2 Maharashtra Teens Die In Accident, Protesters Garland Potholes In Nashik
Hemant Patil and Mahendra Fating, both 19, died in road accidents after their bike skidded due to potholes.
Maharashtra Government Approves Policy to Boost Digital Content Sector
To support this growth, the government has planned to establish AVGC-XR parks in Navi Mumbai, Pune, Nashik, Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar, Satara, and Kolhapur, creating regional hubs for talent and innovation.
Crops over 42.84 lakh acres damaged by heavy rain in Maharashtra
MUMBAI: Over 42.84 lakh acres ready-to-harvest crops got badly damaged in the torrential rain in Maharashtra . According to the Maharashtra agriculture minister Duttaray Bharne, the 17, 85,714 hectares (42.84 lakh acres) of standing and ready to harvest crops got damaged. Nanded is one of the worst-affected districts, where 7.28 lakh hectares of crops got badly impacted, following 2.03 lakh hectares of crops damaged in Wasim district. In Yavatmal district, 3.18 lakh hectares, while 1.57 lakh hectares in Dharashiv, 1.77 lakh hectares in Akola, 47,266 hectares in Solapur, and 89,782 hectares of crops in Buldhana district were ruined in the heavy rain. In the torrential rain, impacted affected districts are Hingoli, Parbhani, Amravati, Jalgaon, Wardha, Sangli, Ahilyanagar, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Jalna, Beed, Latur, Dhule, Jalgaon, Ratnagiri, Chandrapur, Satara, Nashik, Kolhapur, Sindhudurg, Gadchiroli, Raigad, Nagpur, and Pune. The most suffered crops include soybean, maize, cotton, urad, tur, moong while other places, vegetables, fruit crops, millet, sugarcane, onion, jowar and turmeric crops have also been affected. 35 lakh acres of crops damaged in torrential rain in Maharashtra Agriculture Minister Bharen said that Maharashtra has been witnessing heavy rains and floods over the last two months, which havecaused huge losses to farmers. The heavy rains in August and September of this year have caused huge losses in a total of 195 talukas across 30 districts of Maharashtra. The rains during this period have caused huge losses to Kharif crops in 654 revenue circles, the agriculture minister said. He further added that the Panchnamas in some districts have been completed, and compensation has also been extended to the affected farmers. The Panchnamas in the remaining areas are going on a war footing. The state is taking all possible measures to provide financial assistance to the affected farmers. State government is standing firmly with the farmers in times of this crisis, Bharne said. Sharad Pawar , in his Nasik farmers outcry rally, criticized the state government for ignoring the farmers. He said that in the last two months, more than two thousand farmers committed suicide, but no serious attention has been given.
2008 Malegaon blast: Bombay HC says 'not open gate' for everyone to file appeal against acquittal
MUMBAI: The Bombay High Court on Tuesday said it was ot an open gate for everyone to file an appeal against acquittal in the 2008 Malegaon blast case, and sought details if family members of the victims were examined as witnesses in the trial. A bench of Chief Justice Shree Chandrashekhar and Justice Gautam Ankhad was hearing an appeal filed by the family members of the six persons who lost their lives in the blast against the acquittal judgment. The appeal challenged a special court judgment acquitting the seven accused in the case, including former BJP MP Pragya Singh Thakur and Lt Col Prasad Purohit. The HC bench on Tuesday sought to know if the family members were examined as witnesses in the trial. The family members' advocate told the bench that the first appellant, Nisar Ahmed, whose son died in the blast, was not a witness in the trial, but said he would submit the details on Wednesday. The bench then said if the appellant's son died in the blast, then he (Nisar Ahmed) should have been a witness. You (appellants) have to indicate whether they were witnesses or not. Give us details. This is not an open gate for everyone, HC said. The court posted the matter for further hearing on Wednesday. The appeal filed last week claimed a faulty investigation or some defects in the probe cannot be the ground for acquitting the accused. It also contended that the conspiracy (of the blast) was hatched in secrecy and hence, there cannot be direct evidence of it. The petitioners claimed the order passed by the special NIA court on July 31, acquitting the seven accused, was wrong and bad in law and hence deserved to be quashed. Malegaon blast accused alleges 'jail torture' to implicate Yogi Adityanath, RSS chief Bhagwat On September 29, 2008, an explosive device strapped to a motorcycle went off near a mosque in Malegaon town, located about 200 km from Mumbai in Maharashtra's Nashik district, killing six persons and injuring 101 others. The appeal said the trial court judge should not act as a postman or mute spectator in a criminal trial. When the prosecution failed to elicit facts, the trial court can ask questions and/or summon witnesses, it added. The trial court has unfortunately acted as a mere post office and allowed a deficient prosecution to benefit the accused, the appeal said. It also raised concerns over the manner in which the National Investigation Agency (NIA) conducted the probe and trial in the case and sought for the accused to be convicted. The state Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), by arresting the seven persons, unearthed a large conspiracy and since then, there has been no blast in areas populated by the minority community, the appeal said. It claimed the NIA, after taking over the case, diluted the allegations against the accused persons. The special court had, in its judgment, said mere suspicion cannot replace real proof and there was no cogent or reliable evidence to warrant a conviction. Special judge AK Lahoti, presiding over the NIA court, had said there was no eliable and cogent evidence against the accused that proved the case beyond a reasonable doubt. The prosecution's case was that the blast was carried out by right-wing extremists with the intention to terrorise the Muslim community in the communally sensitive Malegaon town. The NIA court, in its judgment, had flagged several loopholes in the prosecution's case and the investigation carried out, and said the accused persons deserved the benefit of doubt. Besides Thakur and Purohit, the accused included Major Ramesh Upadhyay (retired), Ajay Rahirkar, Sudhakar Dwivedi, Sudhakar Chaturvedi and Sameer Kulkarni. Political row erupts over Malegaon blast verdict
Hoax bomb threat reported at Nashik school in Maharashtra
The Indiranagar Police Station received a threat email at around 2.45 AM, sent from a fake email address, claiming there was a bomb in the bathroom of Nasik Cambridge High School located on Vada Pathri Road
Bus accident on Mumbai-Nashik highway leaves 20 passengers injured
The accident took place on the Mumbai-Nashik highway when the private bus was going towards Panvel in Navi Mumbai from Chalisgaon in Jalgaon district of north Maharashtra
Sharad Pawar warns BJP over farm crisis, cites Nepal upheaval as lesson
MUMBAI: Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar faction) chief Sharad Pawar on Monday launched a scathing attack on the BJP-led state and central governments during his rally in Nashik, accusing them of neglecting farmers issues , including rising suicides and crashing crop prices. Pawar claimed that in Maharashtra alone, more than 2,000 farmers had ended their lives in the past two months due to the farm crisis. He said torrential rains had damaged over 30 lakh acres of standing crops, leaving farmers devastated. The incumbent government needed to be serious about the farmers and its people issues; otherwise, we have seen in Nepal where an incumbent government has been thrown out while a new one has come in. Without any delay, the drought has to be declared by the Maharashtra government if they are really wise and serious, he said. Drawing parallels with recent political developments in Nepal, Pawar warned the ruling dispensation in Maharashtra to take lessons from events in the neighbouring country. I request, Devabhau, please check what is happening in our neighboring country Nepal. For the last eight days, it has been in the news over people's outcry. One government has gone and another has come in Nepal. I do not want to go in deep what exactly happened there, but if the incumbent government is wise enough in Maharashtra, they should learn a lesson from this and do something for the farmers whose backbone has been damaged in torrential rain with damage to standing crops, he said. 'System is killing them': Rahul slams Modi govt over rising farmer suicides in Maharashtra Taking a swipe at Chief Minister Devendra Fadnaviss extensive publicity campaign, Pawar said, Deabhau, giving an advertisement with Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's photograph is one thing, but following the traits of Shivaji Maharaj is equally important. Shivaji Maharaj never left the farmers in trouble; the same should happen if we are true followers of Shivaji Maharaj. He also pointed out the crisis faced by onion and cotton farmers. The central government imposed a ban on the export of onions, so the onion prices crashed. Where will the farmers go now? If you continue to neglect the farmers, then we cannot remain as mute spectators. We cannot leave our farmers in a lurch. It is the duty of the central and state governments to find solutions and help the farmers. When we were in power, in a month's period, we waived off Rs 70,000 crore farmers' loan, Pawar said.
Sharad Pawar warns of stir, says Fadnavis govt apathetic towards farmers` woes
Sharad Pawar led a protest rally, called the Akrosh Morcha, in Nashik, joined by several NCP (SP) leaders and workers. He demanded that the government declare a wet drought and provide a complete loan waiver to farmers struggling with debt and poor market returns
The #CBI has busted two illegal call centres in Nashik that allegedly duped UK nationals by posing as insurance agents and government officers.
