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Maharashtra

Kurla BEST Bus Mishap: Accused Driver Reveals Shocking Lack Of Training On Electric Vehicles

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Sanjay More (54), the killer driver of a wet-leased BEST bus who fatally mowed down seven persons and injured 42 others outside Kurla railway station (W) on Monday, was operating an electric vehicle for the first time in his life that day.

The same morning, the company Evey Trans, which had wet-leased the bus to the BEST Undertaking, had asked More to take three rounds in the electric vehicle before he was assigned to operate the bus on Route no. 332 from Kurla station (W) to Agarkar Chowk, Andheri station on the east side. Strangely enough, the police have not even filed an FIR against the company for jeopardizing the lives of passengers by putting a person totally inexperienced in handling a heavy electric vehicle behind the wheel.

The police said they are waiting for the report of the Road Transport Organisation (RTO), which has been tasked with ascertaining if the vehicle had any defect, after which they will take action. It was also the job of the BEST administration to ensure that the drivers of wet-leased buses are properly trained. The Undertaking also failed to do that in this case.

According to the police, More had 30 years of experience in driving diesel buses. However, this was the first time he was handling an electric vehicle. More told the police that he lost control of the bus as it sped out of control during the accident. The bus was cruising at a speed of 60 kmph at the time of the crash on a highly congested road packed with illegal hawkers and autorickshaws. The fact that he was driving at 60 kmph underscores the rashness of his act. A professional driver, L. Ravi, said, “Given the congested nature of the road outside Kurla station, the speed ought to have been less than 30 kmph.”

The police are also trying to find out if More, who was not found drunk, was under any emotional stress. The police have summoned his family members to ascertain this angle. So far, the police have recorded the statements of 25 persons, including eyewitnesses.

Meanwhile, Shashank Rao, general secretary of the BEST Employees’ Union, has demanded the immediate scrapping of the wet-leasing system. He said the Undertaking should buy its own buses and operate them with trained staff. Rao met the BEST general manager, Anil Diggikar, and handed over a memorandum containing the Union’s demands.

Maharashtra

Maharashtra: Shiv Sena-UBT & Congress Leaders Slam Mahayuti Govt Over Delay In Cabinet Formation Amid Parbhani Violence

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Mumbai: Shiv Sena (UBT) spokesperson Anand Dubey slammed the ruling Mahayuti in Maharashtra on Thursday for its delay in forming a cabinet amid deteriorating law and order in the state.

“The swearing-in of Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister was a mere formality…The state cabinet has not been formed. Who will talk about development in the state? The law and order situation in the state has deteriorated.”

“Violence broke out (in Parbhani city) over damaging the replica of the Indian Constitution. The situation in the state is very unfortunate. We want the state cabinet to be formed as soon as possible so that development work can take place in the state,” he added.

Shiv Sena-UBT Leader Priyanka Chaturvedi On The Appointment Of A Home Minister

MP Priyanka Chaturvedi said that the state government had not appointed a Home Minister and questioned if the state would be run from Delhi.

“The results of Maharashtra assembly elections were declared on 23rd November and it took them (Mahayuti) 10-11 days to decide the name of Maharashtra CM and Deputy CMs. There is no information regarding the state cabinet ministers. Violence broke out in the Parbhani city and we don’t know who is the home minister of the state as law and order is a state subject. The Chief Minister and Deputy CMs are in Delhi. Will the state government run from Delhi? The state cabinet should be formed as soon as possible,” she said.

Statement Of Congress MP Varsha Gaekwad

Congress MP Varsha Gaekwad said that the state cabinet needed to be formed as soon as possible.

“They spent so much on the Swearing-in-Ceremony of Maharashtra CM and deputy CMs, the state cabinet should also have taken the oath. Unfortunately, the state cabinet has not taken the oath…Violence broke out in the Parbhani city. The state government needs to control the situation there…The state cabinet should be formed as soon as possible,” she said.

About The Violence That Broke Out In Parbhani City

Earlier, violence broke out in Parbhani city on Wednesday over the alleged vandalising of a replica of the Indian Constitution.

Special Inspector General, Nanded, Shahaji Umap said, “The situation is peaceful. The people who had gathered here in the afternoon, they had to give a representation to the District Magistrate–those people damaged some shops, CCTV cameras, and hoardings of shops.”

“Later, the police had to use some force to control the situation. We have detained about fifty people. The process of registering cases against them has started. The accused of this incident has also been arrested, and a case has been registered against him. He is currently undergoing treatment as the mob has beaten him–he is a lunatic and undergoing treatment; his mental condition is not good. We have also found the documents during the investigation. So I appeal to everyone to maintain peace without giving much importance to this incident,” he added.

