Connect with us
Friday,02-October-2026
Breaking News

Maharashtra

Police nod compulsory for loudspeakers at all religious places in Maharashtra

Published

on

In a significant move, the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government has made police permission compulsory for using loudspeakers at all religious places in the state, Home Minister Dilip Walse-Patil said here on Monday.

Any unauthorised use of loudspeakers at all religious places or religious functions would invite strict punitive action against the violators, he added.

Dilip Walse-Patil said that a detailed notification on the proposal with the guidelines would be issued in the next couple of days by the home department.

The MVA decision comes amid a raging controversy over the use of loudspeakers at mosques raked up last week by the Opposition Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) President Raj Thackeray and endorsed by activists of the Bharatiya Janata Party.

Among other things, Raj Thackeray had issued an ‘ultimatum’ of May 3 to the state government to ensure all mosques’ loudspeakers are “silenced or dismantled”, failing which the MNS workers would blare out Hanuman Chalisa on loudspeakers outside mosques in retaliation, raising apprehensions of a law-and-order situation.

Under fire from various quarters, Raj Thackeay on Sunday clarified that he was not against religious activities but only opposing the use of loudspeakers which had social and health implications for all people.

Maharashtra

Bollywood actor Dino Morea questioned in Mithi Nadi scam corruption case, EOW continues to question, investigate contract and money transfer

Published

on

Bollywood actor Dino Morea arrived at the Mumbai Police Commissioner’s office in connection with the Mithi River scandal, where he is being questioned regarding alleged corruption.

Dino Morea had been in the headlines recently due to the Mithi River scandal. The actor arrived at the Commissioner’s office on Friday to record his statement regarding the case. Although media personnel attempted to speak with him, he entered the Mumbai Police Commissioner’s office without saying a word.
It is worth noting that Dino Morea has previously been questioned regarding the Mithi River scandal. The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) is recording the Bollywood actor’s statement; the EOW had already questioned him about this matter in the past.

What is the entire matter?
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is implicated in the Mithi River scandal. The BMC discovered a financial loss of ₹65.54 crore related to the river’s maintenance and cleaning operations. Following revelations of fraudulent tendering, an individual named Ketan Kadam was arrested. Kadam had been in contact with Dino’s brother, Santino Rocco Morea, and it is reported that a financial exchange took place between them.

It is alleged that financial transactions also occurred involving Dino Morea’s accounts. Consequently, the EOW questioned the actor on May 26, 2025, and again on May 28, 2025. On June 12, 2025, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) interrogated Dino Morea for several hours. Furthermore, the ED conducted raids at multiple locations, including the actor’s residence. The actor’s brother was also questioned.

Dino Morea’s Career
The 50-year-old Dino Morea made his Bollywood debut in 1999 with the film Pyaar Mein Kabhi Kabhi. However, he gained significant recognition with the 2002 film Raaz. The actor has worked in films such as Housefull 5, Happy New Year, Baaz, Aksar, Plan, and Gunaah. He also appeared in the popular web series Tandav.

Continue Reading

Maharashtra

‘Ready to go to jail if needed’: CJP ahead of agitation against CEC in Mumbai

Published

on

Mumbai, Oct 2: Hours before its scheduled protest at Mumbai Shivaji Park, Cockroach Janata Party’s (CJP) leaders on Friday asserted that they are “prepared to go to jail if it can ensure accountability” for Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, amid “vote theft” allegations against him.

CJP chief Abhijeet Dipke had earlier announced the agitation to demand the resignation of the CEC.

Speaking to media, CJP co-convener Ashutosh Ranka said: “If going to jail can bring back the votes of 13 crore people, and if going to jail can ensure accountability for Gyanesh Kumar, then we are absolutely ready to go to jail. Gyanesh Kumar is the biggest traitor in this country; he is responsible for 13 crore voters being struck off the voter list. No one has committed a greater betrayal in this country so far.”

“Just like the previous agitation, we won’t back down till our demands are met,” he asserted.

