Page 67 - Maharashtra

2018 arms haul case: HC grants bail to 5 accused citing lack of evidence

The Bombay High Court has granted bail to five persons arrested by the Maharashtra Anti Terrorism Squad (ATS) in connection with a 2018 arms haul case and for allegedly conspiring to attack the Sunburn festival in Pune, citing prima facie insufficient evidence to prove the conspiracy charge. A division bench of Justices Bharati Dangre and Manjusha Deshpande, in the order of July 30, also took note of the long incarceration of the accused persons with bleak chances of the trial ending soon. The ATS arrested five persons in 2018 after it seized arms, ammunition and explosives from the residence of two other accused in the Nallasopara area of Thane district. The ATS had claimed the arms and explosives were to be used to target the Sunburn festival in Pune in December 2017. The bench perused the witness statements and other evidence submitted by the prosecution in its chargesheet and said they were "insufficient". "We have prima facie formed an opinion that these statements are ...

Sunkind Energy secures 20 MW solar projects in Punjab, Maharashtra

Clean energy company Sunkind Energy on Monday said it has secured new solar power projects totalling around 20 megawatts (MW). The contracts have been awarded by Nahar Group and Jindal Group, the company said in a statement. For Nahar Group, the company said it will set up a capacity of 7.3 MW in Ludhiana, Punjab, for captive purposes and a 19.6 MW captive solar project for Jindal Group in Nashik, Maharashtra. Both projects will be set up in engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) mode. The company aims to complete these contracts by September 2024, Sunkind Energy founder and CEO Hanish Gupta said. The company did not provide any financial details of the project. As per industry estimates, 1 MW of solar projects involves an investment of around Rs 5-7 crore, including land cost. Gurugram-based Sunkind Energy is a leading EPC solar company in the country, having a total orderbook of 52 MW solar projects under various stages of implementation.

Ajit Pawar to kick off NCP's Jan Samman Yatra from Nashik on Aug 8

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar will begin the Jan Samman Yatra, an outreach programme of the ruling NCP ahead of the state assembly election, from Dindori in Nashik district on August 8, his party announced on Monday. Speaking at a press conference, NCP working president Praful Patel said the Ajit Pawar-led party and its allies in the ruling Mahayuti, BJP and Shiv Sena, have to fight the upcoming election together and win. The NCP put up a united front, with the entire top leadership, including Patel, senior leader Chhagan Bhujbal, and cabinet ministers and MLAs, remaining present at the press conference, where the yatra schedule was announced. The NCP leadership has insisted that the Jan Samman Yatra was not limited to constituencies of NCP MLAs. Party leaders will also visit seats held by allies Shiv Sena and BJP, as the party wishes to present a united face of Mahayuti, they said. Patel said Pawar would meet NCP workers to boost their confidence and find time for

Param Bir targeted me at Fadnavis' behest, says Deshmukh; BJP denies

Former Maharashtra home minister Anil Deshmukh on Monday claimed Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis had tried to save ex-Mumbai police commissioner Param Bir Singh from arrest by asking him to level allegations against Deshmukh to topple the MVA government. The BJP dismissed the charges, saying it was a strategy to defame Fadnavis, and asked how could a leader who was then in opposition ask a police officer for such a thing. When the Uddhav Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) was in power in 2021, NCP (SP) leader Deshmukh resigned as home minister after Singh accused him of setting a target to collect Rs 100 crore a month from bars and restaurants. Deshmukh has also claimed that dismissed police officer Sachin Waze was levelling allegations against him at the behest of Fadnavis. Waze is accused of planting gelatin sticks outside industrialist Mukesh Ambani's residence 'Antilia' in February 2021 and is also booked for the related murder of businessman Mansukh Hiran, the owner of the ...

