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Trinamool leader Anubrata Mandal arrives at CBI office for questioning

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After avoiding seven summons from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for interrogation in the cattle and coal smuggling cases in West Bengal, Trinamool Congress leader Anubrata Mandal on Thursday turned up at the CBI’s Nizam Palace hospital here.

His voluntary appearance at the CBI office happens 12 hours after the former state education minister and the Trinamool Congress secretary general, Partha Chatterjee was grilled for four hours at the same place on Wednesday evening. Chatterjee was being probed in the West Bengal School Service Commission (WBSSC) recruitment irregularities scam.

Incidentally, Mandal’s voluntary appearance also happens two days ahead of the May 21 deadline for him. In his last communique to the CBI, Mandal, the Trinamool Congress’ Birbhum district president, had informed that till May 21 he would not be able to meet the central agency sleuths as a medical report of the state-run SSKM Medical College & Hospital had advised him complete bed rest till that period.

However, quite to the surprise of the CBI sleuths, they received a communique from Mandal late Wednesday evening about just an hour after Partha Chatterjee left the office. In that communique, Mandal said that he would be reaching the CBI office on Thursday morning by 10 a.m.

Accordingly on Thursday morning, Mandal started from his residence at Chinar Park in the northern outskirts of Kolkata at around 9.10 a.m. and finally his vehicle reached the CBI’s Nizam Palace Office in central Kolkata.

He refused to answer the queries of the mediapersons and went straight into the elevator. A team of CBI sleuths led by the agency’s joint director, Prakash Srivastav was waiting there with a seven-page list of questions.

Legal brains believe that in all probability Mandal has exhausted all his legal options to avoid the CBI questioning, and hence he decided to join the probe.

The political observers feel that the event of Partha Chatterjee, currently the state commerce and industries minister, being compelled to face the CBI grilling might have made Mandal feel that he should voluntarily appear at the CBI office without further delay.

Maharashtra

Mumbai Water Crisis: BMC Records Over 14,000 Leakage Complaints In 6 Months, Kurla And Andheri East Worst Affected

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Mumbai: On one hand, while the BMC is working to develop alternate sources of water, it has failed to tackle the long-standing issues of water theft and leakages.

Mumbai Reports 14,087 Water Leakage Complaints in First Half of 2025

According to recent data, the BMC received 14,087 complaints of water leakages between January and June 2025 alone. Kurla and Andheri East have emerged as the worst-affected areas, consistently reporting the highest number of cases.

Mumbai’s water comes from seven lakes— Tulsi and Vihar within the city, and five others located 100–175 km away in Palghar, Thane, and Nashik districts. Water from these lakes travels through 650 km of transmission mains and 6,000 km of service pipelines.

City Faces 1.5 Times Water Demand Surge by 2041

Mumbai receives 3,950 million litres (ML) of water daily falling short of the 4,463 ML demand. By 2041, demand is projected to rise 1.5 times to 6,900 ML per day. Despite heavy investment in replacing old pipelines, water loss has surged to 34%, up from 20% in 2009.

According to civic data, Mumbai recorded 96,496 water leakage complaints between January 2022 and June 2025, including 14,087 in the past six months. Complaints dropped from 31,447 in 2022 to 24,000 in 2023, but rose again to 26,962 in 2024.

Leak Detection Cell Disbanded Despite Rising Complaints

Vinod Gholap, president, Fight for Right Foundation noted that the BMC once had a dedicated leak detection cell, which was later disbanded. “Despite claims of replacing 80% of old pipelines, water loss has only worsened. If the network is fixed, why are leaks still rising?” he questioned.

Corrosion, Urban Projects Blamed for Pipeline Damage

A senior civic official said, “Mumbai’s water pipelines, many underground and passing through remote, forested areas, are hard to secure and maintain. Corrosion from soil, silt, humidity, waste, and chemicals worsens leaks. Infrastructural projects in recent years have further damaged the network, causing the loss of crores of litres of water.” However, he added that a 95 km tunnel network has also been laid to improve supply resilience.

