Maharashtra
SC verdict: Maharashtra to conduct local bodies polls with OBC quotas

With the Supreme Court’s nod to the J.K. Banthia Commission Report on political reservations for Other Backward Class, Maharashtra has set the ball rolling to conduct the delayed elections to various local bodies in the state.
In what will be a sort of ‘mini-general election’, the Maharashtra State Election Commission (SEC) sources said it will go ahead with the programme for the polls in 367 local bodies wherever due.
There are a total of 23 Municipal Corporations, 220 Municipal Councils and Nagar Panchayats, 25 Zilla Parishads and 284 Panchayat Samitis across the state.
The development came after Supreme Court accepted the J.K. Banthia Commission Report recommending 27 per cent reservations overall, with the SEC likely to declare the local bodies election schedule within two weeks, as directed by the apex court on Wednesday.
The panel headed by a former state chief secretary, was set up by the previous Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) in March 2022, to collate the empirical data of the OBC communities scattered around the state, with plans to hold a caste-based Census before the government collapsed on June 29.
Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Leader of Opposition Ajit Pawar, Nationalist Congress Party leaders like Jayant Patil, Chhagan Bhujbal, Dhananjay Munde, Congress’ Nana Patole, Vijay Wadettivar and Atul Londhe, Bharatiya Janata Party’s Chandrakant Patil and Pankaja Munde, among many others from different parties and OBC leaders have welcomed the Supreme Court verdict.
The Banthia Commission had submitted its report to the state government on July 7, recommending reservations for OBC peoples’ representatives to work in major positions in Panchayat Samitis, Zilla Parishads, Nagar Panchayats, Municipal Councils and Municipal Corporations in the state.
The state government moved an application in the Supreme Court seeking for directions to hold the local bodies elections under the relevant laws and notifying a reservation pattern as per the Banthia Commission report of July 7.
As per the last Maharashtra Economic Survey (2021-2022), the state has 27,831 Gram Panchayats, 351 Panchayat Samitis, 34 Zilla Parishads, 128 Nagar Panchayats, 241 Municipal Councils and 27 Municipal Corporations as the local bodies.
With the implementation of the 27 per cent OBC political quotas, the top posts like Mayor in Municipal Corporations, heads in municipal councils, chairpersons in Zilla Parishad and Panchayat Samitis will be given to peoples’ representatives from the OBCs.
There are 295 OBCs including various tribals and special backward category communities who are likely to get the fruits of the new political reservations, though it will not apply to certain districts where the SC/ST population is already 50 per cent.
In Maharashtra, based on the Census data and the voters lists, an estimated 37 per cent of the population falls under the OBCs, as per the Banthia Commission Report, though its percentage varies from one region to another.
Crime
Mumbai Airport Customs Seize Drugs Worth ₹13.83 Crore, 2 Passengers Arrested

Mumbai: The Mumbai Airport Customs officers in two separate cases have seized over 13 kg of smuggled drugs having illicit market value of approx Rs 13.83 crores. Two passengers have been arrested by the Customs for smuggling contraband.
According to the agency sources, on the basis of profiling, the Customs officers at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) Mumbai, intercepted one passenger who had arrived from Bangkok on Monday.
“During the examination of the baggage, the Customs officers recovered 11.83 kg of suspected hydroponic weed (marijuana), with an illicit market value of approximately Rs 11.83 crores. The narcotic substance was cleverly concealed inside the checked-in trolley bag carried by the passenger,” said a Customs officer. The said passenger was then arrested under the provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.
In another case, on the basis of specific intelligence, the Customs officers at CSMIA Mumbai intercepted and arrested one passenger who had arrived from Bangkok on Sunday. During the examination of the baggage, the Customs officers recovered 2 kg of suspected hydroponic weed with an illicit market value of approximately Rs 2 crores. The narcotic substance was cleverly concealed inside the checked-in trolley bag carried by the passeng
Crime
Thane Crime: Senior Citizen’s Bag With Gold Worth ₹58,000 Stolen In Rickshaw By Woman With Child In Dombivli

