Crime
Couple held for rape-murder of minor girl in Maharastra’s Thane

Thane, Dec 26: A couple has been arrested in connection with the abduction, rape and murder of a 13-year-old girl in Maharashtra’s Thane district.
Coming barely after the Badlapur sexual assault on two nursery class girls in August, this is the second case that has sparked outrage with people demanding the noose for the alleged perpetrators – Vishal Gawli, 35 and his wife Sakshi Gawli, 25.
Vishal Gawli is accused of kidnapping the girl from near her home, where she was playing on Monday, taking her to his house, assaulting, raping, killing and then dumping her body near a cemetery in the neighbouring Bhiwandi town, some 8 kilometres away.
He was spotted purchasing liquor in a restaurant-cum-bar CCTV footage, and the Thane Police formed six teams to hunt him down, finally nabbing him on Wednesday (December 25) with the help of Buldhana Police.
A team of Kalyan Police which has registered the case, took custody of Vishal Gawli from Shegaon Police in Buldhana where his in-laws reside, while his wife Sakshi, who was said to be a party to the heinous crime, was nabbed from outside her house in Kalyan.
The Shegaon Police zeroed in on Vishal Gawli after he stepped out of a salon where he had gone to change his appearance by shaving off his beard.
They handed him over to the Kolsewadi Police Station in Kalyan town (Thane) on Thursday and is likely to be produced before a Kalyan Magistrate Court later in the day.
Initial probe reveals that he was a history-sheeter in sex crimes, facing three molestation cases involving two women and a minor girl, plus two assault cases, he was released on bail in a POCSO case lodged in August 2023 and had been married thrice, with Sakshi being his third wife.
As the matter assumed political overtones, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis spoke to the Thane Superintendent of Police and directed that no efforts should be spared to ensure the death penalty for the accused – both now arrested.
Ruling ally Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde – in whose Lok Sabha constituency – the heinous crime took place, met the victim’s family and assured that the government would ensure that the accused is tried and hanged.
The incident attracted huge flak from the Opposition parties including Shiv Sena (UBT)’s Sanjay Raut, who said that Thane – the home district of Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde – has become a hotbed of gruesome crimes against women and young girls.
Crime
Moments after India claimed Champions Trophy, communal tension erupts in MP’s Mhow

Bhopal, March 10: Moments after Rohit Sharma and his team triumphed over New Zealand by four wickets in a thrilling final of the cricket Champions Trophy, celebrations turned chaotic in Mhow near Indore, Madhya Pradesh, late Sunday night.
The festive atmosphere quickly escalated into tension among two communities as stones were pelted at the joyous crowd.
The incident occurred around 10.30 p.m. on Sunday, when a procession in the Jama Masjid area sparked a dispute over firecrackers. This quickly escalated into a confrontation, with stone-pelting spreading to several areas, including Manak Chowk, Patti Bazaar, and Market Chowk, among others.
The situation spiralled out of control when two opposing groups faced off, further intensifying the chaos. Numerous videos have emerged showing individuals from a specific community targeting jubilant cricket fans with stones. In response to the incident, a heavy police presence has been deployed to prevent further unrest.
Additional security forces have been called in to maintain control, a senior police officer told media over the phone.
Even with the police present, the stone-pelting persisted, reports said, and some individuals brandished weapons.
Anger boiled over, leading to the torching of shops and vehicles by miscreants. The violence was exacerbated by the use of petrol bombs, video footage, and reports revealed. To quell the unrest, the police resorted to using mild force through lathi charges and fired tear gas shells. The violence left two houses, four shops, and a “magic” vehicle damaged. Over a dozen vehicles were set ablaze and vandalized, unconfirmed reports said.
However, the police took over and brought the situation under control. The full extent of the damage will be determined after further investigation.
The police continue to work towards restoring order, but the area remains on edge
As soon as the Indian cricket team won the Champions Trophy 2025, jubilations erupted across the country, with lakhs taking to the streets to celebrate the win.
Business
₹122-Crore New India Co-op Bank Scam: EOW Issues Blue Corner Notice Against Ex-Chairman Hiren Bhanu & Wife

Mumbai: The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) has intensified its crackdown on Hiren Bhanu and his wife Gauri, the absconding couple in the Rs122 crore scam at New India Cooperative Bank.
Blue Corner Notice Issued
The EOW has issued a Blue Corner notice against Hiren, the alleged mastermind and former chairman of the bank, and Gauri, who was the acting vice-chairman. Investigators have traced Hiren to Abu Dhabi and Gauri to Thailand, leading to the issuance of the notice. The EOW had initially issued a lookout circular.
Now, with confirmed foreign locations, the alert has been issued. The Blue Corner notice will help track Bhanus’ locations, monitor their activities, and facilitate their arrest.
According to EOW sources, the duo fled abroad just before the scam was exposed. As per the probe, Hitesh Mehta, the bank’s general manager, executed the fraud under the instructions of the Bhanu couple.
Reports indicate that they received Rs28 crore from the embezzled funds. Hiren fled to Dubai on January 26, while Gauri left for Thailand on February 10 just before the scam was uncovered on February 12.
Crime
Minor Girl Harassed In Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar; Parents Brutally Beaten With Wooden Sticks For Questioning Daughter’s Harassment; 3 Booked

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar(Maharashtra): A shocking incident took place in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar where a minor girl’s parents were brutally assaulted with wooden sticks, fists and kicks when they confronted a group of men for harassing their daughter. The incident occurred in Waluj’s Jogeshwari area on Wednesday, March 5, at around 5:30 am. The police have registered a case against the three accused.
The victim, a 14-year-old girl, lives in a rented house in Jogeshwari with her parents, brother and sister. Both her parents work in private jobs. On Tuesday, while returning home from school, she was followed and harassed with obscene gestures by three men identified as Nilesh Dubile, Rishikesh Dubile and Pratik Rajput, reported media. She informed her family about the incident upon reaching home. When her mother stepped outside to confront them, the trio fled the scene.
Accused Harassed Minor, Made Lewd Remarks Repeatedly
The next morning, at around 5:30 am, the girl was sweeping outside her house when the same three men saw her and started making lewd remarks. When questioned, they began abusing her and attacking her mother. The assailants used wooden sticks and anything they could find to hit her. The victim’s mother was kicked in the chest and struck on the head with a stone, leaving her injured.
The father also became a target when he intervened. Seeing the violence escalate, locals attempted to stop the assault but were also attacked and abused. It is suspected that more individuals were involved in the attack. The commotion drew a large crowd of onlookers.
Case Filed Against 3 Accused
Following a complaint by the 39-year-old mother, a case has been registered at Waluj MIDC Police Station against Nilesh Dubile, Rishikesh Dubile and Pratik Rajput. The police have since taken the accused into custody.
Following the investigation, the police booked Pratik Satish Rajput, Rishikesh Ramnath Dubile, Rohit Shankarsing Bahure and Nilesh Ramnath Dubile under relevant sections of the law at Waluj MIDC Police Station. The accused have been taken into custody, and further investigation is underway.
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