Dahi Handi celebrations in Mumbai were marked by fervor, injuries, and political campaigning ahead of local elections. One participant died, and several others were injured during the event.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast cloudy skies with the possibility of heavy rainfall at a few places in the city and suburbs in the next 24 hours.
Workers of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) confronted residents of a housing society in suburban Ghatkopar over allegations that Gujarati residents insulted Marathi-speaking families for eating non-vegetarian food. The incident, captured on video and widely shared on social media, sparked intervention from police and condemnation from a state minister. The MNS leader in the video accused the Gujarati residents of calling the Marathi-speaking families "dirty" for their food choices, a claim denied by a resident of the building. The incident highlights simmering tensions between language communities in Mumbai, particularly in the lead-up to civic elections.
'I am determined now to celebrate all festivals together.' 'People don't respond much when you try to convince them by talking about principles of secularism etc. But if we revive our shared cultural practices, specially food, we may get a better response.'
Maharashtra Minister Ashish Shelar has accused the Shiv Sena (UBT) of mismanaging the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), alleging that the opposition party and contractors misappropriated funds for the BRIMSTOWAD drainage system and Mithi River cleaning. Shelar claimed that the Sena (UBT) and BMC contractors looted Mumbai and did not complete the BRIMSTOWAD project work in 25 years, which could have saved Mumbai from flooding. He also alleged that Rs 1,000 crores were spent by the BMC on bogus Mithi River cleaning. Shelar's accusations come amidst heavy rainfall in Mumbai, which has exacerbated the city's monsoon woes. The incomplete BRIMSTOWAD project and inadequate desilting of nullahs have drawn criticism for the city's unpreparedness.
'When honest, wealthy people come forward to serve India, people should feel proud and welcome them.'
A 16-year-old boy in Mumbai has been arrested for allegedly stabbing a man to death at Ghatkopar railway station after a dispute over a seat on a local train. The victim, Ankush Bhalerao, had slapped the boy during an argument on a train the previous day. The next morning, the boy attacked Bhalerao with a knife on the platform, resulting in his death. The teenager has been sent to a juvenile detention center.
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Monday attributed early arrival of the southwest monsoon and heavy rainfall in a short span for the inundation of low-lying areas in Mumbai, which disrupted road and railway traffic.
Shiv Sena-UBT chief Uddhav Thackeray has vowed to oppose the Maharashtra government's decision to make Hindi a mandatory third language for students of Classes 1 to 5, stating that his party will not allow it. Thackeray, addressing an event of the Bharatiya Kamgar Sena, the workers' wing of the Shiv Sena (UBT), said his party has no aversion to the Hindi language but questioned the need to force it upon students. He also criticized the ruling BJP's approach, alleging their aim is to keep people under pressure and prevent unity. He accused the current government of working against the interests of Marathi and Maharashtra, and slammed Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde for his alleged subservience to those he believes are harming the state's interests. Thackeray further criticized the Waqf Amendment Act 2025, arguing against the appointment of non-Muslims on the Waqf Board and questioning the government's intentions in appointing non-Hindus to Hindu religious organizations. He also claimed that his government was overthrown because he had stalled the implementation of labor codes in the state. Thackeray concluded his speech by urging party members to prioritize the hiring of Bharatiya Kamgar Sena union members in workplaces where the union has a presence.
The Maharashtra government on Friday filed an appeal in the Bombay high court challenging the acquittal of the five accused in the Ghatkopar bomb blast case.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday asserted that Marathi is the language of Mumbai and Maharashtra and anyone who lives here should learn and speak it. Fadnavis was speaking in the state assembly after Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Bhaskar Jadhav said the government should clarify its stand on senior Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) leader Suresh Bhaiyyaji Joshi's comments that a person coming to Mumbai may not necessarily learn Marathi.
