Connect with us
Friday,08-August-2025
Breaking News

Maharashtra

After ED remand, Nawab Malik gets 14 days’ judicial custody

Published

on

A Special PMLA Court on Monday remanded Maharashtra Minorities Affairs Minister Nawab Malik to judicial custody till March 21 in an alleged money-laundering case arising out of a tainted land deal nearly 20 years ago.

Arrested on February 23, Malik was produced before the Special PMLA Judge R.S. Rokade after his extended custody with the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for the past 12 days ended on Sunday.

At the previous hearing, the ED had informed the Special Court that Malik had allegedly taken only Rs 5 lakh — and not Rs 55 lakh as stated earlier — which was paid to Haseena Parker between 1999-2005, for a property deal in Goawala Compound of Kurla.

The Special Judge extended Malik’s custody as the ED argued that they could not interrogate the Minister as he was ill and hospitalised.

The ED in February raided the homes of the kin of absconding mafia don Dawood Ibrahim Kaskar, including his deceased sister Haseena Parker and interrogated his nephew Alishah Parker, in connection with the alleged money-laundering case.

Among other things, the ED has contended that Malik was allegedly involved in a conspiracy hatched with Dawood’s gang members to usurp the ancestral property of one Muneera Plumber, with a current estimated market value of Rs 300 crore, which the central agency was a crime under the PMLA.

Later, Malik moved the Bombay High Court challenging his ‘illegal arrest’ by the ED and seeking immediate release from custody.

He contended that the ED had violated PMLA and CrPC sections by first detaining him from home in the early hours of February 23 and then serving him with the summons at the agency’s office.

Malik denied any links with the mafia and argued that the PMLA could not be applied for the alleged offence which was completed over 20 years ago, when the Act did not exist.

After his arrest, the Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) clamoured for the immediate resignation or sacking of Malik, but was spurned by the ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi allies Shiv Sena-Nationalist Congress Party-Congress.

The MVA hit back by asking whether Union MSME Minister Narayan Rane had quit after he was arrested in August 2021 for a slur on Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, and hence there was no need for Malik to quit his Cabinet post.

Maharashtra

Mumbai Tragedy: Couple Fatally Run Over By Dumper In Bhayandar As 2-Wheeler Skids While Overtaking; Disturbing CCTV Footage Surfaces

Published

on

Mumbai: A tragic road accident in Bhayandar, a few kilometres away from Mumbai, on Thursday claimed the lives of a couple after their two-wheeler skidded and they fell in front of a dumper while overtaking it. The husband died instantly, while his wife succumbed to injuries on the way to the hospital. A CCTV footage of the deadly crash has surfaced on the internet.

The deceased were identified as Nilesh Mali, 54, and his wife Manju, 50, residents of Uttan. According to police, the couple was travelling to Mira Road when the incident occurred on the Bhayandar West stretch towards Mira Road, near the Radhaswamy Satsang area. Nilesh attempted to overtake the dumper from the left side when he lost control, causing the two-wheeler to skid. Both fell onto the road directly in front of the heavy vehicle, which ran over them.

CCTV Captures Exact Moments Of Deadly Accident

Disturbing CCTV footage of the accident has surfaced online, showing the two-wheeler edging ahead of the dumper before losing balance. Within seconds, the couple was crushed under the vehicle’s wheels. In the video, onlookers can be seen rushing to help, with some urging the driver to reverse in a desperate attempt to free the victims. Manju was seen writhing in pain before she lost consciousness.

Passersby immediately alerted the police, who arrived at the spot shortly after. Locals detained the dumper driver and handed him over to the authorities. Nilesh sustained fatal head injuries and was declared dead at the scene. Manju, despite being rushed to a nearby hospital, could not survive the severe trauma.

Overtaking Led To Fatal Accident, Say Cops

A police officer stated that poor balance during the overtaking manoeuvre was the primary cause of the incident. “The two-wheeler skidded when Nilesh tried to overtake from the left. Both fell in front of the dumper, leading to the fatal runover,” the officer said, as quoted by Hindustan Times.

