News for 'Maharashtra Control of Organised'

2008 Malegaon blast case: How investigation unfolded

2008 Malegaon blast case: How investigation unfolded

Rediff.com31 Jul 2025

A detailed timeline of the 2008 Malegaon blasts case, from the initial explosion to the acquittal of all accused in 2025.

SC stays HC order acquitting 12 Mumbai train blasts accused

SC stays HC order acquitting 12 Mumbai train blasts accused

Rediff.com24 Jul 2025

The Supreme Court has stayed the Bombay High Court verdict acquitting all 12 accused in the 2006 Mumbai train bomb blasts case, issuing notices and seeking responses from the accused.

'This Shock May Trigger Suicides'

'This Shock May Trigger Suicides'

Rediff.com25 Sep 2025

'Marathwada is the suicide capital of Maharashtra.' 'To stop such man-made disasters, the government should immediately come up with a rightful package, not this charitable approach to compensation.'

At 100, He Remembers How He Fought For Freedom

At 100, He Remembers How He Fought For Freedom

Rediff.com2 Oct 2025

'Gandhi had given the call 'Do or Die'. And with all the leaders arrested, you had to be your own leader.'

'Soldiers being martyred, and yet they play cricket with Pakistan'

'Soldiers being martyred, and yet they play cricket with Pakistan'

Rediff.com14 Sep 2025

Several opposition parties on Saturday slammed the BJP-led central government, calling it the India-Pakistan Asia Cup match an insult to the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack.

Lawrence Bishnoi gang's sharpshooter killed in police encounter

Lawrence Bishnoi gang's sharpshooter killed in police encounter

Rediff.com29 May 2025

The deceased has been identified as Naveen Kumar, who was wanted in multiple cases, including for murder and under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA), a senior police officer said.

5 judges, 2 agencies: The long road to Malegaon blast verdict

5 judges, 2 agencies: The long road to Malegaon blast verdict

Rediff.com31 Jul 2025

The 2008 Malegaon bomb blast case, spanning nearly 17 years, was marked by changes in investigating agencies and five different judges, contributing to significant delays, according to victims and accused.

Inside The Tata Trusts Showdown: A House Divided

Inside The Tata Trusts Showdown: A House Divided

Rediff.com9 Oct 2025

A quiet but consequential power struggle has erupted within the storied 156-year-old Tata Trusts just a year after the death of group patriarch Ratan Tata on October 9, 2024.

Teenage boy raped, killed; 3 held from Kanwar camp

Teenage boy raped, killed; 3 held from Kanwar camp

Rediff.com25 Jul 2025

Delhi police arrest 13 individuals, including minors, for the murder and sexual assault of a 14-year-old boy, allegedly in retaliation for informing on a rival gang member.

Centre doesn't want to control Waqf Board, our plan is...: Nadda

Centre doesn't want to control Waqf Board, our plan is...: Nadda

Rediff.com6 Apr 2025

BJP president JP Nadda said on Sunday that the party does not seek to control the Waqf Board but wants to ensure that those managing it operate within the bounds of law and adhere to established rules. He said the properties and funds of the Waqf Board should be dedicated to promoting education, providing healthcare and employment opportunities for the Muslim community. Nadda also highlighted the BJP's growth and achievements, emphasizing its commitment to national unity and cultural heritage.

HC acquits all 12 accused in 2006 Mumbai blasts case

HC acquits all 12 accused in 2006 Mumbai blasts case

Rediff.com21 Jul 2025

The Bombay High Court acquitted all 12 accused in the 2006 Mumbai train blasts case, citing a failure by the prosecution to prove their guilt and raising serious concerns about the investigation and evidence presented.

BrahMos led strike, Akashteer guarded skies in Op Sindoor: DRDO chief

BrahMos led strike, Akashteer guarded skies in Op Sindoor: DRDO chief

Rediff.com9 Aug 2025

According to the DRDO chairman, the BrahMos missile, primarily launched from Sukhoi Mk 1, was used during the offensive phase.

Maha court acquits gangster Suresh Pujari in builder extortion case

Maha court acquits gangster Suresh Pujari in builder extortion case

Rediff.com6 May 2025

Gangster Suresh Pujari and 11 others have been acquitted in a 2016 builder extortion bid case by a MCOCA court in Thane, India. The court cited the prosecution's failure to present sufficient evidence and carry out a comprehensive investigation. The accused were charged with attempted murder, extortion, criminal conspiracy, and related offenses. The court ruled that the trial against two absconding accused, Ravindra Ghare and Iqlakh Shaikh, would be discontinued due to the acquittal of the other individuals.

