Maharashtra
Now, cobra and chicken join the Maharashtra political circus!
Many fauna-friendly politicians in Maharashtra frequently invoke a variety of mute creatures to lampoon political parties and their leaders at public rallies to regale the audiences and score brownie points.
Like insects, scorpions and snakes stepped on the dais in the past, this time Maharashtra Navnirman Sena President Raj Thackeray went a reptile ahead – the dreaded cobra, also symbolic of Lord Shiva.
At his large public meeting in Thane late on Tuesday, Raj compared Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA)’s Housing Minister Dr Jitendra Awhad with a cobra – in mostly personal remarks at many other leaders.
“Look at his (Dr Awhad) face. It is like the open hood of a cobra…” was Raj’s poisonous refrain, leaving the crowds in splits, the ruling Shiv Sena-Nationalist Congress Party-Congress numb, and the Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party chuckling.
Not reputed to take such things lying down, Dr Awhad aggressively rolled his bespectacled eyes to proclaim he was “proud” to have the countenance of a cobra.
“When I open the hood, I can strike back at my opponents,” Dr Awhad said, gesticulating his hand like a hungry, angry cobra ready to attack, hinting at a political ‘taandav’ in future.
Then he hissed: “Never mind my face. I am proud of it. But can someone check out which part of a ‘chicken’ his (Raj’s) face resembles?” before slithering away from the stunned media.
The ‘cobra-chicken’ dog-fight ignited by Raj sparked off the anticipated political furore with Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar frowning and declaring that he will “give a befitting reply at the appropriate time”.
Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut said that “after he (Raj Thackeray) got an Enforcement Directorate notice” he has become the BJP’s loudspeaker”.
Referring to the MNS’s gauntlet to the MVA to dismantle loudspeakers from all mosques in the state within 21 days (May 3), Raut rebuffed saying: “Only (the late) Balasaheb Thackeray had the authority to give such ultimatums”.
He also dared Raj to invite and felicitate the ‘untraceable’ BJP Mumbai activist Kirit Somaiya at his swank new home ‘Shivtirth’ in Dadar.
The usually soft-spoken, US-educated NCP state President and Minister Jayant Patil – whom Raj referred to as ‘Jant’ (worm) – smiled and said “Raj’s knowledge is very weak and he needs to be readmitted to primary school to improve himself”.
Raj also hit out at NCP MP Supriya Sule by comparing her with an elephant, saying she had different sets of teeth for showing (tusks) and chewing.
Sule dismissed it by commenting that Raj is living in history, basking in the glory of his illustrious uncle (the late Balasaheb Thackeray), and needs to be ignored.
Dr Awhad supported her by asking, “does Raj know how painful it is when one is pierced by a tusk”, adding that Raj has taken a ‘contract’ to spread communal discord in society.
Congress Chief Spokesperson Atul Londhe merely labelled it as a ‘third umpire speech’, while other party leaders wondered whether Raj is blind to the problems of spiralling fuel prices, inflation, unemployment to indulge in such lectures.
Meanwhile, the Thane Police are reportedly sharpening their knives to book Raj for brandishing a sword at the rally and the NCP planning a befitting reply to the attacks on its leaders at the party’s weekend rally.
Maharashtra
Byculla Redevelopment Site Accident Claims Two Lives

Mumbai: A tragic incident occurred on saturday afternoon at the proposed redevelopment site of Habib Mansion in Byculla (West). During piling work, the ground suddenly caved in, resulting in the death of two labourers on the spot.
Two to three other workers suffered serious injuries and were rushed to a nearby hospital. The accident took place at the Sundar Galli stretch between Haines Road and Tank Pakhadi Road, where redevelopment work is being undertaken by Ibrahim Jusab Sopariwala & Others. The project is linked to architects A2 Associates and Rajpurkar Associates, with ZZ Consultants reported as the structural advisors.
Local residents claimed that adequate safety measures were missing at the worksite, raising concerns about negligence. Police and BMC officials have cordoned off the area and launched an investigation.
Authorities said a detailed probe will determine whether safety protocols were violated during the redevelopment work.
Maharashtra
NCB seizes city drugs, sets them on fire

Mumbai: The Mumbai Zonal Unit of the Mumbai Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has disposed of about 1835 kg of Mephedrone along with 341 kg of other substances which were seized from various places in Maharashtra and Delhi. 16 persons were arrested in this case. A thorough investigation into the massive drug seizure led to the arrest of several persons including foreigners from various places, resulting in the elimination of close associates of the drug peddlers with international links.
As per the guidelines prescribed by the Hon’ble Supreme Court, a high-level Drug Disposal Committee was constituted comprising Deputy Director General (SWR) of NCB, Additional Director, NCB Mumbai Zonal Unit and Additional Commissioner of Pune Police. The case was reviewed and it was selected to dispose of the drug hoard. Accordingly, all legal conditions were complied with after which the seized drugs along with other chemicals were finally destroyed by incineration in the presence of HLDCC on 14th November 2025 at Maple, Ranjangaon, Pune, Maharashtra.
This significant seizure of drugs followed by disposal of the sub-judices, indicates the continuous efforts of NCB in dismantling organised drug syndicates and targeting drug offenders who pollute the drug ecosystem. The Bureau is steadfast in its mission to protect public health and uphold the vision of “Nisha Mukt Bharat” by 2047.
NCB is firmly committed to ensuring a drug-free society under the guidance of which it has curbed drug trafficking, broken financial nexus and curbed inter-state and international drug syndicates.
Citizens are urged to play their role by reporting any information related to drugs through the MANS – National Narcotics Helpline (Toll Free Number: 1933). The identity of the informants is kept strictly confidential.
Maharashtra
Three men accused of robbing a youth have been arrested The main accused was apprehended in Titwala.

Mumbai: A young man returning home on a motorcycle in the Asalpha area of Ghatkopar was attacked and forcibly robbed by three men who brandished a chopper. A case was registered at the Ghatkopar police station under sections 309(4), 3(5) of the Indian Penal Code, sections 4, 25 of the Indian Penal Code, and sections 37(1) and 135 of the Indian Penal Code.
The complainant, Suraj Mahadev Dethe (24), and his friend, Yash Kamble, were passing near the Home Guard Training Center at approximately 1:30 a.m. on November 12th when three unidentified individuals in a three-wheeled tempo stopped them. The accused, using the chopper as a pointer, assaulted them, abused them, and stole their Honda Dio scooter and mobile phone.
As soon as the case was registered, the Assistant Commissioner of Police and Senior Police Inspector of the Ghatkopar Division inspected the scene. Based on technical and traditional investigations, the accused identified Hussain Aslam Memon, alias Genda. Upon receiving information that he was hiding in the Titwala area, the police apprehended him. During interrogation, he revealed the names of his accomplices – Munna Ramvilas Sharma and Dilshaduddin Sitabuddin Shaikh – who were subsequently arrested.
On November 13, the three accused were produced in court, where they were remanded to police custody until November 17. The investigation also revealed that Genda is a notorious criminal with more than 13 cases registered against him in various police stations.
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