CBI dismantles 2 fake call centres cheating UK nationals with non-existent insurance policies
New Delhi, Sep 14: The CBI has dismantled two illegal call centres in Nashik which were allegedly cheating UK nationals taking payments for non-existent insurance policies by posing as agents and government officers, officials said Sunday. The central agency has arrested Ganesh and Shyam Kamankar for their alleged involvement in the operations of the illegal call centre, Swagan Business Solutions Pvt. Ltd, they said. A case was registered against four private persons, unknown public servants, and others, on allegations that [] The post CBI dismantles 2 fake call centres cheating UK nationals with non-existent insurance policies appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
Sanjay Raut alleged that the brutal murder of Rahul Dhotre was orchestrated by workers of Devendra Fadnavis and Girish Mahajan
Sena (UBT), MNS protest; two brothers have come together, Maharashtra will follow, says Sanjay Raut
Shiv Sena (UBT) and MNS jointly organized a 'Jan Aakrosh' protest in Nashik, targeting the Fadnavis government over various issues, including the deteriorating law and order situation and farmers' concerns. Sanjay Raut emphasized the unified front of the two parties, signaling a potential shift in Maharashtra's political landscape.
Three dead after MSRTC bus collides with two-wheeler in Nashik, know what happened
An accident occurred in Maharashtra's Nashik after a collision between Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) bus and two-wheeler, leaving three people dead.
9 drown, 12 missing in separate incidents during Ganesh idol immersions in Maharashtra
MUMBAI: Ganpati festivities culminated on Sunday with lakhs of devotees bidding farewell to the adorable elephant-headed god they consecrated and worshipped for ten days, while at least nine persons drowned and 12 were missing in various incidents related to immersion of idols in Maharashtra. These incidents were reported from Thane, Pune, Nanded, Nashik, Jalgaon, Washim, Palghar and Amravati districts, officials said on Sunday. In Pune district, five persons were swept away in different water bodies in three separate incidents, an official said. Two men were swept away in Bhama river at Waki Khurd and one at Shell Pimpalgaon. Another person slipped into a well at Birwadi in the rural part of the district. A 45-year-old man was swept away at Khed, the Pune official said. Bodies of three persons were recovered, he added. Three persons were swept away in a river in Gandegaon in Nanded district, one of whom was rescued some time later, a local official said. Search was on for the other two, Nanded police said. Similar incidents took place in Sinnar and Kalwan areas of Nashik district. Five persons were swept away in Nashik. The bodies of two persons have been recovered, while efforts are on to trace the others, the official said. Three persons were swept away in Jalgaon in separate incidents, the official said. Three persons from Mundewadi in Thane's Shahapur taluka were swept away in the strong currents of the Bhargavi river near a dam. They were returning after immersing a Ganpati idol, Shahapur Tehsildar Parmeshwar Kasule said. He identified the persons as Datta Lote, Pratip Munde and Kuldeep Jakare. The bodies of Lote and Munde have been retrieved. The search for Jakare is underway, the tehsildar said. In Palghar district, three men who were swept away in a creek during Ganpati idol immersion were saved with the help of a Ro-Ro boat after a quick alert from maritime authorities, officials said on Sunday. The incident took place at around 3 pm on Saturday at Narangi jetty in Virar (West), they said. Two persons drowned in Washim district, a local official said, adding the body of one of them has been recovered. One man drowned in Amravati, as per police. His body was retrieved by the disaster management team. In Mumbai city, where immersion processions extend several hours, a man died of electrocution and five other individuals sustained injuries, civic officials said. The incident occurred on Khairani Road in the Sakinaka area on Sunday morning when a Ganesh idol came into contact with a hanging electric wire. Amid continuous rainfall in Maharashtra, state disaster response teams and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel have been deployed, officials said. In neighbouring Madhya Pradesh, two teenage boys drowned after falling into a stream during the immersion of an idol of Lord Ganesh in Raisen district. The boys drowned after falling into a stream in Gatkheda village on Saturday night, police said.
Ganesh immersions: 4 drown, 13 missing in Maharashtra; NDRF teams deployed
Tragedy struck Maharashtra during Ganesh idol immersions as at least four people drowned and 13 others went missing across various districts. Incidents occurred in Pune, Nanded, Nashik, Jalgaon, Thane, and Amravati, exacerbated by swollen rivers and water bodies due to continuous rainfall. Rescue operations are underway with State Disaster Response teams and the NDRF deployed.
Ganesh idol immersions: 4 persons drown, at least 13 missing in Maharashtra
Tragedy struck Maharashtra during Ganesh idol immersions as at least four people drowned and 13 went missing across various districts. Incidents occurred in Pune, Nanded, Nashik, Jalgaon, Thane, and Amravati, with swollen rivers and water bodies due to continuous rainfall complicating rescue efforts. State and National Disaster Response Forces have been deployed to aid in the search and rescue operations.
IMD issues orange alert for Palghar, heavy showers likely in city and Thane
The ghats of Nashik have been placed under an orange alert and the ghats of Pune under a yellow alert, both expecting heavy rainfall during the day
3 killed after car hits huge stone and crashes on Mumbai-Nashik highway
India, US to soon ink contract for 113 GE F414 engines for LCA Mk1A fighters
NEW DELHI: India plans to soon ink a contract with the American giant General Electric for the procurement of 113 F414 engines to be fitted in the much-awaited light combat aircraft (LCA) Mk1A for which the order was placed a few months ago. An official at the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) said, The negotiation with GE for aero engines has been completed and the contract will be signed at the end of this month. In August, the CCS gave the go-ahead for 97 LCA Mk1A jets to be manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited at a project cost of around Rs 67,000 crore. The new engines to be procured will be used for these combat jets. Another source at HAL said that the first two LCA Mk1A aircraft would be delivered to the Indian Air Force (IAF) in October this year. Ten aircraft are now built and being tested. The first delivery will take place in October, with one aircraft from Nashik already ready for handover, he said. Two additional engines are expected to be received this month, he said. Besides the F404 engines, en F414 engines have already been delivered to us, he added. In the meantime, the Mk-1A has completed weapons integration trials, including the firing of Astra and ASRAM missiles. Giving the timeline of the deliveries, the sources said the advanced LCA Mk2 is scheduled to be rolled out in 2027, while 83 Mk1A fighters are now expected by 2029, after a reported delay of four quarters. The Tejas Mk1A is the newer and improved version of India's single-engine, 4.5 generation delta wing multirole combat aircraft designed by the Aeronautical Development Agency. It will play an important role in mitigating the decrease in the quantity of combat jets and the overall fall in combat squadrons. As earlier brought out by The New Indian Express , the IAF had ordered 83 LCA Tejas Mk 1A at Rs 46,000 crore in 2021. Once this new order is completed in the stipulated 15 years, the IAF will have 40 LCA, over 180 LCA Mark-1A and at least 120 LCA Mark-2 planes. The fast dwindling combat fighter strength has resulted in anxiety in the IAF leadership. In September, the MiG 21 Squadrons (23 Squadron) will be number plated, bringing the current number of fighter squadrons below 30. While the MiG fighter jets are being retired, concerns have grown over the delayed Tejas induction, shrinking combat strength. Officially, the IAF is supposed to have 42 squadrons of combat squadrons. A squadron in the IAF comprises 16-18 aircraft. Tejas is a single-engine, lightweight multi-role fighter, originally meant to replace the MiG-21. The first indigenous LCA was inducted in July 2016. The first IAF Squadron to induct the Tejas was the No 45 Squadron, the 'Flying Daggers'. 40 LCA Tejas Mk 1 were ordered initially, of which 35 have been inducted till now.
Nashik Man Kills Stray Dog, Then Drags It Behind Bike; Case Filed After Video Surfaces
Police said a case has been registered against the accused at Satpur police station, and further investigation is underway
IRCTC announces Jyotirling with Shirdi Yatra train from Tirunelveli
The train will cover Nashik, Shirdi, Shanisingnapur, Pandharpur, and Mantralayam; it will leave Tirunelveli on November 9
NEW DELHI: In a big relief to former CSDS director and renowned political analyst Sanjay Kumar, the Supreme Court on Monday, stayed theFIRs registered against him in connection with histweets claiming significant voter number discrepancies in the 2024 Maharashtra elections. A two-judge bench of the apex court headed by CJI BR Gavai and Justice NV Anjaria, stayed the FIRs after hearing the plea of Kumar. The accused Kumar, moved the apex court seeking to quash the FIRs, claiming that the allegations are baseless. He contended before the SC that the FIRS are an abuse of the State power. Kumar clarified that the tweets were later deleted by him citing data errors. A tweet giving wrong information cannot form the basis of an FIR for offences such as Forgery. The allegations made therein are baseless, and the criminal sections invoked are demonstrably inapplicable to the facts and circumstances of the case, he argued. 'Vote theft in Maharashtra polls': Rahul demands machine-readable digital voter rolls; Fadnavis rebuts charges Claiming innocence in the case, Kumar submitted that there was no criminal intent, as the post was a bona fide and inadvertent error, for which he issued a public apology clarification. The court taking Kumars submissions into record that he had already apologised in the case, the SC stayed the FIRs and issued notice on his appeal. Kumar's lawyer argued before the top court that hehas an impeccable integrity of 30 years of conscientious service to the nation and to the world. He is highly respected. It was a mistake. He apologized, he said and sought staying of the FIRs. The laywer even surprisingly submitted that I deleted, I apologized publicly, after that, an FIR. According to the prosecution, on August 17, Kumar posted on his X handle about the increase and decrease in the number of voters in specific constituencies. However, after realising that the post was based on an erroneous analysis, he posted on August 19 expressing apology for his post and clarifying that his earlier post was a mistake. Following that, the officers reporting to the Election Commission of India registered two FIRs, one at Nashik and another at Nagpur, under various sections of the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) 2023.
