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The six-lane greenfield project corridor is to improve travel efficiency, and it is expected to cut travel time by 17 hours and reduce the travel distance by 201 km.
Cabinet approves construction of six-lane Nashik-Solapur-Akkalkot corridor at 19,142 crore
The project will provide connectivity to important regional cities such as Nashik, Ahilyanagar, Solapur connecting to Kurnool, an official statement said
Cabinet greenlights two highway projects worth Rs 20,668 crore
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved two major highway projects. These include the Nashik-Solapur-Akkalkot Corridor and the widening of NH-326. The total cost for these infrastructure developments is Rs 20,668 crore. This initiative will enhance connectivity between key cities in Maharashtra and beyond. It aligns with the PM Gatishakti National Master Plan principles for integrated transport development.
The Union cabinet approved highway projects totaling Rs 20,668 crore, including a significant Rs 19,142 crore six-lane greenfield NashikSolapur corridor.
Cold wave-like conditions in interior Maharashtra; Ahilyanagar the coldest
Several cities in western and central Maharashtra experienced chilly mornings. Pune recorded a minimum temperature of 8.6 degrees Celsius, while Nashik registered 8.8 degrees Celsius. Jeur in Solapur district reported a low of 8.0 degrees Celsius, and Baramati recorded 9.3 degrees Celsius
Maharashtra civic polls: Counting of votes begins
Counting of votes for the elections to the posts of president and members in 286 municipal councils and nagar panchayats across Maharashtra began on Sunday. The counting began at 10 am at centres across the state. A turnout of 67.3 per cent was recorded in the polls of 263 local bodies held on December 2, while 47.04 per cent of voters exercised their franchise in the second phase of the elections in 23 local bodies on Saturday, the State Election Commission said. The final voter turnout figure will be shared later in the day, officials said. Members and presidents of Dondaicha Municipal Council in Dhule and Angar Nagar Panchayat in Solapur were elected unopposed, and the polls for the post of Jammer municipal president also remained a no-contest affair. In some places, the ruling alliance partners, including the BJP, Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, and Ajit Pawar's NCP, are contesting against each other. The poll battle became multi-dimensional with the BJP-led Mahayuti and the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) locking horns, interspersed by friendly fights among the alliances.
103-year-old road overbridge dismantled at Solapur Yard
Complex operation completed with minimal disruption in passenger train services, says Solapur Division
Solapur division dismantles 103-year-old ROB in record time
The Solapur Division of Central Railway successfully dismantled a 103-year-old Road Over Bridge at Solapur Yard in just 12 hours 45 minutes. The operation improved safety, boosted capacity and ensured minimal disruption to key passenger trains
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is among the 29 municipal corporations in Maharashtra to which elections will be held on January 15, Wednesday. The counting of votes is scheduled for January 16, Friday, the State Election Commission (SEC) announced on Monday. Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Thane, Pune, Nashik, Nagpur and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar are among the other prominent civic bodies going to polls. He reportedly confirmed that the election code of conduct has now come into force in all 29 local bodies. As many as 2,869 seats in these municipal corporations will be up for grabs in these local bodies, where elections are due since early 2022. Maharashtra State Election Commissioner Dinesh Waghmare said the nomination process will begin on December 23, Tuesday with candidates allowed to make their submissions for a week until December 30. Scrutiny of papers will be done on December 31, and January 2, Friday, will be the last date of withdrawal of nominations, he said. Symbol allocation and the final list of candidates will be published on January 3. Polling in the 29 municipal corporations spread across Maharashtra will take place on January 15 and votes will be counted the next day, news agency PTI quoted Waghmare as saying. He said these 29 civic bodies, including the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), have 2,869 seats on offer and 3.48 crore voters are eligible to exercise their franchise in these major urban centres of the state. After long and tiring political blame games and court battles, the Supreme Court had finally given the deadline of January 31 to conduct the polls, reported Marathi media. Full list of local bodies heading to polls: BMC Pune Municipal Corporation Nagpur Municipal Corporation Solapur Municipal Corporation Kolhapur Municipal Corporation Thane Municipal Corporation Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation Nashik Municipal Corporation Aurangabad Municipal Corporation Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation Amravati Municipal Corporation New Mumbai Municipal Corporation NandedWaghala Municipal Corporation Ulhas Nagar Municipal Corporation Sangli-Miraj-Kupwara Municipal Corporation Malegaon Municipal Corporation Bhiwandi-Nizampur Municipal Corporation Akola Municipal Corporation Bhayander Municipal Corporation Ahmednagar Municipal Corporation Dhule Municipal Corporation Jalgaon Municipal Corporation Vasai-Virar Municipal Corporation Parbhani Municipal Corporation Chandrapur Municipal Corporation Latur Municipal Corporation Panvel Municipal Corporation Ichalkaranji Municipal Corporation Jalna Municipal Corporation Dates to remember: Application submission window: December 2330, 2025 Application scrutiny: December 31, 2025 Last date for withdrawal of candidature: January 2, 2026 Election symbol allocation and release of final candidate list: January 3, 2026 Polling date: January 15, 2026 Counting of votes: January 16, 2026
Caught On Camera: Bike-Borne Men Steal Luggage From Moving Bus In Maharashtra
Police in Beed beefed up highway security after robberies on the SolapurDhule highway after a viral video shows theft near Beed.
