Category: INDIA

Navi Mumbai: In a major midnight combing operation against illegal activities, Navi Mumbai Police seized a country-made pistol, two live cartridges and 100 packets of brown sugar from a habitual offender and registered cases against 14 accused under various charges in the Rabale Police Station jurisdiction.

Zero-Tolerance Drive Mobilizes Massive Police Force

The operation was carried out as part of the police department’s zero-tolerance drive against illegal activities, with a large force of over 180 police personnel deployed across key areas including NOCIL Naka, Arjunwadi, Sainathwadi in Ghansoli and Rabale.

The combing operation was conducted under the guidance of Police Commissioner Milind Bharambe and Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone-1) Pankaj Dahane. A team comprising four police inspectors, 16 assistant police inspectors and 184 police personnel from seven police stations under Zone-1 surrounded the targeted locations and carried out intensive checks.

History-Sheeter Caught With Weapons and Narcotics

During the operation, police acted against a history-sheeter found possessing illegal weapons and narcotics. Officers recovered a country-made pistol, two live rounds and 100 packets of brown sugar from him. A case has been registered under the Arms Act and the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.

Police also registered five cases against individuals consuming narcotic substances and one major case against a drug peddler. Additionally, two cases were filed against two accused for selling gutkha, while one case was registered under the Prohibition Act.

As part of the enforcement drive, police checked 229 vehicles and took action against 92 vehicles for violations. Twelve suspicious individuals were questioned, leading to the arrest of one wanted accused.

Hotels and Lodges Scrutinized for Illegal Activity

Police teams also inspected 11 hotels and lodges in the area and questioned suspicious persons. Authorities conducted searches to trace illegal Bangladeshi and Nigerian nationals residing in the locality. During naka bandi checks, police also verified 22 known criminals at their residences.

Senior Police Inspector Balkrishna Sawant said the police have adopted a strict zero-tolerance policy against illegal activities. “Our action against drug peddling, gambling and illegal possession of weapons will continue. Anyone disturbing law and order in the city will face strict action,” he said.

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Mumbai: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested accused Ayush Varshney, co-founder and chief technology officer (CTO) of Darwin Labs Private Limited, in connection with the alleged GainBitcoin cryptocurrency fraud case being investigated by the agency.

Ponzi Scheme Promised High Returns Before Misappropriating Funds

According to the CBI, the case pertains to the alleged GainBitcoin Ponzi scheme floated by Variabletech Pte. Ltd., wherein investors were induced to invest in a fraudulent cryptocurrency scheme on the promise of high returns. The funds collected from investors were subsequently misappropriated. The case is being investigated on charges of criminal conspiracy and cheating under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and Information Technology Act. The investigation is being conducted by the CBI pursuant to the order dated December 13, 2023 of the Supreme Court of India, whereby FIRs relating to similar allegations in the GainBitcoin fraud were directed to be investigated by the CBI as a common investigating agency.

“During the course of investigation, the role of Darwin Labs Private Limited and its co-founders, including accused Ayush Varshney, Sahil Baghla and Nikunj Jain (chief capital officer/founder in Vaomi AI), emerged in relation to the design, development and deployment of the crypto token known as MCAP and the corresponding ERC-20 smart contract. Darwin Labs Private Limited was instrumental in developing the entire technological infrastructure of the fraudulent scheme including Bitcoin mining pool platform GBMiners.com, BitCoin Payment Gateway, Coin Bank BitCoin wallet and the Gain BitCoin investor facing website,” the agency said in a statement on Wednesday.

Accused Attempted to Flee Country Before Immigration Intercepted

“As the accused was absconding, a Look Out Circular (LOC) was issued against him. On Monday he was intercepted by immigration authorities at Mumbai while attempting to leave India and was subsequently handed over to the CBI. The accused was arrested by the CBI on Tuesday in accordance with law. The CBI remains committed to conducting a comprehensive and impartial investigation into the GainBitcoin scam and bringing the perpetrators to justice. Investigation in the case is continuing,” said a CBI official.

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“Iss baar Eid nahi manegi, iss baar bakre nahi katenge. Iss baar saare mullahs kitenge (This time Eid will not be celebrated. This time it won’t be goats that are slaughtered. This time it will be Muslims),” a boy, looking no older than 12, tells a local reporter, speaking without hesitation as adults around him cheer.

