Jarange's hunger strike at the Azad Maidan in south Mumbai over the demand for Maratha quota entered the fifth day on Tuesday.
The Bombay High Court has directed activist Manoj Jarange and his supporters, who are staging an agitation demanding reservation for the Maratha community, to vacate Azad Maidan in Mumbai by 3 pm or face action.
BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis was sworn in as the new Chief Minister of Maharashtra in a grand ceremony at Azad Maidan in Mumbai.
'More than Eknath Shinde's wish, we want him (Shinde) to lead us in the government.'
Scenes from Azad Maidan.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to attend the swearing-in ceremony of the new Mahayuti government in Maharashtra on December 5. BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis is considered the frontrunner for the chief minister's post, with the BJP having recorded its best-ever electoral performance in the state. The Mahayuti coalition includes Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party.
A petition has been filed in the Bombay high court seeking action in the matter of complaints that were made before the Azad Maidan police station pertaining to the recent riots connected to the Assam issue.
A sessions court on Monday granted bail to two accused in custody for the August 11 Azad Maidan violence, including Shahbad Abdul Kadir Shaikh who allegedly damaged the Amar Jawan memorial.
Mumbai Police's Anti-Narcotics Cell conducted three separate operations, seizing drugs worth over Rs 1.32 crore and arresting four individuals. The operations targeted charas, ganja, and mephedrone, disrupting both local and inter-state drug syndicates.
Tribal students protesting for better facilities and an inquiry into ashram school deaths were detained by police in Mumbai and driven out of the city. They had marched from Nashik and were seeking to meet the Governor.
Activist Manoj Jarange announced an indefinite hunger strike in Mumbai from September 19 for Maratha reservation in jobs and education. He will lead a march from September 15, covering various districts before reaching Azad Maidan. Jarange urged peaceful protest and accused the government of inaction on caste certificates, while the Bombay High Court upheld the right to protest. The core demand is for Marathas to be included in the OBC category via Kunbi records, a move opposed by existing OBC groups.
During the last two days, 19 people were arrested from various parts of the city, police said adding that two of them, identified as Niyazuddin Shaikh (28) and Mohammed Hussain Ansari (21), were produced before a metropolitan magistrate court on Wednesday which remanded them in police custody till August 28.
Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange has proceeded towards Mumbai despite police denying permission for his protest at Azad Maidan. Jarange, who has been on a hunger strike for 17 days demanding OBC quota for Marathas, is travelling with a small group amid tight security, citing a Bombay High Court ruling that supports democratic agitation. He also alleged a conspiracy to kill him.
On October 16, 2026, Cockroach Janta Party supporters carried out Tiranga rallies across Bengaluru, New Delhi and Mumbai to show solidarity with detained CJP leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka. Protesters held the Preamble of the Constitution, banners, and large Tricolours while security personnel detained several participants in Connaught Place.
As many as 19 more alleged rioters have been arrested in connection with the Azad Maidan violence, taking the total number of arrests in the case so far to 43, police said.
Akbar Raunak Khan is the fourth accused to be released on bail by the high court after it granted similar relief to Amin Chaudhary, Umair Rehman Ansari and Nazar Siddiqui, who suffered a bullet injury in his head in the violence, earlier this week.
The parents of IIT Bombay student Sahil Wakode, who allegedly died by suicide, are continuing their hunger strike, demanding the arrest of Professor Suryanarayana Doolla and institute director Shireesh B Kedare. They allege caste discrimination and abetment to suicide, while police investigate the case, recording statements and analyzing electronic devices.
The sessions court on Friday rejected bail applications filed by the five accused arrested in connection with the August 11 Azad Maidan violence, observing that there is a prima facie case against them and the investigation is at a crucial stage.
Mumbai Police Commissioner Arup Patnaik was transferred on Thursday amid mounting opposition clamour for his ouster over his alleged failure to prevent August 11 Azad Maidan violence, though the government termed it as a routine exercise.
Two more rioters were on Wednesday arrested in connection with the Azad Maidan violent protests against alleged atrocities on Muslims in Assam, taking the total number of arrests in the case to 26, police said.
The parents of Sahil Wakode, an IIT Bombay student who died by suicide, are continuing their hunger strike for a second day, demanding the arrest of those they hold responsible. They allege caste discrimination and seek justice for their son, with Union Minister Ramdas Athawale assuring support.
