, one of the key coordinators of the protest march. Pawar said that they were yet to get police permission but hoped that the issue will be resolved soon. Read more

Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange Patill will reach the outskirts of Mumbai, Panvel today. While thousands of supporters joined him, chants of ‘Ek Maratha, laakh Maratha (one Maratha, lakhs of Marathas)’ reverberated in the air past 7pm on Wednesday. The protestors spoke about their preparations to stay put in Mumbai where the activist would begin his hunger strike on January 26 reiterating his demand for Maratha reservation.

Trucks and tempos accompanying the morcha were stocked up with cylinders, water bottles, oil, ration and mattresses. “We haven’t seen arrangements of this level even during the pilgrimage taken out by Warkaris to Pandharpur during Ashadhi Ekadashi. People have packed pithla-bhakri, the staple diet of Maharashtrians with them. When we wake up, there are tea and poha stalls ready. Hotels and residents of all cities are welcoming us with a lot of hospitality,” said Balaji Mohite (31), a resident of Parbhani. Read more

A mix of provocative slogans, rumours and a surprising absence of local police is what is said to have led to the violence in Naya Nagar on Sunday night disturbing the communal fabric of the distant suburb of Mira Road.

The violence first flared after a procession of vehicles, including modified bikes with saffron flags, passed in front of Taini villa masjid and Mohammed masjid on Lodha Road. “The bikers were shouting religious slogans. Some of the bikes had modified silencers which emitted a sound that many felt was like a gun being fired. A few locals rushed to see if bullets were being fired towards the masjid and that led to panic with the bikers trying to escape. One of the bikers bumped into a bystander leading to a fight,” said Shaukat Ali, 52, a taxi driver who witnessed the incident.

The incident subsequently escalated with locals assaulting members of the procession. A woman who is said to have been part of the procession was also injured. “In the heat of things one vehicle which was part of the procession, in a bid to escape, turned into a lane which had a mosque on it. The lane is a dead-end and locals felt that the people in the car had come with some ulterior motive which again led to violence,” Ali said. The police has confirmed the same sequence of events behind the first incident. Read more

Responding to ED raids in Maharashtra, Shive Sena leader Sanjay Raut told ANI, 'This is not the action of ED but of BJP. If it is an ED investigation, why wasn't any notice served in the Rs 8000 crore ambulance scam? The Chief Minister's family members are involved in this scam... They don't give notice to Kirit Somaiya who accumulated crores... What will ED do? How many people will you arrest? Send as many notices as you want. These days will pass.'

Watch video here:

#WATCH | Mumbai: Shiv Sena (UBT Faction) MP Sanjay Raut says, 'This is not the action of ED but of BJP. If it is an ED investigation, why wasn't any notice served in the Rs 8000 crore ambulance scam? The Chief Minister's family members are involved in this scam... They don't… pic.twitter.com/UkwSYqQWol

— ANI (@ANI) January 25, 2024

A locality in the Mumbai suburb of Mira Road that finds itself in the middle of communal tension, following the Ayodhya Ram Temple consecration, was once imagined as a haven precisely against this.

Around 44 years back, two men representing opposite ends of the political spectrum had come together to lay the foundation of the housing colony in Thane district — one was Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray, the other Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) leader G M Banatwala. On Tuesday, a dozen-odd allegedly illegal shops belonging to the minority community were bulldozed by the local administration, two days after a clash broke out when a procession celebrating the Ram Temple with provocative slogans was stopped as it passed through the area.

Continue Reading

A day after the Mira Bhayander Municipal Corporation razed encroachments from around 15 structures at Haidary Chowk on Mira Road, BMC, in a similar exercise, on Wednesday razed encroachments from around 40 shops on Mohammed Ali Road in Mumbai. The MBMC carried out the demolition on Tuesday in the same area where clashes had broken out between two munities on Sunday night.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Wednesday demolished nearly 40 structures on the Ibrahim Merchant Road including the extension of the well-known Sulaiman Usman Bakery. pic.twitter.com/bZGg4QnUhr

— The Indian Express (@IndianExpress) January 24, 2024

NCP leader Rohit Pawar left from the ED office after almost of 11 hours of interrogation in connection with the Maharashtra State Cooperative Bank (MSCB) scam.

