Mumbai: In a major breakthrough for Indian intelligence and anti-narcotics agencies, international drug trafficker Salim Dola, a close associate of underworld don Dawood Ibrahim, is set to be brought to Mumbai today after 5 pm following his deportation to India from Turkey.

Dola was brought to India early Tuesday morning as part of a highly confidential and coordinated international operation led by the Narcotics Control Bureau under ‘Operation Global-Hunt.’ He arrived at Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi on a special aircraft after being detained in Istanbul based on intelligence inputs shared by Indian agencies with foreign authorities.

Upon arrival, he was taken into custody by NCB officials and questioned at the airport. After initial interrogation, officials confirmed that Dola will now be transported to Mumbai later today, where he will be taken to the NCB office for further probe and legal proceedings.

Dola was a key figure in an international drug trafficking syndicate with operations spanning India, Dubai and several other countries. His name has reportedly surfaced in connection with a large-scale synthetic drug racket, raising serious concerns about the extent of the network.

Security agencies suspect that the syndicate has links with the infamous D-Company, indicating a possible nexus between global narcotics cartels and organised crime groups. Dola was earlier active in Mumbai’s Dongri area before allegedly shifting his base to Dubai, from where he is believed to have managed a major drug supply chain targeting India. Officials have also claimed he used a Saudi Arabian passport to facilitate international travel.

The arrest follows sustained action against his network. In October 2025, the Mumbai Crime Branch extradited his close aide Mohammad Salim Sohel Sheikh from Dubai. A month later, four of his family members, including his son Tahir Dola, were also brought to India after being arrested abroad. The NCB had earlier announced a reward of Rs 1 lakh for information leading to his capture, while an Interpol Red Corner Notice had intensified efforts to track him globally.

Dola’s custodial interrogation in Mumbai is expected to yield crucial leads on international drug trafficking routes and could expose deeper links between narcotics syndicates and the underworld network linked to Dawood Ibrahim. Further investigation is underway.

Navi Mumbai: The much-awaited ‘Missing Link’ stretch on the Yashwantrao Chavan Mumbai–Pune Expressway will be opened to public traffic from May 1, with only light motor vehicles (LMVs) and passenger buses allowed in the initial phase, according to a notification issued by the Maharashtra Traffic Police.

As per the notification, the phased rollout has been planned to ensure commuter safety and address technical considerations within the tunnel section, with goods vehicles barred from using the route during the initial period.

In Phase I, from May 1 to October 31, entry will be restricted to LMVs and passenger vehicles, while goods-carrying vehicles will remain prohibited. From November 1 onwards, a review of the first six months will be conducted to assess the feasibility of allowing goods vehicles, and a decision will be taken accordingly, the notification stated.

The notification further stated that vehicles carrying hazardous or inflammable materials, including explosives, will be strictly prohibited from using the Missing Link at all times in line with tunnel safety protocols. Such vehicles will continue to use the existing expressway.

Speed limits have been fixed at 100 kmph for cars and 80 kmph for passenger buses on the Missing Link stretch. It also clarified that minor speed violations within a permissible margin will not attract action under Section 183 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.

The notification was issued by Additional Director General of Police (Traffic) Praveen Salunke, which will remain in force from the date the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) opens the road for public use until further orders.

Mumbai: Political activity has intensified in Maharashtra as a crucial meeting of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) is currently underway at Devgiri Bungalow under the leadership of Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar on Wednesday morning. The meeting comes amid rising anticipation over the upcoming Legislative Council (Vidhan Parishad) elections, with multiple aspirants vying for a single seat from the party.

The high-level meeting was attended by key party leaders, including MP Parth Pawar, national working president Praful Patel, Chhagan Bhujbal and state president Sunil Tatkare. Senior leaders Dilip Walse-Patil and Hasan Mushrif also reached the venue as deliberations continue. Discussions over candidate selection reportedly began late Tuesday night and continued till the early hours, from 11 pm to 2 am, with another round of talks in the morning.

The party is facing a challenging situation with a large number of contenders. nearly 70 to 75 aspirants have expressed interest in contesting the MLC election, making the selection process highly competitive. Among the names discussed were Vikram Kakade, son of former MP Sanjay Kakade. However, his potential candidature is reportedly facing strong internal opposition, prompting the leadership to consider alternative names.

Other contenders being discussed include Rajendra Jain, Suresh Birajdar, Umesh Patil and Zeeshan Siddiqui, as per reliable sources. The presence of Congress MLA Vishwajeet Kadam at Devgiri Bungalow further sparked political speculation, hinting at possible political discussions beyond party lines.

Meanwhile, the broader political landscape has also added pressure on the NCP’s decision-making. The BJP, part of the ruling Mahayuti alliance, already announced six candidates, introducing several new faces as part of its social engineering strategy. The Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena faction is yet to finalise its candidate.

Speaking to the media, Sunil Tatkare confirmed the high level of interest within the party and stated that a final decision is likely to be taken by the evening. With intense lobbying underway and multiple strong contenders in the fray, all eyes are now on Devgiri Bungalow as the NCP prepares to announce its face for the Legislative Council elections.

Biennial elections for 9 seats and a bypoll for 1 seat in the Maharashtra Legislative Council (MLC) will be held on May 12, 2026. The election is for members retiring on May 13, 2026, with polling from 9 am to 4 pm and results announced on the same day.