MNS Workers Assault Man After Argument Over Accident In Nashik: 'Should Learn Marathi'
The victim was learning how to drive when his car allegedly brushed past his neighbour's vehicle, leading to a violent confrontation where an MNS worker asked him to speak Marathi.
Video: Stray Dog's Brutal Beatdown Of Leopard, Drags It 300 Metres
A stray dog and a leopard faced off in Maharashtra's Nashik. The 'fight' ended in the dog 'defeating' the leopard and dragging it for 300 metres. The episode unfolded in Nashik's Niphad and a video of the fight has gone viral on social media.
Two Children Trapped, Seven Others Rescued As Building Collapses In Maharashtra's Nashik
At least two children remain trapped after a building collapsed in Nashiks Old City area on Wednesday night. Seven people were rescued and admitted to a hospital.
FIRs Against Psephologist Sanjay Kumar For Spreading Fake Info Over Maharashtra Polls
Professor Sanjay Kumar of Lokniti-CSDS faces FIRs in Nagpur and Nashik for allegedly spreading false info about Maharashtra elections.
Centre approves 62,000-crore order for 97 LCA Mk1A fighters, giving IAF a major boost
The government has approved an order for 97 more LCA Mk1A aircraft. Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) will manufacture these jets. This 62,000 crore deal increases the Air Force's LCA Mk1A fighter count to 180. Production will occur at Bengaluru and Nashik, aiming for 24 jets annually.
Maharashtra rain fury: Seven dead, crops damaged; Mumbai, Thane, other districts on red alert
MUMBAI: Heavy rain across Maharashtra has left seven people dead, damaged nearly two lakh hectares of standing crops, and caused widespread disruption to property and daily life. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday reviewed the situation with divisional commissioners via video conference. He directed revenue and administrative officers to conduct damage assessments of affected crops and properties and ensure timely compensation. So far, seven people have died due to heavy rain, and several rivers have also crossed the danger level. The alert message has been sent to the concerned people, Fadnavis said In Sambhaji Nagar district alone, 800 villages were affected. The two lakh hectares of land with standing crops got damaged. The panchanama will be carried out and compensations will also be given, he added. The chief minister also instructed officials to provide shelter, food and other necessities to people stranded by floods and heavy rain. Authorities have declared holidays for schools and colleges on Tuesday as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a red alert for August 18-19 in Mumbai, Thane, Raigad and Palghar districts and a yellow and orange alerts for other parts of the state. Mumbai reels under 177 mm rain in 8 hours; flights hit, schools shut as red alert issued The state government has asked local administrations to close schools and colleges in districts under heavy rain warnings. In Marathwada, five people drowned in flooding, while two others died in house and wall collapse incidents. In Mumbai, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) declared a holiday for all schools. Afternoon classes were also cancelled, its PRO said. Waterlogging caused severe traffic congestion across the city. Airlines issued advisories to passengers after the city remained lashed by heavy showers for a fourth consecutive day. IndiGo and Akasa Air urged travellers to check flight status and plan their journeys in advance due to flooding and traffic disruptions. Both carriers posted updates on their official X handles. Thane, Mumbai and Navi Mumbai face the wrath Incessant heavy rains on Monday triggered a landslide in a hilly area in Kalyan in Thane district, damaging four houses, officials said. The landslide occurred on Monday afternoon at Netivali Hill in the Jai Bhavani Nagar area of Kalyan. Nobody was injured. Roads in several areas across Thane, Palghar, and Navi Mumbai regions were waterlogged, and traffic crawled as copious downpours lashed the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. Some residents have been shifted to a municipal school in Netivali for safety, and arrangements for food and accommodation have been made, said Deputy Commissioner Sanjay Jadhav of the Kalyan Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC). Thane city recorded more than 100 mm of rainfall at 4.30 pm, said Yasin Tadvi, chief of the disaster management cell of the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC). Elsewhere in Thane district, rescue teams used boats to transport schoolchildren in Kalwa, where heavy flooding disrupted movement. Meanwhile, Navi Mumbai recorded 115.17 mm of rainfall from 8.30 am on August 17 to 8.30 am on August 18, with another 83.68 mm between 8.30 am and 5.30 pm. The city had earlier logged 134.68 mm and 105.70 mm of rainfall over the preceding two days. Despite the heavy downpour, officials said proactive measures kept the situation under control. Our teams are removing blockages in drains, deploying additional pumps, and monitoring tide levels. Citizens should remain indoors except for essential work and contact the civic helpline for emergencies, said Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation Commissioner Kailash Shinde. In the wake of heavy rains in Mumbai over the last few days, Vihar lake, one of the key sources of potable water for the metropolis, started overflowing on Monday afternoon, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) said. The lake, which has a storage capacity of 2,769.8 crore litres, is the sixth of the seven reservoirs, that supply potable water to Mumbai, to overflow, bringing relief to local residents. The lake, located in the Sanjay Gandhi National Park, overflowed at 2.45 pm , the BMC said. Last year, the lake started overflowing almost a month early, on July 25. A day before, another lake in Mumbai, Tulsi, overflowed following heavy rains in the city and suburbs. Mumbai receives 3,800 MLD (millions of litres per day) water from seven reservoirs -- Bhatsa, Upper Vaitarna, Middle Vaitarna, Tansa, Modak Sagar, Vihar and Tulsi -- located in Mumbai, Thane and Nashik districts. The scenic Powai lake in Mumbai also started overflowing earlier this year, but its water is not used for drinking purpose, BMC officials said.
EC should first give affidavit that voter list is clean, then we'll also follow: Congress
NEW DELHI: The Congress on Monday hit back at Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, saying that first the poll body should submit an affidavit in the Supreme Court that its voter list is clean and then it will also give an affidavit that there are irregularities in the existing list. The opposition party also alleged that Gyanesh Kumar sounded like a BJP spokesperson during his press conference in New Delhi. The Congress made the remarks a day after the CEC served a seven-day ultimatum on party leader Rahul Gandhi to submit a signed affidavit to back his claims, else his allegations will be considered baseless and invalid. Addressing a press conference along with party leader Kanhaiya Kumar during the Voter Adhikar Yatra here, Congress' media and publicity department head Pawan Khera said, As this yatra began, Gyanesh Kumar had to do a press conference. We got to know that there is a Chief Election Commissioner. Earlier, we used to think that there would be an Anurag Thakur, a Sambit Patra or a person named source making comments but we finally saw the CEC, Khera said in Daboor where the yatra took a lunch break. He (Gyanesh Kumar) threatened to give an affidavit. He would get scared of threats but we don't. They don't believe their own data, he said. Kanhaiya Kumar alleged that the BJP wants to do vote chori and steal the Constitution. Before the Lok Sabha polls, the BJP raised the slogan of 'Ab ki baar 400 paar' and some of their outspoken leaders removed the lid on the conspiracy to change the Constitution, he claimed. In Haryana and Maharashtra, opinion polls suggested that a Congress government would be formed but the opposite happened, Kanhaiya Kumar said. We asked for a machine-readable format but they refused. The EC kept saying that there is no problem but now they are saying that 'we are doing SIR to correct the issues in the voter list', he said. The EC itself is saying there is something wrong in the voter list, which means that it was lying before, Kumar said. When Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi gave proof of the irregularities in the vote' list, the EC asked him to file an affidavit, he said. It seemed a BJP spokesperson is speaking. And there was no reply given in the press conference, Kanhaiya Kumar said. We have found several irregularities. All BLOs (booth-level officers) are not getting forms filled door-to-door. The EC wants to give only data they are not bothered whether it is right or wrong. Dead people found mention in lists and living people are removed from it, he said. If the EC gives affidavit, we are also prepared to give an affidavit. They must show their papers first, Kumar said. Asked what sort of affidavit they should give, Kumar said the EC's paper is a voter list and it should give it in a machine-readable format. Give an affidavit in the Supreme Court that your voters list is clean and then we will also give an affidavit that there are irregularities in the existing voter list, he said. Talking about the problems being faced by the people in Bihar during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, Kanhaiya Kumar said when people find that their names are not there on the draft list, they go to the BLO, but that officer is not accepting the Aadhaar card as proof of identity. Kanhaiya Kumar said genuine voters were being harassed and cited his example that the spelling of his father's name differs in different documents due to which hurdles were being created. People are being harassed for small errors, he claimed. We want to ask that 65 lakh people were removed but they should also give data how many names have been added, Kanhaiya Kumar said. The intentions of the EC are not clear. It is busy highlighting the face of the supreme leader, the Congress leader said and demanded a clean voters list. If a government is formed through chori (theft) then such a government will not work honestly, the Congress leader said. SIR is a straightforward way of vote chori, he said, and urged people to come forward and fight against vote chori to save democracy. Kanhaiya Kumar said the BJP is rattled as we are getting people's support. In a post on X earlier, Khera said, The Election Commission of India wants us to believe that IN JUST SIX MONTHS between the 2024 Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha elections in Maharashtra: -- Close to 40% of the electorate died/ permanently migrated in Ramtek and Devlali assembly constituencies. Around 45% of the electorate suddenly became eligible to vote in Nashik West and Hingna assembly constituencies. Next they will announce that 2+2 = 420, he said, taking a swipe at the EC. In his first press conference after Gandhi levelled allegations of vote chori in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and several opposition leaders flagged issues about the revision of electoral rolls in Bihar, Gyanesh Kumar asked the Congress leader to either apologise or back his claims within a week with a signed affidavit as required under electoral rules. Give an affidavit or apologise to the nation. There is no third option. If an affidavit is not given within seven days, this means that all allegations are baseless, said Gyanesh Kumar, flanked by Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi. The remarks by the CEC came on a day when Gandhi-led opposition launched the 'Vote Adhikar Yatra' in Bihar and stepped up attack against the SIR of electoral rolls in the poll-bound state. The Congress and other opposition parties have been pressing the EC to provide a machine-readable digital copy of the Maharashtra voter lists, alleging irregularities in the 2024 state polls.
