Maharashtra
Yuvraj Chhatrapati Sambhajiraje scion withdraws from Rajya Sabha race
Citing ‘self-respect’ and to prevent ‘horse-trading’, Yuvraj Chhatrapati Sambhajiraje, the scion of the Kolhapur throne, opted out of the Rajya Sabha race here on Friday.
Sambhajiraje – who was hoping to contest as an independent with the support of the extra votes of various parties and independents – said his decision arose out of ‘self-respect’, to prevent ‘horse-trading’ and concern for the masses who are his real strength.
The 13th direct descendent of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj also attacked Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, accusing him of “not honouring” his word to support his solo candidature and insisting that he (Sambhajiraje) should first join Shiv Sena before getting a ticket.
“For me the RS seat is not the concern… The welfare of the masses is more important for me… I will go on a statewide tour to strengthen the idea of ‘Swarajya’ now and see my strength,” said Sambhajiraje with a tinge of disappointment in his voice.
He said that two Sena MPs had met him in a five-star hotel recently to discuss the issue and conveyed the CM’s desire that Sambhajiraje should become a Shiv Sena member and the party would immediately nominate him for RS.
“I made it clear that I wish to contest as an independent and will not join any party for the RS ticket… Now, I shall have nothing to do with the RS elections,” Sambhajiraje declared.
He made it clear that he had no ‘angst or ill-will’ against any party as they all had their respective agendas to pursue and he respected their stand.
Sena MP Arvind Sawant denied Sambhajiraje’s allegations against the CM and blamed him for not accepting the Sena’s offer and missing a ‘great opportunity’.
“He was earlier an NCP member then what prevented him from joining Sena… You stick to your views, we stand by our opinions” said Sawant.
BJP Leader of Opposition (Council) Pravin Darekar slammed the Sena for ‘insulting and humiliating’ Sambhajiraje and said the people of the state will not forgive them.
Congress President Nana Patole said it desired Sambhajiraje to enter the Rajya Sabha and whether he is an MP or not, the Congress will always stand with him.
A few days ago, the Chhatrapati had announced his plans to contest the RS polls solo with the backing of all other parties like the ruling Shiv Sena-Nationalist Congress Party-Congress, the Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party, smaller parties and independents.
Though most parties kept silent, the Shiv Sena was prepared to offer him a ticket with a pre-condition that he should join the party as it wanted to increase its tally in the Upper House of Parliament.
Last week, the Sena invited him to CM’s residence to tie the ‘Shiv Bandhan’ and join the party, but Sambhajiraje spurned the offer.
A day later, Thackeray finalised the name of Shiv Sena Kolhapur District President Sanjay Pawar, who – along with Chief Spokesperson Sanjay Raut – filled their RS nomination papers on Thursday.
Maharashtra
Issuance of QR code-based identity cards for registered hawkers

The efforts to resolve the issues pending for years to establish genuine and officially operating hawkers and remove unauthorised hawkers in Mumbai are now succeeding. As part of this, a representative launch of QR code-based identity cards for registered hawkers is being held today, Mumbai Mayor Ritu Awade said. As per the court directions and on the basis of the Municipal Street Vendors Act, the process of distributing QR code-based identity cards to a total of 99,435 registered urban street vendors (hawkers) was formally inaugurated by Mumbai Mayor Ritu Awade. The inauguration ceremony held at the Standing Committee Hall of the Mumbai Municipal Corporation headquarters was attended by Leader of the House Ganesh Khankar, Standing Committee Chairman Prabhakar Shinde, Shiv Sena Group Leader Aimee Ghole, Indian National Congress Group Leader Ashraf Azmi and others. Chairperson of the Improvement Committee, Chairperson of the Education Committee, Scindia Doshi, Rajeshree Shravadkar, Corporator Deep Malabadhe, Corporator Preeti Satam, Corporator Sheetal Gambhir, Corporator Dr. Syeda Khan, Corporator Ramakant Rahete, Corporator Tejendra Singh Tiwana, Corporator Shivkumar Jha, Licensing Superintendent Anil Katte etc. were present on the occasion. On this occasion, about 100 registered city street vendors (hawkers) from different areas of Mumbai were provided with QR code based identity cards by Mayor Ritu Tawde and various dignitaries. Speaking on the occasion, Mayor Ritu Tawde said that after taking charge of the Mayor, I got all the information about the hawker policy and the current situation to solve the problem of hawkers in the Municipal Corporation. Continuous efforts were made to solve the problems in this regard.
Although the election of the City Street Vendors i.e. Hawker Committee was held in August 2024, the counting process could not be completed due to legal reasons. The court allowed the process to proceed and the Law Department was directed to make efforts in this regard. After the permission was granted by the court, the counting process was completed and the issue of the City Street Vendor Committees was resolved. As per the directions given by the court and within the stipulated time, QR code-based identity cards are being distributed to a total of 99,435 hawkers on the basis of the City Street Vendors Act. We will continue our efforts to resolve various issues related to hawkers. The Mayor said that we will continue comprehensive efforts so that no one is abused and no deserving person is deprived of benefits.
Maharashtra
Mumbai: Fraudulent cyber gang exposed, more than 90 fraudsters, wanted in more than 3,000 fraud cases, 500 complaints in the state

