India A has announced its squads for the upcoming home series against England, featuring T20Is, ODIs, and a multi-day match. Anushka Sharma will captain the limited-overs teams, while Minnu Mani leads the multi-day squad. The series will be played in Pune and Mumbai, starting November 30.
In Pune, 31 prominent Ganapati mandals celebrated a "DJ-free" Dahi Handi, advocating for traditional instruments over high-decibel sound systems for upcoming festivals like Ganeshotsav. This initiative, led by Punit Balan, aims to preserve Maharashtra's cultural heritage and reduce noise pollution, gaining support from around 200 mandals and the Chief Minister.
Counting is underway for elections to five constituencies in the Maharashtra Legislative Council, with the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance currently leading in three seats and the Opposition NCP (SP) ahead in two. Polling for these seats, including Pune Graduates' and Amravati Teachers', took place on October 23, necessitated by the upcoming term expiry of sitting members. Final results are anticipated later today, as candidates like Sudhakar Kohale, Kiran Sarnaik, Kaustubh Gawade, Harshada Deshmukh-Jadhav, and Pratapsinh Patil show significant leads in their respective constituencies.
Chennai is on the verge of being confirmed as the host city for the 2029 Asian Athletics Championships, pending the submission of state government guarantees. This decision was made during the Asian Athletics Association council meeting in Tokyo on Tuesday, marking India's third time hosting the event.
District and sessions courts across several Maharashtra cities, including Pune, Thane, Hingoli, Beed, and Nanded, received email threats of bomb blasts on Monday. This led to evacuations and extensive searches by police and bomb disposal squads. All threats were later declared hoaxes, and investigations are underway to trace the source of these emails.
The ruling Mahayuti and opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi are set for a significant political contest in the Maharashtra Legislative Council elections. Polling for five seats - three Graduates' and two Teachers' constituencies - will be held on Friday, with 182 candidates in the fray. The results, crucial for both alliances, will be declared on October 27.
Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis addressed speculation regarding a merger between NCP factions led by Sharad Pawar and Sunetra Pawar, stating neither had informed the BJP. He also discussed drought relief measures, water management, pollution in Mumbai, and the city's law and order situation, defending the Mumbai Police's actions against criminal gangs.
India all-rounder Prema Rawat has set a new world record for the fastest half-century in women's T20 cricket, achieving the milestone in just 14 balls during a Senior Women's T20 Trophy match in Pune.
A recent scientific study by Dr. Dinesh Amalnerkar and Dr. Ravindra Chaudhari in Pune has demonstrated that a silk-based nanocomposite material, particularly one containing silver nanoparticles, can effectively kill Aedes aegypti mosquito larvae and pupae. This research, published in 'Nature Scientific Reports', offers a promising new approach for dengue control, especially as Pune faces a surge in cases. While showing high mortality rates in lab tests and minimal environmental impact, further field research is needed before large-scale deployment.
Senior NCP leader Praful Patel met NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar at Mumbai's Breach Candy Hospital, stating that despite political differences, their family relations remain strong. They discussed the political situation, and Pawar was in good spirits. This meeting follows the 2023 NCP split and recent developments within the Ajit Pawar faction.
Three-time champion Pankaj Advani and reigning women's champion Anupama Ramachandran will lead a 22-member Indian contingent at the IBSF World Snooker Championships in Indore from November 12 to 21. This event marks the third major championship hosted by the Billiards and Snooker Federation of India as part of its centenary celebrations.
Two Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) workers have been arrested in Pune for allegedly removing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's photograph from a government polytechnic office. The incident occurred during a visit by MNS leader Amit Thackeray, who is also facing a case related to the alleged act. BJP criticised the MNS leader for political immaturity.
A special CBI court in Mumbai on Friday acquitted gangster Chhota Rajan and four others in a 2009 case involving an attempt on the life of Shiv Sena leader Ajay Bhosale in Pune. The attack, which saw assailants open fire on Bhosale's vehicle, was reportedly linked to a property dispute.
Amid swirling rumours of a potential merger between the two Nationalist Congress Party factions, senior leaders are clarifying recent meetings, primarily citing health visits, while political observers debate the future of Maharashtra's political landscape.
Maharashtra's ruling Mahayuti bloc is embroiled in a blame game following its poor performance in the recent Legislative Council polls. The BJP has accused its ally Shiv Sena of non-cooperation, while Shiv Sena leaders defend their actions and one MLA even suggested reinstating Eknath Shinde as Chief Minister, drawing parallels with the Bihar political model.
A social worker in Ulhasnagar, Thane, was allegedly defrauded of Rs 2.5 lakh by a caller impersonating an Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) officer. The caller threatened the victim with terror links and an arrest warrant, coercing him into transferring money. Police have registered a case against three individuals, and an investigation is ongoing.
The India Junior International Grand Prix badminton tournament is set to begin in Pune, featuring 304 players from nine countries, including top junior talents like Dev Ruparelia. The event, organised by the Poona District Metropolitan Badminton Association, offers a total prize money of USD 15,000 and concludes on August 30.
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar, who heads the ruling NCP, met party legislators in Mumbai on Tuesday. The meeting, attended by around 50 MLAs and ministers, aimed to discuss party unity, future election strategies for 2029, and organisational strengthening. This gathering followed a meeting of senior NCP leaders with Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi, which Sunetra Pawar did not attend.
