Kolsewadi Police have arrested two individuals, including a woman, for allegedly beating a four-year-old girl to death after she had two potty accidents within an hour. The accused have been identified as Prathmesh Kambri (23) and his wife, Aprana Prathmesh Kambri, both residents of Bhivpuri in Karjat, Raigad district.

Kidnapping Complaint Filed Against Accused

According to police, a kidnapping complaint was lodged on October 6, 2024, at Kolsewadi Police Station by Jyoti Satpute. She alleged that her four-year-old niece had been kidnapped by the accused, who are her father’s brother-in-law and sister-in-law.

Confession Reveals Cause of Death

The suspects were brought in for questioning, during which they reportedly confessed that Prathmesh had beaten the child to death due to her having two potty accidents within an hour. Following the murder, the couple allegedly wrapped the body in a gunny bag, covered it with a mattress, and dumped it in an isolated area.

Arrest Made Following Police Tip-Off

Based on a tip-off, police laid a trap and apprehended the accused on August 11 in Chinchwali village, Bhivpuri. They were produced before a court and remanded in police custody for further investigation.

Police Statement on the Investigation

DCP Atul Zende (Kalyan division) said, “The couple had been absconding since the FIR was lodged. They had stopped using their mobile phones, making it difficult to trace them. Acting on a tip-off, we arrested them. During the preliminary investigation, we learned that they had brought the child to their home in August to care for her. We have added murder charges to the FIR.”

Family Background and Custody Details

Police also confirmed that the girl’s father has been in jail for the past year in connection with a theft case in Ulhasnagar. After his arrest, he had sent his daughter to stay with his sister-in-law in Bhivpuri. When the complainant was unable to reach the Kambri couple despite a personal visit, she filed a kidnapping complaint.

On August 6, the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) reported daily revenue of ₹3.25 crore, one of its highest in months, following a May fare hike that doubled the minimum ticket price for both AC and non-AC buses. Officials hailed it as a step toward “sustainability,” citing not only higher collections but also “healthy” footfall.

Crowded Trains, Riskier Commutes After BEST Ridership Falls

Look past the balance sheet, however, and the picture shifts dramatically. Commuter rights groups estimate BEST’s daily ridership has fallen from roughly 3.5 million before the hike to about 2.5 million today, a loss of one million passengers in just three months. These commuters haven’t disappeared; they’ve been pushed onto already overcrowded local trains, where safety risks are mounting. A revenue spike that comes at the expense of passenger numbers is not sustainability, it’s a slow bleed of the very lifeblood that keeps a public transport system viable.

Mumbai once understood this. For decades, BEST operated as a cross-utility service, where surplus from electricity operations kept buses affordable, frequent, and extensive. The goal was mobility, not margin. Today, that ethos is slipping. Subcontracting to private operators has chipped away at service quality, while the fleet has shrunk under contractor mismanagement.

There is a proven, scalable way to do that: zero-fare bus travel for women. Far from being a “freebie,” such schemes, implemented in Delhi, Hyderabad, and Karnataka, have revived public transport, increased ridership, and strengthened economic participation.

Delhi’s Pink Ticket Programme Boosts Ridership and Inclusion

Delhi’s Pink Ticket programme, launched in 2019, has issued over 150 crore free rides. Women’s share of ridership has risen from 25% to over 33%, with daily beneficiaries reaching 11 lakh. Between 2019 and 2023, women’s ridership grew by 20%, easing crowding elsewhere, boosting workforce participation, and proving that zero fares can fortify rather than strain public finances. The cost is treated as a public investment. 

Hyderabad’s Mahalakshmi Scheme Shows Rapid, Sustained Growth

Hyderabad’s Mahalakshmi scheme, rolled out in late 2023, shows even sharper gains: 200 crore free journeys in under two years, women’s ridership jumping from 35% to 60%, daily passenger numbers surging from 45 lakh to 60 lakh, and bus occupancy rates soaring from 53% to 97%. State reimbursements of ₹335 crore a month have turned potential deficits into fuller buses, healthier route economics, and measurable reductions in private vehicle use.

Karnataka’s Shakti Scheme Revives Urban and Rural Routes

Karnataka’s Shakti scheme tells a similar story. By mid-2025, it had delivered nearly 500 crore free rides, lifting Bengaluru’s BMTC ridership to its highest levels since 2015. In Mysuru, women now account for three-quarters of daily passengers. The state’s ₹11,994 crore investment has paid off in greater labour force participation, sustained rural and semi-urban routes.

Why Mumbai Should Adopt a Zero-Fare Policy for Women

For Mumbai, the lesson is clear. A zero-fare policy for women could stem BEST’s passenger losses, expand access to jobs and education, and stabilise routes through higher occupancy. As these states show, the broader social and environmental returns, cleaner air, less congestion, greater economic inclusion far outweigh the direct subsidy cost. The real dividend lies in productivity, climate resilience, and social cohesion.

Sustainability Lies in Moving People, Not Just Making Money

If BEST is to survive, its success must be measured not by how much revenue it collects, but by how many people it moves, safely, affordably, and inclusively. And the fastest way to achieve that is to start with the women who keep Mumbai moving.

The Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) recorded a windfall this Raksha Bandhan, earning a staggering Rs 137.37 crore in just four days, thanks to an unprecedented surge in passenger turnout.

From August 8 to 11, nearly 1.93 crore passengers travelled on MSRTC buses across the state, including 88 lakh women passengers, as families reunited to celebrate the festival. The figures were revealed by Transport Minister and MSRTC Chairman Pratap Sarnaik on Tuesday.

MSRTC reported steady passenger revenue earnings over four consecutive days in August. On Thursday, August 8, the corporation earned Rs 30.06 crore. On Friday, August 9, it recorded Rs 34.86 crore. On Saturday, August 10, the revenue stood at Rs 33.36 crore, followed by a significant rise on Sunday, August 11, when earnings peaked at Rs 39.09 crore.

Highlighting the festival’s impact on travel, Minister Sarnaik stated that August 11 alone generated Rs 39.09 crore — the highest single-day revenue for the current financial year.

“Every year, Raksha Bandhan and Bhai Dooj (during Diwali) bring in significant revenue, as siblings travel across the state to celebrate together. This year was no different — the response was overwhelming,” said Sarnaik.

Sarnaik extended his gratitude to the people of Maharashtra for their continued faith in MSRTC’s services and applauded the dedication of staff members who worked through the festive weekend.

The minister also hinted at plans to build on this momentum by enhancing services during upcoming festive seasons.

“Our employees prioritised public service over personal celebrations. Their commitment is the backbone of this achievement,” he said. “This kind of response boosts the morale of our team and reinforces the trust passengers have in MSRTC.”