Maharashtra
‘Others have mothers too’: Raj Thackeray urges PM Modi to rein in BJP’s troll culture
Mumbai, Aug 1: Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray on Saturday said that while the abusive language used against Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the recent Jantar Mantar protest was unacceptable, the Prime Minister should also advise leaders and supporters of his own party to refrain from using similar rhetoric.
Addressing the 20th anniversary programme of the Maharashtra Navnirman Vidyarthi Sena (MNVS) in Mumbai, Thackeray said he fully agreed that no individual should be subjected to objectionable language, but argued that the same standards must apply across the political spectrum.
“The language used against Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the protest at Jantar Mantar was inappropriate. We agree with that. I 100 per cent agree that such low-level language should not be used against anyone. I only want to tell the Prime Minister — please convey this to the people in your party as well,” he said.
The response follows a video shared by Prime Minister Modi on Instagram on Friday night, in which he raised objections to the offensive language used against him and his mother at Jantar Mantar. In the video, PM Modi stated that he forgives the youths involved and appealed that no legal action be taken against them.
Critiquing the political culture over the past decade, the MNS chief accused the BJP of fostering aggressive online trolling. “Look at the language your team of trolls uses against everyone from Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, and Indira Gandhi to us. Many artists in Maharashtra are afraid to speak up. Teams have been set up in every state — tell them too not to abuse people,” Thackeray said.
He further added, “This culture of trolling started over the last 12 years. What you reaped is what you sowed. PM Modi said he and his mother were abused, which is indeed wrong. But my request to the Prime Minister is — others have mothers too. You must instruct your party leaders to maintain limits. You say you forgave the youths at Jantar Mantar, but who will apologize for what your people have been doing for the last 12 years?”
Shifting focus to youth affairs, Thackeray urged his student wing to adapt to changing times and understand the aspirations of the current generation. “When I was a student, the issues were different. Today’s subjects and today’s youth are different. We have seen the era transition from Telegram to Instagram. We need to understand what this Gen Z generation wants. Gen Z exists in rural Maharashtra as well. Understanding their expectations is essential, and the MNS student wing must explore this,” he stated.
Thackeray also took a swipe at Maharashtra Higher and Technical Education Minister Chandrakant Patil over his recent statements regarding an investigation into stone-pelting incidents in Delhi.
Mocking the Minister, Thackeray remarked, “Our parents used to tell us in childhood to apply oil to the head before sleeping to sharpen the intellect. One person massaged oil into his hair all his life, yet no intelligence came of it.”
“Does the state’s Education and Technology Minister even understand what he is saying? Where is the world heading, and what are we talking about? The Education Minister of Maharashtra wants to link fingerprints on stones to Aadhaar. I want to see the fingerprints on Chandrakant Patil’s brain,” Thackeray quipped.
He further added, “Kolhapur sent him to Pune so he might gain wisdom, but nothing happened here either. With an Education Minister like this, won’t Gen Z lose their temper?
Maharashtra
Kasturba Marg Police recover 100 stolen mobile phones, return them to their original owners

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

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

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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