Maharashtra
Ethanol blending target responsible for surge in sugar and jaggery rates: Shiv Sena UBT
Mumbai, Aug 22: The Shiv Sena (UBT), led by Uddhav Thackeray, on Saturday claimed that the Union Government’s ethanol-blended petrol (E20) policy is the primary catalyst for the current supply shortage and sharp rise in domestic sugar prices.
It pointed out that the spike has sparked widespread public dissatisfaction ahead of the upcoming Ganesh Chaturthi and Navratri festivals, with retail sugar rates surging by Rs 17 in the last 15 days to reach Rs 65–Rs 70 per kilogram.
The Thackeray camp, in the party mouthpiece Saamana editorial, said that the core issue stems from the diversion of sugarcane towards ethanol manufacturing to meet the government’s target of 20% ethanol-blended petrol. Despite annual sugar production increasing from 25.8 million tonnes last year to 27.6 million tonnes this year, domestic availability remains inadequate to cover total demand alongside ethanol processing commitments.
The editorial said that sugarcane typically processed for refined sugar is increasingly being routed to produce ethanol under government incentives, directly constricting the domestic sugar supply.
“As usual, the ruling authorities have woken up late. Now, the government claims to have taken strict measures against the sugar price hike, tightening rules and restrictions against sugar hoarding. Why do the government’s ‘strict’ and ‘tough’ measures regarding inflation and price hikes always arrive a day late and a dollar short? Why can’t the government foresee that a sugar shortage might occur in the country, causing a price blow to the public?” asked the editorial.
The Saamana editorial characterised recent government measures—such as tightening anti-hoarding limits on traders and proposing ethanol production restrictions—as delayed actions that failed to foresee the market shortfall. According to the editorial, new regulatory limits restrict traders from holding more than 10% excess stock for longer than 15 days. Additionally, plans are underway to import 1 million tonnes of sugar to stabilise domestic supply.
The Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena said that if policymakers in government lack the basic foresight to realise that an ethanol policy would cause shortages of sugar and other grains, hitting the public with inflation, they should be deemed unfit to govern. Due to their incompetent governance, not just sugar, but jaggery prices have also skyrocketed. Is this price hike benefiting sugarcane farmers? Not at all; as usual, the profits are going straight into the pockets of traders.
“The price increase is not limited to refined sugar; jaggery (gur) prices have also escalated sharply. Furthermore, the financial benefit of these higher prices is largely accruing to market intermediaries and traders rather than sugarcane farmers. The surge in sugar costs adds to broader inflationary pressures currently impacting household essentials, including fuel, dairy, onions, potatoes, and public transportation fares,” observed the editorial.
The Thackeray camp said that the Modi government confidently boasts about a five-trillion-dollar economy, yet the ‘Vishwaguru’ lacks the simple foresight to see that their own ethanol policy would create a sugar shortage, causing unprecedented price hikes that make the common man’s Ganesh and Navratri festivals bitter.
“The Modi government’s administration operates entirely on guesswork. As a result, a wildfire of price hikes has spread from petrol and diesel to gold and silver, jaggery and sugar to milk, onions, potatoes, and even auto-rickshaws, taxis, and state transport buses. The common man is getting scorched in the process, and this sin belongs entirely to the Modi government, claimed the editorial.
Maharashtra
Drug dealer arrested in Mumbai with 1.5 kg of charas (cannabis resin)

On October 24, Crime Branch Unit 9 (Bandra West, Mumbai) intensified its crackdown on drug peddlers, resulting in the arrest of an individual involved in the sale of narcotics. The police had received information that the accused was selling charas (cannabis resin) and other intoxicating substances from his residence. Acting on this intelligence and following the guidance of senior officers, a team from Crime Branch Unit 9—accompanied by independent witnesses (panches)—raided the premises on October 24. During the operation, 1.505 kilograms of charas were seized in accordance with legal procedures; the estimated value of the contraband is 15 million rupees (1.5 crore INR) based on international market rates.
A case has been registered in connection with this incident under the NDPS (Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances) Act. One individual, aged 40, has been arrested. Additionally, another person has been identified as a wanted suspect, and a search is currently underway to locate him.
This notable operation was carried out under the supervision of Police Commissioner Deven Bharti, Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Anil Kumbhare, Additional Commissioner of Police Krishnakant Upadhyay, and Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Nonath Dhole.
Maharashtra
Lawrence Bishnoi gang shooters had practised shooting in the Aarey Colony forest before opening fire at Tiger Shroff’s residence.

Following the firing incident involving Tiger Shroff, an investigation has revealed that a businessman in Pune and a film star in Mumbai were on Lawrence Bishnoi’s target list. The gang’s objective is to instill fear among the film industry and the business community in order to extort money—specifically, to collect protection money or ransoms. The primary goal of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang is not necessarily murder, but rather the creation of terror and fear within the film industry and among business circles.
Currently, 56 operatives of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang are incarcerated in various Mumbai jails; they have been linked to over 10 criminal incidents in Mumbai and Pune over the past 2–3 years. Targeting Bollywood is a key objective for the Lawrence gang, and they have been involved in conspiracies to target film actors specifically to spread fear and terror throughout the business community.
In the Tiger Shroff case, it has emerged that the shooters underwent firearms training in the Aarey Colony forest. A shepherd witnessed the shooters practicing and serves as an eyewitness; according to him, three to four individuals trained there, and he saw them firing weapons. New revelations continue to surface in the case involving Tiger Shroff, with the Crime Branch making significant progress in its investigation.
Weapons have also been recovered in connection with the matter. Furthermore, the interrogation of the shooters arrested by the police has led to the discovery of a link to Anil Pandit—a member of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang—with whom the shooters were in contact.
Maharashtra
Major action by Mumbai ANC: Drug peddlers arrested.

On October 25, the Anti-Narcotics Cell (ANC) of Mumbai claimed to have arrested individuals—who were also wanted in a murder case—while they were in possession of narcotics. During a patrol near the main gate of Shri Krishna Complex, opposite the National Park in Borivali West, Mumbai, the Ghatkopar unit of the ANC apprehended three individuals who were allegedly selling ‘MD’ (Mephedrone). Upon searching them, 1.028 kilograms of Mephedrone was recovered. The police registered a case (Kasturba Marg Police Station, Case No. 728/2026) under Sections 8(c) read with 22(c) and 29 of the NDPS Act, 1985. During the subsequent interrogation, it was revealed that the arrested individuals were also involved in a murder case. They had brought the narcotics from Nalasopara with the intent of selling them at this location.
The arrested individuals include a 28-year-old man, another 28-year-old man, and a 39-year-old man. A total of 1.028 kilograms of Mephedrone was seized from the three suspects.
This successful operation was carried out under the guidance of Police Commissioner Deven Bharti, Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Anil Kumbhare, Additional Commissioner Kant Upadhyay, and DCP Purnima Chougule-Shringi.
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