Indian Railways announces new stops for Vande Bharat Express on Pune-Hubli and CSMT-Solapur routes at Kirloskarwadi and Daund stations. The move enhances regional connectivity, offering passengers faster, premium travel. The future Vande Bharat 4.0 aims to set global standards in rail technology.
Five Killed, Three Seriously Injured As Truck Collides With Car In Maharashtras Solapur
A truck and car collision in Maharashtras Solapur district killed five people instantly and left three others seriously injured, who were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.
Maharashtra Minister and BJP leader Jaykumar Gore on Saturday urged women voters to remain loyal to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in the upcoming civic body polls, citing the government's Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin scheme. Addressing a poll rally in Solapur, the state Rural Development Minister advised women to accept money from whoever offers it, but to vote only for the BJP-led alliance. You don't even get Rs 100 from your husbands. Devabhau (Fadnavis) introduced the Ladki Bahin Yojana and gave you Rs 1,500. If he is not in power, the money will stop coming into your accounts, he told women at the gathering. Take money from anyone; it does not matter. But don't vote for them. When you cast your votes, don't forget the Rs 1,500 given by Devabhau. Stay loyal, he said. Even brothers, while gifting money to their sisters during Raksha Bandhan, take approval from their wives, he said. Taking a swipe at Mahayuti allies, the minister said that although some parties in the ruling dispensation claim that the treasury is with them, the final approval lies with the BJP. The elections to 246 municipal councils and 42 nagar panchayats will take place on December 2, and votes will be counted on December 3. More than 1.07 crore voters will elect 6859 members and 288 municipal presidents. (With inputs from PTI)
Eluru police arrest elusive criminal in POCSO Act cases
The team traced the accused at Solapur in Maharashtra
Maharashtra Teen Changes Instagram Bio To End Is Beginning, Dies By Suicide
An 18-year-old boy from Maharashtra's Solapur died by suicide after posting a end is beginning note on Instagram.
