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Monday,21-July-2025
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Maharashtra

ED grills Rahul – Maha Cong says ‘BJP’s countdown has begun’

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Against the backdrop of the ongoing 3-days long interrogation of Congress MP Rahul Gandhi by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), and the police entering the AICC headquarters in Delhi, the Maharashtra Congress said that “the countdown has begun” for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government, here on Wednesday.

State Congress President Nana Patole said that the so-called probe against Rahul is being carried out “at the behest of the Central government”, and the Congress is not scared of such repressive tactics.

“The action is clearly out of vendetta for the political demise of the Gandhi family. Now, the Delhi Police in tandem with the BJP has carried out atrocities on Congress leaders, MPs and office-bearers in Delhi,” said Patole.

He said the Congress which had successfully fought to oust the British Empire and secured Independence for the country, and “now the BJP’s countdown has started”, while addressing mediapersons.

Terming the situation in the country “very grim”, Patole said the BJP has unleashed attacks on Congress Chief Ministers, Ministers and MPs who had gone to New Delhi for taking part in the ‘satyagraha’, and many were assaulted.

“The present government at the Centre is worse than the British rulers, but we are not afraid as the Congress had succeeded in forcing the powerful Britishers to leave the country,” Patole thundered.

The Congress chief pointed out how, regardless of the threats to his life, Rahul Gandhi has been relentlessly raising burning questions concerning the masses to the Centre.

“But the Centre has no replies to the issues raised by Rahul Gandhi and hence the government is resorting to such actions to muzzle his voice… but the party will not keep quiet,” affirmed Patole.

Intensifying protests against the Centre, the Maharashtra Congress will hold an agitation outside Raj Bhavan here on Thursday, and in all districts on Friday to highlight the repressive tactics of the BJP regime, said PWD Minister Ashok Chavan, who was present along with other senior leaders.

“The state of the country is currently worse than even the Emergency, the Centre has crossed all limits and barged inside the Congress headquarters, beat up Congress leaders and even mediapersons, prohibitory orders have been imposed. We call upon the courts to take cognisance how Section 144 can be applied in any office,” demanded Chavan.

Congress Legislature Party Leader and Revenue Minister Balasaheb Thorat said that the series of recent actions prove that the BJP government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is “scared of Rahul Gandhi” as he has voicing the nation’s concerns on the economy, unemployment, inflation and the anti-people policies of the Centre.

“We are firmly behind Rahul Gandhi and under his leadership, the party shall fight this tyranny of the BJP,” said Thorat.

Other top leaders present were School Education Minister Prof. Varsha Gaikwad, Medical Education Minister Amit Deshmukh, Relief and Rehabilitation Minister Vijay Vadettiwar, State Working Presidents Chandrakant Handore, Naseem Khan, General Secretary Devanand Pawar, Women Congress State President Sandhya Savvalakhe, State General Secretary Devanand Pawar, etc.

Later, all the Congress leaders joined by hundreds of other activists, staged a noisy demonstration near the Regal Cinema to protest the interrogation of ED by Rahul Gandhi and the Delhi Police action at the AICC headquarters and the excesses of the BJP government.

Crime

Thane Crime Branch Seizes ₹1.69 Crore Worth MD Powder; Man Arrested While En Route To Mumbra

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The Thane Crime Branch Unit One has arrested a man for allegedly possessing over 1 kilogram of MD powder, valued at ₹1.69 crore, which he intended to sell in Mumbra. The accused has been identified as Mohanlal Joshi alias Sharma, a resident of Kudus village in Wada, Palghar.

According to officials, acting on a tip-off received on July 18, a team was deployed near the Mumbra bypass flyover bridge, where the suspect was expected to arrive. The man was intercepted in his car en route to Mumbra. Upon searching the vehicle, the police discovered and seized 1.209 kilograms of MD powder, with an estimated value of ₹1,69,26,000.

