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Maharashtra

Mumbai: Served 14 years in prison, says Arun Gawli seeking premature release

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Incarcerated gangster-turned-politician Arun Gulab Gawli, 71, has approached the Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court seeking his premature release. He made the case on the ground that he has crossed the age of 65 years and completed 14 years of life imprisonment, which entitles him to such a relief as per a January 10, 2006 government circular and a December 31, 1999 government direction. His application was heard last week by the division bench of Justices Vinay Joshi and Valmiki SA Menezes. The bench asked the Maharashtra government to file a reply by March 15. The FPJ has accessed a copy of Gawli’s plea submitted to the court.

The plea of Gawli, who was convicted for his alleged role in the murder of Shiv Sena corporator Kamlakar Jamsandekar, argued that a subsequent government notification of December 1, 2015, which exempts those convicted under the MCOCA (Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act), like him, from availing the benefit of remission under the 2006 notification, is not applicable in his case as he was convicted in 2012.

On March 2, 2007, Jamsandekar was shot dead at his residence in suburban Ghatkopar. According to the police’s charge-sheet, Rs30 lakh was allegedly paid to the Gawli gang for eliminating the Sena corporator over a land deal. Gawli had denied the allegations.

Gawli was arrested on May 21, 2008, while the charges against him were framed by the trial court in October 2008. On August 31, 2012, Gawli and others were convicted, inter alia, and awarded life imprisonment in the case. He has been lodged at the Nagpur central jail.

Talking to The FPJ, Gawli’s lawyer Mir Nagman Ali said, ‘‘With the petition, my client Arun Gawli is seeking his premature release on completion of his 14 years of sentence of imprisonment and 65 years of age as per the government policy of 1999 and 2006 that existed on the date of his conviction.” According to Ali, the State Government had on December 31, 1999, issued directions for release of prisoners who have completed the age of 65 years and undergone 14 years of life imprisonment. On January 10, 2006, the Home Department had further issued directions in the same regards.

Gawli’s plea read that as per his medical history, it was “clearly established that the petitioner is suffering from serious ailments” and that he is “weak and infirm”. It further said that “the petitioner’s wife” had preferred an application before the respondents seeking his premature release on the strength of the government orders and decisions pertaining to 1999 and 2006.

The plea stated that he was informed by the “Advisory Board” that his request for premature release was rejected. “However, the petitioner was not given the reason for rejection of his application,” read the plea. It said that Gawli had therefore applied under the Right To Information Act, seeking certified true copy of the decision taken by the Advisory Board. “However, the said information sought by the petitioner has not yet been supplied to the petitioner,” read the plea.

(Source: FPJ)

Maharashtra

Mumbai Metro 3: MMRC Plans To Boost Ridership On Aqua Line Through Discounts, Exclusive Offers & More

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Mumbai: The Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation (MMRC), operator of the city’s underground Aqua Line (Metro Line 3), is preparing a promotional push to increase ridership on its newest corridor. Officials are considering discount schemes, corporate tie-ups and digital collaborations to attract more passengers, with formal decisions expected later this week.

Phase-wise Inauguration Of Mumbai’s 1st Underground Metro

The 33.5 km Aqua Line connects Cuffe Parade in south Mumbai to Aarey in the western suburbs and is being opened in phases. The first stretch, from Aarey-JVLR to Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC), began operations on October 7, 2024. The second segment, from BKC to Worli’s Acharya Atre Chowk, was inaugurated on May 9 this year and opened to commuters the next day. The final leg to Cuffe Parade is scheduled for launch by the end of August.

Currently, a 12.69 km operational stretch, including the recently opened 9.77 km section, carries over 52,500 passengers daily on weekdays. Before the Worli extension opened, the average ridership per trip was just 91 passengers, far below the trains’ maximum capacity of 2,500. MMRC had projected 1.4 million daily passengers once the entire line is functional.

To bridge the gap, the MMRC plans to appoint an external agency to market the metro, identify major commercial and residential hubs near stations and set up promotional kiosks,QR codes at these kiosks will link commuters to the metro’s mobile app. Officials are also considering offering discount coupons for first-time monthly pass users to encourage a shift from road-based transport.

Potential partnerships include collaborations with online platforms, mobile wallets, IRCTC and Indian Railways’ UTS app for ticket bookings. The MMRC is also exploring the integration of Line 3 into Google Maps to improve trip planning. For last-mile connectivity, talks are underway with private taxi operators, e-bike providers, intermediate public transport services and bus operators.

While these promotional activities may be rolled out only by late 2025, a few months after the full line becomes operational, MMRC says the effort is a first-of-its-kind initiative for the corporation. “Such a thing has not been done earlier.

The Aqua Line project’s cost has risen sharply to Rs 37,275.5 crore from the initial Rs 23,136 crore, mainly due to construction delays and legal battles. Environmentalists had earlier opposed tree felling in south Mumbai and the location of the car depot at Aarey Milk Colony, leading to prolonged disputes before work could proceed.

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Crime

Mumbai Teen Sexually Assaulted By Five Over Three Months; Police Arrest One, Detain Four juveniles

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Mumbai: A 15-year-old girl was allegedly raped by five persons on multiple occasions over three months in central Mumbai, police said on Monday.

The police on Sunday arrested a 25-year-old man and detained four juveniles in connection with the sexual assault in the Kalachowki area, an official said.

He said the matter came to light in the early hours of Sunday when the girlfriend of one of the accused arrived at the teen’s house and confronted her about being in a relationship with her boyfriend.

The school girl’s parents then checked her mobile phone and found some videos and messages about her physical relationship with the accused, and subsequently approached the police, he said.

Based on the complaint filed by the girl’s parents, a case was registered against five persons under sections pertaining to gang rape and other relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) Act and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, the official said.

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Maharashtra

Navi Mumbai: Major Fire Breaks Out At Shushrusha Hospital In Nerul, Patients Evacuated Safely

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Navi Mumbai: A major fire broke out at Shushrusha Hospital in Nerul on Monday. The hospital is located at Plot No. 22/A, Phase III, Palm Beach Road, Sector 6, Nerul West, Navi Mumbai.

In the video footage, patients can be seen being safely evacuated from the hospital. The fire brigade promptly reached the spot and brought the situation under control. The cause of the fire has not yet been determined.

As per the initial report, the Fire started in the X-ray room. OPD patients were immediately evacuated. 21 patients in the ICU were shifted to NMMC hospital

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