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Maharashtra

Mumbai News: BMC Appeals SC, Says Restoring Kanjur Mangroves Not Feasible Due To Lack Of Alternative Dump Site

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Mumbai: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) filed a Special Leave Petition (SLP) in the Supreme Court, challenging the Bombay High Court’s directive to restore a 142-hectare landfill in Kanjurmarg to its original mangrove forest status.

No Viable Alternative For Waste Disposal

The civic body, in its plea filed on July 26, claimed it has no viable alternative land for the disposal of 90 per cent of Mumbai’s solid waste, currently being dumped at the Kanjur site.

The High Court had issued the restoration order in May, citing violations of the Forest Conservation Act. The land, originally classified as a protected forest, was permitted for use as a dumping ground in 2006 under the condition that mangroves would remain untouched. However, a 2009 notification by the Maharashtra government de-notified the entire stretch, triggering legal action by environmental NGO Vanashakti.

BMC Claims Parts Of Dumping Site Mistakenly Notified As Protected Forest Land

In March this year, the High Court ordered BMC to restore 119.91 hectares of the site back to its forest condition. The BMC’s Supreme Court plea contends that a July 2008 notification mistakenly included parts of the waste disposal site as protected forest land. The state, upon realising the error, attempted to correct it and filed an application in the High Court to that effect.

The BMC has argued that the Maharashtra government later issued a 2012 notification clarifying that only 118.41 hectares of land were to be used for dumping, explicitly excluding 23.26 hectares covered by mangroves. The civic body stated that the High Court’s ruling failed to consider this clarification and wrongly concluded that the state lacked the authority to make such a correction without the Centre’s approval.

Vanashakti Organisation Chief Slams Timing Of Plea

Calling the High Court’s order ‘erroneous,’ the BMC urged the Supreme Court to quash the decision. Reacting strongly to the appeal, Vanashakti director and petitioner Stalin D criticised the timing. “The HC gave BMC three months to act. But we were served notice of the SLP only on Thursday, a day before Friday’s hearing. This was clearly strategised and unethical. We’ll attend the hearing virtually and challenge it head-on, The case now moves to the apex court, where a final decision on the fate of the Kanjurmarg mangroves awaits.

Crime

Mumbai: 4-Year-Old Girl With Mental Health Condition Dies After Accidentally Falling Into Water Bucket In Malad East

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Mumbai: A four-year-old girl tragically died after accidentally falling headfirst into a water-filled bucket at her home in Malad East. The incident occurred on August 19, when her family was collecting water during the limited supply hours. She was rushed to a nearby hospital, where doctors declared her dead. The Dindoshi police have registered a case of accidental death.

Police Note Child Had Mental Health Condition

The deceased, identified as Akriti Yadav, lived with her parents and two siblings in Rajiv Gandhi Nagar, Malad East. Her parents work as daily wage labourers. According to the police, Akriti had a mental health condition.

On the morning of the incident, Akriti’s parents and relatives woke up early to store water in buckets, tubs and drums. Sometime later, Akriti woke up, walked towards one of the buckets, and accidentally toppled in headfirst. A family member noticed her legs protruding from the bucket and immediately raised an alarm.

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Maharashtra

Tejashwi Yadav In Legal Trouble! FIR Filed Against RJD Leader In Maharashtra’s Gadchiroli Over ‘Defamatory’ Remarks On PM Modi

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Gadchiroli (Maharashtra): The Maharashtra Police registered a case against former Bihar Deputy Chief Minister and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav for allegedly posting defamatory and socially divisive remarks about Prime Minister Narendra Modi on social media. The First Information Report (FIR) was filed at Gadchiroli police station on Friday following a complaint by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Milind Ramji Narote.

Tejashwi’s Controversial Post Alleging PM Modi Is A Liar

Narote, who represents the Gadchiroli Assembly constituency, stated in his complaint that some party workers drew his attention to certain posts on Yadav’s official X account (@yadavtejashwi). According to him, the posts accused Prime Minister Modi of being a ‘liar’ and making false promises. The complaint further mentioned that one of the posts included a song ridiculing the Prime Minister, with lyrics claiming he ‘lies morning and evening.’

The BJP legislator said he personally verified the posts before approaching the police. He alleged that Yadav’s remarks were not only defamatory but also derogatory and socially divisive. “Such propaganda has caused resentment among sensible citizens of Gadchiroli and is aimed at disturbing peace and harmony,” the MLA said in his statement. Narote also accused Yadav of repeatedly making such comments on social media, arguing that the conduct amounted to a criminal act. To support his claims, he submitted screenshots of the posts as evidence.

Based on the complaint, police booked Yadav under several provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). These include Section 196(1)(a), which pertains to the use of words, signs, or digital communication that promote hatred or ill-will, and Section 196(1)(b), which covers acts prejudicial to the maintenance of harmony.

He was also charged under Section 356(2), relating to derogatory statements against the government intended to cause public mischief, and Section 356(3), which deals with repeated instances of such remarks. Additionally, Sections 352 and 353(2) were invoked, concerning attempts to spread disharmony or hatred through speech, writing or digital media. While police have confirmed that the FIR has been lodged, there has been no immediate reaction from Tejashwi Yadav or his party, the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD).

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Crime

Palghar Fraud: Nalasopara Gym Trainer, Wife Booked For Duping Mumbai Cosmetics Shop Owner Of Over ₹1.27 Crore In Investment Scam

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Palghar, Maharashtra: The Tulinj Police have registered a case against a gym trainer and his wife from Nalasopara for allegedly duping a Mumbai-based cosmetics shop owner of over ₹1.27 crore under the pretext of a profitable gym business investment.

Victim Details and Investment

According to police, the complainant, Ashokkaraman Van (28), originally from Gujarat and currently residing in Elphinstone, Mumbai, stated that in 2022 he and his friend Valjibhai Ravariya were persuaded by Abhishek Singh, a fitness trainer, and his wife Poonam Shukla to invest in a new gym project at Sitaram Complex, Santosh Bhavan, Nalasopara (East), Palghar district.

The couple allegedly promised high returns and assured them that the investment would be safe. Convinced by the assurances, Van invested ₹1,27,63,000 into the venture. However, despite repeated follow-ups, neither profits nor the principal amount were returned.

FIR Filed for Cheating and Criminal Breach of Trust

Realizing that they had been cheated, the complainant approached police, leading to the registration of an FIR under sections 316(2), 316(5), 31(8)(4), and 3(5) of the Indian Penal Code, pertaining to criminal breach of trust and cheating.

Investigation Underway

Police confirmed that no arrests have been made so far. The case is under investigation by Inspector Anand Pednekar of Tulinj Police Station.

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