High drama in Mumbai over 'kabutarkhana' as protesters clash with police

High drama in Mumbai over 'kabutarkhana' as protesters clash with police

Rediff.com7 Aug 2025

The Jain community, for whom feeding pigeons is a sacred tradition, have fiercely opposed the closure, with demonstrations in Mumbai highlighting the cultural significance and the distress of pigeons dying on streets.

Chhota Rajan acquitted in 20-year-old threat case

Chhota Rajan acquitted in 20-year-old threat case

Rediff.com11 May 2025

In a setback for Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), gangster Chhota Rajan was acquitted by a special court two decades after he was booked for threatening a builder, with the judge noting the prosecution has failed to prove the charge as nothing incriminatory was found during witnesses' testimonies.

Modi@75: The Man Who Changed India

Modi@75: The Man Who Changed India

Rediff.com16 Sep 2025

Let there be no doubt that Modi in these 24 years so far has reshaped politics and governance considerably, if not completely, asserts Nilanjan Mukhopadhyay, author, Narendra Modi: The Man, The Times.

Maha minister Dhananjay Munde resigns amid row over sarpanch murder

Maha minister Dhananjay Munde resigns amid row over sarpanch murder

Rediff.com4 Mar 2025

The resignation followed a vociferous demand by the opposition for Munde's removal from the cabinet.

Shinde seeks death penalty for 'Walmik Karad or anyone else'

Shinde seeks death penalty for 'Walmik Karad or anyone else'

Rediff.com22 Jan 2025

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has demanded the death penalty for those involved in the murder of sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh, calling the crime "heinous." Shinde said that no one involved in the case, including Walmik Karad, a close aide of NCP minister Dhananjay Munde, will be spared. Deshmukh was abducted and tortured to death on December 9 after he resisted an extortion attempt targeting an energy company operating a windmill project in the area. Karad was arrested in the extortion case linked to the murder after he surrendered to police in Pune on December 31.

Fadnavis will ask Munde to resign if...: Maha min

Fadnavis will ask Munde to resign if...: Maha min

Rediff.com27 Jan 2025

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis will ask NCP minister Dhananjay Munde to step down if any evidence is found linking him to sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh's murder, his cabinet colleague Chandrakant Patil has said. A comprehensive probe is being conducted into the murder of Deshmukh, BJP leader Patil told reporters in Sangli on Sunday. Walmik Karad, an associate of minister Munde, has been arrested in an extortion case linked to the sarpanch's killing. Deshmukh, the sarpanch of Massajog village in Beed district, was abducted, tortured and killed on December 9 for trying to stop an extortion attempt against an energy firm operating a windmill project there. Munde, the NCP MLA from Parli in Beed district, is under attack from some of the ruling alliance colleagues and the opposition over his links with Karad. The Maharashtra government has already seized properties of the accused in sarpanch Deshmukh murder case. Stringent charges have been invoked and the probe is going on, the BJP leader said. The police machinery is actively investigating the case, and a Special Investigation Team (SIT) has also been formed for a probe into it, Patil said. Additionally, a committee headed by a retired judge has been constituted to oversee the inquiry, the minister said. Steps are being taken, including invocation of the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) against Walmik Karad and other accused, Patil pointed out. The process of seizing Karad's assets is also underway, he added.

7 Blasts, 11 Minutes: When Mumbai's Heart Was Bombed

7 Blasts, 11 Minutes: When Mumbai's Heart Was Bombed

Rediff.com11 Jul 2025

Nineteen years later, remembering how terror struck Mumbai's lifeline on July 11, 2006.

Got offer to conduct encounter of Walmik Karad: Suspended cop

Got offer to conduct encounter of Walmik Karad: Suspended cop

Rediff.com15 Apr 2025

A suspended police sub-inspector from Beed, Maharashtra, India, has alleged that he was offered money to carry out an "encounter" of Walmik Karad, an accused in the murder case of sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh. The suspended cop, Ranjeet Kasle, claims he mentioned the names of the individuals who made the offer in a local police station diary. However, a senior police official from Beed has dismissed Kasle's claims as baseless and demanded proof. Kasle was suspended earlier while serving as a sub-inspector in the local cyber crime department. Deshmukh, the sarpanch of Massajog village, was abducted and killed last December allegedly for attempting to stop extortion targeting an energy company. Karad is among eight individuals arrested in connection with the murder and charged under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA). The state Crime Investigation Department (CID) filed a chargesheet in the case last month. Kasle's claims come amidst ongoing investigations into the custodial death of Badlapur sexual assault case accused Akshay Shinde. Kasle has demanded a central government SIT to investigate Shinde's death, believing it will reveal the truth.

