Maharashtra
Mumbai: Activists Flag Use Of Railway Coaches Reserved For Disabled Passengers By Cops, Others
Mumbai: Despite clear directives from the Bombay High Court prohibiting police personnel from travelling in railway compartments reserved for disabled passengers, the practice allegedly continues in local trains. Police personnel frequently travel in these coaches and sometimes escort suspects, raising concerns among activists about safety and accessibility.
Nitin Gaikwad, the president of Nirdhar Viklang Vikas Samajik Sangh, who has 50% disability, has alleged that two police personnel, one morning in December, were seen travelling in the compartment for disabled persons in a fast local train at Dadar railway station along with a handcuffed suspect. Gaikwad said the cops alighted at Andheri railway station.
Gaikwad, who has been working for the safety and rights of disabled commuters for about 12 years, said he filmed the incident. The personnel then claimed to be from the Mumbai police. Gaikwad further alleged that an attempt was made to pressure him by asking him to visit the police station. Gaikwad has written to Rakesh Kalasagar, the Commissioner of Police (Railways), and other authorities regarding the incident.
Gaikwad had filed a petition in the Bombay High Court in 2013 against cops and general commuters travelling in coaches reserved for disabled passengers. In 2017, the court directed the state home department and the Director General of Police to issue a circular to all police stations warning of disciplinary action in such cases. According to railway rules, only certain categories of passengers are permitted in the disabled compartment.
These include persons with disabilities, cancer patients, senior citizens who cannot walk without support and pregnant women. However, able-bodied commuters often occupy these compartments, creating difficulties for those for whom the space is reserved. Activists say that bringing suspects into these compartments also causes discomfort and insecurity. Zaveri Samir, a 90% disabled commuter and civic activist, said that in suburban 12-coach trains, two coaches include a section reserved for disabled passengers.
During peak hours, from 7 am to 11 am and from 6 pm to 10 pm, able-bodied commuters often overcrowd these spaces. With trains stopping for about 20 seconds at stations, forceful boarding and alighting can endanger disabled passengers. Samir said that calls to the railway helpline 139 often fail due to poor network connectivity in moving trains, while posts on X have not received satisfactory responses. He urged the railways to deploy at least one security personnel on each train during peak hours to ensure safe travel for disabled passengers.
Crime
DRI Nagpur seizes 3.01 kg of amphetamine drug worth Rs 2.4 crore, arrests two from bus

The DRI arrested two drug traffickers from a bus and seized 3.01 kg of amphetamine drug having an illicit market value of nearly Rs 2.4 crore in Nagpur, an official said on Friday.
The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), Nagpur Regional Unit of Mumbai Zone, claimed to have dismantled an inter-state drug trafficking syndicate through the operation.
The contraband was concealed in three ladies’ suits, which appeared to be unusually heavy, said the DRI Nagpur Regional Unit.
Acting on specific intelligence, officers of DRI Nagpur Regional Unit intercepted two passengers travelling by bus from Delhi to Bangalore, passing through Nagpur on October 28, 2026, on suspicion of carrying narcotic substances in their luggage, said a DRI statement.
The officers boarded the said bus at Bhagimari Toll Plaza on NH-47, Nagpur. They undertook a detailed examination of the passengers’ luggage, which revealed that three ladies’ suits appeared to be unusually heavy, it said.
On examination, white-coloured pouches concealed inside the suits were found to contain transparent polythene packets filled with a white crystalline substance, it said.
Field testing of representative samples, drawn separately from all three packets, gave a positive indication for the presence of amphetamine, the DRI said.
The three packets containing a total of 3.01 kg of amphetamine, with an illicit market value of approximately Rs 2.4 crore, were recovered from the two passengers and were subsequently seized under the relevant provisions of the NDPS Act, 1985, the DRI said.
The two passengers were arrested under the provisions of the NDPS Act, 1985 and were produced before the JFMC at Nagpur on September 29.
These sustained efforts against organised narcotics trafficking networks operating across state borders reflect the steadfast commitment of DRI towards combating drug trafficking and contributing to the Government of India’s vision of a “Nasha Mukt Bharat”, said the statement.
Crime
ED searches 11 premises in Mumbai, Surat linked to international drug traffickers

