Mumbai: is a major tourist destination for both domestic and international tourists and visitors. The Mumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is laying special emphasis on providing high-quality and comprehensive amenities such as cleanliness, beautification, safety measures, signage, public toilets, drinking water facilities, and digital information systems at various tourist destinations across the city. Various initiatives are being taken to showcase Mumbai’s cultural, historical and heritage assets to tourists in a more effective manner. Municipal Commissioner Ashwini Bhide said that the BMC aims to enhance Mumbai’s tourism potential and ensure a high-quality, satisfying experience for both local residents and tourists from across the country and the world. He also assured that all necessary steps will be taken regarding the guidance and facilities of tourists. A joint meeting on ‘Mumbai Tourism’ was held today (July 31, 2026) at the BMC headquarters, which included the Mumbai Municipal Corporation, Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) and the Collector of Mumbai City. The meeting was attended by Mumbai City District Collector Aanchal Goyal, Additional Collector Bappa Saheb Thorat, BMC Deputy Commissioner (Commissioner’s Office) Shri Prashant Gaikwad, District Planning Officer Sanjay Kumar Shinde, MTDC General Manager Chandrashekhar Jaiswal, and Head of Business Development Department Mansi Kothare among others. Initially, Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) General Manager Mr. Chandrashekhar Jaiswal presented information about Mumbai tourism through a digital presentation.

Municipal Commissioner Ashwini Bhide said that providing basic amenities and services to the residents of Mumbai is the primary duty of the Municipal Corporation. Along with this, the Corporation is also undertaking tourism-related activities and promotional efforts. Mumbai has immense potential and strength in the tourism sector. The Municipal Corporation is taking various steps to attract tourists and promote tourism and these efforts will be further enhanced through collaboration and coordination with MTDC. Maximum efforts will be made to develop additional tourist destinations in the city. Ms. Bhide also suggested that MTDC should develop a dedicated website to provide reliable information to tourists and citizens.

MTDC General Manager Chandrashekhar Jaiswal said that the Maharashtra government is committed to promoting and developing tourism across the state. The primary objectives of MTDC include enhancing tourism infrastructure, formulating strategic plans, and implementing sustainable tourism initiatives. A bustling city like Mumbai has a rich heritage of tourist attractions. It is important for local self-government bodies, especially municipal corporations, to take the initiative in promoting eco-tourism and adventure tourism. Jaiswal stressed that the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) should take the lead in this regard and extend its positive support.

Mumbai: The Bombay High Court has ordered a stay on departmental and inter-departmental inquiries and harassment against IRS officer Sameer Wankhede. Sameer Wankhede had challenged the NCB inquiry, on which the court expressed concern that multiple inquiries have been initiated against an officer on the basis of an anonymous letter, which will demoralize the officer. Along with this, the court has given relief to Wankhede and provided protection with a stay on the inquiry. In a significant development, Justices A.S. Gadkari and Kamal Khata of the Bombay High Court expressed serious concern that the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has initiated multiple inquiries against its own former zonal director Sameer Dunyadev Wankhede on the basis of anonymous complaints. During the hearing, the bench subjected the NCB to extensive questions on the basis of the action initiated against Wankhede. The court questioned how an investigating officer can be prosecuted on the basis of mere allegations made by an accused person and anonymous complaints, especially when such actions have the effect of undermining the functioning of the law enforcement agencies and can also affect the institution. The writ petition challenges several preliminary investigation notices issued against Wankhede arising out of anonymous complaints. The bench also asked the NCB a pertinent question as to whether the accused had made these allegations at the time of his initial arrest or during the investigation. The court questioned why such allegations surfaced only later and sought an explanation as to why they were considered at the last minute. The court further observed that if the accused is allowed to make allegations against the investigating officers and such allegations are easily acted upon by the department, it will create chaos in the administration of criminal justice. The bench remarked that such a course would demoralize honest officers in the discharge of their official duties and would set a dangerous and wholly undesirable precedent by which the accused would be able to target investigating officers simply because they had performed their lawful duties. The bench also questioned the NCB’s repeated initiation of action against Wankhede despite the rules in place on anonymous complaints and the manner in which the agency could take action against one of its own officers. The court expressed regret over such allegations and dissatisfaction with the respondent agency’s conduct in taking action. During the hearing, the court observed that the repeated action initiated against Sameer Wankhede amounted to outright harassment of the petitioner and questioned the justification for continuously questioning him on the basis of such complaints. After hearing the parties at length, the Bombay High Court said that the writ petition is admitted for final hearing and interim relief and protection is granted to Wankhede till the final decision on the petition is taken.