Pune techie arrested by Anti-Terrorism Squad over suspected link with Al-Qaeda
MUMBAI: The Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), on Monday, arrested a 33-year-old software engineer, identified as Zubair Hangargekar, from Punes Kondhwa area for his alleged links with Pakistan-based Al-Qaeda and involvement in the radicalisation of youth. According to ATS officials, Zubir Hangargekar, who had been under surveillance for nearly a month, was taken into custody early on Monday and produced before a special UAPA court, which remanded him to police custody till November 4. Mr Hangargekar has been booked under the provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). Hangargekar is a B Tech graduate, software tester ,and database developer working with a Kalyaninagar-based IT firm, hails from Solapur and lives in Pune with his wife and two children. ATS teams tracked him down to Pune Railway Station upon his return from an event in Chennai. Hewas detained along with his associates in Pune.They were in Chennai to attend a social function. The ATS official say, the arrest is connected to an ongoing investigation stemming from raids conducted on October 9 across multiple locations in Pune, during which 19 laptops and 40 mobile phones were seized for forensic analysis. The searches had hinted at the existence of a wider terror network involving radicalised individuals. The ATS said the investigation into Hangargekars activities is underway, and more arrests could follow as digital evidence from seized devices is analysed. A senior ATS officer said searches at Hangargekars residence led to the recovery of incriminating Al-Qaeda literature and digital material used for radicalisation. The officer added that investigators are probing whether the accused was in contact with Al-Qaeda operatives or members of other extremist organisations, and what he intended to do with the material in his possession. The arrest follows a series of recent operations targeting radical networks in India. Earlier this month, two individuals, Md Adnan Khan alias Abu Muharib (19) from Delhi and Adnan Khan alias Abu Mohammad (20) from Bhopal, were arrested in an Islamic State (IS)-related case. Investigations revealed that the duo had been radicalised online and were reporting to a handler based in Syria, indicating the continued online resurgence of global terror groups such as ISIS and Al-Qaeda. As per intelligence officials, while these groups lack strong physical bases in India, their digital outreach and radicalisation efforts have intensified, with India-focused operations allegedly coordinated from Syria.
Maharashtra woman doctors suicide: Main accused sub-inspector arrested
MUMBAI: Police Sub-Inspector Gopal Badane, the main accused in the rape and harassment case linked to the suspected suicide of a lady doctor in Maharashtra , surrendered on his own at Phaltan rural police station on Saturday late at night. The suspended PSI is the main accused in this case.He was on a run for the last 36 hours. His last location was traced at Pandharpur in Solapur district.He will be produced in the court today. The Satara Police had on Saturday, early morning, arrested a techie, Prashant Bankar , the second accused. The Phaltan court granted the police custody of the accused till October 28. Gopal Badane was on night duty at Phaltan police station when the rape and suicide of the doctor surfaced. Following a public outrage, Badane ran away and was absconding for the last 36 hours. It was alleged that the police were helping Badane to be in safe locations. Following the incident and public outrage, Satara district police had formed two teams, one of which arrested Prashant Bankar from a friends farmhouse in Satara on Saturday morning. Maharashtra doctor who died by suicide had complained against MP, police; opposition seeks SIT probe A 26-year-old woman doctor in Phaltan, Satara district, Maharashtra, died by suicide after leaving a seven-line note on her palm. In it, she accused police sub-inspector Gopal Banade of repeatedly raping and sexually exploiting her, and alleged that her landlords son, Prashant Bankar, harassed and tortured her. She stated that both mentally tortured her for four months. She also alleged in her earlier statement before an inquiry committee that she was pressurised to change medical reports and give fake fitness certificates. Meanwhile, Bankar's family members refuted all allegations, claiming he is innocent and was framed in this case. They said they are confident that once the case is probed fairly, the truth will come out. The suicide note stated that PSI Gopal Badane raped her four times. It also alleged that, besides being sexually assaulted by the police officer, she was pressured by powerful individuals, including an MP and his aides, to issue fake medical fitness certificates for the accused. She wrote that the harassment escalated when she refused to comply. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis called the incident very painful. The doctor had to write on her palm before committing suicide; it is a shameful incident, he said. He added that the government will not spare anyone, and all the guilty will be arrested and punished. Oppositions should not play politics over this tragic issue. They should respect the sentiment, said Fadnavis. Ambads Danve, Shiv Sena (UBT) MLC and leader of the Opposition, state legislative council, sharing the complaint letter of the lady doctor on the social media platform X, said that the lady doctor has ended her life due to the failed and corrupt system. The letter shared by Danve revealed that despite repeatedly complaining to senior officers by the deceased lady doctor to the Superintendent of Police (SP) and Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), no action was taken against the culprit. He said that the lady doctor had complained several times about how she was harassed and tortured by being called and pressuring her to change postmortem reports and giving fake fitness certificates. The local Lok Sabha MP and BJP MLA are also harassing this lady doctor; therefore, the call records of this doctor and their conversation have to be probed to get the truth and facts of this case. The call records' details will reveal many things. But Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and his deputies are busy in politics and buying votes by distributing lollipops and chocolates. The ruling party beats drums about their Ladli Bahin scheme, but no sister is safe and secure in Maharashtra; this is the harsh reality of the state, Danve alleged.
