Mumbai, July 31: Seven families were cheated of Rs 68.50 lakh on the promise of securing government jobs for their children, with the accused claiming to have influential contacts in the Maharashtra Mantralaya (State Secretariat). The Azad Maidan Police have registered a fraud case and launched a search for the accused.

According to Mumbai Police, a major fraud involving the collection of lakhs of rupees from multiple families under the pretext of providing government employment has come to light in the city. Acting on complaints filed by the victims, the Azad Maidan Police have booked two accused persons for cheating and criminal breach of trust.

Among the victims is a retired Sister-in-Charge from GT Hospital. Police said the accused collectively swindled Rs 68.50 lakh from seven families over several years by promising government jobs.

Investigators revealed that the scam dates back to 2014. The complainant was searching for employment opportunities for her son when Suryakant Nivrutti Magre, a neighbour and colleague residing in the GT Hospital staff quarters, approached her with an offer. Magre allegedly claimed that his relative, Yogesh Jagannath Patankar, worked at the Mantralaya and had considerable influence in securing government appointments.

The accused promised to obtain a Senior Clerk position in a government department for the complainant’s son and demanded Rs 5 lakh in return. Trusting Magre because of their professional and personal association, the complainant paid the amount in instalments between April and December 2014. Police said she even mortgaged her jewellery to arrange the money.

After receiving the payment, the accused allegedly continued delaying the appointment process. On December 10, 2019, the complainant’s son was sent to a Primary Health Centre in Khalapur for what was described as a mandatory medical examination. Upon reaching the centre, the family discovered that several other candidates and their parents had also been called for similar tests.

However, no appointment letters were issued. The accused allegedly continued making excuses, citing administrative delays and later the COVID-19 pandemic. As years passed without any progress, the victims realised they had been cheated.

Further investigation revealed that six other families had fallen victim to the same scheme, resulting in a total loss of Rs 68.50 lakh. The Azad Maidan Police have recorded statements from the victims and intensified efforts to trace and arrest the accused.

Tehran, July 31: The Iranian army said it launched drone strikes against US facilities and assets at Sheikh Isa Air Base in southern Bahrain.

In a statement published on its website, the army said the strikes targeted the US military’s power generators, navigation systems, and office and backup buildings at the base on Thursday, Xinhua news agency reported..

Earlier in the day, Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guard Corps said it had launched attacks against US assets at Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait and Al-Azraq Air Base in Jordan, in response to fresh US strikes against Iran on Wednesday night.

The latest clashes came after days of pause in hostilities between the United States and Iran.

Before the pause, the United States had launched multiple waves of strikes against Iranian targets, saying they were in response to Iranian attacks on vessels in the Strait of Hormuz and aimed at “degrading Iran’s ability to threaten commercial shipping.” Iran had responded with missile and drone attacks targeting US military bases and facilities across the region.

Earlier Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi on Thursday urged Bulgaria and Cyprus not to allow the United States to use military bases on their territories for attacks against Iran, according to ministry statements.

In a phone call with Bulgarian Foreign Minister Velislava Petrova, Araghchi said Bulgaria’s parliamentary approval of US tanker aircraft deployment at Bezmer Air Base to support “aggressive operations against Iran” violates international law and friendly bilateral ties.

He cited UN General Assembly Resolution 3314, which considers making territory available for aggression against a third state as an act of aggression.

Petrova said Bulgaria has no intention of participating in war against Iran, and supports diplomacy to reduce regional tensions.

In a separate call with Cypriot Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos, Araghchi stressed the need to prevent “abuse” of foreign bases in Cyprus for “aggression” against Iran.

Kombos said Cyprus has contacted Britain to ensure that British bases on Cypriot territory would not be used against any country.

Bhiwandi, July 31: A four-storey building collapsed in Bhiwandi in Maharashtra Thane district, leaving six people dead, according to the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF). Authorities fear that several others may still be trapped under the debris, and rescue operations are continuing at the site.

The building had started tilting late on the night of July 30 and collapsed on Thursday night. After noticing the danger, several labourers working there evacuated the premises. Repair work was reportedly underway in the building at the time, which is believed to have reduced the number of people inside when the collapse occurred.

During the rescue operation, NDRF personnel recovered two bodies from the debris. The team also rescued a woman alive from the rubble and immediately shifted her to a nearby hospital for treatment. Her condition is reported to be stable.

Deepak Kumar Yadav, a survivor of the incident, told media, “Repair work was being carried out on the pillars of a nearby building. After dinner, we went to sleep when we suddenly heard a loud sound of the collapsing building. When we rushed out, there was chaos everywhere. I jumped from the first floor to save my life.”

Neha Singh, a local resident searching for her husband after the collapse, said, “He had gone downstairs saying he needed to check something. The building collapsed barely 10 minutes after he went down. The incident occurred around 11:30 p.m. Some work was going on there. I was not feeling well, which is why I had stayed upstairs. My husband, Ranjeet Singh, has been missing since the collapse. His phone is ringing, but he is not answering.”

Another survivor, Sangeeta Prajapati, said, “I was standing in the parking area when I heard the sound of the building cracking. I tried to run, but the structure collapsed while I was fleeing. I sustained injuries in the incident.”

Abhay Kumar Yadav recounted, “We were in our room after dinner when we heard a loud noise. We immediately tried to run outside, but there was no clear exit route, so I jumped from the first floor. I suffered a leg fracture. Later, some local residents brought a ladder, and others were able to climb down safely. There were around 25 to 30 people inside the building at the time. The building has nearly 45 rooms.”

According to the administration, at least three to four labourers are still feared trapped under the debris. Rescue operations are progressing slowly due to the large volume of rubble.

After receiving information about the incident, teams from the NDRF and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) rushed to the spot. Debris removal operations, assisted by JCB machines and other heavy equipment, continued throughout the night. Officials said darkness and the massive debris have hampered rescue efforts, but teams remain engaged in the operation.