Maharashtra
Mumbai Police Launches Probe In Mithi River Desilting Scam; EOW Raids At Several Locations
Mumbai: Mumbai Police’s Economic Offences Wing (EOW) began raids in the Mithi River desilting scam case on Tuesday. Since morning, EOW teams have been conducting raids at more than 8 locations in Mumbai, including offices and residences of contractors and BMC officials.
An FIR was filed in the case, which names five contractors, three middlemen, two company officials, and three BMC officials, accusing them of causing wrongful loss to the BMC by submitting false claims for debris removal. The scam, part of the larger Rs 1,100 crore Mithi River desilting and beautification project, has come under intense scrutiny.
Earlier in April, EOW questioned 10 contractors and asked the BMC to submit CCTV footage uploaded on its official portal that allegedly documented the quantity of debris removed from the riverbed. Cops are examining whether the debris was actually removed, and if the removal process was documented through weighing, videography or photography, as mandated in the contracts.
The investigation also includes an audit of contracts awarded for both desilting and beautification, reviewing terms and conditions, and verifying records maintained by the BMC and Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA).
This probe marked the sixth SIT formed by EOW to investigate civic contract irregularities in Mumbai, following earlier cases such as the Khichdi scam, COVID-19 centre scam, Lifeline Hospital scam and body bag procurement scam.
In March, EOW officials had already recorded statements from six civic officials directly involved in tender processes and monitoring of debris disposal. Field inspections were also conducted along a 17-km stretch of the Mithi River, with focus areas including Bandra and Kurla, to collect physical evidence.
The Mithi River desilting project dates back to post-July 2005 floods, when the Maharashtra government decided to desilt and widen the 17.8-km river stretch. Of this, the BMC was assigned responsibility for an 11.84-km section from Powai to Kurla, while the MMRDA took charge of the remaining six kilometres, from Kurla to Mahim Causeway.
In August 2024, the Maharashtra Legislative Council had directed the formation of an SIT to probe alleged financial misappropriation after BJP MLCs Prasad Lad and Pravin Darekar raised concerns in the Council.
As part of the preliminary inquiry, the EOW SIT had earlier summoned and questioned three contractors, Rishabh Jain, Manish Kasaliwala and Shersingh Rathod. The probe was later widened to include BMC officials, as evidence of irregularities in tender execution began to surface.
Maharashtra
Mumbai arms supplier arrested from Ghatkopar depot

Mumbai: Police has claimed to have arrested an arms supplier from Ghatkopar Bus Depot who had come here to supply arms to Mumbai. The Mumbai Police Ghatkopar Anti-Gang Squad received information about this. The police laid a trap and took the accused into custody and recovered two country-made pistols and four live cartridges from his possession. During the investigation, the police asked him his name and he revealed his name as Ajay Kailash, a resident of Ujjain. The police have registered a case in this matter and started the investigation. Pantnagar Police has started the investigation in this matter to find out from where the accused had brought the arms to supply arms. This action was taken by DCP Rakesh Ola on the instructions of Mumbai Police Commissioner Deven Bharti.
Crime
Thane: Man Stabbed To Death In Dombivali Hotel After Minor Altercation

Thane: A man was stabbed to death in Dombivali in Thane district during an altercation after he accidentally brushed against another person, a police official said on Monday.
The incident took place in a hotel in the early hours of Sunday in MIDC Phase 1 area, the Manpada police station official said.
“Akash Bhanu Singh (38) and his friends were having dinner at the hotel when he accidentally brushed against the accused, who picked up a fight. He along with some others stabbed Singh to death. Two of Singh’s friends, who tried to save him, also sustained injuries and have been hospitalised,” the official said.
Four persons were booked under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita sections for murder and other offences, though no arrest has been made, he said.
Crime
‘Don’t You Know Marathi?’: Vadapav Vendor & Two Others Assaulted By Four Men Over Language Dispute In Kalyan

Mumbai: In a troubling incident on Sunday night in Kalyan East near Chakkinaaka and Santoshnagar, a vadapav vendor and two of his companions were brutally assaulted by four men. The attack occurred after the assailants asked the vendor, “Do you know how to speak Marathi?” and began the assault when he did not respond affirmatively.
The vendor, identified as Vishnu Thapa, and his co-workers told police at the Colsewadi station that they work at a small eatery named Riddhi Bhojanalay. Around 8 pm two unknown men arrived at the shop, ate food and left. They returned shortly after and confronted Thapa with the question “Marathi yet nahi ka?” (“Don’t you know Marathi?”). Without waiting for a response they started beating him. He suffered serious injury to his nose in the first attack.
After the two men left, Thapa and his colleagues resumed work. Minutes later the men returned, this time bringing two others. The group of four again raised the language question and launched a fresh attack. Co-worker Madan Thapa was hit with a stone slab. Another colleague, Ali Khan, had his mobile phone smashed to the floor amid the chaos. The assailants also vandalised the shop, throwing food, utensils and trays outside.
The three victims were taken to hospital for treatment. A First Information Report has been registered at the Colsewadi police station and investigations are underway, with Police Constable Jadhav assigned to the case. Locals say the area has long been troubled by harassment of street vendors and extortion attempts; some offenders had been removed by police about 18 months ago.
The incident has raised serious concerns among workers and local vendors who feel vulnerable in the wake of such attacks. For many migrants eating and operating in the city, language and region should not become triggers for violence. City police have been urged to increase patrols in the zone and ensure protection for small street-vendors, especially during late evening hours.
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