Mumbai: ( By Kamar Ansari )

A major irregularity involving land records has surfaced in Maharashtra, raising serious concerns about the misuse of legal provisions and the security of property ownership across the state. The issue is believed to have affected a significant number of families, particularly in rural and semi-urban areas.

The controversy centers around the alleged misuse of a provision under the Maharashtra Land Revenue Code that is meant strictly for minor corrections in official land records, such as clerical or typographical errors. Instead, this provision was reportedly used to make substantial and unauthorized changes to land ownership entries.

Officials suspect that in several cases, land ownership details were altered without proper verification or legal procedure, leading to disputes and possible illegal transfers. These actions have caused anxiety among landowners, many of whom fear losing their rightful property due to manipulated records.

In response to the situation, the state government has ordered a comprehensive audit of land record changes carried out under the concerned provision over the past few years. Authorities across districts have been directed to review mutation entries and verify the authenticity of all such changes.

Preliminary assessments indicate that the issue may not be limited to isolated incidents, but could point to a wider pattern of administrative lapses or deliberate manipulation. The audit aims to identify the scale of the problem and fix accountability.

Government officials have assured that strict action will be taken against those found responsible, including possible disciplinary and criminal proceedings. Efforts are also expected to be made to restore original ownership records wherever irregularities are confirmed.

The investigation is ongoing, and authorities have stated that protecting the rights of affected citizens and ensuring transparency in land administration will remain a priority.

The proposed Pagote Chouk Expressway in Maharashtra has moved a step closer to execution, with the National Highways Authority of India initiating the process for Coastal Regulation Zone clearance. The development marks a key milestone for the greenfield infrastructure project aimed at strengthening connectivity between Jawaharlal Nehru Port and major national highways.

At the same time, construction bids for the project are scheduled to open on April 16, 2026, signalling progress in the pre-construction phase.

The 29.3 kilometre six lane expressway is designed to provide a direct, access controlled route between JNPT Port and key arterial roads including NH48, the Mumbai Pune Expressway, and the Mumbai Goa highway. The corridor is expected to ease congestion on existing routes and streamline the movement of goods and passenger traffic.

The project is particularly significant for freight movement from the port, offering faster and more efficient connectivity to inland regions.

The expressway will include a mix of complex engineering structures to navigate the terrain. Plans include six major bridges, five minor bridges, four viaducts, and two tunnels measuring 1.9 kilometres and 1.57 kilometres respectively.

These elements are aimed at ensuring seamless travel while maintaining speed and safety standards across the corridor.

The project has a targeted completion timeline of 30 months from the start of construction. Once operational, it is expected to significantly reduce travel time between Mumbai and Pune.

Motorists travelling from Pune will be able to exit the Mumbai Pune Expressway shortly after the Khalapur toll plaza and reach the Chirle interchange of Atal Setu in around 20 minutes. The development is likely to bring both cities closer while boosting regional connectivity and economic activity.

Mumbai, March 20: The Mumbai Press Club received a threatening email claiming that several small bombs filled with poisonous gas had been planted inside the building and would explode at 1 pm on Friday. The sender identified herself as Neerja Ajmal Khan.

Soon after the email was received, the police and security agencies swung into action. A search operation in and around the Press Club premises is expected to begin shortly. The Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad (BDDS) and the dog squad have been called to the spot to prevent any potential threat in time.

In the email, the sender claimed to represent Muslims from Coimbatore and made certain political allegations. The message stated that injustice had been done to them and that their voices were being suppressed. It also mentioned that the sender had limited resources and had used them to target the Mumbai Press Club. However, the sender also wrote that the intention was to cause damage and advised people to vacate the building.

The email further referred to alleged secret networks linked to Naxalites and Pakistan, which has made the case more serious for investigators.

Taking the threat seriously, the Mumbai Police immediately began an investigation. The cyber team is examining details such as the email ID used to send the message, its possible location, and who may be behind it.

Preliminary information suggests that the email was sent using the secure email service Proton Mail, which is generally difficult to trace.

At present, people inside the Press Club have been alerted. Police officials said that all angles are being probed and no negligence will be tolerated. According to initial information, the email was sent yesterday at 7.33 PM.