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Maharashtra

Mumbai BMC Elections 2026: Citizens Accuse Candidates Of Dodging Public Scrutiny In Sion, Matunga And Wadala

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Mumbai, Jan 13: As the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections draw near, a wave of resentment is surging through the residential pockets of Wards 172, 177 and 178, including Sion (E), Matunga (E) and Wadala.

Citizens in these areas have accused their prospective representatives of “political cowardice”, alleging that candidates are deliberately avoiding direct engagement with educated voters.

The friction stems from a citizen-led initiative in which residents and members of the F-North Ward Citizens’ Federation, Petition Group Foundation and Hindu Colony Residents’ Association drafted a comprehensive questionnaire designed to test the candidates’ merit, technical knowledge of urban issues, and specific plans for the wards. According to the group, the response from all nine candidates has been a resounding silence.

Residents alleged that while candidates are visible during loud rallies and padyatras, they vanish the moment they are asked to sit down for a Q&A session.

They added that while a few candidates initially agreed to speak with citizens at a ‘Meet Your Candidate’ event, they discontinued conversations immediately after being asked to respond to the questionnaire.

According to the residents, the six-page-long questionnaire involved questions about the candidates’ achievements, important issues in the ward, their vision to solve these issues and other commitments. It also asked candidates to share details of their qualifications, criminal history, profession and income.

Residents alleged that candidates have been targeting “soft audiences” and areas where they can distribute doles, rather than facing “aware and educated” citizens who demand accountability. Residents of these wards said they want to shift the election narrative from party loyalty to individual merit.

Chetan Trivedi, a member of Petition Group, said, “The candidates did not confirm their time for the meeting when we requested them to fill the questionnaire because they wanted a scripted talk. Ultimately, none of them accepted the request for public interaction.”

Maharashtra

Drug dealer arrested in Mumbai with 1.5 kg of charas (cannabis resin)

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On October 24, Crime Branch Unit 9 (Bandra West, Mumbai) intensified its crackdown on drug peddlers, resulting in the arrest of an individual involved in the sale of narcotics. The police had received information that the accused was selling charas (cannabis resin) and other intoxicating substances from his residence. Acting on this intelligence and following the guidance of senior officers, a team from Crime Branch Unit 9—accompanied by independent witnesses (panches)—raided the premises on October 24. During the operation, 1.505 kilograms of charas were seized in accordance with legal procedures; the estimated value of the contraband is 15 million rupees (1.5 crore INR) based on international market rates.

A case has been registered in connection with this incident under the NDPS (Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances) Act. One individual, aged 40, has been arrested. Additionally, another person has been identified as a wanted suspect, and a search is currently underway to locate him.

This notable operation was carried out under the supervision of Police Commissioner Deven Bharti, Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Anil Kumbhare, Additional Commissioner of Police Krishnakant Upadhyay, and Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Nonath Dhole.

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Maharashtra

Lawrence Bishnoi gang shooters had practised shooting in the Aarey Colony forest before opening fire at Tiger Shroff’s residence.

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Following the firing incident involving Tiger Shroff, an investigation has revealed that a businessman in Pune and a film star in Mumbai were on Lawrence Bishnoi’s target list. The gang’s objective is to instill fear among the film industry and the business community in order to extort money—specifically, to collect protection money or ransoms. The primary goal of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang is not necessarily murder, but rather the creation of terror and fear within the film industry and among business circles.

Currently, 56 operatives of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang are incarcerated in various Mumbai jails; they have been linked to over 10 criminal incidents in Mumbai and Pune over the past 2–3 years. Targeting Bollywood is a key objective for the Lawrence gang, and they have been involved in conspiracies to target film actors specifically to spread fear and terror throughout the business community.

In the Tiger Shroff case, it has emerged that the shooters underwent firearms training in the Aarey Colony forest. A shepherd witnessed the shooters practicing and serves as an eyewitness; according to him, three to four individuals trained there, and he saw them firing weapons. New revelations continue to surface in the case involving Tiger Shroff, with the Crime Branch making significant progress in its investigation.

Weapons have also been recovered in connection with the matter. Furthermore, the interrogation of the shooters arrested by the police has led to the discovery of a link to Anil Pandit—a member of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang—with whom the shooters were in contact.

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Maharashtra

Major action by Mumbai ANC: Drug peddlers arrested.

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On October 25, the Anti-Narcotics Cell (ANC) of Mumbai claimed to have arrested individuals—who were also wanted in a murder case—while they were in possession of narcotics. During a patrol near the main gate of Shri Krishna Complex, opposite the National Park in Borivali West, Mumbai, the Ghatkopar unit of the ANC apprehended three individuals who were allegedly selling ‘MD’ (Mephedrone). Upon searching them, 1.028 kilograms of Mephedrone was recovered. The police registered a case (Kasturba Marg Police Station, Case No. 728/2026) under Sections 8(c) read with 22(c) and 29 of the NDPS Act, 1985. During the subsequent interrogation, it was revealed that the arrested individuals were also involved in a murder case. They had brought the narcotics from Nalasopara with the intent of selling them at this location.

The arrested individuals include a 28-year-old man, another 28-year-old man, and a 39-year-old man. A total of 1.028 kilograms of Mephedrone was seized from the three suspects.

This successful operation was carried out under the guidance of Police Commissioner Deven Bharti, Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Anil Kumbhare, Additional Commissioner Kant Upadhyay, and DCP Purnima Chougule-Shringi.

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