Navi Mumbai: A gas agency owner has been booked for allegedly cheating a fruit trader of Rs 25 lakh on the pretext of offering partnership and high returns on investment in Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited-linked business in Nerul. The Nerul police have registered a case against the accused and initiated further investigation.

The accused has been identified as Sunil Rambhau Gunjal (62), a resident of Koparkhairane and owner of Vighnahar Gas Service, while the complainant, Bhalchandra Nalawade (67), is a fruit trader residing in Nerul. The two had known each other for several years through business dealings.

According to the police, in 2020, Gunjal lured Nalawade by claiming that his gas agency was associated with BPCL and offered him a partnership. He allegedly convinced Nalawade to invest a large sum by promising a monthly return of 5 per cent, both verbally and in writing.

Trusting the offer, Nalawade invested Rs 25 lakh. However, despite the passage of time, he neither received the promised returns nor any official documents confirming his partnership. When Nalawade demanded his money back, Gunjal allegedly avoided repayment on various pretexts.

Police said Gunjal later issued four cheques worth Rs 25 lakh to Nalawade, but all were dishonoured. Even after repeated follow-ups, he refused to return the money and allegedly threatened the complainant when pressed for repayment.

“Based on the complaint, a case of cheating and criminal breach of trust has been registered. We are verifying the financial transactions and further legal action will be taken accordingly,” a Nerul police officer said.

Following the complaint, Nerul police registered an FIR against Gunjal under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita including 318(4), 316(2), 352, and 351(2) for cheating, criminal breach of trust, and criminal intimidation. Further investigation is underway.

Mumbai, April 11: The Bombay High Court has stayed, until further orders, the implementation of the Charity Commissioner’s directive that had halted elections to the managing committee of the Asiatic Society of Mumbai, marking a shift from its earlier stance backing the last-minute intervention.

Justice Farhan Dubash on April 8 granted interim relief on a plea filed by senior journalist and former Rajya Sabha MP Kumar Ketkar and others, observing that “principles of natural justice appear to have been violated”.

The court noted that the March 13 order was passed “without the knowledge and/or prior notice” to the Society or its managing committee, and without giving them an opportunity to respond to the inquiry report.

The impugned order by Charity Commissioner Amogh Kaloti had, hours before the scheduled March 14 polls, stayed the election and directed preparation of a fresh voters’ list through sub-committees.

It also proposed administrative oversight by an observer and a five-member panel, citing “serious questions” about the functioning of the Society and reports of missing rare books.

Earlier, however, another bench of the HC had refused to interfere with the stay on March 14 while hearing a petition by one of the members, Deepak Tanaji Pawar.

The HC had then found no fault in the timing of the Charity Commissioner’s decision, remarking that “there are serious lapses in the functioning of the society prima facie at least”.

The court was told that an inspector’s inquiry had revealed that “2050 rare books were missing” from the Society’s collection, raising serious concerns. The court had noted the absence of a valid election programme for March 14, observing that documents produced related to an earlier schedule.

Justice Dubash’s order has now stayed the “operation, implementation and effect” of the March 13 directive and posted the matter for further hearing on April 16.

Pune: A helicopter carrying Maharashtra Minister of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Protection Chhagan Bhujbal made an incorrect landing in a car parking area instead of a designated helipad in Khanwadi village of Purandar tehsil on Saturday, causing panic among locals.

The incident took place when Bhujbal arrived to attend a programme marking Mahatma Phule Jayanti. Despite a proper helipad being arranged for the event, the pilot reportedly mistook an open parking space for the landing site.

According to officials, the helicopter landed directly in the parking area where vehicles were present. The sudden landing created confusion and fear among people at the venue.

No injuries or damage were reported in the incident. Police quickly intervened and guided the pilot to shift the helicopter to the correct location. Bhujbal was safe and later attended the scheduled programme.

Local residents expressed concern over the lapse. They said the mistake could have led to a serious accident, especially as the area is close to residential zones. Many questioned how such an error occurred despite prior arrangements.

Authorities are likely to conduct an inquiry into the incident. Officials will examine whether the helipad was properly marked, if there was any technical issue, or if the error was due to misjudgment by the pilot.

The incident has raised concerns over safety protocols and coordination during VIP movements. Officials said steps will be taken to prevent such mistakes in the future.