Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut has criticised Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis's decision to grant a one-year extension to autorickshaw and taxi drivers to learn Marathi, alleging it was due to 'pressure from Delhi' and a message to BJP's ally Shiv Sena.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced a one-year grace period for auto-rickshaw and taxi drivers to learn functional Marathi. This decision comes after the Transport Department issued notices to drivers who failed a Marathi test, prompting driver organisations to request more time due to varying age groups and educational backgrounds. During this period, no action will be taken, and Marathi classes and study materials will be provided.
Maharashtra FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe has directed officials to invoke the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) against gangs involved in the illegal manufacture and sale of gutka and other banned tobacco products. This move aims to treat such activities as serious organised crimes affecting public health, rather than mere regulatory violations, due to the sophisticated nature of the illegal trade.
Maharashtra FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe has directed officials to invoke the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) against gangs involved in the illegal manufacture and sale of gutka and other banned tobacco products. This move aims to treat such activities as serious organised crimes affecting public health, rather than mere regulatory violations, due to the sophisticated nature of the illegal trade.
For its 80th year, Mumbai's Parelcha Raja Narepark pays tribute to Maharashtra's Warkari tradition of worshipping Lord Vitthal with a towering 23 feet Ganesha idol, for which water was brought in from Pandharpur's Chandrabhaga river.
Right-wing activists in Jalna, Maharashtra, intercepted three container trucks carrying a large quantity of meat, suspecting it to be beef. Police have detained the drivers and sent samples for testing.
Widespread fear amongst autorickshaw and taxi drivers over rumoured steep fines linked to a state government Marathi proficiency drive erupted into street protests in parts of Mumbai on Monday, forcing Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to step in and address the panic. During protests, some drivers tried to prevent other members from transporting passengers, inconveniencing common people in the morning hours.
Police in Beed, Maharashtra, have dismantled a liquor smuggling operation, arresting one individual and seizing liquor worth Rs 1.17 lakh.
Abhijit Dipke, founder of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), has challenged ministers and politicians to send their children to village schools for at least a day to truly grasp the difficulties faced by rural students, who often walk several kilometres for education.
Transporters across Maharashtra have announced a statewide strike to protest against e-challans and other issues, potentially disrupting transport services including school buses and commercial vehicles.
Maharashtra Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik has mandated that all commercial passenger vehicle drivers in the state must possess a working knowledge of Marathi, warning of strict action against those who refuse to comply.
Maharashtra's Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has introduced a permanent, year-round food safety calendar to ensure public health during major festivals. This first-of-its-kind initiative categorises festivals into three levels and implements a four-stage inspection mechanism, focusing on preventing adulteration and unsafe food practices for high-demand products like sweets, dairy, and edible oils.
Two police officers in Maharashtra's Beed district have been arrested by the Anti-Corruption Bureau for allegedly demanding and accepting a bribe to allow illegal sand transportation.
Employees of Mumbai's BEST undertaking have launched an indefinite strike, severely impacting public transport and electricity services. The strike, called by a joint action committee, demands budget merger with BMC, settlement of dues, and implementation of the Seventh Pay Commission, among other issues. Despite court orders and MESMA invocation, the strike continues, causing widespread inconvenience to millions of commuters and electricity consumers.
A man in Maharashtra allegedly strangled his partner to death in Kolhapur over suspicion of an affair, then transported her body over 350 km to Thane in a car before being apprehended by police.
Maharashtra excise department seized Indian-Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) manufactured in Goa, valued at Rs 1.43 crore, in Thane city and arrested two persons.
'With factories starting early for the next season, fresh sugar will enter market 10-15 days earlier than usual, and sugar price are expected to remain affordable in near term.'
A 20-year-old man died in Beed district after his motorcycle was struck by an electric bus operated by the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC).
The Gujarat government has imposed a state-wide ban on the production, transportation, and sale of unstandardised analogue paneer, cheese, and butter. Citing public health concerns and the need to protect consumers and the dairy sector, the decision follows detections of substandard artificial dairy products during inspections. Legal action will be taken against violators.
The founders of the Rapido app have been booked in Nagpur for allegedly operating petrol-powered bike taxi services in Maharashtra without the necessary government permissions. A case was registered following a complaint from the Nagpur RTO after a special drive revealed private vehicles were being used commercially without proper licenses, raising concerns about passenger safety and revenue loss for the government.