Shiv Sena-UBT Leader Priyanka Chaturvedi Takes A Dig At Mahayuti Govt

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Priyanka Chaturvedi on Wednesday took a dig at the BJP-led Mahayuti government over violence in Maharashtra’s Parbhani and said that the priority of the government is to stay in power.

She said the state does not have a full-time home minister who has responsibility for law and order.

“It’s a very shameful incident, and the violence that is happening is unfortunate. Today, we are in such a situation that the government is sidelining the Constitution. To date, there is no home minister in the state who has the responsibility of law & order.”

“The violence shows the failure of this government…. It shows the government’s priorities, which is to save their rule and not work for the people of the state,” she alleged.

Parbhani District Magistrate Raghunath Khandu Gawade urged people to maintain peace.

“The police administration is on the road. We have the situation under control; we have called in additional police. So on this, I appeal to everyone through you to maintain peace and tranquillity,” he said.

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Crime

Mumbai: Man Caught Masturbating In Shared Taxi Taken By Female College Student In Grant Road, Shocking Video Surfaces

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In a shocking incident, a female student of a college located in South Mumbai was sexually harassed while commuting in a shared taxi on November 30. A purported video of the incident recently surfaced online, showing a man sitting beside the student masturbating in the moving taxi.

The video appears to have been captured by the female student herself. A user named Manish Kamat shared the shocking video on X and requested the Mumbai Police to take action against the “creepy man” while tagging its handle.

The police, on Wednesday, took cognisance of the video and asked Kamat to provide contact details to further investigate the matter.

Along with the video, the user also shared a screenshot of an email that was apparently sent by the victim’s friend to a social media influencer.

According to the victim’s friend, the incident occurred on November 30 when the victim was returning home from college in a shared taxi to Grant Road station.

The victim’s friend claimed that the man masturbated in the taxi in her presence.

The person who sent the email requested the recipient to post the video and spread awareness about the incident as soon as possible.

“My friend is still traumatised by this incident. She is going through mental distress. Please do something,” the email read.

The video was first shared by an Instagram handle called ‘mumbaiinlst24hrs’.

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Maharashtra

Maharashtra: Tensions Mount In Mahayuti As BJP & Deputy CM Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena Faction Clash Over Portfolios

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Mumbai: More than two weeks after the Maharashtra Assembly election results, the Mahayuti coalition, led by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, is yet to announce its cabinet expansion.

While Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar met senior leaders in Delhi on Wednesday, the absence of Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has fueled speculation about internal dissent. Reports suggest that cabinet expansion discussions were central to Fadnavis and Pawar’s Delhi visit, where they engaged with Union ministers, including Home Minister Amit Shah. Meanwhile, Shinde remained in Thane, reportedly dissatisfied with certain developments.

Maharashtra BJP Chief CHandrashekhar Bawankule Visits Deputy CM Eknath Shinde In Tahne

BJP state chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule visited Shinde in Thane and facilitated a conversation with Fadnavis, attempting to address grievances related to portfolio allocations. Shinde’s faction of the Shiv Sena is embroiled in intense lobbying for ministerial positions. Speculation abounds that Shinde is advocating a rotational system for distributing portfolios among his MLAs, with two-and-a-half-year terms to placate multiple factions. However, some MLAs argue for new faces, criticizing the lackluster performance of previous ministers.

Shinde is reportedly vying for key portfolios, including Home, Revenue, and Urban Development. Among these, the Urban Development portfolio is said to have been promised during negotiations. Shinde’s demands and the BJP’s willingness to meet them remain contentious. Observers note that Ajit Pawar’s proximity to the BJP could be leveraged to counterbalance Shinde’s influence. Adding to the tension, Shinde is reportedly unhappy with the BJP’s exclusion of his close associates, including Sanjay Rathod, Tanaji Sawant, and Abdul Sattar, from ministerial considerations.

Root Of The Dissatisfaction

The dissatisfaction stems from a performance evaluation of ministers who served under Shinde from June 2022 until the elections. The cabinet expansion is critical, with the winter session of the state legislature scheduled to begin on December 16 in Nagpur. The Mahayuti leadership is under pressure to finalize portfolios and ensure smooth governance. While Fadnavis and Pawar navigated the power corridors of Delhi, Shinde’s conspicuous absence has raised eyebrows. Political observers speculate whether his actions signal discontent or a calculated move to assert his demands. A crucial Mahayuti meeting on Thursday may provide clarity on the impasse.

During his Delhi visit, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis met President Draupadi Murmu, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, and Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari. These engagements, while routine, underscore the BJP’s focus on aligning state and central government priorities. As the lobbying intensifies, the power struggle within the Mahayuti could redefine Maharashtra’s political landscape. Whether the BJP accommodates Shinde’s demands or sidelines him using Pawar’s support will determine the coalition’s stability in the coming weeks.

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