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) seized incriminating material and digital devices during searches across 11 premises in Mumbai and Navi Mumbai (Maharashtra) as well as Surat and Bhavnagar (Gujarat) linked to trace international drug trafficking network, an official said on Friday.
The ED’s Mumbai Zonal Office-L, conducted search operations on Wednesday, under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, against international narcotics syndicate led by Navin Chichkar, Dhiraj Chichkar, and their aides, the official said in a statement.
Searches were conducted to trace the modus through which drug sale proceeds received mainly in cash, infused in financial economy and further layered so as to project the same as legitimate income, the statement said.
The searches across 11 premises in Mumbai and Navi Mumbai (Maharashtra), as well as Surat and Bhavnagar (Gujarat) were intended to trace the drug trafficking network and proceeds of crime (PoC) generated through the illicit drug trade acquired by a well-established international narcotics syndicate, it added.
The ED investigation was initiated on the basis of a complaint filed by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) in Mumbai, under various provisions of the NDPS Act, following the seizure of substantial quantities of high-grade hydroponic cannabis (Ganja), cocaine and unaccounted cash in Mumbai/Navi Mumbai.
Navin Chichkar and others were allegedly involved in an established international network engaged in the sale of cocaine, hydroponic cannabis, LSD and cannabis edibles, largely sourced from outside India, the statement said.
During the searches, various incriminating material and digital devices, including high-end smartphones, laptops, and internal storage media, along with commercial books of accounts, financial ledgers, and investment records were seized, it added.
The searches revealed that proceeds generated from the sale of narcotic drugs were routed and cash was converted into foreign currencies, including US dollars and Thai Baht, which were subsequently made available to the accused, it said.
Moreover, proceeds of crime in cash were also invested in certain legitimate businesses so that the same is shown as untainted money, the statement said.
Searches were also conducted at the premises relating to “Crypto Trader(s)” which revealed details of certain “Crypto Wallets/Assets prima-facie linked to the proceeds of crime, the ED said.
It is gathered that the suspected persons was operating a number of Crypto trading accounts from outside India. The identified details are being examined to trace linked accounts, transaction histories, and to secure proceeds of crime, the ED said.
Crime
Tiger Shroff firing case: 12th accused arrested from Sonipat, money trail under scanner

The Mumbai Police have arrested another accused from Haryana’s Sonipat district in connection with the firing incident targeting Bollywood actor Tiger Shroff’s car, taking the total number of arrests in the case to 12, including nine people from Sonipat.
The latest accused, identified as Amar, was arrested from Rohna village in Sonipat. The arrest has further strengthened the Sonipat connection in the case, with investigators examining financial transactions and links between the accused.
According to the investigation, Amar is a friend and neighbour of Kunal, who was arrested earlier in the case. Police investigations have revealed that Kunal allegedly transferred Rs 40,000 to Amar’s bank account.
Amar subsequently transferred Rs 12,000 to Radha’s bank account, another accused arrested earlier, allegedly on Kunal’s instructions.
The Mumbai Police are now investigating these financial transactions to establish the purpose of the transfers and determine the connections between the accused. The money trail is being examined as part of the wider investigation into the firing incident.
Amar, who studied up to Class 10, works at a supplements shop. His parents reportedly earn their livelihood through daily-wage labour.
Following his arrest, the Mumbai Police produced Amar before a court and are preparing to take him to Mumbai on transit remand for further investigation.
Meanwhile, Amar’s family has claimed that he is innocent and alleged that he has been falsely implicated in the case.
With nine of the 12 arrested accused reportedly belonging to Sonipat, the district has emerged as a key focus of the Mumbai Police investigation.
The police are examining the financial dealings and personal connections among the accused to establish the sequence of events and identify the roles played by individual suspects.
Meanwhile, encrypted messaging platforms Signal and Zangi were allegedly used by the accused to communicate. Police officials are facing significant challenges in decoding these digital exchanges, as tracing conversations conducted over the past eight months is considered crucial to uncovering the alleged conspiracy.
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