Maharashtra
Political brawl over hanged terrorist Yakub Memon’s grave ‘makeover’; probe ordered
Seven years after terrorist Yakub Abdul Razzak Memon was hanged to death in 2015, a major political controversy ignited over the reported ‘make-over’ of his grave at the Bada Qabrastan in south Mumbai, here on Thursday.
Following an uproar and a political free-for-all among Bharatiya Janata Party, Shiv Sena, Congress and Nationalist Congress Party, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis ordered a probe into the matter.
Memon, 53, a CA, was found guilty and convicted for his role in the March 12, 1993 Mumbai blasts, and hanged in Nagpur Central Jail on July 30 (2015) — his birthdate — after all his pleas for pardon/clemency up to the President were rejected.
The original earthen grave, where Memon was buried, recently got a face-lift with a gleaming marble grave coming up there, amid flood-lighting — and apprehensions — that the terrorist’s final resting place would soon become a ‘mazar’ (mausoluem).
Acting swiftly, the Mumbai Police on Thursday yanked off the lighting arrangements in Bada Qabrastan this morning, as a grave political dogfight erupted among all the major parties for allegedly allowing the revamp there.
NCP’s Leader of Opposition Ajit Pawar said that there cannot be glorification of any terrorist and the beautification of Memon’s grave should not be permitted.
Blaming its bete-noire and ex-ally Shiv Sena, BJP Spokesperson Ram Kadam asked why the ex-Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray kept silent when Memon’s grave was being converted into a shrine.
“Thackeray was the (then) CM and during his period the grave was turned into a shrine. This is their patriotism and love for Mumbai? Thackeray, Sharad Pawar and Rahul Gandhi should apologise to the people of Mumbai,” Kadam demanded.
Hitting back, Sena spokesperson Manisha Kayande dismissed the BJP’s allegations and said when Memon was hanged, the BJP government was in power both in the Centre and state — here Devendra Fadnavis was the CM and also home minister.
“Why did he allow Memon’s body to be handed over to his family? What prevented the BJP government in the Centre and state to formulate a policy on how to deal with the mortal remains of terror convicts or other dreaded criminals,” Dr. Kayande asked.
Congress Chief Spokesperson Atul Londhe said that during the UPA tenure, two dreaded terrorists were hanged but their bodies were secretly disposed off to prevent their graves from becoming a rallying point in future.
While Afzal Guru was executed in February 2013 in the Tihar Jail of Delhi, Pakistani extremist Ajmal Kasab was hanged in Yerawada Central Jail in Pune.
“The BJP — which was in power then — deliberately gave Memon’s body to the family for elaborate funerals. Their intention is to create communal divide. Even when the Al-Qaeda terrorist Osama Bin Laden was killed by US forces, his body was dumped in the sea,” Londhe pointed out.
Several other BJP leaders like Chandrashekhar Bawankule, Ashish Shelar and Kirit Somaiya and Sena leaders like Aditya Thackeray, Ambadas Danve, Arvind Sawant and Kishori Pednekar indulged in the political tussle over the grave revamp.
Thackeray and Pednekar rejected outright the BJP charges saying they are ‘mischievous’ and intended to malign Uddhav Thackeray’s image before the upcoming civic elections.
“The BMC has never given permission. Its role is over after allotting the land. The Bada Qabrastan belongs to a trust. How is the Sena or Thackeray connected with all this,” an irate Pednekar demanded.
Needling the Sena further, Shelar sarcastically said the ‘Penguin’ Sena (a snide reference to Aditya Thackeray-led Yuva Sena) should launch a ‘Save Memon Grave’ campaign.
Stating that Fadnavis has ordered a probe, Forest Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar slammed the erstwhile Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA)’s alleged links with the mafiosi Dawood Ibrahim Kaskar and how ex-NCP minister Nawab Malik landed in jail.
Despite repeated attempts by IANS, the Bada Qabrastan trustees were not available for comments on the matter.
Maharashtra
Mumbai: Eviction proceedings against furniture vendors on Do Tanki Maulana Shaukat Ali Marg in ‘E’ ward

