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Maharashtra Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule Blames SEC For HC Order Deferring Maharashtra Civic Poll Counting To Dec 21

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Mumbai: Maharashtra Minister and senior BJP leader Chandrashekhar Bawankule on Tuesday said “misinterpretation of laws” by the State Election Commission (SEC) has led to the Bombay High Court deferring the counting of votes for the local bodies polls to December 21.

The SEC’s actions alone had “prompted such a decision”, the state revenue minister claimed, adding that he had repeatedly cautioned the poll body against delaying elections.

Bawankule was speaking to reporters here hours after the Nagpur bench of Bombay High Court directed that the counting of all civic bodies polls in the state will be held on December 21.

The SEC had earlier scheduled the counting for Tuesday’s elections on December 3.

The HC’s order has come on a day when polling was underway for elections to 264 municipal councils and nagar panchayats in Maharashtra, days after the SEC rescheduled the elections in 24 local bodies on December 20.

“I have been saying that the SEC is misinterpreting laws and postponing elections without any basis,” Bawankule said.

He pointed out that there were no demands for the postponement of elections from any part of the state, and despite this, the SEC had delayed the polls, resulting in the high court’s intervention.

The minister further stated that it was “for the first time in the history of the SEC” that elections or counting had been stayed in such a manner.

“Such decisions are unacceptable. Leaders across parties are outraged,” Bawankule said, claiming that the SEC had failed to hold any all-party meetings and is creating problems for voters.

Raising questions about the deferred counting date, he said, “Which political party wants counting on December 21? We want the result tomorrow. Is there any political party in Maharashtra that wants results on the 21st?” The BJP leader said that he had personally raised concerns with the SEC on several occasions.

“I discussed these issues seven to eight times and even wrote to them, but nothing was acknowledged. We showed the SEC how it was misinterpreting laws, yet everything was taken in the wrong way,” he said.

Asked whether the high court’s order would be challenged, Bawankule said it was for the SEC to decide.

“It is the SEC’s prerogative to appeal in the Supreme Court. For once and for all, the Commission should find a solution. Larger local bodies are yet to face elections,” he said.

He also criticised the SEC’s handling of the poll schedule.

“It is not good that political parties put in effort, run campaigns, and then suddenly the Commission postpones polling. It does not present a good picture,” the minister said.

He slammed the Opposition parties for blaming the government for the postponement, saying their allegations were misplaced.

“The SEC is an autonomous body. The government has no role. This chaos is unfathomable, and the Commission must resolve it,” he said.

Expressing disappointment over the last-minute postponement of polling in some pockets, Bawankule said, “How can you let parties campaign for weeks and then, 24 hours before polling, announce postponement? In 35 years of public life, I have never seen such mismanagement.” “I spoke to several collectors and SEC officials, but nobody was ready to hear us. It appears the people in the SEC feel they are above accountability,” he said.

Maharashtra

Mumbai: SIM card used in cyber fraud, case registered against SIM card agents from Nagpara and Andheri

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Mumbai: The Cyber ​​Cell of the Mumbai Crime Branch has now claimed to have registered a case against such SIM card sellers whose SIM cards were used in fraud. The Crime Branch has registered a case against five SIM card sellers. During the investigation of the Mumbai Crime Branch in the fraud case, it was found that the accused used to procure SIM cards through agents and shopkeepers for cyber fraud and these numbers were used for fraud. These SIM card sellers used to misuse the documents of the customers from their shop and if the customer asked for a SIM card, they would get one, two or three SIM cards issued on his document and then these people used these SIM cards for their own benefit and provided them to the absconding accused in cyber crimes. The Cyber ​​Cell has registered a case against the accused Muhammad Sultan Muhammad Hanif, Zeeshan Kamal, who sold SIM cards from Nagpara under other sections of the ID Act. Similarly, a case has been registered against Daya Shankar Bhagwan Shukla, Pradeep Kumar Burnalwala, Neeraj Shivaram for illegally selling SIM cards. This action has been taken by DCP Cyber ​​Cell Parshottam Karad on the instructions of Mumbai Police Commissioner Devin Bharti. The Cyber ​​Cell has appealed to the public to check their mobile number on the Sanchar Saathi app. If they find any other number in their name, they should report it and in this matter, the public can also file a complaint on the Sanchar Saathi app.

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Maharashtra

Large-Scale Land Record Irregularities in Maharashtra Spark Statewide Audit

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Mumbai: ( By Kamar Ansari )

A major irregularity involving land records has surfaced in Maharashtra, raising serious concerns about the misuse of legal provisions and the security of property ownership across the state. The issue is believed to have affected a significant number of families, particularly in rural and semi-urban areas.

The controversy centers around the alleged misuse of a provision under the Maharashtra Land Revenue Code that is meant strictly for minor corrections in official land records, such as clerical or typographical errors. Instead, this provision was reportedly used to make substantial and unauthorized changes to land ownership entries.

Officials suspect that in several cases, land ownership details were altered without proper verification or legal procedure, leading to disputes and possible illegal transfers. These actions have caused anxiety among landowners, many of whom fear losing their rightful property due to manipulated records.

In response to the situation, the state government has ordered a comprehensive audit of land record changes carried out under the concerned provision over the past few years. Authorities across districts have been directed to review mutation entries and verify the authenticity of all such changes.

Preliminary assessments indicate that the issue may not be limited to isolated incidents, but could point to a wider pattern of administrative lapses or deliberate manipulation. The audit aims to identify the scale of the problem and fix accountability.

Government officials have assured that strict action will be taken against those found responsible, including possible disciplinary and criminal proceedings. Efforts are also expected to be made to restore original ownership records wherever irregularities are confirmed.

The investigation is ongoing, and authorities have stated that protecting the rights of affected citizens and ensuring transparency in land administration will remain a priority.

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Maharashtra

Maharashtra Infra Update: JNPT Linked Expressway Connecting Mumbai-Pune -Goa Routes Moves Ahead, Bids Open April 16

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The proposed Pagote Chouk Expressway in Maharashtra has moved a step closer to execution, with the National Highways Authority of India initiating the process for Coastal Regulation Zone clearance. The development marks a key milestone for the greenfield infrastructure project aimed at strengthening connectivity between Jawaharlal Nehru Port and major national highways.

At the same time, construction bids for the project are scheduled to open on April 16, 2026, signalling progress in the pre-construction phase.

The 29.3 kilometre six lane expressway is designed to provide a direct, access controlled route between JNPT Port and key arterial roads including NH48, the Mumbai Pune Expressway, and the Mumbai Goa highway. The corridor is expected to ease congestion on existing routes and streamline the movement of goods and passenger traffic.

The project is particularly significant for freight movement from the port, offering faster and more efficient connectivity to inland regions.

The expressway will include a mix of complex engineering structures to navigate the terrain. Plans include six major bridges, five minor bridges, four viaducts, and two tunnels measuring 1.9 kilometres and 1.57 kilometres respectively.

These elements are aimed at ensuring seamless travel while maintaining speed and safety standards across the corridor.

The project has a targeted completion timeline of 30 months from the start of construction. Once operational, it is expected to significantly reduce travel time between Mumbai and Pune.

Motorists travelling from Pune will be able to exit the Mumbai Pune Expressway shortly after the Khalapur toll plaza and reach the Chirle interchange of Atal Setu in around 20 minutes. The development is likely to bring both cities closer while boosting regional connectivity and economic activity.

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