National News
Uddhav Vs Shinde: Political Showdown Set For Dussehra Rallies In Maharashtra

Mumbai: On the occasion of Dussehra, five different rallies will be held in the state, including those of Shiv Sena Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and Shiv Sena chief leader Eknath Shinde.
Heavy rains have caused huge damage to agriculture in many places in the state. Marathwada has been hit the hardest by the rains. Against this backdrop, Dussehra rallies of various leaders and parties will be held in the state tomorrow. Dussehra rallies have special importance in the state’s politics.
The Vijayadashami programme of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh is also organised in Nagpur.
While rallies of both the Shiv Sena factions will be held in Mumbai. BJP leader and Minister of Environment Pankaja Munde will also hold her Dussehra rally at Bhagwan Gad in Ahilyanagar district. Pro Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange Patil will also hold a rally at Narayangad tomorrow.
Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) party’s Dussehra rally 2025 will be held at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Park, also known as Shivtirth in Dadar.
The party chief Uddhav Thackeray’s speech will be the main attraction, and party insiders said that he is likely to sound the bugle for the upcoming election to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation and other local bodies in the state.
He is also expected to step up the attack against the MahaYuti government, especially for its handling of the present natural disaster caused by heavy rains and floods in Marathwada and other parts of the state.
The party took to X to announce Thursday’s rally, “Thoughts of Thackeray, Voice of Maharashtra, Dussehra Gathering 2025. The torch of Maharashtra’s welfare will blaze right here!”
On the other hand, Eknath Shinde led Shiv Sena’s Dussehra rally will be held at NESCO Exhibition Centre, Goregaon instead of Azad Maidan. Shinde, in his post on X, said, “This year’s Dussehra rally on the farmers’ bund. The venue has changed, tradition is not.”
Shinde is expected to fire a fresh salvo against his former boss and Shiv Sena UBT chief Uddhav Thackeray while outlining the party’s plan to win the BMC elections as a key ally in the MahaYuti.
The Shiv Sena Dussehra rally has been a tradition for the past 58 years. In 2006, due to heavy rains on Dussehra day, the Shivaji Park ground was covered with mud and due to this, the rally was cancelled that same year, while in 2009, it was postponed due to the model code of conduct for the assembly elections.
In the two years 2020 and 2021, due to the Corona crisis in the state and the country, the Dussehra rally was held in a closed hall at the Swatantryaveer Savarkar Memorial. However, after the Shinde group split from Shiv Sena in 2022, separate Dussehra rallies of the Shiv Sena Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray group and the Shiv Sena Shinde factions are being organised.
BJP leader Pankaja Munde’s Dussehra rally will be held at Bhagwan Gad. Her rally is important amid ongoing protests for pro-Maratha and OBC reservations.
The pro-Maratha reservation activist Manoj Jarange Patil will address at Narayangad in Beed district. Jarange-Patil, who called off his protest in Mumbai last month, is pressing for the implementation of the government resolution issued early September with regard to providing Kunbi certificates to the Maratha community members.
The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh is completing 100 years of its formation. In this context, the rally organised by the RSS on the day of Dussehra will have special significance. On the day of Dussehra, the Sangh performs Shastra Pujan. After this, there will be a speech by Sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat.
Crime
Mumbai Airport Customs Seizes Hydroponic Weed Worth ₹12 Crore; Passenger Arrested