Follow Live Updates: https://t.co/944uYAI2HD pic.twitter.com/6ifM7mW3vv

— Express Mumbai (@ie_mumbai) January 24, 2024

Mumbai Police registered an FIR against a housing society secretary and two others for allegedly removing saffron flags placed at the entrance of the building hailing the Lord Ram temple consecration in Ayodhya, an official said. The trio was booked on the charge of promoting enmity between different groups. No arrest has been made so far, he said.

A complaint was lodged with Bhoiwada police station on Monday against the secretary of Siddhi Ahmed Cooperative Society situated in the Parel area and two others, the official said. The complainant, who is a resident of the society, and others had organized a sweet distribution program on Monday afternoon, the day when the idol of Lord Ram was consecrated in the Ayodhya temple.

Residents of the building had placed saffron flags with the "Jai Shriram" slogan displaying Lord Ram's picture, at the entrance of the building, the official said. "The complainant noticed in the evening that the flags were removed. He and his friends approached the building secretary to check CCTV footage, but he refused to oblige," he said.

The Mumbai Airport started the demolition of 20 structures at the Air India Colony near the airport which led to a protest by a section of the employees of now Tata Group-owned airline.

The Adani Group-controlled Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL) said these structures were uninhabited and dilapidated, and it had obtained all due permissions before starting the demolition. The action meant "an aviation chapter" was ending, lamented a former office-bearer of an Air India union while sharing a video of the protest at the Colony, located in Mumbai's Kalina area, on social media.

The Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL), earlier under the State-controlled Airports Authority of India (AAI), was privatised in May 2006, with first GVK-led consortium owning it and later Adani Group taking control in July 2021. "Mumbai International Airport Limited has initiated the demolition of 20 uninhabited, dilapidated structures at the Air India Colony, conducted in strict adherence to the law and in accordance with the permission / handover granted by AIAHL, the PSU Asset Holding Company of Erstwhile Air India," a spokesperson of MIAL said in a statement.

The action was part of its comprehensive redevelopment plan of the airport land, MIAL said, adding that "at present, no demolition steps have been undertaken for the remaining 80 plus buildings within the colony which are currently occupied." The private airport operator also said that due process of law by filing eviction applications under the AAI Act is being followed. "Considering Mumbai Airport is a land constrained aviation asset, this redevelopment initiative is a crucial step in the airport's ongoing efforts to contribute to the expansion and improvement of existing passenger facilities, thus fostering the growth and progress of Mumbai," the spokesperson said.

A special court has permitted model Munmun Dhamecha, an accused in the 2021 Cordelia cruise drugs bust case, to travel to Thailand for her photo shoot.

Dhamecha was arrested in October 2021 along with Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan's son Aryan Khan and others after the cruise ship was raided by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) off Mumbai coast. While Dhamecha and other accused are currently out on bail, the probe agency has dropped its case against Aryan Khan.

Civic employees will visit as many as 39 lakh households in Mumbai during an ongoing survey of the Marathas and other general category communities, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) said.

The survey, which began on Tuesday, was being conducted on the directions of the Maharashtra State Commission for Backward Classes for assessing the social, economic and educational backwardness of the Maratha community.

The BMC has roped in about 30,000 of its around 92,000 employees for the seven-day survey that has to be completed before the end of this month, said additional municipal commissioner Sudhakar Shinde.

Maharashtra's Anti-Terrorism Squad arrested a 32-year-old engineer from Nashik city for allegedly supporting and funding proscribed terror organisation ISIS, an official said.

With the arrest of the man, who runs an import-export business in Nashik city, around 200km from Mumbai, the Maharashtra ATS has unravelled "international links to ISIS support and funding", he said.

According to the official, investigations so far have revealed he had transferred funds to the dreaded global terrorist group, also called Islamic State, three times. Some associates of the accused are being probed across multiple states, he said.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde appealed to members of the Maratha community not to stage protests as the government is thinking positively about the quota demand.

