The police investigation found the company had two directors, but only one of them was named as an accused; the Court submission stated that the son of the Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra wields influence
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], September 11: Turakhia Opticians, Mumbai's premier destination for luxury eyewear, has announced the expansion of its flagship store at Shop No. G-2A, Prime Mall, Irla Road, Opposite Alfa, Vile Parle West, Mumbai - 400056. The expanded store features a first-of-its-kind dedicated space for uber-luxury sunglasses and optical frames, bringing some of the world's most coveted and exclusive international eyewear brands to Mumbai under one roof.
Gujarat couple digitally arrested for five days defrauded of Rs 13 lakh; accused held from Delhi
Digital Desk | Surat, Sep 11 (IANS) The Surat Cyber Crime Branch has arrested a 35-year-old man from Delhi for allegedly helping a cyber fraud network that digitally arrested a man and his wife for five days and made them transfer Rs 13 lakh on the pretext of verifying their bank accounts, police said on Friday. The arrested accused has been identified as Afaq Alam Ansari, an equipment supplier residing in Malad West, Mumbai, and originally from Bijnor district in Uttar Pradesh. Police said he was traced to Delhi following a technical investigation. According to the police, the accused involved in the case contacted the complainant through phone and video calls and claimed that a SIM card had been obtained in his name and that a Canara Bank account had also been opened using his details. They allegedly told him that large financial transactions had been carried out through the account. The accused allegedly sent the complainant a fake identity card bearing the logos of Mumbai Police and Maharashtra Police, along with purported letters from the Central Bureau of Investigation, the Financial and Crime Branch, Mumbai Department, the Reserve Bank of India and the Supreme Court of India. They allegedly told the complainant that the Canara Bank account in his name had been used in a money laundering and fraud case involving Naresh Goyal and that his own involvement in the case had also emerged. The accused further threatened that an arrest warrant had been issued and that he would be arrested if he failed to cooperate with the investigation. The complainant and his wife were allegedly kept under digital arrest for five days. The accused then told them that the money in their bank accounts had to be transferred for verification. Acting on their instructions, the complainant transferred a total of Rs 13 lakh to different bank accounts. A case was registered at the Cyber Crime Police Station under Sections 308(7), 204, 205, 336(2), 338, 336(3), 340(2), 61(2) and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, and Sections 66(C) and 66(D) of the Information Technology Amendment Act, 2008. Police said Alam had formed a firm in his own name, showing a Delhi address, and opened a current account with Yes Bank in the firm's name. He allegedly handed over the bank account to an absconding accused in exchange for a commission of Rs three lakh. Investigators found that transactions totalling Rs 1,05,37,721 had taken place in Alam's current bank account between December 6, 2025 and January 21, 2026. A check of the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCCRP) also revealed three complaints from different states linked to the account, involving alleged fraud of Rs 2,43,03,521. The police appealed to people not to share personal or banking information with individuals claiming to be police or government officials through video or audio calls. Police said officials do not digitally arrest or interrogate people by asking them to download Skype or other video-conferencing applications, nor do they demand money as a fine. Police also advised people not to transfer money to accounts provided by persons impersonating police officers or other officials, even if they show arrest warrants or other documents online.
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], September 11: PayU, India's leading diversified fintech platform, announced the launch of its Agent HQ, an AI agent store for Indian SMB merchants, where they can choose and deploy an agent for each job in commerce - from making their business discoverable to AI shopping agents and driving growth, to simplifying payment-related everyday operations and powering their own conversational AI experiences.
