An investigation by the CBI has uncovered a major corruption racket involving 14 officials and 18 agents at two Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) centres in Mumbai. The officials were found to have colluded with the agents to issue passports based on inadequate or incomplete documents, or by manipulating personal data of applicants. The CBI has also seized mobile phones and evidence of suspicious transactions worth lakhs during their search operation at 33 locations.
In a press conference in Pune, Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar announced that his party, along with the Congress and the Shiv Sena, will form a coalition to contest the upcoming Maharashtra Assembly polls in October. Mr. Pawar emphasized the moral responsibility of major Opposition parties to protect the interests of smaller allies, and called for a change in the State.