Mumbai: Shaikh Mujeeb and Shakir Shaikh, the acting secretaries of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, Maharashtra, have appealed to the citizens of all the cities where municipal elections are being held to exercise their right to vote with full responsibility, awareness and awareness of moral values. The responsible persons have made it clear that municipal elections are not limited to drains, roads or water supply, but they are the ones that decide the honor, justice, peace and all-round development of the city.

The appeal states that the vote of the citizens is their real power and it is directly related to the lives of future generations. The decisions of local self-government bodies have an impact on the daily life of the citizens, social harmony and the quality of administration. Therefore, it is very important to make decisions thoughtfully and based on information instead of voting based on emotions or temporary benefits.

According to the officials, the right candidate is the one who is honest, understands the problems and sufferings of the people, prioritizes collective interest over personal or group interest, and considers public service a moral responsibility. Local bodies determine the direction of the city, and the role and values ​​of elected representatives determine whether the city will move on the path of development or decline.

The officials have issued a stern warning regarding the buying and selling of votes, calling it the sale of conscience and betrayal of the future of children. Voting for a few bucks is actually trading the future of the city. Those who buy votes today will not hesitate to sell public resources and public trust tomorrow, this has also been made clear in the appeal.

There has also been an emphasis on not turning political differences into hostility during the electoral process. Differences of opinion are natural in a democracy, but mutual respect, tolerance and unity are the real strength of the city. Fights and hatred weaken the social fabric of the city.

The officials of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, Maharashtra have reminded the citizens that voting is not just a right but also a duty and a trust. Not voting is tantamount to providing an opportunity to incompetent and immoral elements. Therefore, every citizen should definitely vote, neither sell their votes nor allow anyone to sell them, and not compromise on the future of the city.

Finally, the officials expressed their belief that it is only through informed and responsible citizen participation that an ideal, peaceful and developed city can be built, and reiterated their commitment to strengthening democratic values.

Mumbai: What is the need to enforce new laws in the Mumbai Municipal Corporation elections? Earlier, there was a complete ban on election campaigning on the second day after the campaigning stopped or the election rallies of the candidates became silent. But in the BMC elections, the Election Commission has taken a decision in favor of the government and has allowed the candidates to continue their election campaign by going door to door till 5 pm on the second day. Only the distribution of pamphlets and leaflets has been banned. So what is the harm in distributing pamphlets? Such serious allegations have been made here today by Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray. He said that during the elections, complaints of cash distribution were received in several constituencies and videos have also gone viral. The Election Commission is helping the defeated candidates to win the election somewhere. Raj Thackeray said that there was no such law in the Vidhan Sabha assembly elections and Lok Sabha elections. Why has this concession been given now? Along with this, a decision has also been taken to connect a machine called Panda during the counting. Shiv Sena Uddhav Thackeray is against this. Thackeray has filed a complaint and has not taken approval from any political party. Raj Thackeray has also alleged that the Election Commission makes whatever arrangements are necessary for the government.

Navi Mumbai, Jan 14: Posing as police officers, a gang allegedly robbed a Sangli-based trader of Rs 13.25 lakh in cash in Kharghar after luring him to the city on the pretext of a discounted gold deal. Kharghar police have registered a case of cheating and criminal conspiracy and launched a search for the accused.

According to the police, the complainant, Manish Shinde (56), a resident of Sangli who deals in sugar trading across various states, had been in contact with three men—identified as Ashish, Raju Bhai and Vicky—since September 2025. Ashish allegedly promised to arrange gold at a cheaper rate and introduced Shinde to the other two accused.

The deal was initially fixed for 100 grams of gold. The accused reportedly advised Shinde to carry cash in case there were issues with digital payment. Acting on this, Shinde arrived in Kharghar on January 6 with Rs 13.25 lakh in cash along with his friends.

Around 5.30 pm, while accused Raju was taking Shinde and his friend towards an office in Sector 20, five to six unidentified men arrived at the spot in a white Ertiga car, brandishing police batons and posing as policemen conducting a raid. They snatched the bag containing cash from Shinde, forcibly took Raju along in the car, and fled the scene.

Realising that he had been duped and that the incident was a pre-planned conspiracy, Shinde approached Kharghar police station and lodged a complaint.

Police have registered a case against the gang under Sections 318(4), 204 and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Special teams have been formed to trace the accused. CCTV footage from the area is being scrutinised, and efforts are on to track the suspects using mobile phone records, police said.