Pune, Maharashtra, India Business Wire India
Nashik Kumbh Preparations Get Rs 1,800 Crore Push From Maharashtra Government
Tragic Road Accident in Bhandara Claims Lives of Nine, Including Three Children
A horrific accident in Bhandara, Maharashtra, results in the deaths of nine passengers, including three children, as a Bolero collides with a stationary truck. Tragic Road Accident in Bhandara Claims Lives of Nine, Including Three Children
DRI seizes gold worth Rs 3 crore at Mumbai airport, four arrested
Digital Desk | Mumbai, Sep 11 (IANS) In continuation of its operation against smuggling of precious metals, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has seized gold dust worth over Rs five crore and arrested four people, including two staffers, from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai, officials said on Friday. An official statement said that 3.5 kg of gold dust worth Rs 5.5 crore has been seized by the DRI, leading to the arrest of four people, including two staffers at the airport and two transit passengers. According to officials, the accused were allegedly part of an international gold smuggling syndicate operating through the airport in Mumbai. In a similar operation last month, the DRI seized gold worth over Rs three crore from a train passenger at Nagpur in Maharashtra. Upon receiving a tip-off that gold, smuggled across the India-Bangladesh border, was being transported further by train, a DRI Nagpur team conducted an operation at Nagpur Railway Station and detained a passenger. An official statement said that the passenger was arrested with 2.165 kg of gold. The estimated value of the seized gold is reported to be Rs 3.09 crore. According to the intelligence received, the gold had been smuggled into India via the India-Bangladesh border. DRI officials subsequently learned that the gold was to be transported to its next destination by an individual travelling on the 12102 Dnyaneshwari Express. Acting on this information, DRI Nagpur officials laid a trap at Nagpur Railway Station. The passenger was searched upon his arrival at the station, during which the concealed gold was discovered. Officials seized 16 gold bars from the accused passenger. The DRI recently conducted six significant operations in different locations across the country, resulting in the seizure of two leopard pelts, 180 live Indian Star Tortoises, 12 live Tokay Geckos, around 24 kg of pangolin scales and 500 grams of tiger bones. At least 13 persons were arrested across these six operations. DRI officers intercepted a person in Jeypore, Koraput district, Odisha, and recovered one leopard pelt from his possession. The leopard pelt and the apprehended person were handed over to the State Forest Department, Koraput, for further investigation and legal action under the Act.
Tukaram Mundhe-led Maharashtra FDA raids 11 food units in Thane, seizes Rs 20.48 lakh material
Maharashtra FDA has intensified food safety enforcement across the state. Eleven food manufacturing units in Thane were raided, seizing products worth over twenty lakh rupees. Licenses for prominent eateries in Mumbai and other cities were suspended due to major violations. The administration also took action against dark stores and dairy suppliers for hygiene issues. Further actions will continue against those violating food safety laws.
8, Including 3 Children, Killed In Truck-Pickup Van Collision In Maharashtra
Eight people, including three children, were killed in a road accident in Maharashtra's Bhandara district early this morning, police said.
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Eight Killed in Road Accident in Maharashtra's Bhandara District
The victims were coming to Nagpur from Chhattisgarh capital Raipur via National Highway 53, he added.
Eight dead, including three children, in truck and pickup collision in Maharashtra
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Three children among eight killed in truck-SUV crash in Maharashtras Bhandara
Eight individuals, including three children, died in a tragic accident early Friday. The collision involved a Bolero SUV and an Eicher truck near Manegaon. This unfortunate incident occurred around 4 am in Maharashtra's Bhandara district. The victims were traveling from Raipur, Chhattisgarh, towards Nagpur on National Highway 53. Police officials confirmed the fatalities at the accident scene.
PM Modi expresses grief over Nanded accident, announces ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh for victims families
Digital Desk | New Delhi, Sep 11 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday expressed sadness over the loss of lives in a road accident in Maharashtra's Nanded and announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh from the Prime Ministers National Relief Fund (PMNRF) for the next of kin of each deceased. PMO India took to social media 'X' and said, Saddened by the loss of lives due to a mishap in Nanded, Maharashtra. My thoughts are with the bereaved families in this hour of grief. Praying for the speedy recovery of the injured. An ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of each deceased. The injured would be given Rs. 50,000: PM Narendra Modi. Earlier, at least six people were killed and eight others critically injured after a passenger van collided head-on with a truck on the Nanded-Bhokar road in Maharashtras Nanded district on Thursday evening, police said. The accident took place at around 7 p.m. near Sitakhandi Ghat, an official said. The van was travelling from Nanded towards Bhokar when it collided with the truck. The impact left the van mangled, the police official said. Local residents rushed to the spot following the accident and helped pull the injured out of the wreckage. The injured were subsequently shifted to nearby hospitals for emergency treatment. Among those killed were Syed Almas of Bilal Nagar in Bhokar, Sheikh Firoz of Bhokar, Pandurang Laxman Waghmare and his wife, Laxmibai Pandurang Waghmare, of Syed Nagar, and Balwan Pawar of Potatanda village in Taluka Hadgaon. Police have not yet identified one of the deceased. Some of the injured were stated to be in critical condition, the official said. Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the collision, including how the van and truck came into contact on the road. Further details are expected as the investigation progresses. Officials have not yet provided information on whether factors such as road conditions, visibility, vehicle speed or mechanical failure contributed to the accident. The accident occurred on the day of the Pola festival, triggering panic in the area. Local residents and rescue teams rushed to the spot after the crash, while police arrived and began managing traffic and rescue operations.