The CBI has arrested a Punjab National Bank (PNB) Office Assistant in Greater Noida and a private individual from Pune in connection with an alleged Rs 10.24 crore fraud at the bank's Pi Sector branch. The fraud involved unauthorised debit transactions from customer accounts, allegedly siphoned off over three years by the assistant, Deepanshi, in connivance with Ashutosh Pathak. The case came to light after a customer reported suspicious transactions, leading to Deepanshi's confession and the discovery of misused core banking solution user IDs.
A special PMLA court in Mumbai has accepted the Enforcement Directorate's closure report in a 2022 money laundering case against Maharashtra minister Hasan Mushrif and his sons. This decision follows the Bombay High Court quashing the linked predicate offenses, which are essential for a PMLA case to proceed.
SC Delhi defeated Inter Kashi 3-0 in an Indian Super League match. Carlos Fortes, Juan Pena, and Rodriguinho scored for SC Delhi, securing all three points despite Inter Kashi's efforts to find a breakthrough.
Lawrence Bishnoi gang member Harichand Jat alias Hari Boxer has been detained in the US by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). He faces multiple cases in Haryana, including murder, and is accused of operating criminal activities from abroad, supplying weapons, and being involved in extortion across several Indian states. Efforts are underway to bring him to India.
NCP (SP) leader Supriya Sule has alleged that the BJP is using pens fitted with spy cameras to record voters in the Maharashtra MLC polls for Pune Teachers' and Graduates' constituencies. She claimed voters were offered money to record their votes for BJP candidates. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis stated he was unaware of such devices. Sule has urged the Election Commission to investigate these serious complaints.
Speculation about a merger between the two factions of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has intensified following a viral video of Praful Patel meeting NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar in hospital. This comes as ruling NCP president Sunil Tatkare revealed that a merger would have occurred in February this year if Ajit Pawar were alive. The meeting and Tatkare's comments have reignited discussions about the future of the NCP.
Maharashtra's ruling Mahayuti alliance is facing internal strife after the NCP accused Shiv Sena MLA Abdul Sattar of actively working against its candidate, Satish Chavan, in the recent Legislative Council elections for the Aurangabad graduates' constituency, leading to Chavan's defeat.
These urad-stuffed puris were made for every festival in Vidhya Pant's home when they were kids.
New CCTV footage from Surat station shows two suspects in the Tiger Shroff firing case rushing to board a Pune-Jaipur express train. The suspects travelled by road from Mumbai to Surat after the gun attack, before being nabbed later at Kota station in Rajasthan. The incident involved gunshots fired at Tiger Shroff's car in Mumbai, injuring his driver and a bystander.
A police aspirant in Maharashtra's Beed district died by suicide after exposing an alleged fake sports certificate scam in police recruitment. He recorded a voice note naming those responsible, leading to an inquiry and a case of abetment against an applicant and a sports association.
Rajasthan Police announced the detention of Harichand Jat alias Hari Boxer, a key member of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Hari Boxer, wanted for extortion, firing incidents, and supplying weapons, was operating from abroad after fleeing India in April 2023. Efforts are underway to extradite him to India.
The Congress candidate's victory in the Nagpur Division Graduates' constituency marks a significant upset for the BJP in the Maharashtra Legislative Council elections.
Police have granted permission for Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's 'Chhatron Ki Goonj' event in Pune, but with 30 stringent conditions, including prohibitions on 'objectionable' banners and directives to avoid hurting religious sentiments.
The All India Tennis Association (AITA) has announced an expanded calendar of 21 international junior tennis tournaments across India in 2027. This initiative aims to provide Indian junior players with more opportunities to earn world ranking points and gain international exposure without extensive overseas travel, aligning with AITA's ACE 2032 vision.
A 25-year-old man has been arrested in Pune district for allegedly sexually assaulting and murdering a nine-year-old girl from his neighbourhood. The incident occurred in Pimpalwadi village, Junnar tehsil, after the accused lured the victim away.
A businessman, Rana Suryavanshi, was injured after being attacked by two individuals near Baramati airport in Pune district on Sunday evening. The attackers, posing as fans, assaulted him, leading to his hospitalisation. The incident has drawn criticism regarding the state's law and order situation from NCP (SP) leader Supriya Sule.
BP Singh, the visionary producer and director behind India's iconic crime series CID and horror show Aahat, passed away at the age of 77, leaving an indelible mark on Indian television.
The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has seized 6,495 kg of food articles valued at Rs 24.92 lakh across the state due to alleged violations of quality and safety norms. The seizures, which included sweets, dry fruits, and milk products, were made during inspections conducted on October 27, with the largest haul in Nagpur.
New CCTV footage from Surat station purportedly shows two suspects in the Tiger Shroff firing case boarding a Pune-Jaipur express train, hours after the attack in Mumbai. Three individuals were later nabbed from a train at Kota station on Monday morning, following a coordinated police operation.
The Enforcement Directorate has arrested four more individuals in connection with an ongoing money laundering investigation into a call centre scam that defrauded US nationals. The scam involved callers posing as US agency officials to intimidate victims into transferring money or assets, with proceeds laundered through cryptocurrency and hawala channels.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has downplayed the controversy surrounding the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's (BMC) deletion of actor Dia Mirza's anti-firecracker video, calling it a "small issue" not at his level. This comes after the Bombay High Court expressed displeasure and asked the BMC to re-upload the clip, which Fadnavis said was within the civic body's discretion.
Police in Beed, Maharashtra, have registered a case against two suspected Nepalese women for allegedly blackmailing a man with intimate video calls and extorting Rs 52 lakh. The victim claims the women used forged documents and might be part of a human trafficking syndicate.
