Connect with us
Friday,30-October-2026
Breaking News

Maharashtra

Maharashtra: After Four-Year Delay, Central Govt Releases ₹606 Crore To State’s Local & Civic Bodies

Published

on

Mumbai: Local and civic bodies across the state have heaved a much-needed sigh of relief as the central government has started releasing development funds that had been held back for the last four years because the bodies were under administrators’ rule. The funds were approved by the Fifteenth Finance Commission from 2022–23 onwards, but had not been released.

In the last few days, the state government has released Rs 606 crore to Municipal Councils, Municipal Panchayats, Zilla Parishads and Panchayat Samitis whose elections were held in the last few months.

The Fifteenth Finance Commission, constituted in 2021–22 for a five-year term, will complete its tenure this year. The Finance Commission is mandated to determine the share of funds from the central pool to be allocated to various states and local bodies. These funds come from taxes and levies collected by the central government.

The funds approved by the Commission had remained stuck in the central treasury as they could not be allocated in the absence of elected bodies. The state, despite the tenure of almost all local and civic bodies having ended, could not hold elections due to controversies over OBC reservation and the powers related to the formation of electoral wards. It was only after a decision by the Supreme Court that the election process was set in motion.

Of the Rs 606.63 crore released in the last few days, Rs 182 crore is under the Million Plus Cities programme approved by the Finance Commission for 2024–25. The programme aims to improve infrastructure and environmental quality in urban agglomerations.

Another Rs 273 crore has been earmarked for cities to undertake drinking water schemes, including rainwater harvesting, recycling, and solid waste management projects. As many as 398 civic bodies, including Municipal Corporations and Municipal Councils, are beneficiaries of this central assistance.

An allocation of Rs 182 crore has been made for Zilla Parishads, Panchayat Samitis and Village Panchayats across the state. The funds are being released to 12 Zilla Parishads, 325 Panchayat Samitis and more than 350 Village Panchayats whose elections were held last month. These funds were sanctioned by the Finance Commission in 2022–23 but were released only now.

Crime

DRI Nagpur seizes 3.01 kg of amphetamine drug worth Rs 2.4 crore, arrests two from bus

Published

on

The DRI arrested two drug traffickers from a bus and seized 3.01 kg of amphetamine drug having an illicit market value of nearly Rs 2.4 crore in Nagpur, an official said on Friday.

The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), Nagpur Regional Unit of Mumbai Zone, claimed to have dismantled an inter-state drug trafficking syndicate through the operation.

The contraband was concealed in three ladies’ suits, which appeared to be unusually heavy, said the DRI Nagpur Regional Unit.

Acting on specific intelligence, officers of DRI Nagpur Regional Unit intercepted two passengers travelling by bus from Delhi to Bangalore, passing through Nagpur on October 28, 2026, on suspicion of carrying narcotic substances in their luggage, said a DRI statement.

The officers boarded the said bus at Bhagimari Toll Plaza on NH-47, Nagpur. They undertook a detailed examination of the passengers’ luggage, which revealed that three ladies’ suits appeared to be unusually heavy, it said.

On examination, white-coloured pouches concealed inside the suits were found to contain transparent polythene packets filled with a white crystalline substance, it said.

Field testing of representative samples, drawn separately from all three packets, gave a positive indication for the presence of amphetamine, the DRI said.

The three packets containing a total of 3.01 kg of amphetamine, with an illicit market value of approximately Rs 2.4 crore, were recovered from the two passengers and were subsequently seized under the relevant provisions of the NDPS Act, 1985, the DRI said.

The two passengers were arrested under the provisions of the NDPS Act, 1985 and were produced before the JFMC at Nagpur on September 29.

These sustained efforts against organised narcotics trafficking networks operating across state borders reflect the steadfast commitment of DRI towards combating drug trafficking and contributing to the Government of India’s vision of a “Nasha Mukt Bharat”, said the statement.