BRICS Summit: Delhi faces traffic curbs as 15,000 police personnel deployed
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Maharashtra: 6 dead, 8 critically injured in van-truck collision near Nanded
The accident took place at around 7 pm near Sitakhandi ghat, a police official said. The Tata Magic passenger van was travelling from Nanded towards Bhokar when it collided with an oncoming truck
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Arvind Sawant Defends Hindutva as a Foundation of Unity Amidst Political Criticism
Arvind Sawant responds to claims about Hindutva, emphasizing unity over hatred in a political debate in Maharashtra. Arvind Sawant Defends Hindutva as a Foundation of Unity Amidst Political Criticism
Maharashtra CEO Clarifies Draft Voter List is Not Final Amid Concerns
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'Healthy competition' helps Tanya Chaudhary set national record in hammer throw
Digital Desk | New Delhi, Sep 11 (IANS) A healthy competition with fellow trainee Anushka Yadav proved beneficial for Tanya Chaudhary of Uttar Pradesh as he set the national record in women's hammer throw in the Indian Athletics Series Final in New Delhi. It was like the fulfilment of a dream for Tanya, and the fact that she set a new mark just before the upcoming Asian Games was like icing on the cake as the 22-year-old took the spotlight on the opening day of the meet on Thursday. Day One of the prize-money meet saw two national records being set in the hammer throw, with Tanya achieving the feat that she has been chasing for the past three years. Tanya achieved her quest by improving the national record in the womens hammer throw as she hurled the iron ball to a distance of 68.35m, improving the national record of 65.25m, which was set by Sarita Singh in 2017. My previous personal best is 63.91m. I have done 65m-plus two or three times (at the inter-university level), but those were not official. Now, I am able to do it (break the national record). It is a new beginning, she said. Normally, I used to be nervous. But I was focused on my technique today. Tanya, who trains along with Anushka at the same ground at Bhagpat in Uttar Pradesh under different coaches, said the healthy competition helped her move forward. We both are from the same ground. So, there is healthy competition between us. So, it is good for both of us to move forward. Though Tanya could not breach the Asian Games qualifying mark, she has made it to the team for the mega event in Aichi-Nagoya in Japan and is looking forward to continuing the momentum in Japan. It was because of injury. Now I feel I will do better. I had multiple injuries at the same time: a hamstring injury and a stress injury in the femur bone. The injuries were going on since January. In the men's section, Delhis Nirbhay Choudhary recorded a throw of 71.02m, which was better than the previous national record of 70.73m set by Neeraj Kumar in 2016. The other major attraction for Indian athletics fans was the successful return to action by Avinash Sable in the men's 3000m steeplechase. Sable, representing Maharashtra, won the steeplechase in a time of 8 minutes 32.39 seconds in his first race in the distance in more than a year. Spotlight was also on 400m runners as the top six finishers in the mens race clocked below 46 seconds. Top three in the womens 400m race also dipped below 53 seconds. I will do better and win a medal at the Japan Asian Games, said Vishal TK, winner of the gold medal and national 400m record holder, in the post-race interaction. Maharashtras promising sprinter Harita Bhadra, winner of the womens 100m dash, said the Indian Athletics Series Final was good preparation for the Asian Games. It was a good experience for me to race in the 100m dash with the top sprinters, Harita added. Odishas Animesh Kujur won both the 100m and 200m dash in the mens section. Results: Men: 100m: Animesh Kujur (Odisha) 10.21 seconds, Gurindervir Singh (Punjab) 10.32 seconds, Rushiprasad Desai (Maharashtra) 10.33 seconds. 