Tag: maharashtra

  • Maharashtra: FIR Filed Against Former DGP, Six Others For Alleged Extortion |

    The Thane city police have lodged an FIR against seven individuals, including former Maharashtra DGP Sanjay Pandey, on charges of alleged irregularities and extortion. The FIR, which was registered recently, is based on a complaint by Mumbai businessman Sanjay Punamiya, who claims that he was harassed by the accused between May 2021 and June 30, 2024.

    In addition to Pandey, the other individuals named in the FIR include retired ACP Sardar Patil, PI Manohar Patil, as well as Advocate Shekar Jagtap, Shyamsunder Agrawal, Subham Agrawal, and Sharad Agrawal.

    Punamiya alleged that the accused unlawfully reopened a 2016 case filed with Thane Nagar police, used threats of false cases against him and other businessmen, extorted money, and created forged documents. Additionally, they allegedly impersonated a Special Public Prosecutor to mislead the courts.

    The FIR lists several sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), such as Section 166(a) for misconduct by a public servant, Section 170 for impersonation, Section 120B for criminal conspiracy, Section 193 for providing false evidence, and additional sections concerning forgery, extortion, and criminal intimidation.

    The police investigation into these allegations is ongoing, and no arrests have been made so far.

  • 35-Foot Tall Statue Of Shivaji Maharaj Inaugurated By PM Modi Collapses In Sindhudurg; Opposition Slams State Govt |

    A 35-foot statue of Maratha King Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, which was unveiled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Rajkot Fort in Malvan, Sindhudurg district, collapsed on Monday. The incident, occurring around 1 PM, has sparked significant criticism from opposition parties, who have blamed the state government for negligence and poor quality of work. The statue was inaugurated last year on December 4.

    Heavy Rains and Winds Suspected as Contributing Factors

    According to local officials, the statue’s collapse may have been influenced by recent severe weather conditions. The Sindhudurg district has experienced heavy rainfall and strong winds over the past two to three days. While experts are expected to investigate and determine the exact cause of the collapse, weather-related factors are currently being considered as potential contributors.

    Opposition Blames State Government For Neglect

    Following the incident, opposition leaders have been vocal in their criticism of the state government. NCP (SP) state president and former minister Jayant Patil accused the government of prioritizing the event over the quality of the statue’s construction. “The state government is responsible for this collapse due to their lack of proper care. They were more focused on organizing an event with Prime Minister Narendra Modi than ensuring the statue was built to last,” Patil stated. He further alleged that the government’s approach to the project involved issuing new tenders, accepting commissions, and awarding contracts without proper oversight.

    Similarly, Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Vaibhav Naik condemned the alleged poor quality of workmanship. He emphasized the need for a thorough investigation into those responsible for the construction and installation of the statue. “The state government may try to shirk responsibility, but those accountable for this project must be thoroughly investigated,” Naik asserted.

     Government’s Response

    In response to the criticism, Maharashtra Minister Deepak Kesarkar acknowledged the incident but noted that he did not have complete details at the time. He referenced a statement by PWD Minister Ravindra Chavan, who is also the guardian minister of Sindhudurg district, affirming that a comprehensive investigation will be conducted.

    Kesarkar also assured that the government is committed to rectifying the situation. “We are dedicated to erecting a new statue at the same location. This statue, unveiled by PM Modi, honors Shivaji Maharaj’s visionary efforts in constructing a sea fort. We will take all necessary measures to address this issue promptly and effectively,” he said.

  • Union Home Minister reached Hotel Fair with BJP leaders, Amit Shah will hold a big meeting tomorrow

    Shivam Mishra, Raipur. Union Home Minister Amit Shah reached Fair Hotel. He will stay here for the night. Along with Amit Shah, Chief Minister Vishnudev Sai, Deputy Chief Minister Arun Saw and Vijay Sharma, Cabinet Ministers Kedar Kashyap, Tankaram Verma, Ramvichar Netam also reached the hotel. Important faces of the organization have reached the hotel to welcome Union Home Minister Shah. There is a possibility of informal discussion of high officials of different states with Amit Shah. Home Minister Amit Shah will hold an inter-state coordination meeting on August 24.

    CS and DGPs of neighbouring states will attend the important meeting. The campaign against Naxalism will be reviewed in the meeting. Chief Secretaries and Directors General of Police of Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha and Jharkhand have reached Raipur to attend the meeting. A large number of protocol officers have also arrived along with the officials.