Mumbai: The Mumbai Airport Customs officers have arrested a passenger for allegedly smuggling hydroponic weed valued at around Rs 12 crore, sourced from Bangkok.
According to the agency sources, on the basis of specific intelligence, the Customs officers at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA), intercepted one passenger arriving from Bangkok on Wednesday.
During the examination of the baggage, the Customs officers recovered 11.92 kg of suspected hydroponic weed (marijuana), with an illicit market value of approximately Rs 12 crores.
The narcotic substances were concealed inside the checked-in trolley bag carried by the passenger, who was arrested under the provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.
In his statement, the passenger told Customs officers that he was aware that smuggling of hydroponic weed and other illegal drugs into India attracts stringent punishment. However, he was getting some inducement in lieu of smuggling the contraband to India.
“The preliminary investigation carried out so far in accordance with the law and the statement given by the accused disclose involvement of other persons who are yet to be traced. The investigation in this case is at the preliminary stage and efforts are on to trace other suspects involved in the case,” said a Customs officer.
On Tuesday, Mumbai Airport Customs officers had arrested two persons – Thane resident Mohammad Irfan Khan (27) and Malwani resident Sara Bi (36) for allegedly smuggling hydroponic weed collectively valued at Rs 7.86 crore.
In the intervening night of October 19-20, on the basis of specific intelligence, the Customs officers at CSMIA intercepted one passenger arriving from Bangkok and seized hydroponic weed worth Rs 10.50 crore.
Business
Colgate-Palmolive India’s Q2 profit falls 17 pc, revenue slips over 6 pc

Mumbai, Oct 23: Colgate-Palmolive (India) Limited on Thursday reported a 17 per cent drop in its net profit for the second quarter of the current financial year (Q2 FY26).
The company’s profit stood at Rs 327.50 crore for the quarter ended September 2025, compared to Rs 395.05 crore in the same period last financial year (Q2 FY25), according to its stock exchange filing.
Revenue also fell 6.15 per cent year-on-year (YoY) to Rs 1,519.50 crore, down from Rs 1,619.11 crore in the previous fiscal.
Operating income or EBITDA declined 6 per cent to Rs 465.43 crore, while the EBITDA margin was almost unchanged at 30.6 per cent, compared to 30.7 per cent last financial year.
Prabha Narasimhan, Managing Director and CEO of Colgate-Palmolive India, said the quarter’s performance reflected a temporary impact from disruptions among distributors and retailers due to the GST rate revision.
She added that the company has worked with its partners to ensure consumers benefit from the lower prices that took effect after the tax change.
“Despite the short-term challenges, we remain focused on our long-term strategic goals and will continue to invest in our brands,” Narasimhan said.
Alongside the results, the company announced a first interim dividend of Rs 24 per share for the financial year 2025–26, amounting to a total payout of Rs 652.8 crore.
The record date for the dividend has been set as November 3, and the payment will be made on or before November 19, according to the company’s exchange filing.
Colgate-Palmolive (India)’s quarterly results were released after market hours. On Thursday, its shares closed 1.16 per cent higher at Rs 2,286.90 on the NSE.
However, the stock has fallen 31.35 per cent over the past year and 14.69 per cent so far in 2025.
Crime
BSF apprehends minor with 11 gold biscuits along India-Bangladesh border

Kolkata, Oct 23: The Border Security Force (BSF) has apprehended a minor boy with 11 gold biscuits along the Indo-Bangladesh Border (IBB) in the North 24-Parganas district of West Bengal.
The incident has brought to light how smugglers are now using minors as couriers to evade arrest.
“Troops of the 143 Bn BSF, South Bengal Frontier, deployed at the Bithari Border Outpost, had received intelligence inputs of an attempt to smuggle gold in their area of jurisdiction. During checks, they came across an Indian minor carrying a briefcase. During a search, a black packet with the 11 gold biscuits were found in his possession,” a senior BSF official said.
According to an official, the weight of the seized gold is 1,286.17 grams. It is valued at around Rs 1.64 crore.
During questioning, the boy said that he is a resident of Daharkanda village in the Swarupnagar police station area of North 24-Parganas. He also said that he had been sent by his mother to deliver the packet to a designated point.
The boy has been handed over to concerned authorities, along with the gold, for further legal processing. A search has been launched for the boy’s mother and others involved in the racket.
“This recovery once again underscores the alertness, professionalism, and commitment of BSF troops in curbing cross-border smuggling along the India–Bangladesh border, despite attempts by criminal networks to exploit minors for such illegal activities,” the official said.
While stating that the BSF personnel are fully capable of preventing all kinds of illegal activities along the border, he urged the border population to report any information regarding gold smuggling or other crimes to ensure peace in the area.
“They can call the Seema Sathi Helpline Number 14419 or send a WhatsApp text or voice message to 9903472227. Those providing credible information would be suitably rewarded and their identities kept confidential,” he said.
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