BJP Steps Up Induction Drive Ahead Of Maharashtra Local Body Polls
The developments have triggered concern within the NCP camp. Sensing growing unrest in the party fold, Mr. Bharne convened an urgent meeting with party office-bearers at Tembhurni in Solapur.
He has been brought to Bengaluru for questioning
41K displaced, 65L acres of crops damaged in Maharashtra
MUMBAI: More than 41,000 people were displaced and crops over 65 lakh acres of land were damaged amid the torrential rains across Maharashtra. According to a state disaster management report, 156 people were displaced in Thane, 36 in Palghar, 13,724 in Solapur and 38 in Nasik district. Moreover, 25 people were displaced in Jalgaon district, 3,497 in Ahilya Nagar, 8,029 in Sambhaji Nagar, 8,500 in Jalna, 2,000 in Beed, 3,957 in Dharashiv, 85 in Parbhani and 1,020 in Nanded district. A total of 41,067 have been displaced across Maharashtra. The state government has set up 4,167 temporary shelters for them.
Maharashtra: Deadline to fill class 12 exam forms extended till Oct 20
The Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education has extended the Class 12 exam form submission deadline to October 20 due to heavy rainfall and floods in Marathwada, Nashik, Solapur, and Ahilyanagar.
KKCCI delegation presses for extending Solapur Vande Bharat up to Kalaburagi
Jayant Patil said he visited several flood-affected villages in Solapur, Dharashiv and Beed districts over the past two days and found that landless farm workers have suffered severe losses
Mumbai Rains Live Updates: Heavy rains lash Mumbai, IMD issues heavy rain alert till September 30
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday reviewed the rainfall situation and ongoing relief operations in eight Marathwada districts and Solapur, and directed officials to intensify field-level efforts.
Tempo Loses Control On Pune Highway, 1 Dead; Horrific Accident Caught On Camera
One person was killed in a horrific crash between two tempos on Pune-Solapur National Highway.
KKRTC to operate 500 extra buses to clear Dasara rush
These extra services will run from district, taluk centres in Kalyana Karnataka to Bengaluru and Tuljapur in Solapur district of Maharashtra
Marathwada Flooded: Highways Shut, Trains Slow Down As Villages Go Underwater
In Solapur district, 16 villages in Madha taluka are surrounded by floodwaters from the Sina river, while in Dharashiv, the Manjara river has overflowed after torrential rain
Five killed in Maharashtra rains; Cabinet approves aid of 2,215crore for farmers
The most affected districts in Maharashtra are Dharashiv, Beed, Solapur, and Ahilyanagar
100% rainfall for 20 Maharashtra dists, crops damaged
MUMBAI: Farmers of Maharashtra bore the brunt of excess rainfall this season, as 20 districts received more than 100% rainfall. Over 63 lakh acres of standing crops have been damaged. The government is yet to assess the total damage. Agriculture minister Duttatray Bharane said, The government has released financial assistance for crop loss to farmers. The funds will be directly credited intofarmers accounts from next week. The state agriculture department said the 20 districts are Thane, Palghar, Solapur, Sangli, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Jalna, Beed, Latur, Dharashiv, Nanded, Parbhani, Hingoli, Buldhana, Akola, Wasim, Yavatmal, Wardha, Nagpur, Chandrapur, and Gadchiroli.