200m: Animesh Kujur (Odisha) 20.59 secs, Jishnu Prasad (Kerala) 20.63 secs, Abhay Singh (Madhya Pradesh) 21.04 secs. 400m: Vishal TK (Tamil Nadu) 45.36 seconds, Jay Kumar (Uttar Pradesh) 45.50 seconds, Manu TS (Kerala) 45.68 seconds. 800m: Mohammed Afsal (Kerala) 1:46.40 secs, Prakash Gadade (Maharashtra) 1:46.56 secs, Krishan Kumar (Haryana) 1:46.73 secs. 1500m: Rahul Baloda (Rajasthan) 3:39.89 secs, Yoonus Shah (Uttar Pradesh) 3:40.37 secs, Sunil Dawar (Madhya Pradesh) 3:43.68 secs. 110m hurdles: Krishik M (Karnataka) 13.65 secs, Muhammed Lazan (Kerala) 13.84 secs, Manav R (Tamil Nadu) 13.85 secs. 400m hurdles: Santhosh Kumar (Tamil Nadu) 50.08 secs, Ruchit Mori (Gujarat) 50.61 secs, Subhas Das (West Bengal) 50.73 secs. 3,000m steeplechase: Avinash Sable (Maharashtra) 3:32.39. Shubham Bhandare (Maharashtra) 8:50.31, Vikash Dalal (Haryana) 8:50.43. Shot put: Tajinderpal Singh Toor (Punjab) 20.64m, Samardeep Singh Gill (Madhya Pradesh) 19.59m, Karanveer Singh (Punjab) 19.51m. Hammer throw: Nirbhay Choudhary (Delhi) 71.02m (NR, previous best 70.73m), Damneet Singh (Punjab) 68.12m, Ashish Jakhar (Haryana) 67.51m. Javelin throw: Rohit Yadav (Uttar Pradesh) 81.10m, Manoj Kumar (Tamil Nadu) 80.73m, Yashvir Singh (Rajasthan) 80.40m. Pole vault: Dev Kumar Meena (Madhya Pradesh) 5.40m, Reegan G (Tamil Nadu) 5.30m, Ramratan (Rajasthan) 5.10m. High jump: Aadarsh Ram (Tamil Nadu) 2.18m, Aaditya R (Madhya Pradesh) 2.15m, Basant (Rajasthan) 2.15m. Long jump: Mohd Atta Sazid (Haryana) 8.01m, Arya S (Karnataka)7.90m, Sarun Payasingh (Odisha) 7.61m. Triple jump: Karthik Unnikrishnan (Kerala) 16.43m, Gailey Venister (Tamil Nadu) 16.04m, Vishal Bahadur (Jharkhand) 15.85m. Women 100m: Harita Bhadra (Maharashtra) 11.22 seconds, Abinaya Rajarajan (Tamil Nadu) 11.31 seconds, Giridhrani R (Tamil Nadu) 11.35 seconds. 400m: Aishwarya Mishra (Maharashtra) 52.51 secs, Prachi (Uttar Pradesh) 52.75 secs, Poovamma MR (Karnataka) 52.76 secs. 800m: Lili Das (Uttarakhand) 2:03.41 secs, Pooja (Haryana) 2:04.02 secs, Gowthami J (Tamil Nadu) 2:05.63 secs. 1500m: Thota Sankeertana (Chhattisgarh) 4:37.95, Nikita Sharma (Himachal Pradesh) 4:38.62 secs, Pragati (Haryana) 4:39.88 secs. 100m hurdles: Nandhini Kongan (Tamil Nadu) 13.30 seconds, Anjali C (Kerala) 13.33 secs, Pragyan Prashanti (Odisha) 13.37 secs. 400m hurdles: Anu Raghavan (Kerala) 57.23 secs, Sinchal Kaveramma (Karnataka) 59.91 secs, Tanu Chaudhary (Uttar Pradesh) 1:01.47 secs. 3,000m steeplechase: Praul Chaudhary (Uttar Pradesh) 9:22.49, Prachi Devkar (Maharashtra) 10:28.35, Susmita Tigga (Odisha) 10:33.94. Pole vault: Nitika (Madhya Pradesh) 4.10m, Baranica Elangovan (Tamil Nadu) 4.10m, Karthika V (Tamil Nadu) 4.10m. High jump: Pooja Singh (Haryana) 1.81m, Reet Rathor (Uttar Pradesh) 1.81m, Supriya SB (Karnataka) 1.78m. Triple jump: Lasha Ilango (Tamil Nadu) 13.76m, Niharika Vashisht (Punjab) 13.24m, Bhairabi Roy (West Bengal) 13.06m. Long jump: Ancy Sojan (Kerala) 6.76m, Shaili Singh (Uttar Pradesh) 6.65m, Bhavani Yadav (Andhra Pradesh) 6.42m. Hammer throw: Tanya Chaudhary (Uttar Pradesh) 68.35m (NR, previous best 65.25m), Anushka Yadav (Uttar Pradesh) 66.34m, Kulvinder Kaur (Rajasthan) 59.13m. Shot put: Manpreet Kaur (Haryana) 17.19m, Krishna Jayashankar (Tamil Nadu) 16.61m, Srishti Vig (Delhi) 15.99m. Discus throw: Seema Kaliramana (Haryana) 56.52m, Priya (Haryana) 54.82m, Nidhi Rani (Haryana) 54.16m. Javelin throw: Annu Rani (Uttar Pradesh) 57.50m, Rashmi K (Andhra Pradesh) 57.22m, Uma Choudhary (Rajasthan) 52.89m. Prize money: Total cash awards: R 65 lakh. 1st: R 1 lakh, 2nd: R 50,000, 3rd: R 25,000, 4th: R 20,000, 5th: R 15,000, 6th: R 10,000.
