Vasai-Virar: A verbal dispute and scuffle broke out between BJP workers and Bahujan Vikas Aghadi (BVA) leaders, including former Mayor Rupesh Jadhav, during a survey of land for the proposed Achole hospital.

The incident took place on Friday, October 24, 2025, during an inspection by municipal officials. The corporation is planning to build a 200-bed hospital on a two-acre plot in Achole.

The long-standing land dispute was recently resolved when the Revenue Department transferred the plot (Survey No. 6/1) to the Municipal Corporation free of charge. 

During the survey, BJP MLA Rajan Naik and other BJP officials were present. Former BVA Mayor Rupesh Jadhav also arrived at the site, leading to a tense confrontation. A video of the clash has since gone viral on social media, sparking political discussions. 

The BJP accused Jadhav of attempting to obstruct the hospital project, claiming he had done so previously as well.

Jadhav, in turn, alleged that BJP workers were threatening him and trying to intimidate him by mentioning his encroachment on a nearby property. He also accused them of trying to intimidate a municipal official. The incident briefly caused a tense atmosphere in the area. The police are investigating the incident, as a formal complaint was filed against the BJP workers by a BVA activist regarding a social media post. 

Former Mayor Rupesh Jadhav has alleged that his private property, located adjacent to the Achole hospital site, is being forcibly encroached upon. He stated that he had constructed a protective wall around his land and that he intercepted individuals attempting to trespass. Bahujan Vikas Aghadi (BVA) had initiated the process for the Achole hospital project during its term, securing primary approval and funding from the Municipal Corporation. He questioned the motives of those now trying to take credit for the project, asking where they were when the land was allegedly being encroached upon.

He accused the BJP of deliberately misleading the public by circulating a video to silence him and suppress the truth.

Mumbai: Continuing a tradition that spans over a century, the Sandal ceremony at Rahman Shah Baba Dargah in Dongri was held with deep reverence and spiritual fervour. The event, observed annually, saw the presence of Mumbai Police Commissioner Deven Bharti, who presented the ceremonial chadar (sandal cloth) at the revered shrine.

The ritual, performed every year, symbolises not just faith but the enduring bond between the city’s civic guardians and its diverse communities.

The Sandal ceremony at the Rahman Shah Baba Dargah holds immense spiritual significance for devotees across Mumbai and beyond. The dargah, dedicated to Hazrat Abdul Rehman Shah Baba, is considered a sacred space for people of all faiths who seek blessings and inner peace.

Each year, the offering of the chadar by senior police officials, including the ACP, DCP, and Additional Commissioner, reinforces the message of peace, unity, and mutual respect. It stands as a reminder that Mumbai’s strength lies in its cultural diversity and spirit of togetherness.

Given the large crowds that throng the dargah during the Sandal procession, Mumbai Police take extensive measures to ensure the safety of all attendees. Detailed planning goes into traffic control, security deployment, and crowd management, with officers stationed around the clock.

CCTV cameras are strategically installed to monitor the surroundings and prevent any disruptions or untoward incidents. These precautions reflect the department’s commitment to ensuring that the event proceeds peacefully, while also safeguarding devotees from petty theft or disorderly conduct.

The dargah trustees actively cooperate with the authorities, following guidelines that promote discipline and devotion. This includes the prohibition of DJs and loud music, preserving the sanctity and spiritual essence of the occasion.

For countless followers, Hazrat Rahman Shah Baba is not merely a saint but a spiritual guide whose blessings are believed to bring relief, prosperity, and hope. The gathering reflects how the dargah continues to serve as a beacon of faith and emotional strength for the community.

Beyond its religious significance, the Sandal ceremony embodies Mumbai’s inclusive ethos, where people from diverse backgrounds come together in respect and celebration. The annual offering led by Commissioner Bharti and his team is not just a mark of devotion but a gesture of solidarity, echoing the city’s timeless message of unity in diversity.

This long-standing tradition continues to thrive because of the combined efforts of devotees, civic authorities, and law enforcement, making it a model of how faith and governance can coexist harmoniously.

As Mumbai grows and evolves, events like the Rahman Shah Baba Sandal remain powerful reminders of what binds the city together — faith, peace, and brotherhood. The ritual endures not merely as a religious observance, but as a living tradition that reinforces social harmony and collective well-being year after year.

Mumbai: Despite an order from Bombay high court, thousands of illegal hoardings and banners continue to be put up all over the metropolis. This is in total contempt of the high court, but then the BMC is yet to view the issue seriously. The biggest culprits are politicians who have put up hoardings on the occassion of Diwali.

The visit of any politician also sees a rash of hoardings all over the city. Right in front of Mantralaya hoardings are routinely erected with the BMC remaining a silent spectator. The civic staff is highly reluctant to remove these hoardings and banners since they do not want to incur the wrath of the “netas.”

The BMC claims to have pulled down several hoardings and banners. Obviously the claims are not backed by ground reality since many of these hoardings continue to make the metropolis ugly.

As Mumbai glittered with Diwali lights last week, its streets also drowned under a flood of hoardings nearly 60% put up by political parties wishing citizens a “Happy Diwali.”

These banners occupied prime public spaces such as traffic junctions, flyovers, and building facades obstructing views, distracting motorists, and diminishing the city’s visual appeal. What should have showcased Mumbai’s festive charm instead exposed its chronic failure to curb illegal hoardings that deface the city year after year.

The highest concentration of hoardings was seen in areas such as Nariman Point, Fort, Churchgate, Colaba, Worli, Prabhadevi, Bandra, Santacruz, and Andheri.

Dhaval Shah, founder of the Lokhandwala-Oshiwara Citizens Association (LOCA), said, “With the BMC elections approaching, both the number and size of hoardings have shot up. Not a single footpath or lamp post has been spared by advertisers. Adding to the nuisance are decorative arches installed by political parties during Ganeshotsav, which continue to remain till Diwali and beyond. These structures often damage vehicles. We raised the issue in a joint meeting with BMC’s K-West ward officials, but no action has been taken so far.”

Ravi Raja, former Opposition leader of the BMC and BJP leader, said, “Political parties have already instructed their workers not to put up hoardings. To resolve this issue, the BMC should designate specific zones for political hoardings, similar to hawker zones. Parties could be charged for these spaces, which would not only generate revenue for the BMC but also encourage discipline in displaying advertisements.”

However, a senior civic official said, “Our ward-level teams keep vigil and remove every illegal hoarding that appears. Unfortunately, new political banners and hoardings often go up overnight. We have instructed printers to obtain civic permission before producing advertisements for municipal roads or footpaths and have urged political parties to ensure their workers follow the rules. The idea of designated zones for political hoardings has also been discussed, but implementing it requires political will.”

Following the tragic Ghatkopar hoarding collapse that claimed 17 lives, the BMC drafted an “Outdoor Advertisement Display” policy in August 2024 to regulate hoardings, but it remains in limbo. Annually, the civic body removes 15,000–20,000 illegal hoardings, nearly half linked to political or festive messages, with numbers surging during elections and festivals.

The draft policy mandates written permission for all advertisements, and violators face penalties under Section 471 of the BMC Act, 1888, and the Maharashtra Prevention of Defacement of Property Act, 1995, including up to three months’ imprisonment or a Rs. 2,000 fine. “The policy is in the final stage of approval,” said Anil Kate, Superintendent of the BMC’s License Department.