Maharashtra empowers districts to attract private capital in $1 trillion economy push
Maharashtra is implementing a 'District Strategic' plan to achieve a $1 trillion economy by 2028, tasking District Collectors with attracting private investment in emerging sectors. Each district has specific growth targets, like Nashik focusing on tourism and Jalgaon on agro-processing.
Raut Says No Power In Country Can Defeat United Thackerays
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut announced on Friday that Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray are considering contesting the upcoming municipal elections in Mumbai, Thane, Nashik, and other cities together.
Uddhav and Raj Thackeray will contest civic elections together, says Sanjay Raut
Sanjay Raut announced that Shiv Sena (UBT) and MNS will contest upcoming civic elections together in Mumbai, Thane, Nashik, and Kalyan-Dombivali, aiming to unite Marathi-speakers. Raut stated discussions are ongoing with MNS for an alliance. BJP leaders dismissed the announcement, questioning whether the Thackeray cousins had even spoken and accusing Sena (UBT) of only remembering Marathi voters near elections.
21-year-old Muslim youth, Suleman Rahim Khan, a resident of Chhoti Betawad in Maharashtras Jamner taluka was abducted, assaulted and brutally murdered by a mob on Monday, reported Maktoob Media . The mob also attacked the youth's family, including mother and sister, while trying to save him. According to the report, citing eye witnesses, the youth was abducted by a mob of 9-15 men from a cafe, just meters away from the Jamner police station, while he was allegedly with a 17-year-old-girl from another community. The youth was dragged by the mob to a vehicle and taken to different locations, assaulted and then dumped at the doorstep of his house. The attackers then assaulted Suleman's family when they tried to help the youth who was fighting for his life, leaving his father, mother and sister injured. Suleman was later taken to the Jalgaon District Hospital where he was declared dead on arrival. According to police, sticks, iron rods, and bare hands were used to assault the youth, causing fatal internal injuries. Suleman had recently completed his 12th standard and was preparing to join the police service. On the day of the attack, he had traveled to Jamner to submit his police application. There was not a single inch on my sons body without wounds. They left him battered. When we ran to save him, they turned their violence on me, my wife, and my daughter. Suleman was my only son. I will not rest until the culprits face the harshest punishment the law can give, exactly for what they did to him, Rahim Khan, father of Suleman was quoted as saying by Maktoob . The killing sparked protests in Jamner, with relatives and community leaders demanding strict action against the attackers including charges under Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA). Residents also staged a sit in protest outside the Jamner police station, demanding immediate arrests of the attackers. According to the report, Superintendent of Police Maheshwar Reddy informed that four people have been arrested so far, while five more suspects are being traced. We are still investigating the matter and cannot exactly say the reason for the attack at this time. The situation in Jamner is under control, and additional forces from the crime branch and Nashik Range have been deployed, the inspector was quoted as saying by Maktoob. The accused have been booked on charges of murder, kidnapping, rioting, and unlawful assembly under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Meanwhile, former AIMIM MP Imtiaz Jaleel alleged that the police had pressurized the family to conduct last rites before all the accused were arrested. Another case of mob lynching. 20 year old college student beaten to death in front of his parents and sister by goons in a villlage in Jamner taluka, Jalgaon on Monday afternoon. Suleman khan was attacked on the charge that he was talking to a girl from another community. Police now pressurising family to do last rites while family is demanding arrests of all accused, he wrote in a post on X.
CBI Busts Fake Amazon Tech Support Centre Operating In Maharashtra, 5 Arrested
The CBI has dismantled a clandestine syndicate of cyber criminals masquerading as Amazon technical support centre operational at a resort in Maharashtra's Nashik, arresting five Mumbai-based fraudsters, officials said.
CBI Busts Fake Amazon Technical Support Centre Operating From Resort In Nashik; 5 Arrested
New Delhi, Aug 10: The CBI has dismantled a clandestine syndicate of cyber criminals masquerading as Amazon technical support centre operational at a resort in Maharashtras Nashik, arresting five Mumbai-based fraudsters who were allegedly targeting US and Canadian citizens, officials said Sunday. The illegal enterprise comprising a coterie of six Mumbai-based fraudsters, named as accused in the FIR, operated in conspiracy with other unidentified bank officials and private individuals. They allegedly committed financial frauds by impersonation, making phishing calls from [] The post CBI Busts Fake Amazon Technical Support Centre Operating From Resort In Nashik; 5 Arrested appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
Three-Year-Old Boy Mauled To Death By Leopard, Sister Ties Rakhi Before Last Rites
In Nashik, Maharashtra, a three-year-old boy was mauled to death by a leopard while playing near his home. The tragic incident occurred just before Rakshabandhan.
One Student Killed, 11 Injured After Tomato-Laden Tempo Mows Them Down In Nashik
According to police, the tempo, heading towards Pimpalgaon, veered out of control and hit a group of students crossing the highway.
Nashik: Class X student faints after minor argument outside coaching centre, dies
A minor argument reportedly led to the death of a Class 10 student outside a private coaching centre in Ashok Nagar area of Satpur in Nashik late on Saturday, creating tension in the area, police said on Sunday.
