Mumbai: Following the Maharashtra Government’s decision to crack down on unauthorised bike taxi and app-based transport services operating across the state, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Priyanka Chaturvedi launched a sharp attack on the Mahayuti government, accusing it of hypocrisy over public transport policies and the handling of aggregator platforms such as Ola, Uber and Rapido.

Taking to X, Chaturvedi criticised the state government’s move to initiate strict action against bike taxi operators while Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been urging citizens to rely more on public transport and reduce fuel consumption amid ongoing global economic uncertainties.

In her post, Chaturvedi said that on one hand, the Prime Minister is appealing to people to use public transport, while on the other, the Maharashtra Government is allegedly trying to shut down available commuting options for citizens. She further claimed that commuters in the state are already dealing with reducing BEST bus services, deteriorating interstate transport buses and overcrowded transit infrastructure, and are now witnessing app-based services being labelled as illegal.

The Shiv Sena (UBT) leader also took a swipe at Maharashtra Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik, alleging inconsistency in the government’s stand on Rapido operations in the state. Referring to an earlier controversy surrounding bike taxi services, Chaturvedi claimed that Rapido had previously been banned by the same minister, but the decision was allegedly withdrawn after the company sponsored his Dahi Handi event.

The remarks come after the Maharashtra Transport Department intensified its stand against unauthorised bike taxi operations functioning without formal approval in the state. Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik has reportedly written to the cyber crime department seeking immediate action against app-based bike taxi platforms including Ola, Uber and Rapido.

The tweet comes in after the transport department demanded the shutdown of unauthorised bike taxi app services and the registration of FIRs against the owners and operators of the respective companies. The Transport Commissioner has also separately written to the cyber crime department regarding the matter.

The state government has maintained that several passenger transport services are operating without valid permissions, licences or compliance with transport department regulations. Authorities have raised concerns that the increasing presence of unauthorised bike taxi operators poses a serious risk from the perspective of commuter safety and regulatory oversight.

The issue has once again triggered a wider political debate over urban mobility, public transport infrastructure and the role of app-based transport aggregators in cities like Mumbai, where lakhs of commuters rely daily on affordable last-mile connectivity options.

Mumbai: The officers of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) arrested two persons for allegedly attempting to smuggle diamonds worth Rs 5.70 crore to Bangkok.

Those arrested have been identified as Tamil Nadu residents Imthiyas Mohamed Marsuk (28) and Saibu Alikhan Sheik (31).

According to DRI sources, specific intelligence was received that two passengers, Imthiyas Mohamed Marsuk and Saibu Alikhan Sheik, flying from Mumbai to Bangkok on Monday, would attempt to smuggle a huge quantity of diamonds out of India. They were intercepted near the departure gate.

They informed the officials that they had concealed some packages in their body. During the X-ray of the passengers, some images were seen which confirmed the concealment of some egg-shaped items in their body. After that, the passengers were asked to remove the packages from their body, which they obliged and removed one by one from their rectum.

Total four egg-shaped capsules were recovered from the passengers and, on further questioning by the officers, both passengers stated that the packages contained precious stones and diamonds.

They further informed that no declaration had been made to Customs regarding the said stones purported to be diamonds and that they were not carrying any valid documents relating to their purchase, possession, and export permission.

The said capsules were carefully cut, and 20 transparent pouches with different markings containing transparent glass-like stones purported to be diamonds were found in the said 20 pouches.

“Both the passengers claimed that the said diamonds were handed over by one unknown person in Mumbai (at the behest of the mastermind) for transportation to Bangkok in lieu of Rs 15,000 each. They admitted to being part of the same smuggling syndicate as carriers,” said a DRI source.

“In the ongoing investigation, more pieces of evidence are being gathered, and the same need to be investigated. Other key members of the syndicate are yet to be apprehended, and all-out efforts are being made in this regard. Further, sources for the purchase of the diamonds are yet to be investigated. The ongoing investigation is crucial to dismantling this international smuggling network and we are gathering additional evidence to identify and apprehend other key members of the syndicate, which could have far-reaching implications for international security and economic stability,” the officer added.

Mumbai: The Powai police have arrested two men from Pimpri-Chinchwad and Beed district for their alleged involvement in a fake hotel and resort booking scam in which a 53-year-old Powai resident was cheated of Rs 12,000 while attempting to book a resort in Karjat in January.

The police said that the accused were identified as Kunal Gaikwad (21), a college dropout from Pimpri-Chinchwad, and Datta Kedar (23), a graduate from Beed.

According to police, the duo provided their bank account and SIM card to the cyber fraud racket, which used them to carry out the scam. Gaikwad was arrested on May 5, while Kedar was arrested on March 25.

Police said the complainant, who works in the Merchant Navy, came across a fake website of Urivergate Resort while searching online for accommodation.

After contacting the number listed on the website, he was asked to pay an advance of Rs 12,000 for booking two rooms. The accused allegedly sent a Google Pay QR code through WhatsApp, and the amount was transferred to an account linked to “Kunal Confectionery.”

Investigators tracked the QR code, SIM details and bank account to trace the accused. Police said two more persons involved in the racket are absconding. Both arrested accused are in judicial custody after their bail pleas were rejected.