Politics
MMRDA mulls building 2 link roads over Thane creek connecting city & Bhiwandi
The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) is working to build a network of alternate routes so that commuters travelling from Mumbai to Nashik, Bhiwandi and Gujarat can avoid severely congested Majiwada and Fountain Hotel junctions.
Reportedly, a network of bridges over Thane creek will be connecting Gaimukh and Kasarwadavli areas with Paygaon and Kharbao in Bhiwandi. Concurrently, the roads connecting Ghodbunder road in Thane could be connected to Chincoli Anjur Phata Road in Bhiwandi which could further be linked with Nashik and Western Express Highways which will give alternative routes for long-distance as well as local commuters.
A report in Times of India quoted chief of MMRDA, SVR Srinivas, as saying that the organisation has approved feasibility study for construction of two new roads and creek bridges which will link Thane’s Gaimukh and Kasarwadavli areas with Bhiwandi suburbs. Following the study, the road alignment will be decided upon; initial estimates place the cost of the links around Rs. 1,000 crore, he said.
MMRDA, SVR Srinivas, as saying that the organisation has approved feasibility study for construction of two new roads and creek bridges which will link Thane’s Gaimukh and Kasarwadavli areas with Bhiwandi suburbs. Following the study, the road alignment will be decided upon; initial estimates place the cost of the links around Rs. 1,000 crore, he said.
Srinivas said that the projects are urgently needed and thus MMRDA has already begun the process.
Currently, the drivers wanting to travel between Mumbai and Nashik, Bhiwandi or Gujarat have to use the Nashik Highway or Ghodbunder road which increases travel time due to traffic congestion and Majiwada and Fountain Hotel junctions.
The creek, whose banks are just a kilometer apart, divides Thane and Bhiwandi suburbs. Officials said that connecting the two will offer other routes for traffic heading from Gujarat, Vasai and Virar to eastern suburbs of the city, Thane and Navi Mumbai as well as for traffic headed to Nashik, Bhiwandi from western suburbs.
Maharashtra
Mumbai: PWD Employee Dies After Tree Branch Falls On Him At Maharashtra DGP Office; Probe Underway

Mumbai: A tragic accident occurred at the Maharashtra Director General of Police (DGP) office when a tree branch fell on Public Works Department (PWD) employee Anil Gore.
He was rushed to St. George Hospital, where he was declared dead.
Colaba Police are currently investigating the incident.
This development comes just days after a British broadcast engineer associated with the Indian Premier League (IPL) was found dead in his hotel room in Mumbai, triggering a police investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death.
The deceased has been identified as Ian William Legnford, a British national who was part of the IPL’s broadcast team for the ongoing 2026 season. According to officials, Legnford had checked into the Trident Hotel on March 24 and was staying there for the duration of his professional assignment.
Police said Legnford was last seen alive after attending an IPL 2026 match at Wankhede Stadium, where he was present during the match between Mumbai Indians and Kolkata Knight Riders. He had reportedly returned to his hotel room following the match.
Concerns were raised the following day when hotel staff were unable to establish contact with him. After multiple unanswered calls and no response from inside the room, the hotel authorities accessed the room using a master key. Upon entering, they found Legnford lying unresponsive on the floor.
A hotel doctor was immediately called to the scene and declared him dead. The incident was subsequently reported to the police.
Officials from Marine Drive Police Station have registered a case of accidental death (ADR) and initiated a detailed investigation. The body has been sent for post-mortem examination to ascertain the exact cause of death, which remains unclear at this stage.
Police sources stated that no foul play has been suspected so far; however, all angles are being examined as part of standard procedure. Statements of hotel staff and individuals associated with the IPL broadcast unit are also expected to be recorded as part of the inquiry.
Crime
Pakistan: Four men allegedly gang rape woman in moving van

