Self-styled 'godman' and numerologist Ashok Kharat has been arrested in Nashik on charges of sexual assault and black magic, setting off a political storm. How did he manage to operate undetected for so long?
A tehsildar in Maharashtra's Jalna district, Vijay Chavan, was arrested by the Anti Corruption Bureau for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 6.40 lakh from a sand transporter. The bribe was demanded to avoid action against illegal sand excavation and transportation. Chavan had a previous suspension in 2014 for procedural irregularities.
A new white paper released by the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government reveals that Tamil Nadu's direct debt has nearly doubled to an alarming 10 trillion in the past five years, exposing significant fiscal strain and a substantial debt burden on every citizen.
'She taught us that acting wasn't something people did because they couldn't do anything else. It was a skill. A skill that needed to be constantly polished and shaped, and the respect you command with that.'
Omar Abdullah has so far laboured hard to make best of a bad bargain. Even so, the ground reality is anything but reassuring. The Opposition parties, including notably the PDP, appear to be gaining ground, though more by default. Public patience with Omar's government has nearly run out, notes Mohammad Sayeed Malik, the distinguished commentator on Kashmir affairs.
Authorities in Nanded, Maharashtra, conducted a joint operation against illegal sand mining along the Godavari river, seizing and destroying equipment worth Rs 30 lakh. The raid, led by the Nanded collector, also resulted in the confiscation of 125 brass of illegally mined sand and the apprehension of four individuals involved in illegal transport.
Three men in their 20s were arrested for allegedly kidnapping a minor girl in Latur district, Maharashtra. The suspects were apprehended within an hour of the complaint.
Police have registered a case against a self-styled godman from Maharashtra's Palghar district for allegedly raping a 35-year-old Pune-based woman after claiming to be an incarnation of Lord Shiva, officials said on Friday.
A minor road rage incident in Washim, Maharashtra, escalated into a brutal attack by a mob of 10-12 men, leaving five persons injured, one critically. Police have arrested one individual and are investigating the incident, which was captured on video.
The Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls has completed one year, leading to the deletion of nearly six crore voters across 19 states and Union territories. This exercise, which began in Bihar, has faced opposition criticism but was upheld by the Supreme Court. The purification drive has significant implications, including linking voter data to social security benefits in some states.
Amid intense speculation that some Shiv Sena-Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray MPs might switch sides, party chief Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday held a meeting of his faction's Lok Sabha MPs, which all nine lawmakers attended either virtually or in person.
Speculation is rife about a potential rebellion among MPs of the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT), with ruling Sena leader Pratap Sarnaik hinting at welcoming dissidents. Despite a Sena (UBT) MP meeting a rival minister and several skipping a party meeting, senior leaders Sanjay Raut and Anil Desai have dismissed the defection rumours, asserting the unity of their parliamentarians.
Police in Palghar, Maharashtra, have detained a 16-year-old boy in connection with a housebreaking case and recovered Rs 3 lakh in cash, a mobile phone, and a bag from him. The incident involved a house owner returning to find his rear door broken and cash missing.
Delhi Police have arrested a 36-year-old woman, Vaishnavi Chavan Chauhan, for allegedly stealing a gold mangalsutra from a devotee at Gurdwara Bangla Sahib. The stolen ornament has been recovered from her possession following a complaint lodged by the victim.
A man from Beed, Maharashtra, has been arrested for allegedly posing as a government official and defrauding women by promising them benefits under various government schemes. The accused used the money to fund his alcohol addiction.
A 34-year-old pedestrian was injured after being caught in crossfire during a clash between two rival groups in Kalyan, Thane district. Police have detained seven individuals, including two juveniles, in connection with the late-night incident.
A 60-year-old tribal woman was killed and her husband seriously injured in Palghar, Maharashtra, after a neighbour attacked them with an axe, suspecting them of performing black magic on his deceased wife. The attacker later attempted suicide and is in critical condition.
Police in Pune have detained the fiancee and a male friend of trekker Ketan Vishal Agarwal, who was initially believed to have died in an accidental fall at Lohagad fort. The case is now being investigated as a murder, with allegations that the two suspects pushed Agarwal into a deep gorge.
'The future of a microbiology course is highly promising in India and abroad,' says rediffGURU Radheshyam Zanwar, founder of Zanwar Classes.
The Maharashtra government has formally acquired the iconic Air India building in south Mumbai for Rs 1,601 crore, completing the transfer of agreements from Air India Assets Holding Company to the state Public Works Department.
A 55-year-old man died after falling into an open manhole in Mumbai during heavy rains, leading to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) suspending four officials and initiating a homicide case against the responsible contractor for alleged negligence.
