Mumbai: After FIRs registered against the directors of The Roppen Transportation Services Pvt Ltd (Rapido) in Mumbai and Navi Mumbai, the Amboli police have now filed a case against directors of Ola company for allegedly operating bike-taxi services illegally within Mumbai city without a licence or permission from the Maharashtra State Government or the Regional Transport Authority (RTA).

The case was registered on December 5 based on a complaint received from the Regional Transport Office (RTO). Media contacted both companies; however, the management of Ola and Rapido has not yet responded. The RTO took action against the two-wheelers of both companies between November 11 and December 3 in Andheri West.

Babu Teli, 36, a Motor Vehicle Inspector with the RTO, filed a complaint and the case was filed under Sections 318(3) (cheating) and 223 (disobedience to an order duly promulgated by a public servant) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), along with Sections 66, 93, 192(A), 193 and 197 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.

According to the FIR, both Rapido and Ola have not received any permission from the government and were operating their vehicles via mobile applications, facilitating passenger transport without the requisite approvals and allegedly earning financial gains. The FIR further stated that both companies were risking passengers’ lives by conducting illegal transportation on two-wheelers. It also noted that the companies did not verify the drivers’ character certificates and failed to follow safety rules.

Mumbai, Dec 8: Indian stock markets started the week on a weak note on Monday as benchmark indices opened lower in the absence of strong domestic cues.

The Sensex slipped by 93 points, or 0.11 per cent, to trade around 85,619. The Nifty also drifted lower and was seen at 26,137, down 50 points or 0.19 per cent.

Analysts said that Nifty is expected to trade within a defined range today, with near-term resistance placed around 26,300-26,350, where profit-booking may emerge.

“On the downside, support is seen around 26,000-26,050, a zone that has held firm through recent consolidation,” experts said.

Several heavyweight stocks dragged the indices in early trade. Shares of Bajaj Finance, BEL, NTPC, Asian Paints, Power Grid, Trent, Sun Pharma, and ICICI Bank were among the biggest losers on the Sensex.

At the same time, some major technology and auto names helped limit the downside. Eternal, Tech Mahindra, TCS, Tata Motors PV, Infosys, HCL Tech and Tata Steel were the top gainers.

The broader market also showed signs of pressure. The Nifty MidCap index slipped 0.12 per cent, while the Nifty SmallCap index fell more sharply, declining 0.40 per cent.

Sector-wise, real estate, public sector banks, and pharmaceutical stocks were under the most selling pressure, with the Nifty Realty, PSU Bank, and Pharma indices falling between 0.3 per cent and 0.5 per cent.

On the other hand, the Nifty IT index managed to rise 0.5 per cent, supported by gains in large tech stocks. The Nifty Metal index also inched up by 0.2 per cent.

Analysts said that the market mood remained cautious in early trading as investors awaited fresh triggers to set the direction for the day.

“Given the prevailing conditions, a buy-on-dips strategy remains appropriate. Traders may consider adding long positions if Nifty pulls back toward 26,000-26,050 or if Bank Nifty finds stability above 59,400,” market watchers added.

Mumbai: Mumbai began its Monday with clear blue skies, cool breezes and a refreshing winter nip, but the pleasant weather was overshadowed by a dense layer of smog that settled over the city. Despite the India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicting clear skies and temperatures between 19°C and 32°C, the worsening pollution quickly became the dominant feature of the day. Visibility dipped across several areas and the city’s morning calm was replaced by unease as residents stepped out to find the air thick and acrid.

The city’s ongoing construction surge remains a major contributor to the pollution spike. Dust from large-scale infrastructure projects, including metro lines, bridges, coastal roads and extensive redevelopment, continues to lift fine particulate matter into the atmosphere. Private real estate work adds to the load, creating a mix of suspended dust and vehicular emissions that the city’s breezes struggle to disperse.

By early morning, AQI.in recorded Mumbai’s overall Air Quality Index (AQI) at 255, firmly placing it in the ‘unhealthy’ category. This marks a steep rise from the comparatively milder conditions seen earlier in the season. Many residents reported symptoms associated with elevated PM2.5 exposure, burning eyes, throat irritation, headaches and a persistent dryness in the nose. From elevated points in the city, the skyline appeared faded and distant, signalling the alarming spread of pollutants.

Pollution hotspots across Mumbai revealed the extent of the problem. Wadala Truck Terminal once again topped the charts with a hazardous AQI of 455. Chembur followed at 316 and Kurla at 306, both long-standing industrial clusters. Prominent business districts such as Bandra Kurla Complex (306) and coastal zones like Worli (305) also reported severe pollution, driven by a mix of traffic, construction dust and humidity trapping pollutants closer to the ground.

Suburban areas, though slightly better off, weren’t spared. Jogeshwari East registered an AQI of 113 and Govandi 133, both falling in the poor category. Other residential belts such as Charkop (140), Parel–Bhoiwada (187) and Borivali East (187) also remained in the poor range, reflecting the widespread nature of the pollution wave.

For context, AQI between 0–50 is considered Good, 51–100 Moderate, 101–150 Poor, 151–200 Unhealthy, and anything above 200 falls into the Hazardous zone. With AQI levels above 200 considered hazardous, Mumbai’s worsening air quality threatens to eclipse the charm of winter, raising concerns about health impacts and what the coming months may bring.