Despite heavy rain, avg water level in reservoirs remains less than last yr

Despite heavy rain across the country, the average water level in India's 150 main reservoirs remains less than last year but more than the last decade's level, according to official data. According to the Central Water Commission, significant variations in water storage levels across different regions of the country reflect both positive and concerning trends. The total live storage capacity of the 150 monitored reservoirs is 178.784 billion cubic metres (BCM), which is about 69.35 per cent of the estimated 257.812 BCM created nationwide. According to a CWC report, the live storage available in these reservoirs stands at 91.496 BCM, or 51 per cent of their total capacity. This is 94 per cent of the storage levels recorded during the same period last year and 107 per cent of the normal storage based on the last decade's average. In comparison to the previous week, as per the July 25 bulletin, the live storage available in these reservoirs was 69.27 BCM, which was 39 per cent of the

Maharashtra polls: MNS to contest Worli seat against Aaditya Thackeray

With the lead of Shiv Sena (UBT) candidate falling to less than 7,000 in Worli in the recent Lok Sabha polls, the MNS senses an opportunity and is likely to field Sandeep Deshpande from this assembly seat currently held by Aaditya Thackeray. A home to some of India's wealthiest residents, Worli, part of Mumbai South Lok Sabha constituency, is marked by high-rises and thriving business hubs. However, it also contains dilapidated chawls awaiting redevelopment, such as the BDD chawls and police colonies. Many slum rehabilitation projects are stalled, and some redeveloped buildings have not provided the promised monthly rentals to residents. On Saturday, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) president Raj Thackeray met Chief Minister Eknath Shinde to discuss issues plaguing Worli. The meeting is significant, given the focus on Worli-related concerns. Following the meeting, Shinde directed officials to prioritise addressing Worli's issues, according to the Chief Minister's Office. MNS leade

IMD issues red alert for Maharashtra, MP; orange alert for Kerala, Himachal

IMD weather update: The IMD said heavy rainfall is expected in Himachal Pradesh, Kerala, Uttarakhand, Konkan, Goa, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Assam, and Meghalaya

Ghatkopar reminder: Thane hoarding collapse injures three amid new rules

A billboard fell in the Kalyan area of Thane district of Maharashtra amid heavy rainfall, three months after a similar incident claimed the lives of 17 in Mumbai's Ghatkopar

Congress protests caste remarks against Rahul, seeks apology from BJP

The Congress in Maharashtra on Thursday held state-wide protests against the BJP over its Lok Sabha MP Anurag Thakur's controversial remarks making apparent reference about Leader of Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi's caste in Parliament. Thakur's comments on Gandhi were an insult to Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs) and OBC communities, said the opposition party. State Congress president Nana Patole sought an apology from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP over the comments. Talking to reporters in Mumbai during the protest, Patole said, "Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi is raising his voice for the rights of backward communities. He has been demanding a caste-based census. In retaliation, a BJP MP asked Rahul Gandhi about his caste in the Lok Sabha." "By asking about his caste, the BJP not only insulted Rahul Gandhi but also disrespected SCs, STs, Nomadic Tribes and OBC communities," contended the Congress leader. Patole said not only are ...

India likely to receive above normal rainfall in second half of 2024: IMD

IMD monsoon forecast: Southern and central regions recorded more than average rainfall while east and north-east India recorded 23.3 per cent less rainfall in July

Toyota, Maharashtra set wheels in motion for Rs 20,000 crore plant

Plan to roll out 400,000 electric, hybrid cars a year

Toyota to set up mfg plant in Maharashtra; likely to invest Rs 20k cr

Automaker Toyota Kirloskar Motor on Wednesday said it will set up a new manufacturing plant in Maharashtra at an investment of around Rs 20,000 crore. The company has inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Maharashtra government to examine the setting up of a greenfield manufacturing facility at Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar, Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) said in a statement. Headquartered in Karnataka, TKM already has two manufacturing units located at Bidadi near Bengaluru. In Karnataka, the automaker, including its group companies, has invested more than Rs 16,000 crore and created close to 86,000 jobs in the entire value chain, it said. Toyota's cumulative export contributions also stand at around Rs 32,000 crore thus representing the company's export focus, it added. "Today's MoU signing marks a pivotal point as we stride into the next phase of growth in the country enabling us to contribute to enriching lives with qualitative mobility solutions locally and globally,"

