Mumbai: In a major crackdown on the illegal transportation of banned tobacco products through railway premises, the Western Railway Vigilance Team seized gutkha, tobacco and pan masala products worth over Rs 3.25 lakh from a train at Vasai Road railway station and apprehended two persons involved in the operation.

The seizure was made during a vigilance check conducted in Train No. 06282 Mysuru Special Fare Express at Vasai Road railway station (BSR) on June 2. The operation was carried out jointly by the Western Railway Vigilance Team along with personnel from the Railway Protection Force (RPF), Government Railway Police (GRP) and commercial department officials.

During the inspection of the SLRD coach, railway authorities detected the illegal transportation of tobacco, pan masala and gutka products packed in multiple bags. Two individuals, identified as Rohit Mishra and Pankaj Sahu, were found allegedly transporting the contraband.

Officials recovered a total of 1,771 packets of tobacco and gutka products belonging to various brands from eight PVC bags. The seized consignment was valued at approximately Rs 3,25,678 based on the maximum retail price (MRP).

According to railway officials, both accused were travelling without valid tickets or journey authority. Following the recovery, a detailed panchnama and inventory of the seized material were prepared at Vasai Road station in the presence of independent witnesses and railway officials.

The recovered goods, along with the apprehended individuals and relevant documents, were subsequently handed over to the Government Railway Police for further investigation and legal action.

Based on the complaint and evidence collected during the operation, the accused were booked under multiple provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and the Railways Act, 1989.

An FIR (No. 0245) was registered on June 3, 2026. The charges include Sections 223, 275 and 3(5) of the BNS, Sections 30(2)(a), 58 and 59 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, and Sections 147, 155 and 162 of the Railways Act. Further investigation is underway.

Mumbai: Tension erupted in Goregaon Aarey Colony of Mumbai when the shrine of Baba Syed Barkat Ali Pir, an ancient shrine located here, was demolished. Two months ago, Kret Soumya had declared the shrine illegal and demanded action, after which the administration demolished the shrine today. During this time, the police had made strict security arrangements so that the matter did not take a communal form. Therefore, the police had put up a tight guard and finally the shrine was demolished. After this, the situation here is certainly peaceful, but tension persists. Along with the shrine, the surrounding unsightly structures were also demolished. AIMIM leader Waris Pathan objected to this demolition and termed it wrong and said that the demolition action taken only targeted the shrine. Action has not been taken against the more than four hundred illegal houses and other structures around it. If the law is equal, they should also be demolished. Kret Soumya expressed happiness over this action and said that he had been continuously trying for two months. Today, the BMC, police and administration have taken action against this illegal land jihad and land mafia. Land jihad and land mafia were active here under the guise of the dargah. Kret Soumya expressed satisfaction over this action.

Local DCP Raj Gajanan Raj Mane said that illegal encroachments on forest land were removed. The police were on duty. There is no problem of law and order here. He said that the administration had also sent a notice to these illegal structures and after receiving no response, this action has been taken. At present, arrangements have been made. Peace is established, but tension also persists. The police have also started monitoring the situation. After the martyrdom of the dargah, there is anger and resentment among Muslims.

Mumbai, June 2: The debate over offering namaz on public roads has resurfaced in Maharashtra after senior BJP leader and former Member of Parliament Kirit Somaiya demanded a complete ban on the practice in Mumbai, triggering a fresh political confrontation with Samajwadi Party leaders.

In a letter dated June 2, addressed to Mumbai’s Municipal Commissioner and Police Commissioner, Somaiya described the offering of namaz on roads and public spaces as a “serious problem” that requires immediate intervention from civic and law enforcement authorities.

According to Somaiya, prayers are regularly conducted outside railway stations and on busy roads, particularly on Friday afternoons, resulting in traffic congestion and disruption to public movement. He alleged that the practice can cause traffic delays lasting up to an hour and adversely affects the daily routine of commuters and residents.

“No group has the right to disrupt public infrastructure on a working day in the name of religion,” Somaiya stated, urging the Mumbai Police, Traffic Police and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to take responsibility and impose a strict ban on street prayers.

The BJP leader also referred to judicial rulings that restrict religious, cultural and political activities in public spaces such as playgrounds and gardens. He argued that permitting prayers on roads creates an undesirable precedent and undermines the principle of equal application of the law.

The demand, however, drew a sharp response from Samajwadi Party MLA Abu Asim Azmi, who accused Somaiya of adopting a selective approach towards the use of public spaces for religious activities.

“Muslims have never demanded a ban on religious events held on roads by other communities,” Azmi said. “Mosques are often overcrowded and the timing of namaz is fixed. Offering prayers is compulsory for Muslims, and some people are therefore compelled to pray on roads. The prayers usually do not take more than ten minutes.”

Azmi maintained that singling out namaz while permitting other religious functions on public roads would amount to discrimination. He argued that if authorities choose to prohibit one form of religious activity on roads, the same standard should be applied to all communities.

Meanwhile, in a separate development linked to Somaiya’s complaints regarding alleged encroachments, an unauthorised dargah known as Hazrat Sayyad Pir Baba in Aarey Milk Colony, Goregaon, was demolished on Tuesday.

The action followed a complaint filed by Somaiya, who had earlier alleged that illegal structures were being erected within Aarey Colony and the adjoining Sanjay Gandhi National Park under the guise of a religious institution.