Connect with us
Saturday,04-July-2026
Breaking News

Maharashtra

Nawab Malik, who dares to snoop on NCB super-sleuth!

Published

on

As far as snoops go, Maharahstra Minister Nawab Malik presents an unlikely picture as he takes on the shaken might of the Narcotics Control Bureau Zonal Director Sameer Wankhede.

Compared with cocky original 007, the bespectacled, bearded Malik presents a rather homely, fatherly figure, mostly in comfy kurtas who has taken upon himself to right the alleged wrongs of the Super Sleuth Wankhede.

As the stunned NCB and the national polity gaped, the Malik-Wankhede war – which started after the agency’s swoop on a luxury cruise ship in which one of those caught was Bollywood megastar Shah Rukh Khan’s son, Aryan Khan – became the top TRP catcher.

The besieged and worried Wankhede is fighting it out in different fora and pulling all possible strings to keep the muck raked by Malik from sticking to him, with the latter vowing in public that it will all end with the officer (Wankhede) getting the sack and going to jail.

Last month (October 2021), in an unprecedented step, Malik launched an expose campaign against Wankhede and his activities, raising a big question mark on the officer’s credentials and the NCB’s credibility.

His latest serial exposure has not only rattled Wankhede, but raised uncomfortable questions on how the NCB, other central agencies like ED, ITD, CBI, NIA, etc, are being deployed to harass Opposition-parties ruled states by the BJP at the Centre.

“I have first-hand knowledge of how injustice is being meted out by these agencies to innocents. I decided somehow, someone has to do the cleaning up… I have no personal motives… Only Truth I am putting out before people,” Malik smiled with confidence.

On his prime target, Malik contends that the charge of extortion already established, soon the fake caste certificate matter will also be officially proved, and the “crusade for truth will continue till Wankhede is dismissed and dumped in jail”.

His regular media briefings are reminiscent of the Vikram-Betaal tales when he hurls agonising questions at the dazed Wankhede, who scurries from pillar-to-post for dear help.

Born in 1959 in the small Dhuswa village of Utraula Tehsil, Balrampur district in eastern Uttar Pradesh, close to India-Nepal border, despite his name suggesting ‘nobility’, Malik was an ordinary village lad till the family migrated to Mumbai for better prospects in 1970.

Dhuswa folks say that his father Mohammed Islam Malik initially started a small business in ‘chindi’ (rags) in Dongri, south Mumbai, and later shifted to north-east suburban Kurla.

In Kurla, Malik helped his father launch a scrap buying-selling business – the reason why some people now snobbishly try to run him down as a ‘kabadiwala’.

“So… What’s wrong in being a ‘kabadiwala’? We are doing a service to the nation, converting waste into wealth, which is also good for the environment,” Malik told IANS.

After dabbling in local social activities, he forayed into politics first with the ‘Sanjay Vichar Manch’ party launched by Maneka Gandhi – after the death of her husband Sanjay Gandhi – along with his close aides like Akbar ‘Dumpy’ Ahmed, Sanjay Singh, J.N. Mishra, Kalpnath Sonkar, etc.

Malik first contested Lok Sabha elections in 1984 against the Congress stalwart, the late Gurudas Kamat but barely got around 2,500 votes.

Later, he flirted with the Congress briefly before switching over to the Samajwadi Party (SP), won a bypoll to become an MLA and was promptely rewarded with a Minister of State position in the then Congress-Nationalist Congress Party alliance government in 1999.

Following political wrangles with the SP State President Abu Asim Azmi, Malik left and joined the NCP led by Sharad Pawar, and became a MoS and later a Cabinet Minister.

In 2005, he was targeted for alleged corruption by a social crusader Kisan Baburao alias Anna Hazare and had to quit the cabinet along with 4 other ministers.

Though Malik vehemently rubbished all charges against him, he was plucky enough to launch a counter-campaign against Hazare and also continued to work for the NCP, slowly earning the confidence of the party top brass, including the Pawar clan.

In November 2019, when the Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress Maha Vikas Aghadi took office, Malik catapulted to the cabinet but encountered a setback when his son-in-law Sameer Khan was nabbed by the NCB and finally released on bail after over 8 months.

His former colleagues including ex-ministers (on condition of anonymity) describe Nawab Malik as “a meticulous worker, who handles any issue studiously, a tad arrogant occasionally, a fierce ‘family-man’, a gutsy leader who dares to barge in where angels fear to tread, and has the gall to call a spade a spade”, etc.

Maharashtra

Mumbai Police Suspend Licences of 11 Dance Bars for One Month

Published

on

Mumbai, July 4: ( By Kamar Ansari ) In a major enforcement action, the Mumbai Police have suspended the licences of 11 dance bars across the city for a period of one month.

According to official information, the action was taken by the Licensing Department of the Mumbai Police following alleged violations of licence conditions and applicable regulations. During the suspension period, the establishments will not be permitted to operate.

The dance bars whose licences have been suspended are: Urvashi, Commando, Chiranjeevi, Senorita, Sapphire, Sunshine Punjab, Raj Palace, Blue Diamond, Sai Prasad, Swagatam, and Vikas Kuch Home.

Mumbai Police stated that the action forms part of ongoing efforts to ensure compliance with licensing rules and maintain regulatory standards. Authorities have also indicated that inspections and enforcement drives will continue, and strict action may be taken against establishments found violating licence conditions.

