Mumbai, April 22: In a significant relief to four accused in the 2006 Malegaon bomb blast case, the Bombay High Court on Wednesday quashed and set aside a special court order framing charges against them.

A division bench led by Chief Justice Shree Chandrashekhar delivered the verdict while allowing appeals filed by Rajendra Chaudhary, Lokesh Sharma, Dhan Singh and Manohar Ram Singh Narwaria.

The High Court had earlier observed that a prima facie case existed for interference with the order of the special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court.

The four had been charged with offences including murder and criminal conspiracy under the IPC, along with provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, following a September 30, 2025, order by the special court. Wednesday’s ruling effectively halts proceedings against them at this stage.

The case pertains to the September 8, 2006, blasts in Malegaon, where explosions near the Hamidia Masjid and adjoining areas shortly after Friday prayers left 37 people dead and over 300 injured.

The investigation has witnessed multiple twists over the years. Initially, the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) arrested nine Muslim men, who spent several years in jail before being granted bail in 2011. A special court later discharged all nine in 2016, citing insufficient evidence.

Subsequently, the probe was taken over by the NIA, which pursued a different line of investigation. The agency arrested the present four accused after alleged disclosures by Swami Aseemanand, pointing to the involvement of right-wing elements. The four were granted bail by the High Court in 2019.

The Malegaon blast probe has been marked by conflicting findings between agencies, with the NIA diverging from earlier conclusions of the ATS and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

With the High Court now setting aside the framing of charges, the case takes yet another turn in a long and complex legal trajectory.

Mumbai: In a bid to strengthen sanitation efforts, Ashwini Bhide, Commissioner of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), conducted a surprise early-morning inspection at a solid waste management facility in Bandra West on Tuesday.

The inspection was carried out at Dharmashala Chowki in the H-West Ward, located at Kherwadi opposite the Government Polytechnic. During the visit, Bhide reviewed staff attendance, checked official registers and interacted directly with sanitation workers to assess on-ground workforce deployment.

Stressing strict hygiene standards, the civic chief directed officials to prioritise cleanliness across the ward. She instructed teams to ensure effective road sweeping, proper waste handling, and regular sanitation of public spaces such as bus stops and surrounding areas.

Bhide also stressed the need for stronger coordination between various departments within the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, stating that improved inter-departmental cooperation is crucial for maintaining cleanliness and enhancing overall civic management.

Senior officials, including Deputy Commissioner (Solid Waste Management) Kiran Dighavkar, Deputy Commissioner Prashant Gaikwad, Deputy Commissioner Vishwas Mote and Assistant Commissioner Dinesh Pallewad, were present during the inspection. The surprise visit highlights the BMC’s renewed focus on accountability and real-time monitoring as part of its city-wide cleanliness drive.

Meanwhile, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has allocated Rs 105 crore for pothole repairs ahead of the monsoon, much lower than last year’s Rs 200 crore expenditure. Officials attribute the reduced cost to the ongoing Rs 17,000-crore road concreting project, which is now nearly 75 per cent complete, compared to 45 per cent progress during the same period last year. The use of mastic for road repairs has also declined by 50 per cent over the past year.

The repair plan includes two major tenders of Rs 30 crore each for the Western and Eastern Express Highways, along with multiple tenders for roads of varying widths that have not yet been concreted. A separate tender has also been floated for procuring cold mix material. With the monsoon approaching, the civic body aims to minimise pothole-related disruptions while continuing its push for improved road infrastructure and urban sanitation.

Navi Mumbai: Traffic on the Yashwantrao Chavan Expressway will be temporarily suspended for three hours on April 23 and 24 due to bridge maintenance work near Kusgaon, authorities said.

The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) said the closure is required to carry out shuttering removal and painting work on a bridge located at km 58/500 between Dongargaon and Kusgaon.

According to the schedule, traffic heading towards Mumbai will remain completely closed on April 23 from 12 pm to 3 pm. Vehicles will be diverted via Kiwale–Dehu Road–Talegaon and routed through National Highway 48 to rejoin at Kusgaon toll plaza. Similarly, traffic towards Pune will be shut on April 24 from 12 pm to 3 pm, with vehicles diverted via Kusgaon toll plaza onto National Highway 48 and then through Dehu Road–Kiwale towards Pune.

Officials have urged motorists to plan their journeys in advance and use alternate routes during the closure period to avoid inconvenience.

In case of any difficulty, commuters can contact the control room at 9822498224 or the highway police helpline at 9833498334.