General
Mandaviya reviews preparedness of states against Covid
In view of recent Covid surge across many countries, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Friday virtually reviewed the public health preparedness for management of Covid-19 and Covid-19 vaccination progress with States Health Ministers.
Health Minister referred to the message of Prime Minister from the high level review meeting held yesterday and advised States to be on the alert and keep all preparedness for Covid-19 management.
“Centre and States need to work in tandem and in a collaborative spirit as was done during the previous surges for Covid-19 prevention and management,” Mandaviya told the state health ministers.
Union Minister of State for Health Dr Bharati Pravin Pawar and Dr V.K. Paul, Member (Health), NITI Aayog were also present in the virtual meeting.
Mandaviya urged the states to strengthen the surveillance system for whole genome sequencing of positive case samples to track the variants through Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG) network to ensure timely detection of newer variants, if any, circulating in the country.
Focus is to be given to health facility-based sentinel surveillance; pan-respiratory virus surveillance; community-based surveillance; and sewage/ wastewater surveillance.
Mandaviya said that irrespective of the new Covid variants, ‘Test-Track-Treat-Vaccinate & Adherence to Covid Appropriate Behaviour’ continue to remain the tested strategy for Covid management.
This would facilitate undertaking of appropriate public health measures, he said.
States/UTs were also requested to expeditiously increase the rate of testing from the current rate of 79 tests per million, as on week ending December 22. They were further advised to increase the share of RT-PCR in tests.
The Health Minister advised the states/UTs to ramp up vaccination of all eligible population, especially of the elderly and vulnerable population group.
He cautioned against spreading of misinformation by ensuring dissemination of factually correct information in a timely manner.
In view of the upcoming festive season, he stressed on the importance of public awareness campaigns regarding adherence to Covid Appropriate Behaviour.
Mandaviya requested the state health ministers to personally monitor and review the preparedness of all infrastructure and ensure there is adequate stock of essential medicines.
Puducherry Chief Minister N. Rangaswamy; Manik Saha, Chief Minister and Health Minister, Tripura; Manoj Sinha, Lt. Governor, Jammu & Kashmir; Parsadi Lal Meena, Health Minister (Rajasthan); Dhan Singh Rawat, Health Minister (Uttarakhand); Keshab Mahanta, Health Minister (Assam); K Sudhakar, Health Minister (Karnataka); Banna Gupta, Health Minister (Jharkhand); Prabhuram Choudhury, Health Minister (Madhya Pradesh); S Chetan Singh Jauramajra, Health Minister (Punjab); TS Singh Deo, Health Minister (Chhattisgarh); Sapam Ranjan Singh, Health Minister (Manipur); Anil Vij, Health Minister (Haryana); Thiru Ma Subramanian, Health Minister (Tamil Nadu); Vidadala Rajini, Health Minister (Andhra Pradesh); Veena George, Health Minister (Kerala); Chandrima Bhattacharya, Health Minister (West Bengal) and Manish Sisodia, Deputy Chief Minister (Delhi) joined the high-level review meeting here on Friday.
Maharashtra
Maharashtra drug racket exposed from MP police station, 4 arrested

Mumbai: Police Crime Branch has claimed to have busted a drug smuggling gang in Maharashtra from Madhya Pradesh MC and arrested four accused involved in it from MP. All four are accused of running a drug racket in Maharashtra. On November 3, Imran alias Babu Khan (38), Waqas Abdul Rab Khan (30), Taqdeen Rafiq Khan (30), Kamlesh Ajay Chavan (23) from Nowpara were reported to have supplied drugs from Madhya Pradesh and sold them in Maharashtra. After this, the police arrested all four and seized more than one kg of MD, which is said to be worth more than Rs 2 crore, from their possession. This was informed by the DCP Crime Branch Amar Singh Jadhav here. He said that a big drug racket has been busted and there is a possibility of more arrests.
Mumbai Press Exclusive News
Gautam Adani Meets Sharad Pawar at Family Wedding Ceremony; CM Fadnavis Also Present

Lonavala: Prominent industrialist Gautam Adani and senior Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Sharad Pawar once again shared the stage, drawing attention to their cordial relations. The two were seen together at the wedding ceremony of IPS officer Pravin Ramrao Pawar’s daughter and Prashant Nilawar’s son, held recently in Maharashtra.
The event was attended by several dignitaries, including Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, top bureaucrats, and political leaders from across parties.
The meeting between Adani and Pawar sparked interest in political circles, as both leaders were seen engaging in warm conversation and exchanging greetings. Their friendly interaction comes amid ongoing political developments in Maharashtra, where alliances and relations between leaders often draw public scrutiny.
Despite political differences, Sharad Pawar is known for maintaining cordial ties across the business and political spectrum. Similarly, Gautam Adani’s appearance at the event highlighted his personal and professional connections with several prominent figures in the state.
The ceremony remained a grand affair, marked by the presence of influential personalities, reflecting the strong social and political networks that connect Maharashtra’s top leadership.
Mumbai Press Exclusive News
Mumbai ACB Arrests Court Officer for ₹15 Lakh Bribe; Metropolitan Magistrate Eijazuddin Kazi Absconding

Mumbai, November: ( By Kamar Ansari)
In a major action against corruption in the judiciary, the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) Mumbai has arrested a Court Officer attached to the 14th Metropolitan Magistrate Court, Mazgaon, for allegedly accepting a bribe of ₹15,00,000, while the Metropolitan Magistrate, Eijazuddin Sallauddin Kazi, has gone absconding.
As per the official ACB release, the arrested accused has been identified as Shashikant Ramchandra Nayak (age 40), Court Officer, 14th Metropolitan Magistrate Court, Mazgaon, Mumbai, while the absconding accused is Eijazuddin Sallauddin Kazi (age 55), Metropolitan Magistrate, 14th Court, Mazgaon, Mumbai.
According to the ACB investigation, both accused had demanded ₹25,00,000 from a complainant, who is an advocate, in connection with a case pending before the Mazgaon Court since 2015. After negotiations, the demand was reduced to ₹15,00,000.
The complainant, unwilling to pay the bribe, approached the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) Mumbai and lodged a formal complaint.
After verifying the allegations, a trap was organized on November 10, 2024, at the 14th Metropolitan Magistrate Court, Mazgaon. During the operation, Court Officer Shashikant Ramchandra Nayak was caught red-handed while accepting ₹15,00,000 on behalf of Metropolitan Magistrate Eijazuddin Kazi.
The ACB seized the bribe amount at the spot, arrested Court Officer Nayak, and initiated further investigation. Magistrate Eijazuddin Kazi fled the location and is currently absconding.
An offence has been registered under Sections 7(a) and 12 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (as amended in 2018), for demanding and accepting a bribe by a public servant.
The investigation is being conducted under the supervision of Additional Commissioner of Police (Administration), ACB Mumbai, Ms. Nimisha Soni, assisted by Assistant Commissioner of Police Shailesh Sawant and Police Inspector Sunil Raje from ACB Mumbai Division.
The ACB has launched a manhunt to locate and arrest the absconding Metropolitan Magistrate Eijazuddin Sallauddin Kazi.
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