Maharashtra
Mumbai court: Asking workers to ‘sit at home’ is an act of force
Mumbai: Stating that an act of force or violence is not always physical, a city industrial court has declared a Vikhroli-based agency guilty of unfair labour practice under the Prevention of Unfair Labour Practices Act, for asking two of its workers to ‘sit at home’ in March 2020, when the pandemic-induced lockdown began and telling them, after the lifting of the lockdown, that their services were not required.
Industrial Court Member SB Parate said in the order last Thursday, that it has been held in various cases that an act of force or violence is not always physical. The action of the agency in asking the workers to stay home could be considered an act of force or violence under the Act, the court held.
It said the complainants had proved that the agency and its partners engaged in an unfair labour practice under the Act. It also ordered the agency to pay their legal dues, including notice pay, gratuity, etc.
Workers approached industrial court in August 2021 after they were terminated
Workers Shyam Bind and Jayram Bind had approached the industrial court in August 2021, against the agency, dealing in pharmaceutical products, and its three partners. They complained that they had been working with the agency since 2004. They had worked till March 2020, when they were asked to “sit at home”.
The duo said they began reporting to work continuously after the lockdown lifted, but were told their services were not required. The agency assured them, while doing so, that their dues would soon be paid.
The two then approached the court for a declaration of unfair labour practice under the law, adding that since they were terminated, that they be paid their legal dues. They had also sought that they be paid their salary from March 2020 till the date they filed the complaint.
Agency claimed one absented from work and other retired seeking dismissal of complaint
The agency had sought dismissal of their complaint and claimed that while one had absented himself from work for more than five months and hence, was terminated, the other was retired.
On their demand to be paid from March 2020 tillthe time of their filing a complaint in August 2021, the court said work was not given to them from March 2020, hence the termination could be said to be operative from then. It said the liability of paying wages for the lockdown period and up to the time of filing of the complaint could not be fastened upon the respondents.
Maharashtra
Mira Rodnia Nagar drug racket exposed, drugs worth crores of rupees recovered, major success of Mira Bhayander Crime Branch

Mumbai: Mira Road Crime Branch Unit 4 has exposed a drug factory in Telangana, arrested three accused and seized drugs and equipment used in drug manufacturing worth over Rs 2 crore. Mira Bhayander Commissioner Niket Kaushik claimed in a press conference that this operation has been carried out under the Mira Bhayander police’s campaign against drugs. The Crime Branch has made progress in its operation on the basis of the drug peddlers arrested earlier and three people have been arrested. Earlier, on April 4, 2026, a raid was conducted at the house of Firdosh Arbaaz Qureshi in Mira Bhayander area and the Naya Nagar police had registered a case against him. During the operation, 1.324 crore MD was found, which is said to be worth Rs 2 crore. The police have registered a case under the NDPS Act against him. Sandeep Veeraswamy Naidu, Naseer alias Baba Jumaniya Sheikh, Mehmood Mehboob Khan have been arrested from Zaheerabad, Telangana, Hyderabad for the same crimes. They used to run a drug manufacturing factory in their farmhouse. MD was manufactured here. Apart from this, Chloroform Actone, Hydraulic Acid and MD Lap were also found in the farmhouse. Rs 6.22 crore worth of drugs and cash worth Rs 20.72 crore were seized from here. This operation will continue. Niket Kaushik said that the police have exposed the drug racket in a phased manner and taken action against it. At the same time, criminals do this drug trade because it is more profitable and in such a situation, the police and crime branch are continuously conducting operations to curb drug dealers and a significant success has been achieved in this.
Maharashtra
Mumbai Local Harbour Line Extension Moves Ahead: Western Railway Floats ₹87-Crore Tender Amid Land Acquisition Challenges

Mumbai: The long-pending Harbour Line extension between Goregaon and Borivali has gained fresh momentum after Western Railway floated an Rs 86.51-crore tender for a key civil works package under the Mumbai Urban Transport Project (MUTP)-3A. The move is being seen as a significant step towards improving suburban rail connectivity in Mumbai’s western suburbs.
According to a media report citing details shared by Western Railway, the tender, invited on May 27, covers earthwork, construction of major and minor bridges, side drains, retaining structures and boundary walls required for the proposed Harbour Line extension corridor.
The overall project is estimated to cost around Rs 898 crore, including Rs 728 crore for civil engineering works, Rs 88 crore for electrical infrastructure and Rs 82 crore for signalling and telecommunication systems.
The proposed extension will connect Goregaon and Borivali, offering commuters an alternative suburban rail route and helping reduce congestion on the heavily crowded Western Railway corridor. The project is expected to strengthen east-west and north-south connectivity across Mumbai’s expanding suburban network.
Project documents indicate that two major bridges and sixteen minor bridges are planned along the alignment. Four engineering-scale plans are currently awaiting approvals, while designs for several bridge structures are under preparation.
However, land acquisition and rehabilitation continue to remain major hurdles. The project requires a total of 3,688 square metres of land, including 3,389 square metres of private land and 299 square metres of government land. Authorities have identified 520 project-affected persons (PAPs), of whom 178 have already been allotted rehabilitation units. Additionally, 141 families residing on private land are expected to be affected by the project.
Several challenges that need to be addressed before construction can gather pace. These include completion of land acquisition proceedings, rehabilitation of remaining project-affected families, removal of encroachments and utilities along nearly 46 per cent of the project alignment, and approval of pending bridge drawings and work packages.
Despite the obstacles, railway officials believe the fresh tender marks tangible progress for a project that has been awaiting implementation for years. Once completed, the Harbour Line extension is expected to provide direct connectivity between Mumbai’s western suburbs and the Harbour corridor, benefiting lakhs of daily commuters and easing pressure on existing suburban rail services.
Maharashtra
Mumbai Accident: 82-Year-Old Man On Way To Meet Granddaughter Killed By Speeding Biker In Andheri

Mumbai: In a tragic incident, an 82-year-old man was killed after being hit by a speeding bike on the Lokhandwala Back Road in Andheri West. The residents have raised concerns over reckless driving in the area.
According to a post shared by AndheriLOCA on X (formerly Twitter), the deceased has been identified as Radhakrishna K. P. Menon, a resident of Four Bungalows in Andheri. The accident occurred on May 31 when Menon was on his way to meet his granddaughter as part of his regular evening routine.
As he was walking along Lokhandwala Back Road, a biker, who was allegedly travelling at high speed, reportedly lost control of the vehicle and crashed into him. The impact was so severe that Menon died on the spot. The 82-year-old would routinely leave his residence in Four Bungalows and walk up to SVP Nagar to meet his granddaughter.
Moreover, the condition of the biker is also not good, who is currently hospitalised in Kokilaben Hospital.
The incident has sparked outrage among residents, who have urged authorities to take strict action against rash driving and speeding on Lokhandwala Back Road to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
Meanwhile, in another similar incident, a 55-year-old man was killed after a speeding Maruti Suzuki Brezza allegedly crashed into four vehicles in Nehrunagar, Kurla. The driver reportedly took the injured victim to a hospital but fled without informing the police.
Last week, a 74-year-old man allegedly lost control of his car and rammed into a roadside vegetable stall in Mulund, killing a woman on the spot and seriously injuring a mother and her two-year-old child.
According to the police, the accident occurred around 6.30 pm near the City of Joy Nirmal Lifestyle Society on Cement Road in Mulund. The accused driver was driving his Kia car out of the building premises when another vehicle allegedly appeared in front of him. The elderly driver has been taken into police custody and a case has been registered. Officials said the condition of the two-year-old child remains critical.
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