Connect with us
Sunday,20-September-2026
Breaking News

Maharashtra

Maharashtra economy collapsed due to institutional corruption: Shiv Sena(UBT) in ‘Saamana’

Published

on

Mumbai, July 15: In a blistering attack on the ruling dispensation, Shiv Sena(UBT) on Wednesday alleged that Maharashtra’s economy has completely collapsed due to unprecedented institutional corruption. Citing a recent report by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG), the editorial claimed that the ruling alliance orchestrated a “State Capture” by illegally siphoning off Rs 3,541 crore from the state exchequer through the Ladki Bahin Yojana to purchase votes ahead of the Assembly elections.

The party in an editorial in its mouthpiece, ‘Saamana’, said the government initially launched the flagship welfare scheme — promising Rs 1,500 per month to women — with a total outlay of Rs 14,000 crore distributed to 2.43 crore beneficiaries. However, the subsequent CAG audit revealed that 92 lakh beneficiaries were completely bogus or ineligible. Among these discrepancies, “About 62 lakh individuals had not completed mandatory e-KYC verifications. Further, 29,000 men and 8,000 government employees were illegally enrolled and drew funds from the scheme,” said the editorial.

It further asserted that while the government has now unceremoniously dropped these 92 lakh ineligible names after winning the elections, the money was intentionally channelled into these accounts right before the Model Code of Conduct took effect to secure victory.

Drawing parallels to the post-Soviet collapse in Eastern Europe — where politicians and oligarchs colluded to control the state apparatus for personal gain — the Thackeray camp classified this scam as a textbook case of State Capture. “Spending Rs 3,541 crore from the public treasury to systematically purchase 30 to 35 lakh votes is not ordinary corruption. It is the outright purchasing of a state by manipulating laws, tenders, and public policies for political survival,” it noted.

The editorial sharply criticised Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for crying foul and accusing the opposition of “defaming Maharashtra” whenever corruption is exposed. It noted that despite investigative reports exposing massive land scams linked to public figures, accountability remains completely absent.

The editorial has highlighted the stark double standard in how the state treats ordinary citizens versus political elites. It pointed out that while absconding businessmen like Vijay Mallya, Nirav Modi, Mehul Choksi, and Lalit Modi fled the country after defaulting on bank loans, poor farmers face immediate property seizures, and citizens have their electricity disconnected for missing simple bill payments. Yet, a government overseeing a Rs 3,541 crore fraud continues to rule with absolute impunity.

The Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena has demanded full financial accountability, stating that the responsibility does not end with merely purging bogus names from the recipient list. “Recover the stolen funds directly from the personal assets of the then-Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Ministers, the entire cabinet, and the senior bureaucrats (including the Chief Secretary, Finance Secretary, and Women & Child Development Secretary) who cleared the illegal payouts. Freeze and auction their personal movable and immovable properties to return the plundered money to the taxpayers,” it said.

The editorial pointed out a grim assessment of Maharashtra’s fiscal health amid rising public debt and depleting borrowing credibility. It flagged reports from the World Bank indicating a sharp decline in Maharashtra’s per capita income compared to other states.

By prioritising electoral bribes over fundamental governance, the editorial stated that the rulers have deprived legitimate distressed groups, including struggling farmers, students, widows, the underprivileged, and the disabled, of vital state aid. The Thackeray camp warned that such blatant financial indiscipline would permanently shatter the public’s trust in welfare schemes and social governance.

Maharashtra

BEST bus driver injured after head-on collision with private travel bus in Mumbai

Published

on

Mumbai, Sep 20: A BEST bus operating on Route 496 collided head-on with a private travel bus in Mumbai Mulund West early on Sunday, leaving its driver injured and triggering a minor fire in the vehicle.

The incident took place at around 5.50 a.m. in Mulund West, where ongoing Metro construction work on LBS Marg had restricted traffic movement to a single lane.

The BEST bus was travelling from SEEPZ towards Teen Hath Naka in Thane when it was involved in a collision with an oncoming private travel bus.

The impact of the head-on collision caused the steering wheel of the BEST bus to strike the abdomen of its driver, identified as 40-year-old Sandeep Namdev Karande.

He sustained injuries to his abdomen and right leg and also suffered heavy bleeding following the collision.

