Mumbai: A father–son real estate duo and their construction company have been booked by the Andheri Police for allegedly cheating nearly 18 investors of ₹31.26 crore by promising 18% annual returns on investments in a redevelopment project.

A case has been registered against M/s Ranbir Real Estate & Developers and its directors, Jaykumar Gupta and Suyash Gupta. The complainant, Mahesh Doshi, a pharmacy businessman from Vapi, Gujarat, had been searching for lucrative investment opportunities. In March 2021, through a mediator, he was introduced to the company, which claimed to be executing a redevelopment project in Jogeshwari East.

On March 19, 2021, Doshi and his family met Jaykumar and Suyash Gupta at their Andheri East office. The directors presented project details and documents, claiming the project required urgent funding and assuring a fixed return of 18% interest per annum.

Convinced, Doshi and his relatives transferred ₹8.26 crore to the firm’s account via RTGS in April 2021. The company paid interest—after deducting TDS—from 2021 until September 2024, after which the Guptas abruptly stopped payments and allegedly began avoiding repayment of the principal amount as well.

According to the FIR, Doshi later discovered that the Guptas had similarly taken large sums from 17 other investors, including one Kirit Desai and his family, and had allegedly cheated them as well. In total, the duo is believed to have defrauded 18 investors of ₹31.26 crore.

Following the complaint, the Andheri Police registered a case against M/s Ranbir Real Estate & Developers, Jaykumar Gupta and Suyash Gupta under IPC Sections 406 (criminal breach of trust), 420 (cheating) and 34 (common intention). The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) has begun further investigation.

Mumbai: The Mahayuti government sought to clear the air over its submission of a flood relief proposal to the central government, after opposition leaders raised objections citing a Lok Sabha reply.

A political storm erupted after Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Omraje Nimbalkar alleged that the state had failed to submit a detailed report to the Centre for financial assistance. NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar supported the claim, pointing to a report submitted on November 27.

Responding to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’s clarification that Parliament questions are compiled 30–35 days in advance, Pawar argued that the Centre’s reply included details only up to November 26.

Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule released an official communication stating that the state government had indeed submitted a detailed flood loss assessment report to the Centre.

The memorandum submitted to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) details damages from heavy monsoon rains across Maharashtra, including Marathwada, Vidarbha, Konkan, and Western Maharashtra.

The letter outlines losses to crops, livestock, homes, infrastructure, and transportation, along with displacement and loss of life, and is signed by Principal Secretary Vinita Vaid Singal of the Department of Relief and Rehabilitation.

The state government has announced a relief package exceeding ₹31,000 crore, with ₹11,000 crore to be directly credited to affected farmers’ bank accounts. Minister Bawankule added that Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan confirmed the Centre had received Maharashtra’s proposal on time.

Mumbai: Mumbai woke to a crisp, pleasant Thursday morning marked by clear blue skies, cool winds and a gentle winter nip. However, a thick blanket of smog clung to the city, reducing visibility and signalling a sharp rise in pollution levels. Despite the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasting clear skies and temperatures between 19°C and 34°C, the deteriorating air quality overshadowed the otherwise ideal winter conditions.

The spike in pollution comes amid Mumbai’s ongoing construction boom. Dust from private real estate projects and large-scale government works, metro corridors, bridges and road-widening projects continues to fuel high concentrations of suspended particulate matter. As infrastructure deadlines accelerate, so has the struggle to keep the city’s air breathable.

By today morning, AQI.in recorded Mumbai’s overall Air Quality Index (AQI) at 258, placing it firmly in the ‘unhealthy’ category. The jump was major compared to the more manageable levels observed earlier last month. Residents across several areas reported the familiar effects of elevated PM2.5 exposure: burning eyes, throat irritation, headaches and a distinct, acrid smell in the air. From high vantage points, the city’s skyline looked washed out and distant, mirroring the widespread impact of the pollution surge.

Several pockets emerged as pollution hotspots. Wadala Truck Terminal led with a startling AQI of 376, classified as severe. Chembur followed at 328 and Deonar at 315, continuing their trend of high industrial emissions. Business districts such as BKC (302) and coastal areas like Colaba (300) also hovered near severe levels, reflecting the combined impact of traffic congestion, commercial activity and coastal humidity trapping pollutants.

Even suburban areas, though relatively better, remained affected. Charkop recorded an AQI of 107 and Govandi 183, both in the poor range. Other zones such as Bhandup West (217), Parel–Bhoiwada (230) and Malad West (233) stayed firmly in the unhealthy bracket. While the severity varied across areas, a greyish haze persisted across most of Mumbai, making the pollution problem unmistakably citywide.

For context, AQI between 0–50 is considered Good, 51–100 Moderate, 101–150 Poor, 151–200 Unhealthy, and anything above 200 falls into the Hazardous zone. With multiple localities crossing into severe levels, Mumbai’s air quality crisis continues to overshadow the season’s pleasant chill, leaving residents concerned about the long winter ahead.