A 16-year-old boy has been detained in Beed, Maharashtra, for allegedly sexually abusing a six-year-old girl. The incident occurred when the boy lured the girl into his house with the offer of fruit, after which he allegedly sexually abused her. He has been booked under the POCSO Act.
Mumbai's civic-run KEM Hospital has initiated a two-member committee probe into controversial remarks made by MBBS student Sejal Pawar regarding male cadavers during a stand-up comedy show, which the hospital dean deemed 'unacceptable'.
A senior official of the Bhiwandi Nizampur City Municipal Corporation, Surendra Bhaskar Bhoir, has been arrested by the Anti-Corruption Bureau for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 2.5 lakh. Bhoir, who also held the charge of assistant municipal commissioner, was caught red-handed after demanding Rs 5 lakh to overlook an unauthorised construction.
The Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project has achieved a significant milestone with the excavation of a mountain tunnel in Palghar, Maharashtra, marking the third such achievement in the district within the last five months. This progress underscores the rapid construction pace in a geographically challenging section of the high-speed rail corridor.
A 14-year-old girl has gone missing in the Beed district of Maharashtra, leading police to launch a kidnapping investigation. Separately, a 19-year-old woman missing since February 28 was found to have married.
The Maharashtra Vidhan Bhavan in Mumbai received a bomb threat via email during the budget session, leading to a thorough search and evacuation. Authorities have deemed the threat a hoax and are investigating the source.
A 23-year-old man from Uttarakhand drowned in Ravanwadi lake in Bhandara district after a boating accident.
Maratha reservation activist Manoj Jarange has launched his ninth indefinite fast in Jalna district, intensifying pressure on the Maharashtra government over the Maratha quota issue. The protest began in Antarwali Sarati village, with Minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil rushing to the spot to hold talks with Jarange.
The ongoing investigation into the murder of Pune realtor Ketan Agarwal suggests that his fiance, Siya Goyal, was instigated by co-accused Chetan Chaudhary to commit the crime. Goyal and Chaudhary, who were in a relationship, are accused of pushing Agarwal off Lohagad Fort. The probe also addresses reports about Agarwal wearing a wig and details about the planned wedding expenses.
The Shiv Sena (UBT) is facing a potential crisis as speculation mounts that 'six to seven' of its nine Lok Sabha MPs are considering switching allegiance to the Eknath Shinde-led ruling Shiv Sena, with some reportedly camping in New Delhi.
A government medical officer in Ratnagiri, Maharashtra, Dr Kanchan Shirish Madar, has been arrested by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) for allegedly demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 4,500 from a pregnant woman for an abortion pill kit.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann announced that all Sikh MLAs and cabinet ministers will appear before the Akal Takht on June 29 regarding the anti-sacrilege law. This decision follows a closed-door meeting in Amritsar, where Mann stated that representatives would present their views in writing. The Akal Takht had summoned Sikh legislators and ministers over objections to the Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Act, 2026, which it claims was enacted without consulting the Sikh Panth. Mann also addressed accusations of challenging the Akal Takht's authority and criticised political appointees for one-sided decisions.
The police investigating the Pune realtor Ketan Agarwal murder case will conduct a "gait analysis" of accused Chetan Chaudhary and are also planning to compare the CCTV footage capturing his movements at the Lohagad Fort with a recreated video, a court was informed on Monday.
Maharashtra minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha has ignited a controversy by proposing to rename Mumbai's KEM Hospital, referring to King Edward VII as "King Kasab" who "looted India". The proposal faces opposition from other political parties, with the state government stating no final decision has been made.
A police constable and a Home Guard personnel in Beed, Maharashtra, were caught by the Anti-Corruption Bureau for demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 10,000. The bribe was sought from a man for providing documents needed to file an insurance claim after his father's death in a road accident. The accused are facing charges under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
The Maharashtra Excise Department dismantled a major inter-state illicit liquor racket operating in Thane district, seizing contraband valued at Rs 32 lakh after conducting multiple raids.
The Thane crime branch has arrested four individuals, including two women, for a series of robberies targeting bus passengers and pedestrians across Thane, Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, and Pune. Police recovered gold ornaments, motorcycles, and a live cartridge worth over Rs 52 lakh, and the arrests have helped solve 24 cases.
Police in Thane, Maharashtra, seized dry opium worth Rs 38 lakh from a car and a pickup van, arresting one person and launching a search for another suspect.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) raided a factory in Jalna, Maharashtra, seizing over Rs 13 lakh worth of suspected adulterated ghee. The unit was allegedly manufacturing fake ghee using edible oil and synthetic essence. Samples have been sent for analysis, and legal action is pending.
