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Maharashtra

Mumbai’s Shivaji Park Gymkhana Reopens After Grand Makeover; Sachin Tendulkar Leads Inauguration, Says ‘Remember Spending My Childhood Here

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Mumbai: Mumbai’s Shivaji Park, a site deeply embedded in the Marathi cultural and sporting ethos, witnessed yet another historic moment as the renovated Shivaji Park Gymkhana (SPG) was inaugurated in a grand ceremony on Monday. The atmosphere inside the iconic ground was filled with enthusiasm and applause, especially as cricketing legend Bharat Ratna Sachin Tendulkar performed the ribbon-cutting.

The inauguration was marked by loud cheers, with the audience rising to welcome Tendulkar, whose career has long been linked to Shivaji Park. Alongside him, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray, Shiv Sena UBT leader Milind Narvekar, Mahesh Sawant and other dignitaries were present to celebrate the occasion.

Speaking at the event, Tendulkar recalled his childhood memories of the park, saying, “I remember spending my childhood here. We used to come to have vada pav, but now this gymkhana is ready, and many people contributed to its creation. Raj Thackeray played an important role in getting permissions and even in shaping the design.”

The gymkhana, which remained closed for nearly a year and a half due to renovation, now sports a refreshed, modern look. Its interiors are done up in shades of Wimbledon green and beige, giving the heritage structure a contemporary touch while preserving its legacy. SPG secured its Occupation Certificate (OC) on September 19 and reopened within three days, much to the delight of its nearly 3,000 member families.

Among the major highlights of the redevelopment is the plan to launch a women’s cricket team, in line with the growing prominence of Indian women’s cricket. The management has ensured proper infrastructure, including separate changing rooms and restrooms for female players, especially those participating in Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) tournaments.

Founded in 1909 as the New Maharashtra Cricket Club, the institution later evolved into the Shivaji Park Gymkhana. The current clubhouse was first inaugurated in 1931, and by 1942, the gymkhana had expanded to its present 19,000 square yards. Over the decades, it has been known as the “Nursery of Indian Cricket,” producing some of India’s finest players.

It was here that Tendulkar began his training under the legendary coach Ramakant Achrekar. For many, SPG remains inseparable from his story, a cradle of talent that continues to shape Mumbai’s cricketing future. With its new look and renewed vision, the Shivaji Park Gymkhana is now ready to inspire generations to come.

Maharashtra

Kasturba Marg Police recover 100 stolen mobile phones, return them to their original owners

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Acting on complaints regarding stolen and lost mobile phones within the jurisdiction of the Kasturba Marg Police Station in Mumbai, police analyzed data from the CEIR portal and conducted technical investigations. By verifying device details, IMEI numbers, and user information, officers from the Kasturba Marg Police Station tracked down and recovered a total of 100 mobile phones from locations across Mumbai and other parts of Maharashtra.

The total estimated value of the 100 recovered mobile phones is ₹2,270,658. Of these, 18 phones have already been returned to their respective owners/complainants, including: 1) Rajendra Puri, 2) Khush Saw, 3) Kripa Lodhiya, 4) Shreya Satam, 5) Atul Sathe, 6) Priyanka Mistri, 7) Banu Tarang, 8) Prem Gupta, 9) Adya Shaikh, 10) Shweta Shah, 11) Sandhya Pandit, 12) Deepak Sawdekar, 13) Saurabh Jhangar, 14) Ketan Shete, 15) Onkar Raut, 16) Jayalal Yadav, 17) Lakshmi Appa Kripagiri, and 18) Praveen Dubey. The process of returning the remaining phones to their owners is currently underway.

This operation was carried out under the supervision of the DCP (North, Zone 3), Mumbai, by the team at Kasturba Marg Police Station, led by Balasaheb Bunkar.

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Crime

CBI books Mumbai firm, officials in Rs 93.44 crore loan fraud case

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Mumbai, Oct 3: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) conducted searches at multiple premises in Mumbai and registered a Rs 93.44 crore bank fraud case against officials of Hanjer Biotech Energies on the complaint of Punjab National Bank, an official said on Saturday.

The CBI conducted searches on Friday at multiple premises linked to the directors of Hanjer Biotech Energies in Mumbai, the CBI said in a statement.

The CBI registered the instant case on September 30, 2026, on the complaint of Punjab National Bank, SAM Branch, Mumbai, against Hanjer Biotech Energies, its directors and guarantors, unknown public servants and unknown private persons.

The accused were booked for offences of criminal conspiracy for cheating and offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act, resulting in alleged wrongful loss of approximately Rs 93.44 Crore to the bank.

It was alleged that the accused entered into a criminal conspiracy, obtained term loan of Rs 135 crore on the invoices of its related party and diverted/siphoned off the funds for other purposes for which it was not sanctioned, causing loss to the bank, the CBI said.

During the searches on Friday, incriminating bank documents and property documents relevant to the investigation were recovered and seized.

Investigation is continuing to ascertain the full extent of the conspiracy, identify the role of all involved persons, including public servants and private individuals, and trace the end-use of the loan funds, the CBI said.

In a separate case on Friday, the CBI arrested an Executive Engineer of the Central Public Works Department (CPWD), Mumbai, his relative and three officials of a Mumbai-based real estate group, in a Rs 50 lakh bribery case related to the issuance of a No-Objection Certificate (NOC) for a land parcel.

Vikrant Verma, Executive Engineer, CPWD Mumbai; Saurav Gupta, Verma’s relative based in Pune; and Arvind Semwal, Vice President, Baya Company, were among those named in the FIR by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Thursday, an official said.

The arrested accused were produced before the Special CBI Judge in Mumbai on Friday, the official said in a statement.

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Maharashtra

Monsoon Withdraws Further from Maharashtra; Hot and Humid Weather Alert Issued for Konkan Region

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MUMBAI PRESS — The India Meteorological Department (IMD) announced on Saturday, October 3, 2026, that the Southwest Monsoon has withdrawn from parts of Maharashtra, as well as the remaining regions of North India, Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh.

The current withdrawal line of the Southwest Monsoon passes through Harnai, Baramati, Parbhani, and Brahmapuri in Maharashtra, extending northeastward through Raipur, Ranchi, and Supaul. Weather officials stated that conditions are favorable for further retreat from most parts of Marathwada, Vidarbha, and additional areas of Madhya Maharashtra over the next 2 to 3 days.

Hot and Humid Stretch for Coastal Maharashtra
Residents in the coastal belt should prepare for elevated discomfort over the weekend. The IMD has issued a hot and humid weather warning for Konkan & Goa prevailing from October 3 through October 5.
Following this dry and muggy stretch, mild weather activity is expected to return to the region. Isolated to scattered rainfall is forecast across Konkan & Goa and Madhya Maharashtra between October 6 and October 9.

Southern and Northeastern Forecast
While monsoon forces retreat from central and northern parts of India, southern states are bracing for heavy downpours. Isolated heavy rainfall is predicted over Kerala, Mahe, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Karaikal from October 4 to October 6, with South Interior Karnataka expected to receive heavy spells on October 5 and 6.

In the northeast, isolated heavy rainfall is expected to continue over Assam, Meghalaya, and Arunachal Pradesh through October 3.

Advisory for Fishermen
Due to lower-tropospheric cyclonic circulations over the Arabian Sea, the IMD has urged fishermen not to venture into the sea along and off the Kerala coast, Lakshadweep, Maldives, and the Comorin area on October 3. Farmers in heavy rainfall zones have also been advised to ensure proper field drainage and move harvested crops to covered storage to prevent crop damage.

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