The Mumbai police were put in a spot over a poem published in its in-house journal terming last year's Azad Maidan protesters as "snakes" and "traitors" whose hands should have been "chopped off", following which it has assured to issue an unconditional apology.
The parents of IIT Bombay student Sahil Wakode, who died by suicide, spent eight hours at the Mumbai Crime Branch office, while Union Minister Ramdas Athawale visited IIT Bombay, seeking a thorough investigation into the death and alleging potential caste discrimination.
Police revealed that a 22-year-old IIT Bombay student, who died by suicide last month after being caught cheating, had submitted a written apology seeking a second chance. The Mumbai crime branch is investigating the death, with over 40 statements recorded, including those of the IIT-B director and a professor accused of harassment and caste-based discrimination by the student's parents. The professor has denied the allegations.
Mumbai police questioned IIT Bombay professor Suryanarayana Doolla for nearly 10 hours regarding the alleged suicide of student Sahil Wakode. Doolla denies allegations of harassment and caste-based discrimination. Wakode was found dead after being caught using ChatGPT during an exam. An FIR has been filed against Doolla, and the crime branch is investigating, having recorded statements from around 40 people.
Two more persons were held on Friday by Crime Branch of Mumbai police in connection with the August 11 violence, taking the total number of arrests to 50.
A local court on Monday rejected the bail applications of two accused in custody for their alleged role in riots at Azad Maidan on August 11.
Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange has accused the Maharashtra government of conspiring to kill him and suppress his agitation, following Mumbai police's denial of permission for his indefinite hunger strike from September 19. Jarange stated he would proceed with the march to Mumbai despite the ban.
The parents of IIT Bombay student Sahil Wakode, who allegedly died by suicide, have begun a hunger strike demanding action against those they accuse of tormenting their son due to caste discrimination. The institute has deferred mid-semester examinations and reissued an apology for an earlier statement regarding the circumstances of his death.
Denied permission for his hunger strike in Mumbai, Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange on Monday announced he would head to the Maharashtra capital alone on September 15 to stage a protest at Azad Maidan.
Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange's crucial march to Mumbai for OBC reservation faces significant uncertainty as his health deteriorates amidst a hunger strike, prompting appeals from the Maharashtra government for dialogue and raising questions about the protest's continuation.
Police are investigating the suicide of IIT Bombay student Sahil Wakode, who died hours after being caught allegedly copying in an exam. The probe includes examining his phone calls expressing remorse and allegations of caste discrimination made by his family against a professor. Digital evidence and CCTV footage are being analysed to reconstruct the sequence of events.
Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange has ended his 20-day hunger strike after discussions with a Maharashtra government delegation. He issued a three-month ultimatum, threatening to resume protests in Mumbai if demands for Maratha reservation, based on Kunbi lineage recognition, are not met. The government has assured action on historical gazettes to facilitate OBC benefits for Marathas.
The Congress party in Maharashtra has accused the police of illegally entering its Mumbai headquarters, Tilak Bhawan, and arresting tribal students and NSUI members who were protesting. While the police deny these claims, stating no arrests were made from the building, the Congress has threatened to gherao the Chief Minister's residence if the detained individuals are not released, escalating a political confrontation over student protests.
On August 8, 1942, Mahatma Gandhi gave India a simple but powerful call: 'Do or Die'. What followed was the Quit India Movement, one of the largest mass uprisings against British rule.
Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange Patil has begun his indefinite hunger strike at the Azad Maidan demanding reservation for the Maratha community.
In the last five days, there were instances in which various groups of protesters agitated in front of the Mantralaya (secretariat), Bombay Stock Exchange, were seen roaming along the Marine Drive, Jehangir Art Gallery, Giragon Chowpatty and Gateway of India, but police controlled the crowd and were seen requesting them to take precautions.
The Eastern Freeway, Sion-Panvel highway, V N Purav Road, P D'Mello Road, Wallchand Hirachand Marg, Dr Dadabhai Nauroji Road and Hajarimal Somani Road will be closed for all types of vehicular traffic except emergency service vehicles, said the official.
Activist Manoj Jarange, on a hunger strike for Maratha quota, is open to talks with the government but refuses to leave Mumbai until demands are met. He urges protesters to maintain peace and claims they haven't violated any laws.
Racing Bulls driver Arvid Lindblad, who has Indian ancestral roots, attributes the rise of young athletes like Vaibhav Sooryavanshi across global sports to advancements in technology and better access to information from an earlier age.
