National News
AIMIM backs axe on ‘illegal dargah’, but dubs it a ‘match-fixing’

The All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) state President and MP Syed Imtiaz Jaleel has fully supported the BMC’s act of razing an illegal “dargah” which was coming up in the Arabian Sea off Mahim, here on Thursday.
However, he questioned the honesty of the intentions behind the move and said it appeared to be an “understanding” between the ruling Shiv Sena-Bharatiya Janata Party and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), just as the holy month of fasting, Ramzan, starts.
“We have no objections if the structure ‘dargah’ was illegal and it has been demolished… But what about hundreds of other similar unauthorised constructions of various communities that keep cropping up all over the state? They should also be dealt with similarly,” Jaleel told the media.
On the ‘dargah’ demolition issue today, he pointed accusing fingers at Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and their “puppet” MNS President Raj Thackeray of acting in tandem to build up passions on Ramzan-eve.
He wondered how, if the alleged “mazar” on a tiny islet was coming up openly since the past two years, the state government, BMC, Police and elected representatives remained silent, doing nothing to stop it.
“I feel that Fadnavis may have asked Raj to raise the issue in his Gudi Padwa rally, and he would get it removed the next morning… This way Raj’s stature would go up before his supporters, and simultaneously the Sena-BJP wouldn’t spoil its image before the Muslim community,” Jaleel claimed.
He raised doubts over “Raj’s real motives” behind raising the issue of mosque loudspeakers just before Ramadan month and keeping quiet the rest of the year, and asking for the Muslim community’s stand on such issues.
“But, what’s his locus standi…? Is he the CM, Deputy CM, a Minister, MP, MLA? Who is he…?” asked Jaleel, who has recently made overtures to the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance of Congress-Nationalist Congress Party-Shiv Sena (UBT).
Barely 12 hours after Raj Thackeray made a dramatic video-supported expose on the “mazaar” emerging on a tiny rocky-sandy islet near the Mahim sea, the BMC rushed a squad along with a police posse which swung into action and bulldozed it this morning.
National News
Vasai-Virar Illegal Construction Case: Ex-VVCMC Chief Anil Pawar Allegedly Extorted ₹169 Crore In Bribes, Reddy Says He Was Pressured Not To Reveal Details

Mumbai: Former Vasai-Virar civic chief Anil Pawar had started compelling builders, developers and architects to pay bribes to get approvals as soon as he assumed the charge and the files were not cleared till the bribe was paid, YS Reddy, suspended town planning department deputy director, told the ED. Reddy also apparently revealed that Pawar had pressured him for not taking his name and revealing facts.
The agency has alleged that Pawar collected bribes amounting to Rs 169.18 crore; Rs 16.59 crore for turning a blind eye to illegal constructions, which were built already, and Rs 152.59 crores for giving permission to new ones. The ED recently submitted a prosecution complaint against 18 accused, while pegging the amount of laundered funds to Rs 300.92 crore.
“Pawar asked to approach developers, architects, etc, and convince them to pay bribes in cash,” Reddy told the agency, adding his staffer Ankit Mishra used to talk to builders, developers and maintained bribe records.
He further revealed that Pawar would collect all the cash on Friday and go to Satara, Nashik and Pune, said the ED. Reddy even confirmed the list of commencement certificates illegally granted by Pawar in 457 cases of urban zone and 129 in green zone, it added.
The ED said that the former civic chief used tainted funds for warehousing ventures and land projects. He made the ‘investments’ through his wife Bharti, daughters Shrutika and Revati, and relatives like Amol Patil (Bharti’s cousin) and Janardan Pawar (his nephew).
“The Antonov Warehousing Parks project, Bhiwandi, and M/s Dhwaja Warehouses Pvt Ltd became the primary vehicles by Pawar for converting bribes into recorded equity,” the ED said.
He converted bribes into legally-titled family wealth while distancing the illicit source, thereby enjoying the amounts as untainted property, asserted the agency.
National News
Bombay HC Quashes Maharashtra Govt’s Acquisition Of NESCO’s Goregaon Land, Terms Action Arbitrary And Illegal

