Maharashtra
Mumbai citizens bear brunt of corrupt political-contractors alliance, says Shiv Sena(UBT) in ‘Saamana’
Mumbai, July 16: The Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) on Thursday launched a scathing attack on the ruling BJP-led alliance in Maharashtra, claiming that the very first spell of monsoon showers has completely exposed the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) developmental tallies and structural failures.
In a sharply worded editorial published in the party’s mouthpiece ‘Saamana’, the Thackeray camp targeted the civic administration for its absolute lack of accountability, accusing it of staging a political drama over a recent tragedy in Chembur.
On June 30, an 11-year-old child, Vihaan Srivastav, lost his life, and several other children were injured when a massive roadside tree crashed onto their school bus near Diamond Garden in Chembur. Following public outrage, the BMC appointed an internal inquiry committee to investigate the collapse. However, the recently submitted report has drawn heavy criticism from the opposition. The inquiry committee completely exonerated the BMC’s relevant internal departments — specifically the Gardens and Roads departments. Instead of fixing direct administrative accountability, the panel merely recommended a combined fine of Rs 7 lakh, split between the contractor and the supervising project consultant.
The editorial labelled this probe a “predetermined, favourable script”. It revealed that the official directly responsible for the city’s concreting works was himself appointed to the probe committee, making any expectations of an impartial report “pure fantasy”.
“The committee appeared to have been engineered to deliver a predetermined, favourable script. By declaring the Gardens and Roads departments entirely innocent and settling for a minor fine on the contractor, the administration has given its own officials a free pass,” it remarked.
The Thackeray camp highlighted a glaring split in messaging within the civic leadership. While experts and local residents point out that excessive and faulty concreting around roots is a primary driver behind Mumbai’s rising tree-collapse incidents, the authorities remain in active denial.
“The Municipal Commissioner has flatly denied that unscientific road concretisation plays a role in weakening tree roots. The Mumbai Mayor and other ruling politicians have actively blamed the concreting works in an apparent bid to deflect public anger. With the release of the controversial report, Mayor publicly rejected its findings, demanding a criminal case against the contractor instead of a mere penalty,” said the Thackeray camp. It dismissed these moves as hollow dramatics designed to mislead citizens.
The Thackeray camp questioned why the leadership has resorted to rhetoric instead of enforcing direct, punitive action. “The Commissioner was appointed by you. The ruling power in the Municipal Corporation belongs to you. The committee to investigate the Chembur tragedy was formed by you,” the editorial pointed out. “Yet, when the committee’s findings spark outrage, you are the ones performing high drama.”
The editorial concluded by linking the civic failures in Mumbai to broader state and national leadership patterns. It argued that when leaders at the Centre merely express “regret” over massive financial scams like the Ram Mandir donation box scandal, and a Chief Minister at the state level openly threatens opposition members who raise voices against corruption, one can hardly expect better from their Mayor in the BMC.
“From the Centre down to the civic bodies, Mumbai is unfortunately being ruled by an administration of absolute deceit, leaving ordinary citizens and children to pay the price,” the editorial said.
Maharashtra
Mumbai cyber fraud case: A gang from Goa Vela involved in a fraud worth crores, more than 50 crore rupees deposited in the bank frozen, 12 accused arrested

Mumbai: In a Mumbai cyber fraud case, the police have claimed to have exposed a gang that committed cyber fraud by activating multiple bank accounts and SIM cards. According to the details, the accused were arrested in the Siren Fraud case in the 2023 fraud case at the Pydhoni Police Station. In the progress of the same case, the Mumbai Crime Branch Unit 2 conducted an operation within the limits of the Goa Kolingot Police Station and took 12 accused into custody in the state of Goa. 15 laptops, 128 ATMs, 85 mobiles, 76 SIM cards, 22 checkbooks, 77 passbooks, 6 routers, 3 keyboards, 2 mice were seized from their possession. The accused used 100 panels called Rudra and used the gaming app to commit cyber fraud. The cyber fraud money was deposited and withdrawn in bank accounts in the name of cash and deposits and this gang operated from Dubai at a three percent commission. When the bank account details of the accused were found, 83 complaints have been registered in this matter on the cyber website 1930 across the country. The accused were produced in the court where the court ordered them to be kept on police remand till August 11. This action was taken on the instructions of Mumbai Police Commissioner Devin Bharti. Joint Commissioner of Police Crime Anil Kanbhare, DCP Raj Tilak Roshan have conducted the investigation. The accused used to defraud people by depositing money in several bank accounts. This information was given here today by DCP of Mumbai Crime Raj Tilak Roshan. He said that in the last 5 to 6 months, this gang has transferred 500 crores through cyber fraud to several bank accounts, while more than 50 crores have been found in their accounts, which have been frozen. He said that the investigation in Mumbai regarding the accused revealed that their accounts are also in Goa and the gang operates from Goa itself. This gang used to operate from a villa near Bij in Goa. From here, 12 accused have been arrested.
Maharashtra
Mumbai housing societies ordered to immediately remove ramps and encroachments from footpaths, otherwise strict action will be taken: Ashwini Bhide