Mumbai: The Cyber Cell of Mumbai Crime Branch has claimed to have busted a gang that used to send APK files to hack mobile accounts and withdraw money from bank accounts. Two members of this gang have been formally arrested. So far, the police have arrested six accused in this case. The accused used to send APK files to mobile phones and ask them to open them and hack the mobile phones and loot all the money. More than 3,000 complaints have been registered on the cyber portal in this case, while more than 90 complaints have been registered in Mumbai. The investigation of one case revealed who prepared the APK file and from where this group operated. This group is also involved in the National Cyber Portal case. 5000 cases are from Maharashtra. The complainant was asked to pay Rs 10 on the phone in the name of Mahanagar Gas Connection and after that the complainant’s mobile was hacked. So far, 6 people have been arrested in this case and two have been arrested so far. Investigation is underway with them. Many of the accused were used only to talk on mobile phones and send APK files. In this, the accused belong to Jharkhand and other provinces. This information was given here today by Mumbai Cyber DCP Bajrang Bansode.
Crime
Pune fort murder: CCTV footage of Siya meeting lover Chetan, before fiance’s death, surfaces now

Pune, June 25: The probe into Pune’s Lohagad Fort incident, where the death of Pune businessman’s son Ketan Agarwal, which was initially passed off as an accident, later turned out to be a cold-blooded murder, is unearthing murkier details each passing day, and more secrets related to his fiancée Siya Goyal are tumbling out of the closet.
In the latest revelations, Goyal and her lover Chetan Babulal Chaudhary are understood to have met to plan in detail how to kill Agarwal during a vacation trip and project it as an “accidental fall”.
CCTV footage has emerged showing Goyal meeting her Chaudhary at a cafe, before she pushed her fiancée to his death from the Lohagad fort.
According to media, which accessed the CCTV footage, the duo met at a café in Pune on June 18 when they hatched a conspiracy to eliminate Agarwal, 26.
Both have already been charged with murder and criminal conspiracy by the Pune police. According to police, Siya and Chetan met at a cafe in Pune on June 18 to hatch the murder plot.
They discussed a plan to murder Agarwal and also identified specific locations on the fort from where he could be pushed to his death. The same day, Goyal accompanied Agarwal to Lohagad Fort, while Chaudhary followed them clandestinely on the mountain trek.
It was between 10.30 a.m. and 11 a.m. that Goyal called up Agarwal’s family to inform them that he had fallen into a gorge. She told the family that he slipped during the trek, but the police maintained that he was pushed by the duo from behind.
Earlier, the police questioned both Goyal and Chaudhary after bringing them face-to-face.
The two accused, sent to seven-day police custody, were questioned until late last night.
Agarwal, the son of a prominent businessman in Pune, was engaged to Goyal in February this year. The two families were preparing for a lavish wedding scheduled for November, reportedly involving private jets and palace venues.
-
Crime4 years agoClass 10 student jumps to death in Jaipur
-
Maharashtra2 years agoMumbai Local Train Update: Central Railway’s New Timetable Comes Into Effect; Check Full List Of Revised Timings & Stations
-
Maharashtra2 years agoMumbai To Go Toll-Free Tonight! Maharashtra Govt Announces Complete Toll Waiver For Light Motor Vehicles At All 5 Entry Points Of City
-
Maharashtra2 years agoFalse photo of Imtiaz Jaleel’s rally, exposing the fooling conspiracy
-
National News2 years agoMinistry of Railways rolls out Special Drive 4.0 with focus on digitisation, cleanliness, inclusiveness and grievance redressal
-
Maharashtra2 years agoMaharashtra Elections 2024: Mumbai Metro & BEST Services Extended Till Midnight On Voting Day
-
National News2 years agoJ&K: 4 Jawans Killed, 28 Injured After Bus Carrying BSF Personnel For Poll Duty Falls Into Gorge In Budgam; Terrifying Visuals Surface
-
Crime2 years agoBaba Siddique Murder: Mumbai Police Unable To Get Lawrence Bishnoi Custody Due To Home Ministry Order, Says Report