Further details regarding the specific violations in each case are expected to be released by the authorities.

Continue Reading

Maharashtra

Mumbai: Red alert issued for extremely heavy rainfall on Sunday; citizens advised to avoid stepping out unless necessary.

Published

on

Mumbai: In view of the ongoing heavy rains in Mumbai, the entire Mumbai Municipal Corporation system is working on a war footing. More than 10,000 officers and employees of the Municipal Corporation are deployed in various parts and are continuously monitoring the situation and taking necessary measures. Due to the continuous heavy rains, water has accumulated in some low-lying areas and traffic has been temporarily closed on some roads in view of the safety of the citizens. The India Meteorological Department has issued a red alert for heavy rains on Sunday, July 5, 2026 and the Burhan Mumbai Municipal Corporation administration is appealing to the citizens not to step out of their homes unnecessarily.

In view of the ongoing heavy rains in Mumbai, State Disaster Management Minister Girish Mahajan today visited the Emergency Control Room at the Municipal Corporation headquarters. He also reviewed the situation in Mumbai. Also, Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde visited the Emergency Control Room at the Mumbai Municipal Corporation Headquarters today (July 4, 2026) and reviewed the entire situation.
Meanwhile, Municipal Commissioner Ashwini Bhide is continuously reviewing the situation from the Emergency Control Room at the Mumbai Municipal Corporation Headquarters. Additional Municipal Commissioner (Projects) Abhijeet Bangar, Additional Municipal Commissioner (Eastern Suburbs) Avinash Dhakne, Deputy Commissioner (Public Health) Sharad Uday, Director (Emergency Management) Mahesh Narvekar, Principal Officer (Emergency Management) Rashmi Lokhande and concerned officers are present.

Mumbai city and suburbs have been receiving heavy rain since the morning of July 4, 2026. As a precautionary measure for the safety of students, a holiday has been declared for the afternoon session in all private/government schools and colleges in Mumbai on July 4, 2026.

Due to heavy rains in the western suburbs, the Mogra Nallah is overflowing and the smaller drains connected to the Mogra Nallah system are also overflowing. Due to which some roads in the area are submerged in water and traffic is affected. The continuous rain is delaying the drainage of water. In this backdrop, Noor Elahi Seva Road in Chembur, Veera Desai Road in Andheri, Municipal Market Road, Swami Vivekananda Marg, Andheri Bhuvari Marg, Himamaal Junction in Vikhroli, Gandhi Nagar Junction and Parish Park Market roads were temporarily closed for traffic as a precautionary measure. An appeal was made to take alternative routes.

All Zonal Deputy Commissioners and all Assistant Commissioners (Ward Officers) along with concerned officers and employees are present in the office or in their actual work areas. The Deputy Commissioners should personally verify this, Municipal Commissioner Ashwini Bhide has given clear instructions. As per these instructions, the entire Mumbai Municipal Corporation system is on alert, and officers and employees are working in their actual work areas to deal with any emergency. Heads of all departments, engineers, pump operators, health workers and emergency response teams have been deployed at various locations. Currently, 10,000 employees are working in the field, constantly monitoring the situation and taking necessary measures. Complaints received from citizens through the Municipal Corporation’s emergency control room are being recorded immediately and forwarded to the concerned departments for immediate action. Special attention has been paid to the performance of storm water systems, sewage systems and pumping stations and necessary measures are being taken on a war footing to ensure smooth drainage of rainwater. Officers and employees of the Solid Waste Management Department are working in the field, and health workers are providing continuous services at various locations to ensure that floating solid waste, tree branches and other waste flowing with rainwater do not get stuck in manholes or drains and obstruct the flow of water. The Mumbai Municipal Corporation is working round the clock to ensure that even during heavy rains, the area remains clean, there is no foul smell and Mumbaikars do not face any inconvenience, and all the concerned employees are taking necessary measures together.

In the backdrop of the ongoing monsoon situation, the Municipal Corporation administration has appealed to the citizens to take necessary precautions to avoid the disease of Leptospirosis. The field employees of the Municipal Corporation should also take Doxycycline 200 mg as a preventive medicine for Leptospirosis. These tablets are available from the Municipal Corporation dispensary/dispensary.

Continue Reading

Maharashtra

Mumbai bank accounts activated, cyber fraud company exposed, 6 arrested

Published

on

Mumbai: Crime Branch has claimed to have busted a gang that was providing bank accounts for cyber fraud. In this case, the police have arrested 6 accused. The Mumbai Crime Branch received information that bank accounts were being provided for cyber fraud through a fake company at Masjid Bandar and bank accounts were activated and money was deposited in the account under the knowledge of the same company. On this basis, the Crime Branch conducted a raid and exposed this racket. Accounts were opened in several banks in Mumbai and details of new current accounts were obtained. After activating the bank account with the SIM card, the above SIM card was sent to Dubai and from here this SIM card was used for cyber fraud. On this basis, Unit 2 Crime Branch raided and seized a total of 66 ATM cards of several banks, 12 mobile SIM cards, 15 passbooks of several banks, 122 cheque books of several banks, 2 pen drives, 68 stamps, bank account opening forms, electricity bills and other documents. The accused have been produced in court and sent to remand. This information was given here today by Mumbai Crime DCP Raj Tilak Roshan.

Continue Reading

Trending