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I-T detects illegal properties worth Rs 130 Cr in Mumbai raid

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The Income Tax (I-T) Department on Thursday said that the recent raid conducted by them against the BMC contractors and a Shiv Sena leader have exposed an international hawala racket. The BMC contractors allegedly evaded income to the extent of Rs 200 crore.

The raids were conducted at more than 35 places in Mumbai belonging to certain contractors executing contracts of Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), and Shiv Sena corporator and Standing Committee chairperson of BMC, Yashwant Jadhav.

The Income tax official said that particulars of about three dozen immovable properties, worth Rs 130 crore have also been detected, which includes properties acquired either in their name or their associates or ‘benamidars’.

Evidence of their involvement in international hawala transactions and routing of the ill-gotten money to certain foreign jurisdictions have also been recovered.

The preliminary investigation indicates that these contractors have evaded income to the extent of Rs 200 crore on account of the above malpractice. During the search operation, undisclosed cash of Rs 2 crore and jewellery of Rs 1.5 crore were seized.

“During the course of the search operation, numerous incriminating documents, loose sheets and digital evidence have been found and seized. The evidence so seized strongly indicates a close nexus between these contractors and the said person,” said an I-T official.

Loose sheets and excel files with details of unaccounted cash receipts and payments aggregating to several crores have also been found and seized, which have not been recorded in the regular books of account.

In the case of contractors, the seized documents revealed the modus-operandi adopted by them for large-scale suppression of taxable income by inflating their expenses. For this purpose, the prominent recourse is over-invoicing of sub-contract expenses through a maze of entities and by claiming non-genuine expenses. Certain instances show that cash has been taken out from these entities and the same has been utilised for obtaining undue favours for awarding of contracts and also for making unaccounted payments for investments in properties.

Further investigations in the matter are underway.

Maharashtra

Mumbai: Multi-Storey Chawl Collapses In Bandra, 2 Critical Among 12 Injured;

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Mumbai: A ground-plus-two-storey residential structure collapsed early Friday morning in Mumbai’s Bandra East area, leaving at least 12 people injured, including two in critical condition. The incident occurred at 5:56 am at Chawl No. 37 in Bharat Nagar, near Namaj Committee Masjid in the Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) area.

The structure, identified as Chawl No. 37, was a ground-plus-three-storey residential building, PTI reported. The collapse triggered an immediate response from multiple agencies. A large-scale rescue operation is currently underway, with eight fire engines, rescue vans and ambulances deployed to the site. Visuals of the locality have surfaced on the internet showing authorities engaged in relief operations.

Massive Rescue Operation Launched By Several Agencies

Teams from the Mumbai Fire Brigade (MFB), Mumbai Police, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA), Public Works Department (PWD), and even emergency personnel from private conglomerate Adani have joined hands in the rescue efforts. Local building staff are also assisting in the search-and-rescue operation.

Details On The Injured Ones

Medical Superintendent Dr. Vinod Khade from Bhabha Hospital confirmed that 12 people had been admitted following the collapse. Of them, Rehana Ansari (65) and Mohammad Ansari (68) suffered approximately 50 percent burn injuries and are in critical condition. Both have been shifted to KEM Hospital for advanced medical care.

The remaining ten victims are reported to be in stable condition and are undergoing treatment at Bhabha Hospital. They include Mohammad Lareb Irfan (8), Mustafa Ibrahim Sayyed (57), Shabana Mustafa Sayyed (42), Noori Irfan Khan (35), Mohammad Irfan Khan (50), Abdul Rehman Irfan Khan (22), Alfiya Mustafa Sayyed (18), Aliya Mustaq Sayyed (16), Jaffar Jamal Khan (approximately 80), and Sharmin Shaikh (32).

No Info On Cause Behind Structural Collapse

The cause of the collapse has yet to be officially determined. However, incidents of structural failure are not uncommon in Mumbai during the monsoon season, particularly among ageing buildings that suffer from poor maintenance and weather-related stress.

