Author: Lukman Isiaq

In a rare public convergence of the Thackeray cousins, Raj Thackeray openly condemned the political chaos sweeping Maharashtra after the recent BMC elections, declaring that the state’s turmoil would have deeply distressed Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray. The remarks, made at a centenary event for Balasaheb, came as the five MNS corporators in Kalyan‑Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) announced their support for Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena, further inflaming an already volatile political landscape. Background and Context For years, Maharashtra’s politics have been dominated by the Shiv Sena, a party founded by Balasaheb Thackeray in 1966. The party’s influence has waned in…

In a rare joint appearance after the recent Mumbai Corporation (BMC) polls, Raj Thackeray publicly condemned the political chaos sweeping Maharashtra, declaring that the state’s future would have been better without the legacy of Balasaheb Thackeray. The comments came at a centenary event for Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb, where the Thackeray cousins shared a dais for the first time since the Kalyan‑Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) crisis. Background and Context Raj Thackeray, who split from Shiv Sena in 2005 to form the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), has long been a polarizing figure in state politics. The BMC elections, held on 18…

Sixty years after the tragic loss of India’s nuclear pioneer, the city that birthed him still has no public monument to honor Homi Bhabha. The absence of a Homi Bhabha memorial Mumbai has sparked renewed debate among scientists, historians and civic leaders, who argue that the nation’s first nuclear scientist deserves a lasting tribute in his hometown. Background and Context On 24 January 1966, a routine flight from Mumbai to London ended in catastrophe when an Air India Boeing 707 crashed over Mont Blanc, killing all 117 passengers, including Homi Jehangir Bhabha. The accident, attributed to a miscommunication between Geneva…

Mumbai: The Maharashtra Housing Development and Area Improvement Authority (MHADA) has agreed to pay ₹200 crore to reclaim three of the four vacant plots in the Patra Chawl redevelopment scam, a move that could finally bring closure to a ₹1,039‑crore debacle that has plagued the city for over a decade. Background/Context The Patra Chawl redevelopment saga began in 2008 when MHADA appointed Guruashish Constructions, a subsidiary of the housing conglomerate HDIL, to transform a slum‑laden layout in Goregaon into a modern residential complex. A tripartite agreement between residents, the planning authority and the builder promised 3,000 flats for 672 families. By…

Bombay High Court has granted bail to two accused in the Elgar Parishad‑Maoist links case, a decision that brings a significant shift in a long‑running investigation that has drawn national attention. The court’s ruling, issued on Friday, allows Sagar Gorkhe and Ramesh Gaichor to leave Taloja jail on personal bonds, while the only remaining accused, Surendra Gadling, remains in custody. The move underscores the court’s emphasis on parity among co‑accused and highlights the evolving dynamics of the case. Background and Context The Elgar Parishad case, which began in 2017, centers on a cultural event held in Pune on 31 December 2017. The National Investigation Agency…

Bombay High Court has granted bail to two accused in the high‑profile Elgar Parishad‑Maoist links case, a decision that brings the total number of bail‑granted defendants to 14 out of 16. The only remaining detainee, Surendra Gadling, continues to be held in custody while his appeal proceeds in the Supreme Court. Background and Context The Elgar Parishad case, which began in 2017, centers on a cultural event held in Pune on 31 December 2017. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) alleged that the event, organized by the Kabir Kala Manch, was a front for spreading Maoist ideology and that participants were involved in unlawful activities under…

In a decisive move to curb visual clutter and uphold civic order, the Mumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has filed police cases against unidentified individuals for affixing illegal banners on electric poles across South Mumbai. The action, announced on January 24, 2026, follows a systematic removal of 41 unauthorized banners by municipal staff on January 21 and 22, and underscores the city’s commitment to enforcing advertising regulations under the Maharashtra Prevention of Defacement of Property Act, 1995, and the Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act, 1888. Background and Context South Mumbai, or SoBo, is a bustling hub of commerce, culture, and education, home…

In a shocking turn of events that has sent ripples through the community of Badlapur, the driver of the school van accused of molesting a four‑year‑old pre‑primary child has been produced before the special POCSO court and remanded to police custody until January 27. The case, which has already seen the Thane Regional Transport Office seize the driver’s licence, impose a ₹24,000 fine, and cancel the van’s registration, underscores a growing concern over child safety in private school transport services. Background and Context The incident came to light on Thursday afternoon when the child failed to reach home by her usual…

Police have taken the accused driver of a school van into custody in the Badlapur van molestation case, while the Congress party has demanded action against the school that allegedly facilitated the crime. The driver was produced before a special POCSO court on Friday and remanded to police custody until January 27. The Thane Regional Transport Office (RTO) seized his licence, imposed a ₹24,000 fine and cancelled the van’s registration, citing violations of school transport regulations. Background and Context The incident came to light when a four‑year‑old pre‑primary student failed to return home from school at the usual 12:30 pm slot. The…

Mumbai: A record 2,700 IIT Bombay alumni have pooled Rs 200 crore to build a new student housing complex, marking the largest alumni‑led initiative of its kind in India. The Project Evergreen, now complete and operational, will accommodate more than 1,100 students across 848 rooms and 1,127 beds in a sprawling 3.7‑lakh‑sq‑ft campus. Background / Context India’s higher‑education sector has long struggled with inadequate on‑campus accommodation, especially in metropolitan hubs where housing costs soar. IIT Bombay, one of the country’s premier engineering institutes, has faced a chronic shortage of affordable student housing for decades. In 2025, the institute’s student body grew to…