Islamabad, April 1: In yet another shocking crime details emerging from Pakistan, four men allegedly gang raped a woman in a van that moved around the Baga Sheikhan area which comes under the jurisdiction of Rawat police in Pakistan’s Punjab province, local media reported.
A police spokesperson said special teams have been set up to arrest the accused and raids were being conducted. He further mentioned that victim’s medical examination has been conducted, Pakistan’s leading daily Dawn reported.
The victim’s mother filed an FIR with the police on Sunday, stating that her 19-year-old daughter, who has been married for five years, went to the market to buy clothes for her children for Eid. After reaching Chak Beli Morr, she boarded a wagon to go to Rawat Bazaar.
During the journey, the conductor allegedly closed the door and turned the vehicle back towards Chak Beli Road. According to the FIR, the conductor overpowered the victim after she raised an alarm. The van then moved towards Chak Beli Road, where she was made to board another van by one individual, while the driver was identified as “S”.
The accused then took the victim to the Baga Sheikhan area, where they stopped near a house and tried to forcibly take her inside. As per the FIR, another accomplice was called to the spot. Thereafter, all four accused allegedly took turns to assault her in the vehicle while driving on different roads around Baga Sheikhan. Later, they dropped the victim near Chak Beli Morr.
The complainant stated that the accused threatened her daughter and recorded her video. Police has lodged a case and started a probe into the matter.
Earlier this month, the Human Rights Council of Pakistan (HRCP) revealed that 258 rape cases were reported in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in 2025. However, only one conviction was recorded.
HRCP revealed the fresh statistics in a 2025 human rights report launched at the Peshawar Press Club, Dawn reported. During the launch of the report, the council’s provincial president Izharuddin Khan said that around five per cent of women in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa faced violence regularly. He stated that about 30 per cent of gender-based violence cases were reported while nearly 70 per cent remained unreported in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Khan mentioned that harassment cases were also reported in universities of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, adding that female students were not safe from gender-based harassment. According to the report, harassment complaints were made in University of Peshawar and University of Malakand. He said that traditional practices such as swara, the giving of girls in marriage to settle disputes, was still practiced in parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
According to the report, there was rise in digital harassment, with about 160,000 cybercrime cases reported in 2025. However, officials said these showed only cases where victims knew about cybercrime reporting techniques while an estimated 30 to 40 per cent of incidents went unreported due to lack of knowledge.
Representatives of the council urged the government to introduce legislation to safeguard rights of women and ensure their safety. They urged the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly to approve women’s empowerment policy and implement laws addressing acid attacks and domestic violence. They also called for setting up special courts and dedicated funds to tackle cases related to gender-based violence and demanded stronger measures to empower women and protect their rights.
Crime
Thane Crime: ‘Reel Star’ And Builder Arrested, Massive Arms Cache & ₹3.52 Lakh Fake Currency Seized

Thane, April 1: In a high-stakes operation, the Thane Crime Branch (Unit-3, Kalyan) has arrested a notorious 55-year-old history-sheeter and social media personality, Surendra Pandurang Patil, following the discovery of a massive arsenal of illegal weapons and counterfeit currency hidden in his luxury residence.
Acting on a confidential tip-off, a team led by Assistant Police Inspector Sarjerao Patil conducted a strategic raid at Patil’s residence, Ekvira Bungalow, located in the Shri Dhanlakshmi Apartment complex in Dawdi, Dombivli (East).
The search revealed a sophisticated, secret compartment built into a wardrobe within a hidden bedroom, accessible through a concealed entry behind a shoe rack on the fifth-floor terrace. From this “mini-armory,” police recovered:
Firearms: 3 country-made pistols, 1 sixer revolver, and 2 air guns.
Ammunition: 405 live cartridges, 167 lead pellets, and 1 empty magazine.
Bladed Weapons: 2 sharp iron swords, 3 iron choppers (koytas), 1 sharp dagger, and 1 button knife.
Other Items: 2 iron rods, 2 mobile phones, and ₹3,52,000 in counterfeit Indian currency (both old and new denominations). The total value of the seized assets is estimated at approximately ₹12,21,000.
Surendra Pandurang Patil, a construction businessman by profession, has gained notoriety as an Instagram “Reel Star.” However, his digital fame masks a long-standing criminal history.
According to police records, Patil is a habitual offender with over a dozen cases registered against him at various stations, including Manpada, Kolshewadi, Dombivli, and Mahatma Phule Chowk.
His extensive criminal record includes charges for:
Attempted murder and grievous assault.
Arms Act violations.
Cheating, criminal intimidation, and trespassing.
Violations under the Maharashtra Police Act.
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