Maharashtra
Maharashtra Government Form Committee To Explore Revenue Through Liquor, Cigarette Sales Amid Fund Issues

State governments, when drowning in debt, have no option but to tweak the excise policy on sin goods like cigarettes and liguor. Maharashtra may be no exception to the norm.
With its income sources already stretched thin, the cash-strapped Mahayuti government has decided to pop open a bottle of opportunity—appointing a five-member committee to explore liquor production and sales as a new revenue stream.
The committee, chaired by the additional secretary for the housing department, Appoints Committee to Study Liquor Policies for Revenue e Generation brings together a medley of bureaucrats: the additional chief secretaries from finance and state excise, the commissioner of state GST, and the member secretary, the state excise commissioner.
Together, they’ll be tasked with reviewing policies on liquor production, sales licenses, excise duties, and, crucially, revenue-maximizing practices adopted by other states, Expect a menu of recommendations on how to spice up state coffers. The committee’s. main course? A proposal already served up by the state excise commissioner, aimed at increasing annual income through liquor production and sales.
The plan? Crack down on illegal liquor sales and serve up more licenses for retail outlets. If this proposal is uncorked, it could boost the state’s revenue while also tidying up the department’ existing operations. ‘Why the sudden thirst for extra revenue, you ask? Blame the evergrowing list of populist promises made ahead of the state elections, which now need to be fulfilled. Take the Ladki Bahin scheme, for example—it demands a whopping Rs 46,000 crore annually.
Add to that loan waivers for farmers and covering electricity bills for agriculture pump sets, and you’ve got a recipe for fiscal trouble. To top it off, the state needs an extra Rs 600 crore to hike the Ladki Bahin disbursement from Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,100. Then there’s the debt. With loans soon expected to touch Rs 8 lakh crore, the state needs a sugar rush of revenue to keep things running smoothly. Aside from GST, Maharashtra relies heavily on VAT from petrol and diesel, stamp duties, vehicle taxes, and—of course—excise revenues. And so, the state is eyeing liquor sales as a cash cow.
But here’s the rub: the state’s current policy freezes the number of retail liquor licenses, a decision made back in 1974. With Maharashtra’s population growing and new urban areas cropping up, the demand for wine shops and country liquor outlets is higher than ever. The state excise department believes it’s high time to revisit this policy. Currently, there are 1,720 licenses for Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) and 4,346 for country liquor, not including those granted to restaurants with permit rooms. As population booms and urbanization spreads, the excise department is suggesting that the state loosen its grip on liquor licenses and let more outlets sprout up, bringing in fresh revenue while reducing the black market’s grip.
So, is the state taking the path of least resistance, or is it simply opening a new bottle of opportunity? Only time (and the committee’s recommendations) will tell—but it seems like Maharashtra is preparing to raise a glass to new ways of keeping the state’s finances in the black.
Crime
Mumbai: 4-Year-Old Girl With Mental Health Condition Dies After Accidentally Falling Into Water Bucket In Malad East

Mumbai: A four-year-old girl tragically died after accidentally falling headfirst into a water-filled bucket at her home in Malad East. The incident occurred on August 19, when her family was collecting water during the limited supply hours. She was rushed to a nearby hospital, where doctors declared her dead. The Dindoshi police have registered a case of accidental death.
Police Note Child Had Mental Health Condition
The deceased, identified as Akriti Yadav, lived with her parents and two siblings in Rajiv Gandhi Nagar, Malad East. Her parents work as daily wage labourers. According to the police, Akriti had a mental health condition.
On the morning of the incident, Akriti’s parents and relatives woke up early to store water in buckets, tubs and drums. Sometime later, Akriti woke up, walked towards one of the buckets, and accidentally toppled in headfirst. A family member noticed her legs protruding from the bucket and immediately raised an alarm.
Maharashtra
Tejashwi Yadav In Legal Trouble! FIR Filed Against RJD Leader In Maharashtra’s Gadchiroli Over ‘Defamatory’ Remarks On PM Modi

Gadchiroli (Maharashtra): The Maharashtra Police registered a case against former Bihar Deputy Chief Minister and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav for allegedly posting defamatory and socially divisive remarks about Prime Minister Narendra Modi on social media. The First Information Report (FIR) was filed at Gadchiroli police station on Friday following a complaint by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Milind Ramji Narote.
Tejashwi’s Controversial Post Alleging PM Modi Is A Liar
Narote, who represents the Gadchiroli Assembly constituency, stated in his complaint that some party workers drew his attention to certain posts on Yadav’s official X account (@yadavtejashwi). According to him, the posts accused Prime Minister Modi of being a ‘liar’ and making false promises. The complaint further mentioned that one of the posts included a song ridiculing the Prime Minister, with lyrics claiming he ‘lies morning and evening.’
The BJP legislator said he personally verified the posts before approaching the police. He alleged that Yadav’s remarks were not only defamatory but also derogatory and socially divisive. “Such propaganda has caused resentment among sensible citizens of Gadchiroli and is aimed at disturbing peace and harmony,” the MLA said in his statement. Narote also accused Yadav of repeatedly making such comments on social media, arguing that the conduct amounted to a criminal act. To support his claims, he submitted screenshots of the posts as evidence.
Based on the complaint, police booked Yadav under several provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). These include Section 196(1)(a), which pertains to the use of words, signs, or digital communication that promote hatred or ill-will, and Section 196(1)(b), which covers acts prejudicial to the maintenance of harmony.
He was also charged under Section 356(2), relating to derogatory statements against the government intended to cause public mischief, and Section 356(3), which deals with repeated instances of such remarks. Additionally, Sections 352 and 353(2) were invoked, concerning attempts to spread disharmony or hatred through speech, writing or digital media. While police have confirmed that the FIR has been lodged, there has been no immediate reaction from Tejashwi Yadav or his party, the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD).
Crime
Palghar Fraud: Nalasopara Gym Trainer, Wife Booked For Duping Mumbai Cosmetics Shop Owner Of Over ₹1.27 Crore In Investment Scam

Palghar, Maharashtra: The Tulinj Police have registered a case against a gym trainer and his wife from Nalasopara for allegedly duping a Mumbai-based cosmetics shop owner of over ₹1.27 crore under the pretext of a profitable gym business investment.
Victim Details and Investment
According to police, the complainant, Ashokkaraman Van (28), originally from Gujarat and currently residing in Elphinstone, Mumbai, stated that in 2022 he and his friend Valjibhai Ravariya were persuaded by Abhishek Singh, a fitness trainer, and his wife Poonam Shukla to invest in a new gym project at Sitaram Complex, Santosh Bhavan, Nalasopara (East), Palghar district.
The couple allegedly promised high returns and assured them that the investment would be safe. Convinced by the assurances, Van invested ₹1,27,63,000 into the venture. However, despite repeated follow-ups, neither profits nor the principal amount were returned.
FIR Filed for Cheating and Criminal Breach of Trust
Realizing that they had been cheated, the complainant approached police, leading to the registration of an FIR under sections 316(2), 316(5), 31(8)(4), and 3(5) of the Indian Penal Code, pertaining to criminal breach of trust and cheating.
Investigation Underway
Police confirmed that no arrests have been made so far. The case is under investigation by Inspector Anand Pednekar of Tulinj Police Station.
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