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Maharashtra

Hotel Owners Stage Silent Protest In Navi Mumbai Against Excise Duty Hike and VAT Changes

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Navi Mumbai: Members of the Navi Mumbai Hotel Owners Association staged a silent protest on Monday, July 14, at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Chowk in Vashi. The protest targeted the Maharashtra Government over the recent hike in excise duty, the abolition of VAT exemptions, and several other pending issues.

In a coordinated move, over 20,000 bars across Maharashtra shut operations on July 14 as part of a statewide bandh called by the Association of Hotels and Restaurants (AHAR). The bandh is a protest against what AHAR terms the government’s “relentless and unjust” tax hikes on the hospitality sector, an industry valued at Rs 1.5 lakh crore and now, according to AHAR.

The protest follows several ignored appeals from the industry, leaving AHAR with no choice but to take what it describes as an extreme yet necessary step for survival, as reported.

AHAR is objecting to multiple policy changes, including a VAT on liquor increased from 5 per cent to 10 per cent, a 15 per cent hike in annual licence fees, and a staggering 60 per cent rise in excise duty within just one year. The bandh is a reaction to what AHAR calls a “triple tax tsunami” that has hit the industry in less than a year.

The president of the AHAR, Sudhakar Shetty, mentioned that, “The entire hospitality sector in Maharashtra is bleeding. Our pleas have fallen on deaf ears. On July 14, every bar and permit room in the state will be shut in protest.” Also added that members across Mumbai, Pune, Nashik, Nagpur, and Konkan have confirmed full participation.

These cumulative tax increases, paired with ongoing post-COVID recovery struggles, have made operations unviable for many businesses. AHAR has warned that these conditions could lead to widespread closures of small and mid-sized establishments, triggering job losses and a potential rise in illegal liquor smuggling from neighbouring states.

“This is not just an economic blow; it is a death blow to an industry that contributes significantly to employment and state taxes,” said Shetty. “These draconian hikes are the final nail in the coffin. From excise renewal fees to VAT and excise duty, our survival is at stake. If the government does not roll back these hikes, we fear mass closures and irreversible damage to Maharashtra’s hospitality landscape.”

Crime

Thief arrested for stealing gas cylinders in Mumbai, major operation by Powai Police, 45 cylinders and three motorcycles recovered from Navi Mumbai and Mumbai

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Mumbai: Powai police have arrested a thief who stole cylinders to take advantage of the oil shortage and shortage of gas cylinders due to the Israel-Iran war. The thief had stolen several cylinders from Navi Mumbai and Mumbai. Mumbai Powai Police has arrested a gas cylinder thief who had stolen 45 cylinders from Navi Mumbai and Mumbai city. According to the details, a Suzuki Burgman was stolen from Powai area and the accused used to steal gas cylinders from several places in Navi Mumbai and Mumbai. During the Israel-Iran war, there was a gas cylinder crisis, due to which there was a fear of creating an artificial shortage of cylinders, so the police have arrested him.

The police received a secret information and laid a trap and arrested Chandrakant Kamble, 45, from Vartak Nagar police station and the stolen cylinders stolen from Mumbai and Navi Mumbai have been seized from his possession. In this work, an accused who helped the accused in hiding the stolen cylinders has been identified. When the accused was interrogated, 10 cases of theft were found registered against him. Powai Police has seized three motorcycles, 45 cylinders. This operation was carried out on the instructions of Mumbai Police Commissioner Devin Bharti, DCP Dutta Nalavode has done it.

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Crime

Mumbai: Gang that robbed Zaifa’s jewelry in Saki Naka exposed, 3 arrested, 13 new cases reported

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Mumbai’s Sakinaka Police have claimed to have busted a gang that targeted the elderly. In the limits of Sakinaka Police Station, a poor woman was fooled by the accused by saying that her Seth Malik was born here and he was distributing sarees to the poor, so she can also get a saree. For this, he removed the gold ornaments from the poor woman’s neck and then fled with it.

In this case, the complainant filed a complaint. The accused fled with her ornaments worth more than two lakh rupees. Sakinaka Police formed a team to find the accused and then accused number one Santosh Gangar Umm Chure, 55, was arrested from Kalyan. After that, he was interrogated and he named accused number two Balaji Rohidas Pawar, 25, who is a resident of Parbhani. During his interrogation, Laxman Rohidas Pawar, 22, came to light. The police arrested all three of them. Four people were arrested in Worli, Ghat Six in Kopar, three in MIDC, three in Kanjurmarg, one in Vakola, one in Dandu Shi, Malad, Govind, Bhandup, Kherwadi and Dadar. A total of 26 cases are registered against the accused. Accused number two Balaji Rohidas has a criminal record in Dadar, Ghatkopar Kamote. Accused number three Laxman Rohidas has a case registered in Dadar, Ghatkopar Byculla, MN Joshi Marg, Dandu Shi, Juhu, Srinagar Police Station, Sanpara, 2 Saki Naka in Dandu Shi.

After the arrest of these three accused, 13 cases have been revealed and the police have started further investigation in this case. The police have so far recovered gold ornaments worth more than Rs 15 lakh from the possession of the accused.

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Crime

Mumbai: Conspiracy to carry out terrorist attacks in the country… Mashid Ahmed arrested from Kalyan, Imran from Odisha was also in contact with suspected ISIS operatives

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Mumbai: In an NIA case from Kalyan area of ​​Mumbai, Delhi Special Cell and ATS have claimed to have arrested a suspected ISIS member and social media activist Mashid Ahmed from Kalyan. According to details, Mashid Ahmed had hatched a conspiracy against the country. The accused in NIA case No. 84/2026 BNS Section 61 was produced in Kalyan Court and has been sent to Delhi for investigation. Kalyan Judicial Magistrate 5th Court Kalyan, Special Cell Delhi and ATS team officers produced Mashid Ahmed alias Sonu alias Kalam Iftikhar Ahmed Sheikh, aged 32, resident of Room No. 13, Azmi Chawl, Near Amara Park, Khadoli West, Taluka Kalyan, District Thane. Investigating Officer Bhojraj Singh and Police Inspector Manoj Kumar of Special Cell Delhi team have identified a person named Kalam who is active on social media in Mumbai area and was in touch with his extremist (ISIS inspired) associates through secret messages.

His associate named Imran, a resident of Odisha, is also a member of the group and during investigation it was revealed that he visited Delhi in December and patrolled the Red Fort and other important places. Thus, since the social media group was about to carry out terrorist acts across the country, the NIA registered a case under Section 61 of the BNS under Case No. 84/2026. During the investigation Meanwhile, Mashid Ahmed alias Sonu alias Kalam Iftikhar Ahmed Sheikh, age 32, resident of Khadoli under the limits of Tatwala police station, Room No. 13, Azmi Chol, Amara Park, Khadoli West Taluka, Kalyan District, was arrested and produced before the court where the court has sent him on three days transit remand. Since the investigation of the said case is going on in Delhi, he was first produced in the Kalyan Court and a request for 05 days transit remand was made to produce him in the Delhi court but the court has granted him 03 days time.

Therefore, the said accused has been taken to Delhi for further investigation after registering the station diary at Tatwala police station of Thane Rural limits.

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