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.

Jaipur, Feb 17: In one of its biggest operations so far in the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) scam case, the Rajasthan Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) conducted simultaneous raids at multiple locations across the country on Tuesday.

According to sources, dozens of ACB teams carried out coordinated searches at around 15 locations, including Jaipur, Barmer, Sikar, Jalore, Delhi, Bihar, and Jharkhand.

The raids are part of the ongoing investigation into alleged corruption in the state’s flagship ‘Har Gahr Jal’ (Tap in every home) drinking water scheme.

ACB teams reportedly searched the premises of retired Additional Chief Secretary (ACS), a senior IAS officer, along with other accused individuals linked to the alleged scam.

Officials are examining documents and questioning the retired official regarding the tender allocation process during his tenure.

The retired official was accused of awarding contracts worth crores of rupees to preferred companies allegedly on the basis of fake experience certificates.

Officials said the questioning is part of the broader probe into irregularities in procurement and tendering under the Jal Jeevan Mission.

More than half a dozen suspects have reportedly been detained for questioning in the operation being conducted under the supervision of ACB Director General Govind Gupta and Additional Director General Smita Srivastava.

Among those being questioned are officials and contractors suspected of involvement in the alleged irregularities.

According to sources, formal arrests of some individuals may be announced later in the day, depending on the outcome of interrogations and evidence verification.

The crackdown is not limited to Rajasthan. ACB teams have also carried out searches in Bihar and Jharkhand, where companies linked to the case are suspected to have operations.

The entire operation is being supervised by DIG Dr. Rameshwar Singh and SP Pushpendra Singh Rathore, who is also heading the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the case.

Officials have reportedly seized digital devices, diaries, and documents related to bank transactions, which are now being examined as part of the investigation.

The Jal Jeevan Mission scam is believed to involve irregularities worth over Rs 900 crore.

Investigators claimed that certain companies secured contracts by submitting forged experience certificates.

Earlier in the case, former minister Mahesh Joshi and several engineers were arrested and sent to jail. The latest action signals that the investigation is now moving toward senior-level officials and major players in the alleged scam.

Mumbai: A 30-year-old man died in an accident in Santacruz East on Sunday. The deceased has been identified as Arun Tripathi, alias Tiwari, who ran a catering and utensils-selling business and resided in Santacruz East. The BEST bus driver, Harish Narayankar (40), who lives in Dharavi, was arrested immediately by the police.

According to the police, the accident occurred between 9.30 pm and 10 pm on Sunday near the Mumbai University gate in Santacruz East. Tripathi was riding a two-wheeler when the incident took place. A BEST bus had stopped at the University bus stop. Tripathi reportedly rode in front of the bus, which then started moving from behind him. As Tripathi attempted to take a left turn, the bus driver also moved towards the right.

Due to an apparent misunderstanding between the two drivers, Tripathi came under the front right wheel of the bus. Both his legs were crushed, resulting in severe injuries and heavy bleeding. He managed to contact his relatives on his mobile phone. His relatives rushed to the spot and shifted him to V.N. Desai Hospital in Santacruz East. As his condition was critical, doctors advised that he be shifted to Lilavati Hospital in Bandra West. However, he was declared dead during treatment.

The BEST bus, numbered 302, was travelling from Pratiksha Nagar to Dharavi at the time of the accident. The BKC police have registered a case against the bus driver under Sections 106 (causing death by negligence) and 281 (rash driving on a public way) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and have arrested him.