Abhijeet Dipke, convenor of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), has called for Maharashtra School Education Minister Dada Bhuse's resignation, alleging that government schools are in a 'pitiable condition' and lack basic facilities, claiming 'ministers' dogs get better facilities' than students.
The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration has issued a show-cause notice to actors Shah Rukh Khan, Ajay Devgn and Tiger Shroff over their advertisement for Vimal Elaichi, claiming it prima facie amounts to "indirect or surrogate" promotion of prohibited pan masala and tobacco-related products.
Maharashtra BJP MLC Pravin Darekar announced the launch of 'Devabhau' and 'Chhava' cooperative taxi services in Mumbai, aiming to counter private aggregators and benefit drivers directly, but the scheme has drawn sharp criticism from social activist Anjali Damania and the Opposition Congress over the proposed use of Mumbai Bank funds and its political branding.
India's fresh investment plans in Q1FY27 surged 71 per cent to 14.77 trillion, primarily driven by four large nuclear power projects worth 6.5 trillion, according to investment monitoring firm Projects Today. Excluding these nuclear projects, fresh investment plans actually declined 4.27 per cent quarter-on-quarter.
Police in Maharashtra's Beed district conducted a raid on sand mafia in Georai tehsil, seizing equipment and vehicles worth Rs 13 lakh.
The southwest monsoon has intensified across India, bringing heavy to extremely heavy rainfall and prompting red alerts for several states, alongside concerns over landslides and urban flooding.
Police in Kaij, Maharashtra, seized illegal liquor worth over 1.5 lakh from a vehicle transporting it without a valid permit.
A woman, her paramour, and an accomplice allegedly murdered her husband in Hyderabad for property. The two men then transported his body to Maharashtra and burnt it. The wife initially reported him missing but later confessed to the crime during police investigation.
Two police officers in Jalna, Maharashtra, have been arrested by the Anti-Corruption Bureau for allegedly accepting a bribe from a sand truck owner.
Police in Beed district, Maharashtra, have arrested a woman for allegedly murdering her husband with the help of her sister and brother-in-law, eight months after he was reported missing. Marital discord is believed to be the primary motive behind the crime.
'I've seen a lot of meetings over the years, but this was the first time I've seen the deputy chief minister and the industries minister sit through something like this with 200 to 300 industrialists, local residents and politicians from both the ruling side and Opposition, all in the same room.'
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has received permission from the Bombay High Court to file a civil suit against Meta Platforms, X Corp, Google LLC, and other unknown entities for allegedly circulating 'defamatory' deepfakes and AI-generated content against him.
The Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) undertaking arranged special bus services for students appearing in the NEET re-examination in Mumbai, deploying 60 buses on 24 routes for approximately 180 trips, despite an ongoing strike by its employees that has paralysed public transport.
Despite BEST employees calling off their indefinite strike, Mumbai's bus services remained significantly below normal on Monday morning, with only 57% of the scheduled fleet operational. Commuters experienced long waits, leading many to seek alternative transport. The strike ended after an agreement with Deputy CM Eknath Shinde, which included interim pay hikes and commitments for future improvements and clearing dues.
The India Meteorological Department has issued a red alert for Mumbai, forecasting extremely heavy rainfall and gusty winds over the weekend. The city has already experienced over 100 mm of rain in the last 24 hours, leading to delays in local train services, though public transport remains operational.
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.
Mumbai and its metropolitan region are experiencing severe monsoon rains, leading to widespread waterlogging, transport disruptions, and the closure of schools and colleges. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an 'extremely heavy rainfall' alert, with some areas receiving nearly 200 mm of rain in 12 hours, prompting Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to urge residents to avoid non-essential travel.
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.
Why the industry's public position changed is difficult to say. What the developments did establish, though, is that ethanol-blended petrol has become one of the country's most politically and commercially sensitive policy issues.
Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya led the FIT India Cyclothon in Mumbai, advocating for cycling as a sustainable mode of transportation. The event, attended by Narsingh Yadav and Jackie Shroff, highlighted the importance of cycling for personal health, environmental sustainability, and energy conservation, especially amidst global fuel supply concerns.
