Mumbai: In a significant step towards resolving labour issues at the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) undertaking, the Maharashtra government on Friday constituted a five-member committee to examine the demands raised by the BEST Joint Workers’ Action Committee and other employee unions and recommend corrective measures.The panel, which includes BEST General Manager Sonia Sethi and Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) Commissioner Ashwini Bhide, has been asked to conduct a comprehensive review of the unions’ demands and submit its recommendations to the state government within 15 days.The committee was formed following the recent industrial action threatened by employee unions, which had announced an indefinite strike from June 18 over a range of service, recruitment and financial issues. The government’s move is aimed at defusing labour unrest while addressing structural and financial challenges confronting Mumbai’s public transport and power utility.A key focus area for the committee will be employee-related concerns, including wage settlements, pending dues of retired and separated workers, recruitment policies and the possible regularisation or absorption of contract workers engaged by BEST. The panel will also study statutory provisions under the Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act, 1888, while examining the legal and financial implications of these demands.The committee has additionally been tasked with assessing the feasibility of merging BEST’s standalone ‘C’ Budget with the BMC’s main ‘A’ Budget, a long-standing demand that has resurfaced amid concerns over the utility’s financial sustainability.Beyond labour issues, the panel will review measures to strengthen the undertaking’s operational capabilities. These include expanding BEST’s owned bus fleet, securing financial support from the BMC, and evaluating redevelopment proposals for BEST depot properties. It will also examine objections raised by trade unions regarding the long-term leasing or redevelopment of BEST-owned land and assets.Another important aspect of the review will be identifying avenues to enhance BEST’s revenue generation and improve its financial health, reducing its dependence on external support.The Urban Development Department will coordinate the committee’s functioning, while technical experts and specialists may be invited to assist in its deliberations. The committee’s recommendations are expected to play a crucial role in shaping the future of BEST and its workforce, while ensuring sustainable public transport and power services for Mumbai.

MUMBAI: “Mumbai ki police, Delhi ki police jaisi nahi hai,” said Rhiya Ahir, the woman who stood in front of a moving police van in Mumbai on Wednesday, stopping it for nearly 40 minutes as it carried detained protesters during a CJP demonstration.Dressed in a rain-soaked grey hoodie, Rhiya stood with her arms outstretched in front of the vehicle, refusing to let it move. The van was carrying protesters detained during demonstrations held in solidarity with the Cockroach Janta Party’s (CJP) agitation over alleged examination irregularities and the police crackdown on protesters in Delhi.Rhiya said she was prepared for the possibility of being detained herself but decided to intervene after seeing the situation. “I thought they might drag me away too, but then I looked around and realized there wasn’t even any space left, so where would they have kept me?” she said.She admitted that she was scared after the incident and could not sleep until 5.30 am. “I was definitely worried about my family. But when I told them that the police might come, they simply said, ‘So what? We’ll handle it. We’ll get through it,’” she said.Rhiya said the support of her family gave her the confidence to stand up for what she believed was right. “When you have such a courageous and supportive family — one that stands up for what is right and speaks against what is wrong — it gives you immense strength,” she added.She also said she did not want the protest to be linked to any particular political party. “I believe that if something is being done for students, then it is only natural that students will support it. That is why I do not want to associate myself with the rally of any particular political party, because then it becomes identified with that party’s ideology,” she said.“If a march is being held for the rights of students, it should be seen as a students’ movement, not as something belonging to one political party or another,” Rhiya added.She also urged students facing problems during protests to reach out to her. “If any student faces any issues during the protest, please call me or get in touch with me. I have lawyers who can help,” she said.

Mumbai’s bonsai enthusiasts cultivate a quiet art form within the city. This community meets regularly to share knowledge and techniques for shaping trees. Bonsai practice teaches patience and a deep appreciation for nature’s rhythms. Members find an emotional connection and therapeutic benefits in this living art. The circle ensures the survival of this unique craft through collective nurturing.

On a quiet weekday afternoon in Juhu, while Mumbai raced through traffic snarls and deadline dashes, a group of people gathered around something far more patient: bonsai trees no taller than a coffee table. Clippers in hand, stories on their lips, and soil under their nails, these bonsai lovers were tending to miniature forests and, in the process, to themselves. A community rooted in calm What began years ago as an interest in a niche of horticultural art has grown into a close-knit community of enthusiasts who meet regularly prune, wire, repot, and talk. The sessions are equal parts technique and therapy. “Bonsai teaches you to pause,” says Harsha Hinduja, a bonsai lover for the last two decades, gently adjusting the wire on a ficus. “In a city like Mumbai, we are conditioned to rush. With bonsai, you learn that growth cannot be forced, it has to be guided with care and patience. It takes eight to 10 years for a plant to begin being a bonsai. Taking care of a bonsai teaches you discipline, patience and expresses your creativity.” The Bonsai lovers community meet on the third Thursday every month at members’ homes across the city, ensuring that the learning remains informal and hands-on. “Sometimes we get Bonsai experts from abroad like Sir Peter Chan, from England, come over to teach us the techniques and those classes go on for the whole day,” says Harsha. Tiny trees, big conversations As the group gathers around a 12-year-old bonsai, discussions drift seamlessly from root structure to monsoon care, and from travel plans to favourite trees. Urvashi Thacker, who has been among the founding members of this bonsai community, says, “Bonsai is not about perfection. It’s about observation, empathy, and continuity. When we share knowledge, we ensure the art survives beyond us.” She adds, “A complete bonsai is a work of alive art, like a painting, but because it is a living thing, you have to keep nurturing it.” Dr Sangita Chadha, physiotherapist from Lokhandwala, who has been into this art for the last decade says, “I’ve always been passionate about gardening and bonsai is such a pleasure. These are my pets and babies. Now, I appreciate the big trees and nature’s beauty even more.”

