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Modi documentary row: Mumbai Press Club condemns IT raids on BBC offices in Delhi, Mumbai

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Mumbai: The Income-Tax Department raids at British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) premises in Delhi and Mumbai were strongly condemned by the Mumbai Press Club. A documentary on the Gujarat riots was aired by the broadcaster, and the searches in BBC offices come weeks after that.

“Media houses have been continuously attacked by the Union and some state governments for refusing to follow the government’s perspective, aimed at overawing and demoralizing them,” said the Press Club.

Press Club highlighted about the income tax raids carried out at various media offices in the recent times. They also alleged that houses and offices of journalists and promoters were raided after stories of government ineptitude and failure were done by them.

“In recent days, a series of coordinated income tax raids have been seen on the offices of Dainik Bhaskar Group, UP-based TV network Bharat Live, and news portals such as Newsclick and Newslaundry, among others. Not only have company offices and promoters’ homes been raided, but the homes of editors and ordinary journalists, too, have not been spared. Allegations of tax evasion have been cited by the agencies as justification, but the timing of these raids is too precise to miss the signal to the entire media: that if stories of government ineptitude and failure are carried, this is what will have to be faced,” stated Press Club.

Mumbai Press Club alleged that new laws were brought into action in recent times to bring media companies under the scanner of bureaucracy. This has brought danger to the democary.

“Journalists have been jailed earlier, and new laws such as the Digital IT rules have been framed, bringing media companies under the oversight of the higher bureaucracy. This is dangerous in a democracy. It is demanded that this intimidation be stopped, and journalists are left to do their jobs without fear or favour. The fourth estate is a pillar of democracy, and it will only be undermined by such actions,” said Mumbai Press Club.


About IT raids at BBC offices in Delhi and Mumbai

The tax department raided BBC offices in Delhi and Mumbai on Tuesday morning. The BBC’s offices are located on Kasturba Gandhi Marg in Delhi and Santacruz in Mumbai. The searches come amid the uproar over a documentary about Prime Minister Modi.

The mobile phones of the employees were seized, and many of them were asked to go home, according to initial reports.

After a day long of searches conducted by the Income Tax department on Tuesday, the operation continued all night to the next day today. The search operation is expected to continue all day today too.

Crime

Navi Mumbai Couple Booked For Using Forged Property Papers To Secure ₹30 Lakh Home Loan

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Mumbai: The Kalachowki police have registered an FIR against Sadanand Vishwanath Darekar and his wife, Neelima Darekar, residents of Shiravane, Nerul, Navi Mumbai, for allegedly cheating the Mumbai District Central Cooperative Bank Ltd. by submitting forged documents resembling original property papers to obtain a home loan of Rs 30 lakh. The alleged fraud pertains to an outstanding principal amount of Rs 29.28 lakh.

According to the FIR, the complainant, Balu Chintu Yadav, 55, branch manager of the Lalbaug branch of the Mumbai District Central Cooperative Bank since 2020, stated that the accused had applied for a home loan in 2014 to purchase Flat No. 102, first floor, Shri Om Apartment, Shiravane (JES), Sector 1, Nerul. The loan was approved by the bank’s divisional office at Mahim on December 15, 2014.

The bank accepted purported original property documents, including an agreement showing the developer Shri Om Construction & Builders (Dnyaneshwar N. Sutar) selling the property to Tanaji Shankar Mohite in 2007, and a subsequent agreement dated February 26, 2014, showing Mohite selling the flat to Sadanand Darekar.

A legal title certificate issued by advocate Dilip V. Zore declared the property mortgageable, while a valuation report by M/s Vishal Associates assessed the property value at Rs 44.10 lakh. The property was mortgaged in favour of the bank on December 30, 2014, and the loan amount of Rs 30 lakh was disbursed via pay order to the seller on January 5, 2015.

However, the borrowers allegedly stopped paying EMIs from April 6, 2016, resulting in the account turning non-performing. Despite repeated demand notices, the dues remained unpaid. As of August 31, 2016, the outstanding principal stood at Rs 29,28,370, with accrued interest of Rs 1,92,174 at that time.

A recovery certificate under Section 101 of the Maharashtra Cooperative Societies Act, 1960, was obtained on March 30, 2017. Acting on this, the bank took possession of the mortgaged property on November 25, 2024, through the Belapur Mandal Officer, Navi Mumbai.

