Politics
BJP not against caste-based census: Sushil Modi
A day after Chief Minister Nitish Kumar decided to call an all-party meeting to discuss the issue of caste-based census, BJP Rajya Sabha MP Sushil Kumar Modi on Tuesday claimed that his party is not against the proposal.
His statement comes at a time when BJP Bihar wing leaders realised that they should not stop or delay any further caste census in the state after the announcement of Nitish Kumar.
BJP leadership of Bihar have realised that it is better for them to catch the bus rather than missing it. The idea would be to at least claim before the people of the state that they were not against the process, a political expert said.
“The saffron party never opposed caste-based census in Bihar or in any other state. When the all-party delegation met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a senior state minister from BJP quota Janak Ram was a part of it. Similarly, when the all-party delegation of Jharkhand went to Delhi to meet PM Modi on the same issue, our leader of opposition in Jharkhand Deepak Prakash also participated.
“Had we been against it, we would not have been a part of the delegation. These delegations put a demand before PM Modi that the Centre would conduct a caste-based census in the country. The Centre had said that it is not possible for it to conduct caste census in the country but tha state governments are independent to conduct the same in their respective states,” Modi had said.
“The caste-based census was passed twice in the Bihar Legislative Assembly and Bihar Legislative Council and BJP supported it all along,” Modi said.
“Even we were not against the socio-economic census passed in Parliament in 2010. On that occasion, Gopinath Munde and Hukumdev Prasad Yadav during their speech in the House had supported it. Even when caste-based census was held in Karnataka (Sarva Kukumb Surve in Karnataka) and Telangana (2015), BJP did not oppose it,” Modi said.
Hence, it is a baseless allegation that BJP is against the caste-based census, he said.
Maharashtra
Mumbai road accident: Death toll climbs to 11, CM Fadnavis expresses grief

Mumbai, April 13: The death toll in the road accident in Mumbai’s Kalyan has climbed to 11 after two people succumbed to their injuries at the hospital, officials said on Monday.
A dumper truck collided with a car in the Kalyan area of Mumbai on Monday, officials said. The accident took place around 11 a.m. on the Rayta Bridge along the Kalyan-Murbad road, authorities mentioned.
According to preliminary information, the car was travelling from Kalyan when it collided head-on with a mixer truck.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has expressed grief over the incident and offered sympathies to the families of the deceased.
In a post on X, Fadnavis said, “The incident in which 11 people lost their lives in a horrific accident due to a collision between two vehicles near Kalyan on National Highway 61 is extremely tragic. I pay my heartfelt tribute to them. We share in the grief of these families. We are in contact with the local administration.”
The police stated that the bodies of the deceased have been sent for post-mortem examinations, while the injured have been admitted to a nearby hospital for treatment.
Soon after the incident was reported, a team from the Titwala Police Station rushed to the spot and initiated rescue and relief operations.
Initial reports indicate that 12 passengers were travelling in the car at the time of the accident. Eight of the total passengers died on the spot, while one passed away at the hospital while receiving treatment. Locals rushed to the spot and tried to help the victims.
Later, two others succumbed to their injuries at the hospital.
The vehicle was on its way to Murbad when the collision occurred near Rayta Bridge, close to Kalyan, according to the police.
Earlier, speaking to media, Thane Superintendent of Police D.S. Swami had confirmed nine casualties.
Titwala Deputy SP Anil Laad, speaking to the reporters, said, “The process of identifying the deceased is currently underway, while the injured are receiving medical treatment at a nearby hospital. The police have registered a case, and the role of the concerned government departments in this incident will also be scrutinised.”
Police have launched an investigation into the circumstances leading to the accident. Preliminary information suggests that excessive speed or a loss of vehicle control may have been the cause of the mishap.
The collision also led to a massive traffic jam on the highway near the Rayta Bridge in the Titwala-Kalyan stretch, causing significant disruption to vehicular movement in the area, officials said.
Further details are awaited in the case.
Crime
Ashok Kharat Sexual Exploitation Case: ED Searches 11 locations In Nashik, Shirdi & Pune Linked To Self-Styled Godman

