Mumbai, July 31: Seven families were cheated of Rs 68.50 lakh on the promise of securing government jobs for their children, with the accused claiming to have influential contacts in the Maharashtra Mantralaya (State Secretariat). The Azad Maidan Police have registered a fraud case and launched a search for the accused.

According to Mumbai Police, a major fraud involving the collection of lakhs of rupees from multiple families under the pretext of providing government employment has come to light in the city. Acting on complaints filed by the victims, the Azad Maidan Police have booked two accused persons for cheating and criminal breach of trust.

Among the victims is a retired Sister-in-Charge from GT Hospital. Police said the accused collectively swindled Rs 68.50 lakh from seven families over several years by promising government jobs.

Investigators revealed that the scam dates back to 2014. The complainant was searching for employment opportunities for her son when Suryakant Nivrutti Magre, a neighbour and colleague residing in the GT Hospital staff quarters, approached her with an offer. Magre allegedly claimed that his relative, Yogesh Jagannath Patankar, worked at the Mantralaya and had considerable influence in securing government appointments.

The accused promised to obtain a Senior Clerk position in a government department for the complainant’s son and demanded Rs 5 lakh in return. Trusting Magre because of their professional and personal association, the complainant paid the amount in instalments between April and December 2014. Police said she even mortgaged her jewellery to arrange the money.

After receiving the payment, the accused allegedly continued delaying the appointment process. On December 10, 2019, the complainant’s son was sent to a Primary Health Centre in Khalapur for what was described as a mandatory medical examination. Upon reaching the centre, the family discovered that several other candidates and their parents had also been called for similar tests.

However, no appointment letters were issued. The accused allegedly continued making excuses, citing administrative delays and later the COVID-19 pandemic. As years passed without any progress, the victims realised they had been cheated.

Further investigation revealed that six other families had fallen victim to the same scheme, resulting in a total loss of Rs 68.50 lakh. The Azad Maidan Police have recorded statements from the victims and intensified efforts to trace and arrest the accused.

Bhiwandi, July 31: A four-storey building collapsed in Bhiwandi in Maharashtra Thane district, leaving six people dead, according to the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF). Authorities fear that several others may still be trapped under the debris, and rescue operations are continuing at the site.

The building had started tilting late on the night of July 30 and collapsed on Thursday night. After noticing the danger, several labourers working there evacuated the premises. Repair work was reportedly underway in the building at the time, which is believed to have reduced the number of people inside when the collapse occurred.

During the rescue operation, NDRF personnel recovered two bodies from the debris. The team also rescued a woman alive from the rubble and immediately shifted her to a nearby hospital for treatment. Her condition is reported to be stable.

Deepak Kumar Yadav, a survivor of the incident, told media, “Repair work was being carried out on the pillars of a nearby building. After dinner, we went to sleep when we suddenly heard a loud sound of the collapsing building. When we rushed out, there was chaos everywhere. I jumped from the first floor to save my life.”

Neha Singh, a local resident searching for her husband after the collapse, said, “He had gone downstairs saying he needed to check something. The building collapsed barely 10 minutes after he went down. The incident occurred around 11:30 p.m. Some work was going on there. I was not feeling well, which is why I had stayed upstairs. My husband, Ranjeet Singh, has been missing since the collapse. His phone is ringing, but he is not answering.”

Another survivor, Sangeeta Prajapati, said, “I was standing in the parking area when I heard the sound of the building cracking. I tried to run, but the structure collapsed while I was fleeing. I sustained injuries in the incident.”

Abhay Kumar Yadav recounted, “We were in our room after dinner when we heard a loud noise. We immediately tried to run outside, but there was no clear exit route, so I jumped from the first floor. I suffered a leg fracture. Later, some local residents brought a ladder, and others were able to climb down safely. There were around 25 to 30 people inside the building at the time. The building has nearly 45 rooms.”

According to the administration, at least three to four labourers are still feared trapped under the debris. Rescue operations are progressing slowly due to the large volume of rubble.

After receiving information about the incident, teams from the NDRF and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) rushed to the spot. Debris removal operations, assisted by JCB machines and other heavy equipment, continued throughout the night. Officials said darkness and the massive debris have hampered rescue efforts, but teams remain engaged in the operation.

Mumbai, July 31: Maharashtra Cyber Police have registered an FIR regarding the circulation of allegedly AI-generated and morphed videos of Union Minister Piyush Goyal and objectionable content targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The action was initiated following a complaint filed by a BJP social media office-bearer.

According to officials, the Maharashtra Nodal Cyber Police have registered a case against unidentified individuals and launched an investigation into the matter. The FIR has been filed under Sections 318(2), 336, 352, 353(1), 353(2), 356(1), and 356(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), along with Sections 66(D) and 67 of the Information Technology Act.

The complainant alleged that during recent student protests, morphed or AI-generated videos of Union Minister Piyush Goyal were circulated through various social media accounts. He further claimed that objectionable content targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi was also shared online.

According to the complaint, a video was posted from a Facebook account named “Maharashtra Dharma” with a caption claiming that Piyush Goyal had spoken about publicly hanging the protesters, referring to them as “cockroaches”.

The complainant alleged that the minister appeared to be making objectionable remarks in the circulated clip. However, after comparing it with the original video released by a news agency, he concluded that the video had allegedly been digitally manipulated or created using artificial intelligence.

The complainant also highlighted several other social media posts, including an allegedly morphed image of Prime Minister Modi shared through a Facebook account, an objectionable video circulated on Instagram, and another video containing abusive language directed at the Prime Minister.

According to the complaint, the content was circulated with the intention of spreading misinformation, provoking public discontent, and insulting individuals holding constitutional positions.

Police officials said efforts are underway to identify and trace the operators of the social media accounts involved. Further investigation into the case is in progress.