Thane: A 76-year-old woman’s bag containing a gold chain, a gold ring, and cash worth Rs 58,000 was stolen in a rickshaw in Dombivli by a woman travelling with a small child. The incident took place last Friday, after the victim, Vijaya Bhosale, returned from Ganpati celebrations in Konkan and hired a direct rickshaw from Pandit Dindayal Chowk to her home in Thakurwadi, near Dombivli West railway station.
As the rickshaw began its journey, a 40-year-old woman with a child forcibly entered the vehicle, despite Bhosale stating she had hired it for a solo trip. During the ride, the woman attempted to touch the gold chain around Bhosale’s neck.
When questioned, the woman denied any wrongdoing. However, she had placed her bag close to the elderly woman and managed to steal the gold ornaments and Rs 4,500 in cash from Bhosale’s wallet without being noticed.
It was only after reaching home and attempting to use her phone that Bhosale discovered the valuables were missing. She then realised the theft likely occurred during the shared rickshaw ride. A complaint has been registered at Vishnunagar police station, and authorities suspect the woman who forced her way into the rickshaw is responsible, as reported.
Reports suggest that some women have been targeting passengers near Dombivli railway station, using similar tactics. Complicating the investigation, CCTV cameras in the area were not operational at the time of the incident, making it more difficult for police to track down the suspect, described as chubby and accompanied by a child.
Maharashtra
Historic Muhammadan procession recovered from Mumbai Khilafat House…Islam taught peace and the Prophet of Islam emphasized the importance of service to the people: Minister Chhagan Bhujbal

Mumbai: On the occasion of Eid Miladunnabi, a procession of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was taken out with great pomp from Khilafat House, and the streets of Mumbai echoed with the slogan of Takbir-Allahu Akbar. The procession was led by Tausif Raza, along with Food and Supplies Minister Chhagan Bhujbal. Earlier, while addressing the Seerat-e-Pak gathering at Khilafat House, the Prophet (peace be upon him) preached brotherhood and Hindu-Muslim unity, saying that Muslims took out the procession of Eid Miladunnabi on September 8 instead of September 5 because Muslims are in minority and they are younger brothers.
Therefore, it is also the duty of the majority to take care of their brothers. Unless Hindus and Muslims unite, this country cannot progress and this is the beauty of this country that Ganga-Jamuni Tehzeeb is still prevalent here. Describing the teachings of Hazrat Muhammad Mustafa (peace be upon him), Maulana Tauseef Raza said that Islam is not just 450 years or 1500 years old, but is very ancient and the birth anniversary of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is not 1500 years old. However, it can be said that it has been 1500 years since the migration of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him). He further said that His Holiness has a belief, that is why he says, “Do the work that pleases you. It is good. May the name of Reza please you. Millions of blessings be upon you.” Wise, intellectual and politically savvy people of the world say that Islam has been there for 1400 years. The celebration of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) cannot be 1400 years old. This migration of the Prophet (peace be upon him) may be 1500 years old this year. Muslims have not existed for 1500 years. The foundation of Islam was laid when Allah produced the light of Muhammad Mustafa (peace be upon him) from His light. Allah Almighty kept the light of Muhammad with Himself. The birth of Eid Miladunnabi (peace be upon him) was not celebrated by His Holiness, but it is a divine Sunnah. The foundation of Miladunnabi (peace be upon him) is linked to Bareilly Sharif. When the rebellious sect was conspiring to erase Miladunnabi (PBUH), His Majesty presented arguments regarding Miladunnabi (PBUH). Today the 107th procession of Eid Miladunnabi has been taken out from Khilafat House. Muslims are a minority in this country and so the majority should take care of them and treat them with kindness, honesty and generosity. They should also treat Muslims and their festivals well. Only then will this country progress. This will establish brotherhood and communal harmony and love will flourish.
Addressing the gathering, Minister of State for Food and Supplies Chhagan Bhujbal said that Muhammad Mustafa (peace be upon him) taught humanity, peace, security and love, unity and equality. In Islam, the Prophet of Islam gave importance to service to the people and also taught to take care of others. This is why peace is emphasized the most in Islam. After this, Chhagan Bhujbal mentioned the freedom struggle and Khilafat Movement of Maulana Muhammad Ali and Shaukat Ali and said that Maulana Ali brothers had blown the trumpet of independence from this Khilafat House and Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru were also with them from here. In this gathering, Khilafat House Committee Chairman Sarfaraz Arzoo highlighted the purpose and goal of the Khilafat Committee and Eid Miladunnabi (peace be upon him) procession. Addressing the gathering, former minister and NCP leader Nawab Malik, while highlighting the life of Prophet Muhammad Saheb, said that Prophet Muhammad Saheb taught the world the lesson of peace and security by eliminating discrimination and inequality, hence Islam is a religion of peace and its followers are also peace loving. Political and social leaders and scholars including former MLA Waris Pathan, MLA Amin Patel participated in the gathering, while Maulana Mahmood Sir conducted it.
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