Mumbai: The police claim to have arrested a thief responsible for stealing a motorcycle from the Dongri area and have recovered the stolen vehicle from his possession.

A case regarding the incident was registered at the Dongri Police Station on September 12. Briefly, the facts are as follows: a Yamaha RX-100 motorcycle (registration number MH01C7815)—owned and used by the complainant, 60-year-old Vishnu Namdev Phadtare—was stolen by an unidentified thief from its parking spot at Podar Building, No. 09, Dr. Maheshwari Road, Dongri, Mumbai.

While investigating the case, Police Officer Jadhav and the Crime Detection Team examined CCTV footage from Sandhurst Road Railway Station (located within the Dongri police jurisdiction). The footage showed two unidentified individuals arriving on a motorcycle and then pushing the complainant’s parked motorcycle away on foot. Subsequently, a technical investigation tracing the suspects’ route led the police to the Shivaji Nagar area of ​​Govandi. Acting on information provided by an informant in that locality, the police identified a man named Firoz—a resident of Plot No. 34—who was found to be in possession of the stolen Yamaha RX-100 motorcycle (MH01C7815). The individual in question—Mohammad Firoz Nasir Khan (32), residing at Plot No. 34, Line B, Room No. 25, Road No. 5, near Ajmeri Masjid, Shivaji Nagar, Govandi, Mumbai—was brought to the police station for further questioning after police visited his residence. During interrogation, he revealed that he, along with his associate Dilshad Shahid Ali Khan (alias Bablu)—residing at Room No. 33, Plot No. 29, Line C, Road No. 05, near Ajmeri Masjid, Shivaji Nagar, Govandi, Mumbai—had stolen the aforementioned motorcycle from near Sandhurst Road Railway Station. The accused, Mohammad Firoz Nasir Khan, has been arrested in connection with the crime and remanded to police custody until September 22. During interrogation, the accused—Mohammad Firoz Nasir Khan (age 32)—admitted to stealing motorcycles from a total of four locations in collusion with his associate, Dilshad Shahid Ali Khan (alias Bablu, age 40); his arrest has resolved the case. Cases registered against him include:
1) Dongri Police Station (Case No. 625/2026, Sections 303(2) & 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita); Pant Nagar Police Station (Case No. 959/2026, Section 303(2) BNS); Koparkhairane Police (Case No. 598/2026, Section 303(2) BNS); and Govandi Police Station (Section 303(2) BNS).

The detection team successfully solved the case under the guidance of Additional Commissioner Shailesh Balkawade, DCP Zone 01 Manish Kalwaniya, and Mr. Tanvir Shaikh (Dongri Police Station) and Sagar Tilekar.

Mumbai: Harshada Borade, a 26-year-old student and social activist, has lodged a complaint with the Police Commissioner regarding police harassment and the search of her home—conducted without any summons or notice—following a kite-flying event in Bandra, Mumbai, held on September 15 to express solidarity with the children of Palestine and Gaza. She has demanded action against the erring officers and personnel and submitted supporting evidence with her complaint. Police entered the student’s home in Vakola at 5:00 PM and conducted a search operation that lasted until 2:45 AM. In her complaint, Harshada stated that the police possessed no warrant for the search and conducted a private panchnama (record of proceedings), which is entirely illegal. She explained that she is a student at Mumbai University and had organized the kite-flying event to show solidarity with Palestinian children; subsequently, on September 17, the police arrived at her home, searched the premises, and harassed her, her friends, and other students. The police should have issued a legal notice prior to the search—a right held by every citizen—but failed to do so. The police action taken in response to the kite-flying event violates Article 19 of the Constitution, which guarantees every citizen the right to freedom of expression. Harshada has demanded legal action against the personnel from the Bandra and Vakola police stations and called for a transparent inquiry into the matter. She has urged that the entire incident be investigated by the Cyber ​​Cell under the supervision of senior officers and that action be taken against any police personnel found at fault.

Preparations are complete at 67 natural immersion sites, including Girgaon Chowpatty, Juhu Chowpatty, Powai Lake, and the beaches at Worli and Dadar.

BMC’s ‘One Tree, One Ganpati’ initiative promotes tree plantation and environmental conservation.
A massive deployment of 25,000 BMC officers and staff has been arranged at immersion sites.
Resources deployed include 1,194 steel platforms, 23 German rafts (pontoon-style floats), 34 cranes, 85 ambulances, and 10 motorboats.

