Mumbai: As part of the Mumbai Monsoon preparations, representatives of the public of Mumbai today (19 May 2026) visited and inspected the Britannia Rainwater Harvesting Centre on Ray Road, Lovegrove Rainwater Harvesting Centre in Worli and Cleveland Rainwater Harvesting Centre. The Minister for Skills, Employment, Entrepreneurship and Innovation and Co-Patron Minister of Mumbai Suburban District, Shri. Mangal Prabhat Lodha, Mayor of Mumbai Ritu Tawde, MLA Mr. Amit Satam and various officials of the Municipal Corporation participated in the visit. Considering the geographical structure of the Mumbai Metropolitan City, the Municipal Corporation has prepared a comprehensive action plan for the speedy and effective drainage of rainwater collected in low-lying areas. This project has been submitted to the central government for approval. Speaking to the media on this occasion, MLA Mr. Amit Sattam said that Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde has been continuously reviewing the pre-monsoon works by visiting the work sites for the last fortnight. After inspecting the drainage cleaning and road development works in the Eastern and Western Suburbs as well as the City Division, various officials led by him today (May 19, 2026) inspected various rainwater harvesting centres and got detailed information about the system there and monsoon preparations. Minister for Skill, Employment, Entrepreneurship and Innovation and Co-custodian Minister of Mumbai Suburbs Mangal Prabhat Lodha, Mayor Ritu Tawde, MLA Amit Satam, Leader of the House of the Municipal Corporation Ganesh Khankar, Chairman of the Standing Committee Prabhakar Shinde, Chairman of the Impro Group Prabhakar Shinde, Shiv Sena MLA G M Leo also participated. Scindia Doshi (Sakre), Chairman of the Education Committee Rajeshree Shravadkar, Chairman of the ‘BEST’ Committee Trishna Vishwasrao, Chairman of the Architecture Committee (City) Yamati Jadhav, Chairman of the Architecture Committee (Suburbs) Chairperson Sangeeta Sharma, Public Health Committee Chairperson Mrs. Harish Veman and Chairman BEST Chairman BBS. Makwana, Corporator Rohidas Lokhande, Corporator Ajay Patil, Corporator Bhaskar Shetty and other public representatives participated in the visit. Additional Municipal Commissioner (Projects) Abhijeet Bangras was present on the occasion along with the concerned officers of the Storm Water Drainage Department. Mayor Ritu Tawde said that the important work of releasing the accumulated storm water into the sea during heavy rain and high tide is done through storm water drainage centers. During low tide, the flood control gates are open, at this time the water in the drain naturally goes directly into the sea through gravity. The rainwater collected during high tide is released into the sea with the help of drains. Flood control gates are used to prevent sea water from entering the drain during high tide. Apart from this, this mechanical mesh system is used to stop the waste in the drain. Currently, 6 collection centres are functioning, namely Haji Ali (Mahalakshmi), Arla (Juhu), Lovegrove (Worli), Cleveland (Worli Village), Britannia (Ray Road), Gujrband (Santa Cruz). Mayor Shrimati said that the work of the remaining 2 collection centres, namely Mahol (Chembur) and Mogra (Visakhapatnam), is in progress. Talking to media persons, MLA Mr. Amit Satam said that the officials of the Municipal Corporation are independently and collectively inspecting and monitoring the pre-monsoon works. They are taking information about the various steps taken by the administration. Apart from this, they are also giving necessary instructions. Efforts are being made to remove the water accumulated in the low-lying areas at a fast pace to avoid inconvenience to the Mumbaikars during the monsoon season. Pumping stations provide great relief to the Mumbaikars. Therefore, an inspection was conducted today to see if these pumping stations are functioning properly. In addition, more than 550 pumping sets have been deployed at various locations in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region to pump water. Drainage/river cleaning work is in progress. It is believed that the cleaning work of the drain will be completed within the stipulated time. He said that the administration has been directed to prevent solid waste/floating waste from entering the sea. The Mumbai Municipal Corporation has prepared a comprehensive action plan for fast and effective drainage of rainwater collected in low-lying areas, keeping in mind the geographical structure of the Mumbai metropolis, through the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT, Mumbai). This plan has been submitted to the Central Government for approval. This plan will be implemented with Central funds.

New Delhi, May 19: The Delhi High Court has sentenced YouTuber Gulshan Pahuja, who runs the channel “Fight 4 Judicial Reforms”, to six months’ simple imprisonment in two criminal contempt cases for making derogatory and scandalous remarks against the judiciary and judicial officers.

A division bench of Justices Navin Chawla and Ravinder Dudeja also imposed a fine of Rs 2,000 in each matter while observing that the contemnor had shown no remorse and had, in fact, compounded the contempt through further scandalous submissions made during the hearing.

