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Maharashtra

Shiv Sena vs Shiv Sena: Election Commission to hear warring factions on Jan 5

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The Election Commission on Monday fixed January 5 as the next date for hearing the arguments of the Shiv Sena’s warring factions led by Uddhav Thackeray and Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.

The decision was taken after lawyers from both the factions during a hearing on Monday sought more time to examine documents submitted by the rival groups to claim the party name and symbol. Senior counsels Kapil Sibal and Mahesh Jethmalani appeared before the full Election Commission on behalf of the Thackeray faction and the Shinde faction of the Shiv Sena respectively.

The Thackeray faction of the Shiv Sena has been claiming that it does not recognise the other group.

“We do not recognise any group. Shiv Sena is where Thackeray is,” Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Raut, who belongs to the Thackeray faction, told reporters here.

Last month, the commission had asked the Shiv Sena factions to submit fresh documents to back their claim to the party’s name and its symbol by November 23. 

The poll panel had also asked them to exchange the documents, submitted to the poll panel, with each other. 

In an interim order in October, the commission had barred the two factions from using the party name or its ‘bow and arrow’ symbol.

Later, it had allotted ‘Shiv Sena-Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray’ as the party name for the Thackeray faction, and ‘Balasahebanchi Shiv Sena’ (Balasaheb’s Shiv Sena) as the name for the Eknath Shinde group of the party.

The Election Commission had said the interim order will continue “till the final determination of the dispute”.

Shinde had rebelled against Thackeray’s leadership, claiming the support of 40 of the Shiv Sena’s 55 MLAs and 12 of its 18 members in Lok Sabha.

Following Thackeray’s resignation as chief minister of the Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress coalition, Shinde became chief minister with the support of the BJP. 

Para 15 of the Election Symbols Order provides for hearing of representatives of the sections or groups as desired to be heard. 

Maharashtra

Action taken against Dhulia Muslim settlement is totally unjust, Abu Asim Azmi writes to Minority Commission requesting a stay on the action and notice

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Mumbai: Maharashtra Samajwadi Party leader Abu Asim Azmi has demanded a stay on the notice of illegal eviction of houses from Muslim settlements in Dhuleya and demolition action from Minorities Commission Chairman Pyare Khan. Anhusan said that it is completely unjust to evict 275 Muslims in Dhuleya, while the government had also issued a GR for their rehabilitation through the Prime Minister’s Awas Yojana. This family had been living in Dhuleya Lal Sardarnagar Ant Batti area for 40 to 50 years, but the administration has suddenly evicted them by taking demolition action. They were illegally served a notice on April 21. The state government had also prepared a plan for the rehabilitation of the residents under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana in connection with the GR of March 26, 2026. The sudden action of the administration is inhuman and illegal, therefore, the Minorities Commission is requested to impose a stay order on this illegal notice and provide justice to the residents. In this regard, Advocate Zubair of Dhule and the residents have requested that they get justice and a stay be imposed on the illegal demolition notice. Abu Asim Azmi has sent a letter to the Minorities Commission on the demand of the residents, demanding a stay and a stay on the action.

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Maharashtra

Mumbai: Drug party at Hotel Lalit International, police investigation launched, no objectionable items recovered, investigation ordered

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Mumbai: Police has started an inquiry after a video of a drugs party at Hotel Lalit International under the limits of Mumbai’s Sahar police station went viral. In the initial investigation, the police did not find any intoxicating substances or drugs during the search. The complainant had called the police control room three times. The police searched the Kitty Saw Club all three times, but no objectionable items were found from here. However, an inquiry into the matter is ongoing.

The complainant has made a video viral from outside and inside the club, in which it is stated that drugs are sold to youths in this club, but no drugs of any kind were found in the police operation. In the video, a youth is also shown running away during the search, while he was also searched, but no drugs of any kind were recovered. DCP Manish Kalwaniya has ordered an inquiry in this regard. The police are finding out whether the allegations made in the video are true or not. Along with this, the complainant has also entered the club several times and an investigation has also been started regarding the activities he has done here. However, no evidence of a drug party in the Cutty Sow Club in Hotel The Lalit has been found. The police are also examining the video footage and other documents. No case has been registered in this matter so far, but the police are conducting an inquiry.

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Crime

Nasrapur Rape & Murder: Pune Police Clarify Lathi Charge During Protest Near Navale Bridge

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Pune: Police on Sunday issued a clarification over the use of force during a protest linked to the Nasrapur assault case, where a four-year-old was raped and murdered. Officials said a “mild lathi-charge” was carried out to disperse a crowd after a key highway remained blocked for hours, causing severe disruption.

The protest took place on Saturday evening at the Navale Bridge on the Katraj Dehu-Road bypass section of Mumbai–Bengaluru National Highway. According to police, the road remained blocked for nearly four hours, leading to a massive traffic jam stretching up to 15 kilometres on both sides. Thousands of commuters, including women and children, were stranded. Ambulances were also caught in the congestion.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone 3) Sambhaji Kadam said the police had been in constant touch with the victim’s family throughout the day. The family had been given a written assurance by the administration and wanted to end the protest, as they were exhausted.

Senior officials, including Pune City Commissioner of Police Amitesh Kumar, spoke to protesters multiple times. However, some individuals refused to withdraw and continued blocking the road. Police said the victim’s family was safely escorted from the site, and the girl’s body was later transported in an ambulance under police protection for the last rites.

Despite repeated appeals, a section of protesters remained adamant. Police then used mild force to clear the road and restore traffic movement. Officials stressed that the action was taken with restraint and only after prolonged efforts to resolve the situation peacefully.

A video showing the lathi-charge had circulated widely on social media, prompting criticism and raising questions over police action. In response, authorities released a detailed statement explaining the sequence of events.

Police also said the Nasrapur case is highly sensitive and is being investigated by the Pune Rural Police Force. They assured us that efforts are being made to ensure strict punishment for the accused. The victim’s family has been kept informed during the investigation.

The police appealed to citizens to remain calm and trust the legal process. They said maintaining law and order, while ensuring justice for the victim, remains their priority.

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