Shiv Sena leader and CM Eknath Shinde has won the Kopri-Pachpakhadi seat by a huge margin, retaining his position after winning the seat in 2019. Shinde, who led a rebellion against Shiv Sena and joined forces with BJP to become CM, has a stronghold on his home turf Thane. In his victory speech, he expressed gratitude to PM Modi for his support and said his government will work for the common man.
In a recent incident, Mumbai police have detained a 24-year-old woman from Ulhasnagar in Thane, Maharashtra, for allegedly making a death threat against Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. The woman, identified as Fatima Khan, is a Bachelor’s Degree holder in Information Technology and is believed to have mental health issues. The threat, received by Mumbai Police Traffic Control, warned that Yogi Adityanath would face a similar fate as the late NCP leader Baba Siddique unless he resigned within 10 days. The reference to Baba Siddique alludes to the recent incident where the former minister was tragically shot dead, raising security concerns around public figures such as Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
In a raid on a dilapidated house, Thane police have seized illegal meat worth Rs 1.6 lakhs and one person has been arrested. Five others managed to flee and are now wanted by the authorities. The seized meat has been sent for analysis and a case has been registered under various laws. Earlier, a similar case was reported in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, where a large amount of beef was seized and the driver was booked under relevant laws.
The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has proposed a game-changing Twin-Tube Road Tunnel project that will drastically reduce travel time between Thane and Borivali from over an hour to just 15 minutes. With a distance of only 12 km between the two areas, the project is expected to provide seamless connectivity and boost overall development. This comes as a major development for the city's business sector and will likely be a game-changer for commuters as well as businesses operating in the region.
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has ordered the immediate suspension of senior police officers in the Badlapur sexual assault case. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has also been formed to investigate the incident, which involves the alleged sexual assault of two minors in a school in Thane district. Fadnavis has strongly condemned the incident and is working to get the case to a fast-track court for speedy justice for the victim's family.
Huge protests erupted at the Badlapur railway station in Thane district as people demanded justice for the alleged sexual abuse of two kindergarten students. A woman journalist covering the protest reported that a local leader of the Shiv Sena, Waman Mhatre, made derogatory comments towards her, accusing her of acting like she had been raped. Mhatre, on the other hand, claims his words were misinterpreted and that he was only asking for factual information to be provided to the protesters. The Mumbai Press Club condemned his statements and demanded action from Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.
In Maharashtra's Thane district, the management of a school has suspended its principal and two staffers following the alleged sexual abuse of two girls aged three and four. The incident has sparked outrage among parents and citizens, leading to a protest at the Badlapur railway station. The police have already arrested a school attendant for the abuse, but the parents are demanding stricter action against those responsible. This protest has also triggered a call for a local bandh (strike) in Badlapur.
The India Meteorological Department has issued a red alert for Mumbai and neighbouring areas as torrential downpours continue to lash the region. Over 100 mm of rainfall has caused severe flooding, leading to road closures, delayed train services, and the shut down of schools and colleges. The NDRF has deployed teams in the affected areas, while the Central Railway has announced slower train speeds due to heavy rains.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be visiting Mumbai on Saturday to perform the groundbreaking ceremony for two major underground tunnel projects worth billions of rupees. He will also inaugurate various projects worth over Rs 29,400 crore at the NESCO Exhibition Centre. Meanwhile, parts of Mumbai continue to receive heavy rainfall with the IMD issuing an 'orange' alert. In other news, the ruling alliance in Maharashtra won nine out of eleven seats in the Legislative Council elections, while a popular YouTuber has been booked for defamation after allegedly posting fake news about a politician's daughter.
Commuters using Central Railway's suburban services were faced with delays and overcrowding on Friday morning as a 63-hour-long mega block began for the widening of platforms at Thane station. The Maharashtra government has now permitted all public service vehicles in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region to operate stage carriage services during the block, following complaints from lakhs of office-goers. The permission has been granted under the Motor Vehicles Act 1988, allowing taxis, auto rickshaws, and contract carriage buses to pick up and drop passengers at multiple locations to ease the inconvenience caused by the block.