Maharashtra
Mumbai: Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut Alleges Election Commission Acting As ‘Extended Branch Of BJP’, Says Opposition Does Not Trust Poll Body
Mumbai: Shiv Sena (UBT) leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut on Sunday launched a sharp attack on the Election Commission of India, alleging that the constitutional body was functioning as an “extended branch” of the Bharatiya Janata Party and claiming that opposition parties had lost faith in the poll panel following controversies around the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise after the Bihar Assembly Elections.
Speaking to reporters, Raut questioned the independence of the Election Commission and criticised its functioning.
“I don’t know where the Election Commission’s press conference will be held. Perhaps at the BJP office,” Raut said.
The Shiv Sena (UBT) leader further alleged that the poll body was no longer functioning as an independent institution responsible for ensuring free and fair elections in the country.
“The Election Commission today is an extended branch of the BJP,” he said.
Raut also claimed that the opposition did not trust the poll body, accusing it of acting in favour of the ruling party.
“We do not trust this Election Commission. These are people who work for the BJP,” he added.
His remarks come at a time when the Election Commission has been facing criticism from sections of the opposition following the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls conducted after the Bihar Assembly elections. Opposition leaders have alleged irregularities and raised concerns over the transparency of the exercise, leading to renewed political debate over the functioning of the poll panel.
Meanwhile, the Election Commission is expected to announce the schedule for by-elections in Maharashtra’s Baramati and Rahuri assembly constituencies on Sunday, along with the much-awaited poll dates for five states.
The announcement will be made during a press conference scheduled at 4 pm. The five states where election dates are expected to be declared are Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Puducherry and Assam.
Crime
Fake cop held in Mumbai Bandra after confronting traffic police; car without number plate seized

Mumbai, Oct 3: Bandra Police have arrested a fake policeman who intimidated people by falsely impersonating a police officer in Mumbai’s Bandra area. The accused, a car mechanic, was held and a car without a number plate, along with a blue police cap, were seized.
Police said Constables Nikhilesh Hanumant Sable and Sangve, posted at Bandra Police Station, were patrolling Dr. V. Raghunath Marg when they noticed a suspicious white car parked in front of the White House building.
The car had no number plate and all its windows were covered. On looking inside, the policemen noticed a blue police cap placed on the front dashboard.
As the car was locked from inside, Constable Sable informed the Bandra Traffic Department. Traffic Police Constable Anil Koli arrived at the spot with a towing van at around 7.40 p.m.
When the towing operation began, a man arrived at the spot and allegedly started misbehaving with the traffic police personnel and towing staff. During the argument, a woman also stepped out of the car.
Police questioned the man about the police cap and the vehicle without a number plate. However, he allegedly gave vague answers. During questioning, his identity was established and police found that he was not a police officer.
The accused has been identified as Fahad Farid Khan, 37, a car mechanic and resident of Bandra West. Police said he was unable to produce any documents related to the vehicle.
According to the investigation, Khan posed as a police officer by keeping a police cap on the dashboard of his car, apparently to intimidate members of the public and traffic police personnel.
Bandra Police have registered a case against the accused and arrested him. Further investigation is underway to determine where the accused obtained the seized vehicle from and establish other details related to the case.
Mumbai Police said the investigation is ongoing.
Maharashtra
Mumbai: BMC directed to strictly implement ‘Air Pollution Control and Enforcement Action Plan 2026’: Mayor Ritu Tawde

