Police in Maloni area of Mumbai have claimed to have arrested a person with an illegal revolver. The said person was roaming around with an unlicensed weapon and had a pistol pointed at his back. On receiving information, the police found a man aged between 32 and 37 years near Desai Maidan, who had a pistol pointed at his back. Police have recovered a black pistol made in India and four live cartridges from him. He had brought the pistol here from the village with the intention of selling it. The price of the pistol is said to be Rs 75,000 and the price of four cartridges is Rs 4,000. Police have arrested the accused, identified as 35-year-old Arif Ismail Shah. He is a resident of Ratnagiri. Police have registered a case against him under the Arms Act and are investigating further. During investigation, it was found that he had brought this pistol from Goa and had come here to sell it. This information was given by ACP Neeta Padvi of Mumbai Police.

Mumbai, July 12, 2025 – In a strong show of dissent, thousands of bars, restaurants, and permit rooms across Maharashtra will remain shut on Monday, July 14, following a statewide bandh announced by the Indian Hotels and Restaurants Association (AHAR). The protest is directed against a series of recent tax hikes that industry leaders say are threatening the survival of the state’s hospitality sector.

A Triple Tax Blow

The bandh comes in response to three major financial setbacks imposed on the industry this year:

• Excise duty on liquor has been increased by 60%
• Value Added Tax (VAT) on liquor has been doubled from 5% to 10%
• Annual license fees have seen a 15% hike

According to AHAR, this combination has dealt a “death blow” to many small and mid-sized hospitality businesses that were already struggling to recover from the long-lasting effects of the pandemic.

Industry Under Pressure

Maharashtra’s hospitality sector is one of the largest in India, employing over 20 lakh people and supporting nearly 50,000 vendors. With operating costs already high, the additional taxes are pushing many outlets into financial crisis.

“This is not just about taxes. It’s about survival,” said AHAR President Sudhakar Shetty. “We are being squeezed from all sides—rising costs, tax hikes, and slowing customer footfall. If the government does not roll back these policies, many businesses will be forced to shut permanently.”

Widespread Participation Expected

More than 20,000 bars and restaurants, including nearly 8,000 in the Mumbai region, are expected to participate in the bandh. The protest will also see support from other hospitality and trade bodies, making it one of the largest coordinated shutdowns the sector has witnessed in recent years.

An Appeal for Relief

Industry leaders have called upon the Maharashtra government, including Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister Ajit Pawar, to immediately reconsider the tax hikes. AHAR has warned that if no corrective action is taken, this one-day token strike could be followed by an indefinite shutdown.

“We do not want confrontation. We want survival and fair treatment. The hospitality industry contributes significantly to the state’s economy and tourism. We deserve a chance to operate sustainably,” Shetty added.

What This Means for Consumers

On July 14, patrons can expect:

• Most bars and permit rooms across Maharashtra to remain closed
• Limited food and beverage services at restaurants that serve alcohol
• Possible delays in supply chains connected to the hospitality trade

Conclusion

The July 14 bandh marks a critical moment for Maharashtra’s hospitality sector. With livelihoods and local economies at stake, industry leaders are hoping this unified protest will push the state government toward a more balanced and sustainable taxation policy. Until then, the heat is on—and not just in the kitchens.

Mumbai: The Bombay High Court on Friday dismissed a contempt petition filed by Dnyandev Wankhede, father of IRS officer Sameer Wankhede, against Nationalist Congress Party (Ajit Pawar faction) MLA Nawab Malik. The petition alleged that Malik had violated an assurance given to the court by making defamatory remarks against the Wankhede family.

A bench of Justices MS Sonak and Jitendra Jain, however, noted that the social media posts cited in the contempt plea did not constitute a breach of Malik’s earlier undertaking, which was limited to the duration of a defamation suit. Moreover, the suit has since been dismissed due to non-removal of office objections.

Dnyandev Wankhede had filed a defamation suit seeking restrain in Malik from making defamatory statements against him and his family.

Malik had then offered an unconditional apology for his remarks, which the court accepted on December 7, 2021. At that time, the court had permitted him to make statements pertaining only to official misconduct of government officers.

Dnyandev Wankhede the contempt plea in 2022 claiming that despite giving an undertaking to the court in December 2021 to refrain from making defamatory statements, Malik continued to do so through public comments and social media posts, including on December 28, 2021, and January 2 and 3, 2023.

On Friday, Malik’s counsel pointed out that the original defamation suit filed by Wankhede had already been dismissed due to procedural lapses. Therefore, in the absence of a subsisting suit, the question of contempt did not arise.

Wankhede’s advocate Sana Raees Khan contested this. The court accepted Malik’s argument and held that no contempt could be made out.

Dismissing the plea, the bench observed that it was open to Wankhede to pursue any other remedies available under the law, including seeking restoration of the original suit.