CJP co-convener Saurav Das added: “There was such a massive movement across the country against (then-Union Education Minister) Dharmendra Pradhan, in which the youth came out in very large numbers. We saw the spirit of Mumbai on such a large scale after many years. So, we thought that this time we should come to Mumbai again and start from here.”

Urging people to join the agitation in large numbers, he said: “Today is the auspicious day of Gandhi Jayanti, and I appeal to the youth of the country to unite once again, just as they did during Jantar Mantar 1.0. It should be a grand agitation aimed at saving the country. Whatever changes we aim to bring into the nation will not be possible if our vote is stolen…we have to come together against this conspiracy against the youth.”

Das also claimed that attempts have been made by workers linked to the BJP to hamper the planned agitation.

“The BJP people have sent some workers. We have also provided pictures of the same…No local resident or any citizen of the country would be against this protest because nobody wants their votes to be stolen or their rights to be violated,” he told reporters.

Das stated that CJP has submitted an intimation to the Mumbai Police, saying: “They are a professional force. I believe there will be mutual cooperation from their end as well as ours.”

“The protest will be held in a peaceful manner, and from here the pan-India agitation will be kicked off,” he added.

CJP leader Sidhant Bhardwaj highlighted that people started gathering at the protest venue hours before the scheduled time of 4 p.m.

“The enthusiasm among the people is the same as it was at Jantar Mantar. These are the people who have come to save the country. Even if they belong to different state, city or villages, their spirit and their respect for the country remain the same. That is why a large number of people have already gathered here even before the agitation began,” Bhardwaj told media.

Expecting more people to join the protest, he said: “We are expecting a minimum of 40,000–50,000 people today, and it could possibly go beyond one lakh.”

Continue Reading

Business

Dharavi Experience Centre will build trust among area residents: CM Fadnavis

Published

on

Mumbai, Oct 2: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday said that the ‘Dharavi Experience Centre’ will not merely showcase blueprints of the redevelopment project but allow the area’s residents to directly experience their future homes, neighbourhoods, and workplaces.

In an interaction with the media, he stated that this initiative will help curb rumours, misconceptions, and incomplete information, creating an atmosphere of trust around the redevelopment.

CM Fadnavis inaugurated the state-of-the-art ‘Dharavi Experience Centre’, which offers physical and digital previews of the Dharavi Redevelopment Project plan, rehabilitated homes, industrial spaces, and upcoming social infrastructure, built near the BKC in the PMGP Colony’s H Block.

The event was attended by Adani Group Managing Director Pranav Adani, BMC Commissioner Ashwini Bhide, Mumbai Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) CEO Dr Mahendra Kalyankar, Dharavi Redevelopment Project CEO and SRA Secretary Vipin Paliwal, Adani Navbharat Developers Private Ltd (the Special Purpose Vehicle executing the redevelopment project) CEO Anil Sardana, among others.

After inspecting the centre, Fadnavis said: “Dharavi is not just a slum; it is a major economic engine. A significant economy thrives here through Kumbharwada’s pottery industry, leather business, food processing, plastic recycling, and various micro, small, and medium enterprises. The redevelopment plan respects these industries and focuses on providing them with better, well-planned workspaces. This is an effort toward comprehensive urban transformation while preserving Dharavi’s existing social, cultural, and economic identity.”

He added that this serves as an ideal example of the urban transformation taking place across the country under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The Chief Minister noted that the ‘Dharavi Experience Centre’ will provide real-time information to everyone on how the Dharavi redevelopment project will look, what Dharavi is today, and how its structure will evolve in the future. This centre will play a crucial role in addressing the questions and confusion among Dharavi residents regarding their future post-redevelopment. He expressed confidence that by offering information on homes, roads, open grounds, social amenities, and employment opportunities all under one roof, the centre will be valuable for citizens, stakeholders, and urban planning researchers across the country.

The Dharavi Experience Centre highlights the journey from Dharavi’s present to its future transformation through modern audio-visual and digital technology. During his visit, CM Fadnavis also launched a special song titled “Dharavi Ka Kal”, sung by renowned singer Shankar Mahadevan, portraying the changing face of Dharavi, and released the book “Mere Sapno Ki Dharavi”.

Continue Reading

Trending