Mumbai: Mumbai woke up to light to moderate showers on Saturday morning. The city and its suburbs largely remained under a blanket of thick clouds, with intermittent drizzle adding to the damp weather. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the maximum temperature in the city is likely to settle around 30 degrees Celsius, while the minimum may hover near 24 degrees Celsius.

Through the day, skies are expected to remain generally cloudy, with showers intensifying slightly by evening. Coastal winds will continue to bring moisture-laden clouds into Mumbai and other parts of the Konkan belt, where moderate rainfall has also been predicted. Importantly, no rain alerts have been issued for any district, easing concerns of severe flooding or traffic disruptions that usually accompany heavy downpours in the region.

For the next few days, the IMD has forecast varied conditions for Mumbai and adjoining districts. On September 21 and 22, widespread moderate rainfall is expected under a generally cloudy sky. These two days may see consistent showers, keeping outdoor activities limited and adding to the waterlogging risks in low-lying areas. By September 23, however, the city may see a break in the wet spell with partly cloudy skies and occasional spells of rain or thundershowers. Sunshine may peek through at intervals, though short but intense bursts of rainfall are likely.

September 24 and 25 are expected to continue with a mix of conditions, partly cloudy skies, scattered showers, and the possibility of thunder in some pockets. While much of the day on these dates may stay dry, sudden and sharp showers could still disrupt daily routines.

The IMD has linked the current weather pattern to a trough forming along the Telangana–Vidarbha border, which has been intensifying rainfall across several regions of Maharashtra. On September 20, heavy to very heavy rains are predicted in many districts, prompting the weather department to issue a yellow alert for 20 districts across the state.

Navi Mumbai: The Crime Branch Unit-3 has arrested a jewellery store driver for allegedly staging a robbery and siphoning off gold ornaments and cash worth Rs 5.90 lakh in Panvel.

The accused, identified as Shailesh Dilip Kamble (38), an employee of B.B. Banthia Jewellers, had falsely claimed he was robbed by two unidentified men near Khanda Colony railway bridge on September 11.

Police said Kamble was assigned to collect jewellery and cash from the company’s offices in Khanda Colony and Kalamboli. Instead of delivering it, he allegedly hid the valuables inside the dickey of his electric TVS iQube scooter.

Later, he fabricated a story that two men on a Pulsar motorcycle, wearing helmets, had accosted him at knifepoint and snatched the ornaments and money. Based on his complaint, a case of armed robbery was registered at Khandeshwar Police Station.

A parallel investigation was carried out by Crime Branch Unit-3 under the supervision of ACP (Crime) Ajaykumar Landge and Senior PI Avinash Kaldat. During the probe led by API Pawan Nandre, PSI Abhaysingh Shinde, and their team, several discrepancies were found in Kamble’s statement.

No suspicious movement or persons were seen at the alleged crime spot, further raising doubts. On sustained interrogation, Kamble confessed to staging the robbery and handed over the jewellery hidden in his scooter.

“The accused tried to mislead police by staging a dramatic robbery, but his version was full of inconsistencies. He finally admitted to the crime and the entire amount has been recovered,” said ACP (Crime) Ajaykumar Landge. Police said Kamble has been arrested and further investigation is underway.

Mumbai: The Mumbai State Urdu Sahitya Academy is celebrating its Golden Jubilee this year and the Mahayuti government has not kept its promise by providing only Rs 1.2 crore in the Golden Jubilee year. Samajwadi Party MLA from Bhiwandi East Raees Sheikh has alleged that the state government is deliberately discriminating against minority institutions. MLA Sheikh has also demanded Rs 50 crore from Minority Affairs Minister Manekrao Kokate.

Giving details in this regard, MLA Raees Sheikh said that under the government decision on Thursday, a minor fund of Rs 1 crore 20 lakh has been distributed to the Urdu Sahitya Academy for organizing the Golden Jubilee program and a minor fund of Rs 11 lakh 76 thousand for the establishment of the academy.

I had a meeting with the then Minority Affairs Minister Dattatreya Bhar on July 8, in which a permanent fund of Rs 50 crore will be kept for the academy for a period of 50 years. It was also assured that the academy would be given a grant of Rs 5 crore every year. A letter was sent to the current Minority Affairs Minister Manikrao Kokate in August, demanding a fund of Rs 50 crore for organizing various programs for the golden jubilee year of the academy.

The state government has violated all the provisions of the meeting by providing meager funds in the government decision published yesterday. The number of Urdu speakers in Maharashtra is 75 lakh and 25 Urdu dailies are published. Urdu is an Indian language. While the Urdu Sahitya Academy is celebrating its golden jubilee this year, it has once again highlighted that the Mahayoti government is treating the minority community with contempt by providing meager funds. MLA Rais Sheikh said that in this regard, we will seek cooperation from Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar.