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Tuesday,03-February-2026
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Maharashtra

‘Bajrang Dal, VHP Don’t Want People Of Maharashtra To Live Peacefully’: Congress On Controversy Over Aurangzeb’s Grave

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Mumbai: Reacting to the controversy surrounding Aurangzeb’s grave in Sambhaji Nagar (Aurangabad) and Vishva Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal’s demand to remove it, Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar on Monday said that Bajrang Dal and VHP don’t want the people of Maharashtra to live peacefully.

“They (VHP and Bajrang Dal) are left with nothing else to do…They don’t want the people of Maharashtra to live peacefully…They want to slow the development pace of the state…I would like to say to them that Aurangzeb was here for 27 years, and he was not able to do anything to the state; now, what will they get after the removal of his grave,” Wadettiwar told media.

Congress National Spokesperson Atul Londhe Patil said that the situation is tense in Maharashtra, adding that law and order have collapsed in the state.

“Farmers are committing suicide not getting electricity and water… Unemployment has increased… To hide all of these issues, the BJP comes up with new issues of Hindus and Muslims… They diverted people from PF and pension schemes to the share market… and now, within 5 months, the common man has become poor… The people are entangled in historical topics to divert their attention from the main issues… The people are not going to fall for it this time. They have to discuss the real issues,” Patil said.

Earlier on Saturday, Bajrang Dal leader Nitin Mahajan demanded the removal of the Aurangzeb tomb in Sambhajinagar and said that if the government fails to do so, then the tomb will meet the same fate like Babri Masjid.

“In Sambhajinagar, a (Aurangzeb’s grave) grave is being worshipped. The grave of Sambhaji’s murderer is being built… When such graves are worshipped, then the society also develops in that manner… At that time, we were helpless…but now Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal are demanding that it should be removed… On March 17, we will demand to the government that it should be removed… We will greet the government if they remove it, but if that does not happen, then VHP and Bajrang Dal will come out on the streets and launch a huge agitation,” Nitin Mahajan told media.

“And we know what happens when the Hindu community carries out an agitation concerning its existence, we all saw what happened in Ayodhya to remove the Babri structure… If the government does not remove the grave, then we will do Karseva and do so ourselves,” he added.

Earlier, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and Goshamahal MLA T Raja Singh had written a letter to Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat seeking detailed information regarding the funds allocated and spent by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) on the maintenance of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb’s tomb, located in Maharashtra’s Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar district.

The letter dated March 15, reads, “I hope this letter finds you in good health and high spirits. I am writing to seek detailed information regarding the funds allocated and spent by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) on the maintenance of Aurangzeb’s tomb, located in Chhatrapati Sambha ji Nagar district, Maharashtra.”

In the letter, Singh sought a detailed explanation on the total amount spent by the ASI on the tomb over the years, year-wise expenditure details incurred on maintenance, security, and other related aspects.

The BJP MLA further sought justification for continued government spending on the tomb of Aurangzeb, a ruler who was responsible for the “destruction” of our temples, the killing of Hindu kings, and the “suppression” of culture.

Singh urged the Central government to consider halting any further expenditure on Aurangzeb’s tomb immediately.

“It is my strong belief that not a single rupee of taxpayer money should be spent on maintaining the tomb of a tyrant who caused immense suffering to our ancestors. The government should consider halting any further expenditure on this site immediately, as it holds no relevance to our cultural heritage and history of valor,” it stated.

Crime

Mumbai Crime: 26-Year-Old Man Arrested For Sexually Assaulting 10-Yr-Old Boy In Lower Parel Railway Yard

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Mumbai: The Churchgate Police have arrested a 26-year-old man under the POCSO Act (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) for allegedly sexually assaulting a 10-year-old boy in the Lower Parel railway yard area on January 31. The accused is currently in police custody.

According to the Government Railway Police (GRP), the incident occurred on January 31 between 9:30 AM and 11:00 AM. The accused, a native of Madhya Pradesh, is unemployed and lives on footpaths in Mumbai. He has a criminal history, with several cases of theft registered against him at various police stations.

The investigation revealed that the accused lured the boy by promising him Rs.10,000 for watching a bag. He told him that his bag was stuck in the local train. He took the boy from Churchgate on a local train and alighted at Lower Parel. There, he led the boy inside the yard to a parked train and sexually assaulted him before fleeing.

