Mumbai: On Monday, a special bench of Justices Ravindra Ghuge and Gautam Ankhad was constituted to hear the petitions seeking restrain on the agitation in support of the Maratha reservation, which has brought the city to a virtual standstill.

During the hearing, Justice Ravindra Ghuge narrated that the high court too was under siege and that he too was a victim of the blockade.

In a detailed order, the HC pulled up Maratha reservation activist Manoj Jarange and his “peaceful protesters” observing that they had prima facie violated every condition of the permission granted to hold a peaceful protest and disrupted the maximum city. It gave the protestors time until Tuesday noon to vacate the streets and restore normalcy in the city.

Justice Ghuge cited his personal example wherein he stated that when he was travelling towards the HC around 12.30 pm in the official car, there was a huge blockade in front of the City Civil Court and the HC building.

“The protesters were playing on the streets, many were dancing and some had slept on the roads. The Judge (Ghuge, J), walked besides the crowd on the foot-path from the City Civil Court and reached the High Court,” the order read.

Even the HC was not spared when the hearing was going on for over three-and-half hours. “The High Court was virtually under a siege. Whilst the hearing was going on inside the Court hall, doors of which were closed, slogan shouting was clearly audible to us as well as all the lawyers and litigants,” the bench added in its order.

Advocate Ashish Gaikwad appeared for Jarange, while advocates Shriram Pingle, Ramesh Dube Patil and Rajesh Tekade represented some supporters seeking to intervene. The court refused to allow their intervention.

Ironically, even these lawyers conceded that the situation was grim and the protestors were beyond Jarange’s control.

The bench noted that advocates Pingle, Dube Patil, Tekale and Gaikwad “do not dispute that the situation is grim and has practically brought Mumbai to a standstill.”

The judges asked the lawyers — who have earlier appeared for Jarange in two criminal cases — if he would appeal to protesters: (a) to restrict the gathering to 5,000 and send the rest home, and (b) to urge future protesters not to enter Mumbai.

Dube Patil and Tekale told the court it was “not possible” for Jarange to make such an appeal as many protesters were “beyond his control.” Pingle said he would make a “bona fide effort,” but conceded that “several protesters are now beyond Mr. Jarange’s control.”

Mumbai: Mumbai and its surrounding regions woke up to light to moderate rainfall and cloudy skies on Tuesday. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), spells of moderate to heavy rain are expected to lash Mumbai, Thane, Navi Mumbai and Palghar today.

The weather bureau has cautioned that certain pockets may experience intense showers during the day. Meanwhile, districts in the Konkan region, Raigad, Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg, have been placed under a yellow alert owing to heavy rainfall forecasts.

In Mumbai, light drizzle that started at dawn is expected to intensify into heavier spells by afternoon and evening. The sky is likely to remain overcast throughout the day, keeping the maximum temperature between 25 and 30 degrees Celsius. Humidity levels are hovering around 85 percent, adding to the muggy conditions. Coastal areas may see rough sea conditions with high waves, prompting authorities to advise caution for those visiting beaches.

Neighbouring Thane and Navi Mumbai are also bracing for similar weather. The morning hours are predicted to bring scattered light showers, but rainfall intensity could rise in the latter half of the day. Average temperatures will range between 24 and 29 degrees Celsius, accompanied by winds blowing at speeds of 12–18 kmph. With the likelihood of traffic congestion and waterlogging in low-lying areas, citizens have been urged to plan their travel accordingly.

In Palghar district, the weather is expected to remain unpredictable, with isolated light showers in some areas and heavy downpour in others. Temperatures will remain moderate, between 24 and 29 degrees Celsius. The district administration has sounded an advisory for fishermen, warning them against venturing into the sea due to the possibility of strong winds coupled with rain.

Further south along the Konkan coast, the situation is expected to be intense. Raigad, Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg districts, which have already been witnessing heavy rain over the past few days, are on high alert. A yellow alert has been issued by the IMD, and residents in hilly regions of Raigad have been particularly warned about the risk of landslides. Day temperatures in these districts are likely to settle between 24 and 28 degrees Celsius.

Thane: The Anti-Extortion Cell of the Thane Police arrested three individuals for allegedly possessing four country-made revolvers and eight live cartridges worth ₹1.82 lakh in Thane.

The accused have been identified as Akshay Sahani (20), a resident of Delhi; Bintu Gaur (26), a resident of Uttar Pradesh; and Akash Verma (26), also a resident of Delhi.

Acting on a tip-off from a reliable informer on August 30, police learned that three individuals had come to the Kalyan station area intending to sell arms. A team was formed, and a trap was laid at the location.

The suspects were intercepted, and during the search, police recovered two country-made revolvers, two duplicate revolvers, and six live cartridges. The accused were then taken to the police station for further investigation. An FIR has been registered against them under the relevant sections of the Arms Act.

Shailesh Salvi, Senior Police Inspector from the Anti-Extortion Cell, said, “We apprehended the accused and later produced them in court, where they were remanded in police custody until September 4 for further investigation.”

Police sources added that investigations are underway to determine the source of the weapons and their intended buyers.