In big relief to law graduates, SC caps advocate enrolment fee at Rs 700

The Supreme Court has said that the current enrolment fee structure charged by the state bar councils is unreasonable as it causes excessive financial burdens on young law graduates

Bank of Maharashtra likely to issue maiden infra bonds to raise Rs 3,000 cr

Earlier this month, the bank had raised Rs 1,000 cr via Basel III compliant tier II bonds maturing in 10 years at a coupon of 7.89 per cent

Maha Rains: Over 5,000 persons shifted in Kolhapur; rivers rise in Sangli

More than 5800 people were relocated after the Panchganga river started flowing above the danger mark in western Maharashtra's Kolhapur district, an official said on Friday.The water level of Panchaganga river at Rajaram Wier was 46.4 feet at noon, well above the danger mark of 43 feet, he said. Talking to PTI, Kolhapur collector Amol Yedge said the district administration has started relocating people from the affected areas of Sutarwada and Kumbharwada in the city. The administration has relocated people from Chikhli and Ambewadi in Karveer tehsil and some villages in Hatkalangane, Shirol and Ichalkarangi tehsils, he said. As per the details shared by the district administration, more than 5800 people (around 1379 families ) have been relocated to safety from Karveer, Panhala, Hatkalangane, Bhudargad, Gadhinglaj, Chandgad, Ichalkaranji, Kolhapur city, Shahuwadi and Kagal. "Though the India Meteorological Department has issued an orange alert for the district, the rains have ...

6 dead in Maharashtra amid heavy rainfall; IMD issues 'red' alert in state

Heavy rainfall in Mumbai resulted in the cancellation of 11 flights and the diversion of 10 others to nearby airports on Thursday

Maharashtra govt asks K'taka to release more water from Almatti dam

In view of heavy rainfall in parts of western Maharashtra, the state government has urged Karnataka to release more water from Almatti dam to avoid flooding in Sangli and Kolhapur districts, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar said on Thursday. Almatti dam, officially known as Lal Bahadur Shastri dam, is a hydroelectric project on the Krishna river in north Karnataka. Speaking to reporters, he said, "The Maharashtra government has asked Karnataka to increase the water discharge from Almatti dam to three lakh cusec from the current outflow of 2.5 lakh cusec." The water storage of Koyna dam in Maharashtra's Satara district increased by six thousand million cubic feet (TMC) in a very short period, and it is already 75 per cent filled, he said. "It means, we need to discharge water from Koyna dam, which will increase the water levels of Krishna river," he said. Koyna dam is built on the Koyna river and its storage capacity is 105 TMC. The Koyna river is the biggest tributary of the ...

Make public clips of my alleged remarks against Pawar, Uddhav: Deshmukh

Senior NCP (SP) leader Anil Deshmukh on Thursday dared Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to make public the video clips against him purportedly showing him speaking against NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar and Shiv Sena (UBT) president Uddhav Thackeray. Addressing a press conference here, Deshmukh said, "Fadnavis should make the video clips public because I know he possesses none." Deshmukh also showed a pen drive saying that it contains evidence about the allegations he made against Fadnavis. He reiterated his allegation that three years ago, he was pressured by BJP leader Fadnavis to make an affidavit and level false allegations against Uddhav Thackeray, Ajit Pawar, Aaditya Thackeray and Anil Parab. When asked about the pen drive in his hand, Deshmukh said it contains proof of his allegations against Fadnavis. "If I am challenged, I will reveal the video evidence I have. I don't speak without proof," he said. On Wednesday, Deshmukh alleged that an 'intermediary' of Fadnavis ..

IMD issues 'yellow' alert for Mumbai; Andheri subway shut, trains delayed

Mumbai rains: Regional Meteorological Centre said heavy rainfall is expected at isolated locations in the North Madhya Maharashtra and Marathwada regions of the state on Thursday

Conspicuous by absence: Three things that were missing in Budget 24 speech

In Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's Budget 2024 speech, three points that did not feature, stood out for their absence