Maharashtra
‘Rebels betrayed Shiv Sena when I was fighting for life in hospital’: ex-CM Uddhav Thackeray

In a startling revelation, Shiv Sena president and ex-Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday said that when he was critical and battling for life in a hospital for his spinal issues, the rebels actively hatched a conspiracy to topple the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government.
During his hospitalisation in November 2021 for his neck and spine problems, Thackeray underwent two surgeries in a space of a week, but the anxious family had not disclosed then that the pater-familias was practically pushed into the jaws of death.
“I avoid talking about that terrible experience as I don’t want any sympathy. After my first surgery (Nov. 2021), I recovered well, but after a week or so, I developed some blood clot, and lost all movements below my neck,” Thackeray said, in a marathon interview to the party mouthpiece ‘Saamana’ and ‘Dopahar Ka Saamana’.
Virtually paralysed then, the doctors diagnosed it as a blood clot and suggested emergency procedures… In what is termed the ‘golden hour’, I was operated successfully — and that’s why I am here before you today. During that period, I had lost complete mobility including my arms and legs,” the Sena chief said.
When Thackeray lay immobile, the (future) rebels were apparently hyper-active and were working against the Shiv Sena’s interests, amid canards being spread that “he (Uddhav Thackeray) would never recover again”, and while some wished he should not bounce back, there were thousands of commoners who prayed for his quick recuperation.
“This was the time when I had entrusted them (then minister and current Chief Minister Eknath Shinde) as the No. 2, to look after the party… When I needed them most, they were busy hatching a plot to bring me down. This painful truth will remain with me for my entire life…,” said Thackeray with a bitter tinge in his voice.
He said after he had handed the second-in-command position (to Shinde), “you killed that trust and betrayed the faith to handle the party during my absence”.
Referring to the breakaway faction which ultimately formed the new government with support of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on June 30 – as being the ‘real Shiv Sena’ and proclaiming their faith and loyalty to Balasaheb Thackeray, Thackeray sounded amused.
“Now, they want to ‘steal’ other peoples’ fathers also… beccause they have no worthy idols to look up to! They did the same with Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose… Their intention is to destroy Shiv Sena by delinking it from the Thackerays, just as they are attempting to do with the Congress to sever it from the Gandhi family,” said Thackeray sharply.
He accused the BJP of spending “thousands of crores of rupees” to topple the MVA government of Shiv Sena-Nationalist Congress Party-Congress, and dared the rebels to face the elections.
“Now, they say it was a mistake to ally with the NCP-Congress… If the BJP had kept its promise in 2019, the present crisis would not have arisen… There would be no need for a ‘Bharat darshan’ or spending thousands of crores of rupees… All this would have happened with dignity,” reiterated Thackeray, referring to the June 20 revolt which spanned across Maharashtra, Gujarat, Assam, Goa and then back home.
The Sena chief’s candid remarks came in a marathon interview with the Saamana Group Executive Editor Sanjay Raut, MP and the party’s Chief Spokesperson.
General
Thane Tragedy: Environmentalist-Lawyer Sarita Khanchandani Dies By Suicide In Ulhasnagar, Family Alleges Harassment By Shiv Sena (UBT) Leader

Thane: In connection with the death of environmentalist-activist-lawyer Sarita Khanchandani, who allegedly died by suicide on Thursday after jumping from the seventh floor of Roma Building where she lived in Ulhasnagar, her husband Purshottam Khanchandani has leveled serious allegations against Shiv Sena (UBT) leader and his associate accusing them of harassing his wife and trying to implicate her in a fabricated case.
He claimed that the harassment drove her to suicide and demanded that the case be probed by a senior officer under judicial supervision.
Purshottam, along with other family members, addressed a press conference to present his side of the story. He said Sarita had been helping Jiya Goplani, a woman whose domestic case she was handling. After being ousted by her in-laws, Goplani had no shelter, and Sarita allowed her to live in one of her homes for six years, providing food and support.
Although the court awarded Goplani a monthly maintenance of Rs 15,000, Sarita eventually asked her to vacate the house. Goplani assured her that she was looking for a house in Badlapur and would leave within two months.
According to Purshottam, on Wednesday, Goplani called Sarita claiming she was unwell. When Sarita went to meet her around 11:45 p.m., she found nearly 20 people present. Purshottam alleged that this was a conspiracy to trap Sarita, and a video of the incident later surfaced on the social media.
Although the police were called to the spot, both Sarita and Goplani told officers they had no complaints, after which Sarita returned home.
However, Purshottam alleged that later the same night, Goplani, along with a politician and others, went to the police station and registered a case against Sarita. Shocked by the development, Sarita went to the police station on Thursday but later returned home and jumped to her death from the terrace.
He also accused the Vithalwadi police station of facilitating the conspiracy to falsely implicate her. He clarified that Goplani was not a tenant but was staying at their residence purely on humanitarian grounds.
Purshottam linked the incident to an earlier dispute, alleging that the Shiv Sena (UBT) leader and his associate had encroached upon a government toilet block. Sarita had filed a petition in the High Court against the encroachment, after which the Shiv Sena Shakha on the premises was shut down and the property handed back to the municipal corporation.
In response to Purshottam’s allegations, Jiya Gopalani refused all allegations and stated that she was his wife’s tenant and that Sarita forced her to work according to her instructions; otherwise, she would not fight her domestic case in court.
“On Wednesday, Sarita came to my home because I was not picking up her call. Sarita arrived at my home and assaulted me badly, after which I visited the police station and filed a case against her.”
DCP Sachin Gore of Ulhasnagar said “Based on Jiya Goplani’s complaint, we filed a case of trespass and assault against Sarita. In Sarita’s suicide matter, no note was found. So far, we have registered an Accidental Death Report (ADR) . We will record the statements of witnesses. Further investigation is underway, and if anyone’s role emerges, action will take accordingly.”
Sarita Khanchandani, a practicing lawyer, was known for her environmental activism and had played a significant role in getting DJs banned in Maharashtra.
She also ran the Heerali Foundation, an organization dedicated to cleaning up the Ulhas and Waldhuni rivers that flow through Ulhasnagar. She was a prominent figure in pollution activism in the city, petitioning police to act against violators and raising awareness of environmental issues affecting the rivers.
Crime
Maloney arrested with 7.2 million worth of ganja and pistol, five others

Mumbai Maloni Police has claimed to have arrested five accused including ganja worth Rs 72 lakhs and a country-made pistol and live cartridges. In Maloni, the police had arrested Ashiq Hussain Khan with 1 kg 60 grams of ganja. He said that he buys this drug from Nashik. After that, Santosh More of Nashik was arrested. After that, a total of four accused were arrested in this case and a case was registered against them under the NDPS Act. A car was searched in Maloni Madh in which a country-made pistol and ganja were recovered. This operation was carried out by DCP Sandeep Jadhav on the instructions of Mumbai Police Commissioner Devin Bharti. The police is investigating the matter further.
Maharashtra
The application date for Mumbai students’ education scholarship should be extended till September 1: Abu Asim Azmi

Maharashtra Samajwadi Party leader and MLA Abu Asim Azmi has written a letter to the state Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and the Minister of Minority Affairs demanding extension of the application date for scholarship 2025-26 for students pursuing higher education abroad through the Minority Department and Ministry of Minority Affairs. The last date is August 28, 2025. Azmi has demanded an extension till September 1. He said that there is a three-day holiday in Maharashtra in view of Ganpati festival and other festivals, so students will have difficulty in submitting applications. Therefore, keeping in mind the convenience of the students, the date for submission of applications should be extended till September 1 and the government should take a positive decision on this.
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