Why did Maharashtra cut cricket security fees?

Why did Maharashtra cut cricket security fees?

Rediff.com12 Nov 2024

The Bombay High Court on Tuesday questioned the justification behind reducing and waiving police protection charges levied during cricket matches in Maharashtra with a retrospective effect from the year 2011, and said "something is amiss".

Stringent MCOCA invoked in Baba Siddique murder case

Stringent MCOCA invoked in Baba Siddique murder case

Rediff.com30 Nov 2024

It is important to note that confessions made to the police under MCOCA are admissible as evidence in court. It is also difficult to secure bail under the MCOCA.

Uttarkashi floods: 2 bodies recovered, fear grows for trapped

Uttarkashi floods: 2 bodies recovered, fear grows for trapped

Rediff.com6 Aug 2025

Landslides blocked arterial roads leading up to Dharali where dozens of people were trapped and many homes and cars swept away by the raging waters on Tuesday. Eleven Army personnel from the nearby camp in Harsil were among those missing.

Salman's House Is Now Bulletproof!

Salman's House Is Now Bulletproof!

Rediff.com7 Jan 2025

In the wake of the firing incident that occurred outside his Mumbai residence over eight months ago, Salman Khan has opted for a security upgrade.

Wife reveals Beed sarpanch was threatened by...

Wife reveals Beed sarpanch was threatened by...

Rediff.com13 Jan 2025

Sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh was threatened by some unidentified persons days before his murder following a quarrel at a windmill company, his wife claimed on Monday.

Maha police may invoke MCOCA in Beed sarpanch murder case

Maha police may invoke MCOCA in Beed sarpanch murder case

Rediff.com2 Jan 2025

Police are examining the past records of the arrested men in the sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh murder case and a related case of extortion to decide if the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) should be invoked, sources said on Thursday. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said he had requested senior lawyer Ujjwal Nikam to appear as a special prosecutor in the murder case. The Crime Investigation Department (CID) has sought old case papers and chargesheets against the arrested men. Deshmukh, the sarpanch of Massajog village in Beed, was abducted and brutally killed on December 9, allegedly for opposing an extortion bid by some persons who had demanded money from a windmill company. Beed Police has put up posters seeking information about whereabouts of three wanted accused in the murder case. CM Fadnavis said he spoke to BJP MLA from Beed, Suresh Dhas who demanded that Nikam be appointed as special public prosecutor in the case. Nikam was a special public prosecutor in several high-profile cases, including the 26/11 terror attacks and 1993 Mumbai bomb blasts. Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar claimed that "smaller fish" could be killed in fake encounters to save the "big fish" involved in the Deshmukh murder and extortion cases. Leader of Opposition in the Maharashtra legislative council Ambadas Danve said the trial in the case should be conducted outside Beed district. NCP leader Dhananjay Munde, who has come under fire after the alleged involvement of his aide Karad in the extortion matter came to light, said those who murdered Santosh Deshmukh should be tried in a fast-track court and "hanged till death." The government on Wednesday set up a 10-member SIT to probe the case, headed by Deputy Inspector General -CID Basavraj Teli.

'After Quit India, There Could Be No Retreat'

'After Quit India, There Could Be No Retreat'

Rediff.com9 Aug 2025

On the 83rd anniversary of the Quit India movement, Utkarsh Mishra recalls the conditions under which the Congress, led by Mahatma Gandhi, launched the final struggle for independence.

Sarpanch murder: Walmik, two aides seen with suspended cop in video

Sarpanch murder: Walmik, two aides seen with suspended cop in video

Rediff.com21 Jan 2025

A video clip of three accused in an extortion case linked to the murder of sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh, walking together has emerged on social media. The video also shows a suspended police officer in the group accompanying the accused. The video has sparked controversy and raised questions about the involvement of the police in the case. BJP MLA Suresh Dhas has demanded that the suspended police officer be named as a co-accused in the case and that action be taken against other police officers who have been accused of wrongdoing.

Anmol Bishnoi ordered Siddique's murder to create terror: Police

Anmol Bishnoi ordered Siddique's murder to create terror: Police

Rediff.com6 Jan 2025

The crime branch named 29 accused in the 4,590-page charge sheet, including 26 already arrested and three wanted persons, including Anmol Bishnoi, the brother of jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi.

Politicians, builders named in Baba Siddique murder case

Politicians, builders named in Baba Siddique murder case

Rediff.com28 Jan 2025

Former MLA Zeeshan Siddique has named several builders and politicians in his statement to police, alleging their involvement in the murder of his father and NCP leader Baba Siddique. Zeeshan claims that developers were in frequent contact with his father regarding redevelopment projects and that one builder used abusive language towards his father during a meeting. He also alleges a false case was registered against him for opposing a redevelopment project. This information is part of a 4,500-page chargesheet filed by police in connection with Baba Siddique's murder.