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Maharashtra

Mumbai Police Initiates Action In Vidhan Bhavan Assault Case; 2 Arrested After Video Of BJP, NCP (SP) Supporters’ Ruckus Goes Viral

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Mumbai: In connection with the assault incident that occurred inside Vidhan Bhavan, Marine Drive Police have registered a case and arrested two individuals late at night.

According to the police, Nitin Deshmukh and Rishikesh Takale were taken into custody in connection with the altercation. Both were subjected to a medical examination the same night. Further investigation into the matter is underway.

BJP, NCP (SP) Supporters Clash Inside Maharashtra Assembly

Supporters of BJP MLA Gopichand Padalkar and NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) MLA Jitendra Awhad clashed inside the premises of Maharashtra’s Vidhan Bhavan on Thursday. The confrontation occurred in the ground-floor lobby of the state legislature, sparking political outrage and raising serious concerns over security within one of Maharashtra’s most important institutions.

According to sources, the clash began with a verbal spat that escalated into physical aggression, forcing security personnel to intervene. One individual from each camp was detained at the scene. Videos of the scuffle quickly went viral on social media, drawing public attention and criticism over the collapse of decorum within the legislative complex.

Jitendra Awhad-Gopichand Padalkar Clash

The altercation came a day after a heated exchange between the two MLAs outside Vidhan Bhavan. On Wednesday, Awhad accused Padalkar of deliberately slamming a car door into him while exiting the vehicle, leading to a tense argument. That confrontation, too, was caught on video and widely shared online. Padalkar had remained silent on the matter until Thursday’s incident.

CM Fadnavis Orders Stern Action

Reacting strongly to the violence, Chief Minister and Home Minister Devendra Fadnavis said, “Fighting within Vidhan Bhavan is absolutely unacceptable. This is an institution governed by the Assembly Speaker and the Council Chairperson. I have asked them to take strict action. Such behaviour damages the dignity of our democratic institutions.”

Jitendra Awhad, speaking to reporters after the incident, voiced grave concern about his safety. “If elected representatives aren’t safe even inside Vidhan Bhavan, what message are we sending? I was simply stepping out for some air when their people tried to attack me,” he claimed.

Earlier in the day, Awhad had posted on X (formerly Twitter) alleging that he had received threats from Padalkar’s supporters and feared for his life. The messages reportedly warned him not to ‘mess with Gopi Saheb,’ believed to be a reference to Gopichand Padalkar and threatened to either shoot him or run him over.

Gopichand Padalkar, when approached for comment, distanced himself from the episode. “I don’t know anything about what happened. You can ask him (Awhad); he’s inside. I don’t even know the people involved,” he told the media.

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Maharashtra

Major Bust of EcoStar Recycling Company in Thane for Selling Expired Goods

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Thane, Maharashtra – In a significant operation, the Thane Crime Branch has exposed EcoStar Recycling Company for allegedly selling expired food items, grains, cosmetics, and sanitary products instead of properly disposing of them as mandated by Flipkart. The company was found to be illegally reselling these goods to the market, raising serious concerns about consumer safety.

The investigation began when the Crime Branch received credible information regarding the questionable practices of EcoStar Recycling. Authorities discovered that the company was reversing the standard protocol for handling expired products, allowing them to enter the market rather than being properly destroyed.

During the raid, officials seized a substantial quantity of expired items that were intended to be discarded. Investigators are now scrutinizing the extent of the operation and the potential network involved in the fraudulent sales.

The Thane Crime Branch, known for its proactive measures against such illegal activities, has emphasized the importance of consumer health and safety. “We are committed to ensuring that companies comply with regulations regarding expired products. Our team is determined to put an end to these harmful practices,” said an officer involved in the investigation.

As inquiries continue, EcoStar Recycling Company faces serious legal repercussions, and additional investigations are underway to track down distribution channels that may have been complicit in the sale of these products.

Authorities remind consumers to be vigilant when purchasing food and hygiene products, advocating for awareness regarding expiry dates. The case highlights the ongoing challenge of illegal sales and the need for stricter enforcement of laws designed to protect public health.

Stay tuned for further updates on this developing story.

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