Crime branch arrests three in Porvorim shootout case
NT Reporter Panaji The Goa Polices crime branch has arrested Qazu Sheikh (28) and Suraj Acharya (36), both natives of Maharashtra, and Israr Ali (25), hailing from Uttar Pradesh, in connection with the August 28 firing incident in Porvorim in which Shrinivas Nayak, director of Majestic Pride Group, escaped unhurt. The accused are suspected to []
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'Govt will address all your grievances', CM Fadnavis assures protesting MPSC aspirants
Digital Desk | Mumbai, Sep 11 (IANS) In a major breakthrough following widespread student outrage over administrative lapses in the Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC), Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday assured protesting candidates that the government will address all their grievances, re-evaluate key examination papers, and institute a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe into paper leak allegations. The assurances came during a high-level, nearly two-hour meeting between the Chief Minister and a delegation of MPSC candidates. Addressing the media following the discussion, Fadnavis validated the students' anger, attributing the unrest to long-festering systemic issues within the commission. The students' outburst is entirely justified. Problems have accumulated over time because necessary corrective steps were not taken when they should have been, CM Fadnavis stated. This crisis now presents us with an opportunity to overhaul the entire system. I assure you that action will be taken within the next eight days against anyone found guilty if evidence is provided, he added. CM said that a re-checking of answer sheets for the State Services Main Examination 2025 will be conducted. He further stated that a Special Investigation Team (SIT) will be constituted to probe the paper leak allegations and administrative malpractices. Interviews originally scheduled to begin on September 21 have been postponed to facilitate the review process. Upcoming examinations are being postponed temporarily to guarantee a foolproof, leak-proof system. Given the unprecedented scale of ongoing recruitment, exams will resume only after full systemic readiness, keeping transparency as the paramount standard, he added. A thorough investigation into the Drug Inspector exam paper leak is currently underway. The administration is focused on fixing structural defects within the system rather than concealing them. The investigation has not concluded and will be pursued to its logical end. Candidates will be provided access to their answer sheets under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, bypassing previous restrictions linked to MAT (Maharashtra Administrative Tribunal) proceedings, he assured. A high-level committee headed by senior bureaucrat V Radha will receive representations from candidates to suggest structural reforms, he noted. The panel consists of highly trusted senior officials who will travel across the state to consult directly with candidates, parents, educators, and relevant stakeholders. Aspirants are encouraged to submit their concerns and suggestions freely. The reform committee will formulate clear, standardised guidelines for interview panels. Examinations facing allegations or grievances will undergo re-inspection, and interviews for those specific posts will remain suspended until clarity is achieved to ensure long-term solutions without lingering doubts, said the CM. The preliminary investigation report prepared by the Crime Branch will be made accessible to the public. An SIT investigation will review all examinations conducted during the tenures of officials Lendwe, Marathe, and Nakhate. The recommendations of the Rajurkar Committee will be evaluated, and appropriate measures will be implemented. Technical modifications, such as attaching RFID tracking chips to both legs or suitable alternatives, will be introduced during physical tests. A standardised scoring pattern will be established across all districts for police recruitment. All issues concerning state welfare coaching bodiesSARTHI, BARTI, and Mahajyotiwill be addressed and resolved, assured CM Fadnavis. A detailed inquiry will be conducted into the recruitment examinations held for the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) and the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), with strict action promised against those found guilty, he announced. An independent inquiry will be ordered if any evidence is provided against the MPSC Chairman or Secretary. Severe action will be taken against anyone found guilty, with zero tolerance for corruption. Implementation of these decisions will be initiated within the next 8 