A major fire broke out at the Mangal Murthy Knit Dyeing Company located in Saravali MIDC, Bhiwandi, on Friday morning, sending thick black smoke billowing across the sky. The blaze, which began around 9:30 am, triggered panic among workers and nearby residents as flames quickly engulfed the sprawling textile unit.

According to reports, the fire spread rapidly due to large quantities of cloth and chemicals stored inside the factory. Local residents and workers immediately alerted the fire brigade after noticing the flames and heavy smoke columns visible from several kilometres away.

Bhiwandi Fire Brigade personnel reached the site around 10 am and immediately began firefighting operations. As the fire intensified, additional support was summoned from Kalyan, Ambernath, and Thane municipal fire departments.

Over ten fire engines were deployed to control the blaze, with firefighters battling dense smoke and soaring flames for hours. Officials said entry into the premises was proving difficult due to the intensity of the heat and presence of flammable chemicals. Emergency services remained on high alert as the operation continued well into the afternoon.

Preliminary reports indicate that no loss of life has occurred, bringing relief amid the large-scale devastation. However, the company has reportedly suffered extensive damage. Stocks of dyed fabric, chemicals, and costly textile machinery worth crores of rupees are feared to have been destroyed.

Police and fire officials have cordoned off the area, while vehicular movement in parts of Saravali Industrial Estate has been restricted to facilitate emergency operations.

Authorities have not yet confirmed the cause of the fire. Initial suspicion points towards a possible short circuit, but officials stated that the exact reason will be determined after a detailed investigation.

The incident has once again raised concerns about fire safety compliance in industrial zones like Bhiwandi, which house hundreds of textile and dyeing units often packed with inflammable materials.

New Delhi, Nov 7: In a caustic retaliation to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s fresh allegations of “election chori”, the BJP said on Friday that the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha was raising the issue for his own “political survival” and justifying the party’s repeated losses in polls.

Amit Malviya, in charge of the BJP’s National Information and Technology Department, said, “The first thing to understand is why Rahul Gandhi is suddenly talking about ‘vote chori’. This has nothing to do with the Election Commission — it’s about his political survival. Rahul Gandhi wants to convince his own party that he is not responsible for Congress’s repeated defeats.”

Malviya claimed that dissenting voices within the Congress over Rahul Gandhi’s poor record in leading the party to victory were getting louder.

He also attacked a couplet in Urdu, which translates as: “Don’t talk about insignificant issues. Tell me why the caravan was looted. I have no complaint against the secrets; it’s about your leadership.”

Malviya hit out at the LoP in Lok Sabha about the timing of his fresh allegations against the electoral system.

“According to him, it’s not weak leadership or poor strategy — it’s always ‘vote chori’. He knows the day Congress realises he can’t win elections, they’ll start looking for someone who can. After all, no one follows a leader who only delivers defeats,” said Malviya on X.

“In 2014, Rahul blamed Congress’s weaknesses. After the next loss, he said Modi won using the ED, CBI, and Income Tax. Then came the EVM excuse. Now, he blames the Election Commission. The truth is, the hope Congress built after BJP’s 240 seats in the Lok Sabha has collapsed after defeats in Maharashtra and Haryana,” he said.

“If Bihar goes the same way, which it will, Rahul’s leadership will once again be questioned. That’s why he must keep repeating — he doesn’t lose, someone makes him lose. Sometimes it’s his party, sometimes the EVM, sometimes the Election Commission,” Malviya said, taking a dig at the Congress leader.

Earlier in the day, Rahul Gandhi told Media that the Election Commission and the BJP had “failed to respond” to the serious charges he had presented at a press conference recently.

“I demonstrated in my presentation that the Haryana elections were not elections in the true sense. There was wholesale theft of votes,” he said.

“Please note — there has been no response to my allegations of fake votes, fake voter photographs and impersonation. The BJP is defending the Election Commission, but none of my claims have been denied,” he said.

Mumbai: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested Kolkata-based consultant Amar Nath Dutta in connection with a money-laundering case involving forged bank guarantees (BGs) worth over Rs 68 crore. The case is linked to Reliance Power Limited’s subsidiary, which allegedly submitted fake BGs and endorsements to the Solar Energy Corporation of India Ltd (SECI), a central public sector enterprise under the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.

According to the ED, Dutta was taken into custody on November 6, 2025, under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002. He was produced before the Additional Sessions Judge-04 at Patiala House Courts, New Delhi, which granted the agency four days of custody till November 10, 2025.

Dutta, who claimed to provide consultancy in trade financing, played a crucial role in orchestrating the fake BG racket along with Ashok Pal and Partha Sarathi Biswal. The probe stems from three FIRs filed in the case, including FIR No. 0079/2025, registered by SECI with the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the Delhi Police. SECI reportedly suffered a loss exceeding Rs 100 crore due to the fraudulent bank guarantees submitted by the Reliance Power subsidiary.

Earlier, on October 11, 2025, the ED had arrested Ashok Kumar Pal, then Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of Reliance Power Ltd, for his alleged role in the same money-laundering conspiracy. His arrest followed that of his associate Partha Sarthi Biswal, Managing Director of shell company M/s Biswal Tradelink Pvt. Ltd.

The ED’s forensic investigation revealed that forged endorsements purportedly from the State Bank of India (SBI) were generated through a spoofed email domain (mailto:sbi.17313@s-bi.co.in), designed to deceive SECI officials into believing the fake bank guarantees were authentic.

The agency also uncovered a network of spoofed domains mimicking several Indian banks, including ‘lndiabank.in’, ‘lndusindbank.in’, ‘pnblndia.in’, ‘psdbank.co.in’, ‘siliguripnb.co.in’, ‘lobbank.co.in’, and ‘unionbankofIndia.co.in’. These domains, featuring minor alterations or swapped characters, were allegedly used by the same group to conduct fraudulent transactions.

The ED is continuing its investigation to trace the flow of illicit funds, identify the ultimate beneficiaries, and locate assets acquired through the proceeds of crime. The agency is also examining the larger conspiracy and potential involvement of other individuals and entities connected to the scam.