He was taken to the police station, and a case was registered against him under the relevant sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.

An investigating officer from Thane Crime Branch Unit One said they are currently probing the source of the contraband and its intended recipients. Efforts are also underway to determine how many others may be involved in the case. Further investigation is ongoing.

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Maharashtra

Air India Flight From Kochi Veers Off Runway While Landing At Mumbai Airport Amid Heavy Rains

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Mumbai: A major tragedy averted on Monday as Air India flight, AI2744, from Kochi veered off runway at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport amid heavy rains in the city. All passengers are reported to be safe.

As per Air India’s spokesperson, the flight experienced heavy rain during landing, resulting in a runway excursion. The aircraft was taxied safely to the gate. All passengers and crew members deboarded the flight. The aircraft has been grounded for checks.

The hard landing reportedly caused damaged to the primary runway. Repair works are currently underway. Three tyres burst during the landing and the engine of the aircraft likely to have been damaged, Emergency teams were deployed to control the situation.

Visuals Of The Damaged Plane:

“An incoming aircraft from Kochi experienced a runway excursion at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA), Mumbai at 09.27 hours on 21 July 2025. CSMIA’s emergency response teams were immediately activated to manage the runway excursion,” a spokesperson for CSMIA said, as quoted by the media house.

“All passengers and crew are safe. There are minor damages reported to the airport’s primary runway – 09/27. In order to ensure continuity of operations, the Secondary Runway 14/32 has been activated. At CSMIA, safety always remains our highest priority,” the CSMIA spokesperson added.

Mumbai Rains:

Heavy rains lashed Mumbai on Monday, throwing normal life out of gear. Waterlogging was reported in several areas, leading to traffic disruption, especially in western and central suburbs. Local train services were also affected due to heavy showers. Local trains on the harbour line were reportedly running 20-25 minutes late.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicted more rains in the city during the week as the monsoon activity intensified. On Tuesday, moderate rainfall and overcast skies are expected, along with occasional thunderstorms. The overall temperature will remain mild, although humidity levels may remain steady.

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Maharashtra

Mumbai HC Acquits All Convicted in 2006 Train Blasts Case; Death Sentences Overturned

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Mumbai | July 21, 2025 — In a landmark verdict, the Bombay High Court has acquitted all 12 individuals previously convicted in the 2006 Mumbai local train serial bomb blasts case, reversing the 2015 judgment of the MCOCA special court which had handed out death and life sentences.

The case (G.R. No. 05/2006, MCOCA Special Case No. 21/2006) pertains to the horrific series of bomb blasts that rocked the Western Railway suburban trains in Mumbai on July 11, 2006, killing over 180 people and injuring more than 800.

On September 30, 2015, the special MCOCA court had sentenced:

  • 5 accused to death,
  • 7 accused to life imprisonment,
  • while 1 accused was acquitted.

Following standard procedure, the death sentences were referred to the Bombay High Court for confirmation, and the convicted individuals filed appeals challenging their sentences.

A division bench of Justice Anil Kilor and Justice S. G. Chapalgaonkar heard the matter extensively from *July 2024, with final arguments concluding on *January 27, 2025.

On July 21, 2025, the High Court delivered its judgment:

  • Rejected the death reference,
  • Allowed the appeals of all convicted individuals,
  • Set aside the 2015 convictions and sentences passed by the MCOCA special court.

Representing the Government of India and the state of Maharashtra were Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Raja Thakare and Special Public Prosecutor Chimalkar, who argued for upholding the original verdict.

The Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), Maharashtra, has stated that it is currently analyzing the High Court’s detailed judgment. Consultations are underway with legal experts and special prosecutors to determine the next course of legal action, which may include an appeal to the Supreme Court.

The verdict has sparked significant public and legal interest, as it not only impacts one of the most devastating terror incidents in Mumbai’s history but also raises serious questions about the prosecution’s evidence and investigation.

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