One killed, 14 stranded in floodwaters as heavy rains wreak havoc in Maharashtra
The fatality occurred due to a lightning strike in Nanded district; while 12 people were stranded in Dharashiv district, two others were trapped due to flooding of the Sina river in Barshi of Solapur district
Surekha Yadav, Asias first woman loco pilot, to retire after 36 years of service
NEW DELHI: Come 30 September, Surekha Shankar Yadav, Asias first woman locomotive pilot, will retire after 36 years of dedicated service. Currently working in the Central Railways Mumbai division, Yadav holds the distinction of being the continents first woman to operate a locomotive. Hailing from Satara, a village in Maharashtra, she joined the railways on 13 February 1989 as the first woman loco pilot. At present, she serves as a loco pilot (mail) under Central Railways. Throughout her remarkable career, Yadav has worked in various capacities - shunting, goods, motorwoman, and recently, mail and express trains. She is not only credited with being Asias first woman loco pilot but also the first woman to operate goods trains, EMUs, and iconic services such as the Deccan Queen, the Pushpak Express, and, most recently, the Vande Bharat Express (SolapurCSMT on 13 March 2024). Yadavs pioneering work and dedicated service have been recognised at both national and institutional levels. In 1998, she received the Jijau Puraskar, followed by the Women Achiever Award in 2001, the Rashtriya Mahila Aayog Award in 2002, the Lokmat Sakhi Manch Award in 200304, the Sahyadri Hirkani Award in 2004, the Prerna Puraskar in 2005, the Central Railway Woman Achiever Award in 2011, and the Railway GM Award in both 2011 and 2017. ED (I&P) Dileep Kumar said, Over 36 years of service, Surekha Yadav has shattered stereotypes and paved the way for women in railway operations. From being the first woman Assistant Loco Pilot to commanding Indias prestigious trains like the Deccan Queen, Rajdhani Express, and Vande Bharat Express, she has consistently exemplified professionalism, precision, and safety. He described Yadavs journey as a beacon of empowerment and inspiration for more than 1,600 Loco Pilots across Indian Railways, motivating future generations of women to pursue careers in Indian Railways and beyond. Kumar added, Surekha Yadavs story is not just about driving trains, its about driving change, breaking barriers, and proving that no dream is too distant. The entire railway fraternity regards her as a trailblazer who broke barriers and inspired countless women by becoming Asias first woman loco pilot. Her journey will forever remain a symbol of womens empowerment in Indian Railways, Central Railway her employer zone remarked in a post.
Solapur Divisions first KAVACH trial run carried out between Dhavalas-Bhalwani
Key safety features, including prevention of Signal Passing at Danger, and generation of emergency alerts, tested
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.
Maharashtra Married Man, Blackmailed By Lover, Found Dead In Car With Bullet In Head
A 38-year-old married businessman, Govind Jagannath Barge, was found dead inside his car with a gunshot wound to the head in Maharashtra's Solapur district.
CM Devendra Fadnavis seeks report on Ajit Pawar-IPS officer exchange
MUMBAI: Days after a massive political row erupted in Maharashtra over a viral video showing Deputy CM Ajit Pawar threatening a female IPS officer Anjana Krishna over an anti-mining operation in Solapur, CM Devendra Fadnavis has ordered a probe into the matter. Fadnavis has sought a report in this regard from the district collector of Solapur. He said he would be able to comment on the incident only after he receives the report. Oftentimes, the claims made by locals dont align with briefings by officers. Sometimes, we are fed incorrect information. Therefore, it has to be verified at the local administrative level through a ground report. I have asked the district collector to submit a report on the incident, he said. 'How dare you': Ajit Pawar rebukes IPS officer who acted against illegal sand quarrying in Solapur; video goes viral
43-year-old Nepal national held for supplying Indian SIM cards to Pakistan ISI operatives
