Navi Mumbai: Members of the Navi Mumbai Hotel Owners Association staged a silent protest on Monday, July 14, at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Chowk in Vashi. The protest targeted the Maharashtra Government over the recent hike in excise duty, the abolition of VAT exemptions, and several other pending issues.

In a coordinated move, over 20,000 bars across Maharashtra shut operations on July 14 as part of a statewide bandh called by the Association of Hotels and Restaurants (AHAR). The bandh is a protest against what AHAR terms the government’s “relentless and unjust” tax hikes on the hospitality sector, an industry valued at Rs 1.5 lakh crore and now, according to AHAR.

The protest follows several ignored appeals from the industry, leaving AHAR with no choice but to take what it describes as an extreme yet necessary step for survival, as reported.

AHAR is objecting to multiple policy changes, including a VAT on liquor increased from 5 per cent to 10 per cent, a 15 per cent hike in annual licence fees, and a staggering 60 per cent rise in excise duty within just one year. The bandh is a reaction to what AHAR calls a “triple tax tsunami” that has hit the industry in less than a year.

The president of the AHAR, Sudhakar Shetty, mentioned that, “The entire hospitality sector in Maharashtra is bleeding. Our pleas have fallen on deaf ears. On July 14, every bar and permit room in the state will be shut in protest.” Also added that members across Mumbai, Pune, Nashik, Nagpur, and Konkan have confirmed full participation.

These cumulative tax increases, paired with ongoing post-COVID recovery struggles, have made operations unviable for many businesses. AHAR has warned that these conditions could lead to widespread closures of small and mid-sized establishments, triggering job losses and a potential rise in illegal liquor smuggling from neighbouring states.

“This is not just an economic blow; it is a death blow to an industry that contributes significantly to employment and state taxes,” said Shetty. “These draconian hikes are the final nail in the coffin. From excise renewal fees to VAT and excise duty, our survival is at stake. If the government does not roll back these hikes, we fear mass closures and irreversible damage to Maharashtra’s hospitality landscape.”

Mumbai: The officers of Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) on Sunday arrested a 43-year-old Kenyan woman for smuggling cocaine worth Rs 6.65 crore. The woman had ingested capsules containing cocaine and she purged six capsules during medical examination in a hospital.

According to sources, DRI Mumbai had specific intelligence which indicated that a female passenger Florence Awino Indangasi travelling from Nairobi to Mumbai might have concealed some narcotics substance.

Mumbai: A shameful incident that tarnishes the image of the police uniform has come to light in the jurisdiction of Agripada Police Station. A police constable has been arrested for allegedly molesting a 12-year-old girl in the Saat Rasta area. The shocking act was caught on CCTV, which played a key role in his arrest.

About The Case

According to police sources, the minor had stepped out of her building to collect prasad on Saturday when the 45-year-old constable began following her. When she tried to take the elevator, the constable allegedly stopped her, forcibly grabbed her hand, and dragged her up the stairs

According to Agripada police sources, the minor girl had stepped out of her building to collect prasad when the 45-year-old accused, who was present in the Surrounding area, started following her. When the minor girl enter the elevator, the constable allegedly stopped her and forcibly held her hand. He then reportedly dragged her up the staircase to the first floor of the building.

A police constable posted with the LA in Tardeo has been arrested for allegedly molesting a 12-year-old girl in the Saat Rasta area. The  Shameful incident, which occurred on Saturday, came to light after the girl informed her mother, prompting her to lodge a police complaint.

Following the complaint, Agripada Police registered an FIR under Sections 74 and 78 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Section 12 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The constable was taken into custody on Sunday. Police officials said the incident was captured on CCTV, and the footage is being treated as vital evidence in establishing the constable’s role in the offence. The investigation is ongoing.