2 absconding ISIS sleeper cell members held at Mumbai airport

2 absconding ISIS sleeper cell members held at Mumbai airport

Rediff.com17 May 2025

The two accused had been on the run for more than two years and also had non-bailable warrants issued against them by the NIA special court, Mumbai.

Karad told aides to eliminate anyone who comes in their way: Police

Karad told aides to eliminate anyone who comes in their way: Police

Rediff.com2 Mar 2025

Walmik Karad, a close aide of Maharashtra minister Dhananjay Munde, has been charged with ordering the murder of sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh, who allegedly opposed Karad's extortion bid targeting a wind energy company. According to a chargesheet filed by the state Crime Investigation Department (CID), Karad allegedly asked his associates to "eliminate" anyone who interfered with their extortion attempt. Deshmukh was abducted, tortured, and murdered in December 2024 after he attempted to stop the extortion bid. Karad and several others have been charged with murder, extortion, and organized crime.

Cyberattacks Surge After Operation Sindoor, But India Mounts Strong Defence

Cyberattacks Surge After Operation Sindoor, But India Mounts Strong Defence

Rediff.com22 May 2025

For the first time, the Data Security Council of India assembled a joint task force to source threat intelligence at the origin and ensure coordinated action across the cybersecurity spectrum.

Dates set for Nashik-Trimbakeshwar Simhastha Kumbh Mela 2026

Dates set for Nashik-Trimbakeshwar Simhastha Kumbh Mela 2026

Rediff.com1 Jun 2025

The flag will be taken down on July 24, 2028, which will mark the conclusion of the Simhastha Kumbh Mela, which is held once in 12 years.

Maha court acquits ex-corporator among 6 in extortion, assault cases

Maha court acquits ex-corporator among 6 in extortion, assault cases

Rediff.com3 Jan 2025

A special court in Thane, India, has acquitted six individuals, including a former corporator, in an extortion case. The court cited "lack of evidence" and "procedural lapses" by the prosecution, as well as "unreliable testimonies" of witnesses, as reasons for granting the accused the benefit of doubt.

Slap murder charge on extortion accused: Slain Maha sarpanch's brother

Slap murder charge on extortion accused: Slain Maha sarpanch's brother

Rediff.com13 Jan 2025

Dhananjay Deshmukh, brother of slain Beed sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh, climbed a village water tank on Monday and threatened to jump alleging that information about the investigation was not shared with the family. He demanded that the accused in the extortion case linked to sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh's murder be booked under murder charges. Family members of the slain sarpanch and Opposition leaders are demanding that state minister Dhananjay Munde's aide Walmik Karad, arrested in a related extortion case, be booked for murder. Santosh Deshmukh, the sarpanch of Massajog village, was abducted, tortured, and murdered on December 9. Preliminary investigation suggests that the sarpanch had tried to thwart an extortion bid on an energy firm operating a windmill project in the region. After climbing down the water tank, Dhananjay told reporters that he trusted Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis' assurance on the probe. He further said his agitation was not a drama but a serious yearning for justice for his brother.

Dhananjay Munde resigns hours after photos of Deshmukh murder go viral

Dhananjay Munde resigns hours after photos of Deshmukh murder go viral

Rediff.com5 Mar 2025

Beleaguered Maharashtra minister Dhananjay Munde resigned from the cabinet on Tuesday, days after his close aide Walmik Karad was named as the mastermind in the murder of a village sarpanch and three months after the new Mahayuti government assumed office.

Sarpanch murder: Munde's aide booked under MCOCA, supporters create ruckus

Sarpanch murder: Munde's aide booked under MCOCA, supporters create ruckus

Rediff.com14 Jan 2025

Walmik Karad, an aide to Maharashtra Nationalist Congress Party minister Dhananjay Munde, was on Tuesday charged under the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) and remanded to 14 days of judicial custody in an extortion case allegedly linked to the murder of sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh.

Scared tourists flee Kashmir, airlines increase flight services

Scared tourists flee Kashmir, airlines increase flight services

Rediff.com23 Apr 2025

Thousands of tourists have begun leaving Kashmir after a terror attack in Pahalgam killed 26 people, prompting authorities to arrange for their safe return. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah expressed concern over the exodus, while the Civil Aviation Ministry has ordered airlines to ensure there are no fare hikes and to offer extra flights from Srinagar. While many tourists are leaving, some are choosing to stay, citing the presence of security forces and their feeling of safety.