Today’s action marks a significant step forward in protecting honest public servants from arbitrary and vexatious actions. The observations made by the court highlight the broader public importance of ensuring that investigating officers are able to perform their statutory duties without fear or favour, without the risk of delay or reprisals initiated on the basis of anonymous allegations. Sameer Wankhede has consistently maintained that the action initiated against him is arbitrary, malpractice, legally unsustainable and an abuse of administrative process. The petition seeks quashing of the preliminary inquiry notice issued against him on the basis of anonymous complaints.

Mumbai: Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said that to effectively implement Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of ‘Drug-Free India’ (Nashamik Bharat), it is necessary for everyone to make a collective commitment to make ‘Drug-Free Mumbai,’ ‘Drug-Free Maharashtra,’ and ‘Drug-Free India.’ He stressed that the war on drugs is not just a law and order issue but is linked to the future of the nation, for which collective efforts are indispensable.

The ‘Drug-Free Mumbai’ campaign was launched by Chief Minister Fadnavis in Worli today. Mangal Prabhat Lodha (Minister of Development, Employment, Entrepreneurship, and Innovation, and Chairman of the High-Level Committee for Anti-Drug Awareness Campaign), Ashwini Bhide (BMC Commissioner), Devin Bharti (Mumbai Police Commissioner), Rubel Agarwal (Mumbai Commissioner), Sub-Commissioner Katraban (Mumbai Commissioner) and others were also present on the occasion. District), Aanchal Goyal (Collector, Mumbai City District), Prachi Jambhikar (Deputy Commissioner – Education, BMC), Sapna Shroff (non-official member of the committee) along with representatives of various NGOs, councilors, medical experts, students and a large number of citizens participated. Chief Minister Fadnavis said that India is making rapid progress in the fields of science, technology, artificial intelligence, space research and defense. In such a situation, a conspiracy is being hatched to weaken India from within by trapping the youth of the country in the clutches of drugs. Drugs are the most dangerous weapon in this secret war and every citizen should consider the fight against them as his own personal war. To create a drug-free society, coordinated efforts are needed between the police, health, social justice and school education departments as well as parents, teachers, students and all sections of society. Strict action will be taken against those involved in the manufacture, trafficking and sale of drugs. Fadnavis stressed that drug peddling gangs, especially around schools and colleges, will be completely eradicated. Stating that if students take a firm resolve to “say no to drugs”, no one will be able to lure them towards addiction, Fadnavis said the government will make every effort to achieve the goal of ‘drug-free Mumbai’ in the next two to four years. He termed students as the eyes and ears of the society and urged them to provide information about people who are inclined towards addiction and those involved in the drug trade. He announced that letters regarding the matter would be sent to the headmasters of all schools in the state and the principals of all colleges, and assured that the government would extend full support in effectively implementing the concepts of ‘drug-free campuses’ and ‘drug-free schools’. The Chief Minister also announced that the identity of those providing information about drugs will be kept confidential and those providing useful information will be rewarded. Focusing on the rehabilitation of addicted youth and bringing them into the mainstream, Chief Minister Fadnavis noted that if the youth stay away from drugs till the age of 21 or 22, they have a better chance of remaining drug-free throughout their lives. He therefore urged the youth to firmly reject drugs and not succumb to any temptation.

Quoting the teachings of Swami Vivekananda, Fadnavis said that the power of youth should prove to be a life-giving force for nation-building instead of a destructive force for society. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Bharat Ratna Dr. urged everyone to translate the pledge of ‘Drug-Free Mumbai’ – Inspired by Babasaheb Ambedkar, he administered an oath to the people present to create a drug-free society. Two thousand students from Mumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) schools attended the event held at ‘The Dome’ in Worli and took a pledge for a drug-free life. Moreover, students from BMC schools participated in the programme through audio-visual link. BMC students presented dance performances and street plays at the venue.

Let’s turn ‘Drug-Free Mumbai’ campaign into a people’s movement Minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha
Minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha asserted that ‘Drug-Free Mumbai’ is not just a government campaign but a vast people’s movement driven by active social participation. He said that the campaign will continue till Mumbai is completely drug-free and appealed to every citizen to participate in the campaign as a social responsibility. Stressing that the society should actively engage with the government to thwart conspiracies to lure the youth into the clutches of drugs, Minister Lodha announced that public awareness campaigns, counselling sessions, and anti-drug measures would be implemented in schools, colleges and various educational institutions. He urged parents, teachers, NGOs and every section of the society to take the initiative for a safe future for children. The Central and State Governments are implementing various measures for the all-round development of the youth, he mentioned that the ‘CM Mahadhan’ skill development scheme is set to be launched on August 15.