35-year-old man who was critically injured in a horrific drunk driving accident in Ghatkopar last week has succumbed to his injuries. The victim, whose identity is yet to be confirmed, passed away late Sunday night while undergoing treatment at Rajawadi Hospital in Mumbai.

The tragic incident occurred on the morning of September 13 at around 6:15 AM, on the LBS Road near Excel Arcade building in Ghatkopar (West). A Kia car (GJ 15 CK 4411), registered in Gujarat and allegedly driven under the influence of alcohol, veered off the road and crashed into the footpath.

The accused, Bhavika Mohan Dama-Bhanushali,30, a resident of Bhanuashaliwadi in Ghatkopar (East), was driving the car. She was reportedly on her way to drop off her friend Koram Bhanushali,30, accompanied by another friend Aniket Bansode, when she lost control of the speeding vehicle.

In the accident, the car smashed through a steel barricade, mounted the footpath, and crashed into the steps of a local shop. The impact severely injured a man who was seated on the footpath. The force of the crash was so intense that the barricade flew and shattered the glass door of a Punjab National Bank ATM center, damaged the steps of the Ambron Battery shop, broke a sewage line, and wrecked a parked motorcycle (MH03 DW 2971).

The Ghatkopar police rushed to the scene upon receiving information and immediately shifted the injured victim to Rajawadi Hospital, where he was admitted to the ICU. Despite medical efforts, he was declared dead by doctors at around 11 PM on Sunday, September 14, an official said.

Initially, police registered a case under sections 281, 125(A)(B) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and sections 134(A)(B), 184, 185, and 187 of the Motor Vehicles Act. Following the victim’s death, the police have now added Section 105 of the BNS, relating to culpable homicide not amounting to murder.

All three individuals in the car Bhavika Dama-Bhanushali, Koram Bhanushali, and Aniket Bansode have been arrested and produced before the court, which has remanded them to police custody for two days.

According to police, eyewitnesses Dhananjay Muluk, Baban Tarte, and Jitendra Pawar have recorded their statements. Bhavika Dama-Bhanushali has reportedly confessed to driving under the influence of alcohol, and her friend Korum Bhanushali has also admitted to consuming alcohol.

Police are continuing their investigation based on forensic evidence from the crash site, CCTV footage, and medical reports of the accused.

Palghar,: Palghar district has been witnessing heavy rainfall accompanied by thunder and lightning since Sunday afternoon, as the withdrawal phase of the southwest monsoon sets in. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) had issued an orange alert for September 15, followed by a yellow alert for September 16 and 17, warning of continued intense shower.

The heavy downpour has affected all eight talukas of the district, filling rivers, streams, and dams to capacity. Several rivers have now reached warning levels, while overflowing streams have cut off road access in some areas. Power supply was disrupted in many villages on Sunday night and Monday morning due to storms but was restored by Monday evening.

According to official data, Palghar has recorded 323.5 mm of rain so far in September, while cumulative rainfall between June and September stands at 2,305.4 mm 95.3% of the district’s seasonal average. Last year, rainfall during the same period was slightly higher at 2,205.7 mm, or 102.8% of the average.

Vasai: 2,702.3 mm (80.5%)

Wada: 2,609.4 mm (86.7%)

Dahanu: 1,899.9 mm (111.0%)

Palghar: 2,431.9 mm (89.2%)

Jawhar: 2,708.9 mm (92.1%)

Mokhada: 2,266.6 mm (87.3%)

Talasari: 2,132.3 mm (108.6%)

Vikramgad: 2,573.5 mm (88.4%)

Farmers say the rains have had a mixed impact. The early rice crop is nearly ready for harvest and could suffer damage if heavy showers persist. However, the mid-season rice crop is at the grain formation stage and is benefitting from the rainfall, which is considered favourable for its growth.

With fields lush and rivers in spate, officials confirmed that the district is experiencing the full force of the retreating monsoon. The IMD has cautioned residents to remain alert over the next two days as the rains continue.

Navi Mumbai: A lawyer from Kharghar has been booked by Panvel City Police for allegedly preparing a fake minor certificate bearing the forged seal and signature of an Additional Sessions Judge. The racket, exposed during a land transaction, comes close on the heels of the bogus heirship certificate scam in Panvel Court.

According to police, complainant Ladhavji Patel (57), a builder from Vashi, was negotiating to purchase a plot in Ulwe Sector 17 when one of the co-owners, Giridhar Ramakant Gharat, died leaving behind his wife and two minor children. Patel required a minor certificate from the court to complete the deal.

As the court procedure was delayed, Gharat’s cousin Sagar Gharat offered to get the certificate quickly through his lawyer for Rs 1 lakh. On September 10, he handed Patel a purported court order showing approval of the minor certificate, allegedly signed and sealed by Additional Sessions Judge D.E. Kothalikar.

Patel later verified the document in Panvel Court, only to find it was completely bogus. When questioned before the court, Sagar Gharat admitted that the document had been supplied by Advocate V.K. Sharma of Kharghar.

“We have registered a case of cheating and forgery against Advocate Sharma and begun further investigation,” said a police officer from Panvel City police station.

This case follows the November 2024 bogus heirship certificate scam in Panvel Court, in which forged heirship documents with fake signatures of judges and staff were circulated. In that case, police had registered four offences, arrested three lawyers, a court employee, and an agent, and filed a chargesheet in one matter, while probes in the others continue.