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Maharashtra

Maharashtra Govt Restricts Authority Of State Agencies; CM’s Panel To Clear Projects Over ₹500 Crore

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Mumbai: In a significant move, the state government has issued an order restricting the authority of all state departments, enterprises and semi-government bodies from independently approving projects exceeding Rs 500 crore. This directive effectively curtails the powers of key agencies like MMRDA, CIDCO, MHADA, SRA and MahaHousing.

CM’s Panel To Take Call On Projects Over ₹500 Cr

Issued by the Finance and planning department under Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, the order mandates that any project with an estimated cost of Rs 500 crore or more must now be submitted to the Cabinet Committee on Infrastructure, chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, for approval.

Trouble Expected For Shinde Sena

This move delivers another blow to the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, already reeling from a series of controversies involving its leaders. With key departments under its control, the party now faces added challenges, as they will no longer be able to independently approve big-ticket projects – tightening the government’s grip on crucial decision-making.

While the MMRDA and CIDCO come under the urban development department, the MHADA, SRA and MahaHousing come under the housing department. Both departments are headed by Shinde.

Details On Cabinet Committee On Infra

The cabinet committee on infrastructure, headed by the CM, comprises six members and the other members are Shinde and Dy CM Ajit Pawar, revenue minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule, medical education minister Hasan Mushrif and industries minister Uday Samant.

The planning department order also says the chief secretary, instead of the planning department secretary, will be the secretary of the committee, who will move the proposals, which were earlier done by the planning secretary. Besides, the secretaries from the finance department and the law and judiciary department will be the permanent invitees. This will facilitates intense scrutiny by finance and planning department.

According to sources in the government, the decision was taken given the precarious condition of the state finances. The projected debt burden by the end of the current financial year is Rs 9.5 lakh crore, and the government is spending over Rs 1.5 lakh crore on repayment of the loan and the interest amount.

The Shinde-led Shiv Sena is facing a series of controversies related to social Justice minister Sanjay Shirsat. A few days back, a video clip became viral in which the Horticulture Minister Bharat Gogawale was shown participating in occult practices, performing hom-havan. Sandipan Bhumre, Lok Sabha Member from Aurangabad (Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar) has been in the news over speedy approvals for liquor permits held by his family members and close relatives.

Speculations Around Shinde’s Delhi Tour

Shinde’s Delhi tour on Thursday was said to be in connection with the controversies and the attempts to create trouble for him. Another reason being cited was his reported meeting over the scheduled hearing in the Supreme Court hearing on July 14 over recognition of his group as the real party and symbol – bow and arrow.

Maharashtra

Mumbai Local Train Update: Mega, Jumbo Blocks Announced On Western & Transharbour Lines On March 15; Check Time & Route Here

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Mumbai: Multiple railway blocks will be carried out across the Mumbai suburban network this weekend on Western Railway and Central Railway to facilitate operational and maintenance work, which will disrupt several suburban and long-distance train services.

Western Railway will undertake a jumbo block on the UP and DOWN fast lines between Borivali and Bhayandar and a major block on all lines at Prabhadevi station during the night of Sunday, March 15, 2026 to carry out operational work and de-launching of a girder of the Prabhadevi Road Over Bridge.

The block between Borivali and Bhayandar will be carried out from 12:15 am to 3:45 am, while the major block at Prabhadevi station will be undertaken from 1:30 am to 6:00 am.

During the Borivali–Bhayandar block, all fast line trains will run on the slow line between Virar/Vasai Road and Borivali.

Meanwhile, during the block at Prabhadevi station, some suburban services will be cancelled, short-terminated, or reversed from Dadar and Bandra.

In addition, no suburban train services will run between Churchgate and Prabhadevi, and trains will also remain unavailable at Matunga Road and Mahim stations during the block period.

Due to the block, several Mail and Express trains will be regulated or rescheduled between Surat and Virar.

Western Railway has clarified that no daytime block will be taken on the suburban section on Sunday, March 15.

Meanwhile, Central Railway has announced a mega block on the Transharbour line on Sunday between Thane and Vashi/Nerul for maintenance work of railway tracks and signals.

The block will remain in effect from 11:10 am to 4:10 pm, during which all up and down local train services between Thane and Vashi/Nerul and between Thane and Panvel will remain cancelled.

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Crime

Navi Mumbai: Crime Branch Nab Trio In Swift ₹36 Lakh Jewelry Heist

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Thane: Three persons have been arrested for allegedly breaking into a house and decamping with gold and silver jewellery worth Rs 36 lakh in Navi Mumbai, police said on Saturday.

The crime branch made the arrests on March 10 within 24 hours of the burglary that occurred at a residential building in the Kalamboli area, an official said.

According to the police, the accused broke into the flat on the evening of March 9 and stole gold and silver ornaments and cash worth about Rs 36 lakh.

A case of theft and break-in was registered, and following investigation, the crime branch zeroed in on the trio and apprehended them from Daighar village in Thane district, the official said.

The accused, Pawan Rohidas Jadhav (25), Sumit Rohidas Jadhav (22), and Shivaji Jagan Rathod (23), were caught with the stolen valuables, he said.

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Crime

ED Arrests 2 In ₹300 Crore Digital Investment Scam; Duo Remanded To Custody

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Mumbai: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has arrested two persons for allegedly cheating investors in Gujarat and Maharashtra of around Rs 300 crore through digital investment schemes and laundering the proceeds. A court has remanded the accused Sudhir Kotadiya, 33, and his cousin, Umang Kotadiya, 27, from Amreli to ED custody till March 20.

The money laundering case was registered based on an FIR initially filed at the Vartak Nagar police station in Thane and later transferred to the Economic Offences Wing (EOW).

Investigators allege the accused operated a large-scale digital investment scheme through several entities, including Qfonn App Limited, Qfon Connect India LLP, Qfon Entertainment Pvt Ltd, and Qfon Ajobman India LLP, among other related firms.

ED prosecutor Arvind Aghav, seeking their custody, told the court that the accused had been absconding, prompting authorities to issue a look-out circular.

He said the duo fled to Dubai and later re-entered India via Nepal to evade legal action before being traced and arrested in Gujarat.

According to investigators, the accused lured people to invest by promising monthly returns ranging from 2% to 10.5%, claiming the income would be generated through online advertisement viewing and app-based digital activities.

The probe found that funds from new investors were used to pay returns to earlier investors, while a significant portion was allegedly siphoned off.

One investor who had put in Rs 183 crore provided details of about 60 companies, entities and individuals whose bank accounts were allegedly used to collect nearly Rs 55 crore on the instructions of the accused.

The ED claims Sudhir Kotadiya was the mastermind behind the Qfonn app-based Ponzi scheme and held 25% shares in Qfonn App Limited, with another 25% held by his wife, Ranjanben Kotadiya, while the remaining shares were with other family members.

Umang Kotadiya allegedly handled operations, serving as director or partner in multiple Qfon group entities and acting as an authorised signatory for several bank accounts linked to the scheme.

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