Soon after the impact, a minor fire broke out in the bonnet of the BEST bus, creating an additional emergency at the spot.

The conductor of the bus immediately responded by using the fire extinguisher available onboard and managed to douse the flames.

Following the accident, the conductor immediately arranged for the injured driver to receive medical attention, and Karande was rushed to the Agarwal Hospital in Mulund.

Authorities said that Karande was conscious and in a stable condition after being admitted to the hospital.

He was being treated for the injuries sustained in the collision.

Meanwhile, in a separate incident, three people were killed, and another was critically injured in a serious accident involving a high-end car on the Mumbai Coastal Road early on Sunday, officials said.

According to information received from the Coastal Road Control Room, the accident occurred at around 5.20 a.m. near Lotus Jetty, opposite Lala College.

The car was travelling from Marine Drive towards Haji Ali when the driver allegedly lost control of the vehicle, reportedly due to overspeeding.

Continue Reading

Maharashtra

8-year-old among two electrocuted to death near Ganpati Pandal in Mumbai Lalbaug

Published

on

Mumbai, Sep 20: A tragic incident marred the Ganesh festival celebrations in Mumbai Lalbaug area after an electric shock near the pandal left two people dead and four others injured early on Sunday, officials said.

An 8-year-old girl died in the incident, while four others sustained serious injuries. A second death was reported later, when officials said a woman at Global Hospital had also succumbed to her injuries.

According to preliminary information from the fire brigade, the incident occurred at around 2 a.m. on Sunday when devotees were present near the pandal.

Two boys and three girls, aged between 8 and 20, reportedly came into contact with the electrical current and suffered burn injuries.

Following the incident, all five victims were rushed to Masina Hospital in Byculla for treatment. Doctors declared the 8-year-old girl Raghni Ghanshyam Yadav dead upon arrival.

Kiran Akbar Naik, 19, Tanvi Narsh Hande, 19, Sahil Sandip Tare, 19, and Ruhi Singh, 12, were undergoing treatment for injuries sustained in the incident.

Meanwhile, a second victim, a woman who was admitted to Global Hospital in Parel, later succumbed to her injuries. Her identity was yet to be ascertained.

Among the injured, one girl was reportedly in critical condition and was shifted to Global Hospital in Parel for further treatment. The remaining three injured victims are undergoing treatment at Masina Hospital and have been admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU), where their condition remains serious.

The incident has cast a pall of gloom over the festive celebrations in the Kalachowki area.

Further details on the circumstances that led to the electrical current spreading are awaited.

Continue Reading

Maharashtra

Three killed after high-end car crashes on Mumbai Coastal Road

Published

on

Mumbai, Sep 20: Three people were killed, and another was critically injured in a serious accident involving a high-end car on the Mumbai Coastal Road early on Sunday, officials said.

According to information received from the Coastal Road Control Room, the accident occurred at around 5.20 a.m. near Lotus Jetty, opposite Lala College.

The car was travelling from Marine Drive towards Haji Ali when the driver allegedly lost control of the vehicle, reportedly due to overspeeding.

Following the accident, all four occupants of the car were rushed to Nair Hospital, where emergency medical teams assessed their condition.

According to an update issued by the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) of Nair Hospital at around 8.40 a.m., three of the occupants were declared brought dead by doctors.

Among those who died were a 21-year-old and a 17-year-old, while the identity and other details of the deceased were yet to be ascertained.

The fourth occupant, a 20-year-old male, sustained serious injuries in the accident and was admitted to the trauma ward of Nair Hospital. His condition was reported to be critical, according to the hospital authorities.

Further details regarding the identities of the deceased and the exact circumstances of the accident are awaited.

Police are investigating the case.

On September 3, several people were booked after Mumbai Police took cognisance of a viral video showing luxury and high-performance cars speeding and racing dangerously inside the Marine Drive-Southbound Coastal Road tunnel.

Meanwhile, earlier this week, three people were critically injured after a speeding off-road SUV (Sport Utility Vehicle) hit them near PKC Hospital in Vashi, Navi Mumbai.

The driver fled the spot after the crash instead of helping the injured.

The accused was booked under relevant sections; however, he was not arrested. Police issued him a notice under Section 35(3) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) and subsequently released him.

Continue Reading

Trending