Footpaths in Mumbai are meant to allow citizens to walk safely and easily. Therefore, unauthorized ramps, encroachments, commercial structures or any other form of obstruction by housing societies or business owners on footpaths will not be tolerated. Housing societies and unit owners who have built ramps or other encroachments on footpaths will have to remove them at their own expense within a month. BMC Commissioner Ashwini Bhide has issued a clear warning that the municipal corporation will take strict action against the parties concerned if they fail to do so. The Mumbai Municipal Corporation is effectively implementing the ‘Pedestrian First’ campaign across the city to clear footpaths of unauthorized hawkers and encroachments, ensuring that they remain free from obstructions. As part of this campaign, BMC Commissioner Ashwini Bhide today (August 6, 2026) conducted an on-site inspection of several areas in the ‘K-West’ and ‘P-South’ wards of the Western Suburbs. These include Swami Vivekananda Marg, Ram Ganesh Gadkari Marg, Bando Gaur Marg, the road leading to Goregaon Railway Station, Sheth Shri Devaraj Ji Gundicha Chowk, Tomato Street near Goregaon Station, and Dudhsagar Marg. During this inspection visit, Commissioner Ashwini Bhide issued instructions to completely remove encroachments from the footpaths and make them easy for citizens to walk. Commissioner Bhide inspected the encroachments, ramps, commercial structures and other obstacles obstructing the path of pedestrians. He directed the officials concerned to take immediate action to ensure that the available footpath space is completely opened for public use. In the ‘K-West’ ward, under the ‘Pedestrian First’ campaign, the first phase aims to remove encroachments from 320 km of footpaths, so as to make them accessible to the citizens. Moreover, 27 out of a total of 355 roads in the K-West ward have been selected for this initiative. Footpaths stretching for 37.7 km on these roads are being cleared of encroachments.
Municipal Corporation’s appeal to citizens
In ‘K-West’ and ‘P-South’ wards, ramps built by housing societies or shop owners to facilitate vehicle access often become obstacles in the way of pedestrians. Such obstacles force senior citizens, women, children and various differently-abled persons to walk on the road, which endangers the safety of pedestrians. Taking the matter seriously, Commissioner Bhide ordered the immediate removal of such ramps. He directed the concerned parties to voluntarily remove these encroachments and restore the footpaths within a month. Commissioner Bhide clarified that strict action will be taken against those who do not follow these instructions as per the municipal rules and regulations. Moreover, in some areas, commercial stalls set up on footpaths are causing traffic congestion. Bhide directed the officials to ensure that alternative places are provided to these stall owners.
Patients, their relatives and ambulances frequently travel along Ram Ganesh Gadkari Marg and Swami Vivekananda Marg in Vile Parle (West) to reach Dr. RN. Moreover, the presence of colleges and educational institutions on these routes results in a significant increase in foot traffic of college students. Therefore, ensuring smooth and hassle-free traffic flow on these roads is of utmost importance. Due to encroachments and unauthorized obstructions on footpaths, students and other citizens are often forced to walk on the road. This not only compromises the safety of pedestrians but also affects the flow of traffic. In this context and under the ‘Pedestrian First’ campaign, priority has been given to making footpaths on these routes completely obstacle-free for citizens. Municipal Commissioner Ashwini Bhide has issued instructions for immediate removal of unauthorized hawkers, shopkeepers’ encroachments, unauthorized ramps and other obstacles obstructing the path of pedestrians.
Business operators to be shifted
An inspection revealed that citizens were facing considerable difficulties due to obstructions on footpaths along Bindu Gor Marg near Goregaon (West) Railway Station. Since this situation was causing traffic congestion, Commissioner Bhide ordered the concerned business operators to be shifted at the earliest. The Bando Gor Marg is 350 metres long and 13.40 metres wide, serving around 70,000 railway passengers daily. In the first phase, 43 commercial structures near the Goregaon (West) railway station were removed, and there are plans to widen the road.
Maharashtra
MLA Abu Asim Azmi holds important meeting with Suburban District Collector regarding Mankhurd Shivaji Nagar development works

Mumbai: Local MLA Abu Asim Azmi met Mumbai Suburban District Collector (IAS) Saurabh Katiyar to discuss various pending and important development projects in Mankhurd Shivaji Nagar (Govind) Assembly constituency in detail. The meeting had constructive discussions on important issues related to education, social welfare and rehabilitation in the area. During the meeting, MLA Azmi presented key demands to the District Collector, including allotment of government land for a degree college in Mankhurd Govind area, provision of a suitable place for funeral rites for the Shia Muslim community, and immediate resolution of the rehabilitation issues of residents living in transit camps. Speaking after the meeting, MLA Abu Asim Azmi said, “Public interest and all-round development of the constituency are my primary objectives. The meeting with the District Collector was very positive, and I am sure that the administration will soon take favourable decisions on the issues raised.
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