Lt Col Purohit gets warm welcome as he returns home in Pune after acquittal in Malegaon blast case
Pune, Aug 3: Lieutenant Colonel Prasad Purohit, one of the seven accused acquitted by a court in the 2008 Malegaon bomb blast case, was accorded a grand welcome by his family members and supporters on his return home in Pune on Sunday. A special court in Mumbai on Thursday acquitted Purohit, former BJP MP Pragya Singh Thakur and five others, nearly 17 years after a blast in Malegaon town in Nashik district of north Maharashtra claimed six lives. While acquitting [] The post Lt Col Purohit gets warm welcome as he returns home in Pune after acquittal in Malegaon blast case appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
Political row erupts over Malegaon blast verdict
NEW DELHI/BHOPAL/MUMBAI/LUCKNOW : Following the acquittal of all accused in the Malegaon blast case, the BJP on Thursday accused the Congress of having concocted the theory of Hindu terror during its tenure in power, to allegedly thwart the political rise of Narendra Modi, who was then the Chief Minister of Gujarat. The BJP claimed the Congress devised this narrative as part of a strategy to appease Muslim voters. The Congress can go to any extent in its vote bank politics, stated former Law Minister and senior BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad at a media briefing. He demanded an apology to the nation from former Congress presidents Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi. Prasad demanded that those discharged from the case, including former BJP MP Pragya Singh Thakur and Lt Colonel Prasad Purohit, be compensated adequately. Thakur supporters celebrate In Bhopal, supporters of Pragya Thakur danced and distributed sweets after hearing the verdict. They want a grant celebration after Thakur returns from Mumbai to her B-29, 74 Bungalows residence in a couple of days. Five kilometres away, supporters burst crackers outside the residence of former CM Uma Bharti at 6, Shyamala Hills. She turned emotional, recounting her meeting with Thakur while the latter was incarcerated. Bharti recalled, I met Pragya at the Nashik Jail, when no one went there to meet her. A Maharashtra police officer had told me that she was tortured unimaginably. I was in tears while meeting her and still remember her confirming that she had been tortured beyond imagination. She called Thakur Durga, who preferred torture in custody to succumbing under pressure. Bharti pointed out, No ordinary woman could have tolerated such extreme torture. At Nashik Jail, she told me, tell all people, that Ill prefer dying and never allow Hindus and the colour saffron to get kalankit (tarnished). Bharti said thanks to the verdict, even I stand acquitted in the court of my soul. He stated, All those who coined the term saffron terrorism should now either apologise to the Hindus or jump into the Ganga or Narmada. Maha slugfest Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis posted on X, Atankwad bhagwa na kabhi kha, na hai, na kabhi rahega (Terrorism was never saffron, is not, and will never be). Deputy CM Eknath Shinde said the verdict was delayed justice, adding that bomb blasts were frequent when the Congress was in power for which innocents were framed. He said, Shiv Sena never had any doubt that the accused were falsely framed and would get justice. Colonel Purohit, Sadhvi Pragya and seven others have had to endure immense mental and physical torture due to this allegation. The Hindu people will never forget this injustice. A Hindu can never commit anti-national acts, because patriotism is a religious act for Hindus. On Fadnaviss reaction, Maharashtra Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant said, His tweet reveals his political mindset. This is precisely why questions have been raised about the attitude of the investigative agencies. These people view terrorism through a political lens as well. People associated with the BJP and RSS, for their political interests, had even called a brave officer like martyr Hemant Karkare a traitor. Sawant reacted to Fadvanis, saying, Was it due to this political mindset that Rohini Salian ji was asked to adopt a soft stance towards the accused and to slow down the pace of the investigation? Witnesses were offered inducements. A witness like Randhir Singh was even given a ministerial position in Jharkhand. However, this verdict is not surprising, as the NIA had already given a clean chit. Former CM Prithviraj Chavan of the Congress asked, The question remains, then why no one is guilty and convicted for this crime? Then, who killed these five people who died in the bomb blast? In contrast, Congress ally Shiv Sena of Uddhav Thackeray welcomed the verdict. While Thackeray did not react, his party party MLC and leader of Opposition said, Satya Mev Jayate truth has prevailed. Both factions of the Sena appeared to be on the same side on the verdict. Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut said, The NIA courts verdict has erased the stigma on Hindus today. There is no doubt that the slogan Garv se kaho hum Hindu hai will now be echoed a hundred times louder. Yogi takes shot at Cong Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said the Malegaon verdict was a reflection of the Congress partys anti-India, anti-justice and anti-Sanatan character. The exoneration is a living testament to the phrase Satyamev Jayate. The verdict again exposes the Congress which coined the false term, saffron terror, and defamed crores of Sanatan believers, saints, and patriots, he said. The case Trail Sept 27, 2008: An explosive device strapped to a motorcycle detonated near a mosque at Bikku chowk in Malegaon town Sept 29, 2008: An FIR was lodged at Azad Nagar police station at Malegaon Oct21 , 2008: Maharashtra Terrorist Squad (ATS) took over this case Nov 27, 2008: ATS chief Hemant Karkare was killed in a terrorist attack in Mumbai Oct 23, 2008: ATS made the first arrest in this case, namely Sadvi Pragya Singh as well as three other accused Oct 23, 2008: ATS arrested Lt Col Prasad Purohit for involvement and conspiracy Jan 20, 2009: ATS filed chargesheet and charged them under MCOCA & UAPA July 2009: The special court said that the MCOCA was not applicable in the case Aug 2009: Maha govt moved against the special court in Bombay High Court July 2010: Bombay High Court overturned the special court order and upheld the charges under MCOCA Aug 2010: Accused Pragya and Lt Colonel Purohit moved SC against the HC order Apr 13, 2011: NIA took over case and held Lokesh Sharma & Dhan Singh; total arrested 14 Apr 2015: The SC sent back the case to special court to reconsider the applicability of MCOCA Feb 2016: NIA told court that theyd sought AGs view and MCOCA was applicable May 2016: NIA filed another chargesheet in special court and asked to drop MCOCA against the accused and give a clean chit to all seven Apr 25, 2017: The Bombay High Court granted bail to Sadvi Pragya Singh but no relief to Lt Colonel Purohit Sept 21, 2017: Lt Colonel Purohit finally got the bail via the Supreme Court. Later all accused arrested in this case were granted bail Dec 27, 2017: The special court of NIA dropped the charge that the accused was a member of the terrorist organisation and raising funds for it Dec 3, 2018: The trail began with examinations of first witnesses Sept 14, 2023: Court examined 323 prosecution witnesses; 37 turned hostile July 23, 2023: The examination of defence witnesses were completed Aug 12, 2023: The special court recorded the final statement of accused Apr 19, 2025: The special court closed the trail for the judgment July 31, 2025: Special court judge LK Lahoti acquitted all seven accused
BHOPAL: A distance of five kilometres separates the official bungalows of two saffron-clad women politicians of the ruling BJP in Bhopal. But the celebrations at the residences of these two former Bhopal MPs, to mark the acquittal of one of them, Pragya Singh Thakur, in the 2008 Malegaon blast case , stood in sharp contrast. While Thakur was in Mumbai for the NIA courts judgment in the 17-year-old terror case, a handful of her supporters at the B-29 residence in the 74 Bungalows area danced to drumbeats and distributed sweets, awaiting her arrival in Bhopal two days later for the grand celebrations. Five kilometres away, outside the 6 Shyamala Hills residence of former Madhya Pradesh CM and ex-Union minister Uma Bharti, it was the sound of bursting crackers that marked the acquittal of Thakur and others in the blast case. Recounting her visit to Nashik Jail, where Thakur had been lodged, Bharti, who is considered one of the prominent BJP figures in the Ayodhya Ram Temple movement, turned emotional. I met Pragya at the Nashik Jail, when no one went there to meet her. A Maharashtra police officer had told me that she was tortured unimaginably. I was in tears while meeting her and still remember her having confirmed to me about having been tortured beyond imagination. I didnt carry anything for her it was she who had kept a garland for me, Bharti said. 2008 Malegaon blast: Mere suspicion can't replace real proof; no evidence for conviction, says court She is Durga (goddess), who preferred tolerating extreme mental and physical torture in custody, rather than succumbing under intense pressure. No ordinary woman could have tolerated such extreme torture. At Nashik Jail, she told me, tell all people, that Ill prefer dying and never allow Hindus and the colour saffron to get kalankit (tarnished), Bharti added while recounting her meeting with Thakur in the jail. Welcoming the NIA courts judgment, Bharti said the verdict had not just absolved Thakur and others from allegedly false charges, but had also given her personal relief. Even I stand acquitted in the court of my soul, she said. Bharti alleged that the 2008 blast incident had been deliberately chosen as part of a larger conspiracy to coin the term saffron terrorism as a counter-narrative against Islamic fundamentalism. Lies were added in the case, and those arrested were subjected to horrific torture just to force them to take certain names. Had they taken those names, then most office-bearers of nationalist organisations and most BJP leaders would have been put behind bars and subjected to similar torture, she alleged. All those who coined the term saffron terrorism should now either apologise to the Hindus or jump into the river Ganga or Narmada. The people now need to decide what extraordinary punishment should be given to those politicians, including P Chidambaram, Rahul Gandhi, Digvijaya Singh and those from left parties, for their deliberate attempts to create fear among Muslims for the consolidation of the minority communitys votes by creating the fake narrative of Hindu fundamentalism to counter Muslim fundamentalism, she added. 'Terrorism was never saffron': Fadnavis hails Malegaon blast verdict; BJP demands Rahul, Sonia Gandhi's apology
2008 Malegaon blast: Mere suspicion can't replace real proof; no evidence for conviction, says court
MUMBAI: A special court while acquitting seven accused in the 2008 Malegaon bomb blast case on Thursday observed mere suspicion cannot replace real proof and that there was no cogent or reliable evidence to warrant conviction. No religion teaches violence, the court said. Terrorism has no religion, but the court cannot convict on mere perception, it observed. There is also no evidence to prove that explosive substances were transported or stored by Lt Colonel Prasad Purohit in his house or that he had assembled the bomb, the court said. The judge also held that provisions of the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) were not applicable to the case as there was no proper application of mind before grant of sanction for the same. An explosive device strapped to a motorcycle went off near a mosque in the town, located about 200 km from Mumbai, on September 29, 2008 killing six persons and injuring 101 others. The court on Thursday acquitted the seven accused - former BJP MP Pragya Singh Thakur, Lt Col Purohit, Major Ramesh Upadhyay (retired), Ajay Rahirkar, Sudhakar Dwivedi, Sudhakar Chaturvedi and Sameer Kulkarni. Special judge A K Lahoti, presiding over National Investigation Agency (NIA) cases, while reading out the judgment said there was no eliable and cogent evidence against the accused that proved the case beyond reasonable doubt. The prosecution's case was that the blast was carried out by right wing extremists with an intention to terrorise the Muslim community in the communally sensitive Malegaon town in Nashik district. The court in its judgment flagged several loopholes in the prosecution's case and the investigation carried out, and said the accused persons deserved the benefit of doubt. Mere suspicion cannot take the place of real proof, the court said, adding that in the absence of any evidence, the accused persons deserve the benefit of doubt. The overall evidence does not inspire confidence in the court to convict the accused. There is no reliable and cogent evidence to warrant conviction, the judge said while reading out the judgment. The court further said it was not established that the motorbike used in the blast was registered in the name of Thakur, as claimed by the prosecution. The prosecution has proved that the blast took place but could not prove that the explosive was fitted in the motor bike, it observed. On the prosecution's case that the accused persons had attended several meetings in Bhopal and Nashik where the conspiracy for the blast was hatched, the court said no witness has supported this theory and hence, neither the meeting nor the conspiracy hatched could be proved. While there is evidence to show that money was distributed by right wing group 'Abhinav Bharat', there is no evidence to prove that the same was used to fund terrorist activities, the court observed. The money seems to have been used by Purohit for the construction of his house, it added. There is also no evidence to prove that explosive substances were transported or stored by Purohit in his house or that he had assembled the bomb, the court said.