Facilities established include 498 Nirmalya (ritual offering/waste) collection bins, 326 Nirmalya dumpers, 261 reception centers, 228 control rooms, and 75 observation towers; BMC appeals for Ganpati idol immersion to take place only in artificial lakes.

The Mumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) administration is fully prepared to facilitate an eco-friendly celebration of Maharashtra’s state festival, Ganesh Utsav, including comprehensive arrangements for immersion processions. In accordance with High Court directives, the BMC has constructed over 383 artificial lakes this year for the immersion of idols up to six feet in height. Additionally, various facilities have been provided at 67 natural sites for the immersion of idols taller than six feet. With the aim of widely disseminating the message of environmental conservation among the public, the ‘One Ganpati, One Tree’ initiative—conceptualized by Mayor Ritu Tawde—has been launched this year. The BMC has pledged to plant a number of trees equal to the total number of Ganesh idols immersed in Mumbai. Under this initiative, the festival—spanning the period from Lord Ganesh’s arrival to the immersion—will be aligned with environmental conservation efforts. Furthermore, comprehensive arrangements have been made to ensure the smooth conduct of the idol immersion ceremony, involving a workforce of over 25,000 officers and employees.

This year, the Ganesh Utsav festival began on September 14, 2026. Under the guidance of Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde, Deputy Mayor Sanjay Ghadi, Municipal Commissioner Ashwini Bhide, and Additional Municipal Commissioner (Eastern Suburbs) Dr. Avinash Dhakne, the Mumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has completed preparations across the city, particularly at immersion sites. Tasks such as clearing obstacles along immersion routes, repairing potholes and drainage covers, and pruning trees have been finalized. Various facilities and services have been provided at seashores and at natural and artificial immersion sites—including steel plates, rafts, cranes, ambulances, lifeguards, collection bins for ‘Nirmalya’ (post-worship floral and other offerings), control rooms, observation towers, lighting arrangements, temporary toilets, and necessary manpower.

One Ganpati; One Tree
The Ganpati festival is a celebration of devotion, faith, and social harmony. With the aim of spreading the message of environmental conservation widely among the public during this festival, the Mumbai Municipal Corporation has pledged to plant trees equal in number to the Ganesh idols immersed this year. The ‘One Ganpati – One Tree’ initiative was conceived by Mayor Ritu Tawde. The initiative seeks to integrate environmental conservation into the festival—spanning the period from Lord Ganesh’s arrival to his immersion—by planting a tree for every immersed idol, thereby contributing to a greener future for Mumbai. Through the Ganesh Utsav festival, the Mumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has resolved to make Mumbai greener, more beautiful, and eco-friendly through public participation, while also aiming to raise awareness about tree plantation, tree preservation, and environmental conservation.
For the immersion of Lord Ganesh idols this year, 67 natural immersion sites (comprising 44 beaches/jetties and 23 natural lakes) and 383 artificial immersion sites have been made available. The following arrangements have been made at these locations: 1,194 steel plates, 23 German rafts, 34 cranes, 85 ambulances, 10 motorboats, 498 ‘Nirmalya’ (ritual offering) collection vessels, 326 ‘Nirmalya’ dumpers, 261 reception centers, 228 control rooms, 75 observation towers, 1,132 lifeguards, 6,052 floodlights/searchlights, and 489 temporary toilets. Furthermore, approximately 25,000 Municipal Corporation personnel and various volunteer organizations will be deployed on duty.
Immersion of idols shorter than six feet in artificial lakes
In accordance with the High Court’s directives dated August 20, 2026, compliance with the order dated July 24, 2025, is mandatory until a final decision is reached on the Public Interest Litigation (PIL). Therefore, it is mandatory to immerse Lord Ganesha idols up to 6 feet in height in artificial lakes, and the Municipal Corporation has made the necessary arrangements for this. An appropriate public awareness campaign regarding this initiative has also been conducted. Over 383 artificial ponds at 278 locations in Mumbai
To promote an eco-friendly ‘Ganesh Utsav’ and encourage the immersion of idols in artificial ponds, the Mumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has set up over 383 artificial ponds across 278 locations. Additionally, the municipal administration will provide necessary facilities at 67 natural immersion sites for idols taller than 6 feet. 12 Artificial Ponds at Swarajya Bhumi (Girgaon Chowpatty)
Swarajya Bhumi—commonly known as ‘Girgaon Chowpatty’—is the hub for the largest number of Ganesh idol immersions in Mumbai. Idols from public mandals and households across the city are brought here for immersion (jal pravah).