However, the Delhi High Court suspended the sentence for 60 days to enable Pahuja to challenge its judgment holding him guilty of criminal contempt before the Supreme Court.

The Justice Chawla-led Bench said that despite being given an opportunity to make submissions on punishment, the contemnor questioned the conviction itself and, during oral arguments, made further scandalous remarks against the judicial system.

“He, in fact, compounds his contempt by making further scandalous submissions before this Court and thus, evidently, he is neither repentant nor deserves any mercy,” the order said.

Rejecting his plea to recall the conviction judgment, the Delhi High Court said it could not sit in review of its earlier order and that the contemnor was free to challenge the same in accordance with law.

“As far as his submissions on our judgment dated 21.04.2026 are concerned, we cannot sit in review of the said judgment and the contemnor has full right and had an opportunity to challenge the same in accordance with law,” the bench said.

It further recorded that during oral arguments, Pahuja made remarks such as “adaalaton ki manmarzi badhti jaa rahi hai aur main koi nyay ki umeed nahi kar raha (the wilfulness of the courts is constantly increasing and I am not hopeful of any justice)” and described the functioning of courts as “taanashahi (dictatorship)”.

Advocate Harsh Prabhaka, amicus curiae appointed in the matter, submitted that Pahuja had shown “no course correction or remorse” and continued uploading videos targeting judicial officers despite earlier directions restraining him from doing so.

Considering the nature of the conduct, the Delhi High Court observed that leniency in such circumstances could embolden similar conduct in the future and that the case warranted maximum punishment.

“We also find that by not imposing adequate punishment on him, we may encourage him to repeat these acts in future and to embolden him in doing the same. [W]e are of the opinion that these cases call for the imposition of the maximum punishment,” the bench observed.

Accordingly, the Delhi High Court sentenced Pahuja to six months’ simple imprisonment along with a fine of Rs 2,000 in each case, directing that the sentences would run concurrently.

It further ordered that in case of default in payment of the fine, he would undergo an additional one month’s simple imprisonment.

However, taking note of the contemnor’s submission that he intends to challenge the judgment before the Supreme Court, the bench suspended the sentence for a period of 60 days.

“In case an order suspending the sentence… is not passed by the Supreme Court, the contemnor shall on his own surrender before the Registrar General of this Court forthwith on expiry of the above-mentioned period,” the order said.

The contempt proceedings arose from videos and online content uploaded by Pahuja on his YouTube channel, in which he made sweeping and unverified allegations against judicial officers and the judiciary. In its earlier judgment, the Delhi High Court had held that such remarks were intended to scandalise the institution and lower public confidence in the justice system, and were not protected under the right to free speech.

Mumbai: As the massive demolition drive at Garib Nagar in Bandra entered its first day on Tuesday, Western Railway Chief Public Relations Officer Vineet Abhishek defended the action, stating that the operation was necessary for railway safety, critical infrastructure expansion and the larger development of Mumbai.

Speaking to MEDIA about the ongoing demolition drive, Abhishek said the Bombay High Court had issued “very clear and specific instructions” directing Western Railway to remove illegal encroachments from the railway land.

“The judgment says that Western Railways has to immediately clear all illegal structures here. We have to spare 100 hutments. The remaining hutments, which are approximately 500, have to be cleared immediately,” he said.

Abhishek further stated that over 1,000 officials had been deployed for the operation and that the authorities expect to clear and sanitise the area within the next four months.

“Such a handful of illegal encroachments cannot hold the entire Mumbai city hostage,” he said, while emphasising that the action was linked to railway safety and future infrastructure development.

The demolition drive at Garib Nagar began after the Bombay High Court, in its May 5 order, allowed Western Railway to continue the removal of structures built on railway land. However, the court also directed that occupants found eligible during the surveys conducted on August 10 and 11, 2021, must be protected in accordance with existing legal provisions.

According to officials, the drive is being carried out under heavy security deployment. Reports stated that personnel from the Mumbai Police, Railway Protection Force (RPF) and Government Railway Police (GRP) have been stationed in the area to maintain law and order during the operation.

Earlier, the Garib Nagar Rahiwasi Welfare Sangh Society had approached the court alleging that despite an earlier interim order restraining demolition of certain structures, homes belonging to eligible Project Affected Persons (PAPs) had allegedly been razed. The petition claimed the action caused displacement and hardship to families already declared eligible for rehabilitation.

During the hearing, advocate Aayush media, representing the Railways, informed the court that eligible PAPs would be rehabilitated by Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority under the Mumbai One project, which includes the development of Line 6 infrastructure works linked to the railway network.