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Internal Rift May Cost Samajwadi Party Dear: Political Turmoil in Ward 211 Involving MLA Rais Shaikh

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Mumbai: The ongoing tension between Samajwadi Party (SP) Maharashtra president Abu Asim Azmi and the party’s own MLA Rais Shaikh has taken a serious turn and could prove politically costly for the party in Mumbai and Bhiwandi. What began as internal differences has now escalated into an open power struggle, just as the bugle for municipal corporation elections across Mumbai and Maharashtra has been sounded.

For the past several months, relations between Abu Asim Azmi and MLA Rais Shaikh have remained strained. Sources within the party claim that Azmi had decided to completely sideline Rais Shaikh and hand over key organisational responsibilities to Yusuf Abhrani, a former Congress leader who recently joined the Samajwadi Party. This move reportedly deepened the rift, with speculation rife that Rais Shaikh might even switch allegiance to Ajit Pawar’s camp or return to the Congress, as he felt marginalised within his own party.

The simmering internal conflict has now spilled into the open with the start of civic election preparations. Rais Shaikh had requested party leadership to allot municipal tickets to some of his close aides, but the Samajwadi Party leadership allegedly refused to give tickets to any of his supporters. Feeling politically cornered, Rais Shaikh responded by fielding several of his associates as independent candidates.

More significantly, Rais Shaikh is said to have played a key role in ensuring that his personal assistant, Waqar Khan, received a Congress ticket from Ward No. 211—a seat that was earlier considered a stronghold of the Samajwadi Party. With Congress now officially fielding Waqar Khan from this ward, SP risks losing a seat it was once confident of winning.

Political observers believe that ignoring Rais Shaikh could cost the Samajwadi Party heavily not only in Govandi but also in Bhiwandi, where multiple seats may be affected due to rebel candidates and divided votes. Meanwhile, Yusuf Abhrani—projected as Rais Shaikh’s replacement—has fielded his daughter-in-law against Geeta Gawli, daughter of Arun Gawli, a move that too appears to have weakened SP’s prospects in that constituency.

As factionalism deepens, the Samajwadi Party now faces the possibility of significant electoral losses in key urban pockets. Whether the leadership will attempt damage control or allow the rift to widen further remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: internal discord may prove more damaging than opposition attacks in the upcoming municipal elections.

Maharashtra

Mumbai: 8-year-old’s parents found a clue from a T-shirt, missing child from Jogeshwari handed over to parents safely, a great feat by Mumbai Police

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Mumbai: Police traced the parents of a missing child who was a special child and was unable to give his name and address. The police traced the parents of the child from the T-cert. Mumbai On July 30, 2026, under the jurisdiction of Jogeshwari Police Station, the prompt action of Police Naik Misal led to the successful tracing of the parents of the boy. The missing child was recovered during patrolling. On July 30, 2026, at around 4 pm, in front of the ‘Yule Chai’ shop, Subhash Road, Jogeshwari (East), Mumbai, during a foot patrol, Police Naik Misal found a boy, aged about 7 to 8 years, crying and wandering alone. On initial questioning and asking for his name and address, it was found that the boy could not speak. He was only able to utter the words “Abba” (father) and “Amma” (mother). Police Naik Maisel examined the boy’s T-shirt closely and found the inscription Mumbai Municipal Corporation Hindi School, Jogeshwari East, Mumbai. He immediately visited the said municipal school and contacted a teacher there, Laksh Kumar Nandeshwar. The teacher said that the boy was not attending classes in that particular school at the time, the T-shirt was issued to him at the time of admission. Although the boy was not currently admitted there, the information available in the school’s admission records shows that he is currently studying in ‘Suppan Special English Medium School’. On contacting the school, a teacher named Neha Tendulkar identified the boy and provided details about his parents. The parents have been identified as Riaz Ahmed Akbar Ali Ansari. The child’s name is Muhammad Shahbaz Ansari Age: 8 years The child is reported to be unable to speak or read properly. Parent’s statement The boy had left his house in Bandra Plot in Meghwari area around 3:00 pm and his parents were looking for him.

The boy’s parents were immediately summoned to Jogeshwari police station. After this, the child was safely handed over to them. This information was given by Iqbal Shakilgar, Senior Police Inspector, Jogeshwari police station.

