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Maharashtra

Maha clears wine sales at supermarkets, walk-in stores

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In a significant decision, the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government in Maharashtra on Thursday permitted all supermarkets and walk-in stores to sell wine manufactured in the state as part of its new wine policy, officials said.

The decision was taken by the state Cabinet presided over by Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray – and it immediately attracted flak from the Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Interestingly, the move comes a week after neighbouring Madhya Pradesh permitted liquor sales at all its airports, select supermarkets in four major cities and also allowed issuing home bar licences to those earning Rs 1 crore or more annually.

Briefing the media, Nationalist Congress Party Minister Nawab Malik said that supermarkets with a minimum area of 1,000 sq ft or more shall be allowed to sell wine – as opposed to beers and other liquors – under the new policy enacted last year after the earlier 20-year-old policy lapsed.

Wine sales will be permitted through a shelf-in-shop in the supermarkets or walk-in stores, with a single cupboard measuring 2.25 cubic metres, kept locked and selling only sealed bottles of wine, with an annual specified licence fee of Rs 5,000 from such establishments.

The state has around four-dozen wineries, most centred in Nashik district which accounts for 80 per cent of the wine produced in India, besides small wineries in other districts like Ahmednagar, Sangli, Pune, Solapur and Buldhana.

The country’s fledgling wine industry is worth around Rs 1,000 crore with Maharashtra, a pioneering state in this sector, contributing nearly two-third to the revenue.

BJP Leader of Opposition, Devendra Fadnavis, and others slammed the government move, terming it as the MVA’s special love for the liquor industry, just like its decisions to lift the prohibition in Chandrapur, cut in excise duty on imported liquor from 300 per cent to 150 per cent etc.

“We shall not allow Maharashtra to become a ‘madya-rashtra’,” said Fadnavis, even as other leaders and women’s groups criticised the decision.

The MVA government defended the move by saying it will benefit the grape farmers who supply their produce to wineries for making wines, besides generating revenue for the state exchequer and boosting the wine industry.

Most wines have very low alcohol content as compared to hard liquor and many restaurants and bakeries also use wine in certain food-making processes, notably the popular wine or rum cakes.

Maharashtra

Mumbai: Nasik TCS case targeting Nida Khan, police tarnishing its image: Social activist Niranjan Tiklay

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Mumbai: Nashik TCS case has no connection with religious conversion. In this case, Nida Khan has been targeted even though she was not the HR head, yet she is being tried by the media. The Nashik case is not a case of inciting religious sentiments and religious hatred, love jihad or corporate jihad. It is only a case of sexual harassment, but Nida Khan has been targeted in it. This kind of serious allegation has been made by social worker Teesta Setalvad in a press conference organized by APCR here today at Marathi Patrikar Singh. She said that the media made the identity of a woman public and if the police had revealed this, then the news should have been broadcast regarding the police. An attempt should have been made to talk to the victim and the complainant. There are many such cases in which any accusation can be made against anyone, but in the Nashik case, an environment was created which is completely wrong. Nashik social worker Niranjan Takle said that the police have tried to set someone’s political agenda in this case, whereas the police should not do so because it tarnishes the image of the police. What happened in Badlapur? Akshay Shinde was encountered, after which the Badlapur agenda was run by putting up banners in accordance with it, after which the court declared it a murder. He said that in the same way, in the case of Somnath Suryavanshi, how much violence was inflicted on him, due to which he died in custody, the court has also ordered to register a case. Along with this, an agenda has been run in the Nashik case as well and under a specific agenda, Nida Khan, an employee of this company TCS, was targeted. Nida Khan is a minor employee but she was presented as the HR head. The media has conducted her trial. Valmik Karad did not reach the police until he surrendered. A case was registered against Ashok Kharat a year ago but he was arrested after Ajit Pawar’s death. The police is defaming itself to set someone’s political agenda. He further said that the way it is happening in the Nashik case, it is clear that the investigation done by the police is being made public through a media trial while there is no mention of conversion in it. In this press conference, the APCR has also presented a fact-finding report in the Nashik case. Dolphy D’Souza, Shakir Sheikh and others were present in this conference.

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Maharashtra

Woman supplying drugs at Nesco music concert party exposed, crores of rupees deposited in woman’s account, 11 accused arrested so far

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Mumbai: The Vanrai police have seized 933 narcotic pills, allegedly worth Rs 1.5 million, from Ayush Sahitya, an accused in a drug case. Before his arrest, Ayush Sahitya had dumped these pills at a place in Kolhapur, which have been seized by the police. Several important revelations were revealed during the interrogation of Ayush Sahitya, including the name of a female accomplice. The Vanrai police have arrested the accused woman from the Mira Road area.

Accused Jaya Rachel Jacob has been arrested from Mira Road. Jaya used to transfer the money of this entire drug syndicate to her account. The medicines purchased at the NESCO music concert were also transferred to Jaya’s account. Jaya is a high-ranking woman. Her links with a major drug supplier have been revealed. A large quantity of drugs have also been recovered from Jaya. Currently, the police are busy further linking the woman’s account and her contacts.

The Vanrai police have so far arrested 11 accused in the Goregaon drug case. This information was given here today by Mumbai Police DCP Zone 12 Mahesh Chamte.

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Maharashtra

Mumbai : Fire Engulfs 10–12 Vehicles On Ghatkopar–Mankhurd Link Road, No Injuries Reported

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Mumbai: A fire broke out on the busy Ghatkopar–Mankhurd Link Road on Thursday afternoon, engulfing at least 10–12 four-wheelers in flames and sending plumes of smoke into the air.

The Mumbai Fire Brigade officials rushed to the spot and managed to bring the blaze under control within an hour, preventing it from spreading further. No injuries were reported in the incident.

According to the MFB, the fire reported at 11:45 AM on Thursday. The blaze affected around 10 to 12 four-wheeler vehicles, sending thick smoke across the busy stretch near Baingan wadi signal at Govandi.

Firefighters, along with police personnel and 108 ambulance services, were immediately mobilized to the spot. Swift response by emergency teams ensured the fire was brought under control by 12:22 pm Cooling operations followed, and the situation was fully contained by the time of the latest update at 1:35 pm.

No injuries have been reported in the incident. The cause of the fire is yet to be determined and is likely to be investigated by authorities.

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