The victim was found crying by the Mumbai Central Railway Police, who then traced his mother. The boy’s family resides on a railway platform. A case was registered and transferred to the Churchgate Railway Police Station.

Using CCTV footage and human intelligence, the police arrested the accused. The Churchgate Railway Police have registered a POCSO case against him. The boy is in the 3rd standard. 

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Crime

Mumbai Police’s Anti-Narcotics Team Attacked By Suspected Drug Traffickers In Navi Mumbai; Several Injured

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Navi Mumbai: In a shocking incident, the anti-narcotics team of the Mumbai Police was attacked by suspected drug traffickers during an operation in the Ulva area of Navi Mumbai last week. The incident occurred when the team conducted a raid in the Ulva locality while tracking suspects linked to a drug trafficking case who were located near Shagun Chowk.

When officers attempted to arrest them, the accused allegedly launched a violent attack on the police team using sharp weapons, including choppers, swords, hockey sticks and a village axe. In the attack, Assistant Police Inspector Kiran Mandhare of RCF Police Station was injured in the attack. Other police personnel, including Firoz Siddiqui, Ahmed Raza Qureshi and Atul Jaisawal, also sustained injuries and are currently undergoing treatment.

Following the attack, the senior police inspector at the Ulva Police station immediately sent a team of police for help. Moreover, a case has also been registered against all eight accused.

The report also stated that the Mumbai Police team did not seek help from the local police station before conducting the raid and had not informed the Navi Mumbai Police in advance about the operation.

Earlier In January 2026, three men were taken into custody for allegedly arguing with and assaulting traffic police personnel during a vehicle-checking drive at a naka bandi in Panvel on New Year’s Eve, leaving a traffic constable injured.

The incident took place around 2.30 am on December 31 at Shivshambho Naka, where traffic police had intensified checks as part of security arrangements for New Year celebrations.

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Maharashtra

BMC Announces Strict Sanitation Fines In Mumbai: ₹250 Fine For Spitting, ₹500 For Littering & ₹25,000 For Transporting Garbage Without License

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The Mumbai Municipal Corporation has stepped up efforts to improve cleanliness and sanitation across the city by intensifying awareness around solid waste management rules and imposing penalties for violations. The move is part of a broader push to ensure cleaner public spaces and better waste handling practices across residential, commercial and public areas.

The civic body is creating awareness about regulations related to waste generators, establishments, waste service providers and solid waste processing. These rules govern the storage, segregation, transportation, and disposal of waste. Officials have made it clear that strict penalty action will be taken against citizens and establishments that fail to comply.

Under the revised enforcement, fines have been specified for common violations. A penalty of Rs 250 will be imposed for spitting in public places. Dumping garbage will attract a fine of Rs 500, while failure to segregate wet and dry waste will result in a fine of Rs 200. Transporting garbage without a valid licence will invite a penalty of Rs 25,000.

As per the directions of Municipal Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani, regular action is being taken to maintain cleanliness within municipal limits. Additional Municipal Commissioner City Ashwini Joshi, under the guidance of Deputy Commissioner Solid Waste Management Kiran Dighavkar, said continuous efforts are being made to strengthen solid waste management systems in the city.

Special cleanliness drives and activities are also being organised from time to time to reinforce these measures.

The bylaws will apply to all waste generators and to public and private places. This includes residential buildings, business and commercial establishments, professional and industrial premises, government and semi-government offices, educational institutions, religious places, recreational spaces and all other areas of public use.

The focus of the rules is on preventing littering and nuisance, ensuring clean premises and mandatory segregation of solid waste at source.

The regulations lay down detailed responsibilities regarding storage and collection of municipal solid waste, duties of producers, municipal authorities, representatives and contractors, and the handling of material recovery facilities. They also cover biomedical waste, e-waste, construction and demolition debris and plastic waste.

Additional fines have been announced for specific offences. Throwing garbage on roads, footpaths, gardens or public places will attract a fine of Rs 500. Bathing in public places will result in a fine of Rs 300. Urinating or defecating in public places will attract a fine of Rs 500 each. Feeding animals or birds in public spaces will also invite a fine of Rs 500.

Failure to keep courtyards or premises clean can result in fines ranging from Rs 500 to Rs 1,500.

Dr Ashwini Joshi appealed to citizens and establishments to strictly follow the bylaws and cooperate with the municipal corporation in keeping Mumbai cleaner and more beautiful.

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