Mumbai: Intelligence inputs have revealed that the underworld has expanded into the production and trafficking of the synthetic drug mephedrone (MD), with notorious gangsters Salim Dola and Umed-ur-Rehman emerging as major players in this illicit trade.

According to Mumbai Crime Branch sources, this shift marks a significant change in the underworld’s operations, with several key figures including fugitive don Dawood Ibrahim, Salim Dola, and Umed-ur-Rehman allegedly channeling funds from Pakistan and Dubai to strengthen the MD drug network in Mumbai and other parts of the country. Investigators believe the underworld is increasingly turning away from extortion and gang wars to focus on the high-profit narcotics trade.

Kidnapping of Drug Mafia Sajid Electricwala Linked to MD Deal

The Crime Branch recently uncovered an underworld link in the kidnapping and extortion of drug mafia Sajid Electricwala. Probe findings suggest that the abduction was triggered after Sajid allegedly took advance payment for an MD consignment but failed to deliver.

Connection with Pakistan-Based Underworld Figures

Crime Branch officers revealed that Sarvar Khan, one of the 14 accused arrested in the case, was in direct contact with Anwar Sheikh — also known as Anwar Bhai — the Pakistan-based brother of underworld don Chhota Shakeel. Anwar fled India in 1984 and is wanted for multiple cases, including murder and extortion.

Confession Points to Drug Manufacturing and Distribution Network

Sarvar Khan, during interrogation, allegedly confessed that Anwar had paid Sajid ₹50 lakh for manufacturing MD. When Sajid failed to deliver the drugs, he was kidnapped to recover the money. Sarvar also claimed that Anwar intended to route the manufactured MD through Umed-ur-Rehman and Salim Dola for distribution.

Reward Announced for Absconding Gangster Salim Dola

The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has announced a ₹1 lakh cash reward for credible information leading to the arrest of Salim Ismail Dola, 57, who remains absconding. Umed-ur-Rehman, once considered the most wanted shooter in the Chhota Rajan gang, was arrested by Mumbai Police over a decade ago but is currently on the run.

Rise in Domestic Synthetic Drug Production

Former Maharashtra DGP Pravin Dixit told The Free Press Journal that while India earlier served primarily as a transit hub for drug trafficking, there is now a worrying rise in domestic production of synthetic drugs like MD in remote locations. “Concerted action by departments of industry, food adulteration officers, revenue, and police is necessary. 100% checks of production units must be carried out regularly to expose such illegal activities,” Dixit said.

Underworld Profits Reinvested in Organised Crime

Investigators suspect that profits from the MD trade are being reinvested into other organised crime activities. The Mumbai Crime Branch plans to name Anwar Sheikh as a co-accused in the Sajid Electricwala case. Further raids and arrests are expected as agencies intensify their crackdown on this growing underworld–narcotics nexus.

Mumbai: Despite strong opposition from residents and health activists, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is pressing ahead with the privatisation of key hospital services. In its latest move, the civic body has invited tenders for setting up dialysis units, cath labs, MRI and CT scan facilities, and even a blood bank for transfusion patients in various peripheral hospitals through private operators.

New Model Replaces PPP for Hospital Services in Peripheral Facilities

This time, however, the outsourcing will be done under a new ‘Civic Health Collaboration Model’ instead of the earlier public-private partnership (PPP) framework.

Under this model, the civic body will rent out space in its peripheral hospitals to private operators, who will run these services and charge patients as per agreed rates. However, there is no clarity on the minimum number of patients to be referred daily from BMC hospitals for these facilities.

A senior official from the BMC’s Health Department admitted the model is not significantly different from the earlier PPP arrangement. “It is similar to the PPP model, where patients still have to pay for these services,” the official said.

The peripheral hospitals where this model will be implemented include Rajawadi Hospital in Ghatkopar, MT Agarwal in Mulund, Dr Ambedkar Hospital in Kandivli, Bhabha Hospitals in Bandra and Kurla, and Bhagwati Hospital in Borivali.

Dialysis at Rs 500 per Session for BMC Patients; Government Scheme Rates Apply

Under the new model, the civic body will set up dialysis centres at its peripheral hospitals in Borivali, Mulund, Ghatkopar, and Kandivali for a period of 10 years, with the option of two extensions of 10 years each. BMC patients will be charged Rs 500 per dialysis session, while those covered under government schemes will be billed as per approved rates.

Similarly, MRI and CT scan facilities will be established at Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Hospital, Kandivali (West), Khurshidjee Behramjee Bhabha General Hospital, Bandra (West), Harilal Bhagwati Municipal Hospital, Borivali, and M.T. Agrawal Municipal Hospital, Mulund. The civic body will provide dedicated space for these services on an annual rental basis.

Activists Warn of Commercialisation, Lack of Patient Referral Safeguards

However, the tender documents do not specify the service charges or the minimum number of BMC-referred patients to be served daily. “Without such clarity, the private operator could run the facility for commercial purposes, catering to patients from outside hospitals,” warned a health activist.

Health activists have questioned whether the civic body — which operates 212 health posts, 192 dispensaries, 30 maternity homes, and five specialised hospitals, including four medical colleges and major hospitals in the city — is steadily moving towards the privatisation of key healthcare services. “We have already seen doctors being appointed on contract, and even an unregistered doctor working in the ICU of V.N. Desai Hospital,” one activist said.

New Delhi: To avoid rush by ensuring hassle-free ticket booking experience during the upcoming peak festive seasons, the Ministry of Railways on Saturday said that it has decided to formulate a ‘Round Trip Package’ on discounted fare and rebates benefit.

The move will facilitate passengers and redistribute the peak traffic for a larger range during peak festival seasons and ensure both sides utilisation of trains, including special trains.

“It has been decided to formulate an experimental scheme named as Round Trip Package for festival rush on discounted fare,” the Railways Ministry stated.

According to the ministry, the scheme will be applicable for those passengers who choose their return journey during the prescribed period.

Under this scheme, rebates shall be applicable when booked for both the onward and return journey for the same set of passengers.

Passenger details of the return journey will be the same as those of the onward journey. Passengers can book their tickets from August 14 for the advance reservation period (ARP) date of October 13.

“An onward ticket shall be booked first for the train start date between 13th October 2025 and 26th October 2025, and subsequently return journey ticket shall be booked by using the connecting journey feature for the train start date between 17th November and 1st December 2025,” the Ministry stated.

However, advance reservation period will not be applicable for booking of return journey.

Other conditions to avail the benefits of the railway’s new special scheme are the booking shall be permissible only for confirmed tickets in both directions, total rebates of 20 per cent shall be granted on base fare of return journey only, booking under this scheme shall be for the same class and same O-D pair for both onward and return journey.

According to Railways, no refund of fare shall be permissible for the tickets booked under this scheme.

This scheme shall be allowed for all classes and in all trains, including special trains (Trains on demand), except trains having Flexi fare.

In addition, no modification will be allowed on these tickets in either of the journeys, and there will be no discounts, Rail travel coupons, Voucher-based bookings, or Passes be admissible during return journey booking on concessional fare.

Passenger can book their ticket via both online and offline modes; however, both onward and return journey tickets must be booked using the same mode (online or offline).