The Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) recorded a windfall this Raksha Bandhan, earning a staggering Rs 137.37 crore in just four days, thanks to an unprecedented surge in passenger turnout.

From August 8 to 11, nearly 1.93 crore passengers travelled on MSRTC buses across the state, including 88 lakh women passengers, as families reunited to celebrate the festival. The figures were revealed by Transport Minister and MSRTC Chairman Pratap Sarnaik on Tuesday.

MSRTC reported steady passenger revenue earnings over four consecutive days in August. On Thursday, August 8, the corporation earned Rs 30.06 crore. On Friday, August 9, it recorded Rs 34.86 crore. On Saturday, August 10, the revenue stood at Rs 33.36 crore, followed by a significant rise on Sunday, August 11, when earnings peaked at Rs 39.09 crore.

Highlighting the festival’s impact on travel, Minister Sarnaik stated that August 11 alone generated Rs 39.09 crore — the highest single-day revenue for the current financial year.

“Every year, Raksha Bandhan and Bhai Dooj (during Diwali) bring in significant revenue, as siblings travel across the state to celebrate together. This year was no different — the response was overwhelming,” said Sarnaik.

Sarnaik extended his gratitude to the people of Maharashtra for their continued faith in MSRTC’s services and applauded the dedication of staff members who worked through the festive weekend.

The minister also hinted at plans to build on this momentum by enhancing services during upcoming festive seasons.

“Our employees prioritised public service over personal celebrations. Their commitment is the backbone of this achievement,” he said. “This kind of response boosts the morale of our team and reinforces the trust passengers have in MSRTC.”

Mumbai: A startling case of theft has emerged from the upscale Tardeo area of Mumbai, where jewellery worth Rs 10.5 lakh was stolen from a private bungalow. The incident has sent shockwaves through the neighbourhood, with police now turning their attention toward the family’s caretaker, who is the primary suspect in the ongoing investigation.

The complaint was lodged by Devika Panchal, a 40-year-old resident of a bungalow situated near Jaywant Industries. Panchal lives with her family and her ailing 70-year-old father, who is paralysed and requires constant care. To assist with his needs, the family had employed a young male caretaker whose duty was to look after the elderly man throughout the day and leave by 11 p.m. each night.

On the evening of August 9, at approximately 5:30 p.m., Panchal went to check on her father and noticed something unusual. The wooden cupboard in the room had been left open, clothes were scattered across the floor, and the drawer inside was ajar. Most alarmingly, the key to the cupboard, usually kept hidden and secure within, was lying outside, suggesting a deliberate breach.

Upon further inspection, it was discovered that several valuable pieces of gold jewellery were missing. These included a gold necklace, a chain, a ring, earrings, and bangles, collectively valued at Rs 10.5 lakh. The sudden disappearance of these items, paired with the visible signs of tampering, led Panchal to suspect foul play, as reported.

What made the situation more suspicious was the limited access to the room. On the day of the incident, only the caretaker and the brother of the housekeeper had been present in the house. However, it was confirmed that only the caretaker had entered the father’s room. Based on this information, Panchal filed a formal complaint with the Tardeo Police.

The police have since registered a case and initiated a thorough investigation. Officers are currently reviewing CCTV footage from the house and surrounding area to trace any suspicious movements. They are also conducting a background check on the caretaker, seeking to determine whether he has a history of criminal activity or connections to other thefts in the city.

Yavatmal: A 9-year-old boy allegedly sexually assaulted a minor girl studying in his class with the help of another female classmate in the toilet of their school in Maharashtra’s Yavatmal district, police said on Tuesday.

Accused The Case

The accused boy and the 9-year-old girl, who allegedly abetted the crime, have been detained and sent to a juvenile remand home, they said.

The victim, aged 8, and the two accused were students of Class 3 at a Zilla Parishad school in Babulgaon town, where the alleged incident took place on August 1, the police said.

A few days back, the victim complained of pain in her private parts following which her mother took her to a hospital. Doctors at the hospital found injuries on the victim’s private parts, a police official said.

As per a police complaint lodged by the victim’s mother, her daughter told her that a boy from her class assaulted her in the school toilet with the help of another girl, the official said.

The victim’s mother approached the police on August 9 with a complaint against the boy and the girl and a case was subsequently registered under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, the police said.

Yavatmal Superintendent of Police Kumar Chintha said the police have received a complaint about a 9-year-old boy assaulting an 8-year-old girl in Babulgaon.

Another girl, aged 9, helped the boy (in the crime), he said.

The two accused children have sent to a remand home, police said.