Politics
Karnataka Congress leader seeks Supreme Court judge-led probe into 19 lakh ‘missing’ EVMs

Senior Karnataka Congress leader and MLA H.K. Patil called on Legislative Assembly Speaker Vishveshwara Hegde Kageri on Sunday and sought a probe into the issue of 19 lakh “missing” Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).
A delegation led by Patil submitted a memorandum to the Speaker, demanding that the probe has to be conducted by the Special Committee headed by a Judge of the Supreme Court.
Patil stated that he had submitted 2,750 pages of documents in this regard. The document comprised the RTI replies by the Election Commission of India (ECI) and issues that have been taken up by the courts.
Addressing press conference after submission of documents, Patil expressed his anger over inordinate delay in taking up petitions by the courts regarding election petitions and EVMs.
“There has been debate in the country and the issue is surrounded by too much of confusion. The ECI should organise ethical hackathon in Vidhana Soudha (Legislative Assembly),” Patil said.
“I have raised issues related to financial transactions that are taking place within the Election Commission. I have also discussed about voters being paid through digital platforms,” he asserted.
“In backdrop to this, we have urged to form a special committee headed by a Judge of the Supreme Court to look into the matter of 19 lakh missing voting machines. I have provided inputs of Public Interest Litigation (PIL) submitted by RTI activist Manoranjan Roy,” the Congress leader told the mediapersons.
“EVMs which are older than 15 years should not be used. There had been a committee report in 2007 on how to dispose old EVMs. From 2007 to 2018, for 12 years, the Election Commission turned a blind eye to this recommendation,” Patil said, adding that the Speaker should issue summons to the Election Commission and resolve this matter.
Maharashtra
Mumbai News: Shiv Sena MLA Sanjay Gaikwad Punches & Verbally Abuses Kitchen Staff For Serving ‘Stale Food’

Mumbai: Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) MLA from Buldhana, Sanjay Gaikwad, sparked controversy after allegedly assaulting a canteen staff member at the MLA Guest House in Mumbai over poor food quality. In the video that is taking rounds on the internet showcases the Shiv Sena MLA showering punches and slaps at the kitchen staff for allegedly serving stale food.
Sources indicated that Gaikwad, dissatisfied with his meal, confronted canteen staff, claiming the food was stale and even likening it to poison. He expressed frustration, stating this was not the first time he had raised concerns about the food quality at the guest house, which houses many MLAs from rural areas.
A viral video shows Gaikwad verbally and physically confronting a canteen contractor at the Akashwani MLA residence after he complained about the stale food. Gaikwad’s actions, including kicking and punching a kitchen staff over the stale dal, reflect a broader trend of contentious behavior among politicians in Maharashtra. He criticized the canteen’s food quality and insisted the dal served was unacceptable, saying some diners felt nauseated after consuming it.
According to a few reports on the situation state that after Gaikwad reacted violently towards the worker, other associates allegedly joined him, further assaulting the canteen staff.
MLA Sanjay Gaikwad is a known offender and has a history of making controversial remarks, including comments regarding famous historical figures. This incident follows a separate episode where Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) workers assaulted a shopkeeper for not speaking Marathi. As the footage circulates, it has reignited discussions about the culture of impunity enjoyed by political figures in Maharashtra, amid a string of recent controversies involving such politicians.
Maharashtra has been facing a political language war for months. Mumbai has particularly been experiencing violent crimes, primarily from politicians targeting individuals belonging to lower-income groups or migrants. The debate intensified when, at the victory rally organised by MNS-Shiv Sena (UBT), MNS leader Raj Thackeray endorsed the behavior described as hitting them but not recording it.
Maharashtra
Maharashtra Seizes Drugs Worth Rs 153 Crore In 5,001 Cases; Crackdown On E-Cigarettes, Gutka And Gambling Also Intensifies

The State Police have seized 28,302 kg of drugs worth Rs 153.25 crore in 5001 cases registered under the NDPS Act 1985, in which 4481 accused have been arrested. This information was given in the state assembly on Tuesday in a written reply.
To control the trade and proliferation of drugs, separate sections of narcotics control have been set up at almost all the police stations. A Task Force has also been set up with 346 posts sanctioned by the state government in March this year, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has said in this reply.
Replying to the question asked by Kashinath Date, Prashant Thakur and others, the CM said an awareness campaign was undertaken in the month of June through posters, banners, and street plays at schools, colleges, railway stations and prominent locations in cities.
Action against 37,149 persons has been taken by the Police between January to April this year for selling banned gutka and tobacco products at paan shops and other stalls. A penal amount worth Rs 44.40 lakh has been recovered in the cases, the CM has informed.
The Police have been alert in such cases. In a city like Ulhasnagar, drugs worth 77.60 lakh were confiscated from 183 accused during the current year. Action against matka and gambling has resulted in arrests of 326 persons involving the amount of Rs 6.60 lakh, the reply says.
Between January to May this year, 247 cases have been registered across the state in which e-cigarettes worth 4.33 crores have been confiscated. The e-cigarettes are banned under the Electronics Cigarettes Prevention Act 2019.
In the month of May, 11 cases were registered in the cities of Mumbai, Nagpur, Pimpri-Chinchwad and Thane.
Maharashtra
Motorcyclist Killed In Collision With SUV Allegedly Driven By BJP MLA’s Son In Maharashtra

Mumbai: A 34-year-old motorcycle rider was killed after being hit by the SUV allegedly driven by the son of BJP MLA Suresh Dhas in Maharashtra’s Ahilyanagar district, police said on Tuesday.
No arrest has been made in connection with the incident which took place at Supa on Ahilyanagar-Pune Road at around 10:30 pm on Monday, said an official.
Sagar Dhas (26), son of Ashti MLA Suresh Dhas, was heading towards Pune from Ahilyanagar in an MG Gloster, he said.
Nitin Shelke, a resident of Parner, was crossing the Pune-Ahilyanagar road on his motorbike near Jategaon junction when the speeding SUV hit him, as per the complaint filed by the victim’s brother.
Sagar Dhas, who was with a friend, was allegedly driving the SUV, the police official said.
Shelke sustained serious injuries and fell unconscious after the accident. Some local persons took him to a nearby hospital where he was declared dead before admission.
An accidental death case was registered at Supa police station and further probe is underway, he said.
-
Crime3 years ago
Class 10 student jumps to death in Jaipur
-
Maharashtra9 months ago
Mumbai Local Train Update: Central Railway’s New Timetable Comes Into Effect; Check Full List Of Revised Timings & Stations
-
Maharashtra9 months ago
Mumbai To Go Toll-Free Tonight! Maharashtra Govt Announces Complete Toll Waiver For Light Motor Vehicles At All 5 Entry Points Of City
-
Maharashtra10 months ago
False photo of Imtiaz Jaleel’s rally, exposing the fooling conspiracy
-
Crime9 months ago
Baba Siddique Murder: Mumbai Police Unable To Get Lawrence Bishnoi Custody Due To Home Ministry Order, Says Report
-
National News9 months ago
Ministry of Railways rolls out Special Drive 4.0 with focus on digitisation, cleanliness, inclusiveness and grievance redressal
-
Maharashtra8 months ago
Maharashtra Elections 2024: Mumbai Metro & BEST Services Extended Till Midnight On Voting Day
-
National News10 months ago
J&K: 4 Jawans Killed, 28 Injured After Bus Carrying BSF Personnel For Poll Duty Falls Into Gorge In Budgam; Terrifying Visuals Surface