A 65-year-old man, imprisoned for the past fifteen years on terrorism charges, has yet to be released despite being granted bail by the Bombay High Court, as the court had ordered him to present a local resident as a surety. The High Court had granted bail to the accused, Kafeel Ahmed, last year, citing the prolonged incarceration and the delay in the trial proceedings. A division bench comprising Justice A.S. Gadkari and Justice R.R. Bhonsale had ordered his release subject to the condition of providing a local surety. Advocate Mubeen Solkar had represented Kafeel Ahmed in the High Court through the Jamiat Ulama-e-Maharashtra (Arshad Madani faction). As the accused hails from Bihar and has no one in Maharashtra to stand as surety for him, Advocate Mateen Shaikh filed an application today—under the instructions of Jamiat Ulama-e-Maharashtra President Maulana Halimullah Qasmi—seeking a modification of the bail condition. Last week, the accused’s son had met Maulana Halimullah Qasmi to request his elderly father’s release from prison, following which the petition was filed in the Bombay High Court. A case against the accused, Kafeel Ahmed, is also pending in Delhi, where he has already been granted bail; the Delhi court had permitted him to present a surety from any state. A petition filed by Advocate Mateen Shaikh states that despite the High Court granting bail a year ago, the accused remains incarcerated because he has been unable to fulfill the court’s requirement for a local surety; as he hails from Bihar, he has no acquaintances in Maharashtra who could stand surety for him. The petition further argues that, just as the Delhi court allowed the accused to present a surety from outside the state, the Bombay High Court should grant similar relief to facilitate the release of the accused, who has been imprisoned for fifteen years. A hearing on Kafeel Ahmed’s petition is expected to take place sometime next week.

It is pertinent to note that Kafeel Ahmed is accused of involvement—alongside other co-accused—in the 13/7 Mumbai serial bomb blasts, which occurred at three different locations in the city. Charges were framed against Kafeel Ahmed and the other eleven accused under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC)—including Sections 302, 307, 326, 325, 324, 379, 109, and 120-B—as well as under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, the Explosive Substances Act, and the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA). The Jamiat Ulama-e-Maharashtra Legal Aid Committee is providing legal assistance to the accused facing charges in this case: Naqi Ahmed Wasi Ahmed, Nadeem Akhtar Ashfaq Shaikh, Haroon Abdul Rashid Naik, Kafeel Ahmed Mohammad Ayub Ansari, Asadullah Akhtar Javed Akhtar (alias ‘Haddi’), Syed Ismail Afaq Alim Lanka, Saddam Hussain Feroz Khan, and Zain-ul-Abideen Abdul Razzaq. Advocates Abdul Wahab Khan, Sharif Shaikh, Hasnain Qazi, and others are appearing in the Sessions Court to represent the accused.

Mumbai: The Union Ministry of Home Affairs has designated the Shahzad Bhatti gang and network as a terrorist network, thereby facilitating action by investigative agencies against those associated with him. The Shahzad Bhatti network has been found involved in radicalizing youth via social media and supplying weapons; nine separate FIRs have been registered against it. In its conspiracy to incite terrorism and spread unrest across the country, the Shahzad Bhatti gang had also recruited several youths, including minors. The Maharashtra ATS conducted an operation against the Shahzad Bhatti gang, during which several youths were summoned for questioning—and subsequently released—due to their social media contact with the group; however, the government has now invoked the UAPA (Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act) against the Shahzad Bhatti gang itself. Consequently, anyone found associated with this gang or network could face arrest under the UAPA. Reliable ATS sources stated that while there were previously no specific legal provisions to take concrete action against the Shahzad Bhatti network, the organization/gang has now been designated as a terrorist entity; thus, any association with the network will result in action under the UAPA. The ATS had previously detained and questioned several youths linked to Shahzad Bhatti before releasing them. ATS sources claim that the agency’s actions have dealt a severe blow to Shahzad Bhatti. The Dubai-based Pakistani figure is involved in plotting violence against India and uses social media to lure youths into executing these plans; he operates via WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, and Telegram groups to recruit young people for illegal activities. In response, the Delhi Special Cell and the ATS have taken action against Shahzad Bhatti, and over 200 of his associates have been arrested across the country. Shahzad Bhatti speaks Punjabi, a language he uses to attract youths on social media. ATS sources have urged young people to stay away from the Shahzad Bhatti network on social media, warning that any association with it… Action is inevitable; therefore, young people should exercise caution when using social media and avoid contact with strangers, as such interactions can lead to serious trouble. ATS sources have urged people to stay away from this group and network, noting that action under the UAPA—on charges of involvement in anti-national activities—is now certain for those associated with Shahzad Bhatti.

Satara, Sep 18: Visiting his native village Dare in Satara district for the Ganeshotsav festival, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Friday reviewed Maharashtra’s rainfall situation and reassured farmers facing severe crop damage due to dry spells.

He said the government will not abandon the farming community and will provide full support in drought-like regions.

His response follows senior Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Sharad Pawar’s demand that the state government declare a drought and distribute immediate relief aid.

DCM Shinde acknowledged that dry spells have scorched standing crops in parts of Vidarbha and Marathwada. Crop loss assessments (panchnamas) are currently underway to distribute aid based on actual losses.

He held a video conference with Osmanabad (Dharashiv) Guardian Minister Pratap Sarnaik, MP Omraje Nimbalkar, and the District Collector to review the crisis. District guardian ministers are actively touring affected areas, and he confirmed he will personally inspect drought-hit zones shortly to engage directly with farmers.

Dismissing opposition criticism, DCM Shinde stated the Mahayuti government prefers letting its work speak rather than engaging in political verbal duels.

Marking World Bamboo Day at his farm in Dare, where he has successfully experimented with cultivating imported crops like blueberries, along with camphor and asafoetida (hing), Shinde highlighted bamboo’s versatile uses in producing ethanol, modern infrastructure, and everyday commercial goods.

He urged large-scale bamboo cultivation alongside environmental conservation efforts during the festive season.

DCM Shinde also took a sharp jab at his political rivals over their constant criticism of his visits to his hometown, Delhi, or London.

“Whenever I visit my home village, political rivals suffer from stomach aches. I will now have to look for a medicinal plant or prescribe Jamalgota (a traditional laxative) to cure their indigestion. I am a man of action and will answer criticism through my work, not words,” he quipped.

Earlier, NCP chief Sharad Pawar, in a detailed letter to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, highlighted the state’s severe agrarian crisis due to erratic monsoon rains and demanded immediate intervention across nine key points. Pawar’s letter comes shortly after the Chief Minister expressed his resolve to make Marathwada drought-free on the occasion of Marathwada Liberation Day.

Pointing out the stark ground reality, Pawar, who uploaded the letter on Friday on X, emphasised that deficient rainfall has severely impacted crops across Marathwada and other parts of the state, leaving farmers in deep distress.

In his letter, Pawar raised urgent concerns regarding standing crops, drinking water shortages, and fodder scarcity for livestock.

“Due to the failure of rains across most parts of the state this year, the farming community is facing a massive crisis. Standing crops such as soybean, cotton, pearl millet (bajra), maize, pigeon pea (tur), green gram (moong), and black gram (udid) have withered, compounded by increased pest infestations. Consequently, the situation regarding agriculture, drinking water, and fodder supply is set to worsen,” Pawar noted.