Bharatiya Janata Party leader Kirit Somaiya on Sunday alleged that ad firm director Bhavesh Bhinde had paid Rs 46 lakh as bribe to a company of the wife of then GRP commissioner, who gave permission to install a hoarding which collapsed in Mumbai last month.
The footage, however, does not give a clear picture of whether the aircraft burst into flames mid-air or whether it blew up on impact of the crash, an official said.
They have been booked for murder (Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code) and causing disappearance of evidence (Section 201 IPC).
'We deposited money just yesterday, but they did not say anything...'
Fadnavis on Thursday asserted that Marathi is the language of Mumbai and Maharashtra and anyone who lives here should learn and speak it, after a Shiv Sena-UBT MLA pointed to comments of a Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh leader.
Dr Mohammed Abdul Matim Abdul Basit alleged that a cop threatened him against tendering evidence on the alleged escape of co-accused Sayyed Khwaja Yunis from the police custody.
The India meteorological department (IMD) on Wednesday evening issued a red alert for Mumbai and its neighbouring districts, predicting "extremely heavy rainfall".
The Bombay high court on Monday admitted an appeal of the Maharashtra government against the order of the Prevention Of Terrorism Act court which had acquitted eight accused involved in the Ghatkopar blast in the metropolis in 2002.
The Maharashtra government will challenge the acquittal of eight persons in the December 2002 Ghatkopar bomb blast case in one month in which two people were killed and 49 injured.
Shaikh Mohammed Muzamil, acquitted by a special POTA court in the Ghatkopar bomb blast case, surrendered on Tuesday before the trial court which took him into custody.
Two teams of the NDRF along with the fire brigade and police have been working relentlessly since the last two days to rescue the people trapped under the billboard that collapsed on a petrol pump in Chheda Nagar area of Ghatkopar on Monday evening due to gusty winds and unseasonal rains.
Speaking to reporters in Mumbai, Deputy Chief Minister Chhagan Bhujbal said: "We think it is a new group of Lashkar-e-Tayiba. Within a few days, the culprits will be tracked down.
Waze was arrested from his Thane residence. The CID will produce him before a court in Ahmadnagar soon.
Mohammed Altaf had allegedly supplied explosives and funds to those who triggered the blast in a BEST bus on December 2, 2002.
After Monday's hoarding crash in which at least 14 people died, he has been absconding, while a case under IPC section 304 (causing death by negligence) was registered against him at Pantnagar police station in the city.
Bhavesh Bhinde, an advertising firm's director, whose company had put up the giant hoarding that collapsed in Mumbai killing 16 people, was brought to the city early on Friday, a police official said.
The operation went on for 66 hours after a giant 120 feet x 120 feet hoarding collapsed on a petrol pump in the Chheda Nagar area during gusty winds on Monday evening, the official said.
The dog had served in the squad for eight years and had been admitted to animal hospital at Parel for treatment last month.
Two more bodies have been located under the debris at the site of a giant hoarding collapse in Mumbai as the search and rescue operation continued more than 40 hours after the incident, officials said on Wednesday.
The alleged main conspirator of the 2002 Ghatkopar blast, who was working as a software engineer, has been arrested from Hyderabad in Andhra Pradesh, police said.
Following the allegation, Special POTA judge A P Bhangale allowed Mohammed Altaf to pen down his statement. Altaf maintained that he was innocent.
Imran, whose was deported to India earlier this week from Saudi Arabia, was recruited in Lashkar ranks sometime in March-April 2002.
Imran Rehman Khan is believed to have fled to Dubai in October last year after leaving 'instructions' to carry out a blast at a crowded place.
Four persons, accused of planning and executing the bomb blast in a BEST bus on December 2, have been remanded to police custody till January 17.
Owing the sudden rains, Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji international airport too announced a temporary suspension of flights. While incoming flights have been diverted to other destinations like Goa and Ahmedabad, outgoing flights have been delayed. Airport sources said flights are being resumed in a staggered manner to cope with the rush and it will take some time for normalcy to return.