NEW DELHI: Delhi Police Special Cell has busted an espionage module and arrested a 43-year-old Nepal national for allegedly supplying Indian SIM cards to Pakistani ISI operatives, officials said on Tuesday. These SIMs were being used from across the border for espionage and other anti-India activities through social media platforms like WhatsApp. The investigation has revealed that the accused came into contact with ISI handlers in 2024 through a Nepali intermediary. He was lured with promises of a US visa and opportunities in journalism abroad. In return, he was tasked with supplying Indian SIM cards and collecting information related to DRDO and Army establishments. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Special Cell) Amit Kaushik said that on August 28, a tip-off was received that a person, associated with ISI handlers, was present in Vijay Block, Laxmi Nagar. A trap was laid and the accused was apprehended, who was later identified as Prabhat Kumar Chaurasiya, a resident of Birganj in Nepal. During questioning, the accused revealed that he had procured 16 SIM cards using his Aadhaar credentials and sent them to Nepal, of which 11 SIMs were being operated on WhatsApp from Lahore, Bahawalpur, and other parts of Pakistan by ISI operatives, the DPC said. Digital devices containing incriminating material and multiple SIM cards envelopes were recovered from the accused. Using his Aadhaar card registered at Latur, Maharashtra, he procured SIM cards from telecom stores in Bihar and Maharashtra. These SIMs, after activation, were smuggled to Kathmandu, Nepal, through conduits and were subsequently handed over to ISI handlers. WhatsApp accounts registered on these SIMs were operated from Pakistan to establish contact with Indian Army personnel and to pursue other sensitive espionage objectives, Kaushik stated. Chaurasiya completed his Class XII in Nepal, pursued intermediate studies in Bihar, and later obtained a B.Sc. degree in Information Technology along with a diploma in computer hardware and networking. Professionally, he worked in the pharmaceutical sector across Pune, Latur, Solapur, and Delhi as a medical representative and area sales manager. In 2017, he set up Neo Terminal and Logistics Company Pvt. Ltd., Kathmandu, Nepal which collapsed due to heavy financial losses. In Kathmandu, he came into contact with ISI operatives. Out of desperation to go abroad, he not only agreed to supply Indian SIM cards, but also agreed to collect sensitive Indian defence-related information for ISI operatives, police said.
The 2022-batch IPS officer, presently Sub-Division Police Officer, Karmala in Solapur district of Maharashtra, grew up in a modest household in Thiruvananthapuram
Ajit Pawar viral video: Party MLC seeks probe into selection of Anjana Krishna as IPS officer
After Maharashtra deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar drew flak over his threat to IPS officer Anjana Krishna in a video that went viral, his party MLC Amol Mitkari has raised questions over her selection through the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). In a letter on Friday to the UPSC secretary, Mitkari asked for scrutiny and verification of her educational qualifications, caste certificate, and other documents. The investigation is needed to ensure proper scrutiny of official records because doubts are raised over Ms Anjana Krishnas selection in UPSC. The commission should carry out an in-depth probe at its level and verify the facts and reality, he said. Talking to the media, Mitkari drew a parallel between Krishna and the controversial former IAS trainee officer Pooja Khedkar, whose documents were obtained fraudulently. The UPSC should carry out the probe and bring the truth into the public domain, he added. This follows the viral video in which Ajit Pawar can be heard threatening Krishna over the phone when she failed to recognise his voice. The incident took place on Thursday evening when Krishna, serving as a sub-divisional police officer, visited Kurdu village in Solapur following complaints of illegal excavation of murrum, a material used in road construction. IPS officer row: Sharad Pawars NCP (SP), family split over action against Ajit Pawar The video shows local NCP worker Baba Jagtap calling Ajit Pawar and handing the phone to Krishna. During the call, Krishna told the caller she could not confirm if she was speaking to the Deputy Chief Minister and asked to be contacted directly on her official number. I can understand what you are saying, but I am unable to figure out if I am talking to the Deputy Chief Minister. Can you please call me at my number directly? the IPS officer said. Pawar, reportedly angered by her response, later made a video call to Krishna and instructed her to stop the action against the soil excavation. Krishna said she had not realised she was speaking to Pawar. He then asked if she could recognise him by face. I will take action against you. I am talking to you, and you are asking me to call you directly. You want to see me. Take my number and make a WhatsApp call. How dare you? Pawar said. After the video went viral, Pawar said that his intention was not to interfere with law enforcement but to ensure that he situation on the ground remained calm and did not escalate further. I have the highest respect for our police force and its officers, including the women officers who serve with distinction and courage, and I value the rule of law above all. I remain firmly committed to transparent governance and to ensuring that every illegal activity, including sand mining, is dealt with strictly as per the law, he added.
