Mumbai: Mumbai Police is on alert in view of Ramadan and Holi. Mumbai Police Commissioner Vivek Pansalkar has claimed that special security arrangements have been made in Muslim-dominated areas in view of Ramadan. He said that the police have paid special attention to Iftar bazaars, mosques and Muslim-dominated areas in Mumbai and have tightened the security here. Also, there is a hustle and bustle till late night during Ramadan. In such a situation, the police keep a special watch on the markets. He said that markets are decorated in Bhindi Bazaar and JJ Pedhoni areas and Muslims come here for Sehri and Iftar.

There is also a traffic problem during Ramadan, and instructions have been issued to the traffic police. Iftar bazaars come during Asr and Maghrib and in such a situation there is a crowd in the markets. Therefore, deployment of police personnel has been ensured to prevent any untoward incident. He said that in the suburban areas of Kurla, Sakinaka, Jogeshwari, Andheri, Malad and Maloni, there is a crowd in the markets during Ramadan, which also causes traffic problems, but the traffic department has been instructed to take necessary measures so that no one is inconvenienced by the traffic.

Along with the traffic police, the civic police have also been ordered to remain alert. Mumbai Police is also keeping an eye on social media and miscreants. If anyone tries to spoil the atmosphere, strict action will be taken against him. This warning has also been given by Mumbai Police Commissioner Vivek Panchalkar. He said that fasting and upvaas are similar to each other and fasting has been mentioned in every religion. Similarly, fasting means remembering and worshiping the Supreme Father, the Supreme Soul and the subject. Similarly, fasting is a means of getting closer to God.

Vivek Pansalkar has said that Holika Dahan will be celebrated on March 13 and Holi will be played on the 14th. During this, special security arrangements have been made at religious places and mosques. Also, the police will keep an eye on miscreants and those who misbehave and harass women. A list of criminals has also been prepared. He said that the festival of Ramzan and Holi will be celebrated peacefully in Mumbai city. If any miscreant tries to disrupt it, action will be taken against him.

Mumbai Police Commissioner Vivek Panchalkar was asked whether false complaints are also lodged regarding loudspeakers, to which the commissioner said that action is taken only after receiving the complaint and its verification. If there is a false complaint, it is investigated whether the complaint is true or not. He said that it is mandatory to implement the guidelines of the Supreme Court and the police is trying to implement them. He said that loudspeakers have been allowed only up to a certain limit, but if anyone violates the noise pollution rules, action will be taken against him.

Mumbai: Former Zonal Director of Central Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) Sameer Wankhede has got a big relief from the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT). CAT has described his transfer and transfer as arbitrary and against the policy of his own department, after which now Sameer Wankhede’s return to Mumbai is certain. Sameer Wankhede had to face departmental inquiry after complaints of irregularities in the Aryan Khan case. Cases were also registered against him in CBI and ED. Along with this, Mumbai Police also registered an FIR in the case of extortion, which was later canceled.

CAT’s comment about Sameer Wankhede found that action was taken against him on the basis of prejudice in the department. Sameer Wankhede was transferred from Directorate General of Analysis and Risk Management, Mumbai to Directorate General of Taxpayer Services, Chennai by an order issued by the Central Board of Indirect Taxes on May 30, 2022. Wankhede started his first posting in the department in 2010 and was in Mumbai. The tribunal has said that his service period has been in various agencies like NCB, DRI, Central Excise and NIA and he has worked on deputation beyond the tenure. He has worked on deputation for a period of 6 years and 8 months.

In the case of Shahrukh Khan’s son Aryan Khan, Sameer Wankhede was accused of extortion and bribery and an investigation was also conducted in this matter. At the same time, the NCB closed Aryan Khan’s case on the basis of weak evidence. At the same time, an investigation was also started against Sameer Wankhede and his subordinate officers. After the investigation, all of them were given a clean chit.

Mumbai: The Mumbai police’s economic offences wing (EOW) has searched the residence of New India Cooperative Bank’s former chairman Hiren Bhanu in connection with the embezzlement of Rs 122 crore at the lender, officials said on Wednesday.

EOW Recovers Several Documents

During the search, EOW recovered several documents, which police are examining, an official said.

The house search was conducted in the Malabar Hill area of south Mumbai, where Hiren Bhanu and his wife Gauri Bhanu stayed in a rented flat, an official said. Gauri previously held the position of vice chairman at the bank.

The couple also own a flat at Nepean Sea Road which they have rented out, an official said. Both are wanted accused in the Rs 122-crore embezzlement case.

The EOW team is identifying the couple’s properties and also ascertaining whether they were acquired with the proceeds of the crime, he said.

About The Lie Detector Test

Meanwhile, the agency will conduct a lie detector test on Hitesh Mehta, former general manager and head of the accounts of the bank, on March 11, the official said.

Mehta is not cooperating and is hiding some important facts concerning the case, due to which he has not given his consent for the test, he said. But the court has permitted the police to conduct the forensic psychological test on Mehta, the official said.

The EOW is probing what prompted the Reserve Bank of India’s inspection team to visit the bank in February 2025.

As per the balance sheets of the bank, as of March 31, 2019, it had Rs 33.71 crore in cash which rose to Rs 99 crore on March 31, 2020. It’s almost a three-fold jump, he said.

On March 31, 2021, the figure further increased to 194 crore and it was Rs 105 crore in 2022. At some point in the current financial year, the amount rose to even Rs 152 crore. Police are examining why the RBI team conducted an inspection last month and not in some of the previous years, the official said.

So far, police have arrested four persons in connection with the embezzlement, and four accused are still at large, he added.