“Saare Hindus gubbare lekar khade honge. Suar ke meat marenge… Eid ke din. Koi bhi mullah dikh jaaye seedha kaat denge (All Hindus will stand holding water balloons. They will throw pig meat on Eid. Any Muslim who is spotted will be cut down immediately),” the boy continues.

Even the reporter appears taken aback. When the child is asked whether his words are inappropriate for his age, he replies, “Mein Hindu hoon, mein zinda maardoonga, akele. Jitna merese ho sake, mein maar doonga (I am a Hindu. I will kill them myself, while I’m alive. As many as I can, I will kill).”

It is not clear what the boy was asked this but he is openly calling for the genocide of Muslims in India. The video has since spread widely on social media.

It has emerged against a specific backdrop. Since the Holi clashes in Delhi’s Uttam Nagar, where a young Hindu man, Tarun, was killed in a scuffle between two neighbours from different religious communities, Islamophobic content has surged across social media platforms. 

Several Hindutva organisations, including the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Bajrang Dal and Hindu Raksha Dal, have issued death threats to Muslims and warned that Eid celebrations will not be permitted.

Mumbai: A 30-storey Bihar Bhavan is set to come up off P D’Mello Road near Wadi Bunder in Mumbai, marking a major step towards fulfilling the long-standing demand of the city’s Bihar-origin residents for a dedicated cultural and community centre.

A Multifunctional Hub for Cultural and Official Activities

The proposed landmark is expected to serve as a hub for cultural activities, community gatherings and official functions for the large Bihari diaspora in Mumbai.

The Bihar government has issued tenders for the construction of the building, the first phase of which is expected to cost between Rs 300 crore and Rs 400 crore, said Bihar Foundation Mumbai Chapter spokesperson Manoj Singh Rajput. The current tender for the project is Rs 314 crore. The tentative design for the building has been approved.

The building is expected to house an investment commission representing Bihar, offices of the state’s tourism department, an art and culture centre, guest rooms, and accommodation for relatives of patients from Bihar visiting Mumbai’s hospitals. Bihar Foundation said the land was earlier owned by the Mumbai Port Trust and was allotted to the Bihar government in 2023.

Location Choice Draws Criticism from Community Representatives

Though the Bihar Foundation, an organisation sponsored by the state government, said the site is ideal because of its proximity to Maharashtra government offices in South Mumbai, there has been criticism about the choice of location near Dongri.

U K Singh, secretary of the Bihar Association, said the Bihar government had ignored an offer by Maharashtra to provide land in Navi Mumbai for a nominal price to build state bhavans.

“Other states like Kerala, Assam and Meghalaya built large buildings in Navi Mumbai. The BPT land was bought for Rs 155 crore — a relatively high price for a locality which has associations with the city’s underworld. There are no other government offices in the area. Tata Memorial Hospital is increasingly using its Kharghar centre for treating patients. The Bihar government could have bought cheaper land in Navi Mumbai,” Singh said.

Rajput, however, said the building will be close to railway stations and major hospitals. He added that Lalu Prasad Yadav’s government was ruling Bihar when the Maharashtra government had offered land in Navi Mumbai. “But the offer was not taken up,” Rajput said.

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The opposition’s no-confidence motion against Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla was defeated on Wednesday after a heated debate in the lower house that witnessed loud protests and disruptions.

The uproar began after Union Home Minister Amit Shah made remarks targeting Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, prompting opposition MPs to raise slogans and protest in the House.

Speaking during the debate on the motion, Shah said bringing a no-confidence motion against the Speaker after nearly four decades was unfortunate for parliamentary politics. “This is not an ordinary matter. After almost four decades, a no-confidence motion has been brought against the Lok Sabha Speaker. It is unfortunate for parliamentary traditions and this House,” he said.

Defending Birla, Shah stressed that the Speaker’s position is above party politics and that both the treasury and opposition benches had supported his appointment. He noted that while members may disagree with the Speaker’s decisions, the Lok Sabha rules treat the Speaker’s rulings as final.

Shah also accused the opposition of questioning the Speaker’s integrity, warning that such actions could damage the credibility of India’s democratic institutions globally.

Highlighting parliamentary records, the Home Minister said Congress had been given significant time to speak in the Lok Sabha. However, he alleged that its leaders often complain about not getting opportunities to speak in the House.

Despite the opposition’s protests, the motion against Birla was ultimately defeated

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: A special meeting to elect the president and vice president of the Zilla Parishad (ZP) will be held on March 18 at the District Planning Hall in the District Collectorate. The announcement was made by Designated Officer and Additional District Collector Sambhajirao Adkune.

