Palghar, Maharashtra: The Mira-Bhayandar, Vasai-Virar (MBVV) Crime Branch has arrested two men from Bhiwandi for allegedly blackmailing an 18-year-old girl after recording her obscene video during a video call. The accused had extorted money from the victim and threatened to make the video viral.

According to police, the victim received a friend request on Instagram in August 2025 from a man claiming to be from Delhi and currently doing business in London. The two began chatting on WhatsApp soon after. On the night of September 6, 2025, the accused allegedly coerced the girl to undress during a video call and recorded the act.

The next day, he called her again—this time posing as an officer from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)—and threatened to leak the video online unless she paid ₹18,000. The victim, unable to arrange the full amount, transferred part of the money to a bank account provided by the accused.

Despite this, the harassment continued, with the accused calling from different numbers, demanding more money, and even sending the obscene video to her father and brother to increase pressure.

A case was registered at Naya Nagar Police Station under Sections 75(1), 77, 78(1)(ii) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Sections 66(E) and 67(A) of the Information Technology Act.

During investigation, the Crime Branch Unit 1, Kashimira, launched a parallel probe. Technical analysis and inputs from informants revealed that the extorted money had been received in the account of Mohammad Shadab Ansari, a resident of Bhiwandi, who later transferred it to another Bhiwandi resident, Mohammad Taha Ansari.

Upon interrogation, Taha Ansari admitted to converting part of the ransom into USDT cryptocurrency and sending it to a foreign-based contact identified as Waqas Khan. Both accused were handed over to the Nayanagar Police for further legal action.

Police have urged citizens, especially young social media users, to be cautious while interacting with strangers online and to immediately report any incidents of sextortion or cyber blackmail to www.cybercrime.gov.in or the nearest police station.

Mumbai, October 2025:
Mumbai has taken a major leap in public transportation with the full launch of the Mumbai Metro Line-3 (Aqua Line) — the city’s first underground metro corridor. Connecting the northern suburbs to South Mumbai, the 33.5-kilometre line aims to transform the way Mumbaikars commute, offering a fast, clean, and comfortable alternative to road and rail congestion.

Route and Connectivity

The Aqua Line runs from Aarey / JVLR in the north to Cuffe Parade in the south, covering 27 underground stations. The line passes through key business and residential areas such as Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC), Dharavi, Siddhivinayak, Worli, Churchgate, CSMT, and Nariman Point.

One of its biggest highlights is direct connectivity to both terminals of Mumbai’s airport — the Domestic and International terminals — making airport travel smoother than ever before.

The entire north–south journey can now be completed in about 45 minutes, a major improvement over the two-hour average by road during peak traffic.

Station Highlights

Some of the prominent stations on the Aqua Line include:
Aarey / JVLR, Seepz, MIDC, Marol Naka, Airport Terminal 1, Airport Terminal 2, BKC, Dharavi, Siddhivinayak, Worli, Haji Ali, Churchgate, and Cuffe Parade.

Each station features modern facilities such as escalators, elevators, digital information screens, and air-conditioned platforms. Entry and exit points are designed for smooth passenger movement, including dedicated access for persons with disabilities.

Technology and Features

• Fully underground corridor, ensuring minimal impact on road traffic.
• 8-coach trains with advanced safety systems and automatic doors.
• Platform screen doors at major stations for enhanced safety.
• Real-time passenger information systems inside trains and stations.
• CCTV surveillance, emergency communication systems, and modern fire safety equipment.
• Energy-efficient operations, regenerative braking, and noise reduction design.
• Seamless ticketing system* with QR code tickets, smart cards, and mobile app payments.

Fares and Timings

The fare structure has been designed to stay affordable and distance-based:

Metro services operate from 5:55 AM to 10:30 PM, with trains running every few minutes during peak hours to ensure minimal waiting time.

Benefits for the City

• Time Saving: Travel from the northern suburbs to South Mumbai in less than an hour.
• Reduced Traffic: Expected to ease road congestion and lessen dependence on private vehicles.
• Environmental Impact: Cleaner, electric transit reduces carbon emissions.
• Economic Growth: Improved access to commercial hubs like BKC, Fort, and Nariman Point will support business and real estate growth.
• Passenger Comfort: Air-conditioned coaches, smooth rides, and high safety standards enhance the commuting experience.

A Step Toward a Smarter Mumbai

With Metro Line-3 now fully operational, Mumbai moves closer to a truly integrated transport network, connecting its suburban rail, metro, and bus systems. The Aqua Line is more than just a transport project — it’s a symbol of progress, promising faster, greener, and more efficient mobility for millions of daily commuters.

New Delhi, Oct 17: The Delhi High Court on Friday imposed a cost of Rs 20,000 on the Union government for concealing facts in its review petition challenging a previous ruling that upheld the promotion of Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer and former NCB officer Sameer Dnyandev Wankhede.

Dismissing the Centre’s review plea, a Bench of Justices Navin Chawla and Madhu Jain deprecated the conduct of the government and said, “We expect that the petitioner as a State would disclose all facts truthfully before filing the petition. For this, we dismiss the present review petition with a cost of Rs 20,000.”

The matter arose from a direction issued by the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) in December 2024, asking the Union government to open the sealed cover containing Wankhede’s promotion details. The CAT had ruled that if the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) recommended his name, he should be promoted to the post of Additional Commissioner with effect from January 2021.

The Delhi High Court upheld the CAT’s order on August 28, after which the government filed a review petition claiming that departmental proceedings had been initiated against Wankhede between the reservation of judgment on July 29 and its pronouncement on August 28.

In its decision, the Justice Chawla-led Bench noted that the Centre had failed to disclose an order passed by the CAT in August 2025, which stayed the departmental proceedings against Wankhede. The Delhi High Court further observed that the CAT’s order had been issued prior to the filing of the review petition, yet the Union government chose not to bring it on record.

Wankhede came into public attention for his role in the 2021 Cordelia Cruise drug case, which also allegedly involved actor Shah Rukh Khan’s son, Aryan Khan.

Wankhede was later accused of misconduct and faced allegations of possessing a forged caste certificate. The Delhi High Court has now ordered the Centre to implement the CAT’s order and grant promotion to Wankhede, if recommended by the UPSC, within four weeks.