On September 29, 2008, a bomb exploded in Malegaon, Nashik district, killing 10 and injuring over 100 people
NIA Court Acquits All Accused in Malegaon Blast Case
On September 29, 2008, six people were killed and several others injured when an explosive device strapped to a motorcycle detonated near a mosque in Malegaon City, Nashik.
Private hospital ordered to pay Rs 34 lakh compensation for delaying ICU treatment over consent
Wockhardt Hospitals in Nashik must pay 34 lakh to the father of a deceased patient. The consumer commission found the hospital negligent for delaying ICU admission. Ravindra Naidu died in 2010 after a nosebleed. His father alleged delayed ICU care. The hospital claimed the family refused ICU admission. The commission emphasized that emergency care is a right.
Software developer booked for GST evasion, house raided in Nashik
The Goods and Services Tax (GST) department raided the Nashik residence of software developer Shrikant Prasad Parhe, accused of tax evasion and generating fraudulent invoices. Authorities confiscated computers, documents, and an unlicensed firearm with ammunition.
IMD issues heavy rains alert for Konkan, hilly areas of Pune, Nashik, Satara
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for Palghar district, anticipating heavy to very heavy rainfall with extremely heavy downpours in isolated areas on July 26.
NEW DELHI: The Uttar Pradesh government has told the Supreme Court that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is deliberately spreading hatred through pre-planned actions, referring to his alleged remarks against freedom fighter Veer Savarkar during the Bharat Jodo Yatra in 2022. The government made this claim in an affidavit filed in response to Gandhi's Special Leave Petition (SLP), which seeks to quash a summons issued by a Lucknow lower court based on a criminal complaint by lawyer Nripendra Pandey. A two-judge bench of the top court, comprising Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice Manmohan, is scheduled to hear the matter. In its previous hearing on 25 April, the Supreme Court had stayed the Allahabad High Court's order refusing to quash the summons and had directed the UP government to file a response. The Yogi Adityanath-led government, in its affidavit, defended the summons and urged the court to dismiss Gandhi's appeal, stating, All the allegations are supported by the investigation, which indicates deliberate spreading of hatred through pre-planned actions. The affidavit claimed that the magistrate had thoroughly reviewed the case file, statements, and investigation report before issuing the summoning order under Sections 153A (promoting enmity between groups) and 505 (statements conducive to public mischief) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Nashik court grants bail to Rahul Gandhi in defamation case over remarks about Savarkar The affidavit described the Allahabad High Court's decision as legally sound and maintained that the apex court should not interfere. During a previous hearing, the Supreme Court had criticised Gandhis remarks on Savarkar, calling them irresponsible and cautioning him against making such statements in the future. Let us not mock our freedom fighters, the bench had warned, adding that further comments of this nature could attract suo motu action. The court also drew attention to historical correspondence, asking Gandhi whether he was aware that even Mahatma Gandhi had once signed off as your faithful servant in letters to the British, and questioned whether similar logic would then brand the Father of the Nation as a servant of the British. Defamation case for Savarkar remark: SC to hear Rahul Gandhi's plea on Friday The controversy stems from Gandhi's alleged remark during a rally in Maharashtras Akola district on 17 November 2022, where he referred to Savarkar as a British servant who received a pension. This led Advocate Pandey to file a criminal complaint in Lucknow, alleging that Gandhi had insulted Savarkar and incited social disharmony. The lower court, while issuing the summons, stated that the remarks had spread hatred and ill-will in society. Gandhis challenge to this order was dismissed by Justice Subhash Vidyarthi of the Allahabad High Court on 4 April this year, who noted that Gandhi could instead pursue a revision petition under Section 397 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. With no relief from the High Court, Gandhi has now sought intervention from the Supreme Court.
Rahul Gandhi granted bail in Savarkar defamation case
Rahul Gandhi has also appealed in the Nashik Sessions Court against the issuing of process by the additional chief judicial magistrate. The appeal will be heard next month
Nashik court grants bail to Rahul Gandhi in defamation case over remarks about Savarkar
MUMBAI: A court in Maharashtra's Nashik city on Thursday granted bail to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in a defamation case filed against him for remarks about Hindutva ideologue V D Savarkar during the Bharat Jodo Yatra in 2022. Appearing through video link before additional chief judicial magistrate R C Narwadia, Gandhi, the leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha, pleaded `not guilty'. Nashik-resident Devendra Bhutada, through his lawyer Manoj Pingle, has filed the criminal defamation case under sections 500 (defamation) and 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace) of the Indian Penal Code. After Gandhi pleaded not guilty, his lawyers sought bail. The court allowed the plea on a bond of Rs 15,000, said advocate Pingle. The complainant, director of an NGO, alleged that Gandhi, at a press conference in Hingoli and in a speech during his yatra in November 2022, made statements that harmed Savarkar's reputation. The speech of the accused along with press statements try to ruin the reputation of the complainant's idol Swatantryaveer Savarkar and his contribution to the society along with his noble work in the pre-independence period, the complaint said. Gandhi said that Savarkar prayed for release with folded hands and later on promised to work for the British government, it alleged. Gandhi is also facing a defamation case in Pune, filed by Savarkar's grandnephew, over his statements about the late Hindutva ideologue.
Nashik court grants bail to Rahul Gandhi in Savarkar defamation case
A Nashik court granted bail to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in a defamation case filed by Satyaki Savarkar, V.D. Savarkar's grandnephew, over remarks made in the UK in 2023. Gandhi pleaded not guilty to the charges under Section 500 of the Indian Penal Code. The court has scheduled July 29 as the date to begin recording evidence in the case.
'Don't know how to play rummy,' says Maharashtra minister; rejects resignation demand
NASHIK: Maharashtra Agriculture Minister Manikrao Kokate claimed on Tuesday that he never played rummy on his mobile phone as alleged by opposition parties and rejected demands to step down, stressing that a trivial issue was blown out of proportion. The Nationalist Congress Party leader warned of legal action against politicians who defamed him by sharing his video. A political storm erupted on Sunday after NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar posted a video clip of Kokate purportedly playing rummy on his mobile phone during the monsoon session of the state legislature. On Monday, Pawar's colleague Jitendra Awhad posted two videos, claiming Kokate was playing 'Junglee rummy' on his mobile phone during the monsoon session. Amid the growing clamour for Kokate's resignation, NCP state president Sunil Tatkare on Monday said the party head and Deputy CM Ajit Pawar will take a serious note of the video and talk to the minister accordingly. I don't know how to play online rummy. One needs an OTP, and a bank account needs to be linked to play the game. One can check if my mobile phone is linked to any such game. I was trying to skip a game which popped up on my screen for 10 to 15 seconds, Kokate told a press conference here. Asked about demands for his resignation, the minister retorted, Tell me what has happened for which the resignation has been demanded. Have I molested someone? Have I stolen something or decided against farmers? Do I have a criminal background? Kokate said he will sue the opposition leaders who tried to defame him by circulating only a part of the video. They haven't shown the full video. It would have cleared the facts. This is a small issue and it has been stretched too far, he added. The NCP leader said he would write to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, his deputy Ajit Pawar, and the legislative assembly speaker to conduct a thorough inquiry into the matter. Fadnavis slams Agriculture Minister for playing rummy during Assembly; Opposition releases two new videos If the video is proved right, I will tender my resignation. The CM or Deputy CM can give a statement during the winter session of the state legislature, and I will tender my resignation to the Governor without even meeting the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister, Kokate added. Fadnavis on Monday expressed his disapproval over Kokate's video clip. Responding to the chief minister's remarks, Kokate said, The CM's reaction is based on media reports. It's true I didn't brief him. Kokate asserted that he has been following the rules and regulations of the state legislature for the last 25 years. Kokate, who represents the Sinnar constituency in Nashik district, is not a stranger to controversies. His remarks had embarrassed the NCP in the past. A huge row erupted in April when Kokate stated that farmers do not spend money received from agriculture schemes on intended purposes, but instead use it for engagement ceremonies and weddings. As his remarks drew condemnation, he expressed remorse and tendered an apology. Earlier this year, Kokate had allegedly compared farmers to beggars, inviting severe criticism. Even a beggar does not take Re 1 in alms, but here we are giving crop insurance for Re 1. Even then, some people try to misuse it, he had said. Kokate is also facing legal trouble. A magistrate court in Nashik district had convicted Kokate and his brother, Sunil Kokate, on the charge of submitting fake documents to secure flats under a government quota, and sentenced them to two years of imprisonment. Their conviction was stayed by the district court on March 5.
Maha to probe honeytrap allegations after Cong demand
The Maharashtra government has promised to investigate allegations of a honeytrap racket targeting state officials in Thane, Nashik, and Mumbai, following demands from a Congress MLA for a formal statement in the assembly.