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Maharashtra

BMC focuses on providing high-quality and comprehensive facilities for tourists: Municipal Commissioner Ashwini Bhide

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Mumbai: is a major tourist destination for both domestic and international tourists and visitors. The Mumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is laying special emphasis on providing high-quality and comprehensive amenities such as cleanliness, beautification, safety measures, signage, public toilets, drinking water facilities, and digital information systems at various tourist destinations across the city. Various initiatives are being taken to showcase Mumbai’s cultural, historical and heritage assets to tourists in a more effective manner. Municipal Commissioner Ashwini Bhide said that the BMC aims to enhance Mumbai’s tourism potential and ensure a high-quality, satisfying experience for both local residents and tourists from across the country and the world. He also assured that all necessary steps will be taken regarding the guidance and facilities of tourists. A joint meeting on ‘Mumbai Tourism’ was held today (July 31, 2026) at the BMC headquarters, which included the Mumbai Municipal Corporation, Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) and the Collector of Mumbai City. The meeting was attended by Mumbai City District Collector Aanchal Goyal, Additional Collector Bappa Saheb Thorat, BMC Deputy Commissioner (Commissioner’s Office) Shri Prashant Gaikwad, District Planning Officer Sanjay Kumar Shinde, MTDC General Manager Chandrashekhar Jaiswal, and Head of Business Development Department Mansi Kothare among others. Initially, Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) General Manager Mr. Chandrashekhar Jaiswal presented information about Mumbai tourism through a digital presentation.

Municipal Commissioner Ashwini Bhide said that providing basic amenities and services to the residents of Mumbai is the primary duty of the Municipal Corporation. Along with this, the Corporation is also undertaking tourism-related activities and promotional efforts. Mumbai has immense potential and strength in the tourism sector. The Municipal Corporation is taking various steps to attract tourists and promote tourism and these efforts will be further enhanced through collaboration and coordination with MTDC. Maximum efforts will be made to develop additional tourist destinations in the city. Ms. Bhide also suggested that MTDC should develop a dedicated website to provide reliable information to tourists and citizens.

MTDC General Manager Chandrashekhar Jaiswal said that the Maharashtra government is committed to promoting and developing tourism across the state. The primary objectives of MTDC include enhancing tourism infrastructure, formulating strategic plans, and implementing sustainable tourism initiatives. A bustling city like Mumbai has a rich heritage of tourist attractions. It is important for local self-government bodies, especially municipal corporations, to take the initiative in promoting eco-tourism and adventure tourism. Jaiswal stressed that the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) should take the lead in this regard and extend its positive support.

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Maharashtra

Bombay High Court: Stay on departmental inquiry against Wankhede, NCB seeks response, action against officer on accused’s complaint is undesirable

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Mumbai: The Bombay High Court has ordered a stay on departmental and inter-departmental inquiries and harassment against IRS officer Sameer Wankhede. Sameer Wankhede had challenged the NCB inquiry, on which the court expressed concern that multiple inquiries have been initiated against an officer on the basis of an anonymous letter, which will demoralize the officer. Along with this, the court has given relief to Wankhede and provided protection with a stay on the inquiry. In a significant development, Justices A.S. Gadkari and Kamal Khata of the Bombay High Court expressed serious concern that the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has initiated multiple inquiries against its own former zonal director Sameer Dunyadev Wankhede on the basis of anonymous complaints. During the hearing, the bench subjected the NCB to extensive questions on the basis of the action initiated against Wankhede. The court questioned how an investigating officer can be prosecuted on the basis of mere allegations made by an accused person and anonymous complaints, especially when such actions have the effect of undermining the functioning of the law enforcement agencies and can also affect the institution. The writ petition challenges several preliminary investigation notices issued against Wankhede arising out of anonymous complaints. The bench also asked the NCB a pertinent question as to whether the accused had made these allegations at the time of his initial arrest or during the investigation. The court questioned why such allegations surfaced only later and sought an explanation as to why they were considered at the last minute. The court further observed that if the accused is allowed to make allegations against the investigating officers and such allegations are easily acted upon by the department, it will create chaos in the administration of criminal justice. The bench remarked that such a course would demoralize honest officers in the discharge of their official duties and would set a dangerous and wholly undesirable precedent by which the accused would be able to target investigating officers simply because they had performed their lawful duties. The bench also questioned the NCB’s repeated initiation of action against Wankhede despite the rules in place on anonymous complaints and the manner in which the agency could take action against one of its own officers. The court expressed regret over such allegations and dissatisfaction with the respondent agency’s conduct in taking action. During the hearing, the court observed that the repeated action initiated against Sameer Wankhede amounted to outright harassment of the petitioner and questioned the justification for continuously questioning him on the basis of such complaints. After hearing the parties at length, the Bombay High Court said that the writ petition is admitted for final hearing and interim relief and protection is granted to Wankhede till the final decision on the petition is taken.

Today’s action marks a significant step forward in protecting honest public servants from arbitrary and vexatious actions. The observations made by the court highlight the broader public importance of ensuring that investigating officers are able to perform their statutory duties without fear or favour, without the risk of delay or reprisals initiated on the basis of anonymous allegations. Sameer Wankhede has consistently maintained that the action initiated against him is arbitrary, malpractice, legally unsustainable and an abuse of administrative process. The petition seeks quashing of the preliminary inquiry notice issued against him on the basis of anonymous complaints.

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