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Mumbai News: ED Searches 9 Premises Linked To NCP Leader, Sharad Pawar’s Close Aide In Connection With Money Laundering Case

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Mumbai: The Enforcement Directorate conducted searches on Thursday and Friday at nine locations, encompassing both official and residential premises of three Jalgaon-based jewellery firms. The promoters and directors of these firms were subjected to these searches in connection with three instances of bank fraud.

These cases involve Ishwarlal Jain, a former Rajya Sabha member and a close associate of Sharad Pawar. Ishwarlal Jain also held the position of the former treasurer of the party. The searches were carried out by the Enforcement Directorate across multiple locations, including Jalgaon, Mumbai, Thane, Aurangabad, Nagpur, and a few others.

ED searches were based on Money Laundering Investigation related to an alleged bank fraud case that caused a total loss of Rs.353 crore to the state Bank of India.

Details On The Case

The current ED search is rooted in an FIR registered by the CBI in 2022 against a jewellery firm associated with Ishwarlal Jain and others. This FIR was prompted by complaints lodged by the State Bank of India. The SBI alleged irregularities in the transactions involving three accused firms: Rajmal Lakhichand Jewellers Pvt Ltd, Manraj Jewellers Pvt Ltd and RL Gold Pvt Ltd. These irregularities are related to transactions with the SBI, spanning the period from 2002 to 2014.

Their promoters, directors and guarantors –Ishwarlal Shaankarala Jain Lalwani, Manish Ishwarlal Jain Lalwani, Pushadevi Ishwarlal Jain Lalwani and Neekita Manish Jain Lalwani who were named as accused in CBI complaint. According to SBI complain to CBI, Rajmal Lakhichand Jewellers caused a loss of Rs 206.73 crore to the bank, RL Gold Caused a Rs 68.19 crore loss and Manraj Jewellers a Rs 76.57 Crore loss.

ED sources reported the seizure of important documents and digital evidence during the search related to the bank fraud. In December 2022, the CBI registered the FIR and also conducted a raid on the jewellery firm at that time, recovering numerous pieces of paper relevant to the bank fraud.

Ishwarlal Jain: Senior Pawar’s Close Aide In NCP

Ishwarlal Jain Lalwani was a prominent leader of the NCP party and was known to have a close association with Sharad Pawar. According to the registered FIR, the three accused companies allegedly sold goods worth Rs. 10,187 crore to a partnership firm during 2010-11 to 2017-18 and bought goods worth Rs. 9,925 crore. despite request from forensic audits, the financials of the company Rajmal Lakhichand were not allegedly provided by the promoters. The bank had alleged that the accused had colluded and committed illegal activities, including forgery by manipulation and submission of fake financial statements and fabrication of factitious transactions.

The entire case pertains to the default of the loan. The bank alleged in the complaint that the mortgaged assets had been sold without seeking its permission which resulted in the loss of security against the loan granted and that the recovery of loans got seriously jeopardised.

The bank also alleged that the accused firms availed the credit facility from SBI but misappropriate their process by their process by diverting them for non-sectioned purpose.the loan accounts had turned into non Performing Assets.

Maharashtra

Mega Block On Sunday, Feb 9: Services To Remain Suspended On Harbour, Central & Western Lines; Check Details

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Mumbai: Central Railway’s Mumbai Division will operate a mega block on its suburban sections on Sunday, February 9, as well as on western and harbour routes, to carry out various engineering and maintenance works. On central, mainly UP and DOWN fast services will be affected, which will use the slow track between a few stations below. In western, some trains will be cancelled.


Down Fast Line (CSMT to Mulund):

From 10:58 am to 3:10 pm, DN fast line trains departing from CSMT Mumbai will be diverted on DN slow at Matunga halting in line with their respective halts between Matunga and Mulund station. The train is expected to be delayed by 15 minutes. At Mulund station, fast trains heading beyond Thane will be diverted onto the DN fast line.

Fast Trains Services:

UP fast line services leaving Thane From 11:25 am to 3:27 pm, diverted on a slow line at Mulund, arriving 15 minutes late.

Harbour Line Services:

DOWN Harbour line services to CSMT to Vashi/Belapur/Panvel (11:16 am – 4:47 pm) and CSMT to Bandra/Goregaon (10:48 am – 4:43 pm) are cancelled.

UP Harbour line services from Panvel/Belapur/Vashi to CSMT (9:53 am – 3:20 pm) and Goregaon/Bandra to CSMT (10:45 am – 5:13 pm) are also cancelled.

Special Panvel-Kurla-Panvel services will run during the block. Passengers can travel via Main/Western Lines from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm.