The ‘E’ Ward Department of the Mumbai Municipal Corporation recently took action against old furniture vendors and other encroachments on Maulana Shaukat Ali Marg under the ‘E’ Department. This action was taken under the guidance of Deputy Commissioner (Zone 1) Chanda Jadhav and led by Assistant Commissioner Anand Kankal. The encroachments on Maulana Shaukat Ali Marg in the ‘E’ Department, especially in the area from Muralideora Eye Hospital to JJ Hospital Signal, were causing a lot of trouble to the pedestrians. The pedestrians were forced to walk on the road instead of the footpath, which was putting their lives at risk. Keeping this situation in mind, the Conservation and Encroachment Elimination teams of the ‘E’ Division of the Municipal Corporation jointly launched a campaign along with the Mumbai Police. During this eviction operation, a crackdown and strict action was taken against the furniture vendors. The old furniture lying on the footpaths was destroyed on the spot with the help of JCB. Along with this, the waste of broken furniture was also removed immediately. All encroachments on the footpath were removed. In addition, action was also taken against unauthorized hawkers in the area. Due to which the road was completely opened for traffic.
1 JCB, 4 laborers, 3 officers and 2 engineers participated in this campaign. In addition, 9 personnel from Nagpara Police Station were deployed for security. Meanwhile, the ‘E’ Division of the Mumbai Municipal Corporation is once again making it clear on this occasion that regular action will continue against unauthorized constructions and unauthorized hawkers.
Maharashtra
Don’t target the bodyguard… Important comment of the Bombay High Court in the Sameer Wankhede case

Mumbai: The Bombay High Court has made several important comments while hearing the NCB Zonal Director Sameer Wankhede bribery case and has asked the agency questions, the first of which was whether you can inquire into the statement of the accused? The NCB had earlier submitted a report in the closed session regarding the inquiry of Sameer Wankhede, saying that the inquiry into Wankhede is not the result of Nawab Malik or any political pressure, but this inquiry is being conducted on an unknown complaint and letter. Along with this, the complainant Kiran Sajnani had also demanded an inquiry into the methods of Sameer Wankhede, while Sameer Wankhede had arrested Kiran Sajnani in the drugs case and also arrested his accomplice Sameer Khan. Sameer Khan is the son-in-law of Nawab Malik. Sameer Khan died in a car accident. The court has commented on Sameer Wankhede that an officer and security guard who is doing good work in the society should be targeted. This comment was made by the court on the complaint filed by the accused against Sameer Wankhede. Along with this, the accused whose complaint is being investigated is accused of drug trafficking. It is alleged that he and his partner had planned to sell drugs like Vadapao in Mumbai. Sameer Wankhede had arrested Aryan Khan in the Cordelia Cruz case while taking action against drugs. He is also accused of demanding a bribe of Rs 25 crore from him. The CBI has registered a case in this case. In the same case, a private petitioner has demanded that both giving and receiving bribes fall under the category of crimes. If Wankhede has received bribes, then Shah Rukh Khan should also be made an accused in this case because giving bribes is also a crime. In this case, the High Court has given relief to Wankhede by making an important comment.
Crime
Minor Scratch On Two-Wheeler Snowballs Into Violent Youth Brawl At Telephone Exchange Chowk In Nagpur

Nagpur: A shocking late-night clash at Telephone Exchange Chowk in Nagpur has come to light after a video of the incident surfaced online, showing two groups of youths brutally attacking each other following a minor dispute over a scratch on a two-wheeler.
The incident took place around 11 pm on Monday when two groups of young men, who were allegedly under the influence of alcohol, were on their way to a Savji hotel for dinner. The situation reportedly spiralled out of control after one group allegedly scratched the bike of the other, triggering a heated argument.
What initially began as a verbal spat soon turned into a violent street brawl. The visuals circulating online show members of both groups exchanging blows in the middle of the road, with the fight quickly intensifying. In the video, youths can be seen raining kicks and punches on each other, while also using sticks and whatever objects they could find nearby to attack their rivals.
The ferocity of the clash is evident in the footage, which shows complete chaos unfolding. At one point, several individuals are seen falling to the ground during the assault, while others continue the attack in full public view. The video further shows that after the violence subsided, one group began leaving the spot while members of the other group, who had collapsed on the road, were seen trying to help each other get back on their feet.
The incident has raised serious concerns over how quickly minor disagreements can snowball into dangerous and potentially fatal confrontations. That a dispute allegedly triggered by a scratch on a scooter could escalate into such a brutal attack has once again drawn attention to rising street violence and reckless behaviour, particularly when alcohol is involved.
The disturbing visuals have since gone viral on social media, sparking outrage and concern among viewers. The incident serves as yet another reminder of how unchecked anger and intoxication can turn a trivial matter into a life-threatening episode within minutes.
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