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Maharashtra

Thane: NCP leader Jitendra Awhad, 100 others booked for vandalism; stopped screening of Marathi film ‘Har Har Mahadev’ at Viviana Mall

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Former state housing minister Jitendra Awhad and 100 workers of his have been booked for vandalism after they forcefully stopped a screening of a Marathi film ‘Har Har mahadev’ at a multiplex in Thane’s Viviana Mall on Monday night. The NCP MLA alleged that the film distorted Chhatrapati Shivaji’s history to create political hype.

According to a report in local media, the Vartak Nagar police have registered a case based on complaint of one Vijay Dhurve; they have been booked under Sections 141, 143, 146, 149, 323, 504 of the Indian Penal Code and Section 37/135 of the Mumbai Police Act.

The leader and his workers got into a scuffle with the audience and the video of their heated exhcange is going viral on social media.

In the video, a mob is seen charging at the cinemagoer and later Jitendra Awhad intervenes, and the two exchange a few heated words before the man is taken out of the cinema hall with his daughter.

Another video shows the man being manhandled by Awhad before he is taken out of the cinema hall.

Speaking to the media later, Awhad said that the movie shows Shivaji Maharaj sleeping on a bench while Afzal Khan was stabbing him and said that his relationship with Bajiprabhu Deshpande was also defamed.

Awhad, saying that films influence people, said that distortion of history must be opposed. He said although he respects freedom of expression, he will not let people change the history, stated a report in hindustan times.

Reportedly, soon after NCP workers left, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena’s Thane-Palghar district chief Avinash Jadhav arrived at the multiplex and requested to restart the show.

He was quoted in HT saying that it is wrong to manhandle the audience who had come to watch a film. He said that the accused should be arrested by the police. He said he will also attend the screening until end and dared others to stop the show.

Abhijeet Deshpande, who directed the film ‘Har Har Mahadev’ condemning the attack said, “The entire team of Har Har Mahadev condemns these pervert goons for breaking into Har Har Mahadev’s show in Thane and attacking the common Marathi audience. Stop playing politics on my Chhatrapati and practice his divine thoughts.”

While speaking to the media, he also said that the team will release a media statement today and that they condemn the violence. He added that the CBFC gave a nod for the film’s release. The panel had historians and the changes they recommended were duly taken note of, he said.

A day earlier, former Rajya Sabha member and Kolhapur royal family scion Sambhaji Chhatrapati had warned that if facts are found distorted in any upcoming films based on legendary warrior king Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, he would oppose such movies and take all efforts to stall their release.

“Members of ‘Sambhaji Brigade’ stalled the screening of ‘Har Har Mahadev’ at a theatre in Pune and warned the theatre owner. The history is distorted in ‘Har Har Mahadev’ while in ‘Vedat Marathe Veer Daudale Sath’, the depiction of ‘Mavle’ (soldiers of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj ) is frightful,” alleged Sambhaji Brigade leader Santosh Shinde.

Maharashtra

Rohit Arya, who held 20 children hostage, died during treatment after being shot.

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Rohit Arya, the accused who held 20 children hostage inside a studio in Mumbai’s Powai area, has died. The accused, Rohit Arya, had taken the children hostage and also fired at the police. Police retaliated, injuring him, and he died during treatment.

Rohit Arya was mentally ill. He had taken 20 children hostage at RA Studios in Powai. Upon receiving information, police immediately arrived at the scene and attempted to apprehend him. During this, Rohit Arya opened fire on the police, who retaliated, injuring him. He was immediately taken for treatment, but died during treatment.

Earlier, the accused, Rohit Arya, had released a video admitting to holding the children hostage. Police had stated that Rohit Arya was mentally ill. Police had safely rescued all the children from his custody.

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Maharashtra

Making Vande Mataram compulsory is illegal: MLA Raees Shaikh writes to the Chief Minister and Education Minister, demanding withdrawal of the order

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Mumbai: Samajwadi Party’s Bhiwandi East MLA Raees Sheikh has demanded that the Chief Minister and the Education Minister should revoke the ban imposed on all schools in the state on making the national song ‘Vande Mataram’ written by ‘Bankam Chandra Chatterjee’ mandatory on October 31.

In this regard, MLA Raees Sheikh said that ‘Jan Gana Man’ written by Rabindranath Tagore is the national anthem of India. However, the government’s order to sing the song in all schools in the state on October 31 and organize a song exhibition between October 31 and November 7 in the context of the 150th anniversary of the national anthem ‘Vande Mataram’ is illegal. Any organization should write a letter to the Minister of State for School Education Pankaj Bhuyar and the Education Department should immediately declare ‘Vande Mataram’ a mandatory song for all schools in the state, this is not good governance in a progressive state like Maharashtra.

The condition of schools and education in the state is deteriorating. It is the duty of the government to provide quality education. However, the government is discriminating by including religious issues like ‘Vande Mataram’ in the education sector. Making ‘Vande Mataram’ a mandatory song is a violation of the rights granted by the Constitution. There have been many discussions on the issue of ‘Vande Mataram’ till date. MLA Rais Sheikh said in the letter that ‘Jan Guna Man..’ is the national anthem of India and the national anthem should be given a place of honor, sanctity and respect everywhere, it has been agreed upon.

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Maharashtra

Maharashtra Govt To Scrutinise Vasantdada Sugar Institute’s Funds For First Time; Move Seen As Setback For Sharad Pawar

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For the first time in Maharashtra’s political history, the Vasantdada Sugar Institute (VSI), headed by NCP (Sharad Pawar) chief Sharad Pawar, will come under state government scrutiny over the utilisation of its funds. The institute, based in Pune, is engaged in research, development, and training for the state’s cooperative sugar industry.

The VSI’s operational funds are generated through a levy of ₹1 per metric tonne (MT) collected from sugar cooperatives across Maharashtra. These contributions are meant to support the institute’s ongoing research and training activities for the sugar sector.

According to sources, the decision to review the VSI’s funds was taken during a recent meeting of the ministers’ committee, chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, which oversees decisions related to the sugarcane crushing season.

The move follows dissent among sugar mills after the BJP-led Mahayuti government decided to impose an additional ₹5 per MT levy on crushed sugarcane to contribute to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund.

Reacting to the reports, Sugar Commissioner Sanjay Kolte confirmed that during the September 30 meeting, instructions were issued to form a committee to examine the utilisation of VSI’s funds. He, however, denied receiving any complaints regarding fund misuse.

Interestingly, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar a member of the VSI’s Board of Trustees was present during the meeting where the decision to review fund utilisation was made. Other key trustees include Dilip Walse Patil, Vijaysinh Mohite Patil, Jayant Patil, and Balasaheb Thorat.

According to data from the State Cooperation Department, VSI has received approximately ₹55 crore over the last five years through the cooperative contributions.

Never before has any state government verified the utilisation of VSI’s funds, despite its significant influence over Maharashtra’s sugar industry.

Political observers view this decision as a setback for Sharad Pawar, who serves as the lifetime chairman and head of VSI’s governing council.

Speaking to reporters, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis stated that the move was not a probe, but a routine request for financial transparency.
“The notice only seeks financial information regarding the funds collected from sugar factories,” he clarified.

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