Maharashtra plans new policy to make domicile certificate mandatory for driving licence from August 2026, alongside efforts to regulate bike taxi services for revenue and job creation.
BEST employees continued their strike in Mumbai for a second day, causing significant disruption to public transport despite appeals from the Maharashtra Transport Minister and the invocation of MESMA. Commuters were forced to rely on alternative, overcrowded transport options, while the striking unions maintained their demands for budget merger, improved pay, and absorption of contractual workers.
The Maharashtra government has issued a circular directing authorities to invoke the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) against individuals, gangs, and organisations repeatedly involved in cattle smuggling.
The Maharashtra excise department has arrested over 210 people and registered 313 cases in a five-day crackdown on illicit liquor manufacturing and sales in Thane, Palghar, and Raigad districts. This intensified action follows the Pune hooch tragedy, which claimed at least 15 lives, leading to the seizure of property worth Rs 1.58 crore and the suspension of 22 police and excise personnel.
The Maharashtra excise department has arrested over 210 people and registered 313 cases in a five-day crackdown on illicit liquor manufacturing and sales in Thane, Palghar, and Raigad districts. This intensified action follows the Pune hooch tragedy, which claimed at least 15 lives, leading to the seizure of property worth Rs 1.58 crore and the suspension of 22 police and excise personnel.
Police in Thane, Maharashtra, seized 25,000 litres of diesel worth Rs 24.5 lakh from a tanker transporting the fuel illegally. A case has been registered against eight people, including the tanker owner and driver.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Police in Beed, Maharashtra, have dismantled a liquor smuggling operation, arresting one individual and seizing liquor worth Rs 1.17 lakh.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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).
Police in Maharashtra's Beed district conducted a raid on sand mafia in Georai tehsil, seizing equipment and vehicles worth Rs 13 lakh.
The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has suspended the food business licences of six restaurants and eateries in Mumbai, including a posh establishment in Nariman Point. The action followed raids that uncovered unhygienic kitchens, expired stock, misbranded products, and pest infestations. The FDA also seized banned food items and made arrests during a wider statewide enforcement drive, vowing continued strict action.
What remained at Shivaji Park was not Gen Z anger but of momentum -- a generation that had, in its own telling, made an emperor bow, and intends to keep singing and meme-ing about it.
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.
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.
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.
Police in Kaij, Maharashtra, seized illegal liquor worth over 1.5 lakh from a vehicle transporting it without a valid permit.
Police in Chhattisgarh's Mohla-Manpur-Ambagarh Chowki district seized 800 boxes of illicit liquor worth Rs 50.28 lakh from a truck attempting to smuggle the consignment into Maharashtra. The driver was arrested, and an investigation is underway to uncover the full smuggling network.
Mumbai and Pune are grappling with severe monsoon weather, triggering an 'orange' alert, widespread disruptions, school closures, and tragic fatalities from landslides and wall collapses.
Monsoon rains have unleashed widespread destruction across India, claiming seven lives in Himachal Pradesh and Karnataka due to landslides and floods, while heavy downpours have disrupted normal life and triggered red alerts in Maharashtra and other regions.
Two police officers in Jalna, Maharashtra, have been arrested by the Anti-Corruption Bureau for allegedly accepting a bribe from a sand truck owner.
Authorities in Nanded, Maharashtra, conducted a joint operation against illegal sand mining along the Godavari river, seizing and destroying equipment worth Rs 30 lakh. The raid, led by the Nanded collector, also resulted in the confiscation of 125 brass of illegally mined sand and the apprehension of four individuals involved in illegal transport.
Heavy monsoon rains have severely impacted Mumbai and its surrounding areas, leading to landslides, suspension of train services, and at least 13 fatalities over the past few days. The Mumbai-Pune Expressway was also shut due to a concrete pillar collapse and waterlogging.
Employees of the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) continued their strike for the 15th day on Thursday over the demand for merger of the cash-strapped corporation with the state government, despite an appeal from Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray to cooperate with the government in its effort to resolve their issues.