To curb air pollution in Mumbai, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has formulated the ‘Air Pollution Control and Implementation Action Plan-2026’. The objective of this plan is to implement effective measures against various sources of pollution and take strict action against violators.
Under the guidance of Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde, Deputy Mayor Sanjay Ghadi, and Municipal Commissioner Ashwini Bhide, Assistant Commissioners of all administrative wards have been directed to implement the ‘Air Pollution Control and Implementation Action Plan-2026’.
Under this action plan, at least 10 air pollution hotspots will be identified in each administrative ward, and an updated list accompanied by maps will be prepared. These hotspots will include major construction and redevelopment projects, infrastructure works, sites of open waste burning, debris dumping grounds, and traffic congestion zones. A designated officer will be appointed for each hotspot to ensure regular monitoring.
Controlling Pollution at Construction Sites
The existing 28-point guidelines for construction and demolition sites will be strictly enforced. Construction sites found violating these norms will be issued ‘show-cause’ and ‘stop-work’ notices; if necessary, action will also be taken to seal the premises. Each inspection team has been directed to inspect at least two construction sites daily. During demolition work, the installation of proper barricades, covering the site with tarpaulins or green netting, and continuous fine water spraying will be mandatory.
Special cleaning drive to reduce road dust:
A ‘Post-Monsoon Deep Cleaning Drive’ will be conducted during the first and second weeks of October to remove the soil, mud, and dust that accumulated on roads following the monsoon. Special cleaning operations will be carried out on major roads, medians, intersections, and road shoulders. Where necessary, roads will be washed with recycled water or treated with a fine water spray.
It is now mandatory for developers or contractors to keep adjacent roads clean in proportion to the size of the construction site. Roads must be kept clean for a distance of up to 100 meters for projects up to 4,000 square meters, up to 200 meters for projects between 4,000 and 10,000 square meters, and up to 500 meters on both sides for projects larger than 10,000 square meters. Regulations for Debris-Carrying Vehicles
Vehicles transporting debris from construction and demolition activities must be fully covered, and their wheels must be cleaned before entering public roads. The transportation and disposal of debris will be managed through the ‘Mumbai Debris Control and Tracking System’ (MDCTS). Instructions have also been issued to ensure that concrete or other materials do not spill onto roads from ‘Ready-Mix Concrete’ (RMC) vehicles.
Open Burning of Waste and Vehicular Pollution
Strict action will be taken against the open burning of waste across Mumbai. Such incidents will be monitored by ward-level marshals and CCTV surveillance systems. Furthermore, special ‘PUC’ (Pollution Under Control) inspection drives will be conducted on major traffic routes and high-congestion areas, and action will be taken against vehicles emitting visible smoke, in accordance with regulations.
Additional Measures in Case of Rising Air Quality Index (AQI)
The Air Quality Index will be continuously monitored, and measures under the ‘Graded Response Action Plan’ (GRAP) will be implemented based on the situation. If the AQI exceeds 200, measures such as deep cleaning, road washing (where necessary), water sprinkling, misting, and a strict ban on open waste burning will be enforced in the affected areas. Arrangements have also been made to halt polluting activities within a 2-kilometer radius of a monitoring station if the AQI remains above 300 for three consecutive days.
To ensure Mumbai’s air remains clean and eco-friendly, the implementation of this comprehensive action plan will be regularly reviewed at the ward level. Furthermore, Additional Municipal Commissioner (Eastern Suburbs) Dr. Avinash Dhakne has directed that necessary precautionary and enforcement measures be taken against major sources of air pollution.
Maharashtra
A memorandum containing lakhs of voters’ signatures from 56 places in support of removing Gyanesh Kumar will be presented to the Governor: Raees Sheikh

Mumbai: Voters in Bhiwandi launched a signature campaign on Friday demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The campaign is being led by Rais Shaikh, the Samajwadi Party MLA from Bhiwandi East. MLA Rais Shaikh stated that a memorandum bearing the signatures of hundreds of thousands of citizens would be submitted to the Governor.
Providing details, MLA Rais Shaikh said the signature campaign began today after Friday prayers at 56 locations across Bhiwandi East. Separate arrangements have been made for male and female voters to sign. The campaign, conducted by Samajwadi Party workers, received an overwhelming response on its very first day. This signature campaign against Gyanesh Kumar will continue for the next eight days.
A Samajwadi Party delegation will meet Maharashtra Governor C.P. Radhakrishnan and submit a memorandum containing the signatures of hundreds of thousands of Bhiwandi voters, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. MLA Rais Shaikh reported that approximately 30,000 voters signed the petition across the 56 centers on the first day alone.
The irregularities discovered during the ‘Special and Intensive Revision’ (SIR) of voter lists are a serious matter; during this process, the names of 120 million (12 crore) voters across the country were deleted. Major irregularities have been found in the ‘ERO-Net’ system regarding the process of name modification and deletion. Over the past ten months, two Election Commissioners have raised objections to Gyanesh Kumar’s working methods on 14 separate occasions. MLA Rais Shaikh stated that Gyanesh Kumar has acted to benefit the ruling BJP and has no right to remain in his position.
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