Maharashtra Assembly was in uproar after Congress leader Nana Patole alleged a honeytrap scandal involving government officials and politicians. Patole claimed to possess evidence on a pen drive, raising concerns about sensitive information falling into the wrong hands. The opposition staged a walkout, demanding a thorough investigation, while the government assured to look into the matter.
7 Die As Their Car Collides With Motorcycle In Nashik, Bikers Injured
Seven people, including three women, three men, and a two-year-old child, were killed in a road accident in Maharashtra's Nashik on Wednesday when their car collided with a motorcycle. The two individuals on the motorcycle sustained serious injuries.
7 Killed, 2 Injured In Car-Bike Collision In Nashik
Seven persons were killed and two others seriously injured after a car collided with a motorcycle in Maharashtra's Nashik district, police said on Thursday.
7 People, Including Women And Child, Killed In Car-Bike Collision In Nashik
Seven people were killed in the road accident between a car and a bike in Nashik, officials said.
Seven killed in car-motorbike collision in Maharashtra's Nashik
NASHIK : Seven persons were killed and two others seriously injured after a car collided with a motorcycle in Maharashtra's Nashik district, police said on Thursday. The accident took place late Wednesday night near Dindori town in the district, they said. The police received an alert at 11.57 pm about the incident which took place near a nursery on Vani-Dindori road, an official said. When the police reached the spot, the two vehicles were found fallen in a small canal alongside the road, the official said. Seven persons were killed and two others suffered serious injuries, the police said. After being alerted, police and other agencies reached the spot and launched a rescue operation.
Job Market Momentum Growing In Non-Metro Tier-2 And Tier-3 Cities: Report
The Cities on the Rise report, by professional network platform LinkedIn, identifies Visakhapatnam, Ranchi, Vijayawada, Nashik, and Raipur as the fastest-growing non-metro hubs where professional opportunities are accelerating.
Sula Vineyards Q1 Update: Revenue Declines 8%, Wine Tourism Continues To Rise
The Nashik-based company's wine tourism segment garnered a revenue of Rs 13.7 crore, up 21.8% as against Rs 11.3 crore in the year-ago period.
IAF pilot Lokendra Singh Sindhu killed in Rajasthan jet crash had become a father a month ago
CHNADIGARH: Squadron Leader Lokendra Singh Sindhu, one of the two Indian Air Force (IAF) pilots who were killed in a crash of a Jaguar fighter jet near Churu in Rajasthan on Wednesday, had become father a month ago and the family in Haryana had been in celebration mode before the tragedy struck. Sindhu, hailing from Kheri Sadh village in Haryana's Rohtak, spoke with his family through a video call on Tuesday evening and just hours before the incident took place, he exchanged messages with his family, enquiring about general welfare. Some of Sindhu's family members, who spoke to reporters in Rohtak on Thursday, said the family was celebrating the birth of the pilot's son who was born exactly a month ago on June 10, but no one knew what fate had in store. Flight Lieutenant Rishiraj Singh (23) was the other IAF pilot who was killed in the crash on Wednesday morning. After the incident, the IAF said a court of inquiry has been constituted to ascertain the cause of the accident. A function had been organised by Sindhu's family on June 30 in connection with the birth of his child which he had attended. He rejoined the duty the next day, his family members said. His grandfather Balwan Singh said Sindhu leaves behind his wife, a month-old son, a brother, a sister, his parents and grandparents. He has one child, who turned one month old on July 10, Singh said. We shared a good bond and all those memories are flashing back now, said his grandfather about Sindhu. Sindhu's brother Gyanendra said that when he came to know about the jet crash through the media he called up his brother-in-law in Nashik, who is a wing commander. Praising Sindhu and expressing pride for him, Gyanendra said that his brother ensured that the ill-fated jet was taken away from any civilian population on the ground. He tried to take it to a safe place to avoid human casualties, but in doing so the aircraft lost height and he could not eject from it, Gyanendra said. He was very skilful and his reflections were very sharp...., he said. I spoke to him a day before over video call. It was his niece's birthday and everyone was celebrating, he said.
Ajit Pawar Writes To Gadkari Over Poor Condition Of Maharashtra Highways, Seeks Urgent Repairs
The deputy chief minister said the PuneNashik and NashikMumbai routes had turned into accident-prone stretches due to potholes and unfinished construction work
Mumbai is bracing for heavy rainfall. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued warnings for Mumbai, Konkan, and western Maharashtra. An orange alert is in place for Thane, Raigad, Ratnagiri, and Sindhudurg. A red alert is issued for Pune district's ghat areas. Nashik, Satara, and Kolhapur's hilly regions also face orange alerts. Konkan region is expected to receive significant rainfall.
9 Airbags In Rs 1.5 Crore SUV But One 'Mistake' Leads To Nashik Businessman's Death In Crash
As another speeding vehicle splashed water onto the windshield of the SUV, the driver's visibility was momentarily lost. In those crucial seconds, the vehicle veered out of control
Nashik SHOCKER! Husband cheats many people by wearing police wife's uniform
Maharashtra police have arrested an impersonator who cheated many people here by wearing the uniform of his wife who is a police officer.
MoRTH to frame IRC guidelines after adopting new-age machines for faster highway construction
NEW DELHI: After the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) decided to adopt Automated and Intelligent Machine-aided Construction (AIMC) for highway development to ensure timely project completion, it announced that Indian Roads Congress (IRC) guidelines will be prepared based on feedback from contractors and concessionaires. The ministry has already sanctioned atleast 16 projects, where innovative machines will be used. According to the officials, Cabinet approval is awaited for 10 projects envisaged for implementation of AIMC system. With a significant growth in the national highways network including a significant increase in Greenfield and Brownfield highways with high embankments requiring a significant amount of earthwork and proper compaction in the last one decade, it has been felt appropriate to induct AIMC in highway construction, said officials. The decision to formally adopt the system was taken after evaluation of efficacy in a pilot; Lucknow-Kanpur Expressway Project, where in GPS-aided Motor Grader, Intelligent Compactor and Stringless Paver were used. The ministry also took into consideration the feedback from stakeholders and international guidelines and specifications. The ministry has also sought feedback on adoption of AIMC to formulate IRC guidelines, added officials. Officials added that the ministry would facilitate the concessionaire or contractor with the required license for the radio frequency range from the Department of Telecommunication (DoT) for the use of machines. The list of projects, which are already sanctioned, includes Western Bypass Gwalior (29 kms), 6-lane Greenfield Ludhiana Bypass (25 kms), Deoghar Bypass (49 kms), Shillong-Silchar Corridor (167 kms), Vrindavan Bypass (15 kms) and Patna-Arrah-Sasaram (125 kms) in Bihar. The projects which have been submitted for the Cabinet approval are Satellite Township Ring Road of Bengaluru (STRR) Karnataka (144 kms), BadveI Nellore Corridor (108 kms) in Andhra Pradesh, 4-lane access controlled Sirhind-Sehna section of NH-205AG (107 kms) in Punjab, and Nashik-Ahmednagar- Solapur-Akkalkot segment of the Surat-Chennai Expressway (374 kms). The ministry, in December, sought feedback from roads construction agencies, public work departments in states and union territories and other stakeholders on the proposal for adoption of the construction facilitated by innovatory. The benefits of AIMC are expected high adherence to design specification, improved rideability, performance durability and longevity and reduced wastage as well. The technology-driven construction also increases productivity, helps in real-time documentation, brings better transparency and minimises human interventions.
Rs 3,700 Crore, 8 New Roads & Amrit Snan: Maharashtra Begins Preparations For Nashik Kumbh Mela
The upcoming Nashik Simhastha Kumbh Mela 2027 will witness a significant traditional change, as the age-old practice of 'Shahi Snan' will be replaced with 'Amrit Snan'
Centre Clears Multi-Crore Highway Overhaul In Maharashtra Ahead of Nashik Kumbh 2025
With lakhs of devotees expected to arrive in Nashik, the government is reinforcing and expanding road networks connecting Nashik to cities like Mumbai, Pune, Palghar & Dhule
Roads connecting Nashik to be upgraded ahead of Simhastha Kumbh Mela: Fadnavis
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced that all roads leading to Nashik will be upgraded before the Simhastha Kumbh Mela, scheduled to begin on October 31, 2026. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has granted in-principle approval for the development and construction of necessary road infrastructure to manage the expected surge in devotees.
Heavy Rain Alert For Some Maharashtra Districts; Rivers Flowing Above Danger Mark
Orange alert warning of heavy rains was sounded for Thane, Raigad, Mumbai, Nashik, and Ratnagiri districts along with Ghats of Satara district. The alerts will be valid till 8.30 am on July 20.
BJP takes into its fold man it said had ties with '93 blast convict
Despite past accusations of ties to a 1993 bomb blasts convict, former Shiv Sena (UBT) Nashik unit chief Sudhakar Badgujar joined BJP, prompting internal dissent within the party's Nashik unit. The induction occurred after Badgujar's expulsion from Shiv Sena (UBT) and a meeting with Devendra Fadnavis, with senior BJP leaders welcoming him despite initial claims of unawareness.