Transharbour Line

No Block

Uran Line

No Block

Western line services:

From 10:00 pm on February 8 to 11:00 am on February 9 all UP/DN Fast line trains between Grant Road and Mumbai Central will run on slow lines.

Some trains will be cancelled or short-terminated at Bandra/Dadar.

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Maharashtra

‘BJP Would Have Lost In 1st Hour Of Counting If..’: Sanjay Raut On 2025 Delhi Election Results

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Mumbai: As the BJP leads in the Delhi Assembly election trends, Shiv Sena UBT leader Sanjay Raut has pointed out the impact of a divided opposition. He remarked that the competition remains tight but suggested that a Congress-AAP alliance could have changed the outcome. He stated that both parties aimed to keep the BJP out of power but failed to unite, which might have secured the BJP’s defeat in the first hour of counting.

On BJP’s lead in Delhi Election trends, Raut said, “… The early trends show a sharp competition. Had Congress and AAP been together, the results may have been different… The political opponent of AAP and Congress is BJP. Both of them fought to keep BJP from coming to power, but they fought individually. If they had been together then BJP’s defeat must have been confirmed in the first hour (of counting)…”

Omar Abdullah’s Dig At INDIA Bloc Allies

Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah took a swipe at his India bloc allies, Congress and AAP over their separate contest in Delhi. Sharing a popular meme on X, he sarcastically suggested that the two parties continue fighting amongst themselves. The meme, which read, “Jee bhar kar lado. Samaapt kardo ek dusre ko!” was accompanied by his caption, “Aur lado aapas mein!!!” implying that their disunity had cost them dearly in the elections.

Abdullah’s remark follows the BJP’s lead in 45 out of 70 seats in the Delhi legislature, as per ECI trends. His criticism comes in light of Congress and AAP contesting separately, despite being allies under the INDIA bloc. This division seemingly played into the BJP’s hands, allowing them to consolidate their position in the capital. Abdullah had earlier questioned the INDIA bloc’s effectiveness and the Delhi elections appear to have further fueled doubts about its unity and strategy.

BJP’s Comfortable Lead Over AAP & Congress

As per early trends from the Election Commission, the BJP has now crossed the majority mark in Delhi. The party is leading in 45 seats, while AAP is ahead in 25. With 36 seats needed for a majority, the BJP appears set to return to power in the capital after over two decades.

The AAP, which won 62 out of 70 seats in the last election, was hoping for a third consecutive term. However, the BJP’s resurgence and Congress’ inability to make a major impact have reshaped the political landscape in Delhi.

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Maharashtra

Navi Mumbai: 8,000 Contractual Workers Announce Indefinite Strike Over Wage Dispute, NMMC Refutes Allegations

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Navi Mumbai: The ongoing dispute between contractual employees and the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) over wage regularization under the Minimum Wages Act has intensified. While the employee union has announced to go on indefinite strike,  civic administration denies the allegations made. 

Indefinite Strike Announced

More than 8,000 contractual workers have announced an indefinite strike starting February 10, citing NMMC’s failure to address their long-standing grievances. “Our demands for equal pay for equal work have been consistently ignored by the administration, leaving the workers with no choice but to go on strike,” said a union member affiliated with the Samaj Samata Kamgar Sangh,

A month-long chain hunger strike had been initiated last year by the union, during which several workers reportedly fell ill and required hospitalization. “Despite this, no concessions were made by the municipal administration,”  claimed a union representative.

NMMC Refutes Allegations

However, NMMC has refuted these claims, maintaining that workers’ welfare has always been prioritized. ” Since its inception, contractual workers have been engaged through contractors for essential services such as sanitation, water supply, and healthcare, with wages being paid as per legal provisions, ” said an official.

Administration further revealed that representations were submitted to the state government on July 25, 2022, and July 18, 2023, seeking guidance on implementing equal pay for equal work for contractual employees. “In response, on September 25, 2024, the state government refused to provide financial assistance, citing existing laws and regulations, and advised NMMC to take necessary action independently,” informed the official. 

Following this, a committee was established to examine legal provisions, prevailing rules, and judicial rulings from the High Court and Supreme Court. A fact-based report is informed to have been  prepared and shared with all workers’ unions “but it was not accepted by the protesting employees. Despite multiple meetings between senior municipal officials and protestors, attempts to convince them to withdraw the strike have been unsuccessful,” said the official. 

The Municipal Commissioner is reported to have personally met the protestors and subsequently ordered the formation of a special committee, led by a retired Additional Chief Secretary of Maharashtra Government. “The committee has been instructed to submit its findings at the earliest, considering the concerns of sanitation workers. The details of this process have been shared with Samaj Samata Kamgar Sangh and seven other workers’ unions.Continuous discussions are said to be underway with all concerned unions to prevent the mass strike and ensure that essential services remain unaffected,” said the official.

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