The police have booked the dumper driver under Section 106(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (culpable homicide not amounting to murder). The driver’s statement is being recorded and his vehicle has been seized for inspection.

Continue Reading

Maharashtra

Malegaon Blast Case Acquitted Accused Sudhakar Chaturvedi Offers ‘₹2 Lakh Reward’ To Anyone Who Slaps Maharashtra Ex-CM Prithviraj Chavan

Published

on

Mumbai: The political row over the 2008 Malegaon blast verdict escalated further on Thursday, August 7, when Sudhakar Chaturvedi, one of the seven accused acquitted in the case, made a provocative statement during a press conference. Chaturvedi, who was cleared of all charges along with BJP MP Pragya Singh Thakur and Lt Col Prasad Purohit, said, “Prithviraj is himself a Sanatani. I will give a reward of Rs 2 lakh to anyone who dares to slap Prithviraj Chavan.”

His remarks were aimed at former Maharashtra chief minister and senior Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan, whose recent comments following the verdict have stirred controversy. The special NIA court, in its judgment, stated that there was no reliable and cogent evidence to convict the accused. The Malegaon blast of September 29, 2008, near a mosque, killed six people and injured 101, and the case dragged on for nearly 17 years before the final acquittal.

Prithviraj Chavan’s Controversial Remarks

After the court’s decision, Chavan urged people to stop using the term saffron terrorism, suggesting instead ‘Hindu fundamentalist’ or ‘Hindu terrorism’ to describe such acts. He explained that saffron holds deep cultural and religious meaning, representing the flag of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the Warkari sect and saints like Sant Tukaram and Sant Dnyaneshwar.

Shiv Sena Protests Outside Congress Office Over Ex-Maha CM Prithviraj Chavan’s Controversial Remarks

However, his alternative terminology triggered backlash from right-wing groups and BJP allies, who accused him of maligning Hindu identity. On August 2, Shiv Sena workers staged a protest outside the Congress office in Mumbai’s Prabhadevi, demanding an apology. They alleged that the Congress frequently targeted Hindu sentiments under the banner of secularism.

Responding to Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s claim that “no Hindu can ever be a terrorist,” Chavan pointed to history, stating, “The first terrorist act in independent India was carried out by Nathuram Godse. What was his religion? Terrorism has no religion. This is BJP’s mindset, linking or delinking terrorism based on religious identity.”

Continue Reading

Crime

Mumbai Customs Seizes ₹3.72 Crore Gold Dust, Hydroponic Weed In Two Separate Cases At CSMI Airport

Published

on

Mumbai: During the duty of 07.08.2025, the Airport Commissionerate, Mumbai Customs Zone-III, made a significant seizure of contrabands at the CSMI airport. The operation resulted in the seizure of 0.947 Kg of suspected Hydroponic Weed (Marijuana) valued at approximately ₹0.94 crores, gold dust weighing 3.02Kg valued at Rs. 2.78 crores, across 02 cases.

02 persons were arrested.

Highlights of the cases:

Case 1: (07.08.2025)

24 Kt gold dust in wax (06 pcs) having net weight 3020 grams valued at Rs. 2.78 crores was recovered from an airlines staff. The gold was found concealed inside innerwear in specially designed belt. The airlines staff was arrested under the provisions of Customs Act, 1962.

Case 2: (07.08.2025)

A passenger who had arrived from Bangkok to Mumbai was intercepted and the contraband i.e. 947 grams Approximately valued at Rs.0.94 crore of greenish coloured in lumps form purported to be Hydroponic Weed (Marijuana) was recovered. The said recovered contraband was concealed in vacuum sealed plastic packets kept inside trolley bag carried by the passenger. 01 person was arrested under the provision of NDPS Act, 1985.

Continue Reading
Advertisement
Advertisement

Trending