    Regarding the visit of Union Home Minister Amit Shah to Chhattisgarh, Chief Minister Vishnudev Sai said, Amit Shah has come on a three-day visit to Chhattisgarh. There are 7 Naxal-affected states. Amit Shah will hold a meeting of inter-state coordination. He is also the Cooperative Minister, so a meeting of cooperation is also going to be held.

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  • Post-BJP Loss, Amit Shah Brands Uddhav Thackeray ‘Aurangzeb Fan Club’ Leader |

    Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched a scathing attack on former Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday, labeling him as the head of the ‘Aurangzeb Fan Club.’ Shah also criticized NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar, calling him the ‘sargana’ (ringleader) who has entrenched corruption in the country. 

    Shah accused Thackeray of consistently aligning with questionable figures, saying, “Who is the Aurangzeb fan club? Those who serve biryani to (26/11 terror attack convict) Kasab, those who seek pardon for Yakub Memon, those who give (controversial Islamic preacher) Zakir Naik a messenger of peace award and those who support the (banned Islamist outfit) PFI. Uddhav Thackeray should be ashamed of sitting with these people.” 

    He asserted that this ‘Aurangzeb fan club’ cannot secure this country. “Only the Bharatiya Janata Party can ensure the country’s safety. The BJP is the only party capable of securing Maharashtra,” Home Minister added. 

    This isn’t the first instance of Shah publicly criticizing the Shiv Sena (UBT) chief. During the Lok Sabha elections, he accused Thackeray of abandoning ideology in favor of power. 

    In a harsh speech, Shah also criticized Rahul Gandhi for his “arrogance” despite the Congress party’s repeated losses in the Lok Sabha elections. 

    This is Amit Shah’s first visit to Maharashtra following the BJP’s significant setback in the recent Lok Sabha elections, where the party’s seat count dropped from 23 in 2019 to just 9.

  • Eknath Shinde-Led Maharashtra Government Launches ‘Laadla Bhai Yojana’; To Give Up To Rs 1,20,000 To Educated Youth |

    New Delhi: Ahead of the Assembly election in Maharashtra, the Mahayuti government led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde announced the ‘Ladla Bhai Yojana’ for boys. Under the scheme, boys benefit from a certain stipend amount based on qualifications. This follows the earlier ‘Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana’ aimed at girls, which provides monthly financial assistance of Rs 1,500 to eligible women in the state.

    Ladla Bhai Yojana: Empowering Boys In Maharashtra

    The Ladla Bhai Yojana, introduced by the Mahayuti government in Maharashtra, is a targeted welfare scheme designed to provide financial assistance to boys in states based on their qualifications. According to the reports, under this Ladla Bhai Yojana, students who have completed their 12th grade will receive Rs 6,000 per month stipend, while Rs 8,000 per month stipend for the students holding a diploma degree and Rs 10,000 per month for graduated boys.

    The Maharashtra government made a significant decision on the auspicious day of Devshayani Ekadashi, with an eye on the upcoming Assembly Sabha election in the state.

    Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana: Empowering Women In Maharashtra

    Under the Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana, women of the age group of 21 to 60 years are eligible to get a monthly allowance of Rs 1,500 from the state government. The scheme aims to promote the comprehensive development and empowerment of women, encompassing economic independence, self-reliance, as well as health and nutrition.

    The announcement of freebies in the state comes after the NDA faced a loss in the Lok Sabha election in Maharashtra, the opposition INDIA bloc managed to secure 30 seats out of the state’s 48 Lok Sabha constituencies.

     

  • Concern For Congress In Maharashtra, 7 Party MLAs Cross Vote For NDA: Reports |

    Months ahead of the Maharashtra assembly polls, the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi has faced a setback against the ruling Mahayuti comprising of BJP, Shiv Sena and NCP-Ajit Pawar. While the Mahayuti bagged nine out of the 11 Legislative Council seats, the MVA’s move of fielding an extra candidate to hurt the NDA fell flat on its face. What aided to the misery of the MVA is that seven Congress MLAs cross-voted for the Mahayuti candidate. 

    The MVA was riding high on its Lok Sabha election victory where it won 30 of 48 Lok Sabha seats. However, it faced a crushing setback in the Legislative Council polls which was touted as the semifinal ahead of the assembly polls.

    The opposition alliance triggered the election by nominating an extra candidate beyond their available votes, possibly aiming to gain from cross-voting by ruling coalition MLAs, but it appears they ended up losing votes instead.

    The Maharashtra Assembly has a strength of 288 MLAs. However, due to the resginations of certain MLAs, the current strength is 274. Therefore, each MLC candidate required 23 first-preference votes to win the polls. The Mahayuti has 201 MLAs, sufficient for the victory of eight candidates and it needed the support of six opposition MLAs to make its ninth candidate victorious. 

