Mumbai: In a move aimed at preserving the cultural identity of local residents in the Bandra Government Colony redevelopment project, the Public Works Department has taken an important decision. Due to the consistent efforts of Cabinet Minister Shivendraraje Bhosale, a 400 sq. meter space in the colony has been allocated for the establishment of the Pragya Cultural Centre, which will include a Buddha Vihar and a public library.

Social Centre Secured for 30 Years

The proposed Social Welfare Centre will serve as a hub for cultural and intellectual activities, while also strengthening community ties within the redeveloped colony. As per the lease agreement, the space will be provided to the centre for 30 years at a nominal rate.

The ownership of the land will remain with the Public Works Department, and the area will continue to hold its designated reservation as a ‘Samaj Mandir’ (community temple).

“Redevelopment may change physical structures, but retaining the culture and social identity of the locality is far more important. This space will safeguard the cultural heritage of the residents,” said Cabinet Minister Shivendraraje Bhosale.

Pragya Centre to Promote Culture

The Pragya Cultural Centre is expected to promote reading culture, open new avenues for spiritual and cultural activities at the Buddha Vihar, and ensure that the cultural heartbeat of the colony remains alive even after redevelopment.

Mumbai: Two Mumbai-based gold jewellery manufacturing companies were cheated of Rs.31 lakh in the name of the well-known Chandukaka Saraf shop in Pune. In connection with the case, the MIDC police arrested an accused identified as Kartik Shah, 33. Shah had obtained the GST certificate of Chandukaka Saraf and misused it to commit the fraud.

Borivali Man with Jewellery Trade Links Behind Fraud

According to the MIDC police, the accused, Kartik Shah, resides in Borivali West. He had worked in a goldsmith’s shop for a few years, and several of his relatives are also in the same business. Therefore, he had knowledge of the trade and was familiar with its intricacies. Using this knowledge, he devised a fraudulent plan.

On 8 August, Shah visited the renowned jewellery store ‘Chandukaka Saraf’ in Pune, claiming to be an officer from the International Gemological Institute. On the pretext of updating the store’s Goods and Services Tax (GST) certificate, he requested a copy of the document. Owing to his convincing body language, no one suspected him, and the manager handed over a copy of the GST certificate.

After obtaining the certificate, Shah executed the next phase of his plan. On 9 August, he contacted two jewellery manufacturers in Mumbai—‘Money Jewels Expert with Better Diamond’ and ‘Calista Jewellers’. Posing as a representative of Chandukaka Saraf, he claimed that two new showrooms were opening and jewellery was required for display there. To gain the trust of the companies, he sent them a copy of the GST certificate, as a result of which they believed him. He instructed the companies to send the jewellery through parcel porters, giving different addresses in Mumbai and Pune. However, before the porters could reach the showroom address, Shah intercepted them on the road in Bandra and took the parcel. He obtained a parcel near Chetna college in Bandra West and another at Khadaki in Pune.

Inside the Conspiracy

In this way, Shah looted gold and diamond jewellery worth Rs.31.58 lakh from both companies. The fraud came to light when it was realised that the jewellery never reached Chandukaka Saraf Company. A case was registered in this regard at the MIDC police station, where the police later investigated and arrested Kartik Shah in Mumbai.

The mobile number used by the accused was traced, and based on information provided by the porter company, Shah was located and arrested. The further investigation is underway to determine how many more companies the accused may have cheated. Under the guidance of senior police inspector Ravindra Wani, detection officer Yash Palve executed the operation.

Palghar: A tragic building collapse late Tuesday night in Palghar district’s Virar claimed two lives and left several injured, with rescue operations still underway. Officials confirmed that the rear portion of Ramabai Apartment, a four-storey building, crumbled around 11:30 pm, crashing onto an adjoining chawl and trapping multiple residents under debris.

The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Fire Department, and Vasai Virar Municipal Corporation teams launched a joint rescue operation soon after the incident. NDRF Deputy Commander Pramod Singh stated that two NDRF teams, one each from Mumbai and Palghar, were deployed to the site immediately after receiving the alert at midnight.

“Two teams of the NDRF responded to the accident site. One team is from Mumbai and one is from Palghar. As soon as the information was received at 12 am, the nearest team responded. In the primary manual and canine search, four people were pulled out. Among them, one was dead, and three were rescued alive. A one-year-old child died on the way to the hospital. 11 people have been rescued so far.”

“The locals say that around 5 people may still be trapped… The rescue may continue today and tomorrow. All the work has to be done manually as the way to the building is narrow and heavy machinery cannot be brought here…” NDRF Deputy Commander Pramod Singh said, adding that the narrow lanes made it impossible to deploy heavy machinery.

So far, 11 individuals have been rescued and shifted to nearby hospitals in Virar and Nala Sopara. The deceased have been identified as 24-year-old Aarohi Omkar Jovil and one-year-old Utkarsha Jovil.

The injured include Prabhakar Shinde (57), Pramila Shinde (50), Prerna Shinde (20), Vishakha Jovil (24), Manthan Shinde (19), and Sanjoy Singh (24). Others like Pradeep Kadam (40), Jayashree Kadam (33), and Mitali Parmar (28) were discharged after receiving first aid.

Authorities fear more casualties as search and rescue continues under challenging conditions. The collapse has once again raised questions over the safety of old residential structures in the rapidly growing Vasai-Virar region.