Maharashtra
Mumbai: Byculla zoo bids final farewell to its last elephant Anarkali

Byculla lost its last elephant when the 59-year-old Anarkali passed away on November 10. With her death, there will be no more elephants at the iconic Veermata Jijabai Bhosale Udyan, in compliance with a central government ban on the intake and housing of elephants. “Due to central government regulations, we cannot bring another elephant here,” confirmed an official from the administration. As part of the ’s expansion plans, the enclosure that housed Anarkali will be repurposed for another species.
Rescued from a circus in 1977, Anarkali arrived at the Byculla at the age of 12 along with several other elephants, including her long-time companion, Laxmi. The duo quickly got close, drawing countless visitors and schoolchildren eager to see their playful interactions. Anarkali and Laxmi were once used for joyrides at the until protests by animal activists led to the practice being discontinued in 1992. “Anarkali remained very playful and responsive to her mahout and caretakers. She continued to be one of the crowd-pullers right up until her demise,” said Abhishek Satam, biologist and education officer.
According to officials, Anarkali died of old age complications. Sources at the said that the post-mortem report revealed a stomach tumour, which likely contributed to her declining health. Despite her condition, she maintained a calm demeanour, said her caretakers. Anarkali’s passing follows the death of her companion Laxmi in 2020. Laxmi, believed to be around 64, died of a chronic heart failure brought on by old age. Their bond was so strong that Anarkali reportedly mourned deeply after Laxmi’s death, refusing food for days.
The story of elephants at Byculla stretches back several decades. Five elephants initially lived at Veermata Jijabai Bhosale Udyan, three female elephants named Radha, Laxmi, and Anarkali, a male elephant that was later transferred to Thiruvananthapuram after showing aggression, and there was another female elephant in the at that time called Champakali.
Radha, died of tuberculosis in 2005, leaving Anarkali and Laxmi to form a close-knit pair until Laxmi died in 2020. “Usually, elephants in captivity have a lifespan of about 62 to 65 years,” said Dr Sanjay Tripathi, director of the Byculla. “Anarkali had a calm attitude and listened to her mahouts. She will be missed. She was buried in the premises with all the rituals, near her old friend and companion Laxmi.”
Byculla zoo to remain open on Christmas: BMC
In a release issued on Monday, the civic body said the zoo is generally shut on Wednesdays but will remain open on the day this week to allow people to visit keeping in mind the Christmas holiday. “As per a resolution passed by the civic body earlier, if there is a public holiday on Wednesday, the zoo will remain open on the day and remain closed the next day. Therefore, the zoo will remain shut on Thursday,” the release informed.
Crime
Kenyan Woman Held At Mumbai Airport For Smuggling Cocaine Worth ₹6.65 Crore In Ingested Capsules

Mumbai: The officers of Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) on Sunday arrested a 43-year-old Kenyan woman for smuggling cocaine worth Rs 6.65 crore. The woman had ingested capsules containing cocaine and she purged six capsules during medical examination in a hospital.
According to sources, DRI Mumbai had specific intelligence which indicated that a female passenger Florence Awino Indangasi travelling from Nairobi to Mumbai might have concealed some narcotics substance.
Crime
Mumbai Police Constable Arrested For Molesting 12-Year-Old Girl In Saat Rasta Area

Mumbai: A shameful incident that tarnishes the image of the police uniform has come to light in the jurisdiction of Agripada Police Station. A police constable has been arrested for allegedly molesting a 12-year-old girl in the Saat Rasta area. The shocking act was caught on CCTV, which played a key role in his arrest.
About The Case
According to police sources, the minor had stepped out of her building to collect prasad on Saturday when the 45-year-old constable began following her. When she tried to take the elevator, the constable allegedly stopped her, forcibly grabbed her hand, and dragged her up the stairs
According to Agripada police sources, the minor girl had stepped out of her building to collect prasad when the 45-year-old accused, who was present in the Surrounding area, started following her. When the minor girl enter the elevator, the constable allegedly stopped her and forcibly held her hand. He then reportedly dragged her up the staircase to the first floor of the building.
A police constable posted with the LA in Tardeo has been arrested for allegedly molesting a 12-year-old girl in the Saat Rasta area. The Shameful incident, which occurred on Saturday, came to light after the girl informed her mother, prompting her to lodge a police complaint.
Following the complaint, Agripada Police registered an FIR under Sections 74 and 78 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Section 12 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The constable was taken into custody on Sunday. Police officials said the incident was captured on CCTV, and the footage is being treated as vital evidence in establishing the constable’s role in the offence. The investigation is ongoing.
Maharashtra
Mumbai CFO Duped Of ₹1.93 Crores In Andheri To Scammer Impersonating As ‘Boss’ On Whatsapp

Mumbai: A cyber fraud case has come forward from Mumbai’s western region cyber police, revealing a sophisticated cyber fraud operation that involved impersonation on WhatsApp, leading a senior finance executive to transfer Rs 1.93 crore from a company bank account. The plan focused on the chief financial officer (CFO) of a private firm in Andheri.
From April 12 to April 15, the CFO obtained messages from a mobile number impersonating the company’s director, which created an impression of authenticity, and The impersonator, asserting pressing business matters tied to a collaboration involving government officials and a private company, demanded a large payment. Confident in the sender’s identity, the CFO completed the transfer of Rs 1,93,06,000.
The deception came to light on April 15, when the impersonator asked for an extra Rs 3 crore. The CFO, feeling uneasy, reached out to the real director, who verified he had not made any such request, resulting in a quick notification to the authorities. A FIR was lodged on April 28.
After thorough technical analysis, police apprehended six suspects linked to the fraud. Shubham Bajirao Kunjir, aged 28, residing in Pune, was recognized as the main suspect, possessing the beneficiary account. Additional apprehended persons comprised Akshay Gorakh Shelke and Ujjwal Raj Kumar Singh, with their involvement still under scrutiny.
Additionally, Shubhamkumar Jaipal Singh Pardeshi arranged provisions and collected banking resources, while Aditya Dilip Shinde communicated transaction information according to a report by Mid Day. Iran Shivpal Mishra was involved in providing banking details to Chinese agents and transforming money into cryptocurrency.
Officials confiscated several gadgets, such as cell phones, computers, and banking-related materials. Inquiries showed the bank account in use had participated in several earlier cyber fraud cases. Officials urged the public to verify financial requests obtained digitally on their own and promote prompt reporting of any suspicious activities to the relevant authorities.
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