A bench of Justices Girish Kulkarni and Aarti Sathe passed the order observing that the authorities had failed to recognise the preferential right of the landowner to redevelop the slum on its own land before proceeding with acquisition under Section 14(1) of the Slum Act.
NESCO had challenged the 2016 state notification acquiring its properties measuring about 1,500 sq. metres on the ground that it violated its constitutional right to property under Article 300A.
The company contended that despite being the rightful owner, its proposal to redevelop the slum was ignored, while a society of slum dwellers and a developer (N. Rose Developer) pushed for acquisition without proper notice or hearing.
According to the petition, the authorities issued show-cause notices in 2009 and 2013 but never served them properly. The land was later declared a slum area and acquired by the state in 2016, following which compensation of only Rs 12 lakh was awarded.
During the hearing, senior advocate Aspi Chinoy, appearing for NESCO, cited recent Supreme Court rulings which upheld the principle that a private landowner has a preferential right to redevelop slum land before any acquisition can be undertaken.
In a significant turn, the proposed slum society, Shivshardha Co-operative Housing Society, filed an affidavit admitting that its earlier acquisition request was made under the influence of the developer and that it had now resolved to support NESCO in redeveloping the property.
Allowing the petition, the bench quashed the acquisition and strongly reminded state officials of their “responsibility before exercising the draconian powers under Section 14 (of the Slum Act),” cautioning that such powers must not be misused “at the behest of unscrupulous elements” or to discard the rights of private landowners.
National News
ED Probe: Suspended Vasai-Virar Town Planning Deputy Director YS Reddy Allegedly Amassed ₹51.77 Crore In Bribes, Spent On Luxury Lifestyle

Mumbai: The Enforcement Directorate’s investigation has revealed that YS Reddy, suspended deputy director in the town planning department of the Vasai-Virar civic body, collected bribes to the tune of Rs 51.77 crore and used the cash for a flamboyant lifestyle.
In its prosecution complaint, the central agency claimed that Reddy, in his own admission, has said that his monthly expenditure was of Rs 5 lakh, while he splurged around Rs 1 crore on festivals. This, the ED said, showed how illicit cash was used for luxury consumption.
It further claimed that Reddy routed illicit cash through friends and close family members. Vishal Damani, his close associate, handled large sums and bought expensive devices like iPhones renewed insurance with the money for Reddy, as per the probe.
Damani also delivered packages containing Rs 25 lakh to Rs 30 lakh at the behest of the accused, alleged the agency, adding that in a similar manner, Reddy’s other aides booked hotels, air tickets and spent money on legal affairs.
Damani, in his statement, said that the cash was also frequently used to supply wine and whisky to Reddy. The tainted funds were also used for buying foreign currencies as well as tickets for cricket matches and concerts for Reddy and his relatives, the ED said, quoting Damani.
The probe revealed that Reddy brazenly demanded vehicles for his sons. “This mode of integration translated illegal cash into tangible lifestyle assets while maintaining plausible deniability through third-party financing arrangements,” the ED said.
The agency claimed that large sums were also spent on renovating the household and office. To corroborate the accusation, the ED pointed out that an architect, Paramieet, renovated Reddy’s flat in Vasai. The total expenses came to Rs 45 lakh, which is disproportionate for a flat renovation, the ED argued.
-
Crime3 years ago
Class 10 student jumps to death in Jaipur
-
Maharashtra1 year ago
Mumbai Local Train Update: Central Railway’s New Timetable Comes Into Effect; Check Full List Of Revised Timings & Stations
-
Maharashtra1 year ago
Mumbai To Go Toll-Free Tonight! Maharashtra Govt Announces Complete Toll Waiver For Light Motor Vehicles At All 5 Entry Points Of City
-
Maharashtra1 year ago
False photo of Imtiaz Jaleel’s rally, exposing the fooling conspiracy
-
National News1 year ago
Ministry of Railways rolls out Special Drive 4.0 with focus on digitisation, cleanliness, inclusiveness and grievance redressal
-
Maharashtra11 months ago
Maharashtra Elections 2024: Mumbai Metro & BEST Services Extended Till Midnight On Voting Day
-
National News1 year ago
J&K: 4 Jawans Killed, 28 Injured After Bus Carrying BSF Personnel For Poll Duty Falls Into Gorge In Budgam; Terrifying Visuals Surface
-
Crime1 year ago
Baba Siddique Murder: Mumbai Police Unable To Get Lawrence Bishnoi Custody Due To Home Ministry Order, Says Report