Maharashtra
In email era, Maha Deputy CM Ajit Pawar sends a postcard to President

In the 21st century era of e-mail and instant messaging, Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar has relied on a nearly two-century-old means of communication to draw the attention of the President Ram Nath Kovind.
The oft-maverick Ajit Pawar – nephew of Nationalist Congress Party supremo Sharad Pawar – on Friday shot off a humble postcard to the Rashtrapati Bhavan on the long-pending issue of according the “classical language” status to Marathi.
In the neatly-typed postcard, Pawar has pointed out that although the Centre had taken the decision in 2004 to confer the “classical language” status to various languages, the Marathi language has been ignored despite repeated requests.
Even a high-level committee of language experts appointed by the Centre had unanimously approved a proposal to this effect seven years ago, but there has been no further progress in the matter, he said.
Pawar exhorted the President that it was necessary to grant the status of a “classical language” to Marathi as recommended even by the Sahitya Akademi, at the earliest.
“Marathi is not only an ancient language but also the state language, used by litterateurs, intellectuals, by people of religion besides the common masses, and ranks among the major languages in the world,” he pointed out.
Citing how there many documents which provide testimony that Marathi is a “classical language”, he urged the President to accord the status on priority.
Then, Pawar personally signed the postcard in green ink, mentioned his full residential address, affixed 2 stamps of Rs 3 each with the picture of the shehnai maestro Ustad Bismillah Khan, and it was ‘posted’.
Last year, the Maharashtra Legislature passed a unanimous resolution recommending to the Centre to accord the “classical language” status to Marathi.
In anticipation of the status, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray in October cleared the proposal to construct a ‘Marathi Bhasha Bhavan’ on a 2,500 square metre plot in south Mumbai, which had been on the backburner for nearly eight years.
Coming up within the Jawahar Bal Bhavan complex at Marine Drive, the work on the centre is starting shortly with a completion target of 18 months, with a library, an expo centre, conference halls, etc, to promote the Marathi language.
During the tenure of Congress Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan, a committee chaired by litterateur Rangnath Pathare had prepared a voluminous report running into 500 pages on the same issue.
The report had been forwarded to the government in July 2013, but the matter remained unresolved after the change of guard both at the Centre and the state.
The Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Sahitya Sammelan, which started in 1878, has demanded the “classical language” status for Marathi several times in the past.
Presently, there are six languages bestowed the status officially – Sanskrit, Tamil, Kannada, Telugu, Malayalam, and Odia, based on various parameters.
This paves the way for two prestigious international-level awards for scholars of eminence in the Indian “classical language”, setting up centres of excellence for studies in these languages, the University Grants Commission creating or starting certain number of Professional Chairs in such languages besides dedicating various institutions for the same to promote the study and research in such “classical languages”.
Crime
Thane Crime Branch Seizes ₹1.69 Crore Worth MD Powder; Man Arrested While En Route To Mumbra

The Thane Crime Branch Unit One has arrested a man for allegedly possessing over 1 kilogram of MD powder, valued at ₹1.69 crore, which he intended to sell in Mumbra. The accused has been identified as Mohanlal Joshi alias Sharma, a resident of Kudus village in Wada, Palghar.
According to officials, acting on a tip-off received on July 18, a team was deployed near the Mumbra bypass flyover bridge, where the suspect was expected to arrive. The man was intercepted in his car en route to Mumbra. Upon searching the vehicle, the police discovered and seized 1.209 kilograms of MD powder, with an estimated value of ₹1,69,26,000.
He was taken to the police station, and a case was registered against him under the relevant sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.
An investigating officer from Thane Crime Branch Unit One said they are currently probing the source of the contraband and its intended recipients. Efforts are also underway to determine how many others may be involved in the case. Further investigation is ongoing.
Maharashtra
Air India Flight From Kochi Veers Off Runway While Landing At Mumbai Airport Amid Heavy Rains

Mumbai: A major tragedy averted on Monday as Air India flight, AI2744, from Kochi veered off runway at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport amid heavy rains in the city. All passengers are reported to be safe.
As per Air India’s spokesperson, the flight experienced heavy rain during landing, resulting in a runway excursion. The aircraft was taxied safely to the gate. All passengers and crew members deboarded the flight. The aircraft has been grounded for checks.
The hard landing reportedly caused damaged to the primary runway. Repair works are currently underway. Three tyres burst during the landing and the engine of the aircraft likely to have been damaged, Emergency teams were deployed to control the situation.
Visuals Of The Damaged Plane:
“An incoming aircraft from Kochi experienced a runway excursion at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA), Mumbai at 09.27 hours on 21 July 2025. CSMIA’s emergency response teams were immediately activated to manage the runway excursion,” a spokesperson for CSMIA said, as quoted by the media house.
“All passengers and crew are safe. There are minor damages reported to the airport’s primary runway – 09/27. In order to ensure continuity of operations, the Secondary Runway 14/32 has been activated. At CSMIA, safety always remains our highest priority,” the CSMIA spokesperson added.
Mumbai Rains:
Heavy rains lashed Mumbai on Monday, throwing normal life out of gear. Waterlogging was reported in several areas, leading to traffic disruption, especially in western and central suburbs. Local train services were also affected due to heavy showers. Local trains on the harbour line were reportedly running 20-25 minutes late.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicted more rains in the city during the week as the monsoon activity intensified. On Tuesday, moderate rainfall and overcast skies are expected, along with occasional thunderstorms. The overall temperature will remain mild, although humidity levels may remain steady.
Maharashtra
Mumbai HC Acquits All Convicted in 2006 Train Blasts Case; Death Sentences Overturned

Mumbai | July 21, 2025 — In a landmark verdict, the Bombay High Court has acquitted all 12 individuals previously convicted in the 2006 Mumbai local train serial bomb blasts case, reversing the 2015 judgment of the MCOCA special court which had handed out death and life sentences.
The case (G.R. No. 05/2006, MCOCA Special Case No. 21/2006) pertains to the horrific series of bomb blasts that rocked the Western Railway suburban trains in Mumbai on July 11, 2006, killing over 180 people and injuring more than 800.
On September 30, 2015, the special MCOCA court had sentenced:
- 5 accused to death,
- 7 accused to life imprisonment,
- while 1 accused was acquitted.
Following standard procedure, the death sentences were referred to the Bombay High Court for confirmation, and the convicted individuals filed appeals challenging their sentences.
A division bench of Justice Anil Kilor and Justice S. G. Chapalgaonkar heard the matter extensively from *July 2024, with final arguments concluding on *January 27, 2025.
On July 21, 2025, the High Court delivered its judgment:
- Rejected the death reference,
- Allowed the appeals of all convicted individuals,
- Set aside the 2015 convictions and sentences passed by the MCOCA special court.
Representing the Government of India and the state of Maharashtra were Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Raja Thakare and Special Public Prosecutor Chimalkar, who argued for upholding the original verdict.
The Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), Maharashtra, has stated that it is currently analyzing the High Court’s detailed judgment. Consultations are underway with legal experts and special prosecutors to determine the next course of legal action, which may include an appeal to the Supreme Court.
The verdict has sparked significant public and legal interest, as it not only impacts one of the most devastating terror incidents in Mumbai’s history but also raises serious questions about the prosecution’s evidence and investigation.
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