HAL Tejas Program Back On Track? First Nashik Built Mk 1A Variant Likely To Fly Next Month
Eight killed as heavy rain, lightning lash Maharashtra; red alert issued for coastal districts
MUMBAI: At least eight persons were killed, mostly due to lightning strikes, as heavy rains pummelled parts of Maharashtra, officials said on Sunday. The weather department has issued a red alert for the coastal districts of Ratnagiri and Raigad and an orange alert for Palghar, Thane, and Sindhudurg, and ghat areas of Pune, Satara and Kolhapur, they said. Teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) have been stationed for rescue operations. As per the state disaster management report, Ratnagiri recorded the highest rainfall at 88.1 mm, followed by Raigad with 65.3 mm, Sindhudurg with 43.8 mm, Thane with 29.6 mm, and Yavatmal with 27.5 mm, in 24 hours ending at 11 am. According to authorities, eight people have lost their lives, and 10 have suffered injuries in different parts of the state. Fatalities, mostly due to lightning strikes, were reported in Mumbai, Sindhudurg, Dhule, Nashik, Sambhajinagar, Nandurbar, and Amravati, they said. Among major rivers in the Konkan region, the Jagbudi River in Ratnagiri district is flowing above the warning level, and Khed, Alsure, Chinchghar and Prabhuwadi villages on its banks may be affected if the water level rises, the disaster management report stated.
Ordinance Issued To Set Up Special Authority For Nashik Kumbh Mela
State issues ordinance forming 22-member Kumbh Mela Authority chaired by Nashik Divisional Commissioner Dr. Pravin Gedam; empowered to plan, approve, and oversee 4,065 crore in projects for 2026 event.
Maharashtra government hikes liquor taxes to raise 14,000crore in annual revenue
MUMBAI: The Maharashtra state cabinet on Tuesday approved a significant increase in excise duty on liquor, aiming to boost revenue by approximately 14,000crore per year . The state cabinet approved the Excise Departments recommendations after a secretary-level study group reviewed best practices from other states. The group proposed measures to expand liquor production, streamline licensing, and enhance excise duty and tax collection. Key decisions approved by the cabinet Excise duty increases: Indian-Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) up to 260 per bulk litre will now be taxed at 4.5 the declared production cost, up from the previous 3. Country liquor duty has increased from 180 to 205 per proof litre. New Maharashtra-Made Liquor (MML): A new category of grain-based foreign liquor, to be produced exclusively by Maharashtra distillers. Manufacturers must register their MML brands separately. Revised minimum retail prices for 180ml bottles: Country liquor: 80 MML: 148 IMFL: 205 Premium foreign liquor: 360 Licensing amendments: Sealed foreign liquor shops (FL-2) operating under lease agreements will incur a 15% increase in annual license fees. Hotel/restaurant licenses (FL-3) on the same basis will face a 10% fee hike Strengthening the excise department: An AI-enabled integrated control room will monitor distilleries, bottling units, wholesalers, and other operations. A new divisional office dedicated to Mumbai (city and suburbs) will be established, along with six additional superintendent offices in Mumbai suburbs, Thane, Pune, Nashik, Nagpur, and Ahilyanagar. Recruitment of 1,223 new staff: 744 regular and 479 supervisory positions.
3 Central Varsities to Work Together to Revamp Sanskrit Education
This was discussed at the fourth Utkarsha Samaroh (excellence ceremony) held at Central Sanskrit University in Nashik on Monday.
Sena (UBT) expels a party leader, two days after his meeting with CM
Sudhakar Badgujar had a meeting with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on June 2 in Nashik where he expressed his displeasure over the functioning of Shiv Sena (UBT) and claimed that about a dozen other leaders have been unhappy with the party.
Nashik Kumbh Mela 2027 to Begin with Flag Hoisting on October 31, 2026
Maharashtra govt announces Amrit Snan dates; major bathing rituals in August and September 2027
Nashik-Trimbakeshwar Simhastha Kumbh Mela to begin on October 31, 2026
The Simhastha Kumbh Mela held once in twelve years, will commence on October 31, 2026, with a flag hoisting at Trimbakeshwar and Ramkund in Nashik and wrap up on July 24, 2028.
Dates set for Nashik-Trimbakeshwar Simhastha Kumbh Mela
The flag will be taken down on July 24, 2028, which will mark the conclusion of the Simhastha Kumbh Mela, which is held once in 12 years.
Nashik Kumbh Mela schedule out but suspense over guardian minister pick continues
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis addresses the Nashik guardian minister issue. He indicates unresolved differences among ruling allies. The post is crucial for the upcoming Simhastha Kumbh Mela. Fadnavis emphasizes that administrative work proceeds smoothly. He urges against politicizing the religious event. Earlier appointments were stayed due to reported disputes. Key leaders have previously held the position.
Simhastha Kumbh Mela to begin in Nashik-Trimbakeshwar on October 31 next year; CM chairs meet
The Simhastha Kumbh Mela 2026-2028 dates were announced, commencing on October 31, 2026, and concluding on July 24, 2028. Key events include 'Nagar Pradakshina' on July 29, 2027, and three 'Amrut Snan' dates in August and September 2027. The Maharashtra government has allocated significant funds for infrastructure development, including sewage treatment and land acquisition, to ensure a well-organized event.
Recreating Bal Thackeray's voice and making Saamana anchor, Sena (UBT) banks big time on AI
Shiv Sena (UBT) is increasingly using AI for upcoming Maharashtra civic polls. The party recreated Bal Thackeray's voice using AI at a Nashik event. Saamana, Shiv Sena (UBT)'s mouthpiece, introduced 'Tejasvi AI', Marathi media's first AI anchor. Anil Desai, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP, uses AI for data analysis. Aaditya Thackeray is credited for promoting AI use within the party.
Private nursing college principal held on charges of molestation
Nashik police apprehended a 40-year-old nursing college principal in Dwarka for allegedly molesting a minor student from a Scheduled Tribe. The principal is accused of inappropriate touching, soliciting sexual favors, and pulling the victim's dupatta over several months. Following the initial complaint, three more students have come forward with similar accusations, leading to additional charges and arrests.
Mumbai Diary | Rahul soothes frayed tempers in Mumbai Congress
Rahul Gandhi recently held a meeting with Mumbai Congress leaders where leaders expressed displeasure over the working style of incumbent Mumbai Congress president Varsha Gaikwad. They complained that, although they had fully cooperated with her in the Lok Sabha elections, she did not reciprocate during the state assembly elections. Besides, after the polls, no leader was consulted while chalking out the partys programs. Rahul Gandhi patiently listened to them and told them that the Congress party is the natural glue, so they should also work as a cohesive unit, not as separate entities within the party. No end to grand old partys electoral woes After losing the assembly elections, Congress in Maharashtra is trying to bounce back, but its half-hearted efforts under the leadership of political light-weight Harshvardhan Sapkal are not paying off. Therefore, the party cadre is looking at credible secular options either close to power or in power. Several senior Congress leaders and their supporters are in talks with the NCP, led by Deputy CM Ajit Pawar. Most party leaders do not see their future with the Congress, as it has slipped below a 10% vote share. It has been observed in several states, such as UP, Bihar and Tamil Nadu, that it is nearly impossible to bounce back once the Congress vote share dips below 10%. Mundes search for solace continues Silence is the best option when everything is chaos around you. This is concerning NCP MLA and former minister Dhanjay Munde. He had to resign after his close aide Walmik Karad was found to have been the mastermind in the Massajog sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh murder case. Since then, Munde has been seeking solace. Having lost the ministership, he also holds no key position in the party. He reportedly joined a fortnight-long Vipassana course at Igatpuri near Nashik, where he has to do something challenging for politicians to achieve: maintain silence for 8-10 hours during daily meditation and eat only Satvik food. Sudhir Suryawanshi Our correspondent in Maharashtra suryawanshi.sudhir@gmail.com
Uddhav's leader threatens to blacken Rahul's face for...
A local Shiv Sena (UBT) leader has threatened to blacken Rahul Gandhi's face for his remarks about freedom fighter Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, sparking a strong reaction from Congress leaders in Maharashtra. The threat, made by Bala Darade, a deputy city unit chief of the Uddhav Thackeray-led party in Nashik, could put the opposition alliance Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) under strain. The Congress leadership has condemned the threat, stating that their party believes in non-violence but is capable of responding to such threats.
Sena (UBT) Leader Threatens to Deface Rahul Over Savarkar Remark
The remark by Bala Darade, a deputy city unit chief of the Uddhav Thackeray-led party in Nashik, could put the opposition alliance Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) under strain
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Nirmala Gavit joins Eknath Shinde's party
Along with Nirmala Gavit, more than a thousand women workers from Nashik district joined the Shiv Sena in Eknath Shinde's presence
Jindal Poly Films Gets Closure Notice From Industrial Safety Department
A major fire broke out at Jindal Poly Films' plant at Nashik on May 21. The smoke had been continuously rising from the plant for the last six days.