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National News

Government Cracks Down on OTT Platforms Over Obscene Content

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New Delhi, July 25, 2025 — In a significant move targeting explicit digital content, the Government of India has taken steps to block several over-the-top (OTT) platforms accused of streaming obscene and vulgar material. Platforms such as ALTBalaji, ULLU, and a few others have come under the scanner for allegedly violating Indian content regulations and societal norms.

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, acting on multiple complaints from citizens and civil society groups, initiated the ban after conducting an internal review. Authorities stated that certain shows and web series available on these platforms contained content that was “sexually explicit,” “vulgar,” and “not suitable for public viewing,” especially in households with children.

The decision has stirred a wider debate around content regulation and creative freedom in India’s rapidly growing digital entertainment sector. While officials maintain that the step was necessary to uphold decency standards and protect cultural values, critics warn of overreach and censorship.

A senior official said, “This is not about targeting creative freedom. This is about ensuring that OTT content does not cross legal and moral boundaries. There are clear guidelines, and platforms are expected to adhere to them.”

The platforms affected reportedly failed to comply with warnings issued earlier regarding their programming. Despite advisory notices and reminders to filter or restrict adult content, several web series continued to feature nudity, explicit scenes, and suggestive themes without proper age-gating or viewer discretion tools.

In recent years, OTT platforms have grown in popularity, especially among younger audiences, with many bypassing traditional film and TV regulations. The government had previously introduced a self-regulation framework for digital content providers, but critics say enforcement has been lax, leading to the current clampdown.

Some media rights advocates and artists expressed concern over the lack of transparency in the banning process and called for an independent review mechanism. Others, however, welcomed the move, stating that unchecked access to graphic content could have a detrimental effect on social behavior and minors.

As of now, the banned platforms remain inaccessible in India. The Ministry has hinted at further actions if other OTT providers do not align their content with the prescribed code of ethics and IT rules.

This development marks a turning point in India’s digital media regulation and sets the stage for possible stricter content monitoring across streaming platforms in the future.

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Maharashtra

Mumbai Rains: High Tides Hit Gateway Of India, Vakola Flooded, Andheri Subway Closed; Check IMD Forecast, Warning, Police Advisory 

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Mumbai: Mumbai experienced intense rainfall throughout Friday, majorly disrupting normal life across various parts of the city. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) had earlier issued an orange alert for Mumbai, Navi Mumbai and Thane, anticipating heavy to very heavy rainfall as the monsoon system remains active over the Konkan coast. Palghar district was placed under a yellow alert.

Rain began lashing the city late Thursday night and continued into Friday morning, affecting both South Mumbai and the western suburbs. Localities such as Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT), Churchgate, Dadar, Dahisar, Borivali, Kandivali, Malad, Goregaon, Jogeshwari and Andheri were among the worst-hit, with widespread waterlogging reported. Commuters faced delays and difficult travel conditions as flooded streets slowed vehicular movement.

Visuals Show Flooding In Several Areas

Social media was flooded with visuals showing the impact of the downpour. High tides slammed against the walls at the Gateway of India and Marine Drive, while in areas like Vakola, people were seen wading through knee-deep water. Vehicles navigated waterlogged roads in Andheri and Borivali. Andheri Subway was closed for traffic this morning due to heavy rains.

Over 65mm Rainfall Recorded In 3 Hours

According to BMC rainfall data, the western suburbs witnessed particularly intense rainfall between 8 am and 11 am on Friday. The highest recorded was at the Hinduhridaysamrat Balasaheb Thackeray Trauma Hospital in Jogeshwari, where 67.3 mm of rainfall was measured in just three hours.

Flight operations at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport saw minor delays due to poor visibility and heavy rains. IndiGo Airlines issued a travel advisory cautioning passengers about potential weather-related disruptions.

Mumbai Police Issues Advisory

In response to the worsening conditions, Mumbai Police issued a public advisory urging citizens to avoid non-essential travel and stay away from coastal areas. “Due to heavy rainfall in Mumbai and nearby districts, citizens are advised to stay indoors unless absolutely necessary, avoid coastal areas and drive cautiously. Our officials and staff are on high alert and ready to assist Mumbaikars. In case of any emergency, please dial 100 / 112 / 103,” read the police advisory on X.

As rainfall is expected to continue, authorities remain on alert to prevent any untoward incidents, with emergency services deployed across the city to respond swiftly to distress calls.

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