Mumbai: With political controversy erupting over Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) selecting Bangladeshi fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman for the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season, AIMIM national spokesperson Waris Pathan pointed out that earlier the Indian government had permitted India–Pakistan cricket matches despite strained relations. “When it comes to cricket, how does it matter who supports what?” Pathan said

Though Pathan condemned the atrocities against Hindus in Bangladesh, he added that earlier India suffered greatly due to terrorism, yet matches were still played for commercial reasons.

“We had objected to it because Pakistan has been the biggest propagator of terrorism, and India has greatly suffered because of it… In Pahalgam, they came and killed innocent tourists in the name of religion. India still played a match against Pakistan for money.”

Speaking of his stand on the current KKR selecting Bangladeshi player, Pathan said, “I reject money that puts my country’s pride and dignity into question.”

Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Nirupam urged actor and KKR co-owner Shah Rukh Khan to reconsider the decision, arguing that removing the Bangladeshi player would be “for his own good” and in the interest of the country.

He claimed that with public anger directed at Bangladesh over recent developments, any association with Bangladeshi nationals could provoke backlash.

“When the entire country is enraged and angry at Bangladesh, anyone in India who has even the slightest connection to Bangladeshis could become a target of that anger,” he added.

India and Bangladesh share long-standing diplomatic, cultural and economic ties, with cooperation across trade, connectivity, and security. However, the relationship has seen periods of strain in recent times due to political developments and security concerns in the region. There have been instances of violence against Hindus in the country in recent times.

With the BMC elections nearing, the Mumbai North Central District Forum (MNCDF) has released a Citizen Charter aimed at candidates contesting the polls. The charter outlines a 30-point roadmap demanding a decisive shift from “PR gimmicks” to a transparent, technology-driven and accountable civic administration.

A key demand is a complete overhaul of the BMC’s social media-based grievance mechanism. The forum insisted that existing PR agency agreements be reworked to include time-bound resolutions and independent citizen oversight, alleging that earlier contracts diluted accountability.

The charter proposed the creation of a secure, multilingual portal to allow anonymous whistleblower complaints, along with mandatory monthly review meetings at the BMC headquarters. To ensure effectiveness, it called for annual independent audits of grievance redressal systems across all civic departments.

A significant portion of the charter focused on “pedestrian-first” urban planning. Key demands included the creation of dedicated pedestrian zones, implementation of universal accessibility standards, and high-visibility road markings across the city.

Taking a strong stand on encroachments, the forum called for criminal action against illegal hawkers and the relocation of “Aarey milk centres,” alleging that many have been converted into illegal food stalls. It also suggested mandating joint meetings between resident welfare associations and utility departments before any road is concretised, to address recurring road damage.

In the healthcare sector, the MNCDF demanded mandatory annual hygiene and staffing audits in civic hospitals, along with the establishment of mental health counselling centres. Environmental recommendations included real-time, ward-wise air quality index (AQI) monitoring and strict enforcement of noise mitigation norms at construction sites.

Trivankumar Karnani, founder of the MNCDF Citizen Welfare Forum, said the charter reflected collective public demands. “This Citizen Charter is not just a list of demands; it is the collective voice of Mumbai’s citizens insisting on dignity, safety and accountability in civic governance. We call upon every candidate in the upcoming BMC elections to endorse these commitments and prove that public service is about responsibility, not rhetoric,” he said.

Mumbai: Ramakant Gore, 45, a resident of Khar West who works as a recovery agent with a reputed bank, was shocked after receiving notices in the names of his wife and daughter from the Karnataka GST department, demanding payment of outstanding dues amounting to Rs. 47.36 lakh. The Gore family claims they have never conducted any business in Karnataka and suspects that their PAN card details were misused to register fake firms. Following a complaint, the Khar police registered an FIR on December 31.

According to the FIR, a GST arrears notice dated January 19, 2024, was received in the name of the complainant’s wife, Savita Gore, under the firm name M/s Gore Traders. Subsequently, on February 26, 2024, action was initiated against her SBI bank account due to the pending dues, leading to the freezing of her fixed deposit of Rs.6 lakh along with the remaining account balance. After the Gore family approached the Karnataka GST office, the account was later defrozen.

However, in September 2024, another notice was received in the names of M/s Vasant Traders and M/s Gore Traders. The notice bore Savita Gore’s purported signature, following which the account was once again frozen by the Karnataka GST department. In November 2025, the bank account of their daughter, Dhanashree Gore, was also frozen, and in December 2025, the family received a summons from the Income Tax Department. The Gore family has since submitted all relevant documents to the Income Tax authorities.

The family has alleged that neither they nor any of their family members have ever started or operated any business under the names Gore Traders or Vasant Traders. They claim that unknown persons misused their PAN card details to fraudulently register fake companies in Bengaluru. The family stated that they are undergoing severe financial and mental distress due to the incident and have demanded a thorough investigation and strict action against those responsible.

Based on the complaint, the Khar police have registered an FIR against an unidentified person under Section 318(4) (cheating) and other relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), along with sections of the Information Technology Act.