Mumbai: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Monday conducted searches at multiple locations in connection with the Ashok Kharat case.
Searches were carried out at five places in Nashik, three in Shirdi, and three in Pune. The searches are ongoing.
Meanwhile, a widening probe into the self-styled godman recently uncovered a massive alleged financial network involving more than 130 bank accounts and transactions exceeding RS 63 crore, with fresh findings pointing towards possible administrative complicity.
The probe gathered pace earlier this month after a Mumbai-based hotelier was alerted by Ahilyanagar Police that over Rs 2.43 crore had been routed through four bank accounts opened in his and his wife’s names, accounts he claims he never authorised. The hotelier suspects that documents submitted to Kharat for a ‘darshan booking’ were misused to open these accounts without his knowledge.
“We approached him believing he was a spiritual healer,” the hotelier said, according to an Indian Express report, adding that neither he nor his family had any connection with the credit society where the accounts were created.
Investigators believe the case is part of a larger, organised operation. According to complaints and bank records examined during the probe, personal documents collected from followers, visitors, and even alleged victims were systematically used to open multiple bank accounts. These accounts were then allegedly used to route and circulate funds between 2021 and 2024.
Authorities have identified a consistent pattern in the modus operandi. Individuals visiting Kharat for spiritual consultations or predictions were asked to submit Aadhaar cards, PAN cards, and photographs. These documents were then allegedly used to open bank accounts without consent, enabling large-scale financial transactions.
A large number of these accounts were reportedly opened under two cooperative credit societies, Jagdamba Cooperative Credit Society and Samata Nagari Sahakari Pat Sanstha, both linked to Kharat and his associates. Records show that Kharat served as chairman of the Jagdamba society until 2024, while the Samata society is associated with his co-accused Arvind Pandurang Bawke.
Investigators have traced over 100 suspect accounts to the Samata society and around 32 to Jagdamba. Further, Kharat has been listed as a nominee in at least 100 accounts, with his mobile number appearing across several of them, raising serious red flags.
The case, which initially began with allegations of sexual assault, cheating, extortion, and violations under anti-superstition laws, has now evolved into a major financial investigation. The Enforcement Directorate has also registered a money laundering case against Kharat.
Maharashtra
Nine killed as dumper truck rams into car in Mumbai’s Kalyan

Mumbai, April 13: At least nine people were killed, and two others sustained critical injuries after a dumper truck collided with a car in the Kalyan area of Mumbai on Monday, officials said.
The accident took place around 11 a.m. on the Rayta Bridge along the Kalyan-Murbad road, authorities mentioned.
According to preliminary information, the car was travelling from Kalyan when it collided head-on with a mixer truck.
The police stated that the bodies of the deceased have been sent for post-mortem examinations, while the injured have been admitted to a nearby hospital for treatment.
Soon after the incident was reported, a team from the Titwala Police Station rushed to the spot and initiated rescue and relief operations.
Initial reports indicate that 12 passengers were travelling in the car at the time of the accident. Eight of the total passengers died on the spot, while one passed away at the hospital while receiving treatment. Locals rushed to the spot and tried to help the victims.
The vehicle was on its way to Murbad when the collision occurred near Rayta Bridge, close to Kalyan, according to the police.
Speaking to Media, Thane Superintendent of Police D.S. Swami confirmed the casualties, saying, “So far, nine people have lost their lives. Two individuals are injured and remain in critical condition; they are currently undergoing treatment.”
Police have launched an investigation into the circumstances leading to the accident. Preliminary information suggests that excessive speed or a loss of vehicle control may have been the cause of the mishap.
The collision also led to a massive traffic jam on the highway near the Rayta Bridge in the Titwala-Kalyan stretch, causing significant disruption to vehicular movement in the area, officials said.
Further details are awaited in the case.
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