During an inspection on June 26, 2025, the bank’s recovery officer noticed that instead of the Mumbai Bank’s notice, the flat door displayed a SARFAESI Act, 2002 auction notice issued by The City Cooperative Bank.

Subsequent correspondence revealed that City Cooperative Bank had also sanctioned a loan of Rs 28.50 lakh to Sadanand Darekar on September 24, 2014, against the same property, and had seized it on January 17, 2025, for loan default.

Upon verification on August 12, 2025, Mumbai Bank officials found that the documents submitted to both banks appeared identical. However, records obtained from the Sub-Registrar’s office (Thane-6) revealed discrepancies between the genuine registered documents and those submitted to Mumbai Bank, indicating that forged documents resembling originals were used to secure the loan.

Following these findings, the bank lodged a complaint at the Kalachowki police station. The police have registered a case under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) Act and initiated further investigation.

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Maharashtra

Mumbai: Husband arrested for killing wife over excess salt in biryani

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crime

Mumbai: A sensational case of wife murder has occurred in Mumbai. A man brutally murdered his wife in the Beganwadi area of ​​Mumbai. Surprisingly, the motive behind this bloody altercation is being reported as simply “too much salt in the biryani.” Police acted promptly and arrested the murderous husband, Manzar Imam Hussain.

A Story of Old Enmity and Violence
The family of the deceased, Nazia Parveen, told police that this was not just a one-night stand. Nazia and Manzar had a love marriage two years ago, in October 2023, but soon after their marriage, Manzar’s behavior changed. He would often assault Nazia over trivial matters. About three months ago, Manzar reached the peak of his brutality, beating Nazia so severely that she broke a tooth. Daily domestic quarrels ultimately escalated into a tragic murder. Death from Salt in Biryani

According to police, on the night of the incident, December 20th, Nazia had cooked biryani at home. When Manzar sat down to eat, they began arguing about the biryani being too salty. The argument escalated to the point where Manzar became enraged and hit Nazia’s head against the wall. Nazia died on the spot from severe head injuries and excessive bleeding.

Accused in Police Custody

Upon learning of the incident, Shivaji Nagar police arrived at the scene, took possession of the body, and registered a murder case against the accused husband under the BNS section. Police arrested Manzar Imam Hussain, who was trying to escape. Police are currently interrogating the accused to piece together all aspects of this heinous crime.

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Maharashtra

Kirit Somaiya and Nitesh Rane are only spreading hatred in the name of Hindu-Muslim relations, and creating suspicion is their agenda: Abu Asim Azmi

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ABU ASIM AZMI

Mumbai: The BJP is engaging in politics of chaos and hatred in the name of Hindus and Muslims for votes. What wrong have Muslims done that Kirit Somaiya and Nitesh Rane are constantly spewing venom against them? They talk about brotherhood, but they have no constructive thinking or strategy to fight corruption. That’s why Hindus and Muslims continue to do the same thing day and night to benefit themselves and create divisions in society. By inciting hatred between Hindus and Muslims, they are creating an atmosphere of hatred in society. This serious allegation was made by Abu Asim Azmi, leader of the Maharashtra Samajwadi Party and member of the Workers’ Assembly. He said that when Khan became the mayor of Mumbai, where were the Muslims, but the BJP has started making it an issue and is trying to scare Hindus in the name of Muslims. Muslims say that someone from Mumbai should be elected mayor so that the city can develop, but an attempt has been made to create divisions in the name of the mayor. Based on a survey conducted a year ago, it is being said that Mumbai’s demographics are changing and the number of Bangladeshi infiltrators has increased. Azmi stated that the government needs to focus on where illegal Bangladeshis are coming from, what the government is doing, and why this infiltration is occurring. However, the way Muslims are being harassed in the name of Bangladeshis is wrong. He stated that radical Muslim leaders are advising Hindus to increase their population. Regarding Navneet Rane’s comment, Abu Asim Azmi said, “Who stopped her from having forty children? But she shouldn’t create suspicion in the name of Hindus and Muslims. This is very harmful. There is a political agenda to create hatred against Muslims. Ahead of the BMC elections, Soumya and Nitesh Rane have become agitated and are spewing venom against Muslims. This should be banned.”

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