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Maharashtra

Shiv Sena-UBT Leader Sanjay Raut Alleges Amit Shah Advised Deputy CM Eknath Shinde To Merge His Faction With BJP To Retain Influence

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Mumbai: UBT Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut, known for his relentless attacks on former Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, has made a sensational allegation— claiming that Union Home Minister Amit Shah advised Shinde to merge his party with the BJP.

In his Sunday column Rokhthok in Saamana, Raut alleged that Shinde met Shah at Pune’s Westin Hotel at 4 AM on February 22, seeking clarity on his diminishing role in the government. According to Raut, Shinde complained about Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, frustrated that his authority was being systematically eroded.

About The Alleged Conversation

Alleged Conversation Between Shinde and Shah Amit Shah: “Shindeji, it’s 4 AM. What is so urgent?” Shinde: “You already know what is happening.” Shah: “What exactly?” Shinde: “They are sidelining me and my people.” Shah: “How is that possible? I’ll speak to Devendra.” Shinde: “They’re trying to politically finish me. We trusted you and joined hands with the BJP. You promised I’d remain CM even after elections.” Shah: “But BJP won 125 seats. How can you claim the CM post?”

Shinde: “The elections were fought under my leadership.” Shah: “No, the elections were won in Modi ji’s name. Tell me what you want.” Shinde: “I want to remain CM.” Shah: “That’s not possible. The CM will be from BJP now.” Shinde: “What should I do?” Shah: “Merge your party with BJP. That’s the only way you can retain influence. An outsider will no longer be Maharashtra’s CM. We have respected your position so far.”

Shinde: “What about my party?” Shah: “Leave that to us. We built that party, so don’t worry.” Raut claimed that Shinde left the meeting visibly tense and that Shah assured him BJP would “take care of his faction” after the merger.

While the BJP has not officially responded, Raut insists his sources are from within the BJP itself.

Shinde’s Shindig

Eknath Shinde dismissed the claims outright, saying, “Amit Bhai Shah is an important leader of the NDA. Why would we meet secretly at 4 AM? We don’t operate in secrecy like them. We meet during the day.” He further questioned, “If the meeting never happened, how can Raut describe it?”

Post Script

Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis took a swipe at Raut’s allegations, quipping, “Sanjay Raut is now manufacturing stories. His competition is with Sholay writers Salim-Javed.”

Maharashtra

Action Following Fraud FIR: MHADA Cancels NOC, BMC Issues ‘Stop Work’ Notice for Madiyar Mansion

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MUMBAI: Following the registration of an FIR involving serious allegations of fraud and forgery, the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) have cracked down on the ‘Madiyar Mansion’ building located in the Mandvi division. MHADA has cancelled the No Objection Certificate (NOC) previously granted to the project, while the BMC’s Building Proposal Department has issued a ‘Stop Work Notice’ to halt all construction activity.

Strict Directives Issued by MHADA
The official order issued by MHADA explicitly states that:
No further administrative permissions, amendments, or approvals will be granted to the project in the future.

To avoid any future legal or administrative complications, instructions have been issued to immediately halt all ongoing work at the construction site. Note: Despite the initial FIR being registered, construction up to the 7th floor (Ground + 7) had reportedly continued at the site.

8 Registered Documents Under Scrutiny for Forgery
Following the FIR, the Sub-Registrar of Assurances had registered 8 documents related to the property. Taking note of the fraud allegations, the Sub-Registrar’s office sent an official letter to the local police station stating that these 8 documents are based on forged paperwork and should not be recognized or used anywhere.

Background of the Case
The alleged fraud surrounding this property came to light on February 2 this year, when the complainant, Mohammad Rafique Usman Pudinawala, lodged an official complaint alleging fraud and forgery.
Based on his complaint, the Paydhonie Police Station registered an FIR under relevant sections against the following individuals:
Mariyam Mahboob Kodia
Hussain Kodia
Yusuf Ibrahim Supariwala (Builder)
Following MHADA’s strict action, further investigations into other administrative aspects and the potential involvement of officials are expected to accelerate.

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Maharashtra

Tansa Lake, which supplies water to Mumbai, is full.

