Maharashtra
IND vs NZ, CWC 2023: Mumbai Hotel Prices Shoot Up Nearly 80% With 5-Star Rooms Selling For Rs.90,000 Ahead Of Wankhede Semi-Final

India is going to take on New Zealand in the first semi-final of the ICC World Cup 2023 on November 15 and anticipation for the marquee clash is already building up in Mumbai. The financial capital of India is gearing up for another festival after Diwali as the Men in Blue prepare to exact revenge from the Black Caps for knocking them out from the semis of the 2019 edition.
Having secured an impressive nine consecutive wins in the league stage, Rohit Sharma’s squad is establishing itself as the team to beat in this World Cup. As the players prepare for the crucial match, fans are scrambling to secure tickets and hotel accommodations in the Maximum City.
Business is booming across the country thanks to this World Cup and hotels in Mumbai are also capitalizing on the opportunity as the match will certainly help boost sales right after the Diwali festivities.
₹90k rooms at five-star hotels near Wankhede
Hotel rates in the city have surged by nearly 80%, with five-star establishments such as The Oberoi at Nariman Point demanding up to ₹90,000 for a suite. The Trident hotel is starting rates from ₹32,000 on November 14th, according to a popular booking portal.
Both The Oberoi and Trident are strategically located as the closest five-star options to the Wankhede Stadium, the venue for the November 15 semi-final.
Other renowned hotels like the Taj Mahal Palace in Colaba are charging ₹56,000 for a base category room on November 14th, while the adjacent Taj Mahal Tower is asking ₹41,300 for the same.
Other hotels also cashing in
The Taj Santacruz near the domestic airport in Mumbai is pricing rooms at Rs 19,000-20,000 per night during the November 14-15 period. Industry executives note that the average room rate for five-star hotels in Mumbai currently stands at around ₹15,000-16,000 per night.
Meanwhile, two- and three-star hotels have raised their prices from ₹3,000-10,000 to approximately ₹5,000-18,000 per night during the semi-finals.
Building up to India vs New Zealand
India is the only team which is undefeated in the tournament so far after the league stage but up next for them is a team which has been their nemesis over the last few years.
New Zealand, who finished fourth in the points table after the 45-match league round, have a dominant record against India in the knockout stage of ICC events.
Past records won’t matter on Nov 15
The Kiwis beat Virat Kohli’s team in the semifinal clash of the 2019 edition in Manchester and in the final of the World Test Championship in 2021.
But India can relief from the fact that New Zealand have lost four out of their last five games, including a thrashing they received at the hands of Rohit Sharma & Co in Dharamsala.
However, come Wednesday, the past records and results won’t matter. It will all boil down to the 22 players on the field and how they perform at the same venue where India lifted their second ODI World Cup trophy under MS Dhoni in 2011.
Maharashtra
Maharashtra: MNS Workers Assault Attendant At Nanded Bus Stand For Refusing To Speak Marathi

Nanded: In another instance of vigilantism over language, workers of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) allegedly assaulted a Hindi-speaking migrant worker at the state transport bus stand in Nanded on Wednesday. The attendant, posted outside the ladies’ toilet, was reportedly targeted for refusing to speak in Marathi when questioned by a local.
The incident came to light after multiple videos surfaced on social media. In one clip, a man is seen confronting the attendant for collecting Rs 5 from women for using the toilet, which is generally free. When asked to respond in Marathi, the attendant allegedly said, “I will not speak Marathi, do what you want to do.” The video was reportedly circulated among local MNS workers, including the party’s Nanded city chief.
Video Shows MNS Workers Assaulting Man
Soon after, another video showed a group of men wearing MNS scarves slapping and punching the attendant. They are heard berating him not only for refusing to speak Marathi but also accusing him of misbehaving with women and being rude.
Under pressure, the man was made to deliver a forced apology on camera, stating in Marathi: “I apologise to Marathi people and to Raj Thackeray. I will not repeat this mistake again.” Despite the videos going viral, no formal FIR had been registered till Wednesday evening.
Growing Incidents Of Violence Involving MNS Workers
This episode adds to a growing list of similar incidents involving MNS workers taking offense over language. Just earlier this month, MNS cadres had allegedly assaulted shopkeepers in Mira Road, Thane and Vikhroli for not speaking Marathi. The party has long positioned itself as a protector of Marathi identity, often using aggressive means.
Party chief Raj Thackeray had previously said he was “proud” of MNS workers for “defending Marathi pride,” while Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had condemned such vigilantism. “No one has the right to assault someone for not speaking a particular language,” Fadnavis had said.
Maharashtra
Supreme Court Stays Bombay High Court’s Acquittal in 2006 Mumbai Train Blasts Case