Continue Reading

Crime

ED searches 11 premises in Mumbai, Surat linked to international drug traffickers

Published

on

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) seized incriminating material and digital devices during searches across 11 premises in Mumbai and Navi Mumbai (Maharashtra) as well as Surat and Bhavnagar (Gujarat) linked to trace international drug trafficking network, an official said on Friday.

The ED’s Mumbai Zonal Office-L, conducted search operations on Wednesday, under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, against international narcotics syndicate led by Navin Chichkar, Dhiraj Chichkar, and their aides, the official said in a statement.

Searches were conducted to trace the modus through which drug sale proceeds received mainly in cash, infused in financial economy and further layered so as to project the same as legitimate income, the statement said.

The searches across 11 premises in Mumbai and Navi Mumbai (Maharashtra), as well as Surat and Bhavnagar (Gujarat) were intended to trace the drug trafficking network and proceeds of crime (PoC) generated through the illicit drug trade acquired by a well-established international narcotics syndicate, it added.

The ED investigation was initiated on the basis of a complaint filed by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) in Mumbai, under various provisions of the NDPS Act, following the seizure of substantial quantities of high-grade hydroponic cannabis (Ganja), cocaine and unaccounted cash in Mumbai/Navi Mumbai.

Navin Chichkar and others were allegedly involved in an established international network engaged in the sale of cocaine, hydroponic cannabis, LSD and cannabis edibles, largely sourced from outside India, the statement said.

During the searches, various incriminating material and digital devices, including high-end smartphones, laptops, and internal storage media, along with commercial books of accounts, financial ledgers, and investment records were seized, it added.

The searches revealed that proceeds generated from the sale of narcotic drugs were routed and cash was converted into foreign currencies, including US dollars and Thai Baht, which were subsequently made available to the accused, it said.

Moreover, proceeds of crime in cash were also invested in certain legitimate businesses so that the same is shown as untainted money, the statement said.

Searches were also conducted at the premises relating to “Crypto Trader(s)” which revealed details of certain “Crypto Wallets/Assets prima-facie linked to the proceeds of crime, the ED said.

It is gathered that the suspected persons was operating a number of Crypto trading accounts from outside India. The identified details are being examined to trace linked accounts, transaction histories, and to secure proceeds of crime, the ED said.

Continue Reading

Crime

Tiger Shroff firing case: 12th accused arrested from Sonipat, money trail under scanner

Published

on

The Mumbai Police have arrested another accused from Haryana’s Sonipat district in connection with the firing incident targeting Bollywood actor Tiger Shroff’s car, taking the total number of arrests in the case to 12, including nine people from Sonipat.

The latest accused, identified as Amar, was arrested from Rohna village in Sonipat. The arrest has further strengthened the Sonipat connection in the case, with investigators examining financial transactions and links between the accused.

According to the investigation, Amar is a friend and neighbour of Kunal, who was arrested earlier in the case. Police investigations have revealed that Kunal allegedly transferred Rs 40,000 to Amar’s bank account.

Amar subsequently transferred Rs 12,000 to Radha’s bank account, another accused arrested earlier, allegedly on Kunal’s instructions.

The Mumbai Police are now investigating these financial transactions to establish the purpose of the transfers and determine the connections between the accused. The money trail is being examined as part of the wider investigation into the firing incident.

Amar, who studied up to Class 10, works at a supplements shop. His parents reportedly earn their livelihood through daily-wage labour.

Following his arrest, the Mumbai Police produced Amar before a court and are preparing to take him to Mumbai on transit remand for further investigation.

Meanwhile, Amar’s family has claimed that he is innocent and alleged that he has been falsely implicated in the case.

With nine of the 12 arrested accused reportedly belonging to Sonipat, the district has emerged as a key focus of the Mumbai Police investigation.

The police are examining the financial dealings and personal connections among the accused to establish the sequence of events and identify the roles played by individual suspects.

Meanwhile, encrypted messaging platforms Signal and Zangi were allegedly used by the accused to communicate. Police officials are facing significant challenges in decoding these digital exchanges, as tracing conversations conducted over the past eight months is considered crucial to uncovering the alleged conspiracy.

Continue Reading

Trending