days, said CM Fadnavis. A dedicated Grievance Redressal Cell headed by a retired judge will be established within the MPSC to handle student concerns. Representatives of the student delegation expressed satisfaction with the meeting, confirming that the Chief Minister accepted all their primary demands, including 12 foundational points and 4 additional key demands. Our discussion with the Chief Minister was extremely positive, a student representative said. He gave us a patient hearing despite a tight schedule and accepted 100 percent of our demands. We express our gratitude for his decisive intervention. CM Fadnavis reiterated the government's commitment to ensuring complete transparency in future MPSC recruitment drives, promising that upcoming examinations would be 100% leak-proof and fair. Meanwhile, MP Shrikant Shinde addressed a letter to Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, advocating deep-seated administrative reforms to restore faith in the MPSC. He requested the appointment of a senior IAS officer as the Secretary of the MPSC and urged the state government to establish an independent selection panelcomprising retired judges and senior bureaucratsto select the Commission's Chairman and members, ensuring candidates with impeccable integrity, free from political influence, are appointed.
Enough is enough: Bombay HC seeks names of ward officers responsible for garbage on streets
Rohit Pawar alleges Rs 40-crore FDA exam leak racket, demands resignation of MPSC chief
Digital Desk | Pune, Sep 10 (IANS) Launching a scathing attack on the state government, NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar on Thursday accused the administration of shielding Vivek Bhimanwar, who was recently appointed as the Chairman of the Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) despite facing serious corruption allegations. Addressing a press conference, Pawar alleged a massive Rs 40 crore transaction in the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) paper leak case and released a presentation detailing various irregularities linked to Bhimanwar during his tenure as Transport Commissioner. These included scandals involving High-Security Registration Plates (HSRP), transfers and promotions, Integrated Traffic Management Systems (ITMS), interceptor vehicles, and GPRS tracking kits. Pawar directly targeted Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis over the appointment, alleging inaction despite the availability of crucial evidence. The Chief Minister has all the documents regarding Bhimanwar, and I am ready to provide them again if needed. However, if no action is taken, it clearly indicates that the Chief Minister is protecting him, Pawar stated, demanding Bhimanwar's immediate resignation on moral grounds. Referring to the FDA recruitment scandal, Pawar refuted the state secretarys July 27 statement that denied any leak. The paper was not confined to a single individual; it reached hundreds of candidates, pointing to a Rs 40 crore racket, he claimed, adding that even Minister Pratap Sarnaik had previously acknowledged the existence of an active racket within the Regional Transport Office (RTO) on the floor of the legislature. Pawar also raised eyebrows over Bhimanwars insistence on conducting MPSC examinations online, noting the irony that he had previously opposed online transfer systems for officers and employees. If someone pays Rs 40 lakh to become a Talathi, what happens to deserving, underprivileged students? Pawar questioned, advocating for the appointment of an upright officer like Tukaram Mundhe to head the commission and restore integrity to the system. He further pointed out that Bhimanwar joined government service in 1993, served as a Special Executive Officer to the Chief Minister in 2014, and was promoted to the IAS in 2018noting that CM Fadnavis had three Special Executive Officers elevated to the IAS. Pawar strongly criticised MPSCs sudden decision to postpone the Maharashtra Group-C Services Combined Preliminary Examinationoriginally scheduled for October 25by three months. Rejecting the official rationale of upcoming festivals, he alleged potential foul play or fear of another paper leak. He demanded that the preliminary examination be conducted offline between October and November to ensure that the main exams take place in December, final results are declared by January, and the recruitment process concludes without delay. Pawar's move to target Bhimanwar comes amid protests by MPSC aspirants over paper leaks and administrative lapses. Protestors are demanding the resignation of Bhimanwar and concerned MPSC officers while pressing for transparency in conducting various examinations.
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