Maharashtra
Poll for 367 local bodies in Maharashtra sans OBC reservation, contempt if orders breached: SC
The Supreme Court on Thursday pulled up the Maharashtra State Election Commission (SEC) for re-scheduling the poll for 367 local bodies to grant OBC reservation, and also cautioned its chief and other officials of contempt of court, if its orders are breached.
A bench, headed by Justice A.M. Khanwilkar, said the poll schedule was already notified when it allowed OBC reservation and the polls for those bodies must be held without the OBC reservation.
It said the SEC cannot interfere with the election, which has already been notified and only the dates can be re-aligned.
The bench, also comprising Justices Abhay S. Oka and J.B. Pardiwala, did not appreciate that despite clarifying the issue several times, the SEC had taken a decision to re-schedule the poll. The bench made it clear that the SEC and the officials concerned would be liable for contempt of court for breaching its order.
“This is not acceptable. You (SEC) are trying to misread our order for your convenience and maybe under dictation of someone… Do you want us to issue contempt notice?….”
The bench said the election for 367 local bodies were to be notified according to the May order, and this position had been re-stated in multiple orders. The top court was informed that as per SEC affidavit, the election was deferred for two municipalities.
It said the SEC cannot interfere with the election that has already been notified, and directed that SEC cannot re-notify the election programme to these 367 local bodies.
On July 20, the Supreme Court accepted the recommendations of the Banthia commission to apply 27 per cent OBC reservations in local body elections in Maharashtra, and directed that election for local bodies in the state be notified in the next two weeks.
In December last year, the top court had directed that reservation for OBCs in local bodies will not be permitted unless they fulfil the triple test, and until the triple test is fulfilled, the OBC seats would be re-notified as general category seats.
The Supreme Court, in its order in March last year, while reading down the OBC reservation in local bodies, asked the Maharashtra government to comply with three conditions – to set up a dedicated commission for collecting empirical data on the OBC population, specify the proportion of reservation, and ensuring cumulative share of reserved seats doesn’t breach 50 per cent of total seats.
Maharashtra
All India Sunni Jamiat Ulema to approach court against Vande Mataram

The All India Sunni Jamiat Ulema has decided to approach the court against the recent government order regarding Vande Mataram.
It should be noted that the Government of India has recently issued an order, under which the recitation of Vande Mataram has been made mandatory in government functions and educational institutions. An important meeting was held today, February 17, at the All India Sunni Jamiat Ulema office in Mumbai against this order.
The meeting was presided over by Haj Muhammad Saeed Noori, Vice President of the All India Sunni Jamiat Ulema. On this occasion, he said that the President of the organization, Hazrat Allama Syed Moinuddin Ashraf Ashrafi Jilani Sahib Qibla (known as Moin Mian Sahib), who has gone to Baghdad Sharif these days, has directed through phone to approach the court in this matter.
Haj Muhammad Saeed Noori said that there are some words in Vande Mataram that Muslims cannot recite on the basis of their faith, as they are against their religious beliefs. He said that this order can be termed as coercion against Muslims, Sikhs and Christians and is against the secular structure of the Republic of India, while the Constitution of India provides complete freedom to every citizen to practice his religion.
The meeting emphasized that the government should immediately withdraw this order, so that constitutional rights and religious freedoms can be ensured.
The meeting was attended by Hazrat Maulana Muhammad Amanullah Raza Sahib, Khatib and Imam of Masjid Quba, Hazrat Maulana Khalil-ur-Rehman Noori Sahib Qibla, Hazrat Maulana Farid-ul-Zaman Sahib Qibla, Hazrat Maulana Mufti Muhammad Manzar Hasan Khan Ashrafi Misbahi Sahib, Hazrat Maulana Qamar Raza Ashrafi Sahib, Hazrat Maulana Muhammad Shafiq Alam Noori Sahib, Hazrat Qari Niaz Ahmed Qadri Sahib Qulaba, Hazrat Qari Shahzad Sahib and others, as well as intellectuals.
Maharashtra
Ajit Pawar Plane Crash: AAIB Retrieves Flight Data Recorder From Learjet Crash In Baramati, CVR Analysis Underway

Mumbai: The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) on Tuesday provided an official update on the ongoing investigation into the Learjet 45 aircraft (VT-SSK) accident that occurred at Baramati on January 28, 2026. The probe is being conducted in strict accordance with the Aircraft (Investigation of Accidents and Incidents) Rules, 2017, as well as international standards and recommended practices laid down under ICAO Annex 13.
Flight Data Recorders Suffer Major Fire Damage
In a statement issued by the Press Information Bureau (PIB), the AAIB said the aircraft was fitted with two independent flight recorders, a Digital Flight Data Recorder (DFDR) and a Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR). Both recorders were exposed to intense heat for a prolonged period during the accident and suffered major fire damage.
Despite the damage, the AAIB confirmed that data from the DFDR has been successfully downloaded at the Bureau’s Flight Recorder Laboratory. The DFDR, manufactured by L3 Communications, is expected to provide critical technical information related to the aircraft’s flight parameters leading up to the crash.
The Cockpit Voice Recorder, manufactured by Honeywell, is currently undergoing detailed technical examination. According to the AAIB, assistance has been sought from the accredited representative of the State of Manufacture to provide specialised support for extracting and analysing the CVR data. Investigators believe the CVR could offer crucial insights into cockpit communications and crew actions prior to the accident.
The crash of the Learjet 45 at Baramati on January 28 claimed the lives of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and four others, making the incident one of the most serious aviation accidents in recent times. The findings of the flight recorder analysis are expected to play a key role in establishing the sequence of events and possible causes behind the tragedy.
The AAIB emphasised that it is following all prescribed technical and procedural protocols to ensure the investigation remains comprehensive, objective and evidence-based. The Bureau reiterated its commitment to transparency, stating that further information will be shared at an appropriate stage once verified conclusions are reached.
AAIB Urges All To Refrain From Speculation As Probe Continues
In its statement, the AAIB also urged all stakeholders, including the public and media, to refrain from speculation while the investigation is in progress. “The Bureau respectfully requests all stakeholders to allow the investigation process to proceed in accordance with established procedures,” the statement said.
The AAIB added that efforts are continuing to retrieve usable data from the CVR, which, together with DFDR findings and other evidence, will contribute to the final accident report.
Crime
Palghar: 15-Year-Old Boy Allegedly Murders Elderly Aunt In Vasai With Friend’s Help After Being Scolded

Vasai: In a shocking incident, a 15-year-old boy, along with a minor friend, allegedly murdered his 65-year-old aunt in Vasai after she scolded him. The Manikpur police have apprehended both minors in connection with the crime.
The deceased, identified as Durga Bansode, resided alone in the Bhimai Bungalow in Barhampur village, Vasai (West). While her married daughter lives in Boisar and her son resides in Waliv, Bansode managed the household on her own. Her body was discovered inside the bungalow on Monday morning.
During the investigation, Manikpur police discovered that Bansode’s 15-year-old nephew frequently visited her. Upon being questioned, the teenager confessed to the murder.
On Sunday, the nephew visited his aunt as usual. An argument broke out over a trivial matter, and Bansode scolded him.
Enraged by the scolding, the boy called a friend over. While his aunt was caught off guard, the nephew struck her on the back of the head with a bamboo stick, killing her instantly.
The two minors reportedly tried to hide the body inside a bed storage compartment but failed. They subsequently fled the scene.
The police revealed that the nephew is a school dropout. This was not his first run in with his aunt; three months prior, he had allegedly committed a theft at her residence. Following that incident, Durga Bansode had moved all her jewelry to a bank locker for safety.
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