Bonsai is the ultimate lesson in control and surrender Rusi Bharucha, an engineer and artist who uses the Jin and shari techniques in bonsai says, “These techniques done with special tools and an eclectic saw creates the appearance of extreme age and natural, weathered beauty on mature bonsais that are over 35- 40 years old.” He adds, “Bonsai is the ultimate lesson in control and surrender. You shape the tree, yes, but you also have to accept its natural rhythm. That balance has changed how I look at life outside this room.” Urvashi says,” Our’s is a community dedicated to sharing knowledge, fostering interest, and helping each other grow in this rewarding pursuit.” Passing it on, one sapling at a time What sets this community apart is its eagerness to welcome newcomers. First-timers are encouraged to bring their plants, ask questions, and even make mistakes. Ami Shah, a sculpture artist, says, “I am relatively new to this bonsai community but have always found that everyone here is extremely helpful, and really encouraging. There is no gatekeeping here, no politics. Even for the mistakes I’ve made, instead of judgment, I always got guidance and help, and that keeps you coming back.” Harsha believes this openness is key to sustaining the art form. “Bonsai is not about perfection,” she says. “It’s about observation, empathy, and continuity. When we share knowledge, we ensure the art survives beyond us.”

The woman, identified as Rhiya Ahir, remained in front of the van for around 40 minutes. (Image Credit: X, widely circulated by multiple users)

MUMBAI: A young woman in a rain-soaked grey hoodie stood with her arms outstretched in front of a police van, refusing to let it move.Inside the vehicle were protesters detained during demonstrations in Mumbai on Wednesday, held in solidarity with the Cockroach Janta Party’s (CJP) agitation over alleged examination irregularities and the police crackdown on protesters in Delhi.The woman, identified as Rhiya Ahir, remained in front of the van for around 40 minutes.Ahir said she had been waiting for friends before joining the protest when she noticed the police vehicle carrying detained protesters. She asked officers whether they had the required paperwork to detain those inside.Unsatisfied with the response, she first walked alongside the moving van. When she could no longer keep pace, she stepped directly into its path.“The driver revved the engine,” Ahir recalled, saying the possibility of being detained or injured crossed her mind. But she refused to move until the protesters were released.“I knew one thing,” she said. “If I had started this, I had to end it.”‘They tried to accelerate and scare me’Speaking after the incident, the 27-year-old said she could not accept seeing people being treated like criminals for protesting.“They tried to accelerate and scare me, but I did not back down,” Ahir said. “If I don’t do this, I will feel guilty for doing nothing.”She also questioned the authorities’ handling of the protests in Delhi.“While the police are doing their job, they are not doing it responsibly. If no one is taking responsibility, we will take responsibility for our citizens.”“I am not a student, my father is not a farmer, nor am I. I am not a Dalit or belong to the OBC community, but what they did to the students (in Delhi) is wrong. They have to own up to their actions.”Questioning the government’s response, she asked why, if protesters were not allowed to march to Parliament, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan had not met them at the protest site.‘The system has failed us’Ahir said her decision to intervene went beyond the issue of examination irregularities, describing it as a response to wider social concerns.“The system has failed us in so many ways—from senior citizens to animals,” she said. “This is about all the marginalised, right down to the Dalit sanitation workers who clean the city’s filth for a pittance.”She also said younger generations were no longer willing to remain silent.“We are not scared to raise our voice,” Ahir said. “We have to start a wave that they cannot ignore.”‘I wanted to know if there is victory beyond fear’Ahir said her decision to stand in front of the police van was also a personal test of courage.“I wanted to find out for myself because I feel that everyone carries some kind of fear within them. I wanted to know whether the saying ‘there is victory beyond fear’ is really true.”She said she had not anticipated the events that followed but believed the experience had answered that question.“I definitely didn’t expect everything that happened, but I can now say that there is indeed victory beyond fear.”Recalling the moments before the protest, Ahir said she had arrived intending to participate but was waiting for friends who never made it in time.“I had come specifically to be a part of this protest. I was waiting for my friends, but they got delayed and couldn’t make it. As I listened to the slogans, I thought to myself, ‘Why am I wasting my time? I should be there.'”She added that Mumbai’s traffic and parking challenges often make it difficult for people to reach demonstrations on time.“In Mumbai, traffic is a major issue, and finding parking is difficult. Because of that, you end up missing half the protest anyway…”‘My family told me: We’ll get through it’Ahir said she knew there was a possibility she could also be detained by the police.“I thought they might drag me away too, but then I looked around and realized there wasn’t even any space left, so where would they have kept me?”She admitted the experience left her shaken after returning home.“I won’t deny that I was scared last night. I didn’t fall asleep until 5.30 am. I was definitely worried about my family.”However, she said her family’s response strengthened her resolve.“But when I told them that the police might come, they simply said, ‘So what? We’ll handle it. We’ll get through it.'”“When you have such a courageous and supportive family—one that stands up for what is right and speaks against what is wrong—it gives you immense strength. That kind of support gives you the confidence to face any situation.”The video that went viralVideos of the confrontation spread widely on social media, with many showing Ahir standing in front of the police van as fellow demonstrators raised slogans in the rain, bringing traffic to a standstill.Another widely shared clip showed protesters chasing a police van and opening its rear door from the outside, allowing detained demonstrators to climb out while the vehicle was moving.Other videos from the protests captured residents cheering demonstrators from balconies despite the heavy rain, while another clip from Dadar showed protesters making way for children to reach a school bus.Who is Rhiya Ahir?According to her Instagram profile, Rhiya Ahir is an actor, model and entrepreneur with around one lakh followers on the platform.She has appeared in music videos, including Dilbara.Mumbai protests and police actionPolitical parties, activists and students staged protests across Mumbai for a third consecutive day on Wednesday over alleged examination irregularities and the police action against protesters in Delhi.According to Mumbai Police, 13 FIRs have been registered since July 18, with over 400 people booked on charges including unlawful assembly and violation of prohibitory orders.Police said demonstrations were held at several locations, including Shivaji Park, Chaityabhoomi, Chembur and Shiv Sena Bhavan, without permission.Meanwhile, prohibitory orders banning the assembly of five or more people in public places remain in force across Mumbai from July 23 to August 6, with police citing concerns over a possible breach of peace and public tranquillity.(With inputs from agencies)