According to officials, the election process will begin in the morning with the acceptance of nomination forms. Candidates wishing to contest the posts will be required to submit their nomination papers between 10am and 12 noon. After the submission period ends, the nomination forms will be scrutinised by the authorities to ensure that they meet all required criteria and documentation norms.

Following the scrutiny process, the official list of candidates contesting the elections for the posts of president and vice president will be declared. The special meeting of the Zilla Parishad will then begin at 2pm at the same venue.

Officials said that if more than one candidate files nominations for either of the two posts, the election will be decided through voting. In such a situation, the voting will be conducted by a show of hands during the meeting.

To ensure transparency and maintain proper records, the entire election process will be video recorded. The administration has also informed all chairpersons of the Panchayat Samitis about the meeting and asked them to remain present during the proceedings. However, they will not be eligible to participate in the voting process.

The district administration has made necessary arrangements to conduct the election smoothly and in accordance with the prescribed rules, Adkune added.

New Delhi: Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru will take on Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Indian Premiere League 2026 opener in Bengaluru on March 28, as the BCCI announced the first phase of IPL 2026 schedule amid concerns around players’ travel arrangements due to the ongoing West Asia conflict.

All matches scheduled at the Chinnaswamy Stadium remain subject to clearance from the Karnataka government-appointed expert committee, which is scheduled to meet on March 13 to assess venue preparedness in the wake of the deadly stampede at the stadium last season.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the schedule of the first 20 games on Wednesday, March 11, and will unveil the full schedule once the dates of elections in three states, Tamil Nadu, Assam and West Bengal, are announced.

Besides the state elections, the escalating conflict in West Asia will also be at the forefront of BCCI officials’ minds. The war has wreaked havoc to international travel with operations of major airports like Doha and Dubai being heavily restricted.

As a result of that, some of the squad members of South Africa and West Indies are yet to reach home a week after the completion of their T20 World Cup campaign.

It remains to be seen if IPL-bound players of those two nations report to their respective teams in time.

“There was a substantial delay in departure of West Indies and South Africa players. It would be a tough task to get them back to India on time. Plus the airfares have gone up substantially due to the war in West Asia,” a team official told PTI.

The second game of the opening weekend will see Mumbai Indians host Kolkata Knight Riders at the Wankhede Stadium and the opening weekend will not feature any double-headers.

“During the season, Royal Challengers Bengaluru will play five home matches in Bengaluru and two in Raipur. Punjab Kings will play four home matches in New Chandigarh and three in Dharamshala, while Rajasthan Royals will play three home matches in Guwahati and four in Jaipur,” said the BCCI in a statement.

“During this period (the first 16 days), the tournament will feature four double-headers, with the afternoon matches beginning at 03:30 PM IST and the evening matches commencing at 07:30 PM IST.

“Following the opening encounter on Saturday, Mumbai Indians will take on Kolkata Knight Riders at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Sunday,” the BCCI added.

Actress Tisca Chopra is grieving the loss of her mother, Pammi Arora, who passed away on March 7. Tisca shared the heartbreaking news on Instagram on Wednesday (March 11), along with a series of photos featuring herself with her late mother and father. She also penned an emotional note remembering her life and values.

In her post, Tisca reflected on her mother’s personality and the warmth she brought to everyone around her.

She wrote, “On the 7th of March, we said goodbye to my mother, Pammi Arora. Those who knew her loved her, instantly, completely. And the reason was very simple, she was so very light of being. Seriousness never stood much of a chance in her company. If a problem appeared, she had a two-word philosophy ready, ‘Mitti pao’. Move on. Life was too lively to sit around nursing grievances. Mum had a smile that resembled the moon peeping through clouds. Nothing lingered too long in her mind, it was always jest over judgement”.

The actress also shared the important lessons she learned from her mother, especially about optimism and kindness. She wrote, “From her I learnt one of the most useful life lessons anyone ever gave me, ‘You already have a ‘no’ in your pocket. Now go out and get a ‘yes”. It was classic Pammi Arora, practical optimism with a twinkle in the eye. She also gave me something else that shaped my entire life: the artistic gene. The instinct to perform, to tell stories, to lean toward colour and expression rather than grey routine”.

Tisca further spoke about the strong influence her mother had on her life and hoped that the same spirit would continue through the next generation.

