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Maharashtra: After 2 years, Ganeshotsav celebrations without Covid restrictions

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Ganeshotsav

 In a significant move, the Maharashtra government has announced that this year’s upcoming festivals like Ganeshotsav, Janmashthami and Muharram shall be celebrated without any Covid-19 restrictions but by adhering to the Supreme Court and Bombay High Court directions.

The state’s biggest 10-day-long public festival Ganeshotsav will be celebrated from August 31-September 9, while Janmashthami revelries shall be held on August 18-19, and Muharram shall be observed from August 9.

Maharshtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis made the much-anticipated announcements after a meeting with the government departments, civic bodies, representatives of various organisations, police and other bodies.

Shinde said that the Covid-19 curbs — enforced in 2020 and 2021 — have been lifted, as also the limits on the height of the Lord Ganesh idols.

The government has directed the concerned bodies to provide online approvals in a single-window format, waiving off registration fees and guarantee letters from the Ganeshotsav organisations.

The government will also form a committee of experts from various organisations to help evolve a solution that can replace idols made by Plaster of Paris (PoP) in view of the environmental hazards of PoP.

“For the past two years we were under the threat of Coronavirus and were not able to celebrate the festivals with enthusiasm. This year, Ganeshotsav and Janmashthami shall be celebrated with full fervour. The organisers should create themes of social awareness and amity,” said Shinde.

Shinde and Fadnavis also said that while celebrating the fests, all rules must be followed, but the regulations must not be ‘unreasonable’, and all districts will appoint a nodal officer to oversee the celebrations.

For the popular ‘dahi-handi’ celebrations on the second day of Janmashthami, the government has said all organisations must obey the court’s rules barring the participation of children below age 14.

Maharashtra

Byculla Redevelopment Site Accident Claims Two Lives

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Mumbai: A tragic incident occurred on saturday afternoon at the proposed redevelopment site of Habib Mansion in Byculla (West). During piling work, the ground suddenly caved in, resulting in the death of two labourers on the spot.

Two to three other workers suffered serious injuries and were rushed to a nearby hospital. The accident took place at the Sundar Galli stretch between Haines Road and Tank Pakhadi Road, where redevelopment work is being undertaken by Ibrahim Jusab Sopariwala & Others. The project is linked to architects A2 Associates and Rajpurkar Associates, with ZZ Consultants reported as the structural advisors.

Local residents claimed that adequate safety measures were missing at the worksite, raising concerns about negligence. Police and BMC officials have cordoned off the area and launched an investigation.

Authorities said a detailed probe will determine whether safety protocols were violated during the redevelopment work.

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Maharashtra

NCB seizes city drugs, sets them on fire

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Mumbai: The Mumbai Zonal Unit of the Mumbai Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has disposed of about 1835 kg of Mephedrone along with 341 kg of other substances which were seized from various places in Maharashtra and Delhi. 16 persons were arrested in this case. A thorough investigation into the massive drug seizure led to the arrest of several persons including foreigners from various places, resulting in the elimination of close associates of the drug peddlers with international links.

As per the guidelines prescribed by the Hon’ble Supreme Court, a high-level Drug Disposal Committee was constituted comprising Deputy Director General (SWR) of NCB, Additional Director, NCB Mumbai Zonal Unit and Additional Commissioner of Pune Police. The case was reviewed and it was selected to dispose of the drug hoard. Accordingly, all legal conditions were complied with after which the seized drugs along with other chemicals were finally destroyed by incineration in the presence of HLDCC on 14th November 2025 at Maple, Ranjangaon, Pune, Maharashtra.

This significant seizure of drugs followed by disposal of the sub-judices, indicates the continuous efforts of NCB in dismantling organised drug syndicates and targeting drug offenders who pollute the drug ecosystem. The Bureau is steadfast in its mission to protect public health and uphold the vision of “Nisha Mukt Bharat” by 2047.

NCB is firmly committed to ensuring a drug-free society under the guidance of which it has curbed drug trafficking, broken financial nexus and curbed inter-state and international drug syndicates.
Citizens are urged to play their role by reporting any information related to drugs through the MANS – National Narcotics Helpline (Toll Free Number: 1933). The identity of the informants is kept strictly confidential.

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Maharashtra

Three men accused of robbing a youth have been arrested The main accused was apprehended in Titwala.

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Mumbai: A young man returning home on a motorcycle in the Asalpha area of ​​Ghatkopar was attacked and forcibly robbed by three men who brandished a chopper. A case was registered at the Ghatkopar police station under sections 309(4), 3(5) of the Indian Penal Code, sections 4, 25 of the Indian Penal Code, and sections 37(1) and 135 of the Indian Penal Code.

The complainant, Suraj Mahadev Dethe (24), and his friend, Yash Kamble, were passing near the Home Guard Training Center at approximately 1:30 a.m. on November 12th when three unidentified individuals in a three-wheeled tempo stopped them. The accused, using the chopper as a pointer, assaulted them, abused them, and stole their Honda Dio scooter and mobile phone.

As soon as the case was registered, the Assistant Commissioner of Police and Senior Police Inspector of the Ghatkopar Division inspected the scene. Based on technical and traditional investigations, the accused identified Hussain Aslam Memon, alias Genda. Upon receiving information that he was hiding in the Titwala area, the police apprehended him. During interrogation, he revealed the names of his accomplices – Munna Ramvilas Sharma and Dilshaduddin Sitabuddin Shaikh – who were subsequently arrested.

On November 13, the three accused were produced in court, where they were remanded to police custody until November 17. The investigation also revealed that Genda is a notorious criminal with more than 13 cases registered against him in various police stations.

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