IPS officer row: Sharad Pawars NCP (SP), family in split over action against Ajit Pawar
MUMBAI: Former Union Minister Sharad Pawars NCP (SP) and the Pawar family stand divided over defending Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar after a video surfaced showing him rebuking a woman IPS officer for acting against illegal sand quarrying in Solapur district. Opposition demanded action against DCM Ajit Pawar, but Sharad Pawar led NCP SP MLA and newly appointed general secretary, Rohit Pawar, came to the rescue of her uncle Ajit Pawar. Defending Ajit Pawar, NCP SP leader Rohit Pawar said that there are many issues in the state, such as farmers' loan waiver, damage caused by unseasonal rains, but instead of discussing these critical issues, unfortunately, more discussion seems to be happening about the conversation between the female police officer and Ajitdada over sand quarrying. He said, In reality, even if Ajitdada speaks casually, a new person meeting him might feel that he is angry or upset. But Ajitdada's working style, nature, and straightforwardness have been known to the entire Maharashtra for the past 35-40 years. In the Solapur incident, the concerned IPS lady officer is also not at fault in any way, Rohit Pawar said. My intention was not to interfere with law enforcement: Ajit Pawar on viral IPS officer call He further alleged and blamed this controversy on the Mahayuti alliance partners. It appears that the friendly parties themselves are attempting to deliberately give a different spin to the conversation in Ajitdada's phone call and target him. Even though we are in opposition, my nature has always been to call a spade a spade, so Ajitdada should take note on this occasion of how our own friends are setting a trap. However, we will continue to draw the government's attention to the real issues without adding fuel to unnecessary controversies, Rohit Pawar. Other hand, senior NCP SP Lok Sabha MP and daughter of Sharad Pawar and cousin sister of Ajit Pawar, without taking Ajit Pawar's name, asks Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to take cognisance of the BJP-led Mahayuti government DCM intimidating and attacking a lady IPS officer. She said, The member of the ruling dispensation attacking the credentials of IPS Anjana Krishna is a grave assault on our Constitution. When elected officials orchestrate character assassination, it undermines the Rule of Law, Article 14 & 311. Ms Sule further said, Such systematic targeting of a woman officer violates constitutional guarantees of gender equality also. All members of the Executive must be protected from political intimidation to uphold the 'Idea of India' our Constitution enshrines. We expect that appropriate action will be taken to preserve the dignity of public office and independence of the civil services, Ms Sule added, tagging the Prime Minister's office (PMO), Home Ministry and and Maharashtra CM Dev_Fadnavis.
Ajit Pawar Clarifies on Solapur Police Row, Denies Interference
Deputy CM stresses respect for police, rule of law; vows strict action against illegal activities including sand mining
Ajit Pawar Reacts To Viral Video Of Phone Call To IPS Officer: 'Was Ensuring Situation On Ground...'
Ajit Pawar issued this statement after a video clip of him having a heated discussion with an IPS officer, who was taking action against alleged illegal excavation of soil in Solapur, went viral.
No intention to interfere, was trying to defuse situation: Ajit Pawar on 'rebuking' IPS officer
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar faced criticism after a video surfaced showing him seemingly rebuking a woman IPS officer for acting against illegal soil excavation in Solapur. Pawar clarified he aimed to de-escalate a tense situation, not interfere with law enforcement.
'Intention Wasn't To Interfere But...': Ajit Pawar On Viral Woman IPS Video
Following a huge controversy over him hreatening a woman police officer who was cracking down on illegal excavation in Maharashtra's Solapur, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar has said he was only trying to prevent an escalation in the situation.