New Delhi, July 24, 2025 — The Supreme Court of India has issued a stay on the Bombay High Court’s recent decision to acquit 12 men previously convicted in the 2006 Mumbai suburban train bombings. The apex court, however, clarified that the accused will not need to return to jail while the legal process continues.
The move comes days after the Maharashtra government filed a challenge against the High Court’s ruling, expressing serious concern over the acquittal of all 12 individuals who had been found guilty nearly a decade earlier. The Supreme Court agreed to examine the appeal and put the acquittal order on hold until further notice.
Background of the Case
On July 11, 2006, a series of coordinated bomb blasts targeted local trains on Mumbai’s Western Railway line during evening rush hour. The attacks resulted in the deaths of around 190 people and left over 800 injured. It was one of the deadliest terror strikes in India’s history.
In 2015, a special court convicted 12 men under anti-terror laws, sentencing five to death and the remaining to life imprisonment. However, the Bombay High Court overturned these convictions in July 2025, citing weak and unreliable evidence, inconsistencies in witness testimonies, and procedural lapses in the investigation.
Supreme Court’s Intervention
Responding to the state’s petition, the Supreme Court noted the seriousness of the matter and temporarily suspended the High Court’s decision. The court stated that although the acquittal order is stayed, the accused who had already been released will not be required to surrender at this stage.
Government’s Stand
The Maharashtra government described the High Court’s judgment as deeply concerning, arguing that the earlier trial had followed due process and that crucial evidence—such as confessions and material recovered—was improperly dismissed. The government urged the Supreme Court to uphold the original convictions in the interest of justice for the victims and their families.
What Lies Ahead
The Supreme Court is expected to conduct a detailed review of the High Court’s findings and the prosecution’s evidence. The final verdict could have a significant impact on how terrorism-related cases are investigated and prosecuted in the future, especially with respect to the handling of confessional statements, forensic evidence, and procedural safeguards.
The case continues to be a matter of national attention due to its historical gravity and implications for the justice system. Families of the victims, legal experts, and civil rights advocates are all watching closely as the country’s top court re-evaluates one of India’s most complex terror cases.
Maharashtra
Maharashtra Govt Targets 50 Lakh Homes In 10 Years Under New Housing Policy 2025, Aims For Slum-Free State

Mumbai: The Maharashtra government introduced the Housing Policy 2025 on Wednesday, a comprehensive plan expected to mobilise investments worth Rs 70,000 crore.
The policy outlines a multi-pronged strategy focusing on slum rehabilitation, affordable housing, and sustainable urban development, with special emphasis on economically weaker sections (EWS), lower-income groups (LIG), and middle-income groups (MIG).
The government has set an ambitious target to construct 35 lakh houses over the next five years, with a long-term vision of delivering 50 lakh homes within a decade. To facilitate this, the MahaAwas Fund will be significantly expanded to Rs 20,000 crore.
“The ultimate target is to build 50 lakh houses in the next 10 years… To achieve this ambitious target, existing provisions under the Development Control and Promotion Regulations/Unified Development Control and Promotion Regulations and relevant institutional frameworks will be strengthened and modified as needed. Additionally, active participation from the private sector will be promoted through a range of incentive-based measures,” the policy stated.
A key focus of the policy is transforming Maharashtra into a slum-free state through large-scale rehabilitation and redevelopment projects. The policy prioritises the needs of low-income earners, senior citizens, women, industrial workers, and students.
Affordable housing has been granted infrastructure status, enabling developers to access external commercial borrowing (ECB) and foreign direct investment (FDI). It also qualifies for priority sector lending (PSL) from banks and housing finance companies (HFCs).
The policy advocates for the redevelopment of old buildings to enhance living conditions and optimise land use. It also promotes the development of integrated townships that combine affordable housing with essential services.
“The state-level portal will soon be developed for providing information on housing development through government-private sector partnership, through developers and also through state-run undertakings,” the policy noted.
Recognising diverse housing needs, the policy includes provisions for industrial workers, senior citizens, working women, students, project-affected persons (PAPs), and migrant workers. A notable feature is the ‘Walk to Work’ concept, which reserves 10% to 30% of land in Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) areas for housing.
“Such land should be handed over to the appropriate authority at the applicable acquisition price, so that authority can create adequate housing stock in such areas. The authority can also partner with private industries to provide housing for industrial workers in a public-private partnership model,” the policy explained.
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