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Mumbai: Tansa Lake, one of the seven lakes supplying water to the Mumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) area, overflowed today (July 22, 2026). The BMC’s Hydraulic Engineer Department reported that the lake started overflowing at 8:51 am today. Out of the seven lakes supplying water to the BMC area, Vihar Lake started overflowing at 9:00 pm on July 7, 2026. Soon after, on the same day, July 7, 2026, Tulsi Lake also started overflowing at 11:43 pm. Now Taunsa Lake has also started overflowing since this morning. As a result, as of July 22, 2026, three of the seven lakes supplying water to the BMC area are overflowing. The water level in the reservoirs has increased rapidly due to continuous, heavy rains in the catchment areas for the past few days. As per the measurements taken at 6:00 am today, the total water storage in all seven lakes is 61.90 per cent of their total capacity. Tansa Dam is located in Shahpur taluka of Thane district and is one of the few dams in the country that are built with stone masonry. The maximum water storage capacity of Tansa Lake, which is flowing since today, is 14,508 crore litres (145,080 million litres). Last year, Tansa Lake started flowing at 5:40 pm on July 23. Earlier, it started flowing at 4:16 am on July 24, 2024. On July 26, 2023 at 4:35 am; on July 14, 2022 at 8:50 pm; and on July 22, 2021 at 5:48 am. Earlier, on August 20, 2020, it started flowing at 7:05 pm.

Additional Information

Tansa Dam is one of the longest dams in the world with a length of 2,743.20 meters.

Year of construction: 1892

Daily supply: 455 MLD (million litres per day)

Contribution to total water supply: 11.00%

Location: 106 km from Mumbai

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Maharashtra

Shinde pays emotional tribute to Ajit Pawar on birth anniversary, hails his enduring legacy

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Mumbai, July 22: Marking the birth anniversary of the late Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, Shiv Sena chief and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Wednesday paid a heartfelt tribute, describing the occasion as a poignant mix of celebration and sorrow.

He said the day was marked by contrasting emotions, as it celebrated Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’ birthday while also remembering the late Ajit Pawar, whom he described as the architect of the Mahayuti alliance.

“Today brings joy in one eye and tears in the other. No one can truly fill the void left by Ajitdada. I pray that Deputy Chief Minister Sunetratai finds the strength to carry forward his dream of building a prosperous Maharashtra by continuing the path of development he laid down,” Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said in his message.

Reflecting on Pawar’s distinct leadership style, Shinde highlighted how the late leader served as an inspiration for an entire generation of politicians. He lauded Pawar’s hallmark traits.

“Administrative Command: Exceptional discipline and firm control over governance. Punctuality & Commitment: A tireless dedication to utilizing every moment of the day for public service. Deep Expertise: A thorough understanding of finance, agriculture, and the cooperative sector, visible in his work as Finance Minister,” he stated.

Shinde emphasised that the state budget presented by Pawar to fulfill Mahayuti’s promises remains a cornerstone of inspiration for Maharashtra.

Reflecting on their shared goals, Shinde shared that they had envisioned numerous economic and social milestones for the state before fate unexpectedly took Pawar away. He remarked that actively realising those grand visions for development is the greatest and most authentic homage the coalition can pay him.

The deputy CM paid tribute with poetic lines honouring his memory: “Days will come and go, the wheel of time will turn…But the fragrance of Dada’s memories will forever remain.”

Reaffirming their shared commitment to public welfare and joint development, Shinde expressed lasting gratitude for Ajit Pawar’s immense contribution to Maharashtra.

Earlier, recalling past years filled with joy, warmth, and widespread celebrations, Sunetra Pawar, wife of Ajit Pawar, expressed the pain of adjusting to life without her lifelong partner.

“For so many years, I celebrated your birthday with such joy, enthusiasm, and pride… The home and family would be filled with happiness, showers of blessings all around. But today, observing this very same day as your ‘jayanti,’ my heart breaks completely from within. Even today, my heart refuses to accept this bitter truth, Dada,” she said.

She described the sudden emptiness left in her life following his untimely demise, highlighting how Ajit Pawar stood as her pillar of strength through every stage of life. Addressing her late husband directly, Sunetra Pawar emphasised that while he may no longer be physically present, his political legacy, public service, and strict discipline will remain immortalised.

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