Palghar: In a significant operation against human trafficking, Palghar police have uncovered a prostitution racket being run from a residential flat in Naigaon, Vasai. Three Bangladeshi nationals were arrested, and two victims, including a minor girl, were rescued, officials confirmed on Tuesday.

About The Case

Acting on a tip-off, the Anti-Human Trafficking Cell of the Mira Bhayander–Vasai Virar police conducted a raid on July 26 at a flat in Naigaon, located in the Vasai area.

According to ACP (Crime) Madan Ballal, officers found a minor girl at the scene who was allegedly being pushed into the flesh trade. A 21-year-old woman, also a victim of the racket, was rescued from the same premises.

The arrested accused have been identified as Mohammad Khalid Bapari, Juber Harun Sheikh, and Shamin Gaffar Sardar, all Bangladeshi nationals. Police say the victims, too, are from Bangladesh and were reportedly trafficked into India and forced into sex work.

Both victims have been shifted to a shelter run by the Rescue Foundation for their care and rehabilitation.

An FIR has been registered against the accused under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including Sections 96 (procuration of child), 98 (selling child for purposes of prostitution), 143(3) and 143(4) (trafficking), and 144 (exploitation of trafficked person). Additional charges under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act have also been applied.

The investigation is ongoing.

Mumbai: In the alleged arsenic and thallium poisoning deaths of businessman Kamalkant Shah and his mother Sarladevi in August-September 2022, the court has framed murder and conspiracy charges in the case, paving way for the trial to commence.

About The Case

The deceased’s wife Kavita Shah and her alleged partner Hitesh Jain pleaded ‘not guilty’ on Monday. The two are accused of lacing the food of the deceased with poisonous metals, causing slow, painful death. While framing the charges, the court said that it heard arguments from the prosecution and defence, and is “of the opinion that there are grounds for presuming that Shah and Jain have committed an offence punishable under Section 302 (murder), 328 (causing hurt by means of poison), 201 (destruction of evidence) and 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code, which are exclusively triable by the sessions court”.

The court read over the charges to the two accused and also explained them. As per the case, Kavita was in a relationship with Jain, who too is an accused in the crime. Kamalkant became seriously ill and died on September 19, 2022, while his mother, Sarla, passed away earlier on August 13 the same year.

The postmortem revealed metal poisoning as the cause of the deaths. Subsequently, the complaint was filed by Kamalakant’s sister, and the ensuing investigation revealed the modus operandi. The prosecution argued that both victims exhibited poisoning symptoms and that the medical reports detected arsenic and thallium in their bodies. This counts as established evidence to hold Kavita and Jain responsible for the crime, the prosecution argued.

It further argued that Kavita was the only one insisting on not carrying out the blood tests. Earlier, the prosecution had said that Jain was Kamalkant’s friend as the duo was in the garment business and stayed in Vile Parle. Jain and Kavita were in a relationship for over a decade during which there were frequent fights between the latter and her husband. The prosecution claimed that Kavita and Jain both wanted to get married and also usurp Kamalkant’s property, hence they conspired to kill him.

Navi Mumbai: The Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) has achieved the highest Super Swachh rating in the Swachh Survekshan, securing third place nationally and first in the state. Commissioner Dr. Kailash Shinde emphasised transforming the cleanliness campaign into a sustainable movement rather than mere competition, enabling maximum public participation. Diverse stakeholders, including students, NGOs, and marginalized groups, were actively involved to foster a clean city identity.

The city’s waste management strategy is notable, with the generation of 750 tons of waste daily, comprising 350 tons of wet and 400 tons of dry waste. The corporation employs a fleet of 206 vehicles for transportation, equipped with GPS trackers for real-time monitoring.

Waste processing projects at 38 sites convert wet waste into biogas and fertiliser while reusing construction waste for paver blocks. The old dumping ground has been transformed into a nature park, and innovative projects, like processing old clothes, have garnered national recognition.

In terms of sanitation facilities, Navi Mumbai boasts a nearly complete sewerage network (99.9%), processes all sewage, and repurposes the output for parks and industries. Public amenities include 465 toilets, and sanitation workers are honoured as Swachhatadut. The city achieved a seven-star rating for waste management and the highest Water Plus rating for its open defecation-free efforts. Future plans aim to enhance the Swachhata Abhiyan and develop projects for energy and biogas generation from waste.

In the Swachh Survekshan 2024-25, Indore, Surat, and Navi Mumbai emerged as the cleanest cities. The MoHUA ceremony recognized 78 cities and institutions for sanitation excellence, with Prayagraj awarded Best Ganga Town and Secunderabad Cantonment Board commended for sanitation efforts. Cities like Visakhapatnam were honoured for sanitation worker safety.

An assessment framework spotlighted 34 Promising Swachh Shehars, and President Murmu emphasised sustainable growth. The Swachh City Partnership links top performers with underperformers, while the Accelerated Dumpsite Remediation Programme addresses legacy waste. MoHUA officials stressed long-term strategies for Viksit Bharat 2047.