She wrote, “That, and a zest for living that I hope, with all my heart, will travel onward to Tara. To the outside world she was ‘Arora Ma’am’. To generations of children she was the teacher who was somehow almost as childlike as them. She made school feel lighter, softer and more like home. Many of them later returned as parents themselves, proudly bringing their own children to the same teacher who had once loved them. A very rare legacy. At home she was gentle yet stubborn when it mattered. Cancer and a broken hip came, and she refused to bow. Even in the ICU, her Punjabi shoulders bobbed up and down to the beats of a song”.

Concluding the heartfelt tribute, the actress remembered her mother as a resilient and inspiring woman.

She wrote, “She had a charm that made you forget how much she was carrying. I was lucky to grow up in the warmth of her gentleness, and equally lucky to inherit a little of that stubborn streak that simply refuses to give up on life. Pammi Arora was a rare and beautiful woman. And if there is one thing she would probably say about all this solemnity, it is this, ‘Bas, ab mitti pao’. So we will smile through the tears. We will remember the laughter. And we will carry her spirit forward. Because the truth is simple. Those who knew her loved her. And those who loved her will never quite lose her”.

Soon after Tisca shared the post, several celebrities paid condolences in the comments section.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday urged citizens not to panic over the ongoing conflict in West Asia, saying the government is closely monitoring the situation and prioritising India’s interests amid disruptions to the global energy supply chain.

Addressing the NDA convention in Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, the Prime Minister said the tensions in West Asia have affected energy supplies across the world, but India remains focused on safeguarding its national interests.

Speaking about the global situation, Modi said, “The conflict in West Asia has affected the whole world’s energy supply chain. In any situation, we have seen how our government always puts the interests of India above everything. We believe in the ideology of India First.”

The Prime Minister also appealed to people to remain calm and avoid spreading unverified information. “There is no need to panic or pay attention to rumours. I would like to appeal to people, et us only spread correct, verified information,” he said.

Expressing confidence in the country’s ability to overcome challenges, Modi added that India would successfully navigate any crisis. “I am confident that as a nation we will handle every situation successfully,” he said.

Earlier in the day, the Prime Minister held a roadshow in Kochi, Ernakulam, drawing large crowds.

During his address in Tiruchirappalli, Modi also highlighted development initiatives in Tamil Nadu, announcing that Madurai Airport has been upgraded to international airport status. He said the move would boost connectivity and tourism in the region.

“Madurai is home to one of the oldest airports in the state and serves as a key gateway to southern Tamil Nadu. By elevating it to international airport status, we are bringing the world to the doorstep of Madurai,” the Prime Minister said.

Navi Mumbai: Residents in several parts of Panvel will face a temporary water supply disruption for 36 hours beginning Thursday morning due to emergency repair work on a key pipeline, according to an announcement shared by CIDCO.

The civic authority stated that the Maharashtra Jeevan Pradhikaran has initiated urgent repair work on the Bhokarpada MBR pipeline, which supplies water to multiple nodes in the Panvel region.

Areas Affected By Water Supply Suspension

The water shutdown will impact four major nodes in the Panvel area. These include Kalamboli, Kalundre, Karanjade and New Panvel, covering both East and West sections.

Authorities said the supply will remain completely suspended in these areas during the repair period. Residents living in these localities have been advised to make necessary arrangements in advance to manage the disruption.

The announcement was issued as part of a public advisory to ensure residents are aware of the temporary interruption and can prepare accordingly.

Duration Of The Water Cut

According to the schedule released by CIDCO, the water supply will be shut from 9 am on March 12 and will remain suspended until 9 pm on March 13. The total duration of the shutdown is expected to be around 36 hours.

The interruption is necessary to allow repair teams to carry out emergency maintenance work on the pipeline infrastructure that connects the Bhokarpada MBR system to the distribution network.

Supply To Resume With Low Pressure

Authorities have indicated that the water supply will gradually resume after 9 pm on March 13 once the repair work is completed.

However, residents may experience low pressure in water supply during the initial restoration phase. Low pressure supply is expected to continue through March 14 as the system stabilises and normal distribution is restored.

Advisory For Residents

Residents in the affected areas have been urged to store sufficient water before the shutdown begins and to use water carefully during the disruption period.

Such repair works are necessary to maintain the reliability of the water supply system and prevent larger disruptions in the future. The advisory also encouraged residents to use water judiciously during and immediately after the restoration phase.

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