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

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.
Maharashtra
Maharashtra Fraud: Raigad CGST Officials Bust ₹9 Crore Fake Input Tax Credit Racket; 2 Arrested In Panvel And Dombivli

Mumbai: A team of officers of Anti-Evasion, CGST & Central Excise Raigad Commissionerate, Mumbai Zone have arrested two persons involved in generating and passing on fake input tax credit (ITC) of more than Rs 9 crore by creating fictitious firms and issuing invoices without actual supply of goods/services.
Fake ITC Passed Using Fictitious Firms, Say Raigad CGST Officials
Acting upon intelligence, the team identified the fake firms being operated by the accused to avail and pass on fake ITC. The accused firm availed ineligible credit passed on by non-existent firms registered based on forged documents.
No Actual Goods Supplied, Yet Invoices Issued
The accused firm was found non-operational at the registered principal place of business evidencing no goods received or supplied. Thus, the firm had fraudulently availed/ passed on ITC in violation of CGST Act, 2017.
Panvel and Dombivli Residents Nabbed for Tax Evasion
The investigation revealed that the Directors of the firm, a resident of New Panvel and a resident of Dombivli (W) were actively involved in the fraud of government revenue.
Two Arrested for ₹9 Crore GST Fraud in Maharashtra
Both were arrested under section 69(1) of CGST Act, 2017 for offences punishable under Section 132(1)(b)/132(1)(c) of CGST Act, 2017 and produced before the Judicial Magistrate First Class, Panvel. The Court has sent them to judicial custody.
Further investigation is in progress to identify other beneficiaries and operators of this fake invoice racket.
Maharashtra
Good News For Mumbaikars! Now Book Mumbai Local Train Tickets Through WhatsApp; Ticketing Process Made Easier

Mumbai: The Railways aims to improve the local ticketing system’s convenience and is exploring the possibility of launching a ticketing system via a chat-based app such as WhatsApp. Recently, a meeting took place with organisations that are interested in this matter. Officials mentioned that the tender process will be evaluated once all the details are finalised.
Within the framework of the Digital India initiative, the Indian Railways is emphasising on transforming the ticketing system through digital means. As a result, passengers are being offered fast tickets that are cashless. The shift to digital At present, 25 per cent of travellers are reserving tickets via digital methods, and its adoption is growing daily.
In addition to the current digital ticketing system, the Railways is working on a chat-based ticketing solution to enhance convenience in ticketing. Metro travellers favor using WhatsApp for ticket bookings in the metro. Upon scanning the QR code at the ticket window, a chat interface appears.
Upon sending a Hi message, you are presented with options for ticket booking, and afterward, digital tickets can be obtained upon making the payment. 67 percent of metro fares are being reserved in this manner. What difficulties are there? Several factors need to be addressed during the creation of the WhatsApp ticketing system.
Due to the current misuse of the QR-based ticketing system via UTS, caution must be exercised in developing the new system to avoid similar vulnerabilities. We aim to create a system that will be easy for the travelers. Several alternatives are under consideration for this, including the chat-based ticketing system, Vineet Abhishek, Chief Public Relations Officer.
Crime
Mumbai Drug Bust: 24-Year-Old Arrested In Byculla With Mephedrone, Charas Worth ₹3.46 Crore In Car

Mumbai: In a major anti-drug operation, the Mumbai Police arrested a 24-year-old man in the early hours of Wednesday and recovered a large quantity of narcotics valued at over Rs 3.46 crore. The accused, identified as Sahil Junaid Ansari, a resident of Bhiwandi in Thane district, was intercepted while driving through the Byculla area of South Mumbai.
Accused Found Driving Suspiciously In Byculla Area
The incident occurred around 4 am when a team of patrolling constables, Bhabad, Bhoye and Gangurde, spotted a Maruti Ertiga car moving suspiciously near Hume Church on B.A. Road. The team flagged down the vehicle and questioned the driver about his presence at that odd hour. Ansari, however, failed to give a satisfactory response, raising the officers’ suspicions.
Alerted by constable Bhabad, night duty in-charge Police Inspector Anup Dange immediately reached the location with PSI Kolekar, PSI Asade from the Anti-Terror Cell and other detection personnel.
Details On Drugs Found In Car
A detailed search of the vehicle was conducted, during which the police found 1,710 grams of Mephedrone, commonly known as MD, concealed inside. The street value of the seized MD is estimated at Rs 3.42 crore. Additionally, 17 grams of charas worth Rs 4.5 lakh were also recovered from the car.
Police officials confirmed that Ansari has been taken into custody and booked under relevant sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. The contraband was seized and sent for forensic examination.
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