Shinde's assurance comes at a time when quota activist Manoj Jarange and thousands of his supporters are on their way to Mumbai to launch a protest on January 26. "The state government is positive about the Maratha quota demand. We will take a decision. I appeal to the Maratha community to refrain themselves from staging agitations," he told reporters.

The Mira-Bhayandar, Vasai-Virar Police in Maharashtra warned of strict legal action against those spreading rumours on social media through fake messages, stressing that they can create law and order problems. Administrators of social media groups will also face action in such matters, they said.

The warning comes against the backdrop of disturbances in certain parts of Thane district, including Naya Nagar which witnessed a communal clash three days back.

The police issued a note, referring to what they called a fake video message that has been “mischievously” edited with the claim that some anti-social elements had set afire the Mira Road railway station.

NCP leader Supriya Sule claimed that as per the government data presented in Parliament, 95 per cent of the cases filed by the central probe agencies are against leaders of opposition parties. She accused the government of misusing the probe agencies, and asserted that truth shall ultimately prevail.

"Satyamev Jayate (truth shall prevail). This is a period of struggle for us. There will be challenges in future, but we will overcome them. We will struggle, but continue to tread on the path of truth. This fight is for the pride of Maharashtra," Sule said. "We will continue to walk on the path of truth. As per the data presented in Parliament by the government, 95 per cent of the cases filed by the central probe agencies are against the opposition leaders," the Baramati MP said.

The Maharashtra government assured the Bombay High Court that it will take all measures to ensure commuters do not face any inconvenience due to Maratha reservation protests led by activist Manoj Jarange-Patil and if required, it will designate places for protestors to conduct peaceful agitations.

The state government informed the bench that Jarange-Patil and protestors had not yet made any proper applications seeking permission to stage protests at a particular place. Read more

A day after Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Wednesday travelled to his native place of Dare in Satara district, Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange-Patil will reach the outskirts of Mumbai at Panvel on Thursday (today) afternoon with thousands of supporters. Shinde will return to Mumbai on Thursday night.

Jarange-Patil, who kick-started his protest march demanding Kunbi (OBC) status to Maratha community, was expected to reach Lonavala on Wednesday night at the time of reporting. After an overnight stay, he will travel to Panvel by car on Thursday. His roadshow from Panvel will travel from Kharghar, Belapur and Nerul to Vashi. Read more

The Bombay High Court last week quashed the case against an engineering student who was booked for running over a stray dog and causing damage to idols kept in a roadside workshop last year after he donated Rs 5,000 for the welfare of dogs and compensated the idols maker with Rs 2 lakh.

The bench on January 16 noted that the parties to the case had amicably settled the dispute and continuing criminal proceedings against the young petitioner will impact his future prospects. Read more

A meeting comprising leaders of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance, including those from the Congress, NCP and Sena UBT, will be held in Mumbai on Thursday to finalise the seat sharing formula between the alliance partners for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.

Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) chief Prakash Ambedkar and leaders from other communist parties have also been invited for the meeting, an indication VBA is included in the MVA. The party will discuss seat sharing with the NCP, Congress and Shiv Sena and the talks will decide the future course of action for the VBA. Read more

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Wednesday demolished nearly 40 structures on the Ibrahim Merchant Road including the extension of the well-known Sulaiman Usman Bakery. pic.twitter.com/bZGg4QnUhr

— The Indian Express (@IndianExpress) January 24, 2024

The BMC undertook demolition of shop extensions at Mohammed Ali Road, including that of the well-known Sulaiman Usman Bakery.

The demolition action comes a day after the Mira Bhayander Municipal Corporation used bulldozers to raze about 15 structures in the Muslim-dominated Haidary Chowk area in Mira Road.

Unidentified persons vandalised a few shops in areas of Thane such as Naya Nagar in Maharashtra, police official told PTI on Wednesday. The areas witnessed communal clash three days back ahead of Ram temple inauguration.

A video did rounds on social media showing some persons on motorbikes throwing stones at the shops. An FIR has been registered against unidentified persons and efforts are on to fetch CCTV footage from the shops to ascertain the identity of the attackers.

With PTI inputs