The DRI told the court that investigations are continuing to identify other members of the syndicate, trace the source of the gold

Mumbai: The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), Mumbai Zonal Unit, has arrested five persons, including a Dubai-bound passenger and two airport cleaning staff, after busting an alleged gold smuggling syndicate at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport and seizing 3.866 kg of smuggled gold dust in wax form valued at ₹5.63 crore.According to the DRI’s remand application filed before a Mumbai court, the operation was launched after officers received specific intelligence that passenger Mohamed Urwa, arriving from Dubai on Emirates flight EK504 on July 22, would conceal smuggled gold inside the aircraft, which would later be retrieved by airport housekeeping staff.DRI officers intercepted Urwa after he disembarked around 12.30 pm and kept surveillance on the aircraft. As the cleaning crew entered the aircraft, officers observed two AGH Port Aviation Services employees, Rajesh Manjrekar and Zaheer Qureshi, leaving the aircraft after about 15-20 minutes. They were intercepted and taken to the Customs camp office for examination.During the personal search of Qureshi, officers allegedly recovered two unusually heavy black pouches from his trouser pockets. After removing black adhesive tape, the pouches were found to contain gold dust in wax form. A government-approved valuer certified the recovered material as 24-carat gold, weighing 3,866 grams gross (3,760 grams net) and valued at ₹5,63,62,400.During interrogation, Qureshi allegedly told investigators that he had retrieved the pouches from a concealed location inside the aircraft lavatory on the instructions of supervisor Rajesh Manjrekar. Manjrekar allegedly admitted that he was working for a handler identified as Mohammed Ajhar Kazi alias Aamir, who had instructed him to supervise the recovery of smuggled gold from aircraft toilets in return for money.Following a controlled operation, DRI officers intercepted Ajhar outside the airport. He allegedly disclosed that he was working under the instructions of Mohammed Ahmed alias Mustaf, who was also apprehended the same day.The agency stated that statements of all five accused were recorded under Section 108 of the Customs Act, in which they allegedly admitted their respective roles in handling smuggled foreign-origin gold.According to DRI, had the gold been imported legally through the baggage route, customs duty of approximately ₹2.48 crore would have been payable. The agency alleged that the smuggling attempt resulted in duty evasion well above the statutory threshold prescribed under the Customs Act.The DRI told the court that investigations are continuing to identify other members of the syndicate, trace the source of the gold, examine alleged hawala transactions, identify the ultimate beneficiaries, and uncover the complete international smuggling network. It argued that the accused could influence witnesses, tamper with evidence, or coordinate with absconding conspirators if released.All five accused have been arrested under Sections 104 and 135 of the Customs Act, 1962. Their lawyer Ravi Hirani said that his clients were unaware the gold was smuggled one. The DRI has sought 14 days’ judicial custody, stating that the case involves an organised international gold smuggling syndicate and requires further investigation.