Mumbai, March 23: The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief, Raj Thackeray, on Monday expressed profound disgust over the “hideous details” emerging from the self-proclaimed “royal astrologer,” Ashok Kharat case, questioning the moral decay of a state once defined by the legacy of seers and social reformers.

He highlighted the stark contrast between the Maharashtra of icons like Sant Dnyaneshwar, Tukaram, and Gadge Baba, and the current reality where “vile individuals” like Kharat allegedly operate under political patronage.

“We showcased the rich traditions of Maharashtra to the youth — from the spiritual cultivation of the Marathi mind by Prabodhankar Thackeray to the intellectual depth of Lokmanya Tilak. To see modern leaders abandon logic and ‘Gita Rahasya’ to fall at the feet of a man like Kharat is not just unfortunate; it is terrifying,” Raj Thackeray said in his post on X.

Raj Thackeray’s post pointed out a “tragic paradox” wherein many sitting MLAs who may be implicated in this scandal are the very individuals who passed the Anti-Superstition and Black Magic Act in December 2013. This “moral downfall” suggests that the pursuit of power has replaced the commitment to rationalism.

Raj Thackeray further highlighted a disturbing pattern in the state’s political hierarchy including the power chase, the fear of displacement and bureaucratic collusion. “A desperate scramble for tickets, followed by an obsession with securing ministerial berths. Constant anxiety over losing positions to new allies, leading leaders to seek “miraculous” interventions from self-styled godmen. Allegations that certain officials have become “planners and advisors” to ministers solely to remain close to the corridors of power,” he remarked.

While acknowledging Chief Minister and Home Minister Devendra Fadnavis’ claim that the government unearthed the case, Raj Thackeray said the statement raises sharp questions regarding the timing.

“If the government wants credit for the investigation, they must also accept responsibility for the Intelligence failure that allowed this to happen under their watch,” Raj Thackeray commented.

He further stated, “There are growing whispers that the case is being used as a political tool to ‘clip the wings’ of ambitious rivals, with fears that the investigation might be shelved once political surrenders are secured.”

Raj Thackeray issued a stern warning to the Press. ”Do not become pawns in this ‘Dhobi-pachhad’ (wrestling-move) politics. Do not let this case rest until Kharat and his patrons face the harshest punishment.”

He also warned the citizens, “Despite our traditions of Kirtan and Dnyaneshwari, if we continue to elect such representatives, the future of Maharashtra is in peril.”

Raj Thackeray concluded with a vow to continue educating the younger generation about the true, progressive identity of Maharashtra, urging the state to reject the “shamelessness” of those who trade ethics for political survival.

Mumbai: A 47-year-old homemaker from Vile Parle East was cheated of ₹1.12 lakh after fraudsters tricked her into believing she had won a car in a fake lottery linked to the television quiz show Kaun Banega Crorepati.

The woman was targeted through a fake social media page that imitated the Kaun Banega Crorepati brand. The page invited users to answer quiz questions, creating the impression of a legitimate contest. After interacting with the page for a few days, the woman received a call from a man who introduced himself as a representative of the show. He told her she had won a car worth ₹8.5 lakh.

Believing the offer to be genuine, the woman transferred ₹1.12 lakh in multiple instalments towards taxes and processing charges. She realised she had been cheated on – ly after the caller became unreachable. Based on her complaint, the Vile Parle police registered a case.

Mumbai: Commuters on the Mumbai Metro Line 3 (Aqua Line) faced disruption on Monday, March 23, after services came to a halt for nearly 20 minutes due to a technical issue, causing inconvenience during peak travel hours.

The metro remained stationary with its doors open for an extended period from 8.40 am to 8.57 am, leading to confusion inside the coach. Within a few minutes of the halt, an announcement informed commuters that the train had been stopped owing to a technical difficulty, while also apologising for the delay.

Sources from customer care services indicated that the disruption was allegedly caused by a technical issue in one of the metro cars near MIDC on the Aarey stretch. As both directions operate on single lines that are connected, the snag affected movement on both the sides, resulting in the entire Line 3 corridor being brought to a temporary standstill.

After remaining halted for close to 20 minutes, the doors eventually closed and the train resumed movement, albeit at a slower pace initially.

Further details regarding the exact nature of the technical fault are yet to be officially disclosed.

This disruption comes just days after commuters on Mumbai Metro Line 3 reported a complete loss of Vodafone network connectivity within the underground corridor. While Vodafone services were earlier functional between Aarey and Acharya Atre Chowk stations, users took to social media to highlight that the network had also stopped working, even as Jio and Airtel services have remained unavailable in the stretch. The development has raised concerns among passengers, particularly over safety during emergencies.

Mobile network services inside Metro Line 3 have been impacted after the third-party infrastructure provider was reportedly switched off for failing to meet contractual conditions. The report further noted that the installation of a new system may take time, leaving commuters without connectivity for the foreseeable future.