My intention was not to interfere with law enforcement: Ajit Pawar on viral IPS officer call
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar has responded to a viral video showing him purportedly rebuking a woman IPS officer over a phone call, asserting that his intention was not to interfere with law enforcement but to ensure that the situation on the ground remained calm and did not escalate further. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Pawar said his attention had been drawn to the circulating videos regarding his interaction with police officials in Solapur. I have the highest respect for our police force and its officers, including the women officers who serve with distinction and courage. I value the rule of law above all, he wrote. He added that he remains firmly committed to transparent governance and to ensuring that every illegal activity, including sand mining, is dealt with strictly as per the law. . , , Ajit Pawar (@AjitPawarSpeaks) September 5, 2025 The controversy erupted after a video surfaced online showing Sub-Divisional Police Officer Anjali Krishna being allegedly rebuked by Pawar over a phone call. Krishna was reportedly taking action against individuals involved in illegal excavation of 'murrum' soil in Solapur. In the viral clip, Pawar is heard instructing her to stop the action and inform the tehsildar that it had been stopped on his orders. - CM - IPS DCM !! pic.twitter.com/CMouSgl7Dc Gaurav Singh Sengar (@sengarlive) September 4, 2025 Earlier, the Nationalist Congress Party had clarified that Pawar did not intend to completely halt the action. Krishna, a 2022-23 batch IPS officer from Kerala, did not recognize Pawars voice in the initial call and asked him to contact her on her official number. When he identified himself as the Deputy Chief Minister, she insisted on continuing the conversation only via her official line. Pawar allegedly reacted angrily, warning her, How dare you talk to the DCM in such a way? I will take action against you so that you remember my face. He then reportedly video-called Krishna, directing her not to take action against the illegal sand quarrying and to coordinate with the town revenue officer. No police complaint has been lodged regarding the incident so far. The viral video has drawn sharp criticism from opposition leaders. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut said the footage indicates that honest officers taking action against illegal activities are being intimidated. Raut alleged that Pawar and Chief Minister Eknath Shinde joined the BJP to protect their alleged illegal businesses and interests, and called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to take action against Pawar. (With inputs from ENS)
Maharashtra's Deputy CM Ajit Pawar faced criticism after a video surfaced showing him allegedly reprimanding a female IPS officer for taking action against illegal soil excavation in Solapur. Pawar clarified that his intention was to maintain calm and not interfere with law enforcement, emphasising his respect for the police force.
Who Is Anjana Krishna, IPS Officer At Centre Of Viral Phone Call With Ajit Pawar
An investigation into the allegations of illegal excavation for road construction in Solapur brought IPS officer Anjana Krishna at loggerheads with Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar.
A video has surfaced from Solapur district showing Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and NCP president Ajit Pawar purportedly reprimanding a woman IPS officer during action against illegal 'murrum' soil excavation.
How Dare You? Ajit Pawar's Exchange With Woman IPS Officer Over Excavation
Ajit Pawar was purportedly heard speaking to a woman IPS officer, Anjana Krishna, who was taking action against the illegal excavation of soil in Solapur.
Indian Railways rolls out biometric sign-on system for TTEs
NEW DELHI: In a first, Indian Railways has introduced a new biometric sign-on and sign-off system for its ticket checking staff, marking a significant step towards modernising railway operations and enhancing accountability. The first digital TTE lobby of Indian Railways also became operational at Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyay Junction under the East Central Railway on August 29 this year. According to the Railways, this innovative system has already been successfully implemented in the Banaras Division of Northern Railway, Sonpur Division in East Central Railway, Ratlam Division in Western Railway, and TTE lobbies at CSMT, Pune and Solapur in Central Railway. It is also operational in Malda Division in Eastern Railway, Mysore Division in South Western Railway, Bhopal in West Central Railway, and Madurai, Palghat, Trichy in Southern Railway, along with the Kota Lobby in West Central Railway. Additionally, it is being phased in across various divisions of the North Central Railway, North Eastern Railway, and North Western Railway zones. The Jammu Division of Northern Railway is set to roll out the system shortly. ED I&P, Railways Ministry, Dileep Kumar said, The new system integrates biometric authentication with the Ticket Examiner (TTE) Lobby system, allowing staff to authenticate themselves using an Aadhaar-enabled biometric device. This ensures a tamper-proof, transparent, and privacy-compliant attendance process that accurately records working hours and duty status in real time. He outlined the objectives of the biometric system, stating that authentic attendance will ensure that attendance records are accurate and verifiable. He said that the system will also provide real-time data on staff availability and duty status, allowing for more efficient management. He further mentioned that the system also offers effective monitoring of working hours and lobby operations. He added that the system integrates with Hand Held Terminals (HHTs) and duty rosters for streamlined staff deployment. Detailing the initiative, Kumar said that the implementation of this system is a testament to Indian Railways commitment to improving efficiency and transparency. The biometric sign-on/off system will not only streamline staff deployment but also significantly enhance the overall efficiency, transparency, and accountability of the ticket checking staff, ultimately improving the experience for all passengers, he said.
