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Maharashtra

Maharastra Assembly Elections 2024: Seat-Sharing Negotiations Between Maha Vikas Aghadi Allies Remain Logjammed For 28 Seats

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Maharastra Assembly Elections 2024: Seat-Sharing Negotiations Between Maha Vikas Aghadi Allies Remain Logjammed For 28 Seats

The seat-sharing talks between the allies of the Maha Vikas Aghadi on Thursday remained logjammed on the allocation of 28 seats. Though MVA sources claim its alliance partners have reached a consensus on 260 seats. Another round of talks will take place to resolve the impasse.

The seats where the MVA partners could not come to a conclusion include Ramtek, Chandrapur, Tumsar, Daryapur, Arjuni-Morgaon (all from Vidarbha), Sindkheda (north Maharashtra), and Parli, Gevrai, and Udgir (all from Marathwada).

The discussion over 4 or 5 seats in Mumbai could not take place due to the absence of leaders from the city, sources said. In total, the MVA discussion went on for over nine hours at a five-star hotel in the BandraKurla Complex.

Those participating included MPCC chief Nana Patole, his colleagues from the party Balasaheb Thorat, Vijav Wadettiwar, and Satej Patl, NCP SP state chief Jayant Patil and his colleagues Anil Deshmukh, Jitendra Awhad, and Rajesh Tope and Shiv Sena MPs Sanjay Raut and Anil Desai.

Deliberations could not be concluded due to differences between Congress and Shiv Sena leaders, sources said. Now, for seats where consensus has not been reached, discussions will be held with Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray and NCP leader Sharad Pawar to find a solution.

There was no discussion about any seats in Mumbai during this meeting because the committee responsible for discussing Mumbai was not present. Speaking to the media, former minister and NCP (SP) leader Anil Deshmukh mentioned that “discussions are still pending on 10 percent of the seats.

There will be another meeting today to finalise the seat distribution.” There was also discontent on the part of Abu Azmi, but reportedly, this was quieted by allocating him the Govandi and Bhiwandi seats. The Congress wants to contest 110-120 seats while the Shiv Sena (UBT) is aiming for 90-100, and NCP (SP) is looking at 80 seats. It was expected that the MVAS first candidate list would be announced on October 18.

However, Congress state president Nana Patole stated that complete seat distribution would be finalised by October 18-19. This means that the Maha Vikas Aghadi will definitely miss the October 18 deadline for releasing the first list. The main disagreements are on Mumbai and Vidarbha, which together account for 98 of the total 288 seats.

Both the Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT) have strong interests in these regions and are reluctant to compromise. In Mumbuai, the fight over key seats is not just about local politics but also reflects the changing dynamics after the Congress’s unexpected loss to the BJP in Haryana’s recent elections.

The deadlock is over eight crucial seats in Mumbai, including Byculla, Versova, Dharavi, Jogeshwari rast, and others. Joint press conference: “We have addressed problems such as faults and missing names from the voter list. We will take up these issues before the Election Commission at llam am on Friday. Later, we will address a joint press around 12pm.”

Maharashtra

Maharashtra Fraud: Raigad CGST Officials Bust ₹9 Crore Fake Input Tax Credit Racket; 2 Arrested In Panvel And Dombivli

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Mumbai: A team of officers of Anti-Evasion, CGST & Central Excise Raigad Commissionerate, Mumbai Zone have arrested two persons involved in generating and passing on fake input tax credit (ITC) of more than Rs 9 crore by creating fictitious firms and issuing invoices without actual supply of goods/services.

Fake ITC Passed Using Fictitious Firms, Say Raigad CGST Officials

Acting upon intelligence, the team identified the fake firms being operated by the accused to avail and pass on fake ITC. The accused firm availed ineligible credit passed on by non-existent firms registered based on forged documents.

No Actual Goods Supplied, Yet Invoices Issued

The accused firm was found non-operational at the registered principal place of business evidencing no goods received or supplied. Thus, the firm had fraudulently availed/ passed on ITC in violation of CGST Act, 2017.

Panvel and Dombivli Residents Nabbed for Tax Evasion

The investigation revealed that the Directors of the firm, a resident of New Panvel and a resident of Dombivli (W) were actively involved in the fraud of government revenue.

Two Arrested for ₹9 Crore GST Fraud in Maharashtra

Both were arrested under section 69(1) of CGST Act, 2017 for offences punishable under Section 132(1)(b)/132(1)(c) of CGST Act, 2017 and produced before the Judicial Magistrate First Class, Panvel. The Court has sent them to judicial custody.

Further investigation is in progress to identify other beneficiaries and operators of this fake invoice racket.

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Maharashtra

Good News For Mumbaikars! Now Book Mumbai Local Train Tickets Through WhatsApp; Ticketing Process Made Easier

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Mumbai: The Railways aims to improve the local ticketing system’s convenience and is exploring the possibility of launching a ticketing system via a chat-based app such as WhatsApp. Recently, a meeting took place with organisations that are interested in this matter. Officials mentioned that the tender process will be evaluated once all the details are finalised.

Within the framework of the Digital India initiative, the Indian Railways is emphasising on transforming the ticketing system through digital means. As a result, passengers are being offered fast tickets that are cashless. The shift to digital At present, 25 per cent of travellers are reserving tickets via digital methods, and its adoption is growing daily.

In addition to the current digital ticketing system, the Railways is working on a chat-based ticketing solution to enhance convenience in ticketing. Metro travellers favor using WhatsApp for ticket bookings in the metro. Upon scanning the QR code at the ticket window, a chat interface appears.

Upon sending a Hi message, you are presented with options for ticket booking, and afterward, digital tickets can be obtained upon making the payment. 67 percent of metro fares are being reserved in this manner. What difficulties are there? Several factors need to be addressed during the creation of the WhatsApp ticketing system.

Due to the current misuse of the QR-based ticketing system via UTS, caution must be exercised in developing the new system to avoid similar vulnerabilities. We aim to create a system that will be easy for the travelers. Several alternatives are under consideration for this, including the chat-based ticketing system, Vineet Abhishek, Chief Public Relations Officer.

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Crime

Mumbai Drug Bust: 24-Year-Old Arrested In Byculla With Mephedrone, Charas Worth ₹3.46 Crore In Car

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Mumbai: In a major anti-drug operation, the Mumbai Police arrested a 24-year-old man in the early hours of Wednesday and recovered a large quantity of narcotics valued at over Rs 3.46 crore. The accused, identified as Sahil Junaid Ansari, a resident of Bhiwandi in Thane district, was intercepted while driving through the Byculla area of South Mumbai.

Accused Found Driving Suspiciously In Byculla Area

The incident occurred around 4 am when a team of patrolling constables, Bhabad, Bhoye and Gangurde, spotted a Maruti Ertiga car moving suspiciously near Hume Church on B.A. Road. The team flagged down the vehicle and questioned the driver about his presence at that odd hour. Ansari, however, failed to give a satisfactory response, raising the officers’ suspicions.

Alerted by constable Bhabad, night duty in-charge Police Inspector Anup Dange immediately reached the location with PSI Kolekar, PSI Asade from the Anti-Terror Cell and other detection personnel.

Details On Drugs Found In Car

A detailed search of the vehicle was conducted, during which the police found 1,710 grams of Mephedrone, commonly known as MD, concealed inside. The street value of the seized MD is estimated at Rs 3.42 crore. Additionally, 17 grams of charas worth Rs 4.5 lakh were also recovered from the car.

Police officials confirmed that Ansari has been taken into custody and booked under relevant sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. The contraband was seized and sent for forensic examination.

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