    On the other hand, the MVA -Congress, Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) and the NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) – had the support of 67 MLAs, sufficient for the victory of two candidates and it needed the support of two MLAs from the ruling party to make its third candidate win. Six MLAs including an independent were neutral as they did not choose a side. 

    The MVA was hopeful of getting support from the MLAs of the NCP-Ajit Pawar faction. Even Sharad Pawar faction’s MLA Rohit Pawar had earlier claimed to have been in touch of 15 NCP-Ajit Pawar MLAs.

    The third candidate backed by the Sharad Pawar was Jayant Patil who is from the Peasants and Workers Party. Patil lost because he did not get the required number of votes.

  • Ujjwal Nikam Replaces BJP MP Poonam Mahajan From Mumbai North Central Against Congress` Varsha Gaikwad

    Ujjwal Nikam has replaced Poonam Mahajan from the North Central seat of Mumbai.

  • EC Orders Large-Scale Transfer Of Several Bureaucrats, West Bengal DGP Ahead Of LS Polls |

    The Election Commission on Monday ordered the transfer of bureaucrats from the region to uphold fairness in the Lok Sabha polls. The Commission directed the removal of Home secretaries of states including Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.  Along with this, The EC ordered the removal of the secretary of the general administrative departments of Mizoram and Himachal Pradesh. Additionally, they also ordered the removal of director general of police in West Bengal, PTI reported.

    Days after the declaration of the LS elections schedule, the chief election commissioner Rajiv Kumar also ordered the removal of Brihanmumbai Municipal Commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal, additional commissioners and deputy commissioners.

    The EC had instructed all state governments to transfer officers connected with elections-related duties, who have served three years in the same place or are stationed in their home districts. Maharashtra had not fully complied with the given directions, especially with a few municipal commissioners and deputy municipal commissioners. 

    While expressing the discontent to the state chief secretary, the commission has ordered the transfer of BMC and the additional and deputy commissioners with the content to report by 6 pm on Monday. 

    The EC has also directed the chief secretary to transfer all the similarly placed municipal commissioners and additional or deputy municipal commissioners of other corporations in Maharashtra.

    Therefore, steps are taken to maintain fairness and ensure the integrity of the electoral process, which has been emphasised by CEC Rajiv Kumar on several occasions.

  • US National Found Dead In A Five- Star Hotel Room In Mumbai, Probe Launched |

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  • Rajya Sabha Polls: BJP Nominates JP Nadda From Gujarat, Ashok Chavan From Maharashtra |

    New Delhi: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday released another list of seven names for the upcoming Rajya Sabha polls, nominating party president JP Nadda from Gujarat and newly inducted leader Ashok Chavan from Maharashtra. In its latest list, the BJP has declared four names from Gujarat and three from Maharashtra. Besides JP Nadda, the BJP nominated Govindbhai Dholakia, Mayanbhai Nayak and Jashvantsinh Parmar from Gujarat.

    For Maharashtra, besides Ashok Chavan, the party has named Medha Kulkarni and Ajit Gopchhade. Former Maharashtra chief minister Chavan quit Congress earlier this week and joined the BJP in the presence of deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday.

    Meanwhile, Nadda, who is currently a Rajya Sabha member from Himachal Pradesh, is being fielded from Gujarat since the BJP does not have the numbers to win the lone seat in the Congress-ruled hill state.

    Earlier today, the BJP announced that it’s nominating Union ministers Ashwini Vaishnaw from Odisha and L Murugan from Madhya Pradesh for the upcoming elections. On Sunday, the BJP named 14 candidates for the Rajya Sabha polls, including former Union Minister R P N Singh and party spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi.

    The last day for filing nomination papers is February 15. The term for Rajya Sabha MPs is six years and elections are held after every two years for 33 per cent of the seats. Currently, the Rajya Sabha has a strength of 245 members.

    Out of the total 245 members, out of which 233 are representatives of the States and Union Territories of Delhi, Puducherry Jammu and Kashmir (w.e.f. 31.10. 2019) 12 are nominated by the President. Based on population, each state is allocated a certain number of candidates in the Upper House.

    Members of the state legislative assemblies choose Rajya Sabha members through an indirect election system of proportional representation by means of a single transferable vote.

    The Election Commission has scheduled the Rajya Sabha elections for 15 states, including Uttar Pradesh, for February 27. Voting will take place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on this date, with the deadline for nominations set for February 15. The results of the elections will be announced on the same day, February 27. The Election Commission has announced the biennial Rajya Sabha polls on February 27 for 56 seats, as the tenure of incumbents ends in April.