In a decisive move that has sent shockwaves through Mumbai’s underworld, the City Crime Branch secured the custody of notorious gangster Raviprakash alias Ravi Pujari on Thursday. The arrest, which comes after a protracted investigation into a 2018 extortion case involving choreographer Remo D’Souza, marks a significant victory for law‑enforcement agencies and underscores the growing intolerance for organized crime in the city. Background and Context The Ravi Pujari extortion case traces its roots to a 2013 contractual dispute between Om Shri Ganesh Films, the production house of Remo D’Souza, and Satyendra Tyagi, the film’s producer. The disagreement erupted over the film’s release schedule, editing decisions, distribution rights and…
Author: Lukman Isiaq
On January 26, the city of Mumbai will host a solemn ceremony to honor 25 army soldiers who sustained injuries in various military operations. The event, organized by the Shanmukhananda Sabha in Sion, will be led by Lt Gen. D S Kushwah, General Officer Commanding for Maharashtra, Gujarat and Goa, and will mark the 77th Republic Day of India. Background and Context Republic Day is a national celebration that commemorates the adoption of the Constitution and the birth of the Republic. For the armed forces, it is a day of remembrance and gratitude. Every year, the Shanmukhananda Sabha, in partnership with the…
In a landmark move aimed at modernising investigative procedures, the Maharashtra government has issued a notification permitting authorised police officers to record probe proceedings on mobile phones and tablets. The recordings, once captured, will be admissible as evidence in courts under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, signalling a shift towards digital transparency and efficiency in criminal investigations. Background and Context For years, police investigations in Maharashtra relied heavily on manual documentation and physical evidence collection. While CCTV footage and body‑worn cameras have been used, the lack of a unified framework for mobile recordings left gaps in admissibility and chain‑of‑custody protocols.…
In a landmark announcement that has sent ripples through Maharashtra’s industrial corridors, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis declared that 75% of the Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) signed in 2025 at the World Economic Forum in Davos have now been implemented. The figure, which translates to roughly 11.8 lakh crore rupees of investment, comes after a rigorous audit of projects across the state’s 36 districts. Background and Context The 2025 Davos MoUs were a cornerstone of Maharashtra’s strategy to position itself as a global manufacturing hub. The state’s government had earmarked 15.7 lakh crore rupees for a mix of public‑private partnerships, technology…
Bombay High Court has called for the Maharashtra government’s response to a petition filed by UK‑based doctor and YouTuber Sangram Patil, who seeks the quashing of an FIR and a lookout circular (LOC) issued by Mumbai police over two Facebook posts that allegedly targeted BJP leaders. The case has sparked debate over freedom of expression, police procedure and the rights of digital content creators. Background/Context On 18 December 2025, the N M Joshi Marg police station registered an FIR under Section 353(2) of the Bombay Nationalist Society (BNS) Act, which criminalises the spread of false information or rumours that could…
In a decisive move that could reshape Mumbai’s construction landscape, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has issued stop‑work notices to 106 active building sites that have failed to install mandatory air‑quality sensors. The directive, announced on Tuesday, follows a court‑mandated audit that revealed 662 of the 1,954 ongoing projects were still without the required AQI monitors. Background/Context India’s capital has long battled deteriorating air quality, with the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change mandating reference‑grade air‑quality sensors at all major construction sites costing over ₹1,000 crore. The BMC’s enforcement drive, launched in May 2025, aimed to curb particulate emissions…
A decommissioned colonial‑era chapel in Khandala is set to reopen on January 30 as a vibrant cultural hub for Mumbai artists, turning a 200‑year‑old black basalt structure into a living stage for music, spoken word and theatre. The transformation, led by the Kotak family and architect Adil Dholakia of Five Cross Architects, marks a bold revival of heritage and creative space in the Sahyadri Hills. Background / Context For six decades the chapel, built in the mid‑19th century in Gothic Revival style, stood silent between the hills of Khandala and the bustling city of Mumbai. Its pointed arches, five buttresses and stained‑glass windows once echoed…
Shiv Sena corporators missing has become a headline story in Mumbai as four newly elected members of the Shiv Sena (UBT) wing have vanished from the public eye, raising alarms of possible defections to rival factions. Party leaders warn that if the missing corporators are not located within the next 24 hours, they will file a police complaint alleging kidnapping. The incident has sparked a tense standoff between the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) and the Shinde faction, as well as the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), which has pledged support to the latter. Background and Context In the recent municipal…
In a sudden political stir, four Shiv Sena (UBT) corporators elected from Kalyan have vanished from public view, prompting party leaders to threaten a police complaint over alleged kidnapping. The disappearance has ignited fears of a mass defection to the rival Shiv Sena faction led by Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, and has raised questions about the stability of the UBT’s municipal governance. Background/Context Shiv Sena (UBT), the splinter group formed by former Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, secured 11 seats in the Kalyan Municipal Corporation during the 2022 local elections. The party’s survival hinges on maintaining a cohesive council, especially…
In a landmark move that has sent ripples through Mumbai’s political landscape, Dalit leader Vijay Ubale has been appointed the group leader of the All India Majlis‑ul‑Wahhabis (AIMIM) in the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (BMC). The appointment follows his decisive victory from Ward 140 in Govandi, where he secured a commanding margin against a field of seasoned candidates. The decision, announced by former MLA and AIMIM stalwart Waris Pathan, signals the party’s intent to broaden its base and empower historically marginalized communities. Background / Context Vijay Ubale’s rise to prominence began in the grassroots politics of Govandi, a densely populated suburb that has…