Mumbai: Dismissing an insurer’s appeal against an order of compensation for a mechanic who died during repairs of a tanker at a garage, Bombay High Court has held that a private garage can be considered as ‘public space’ and the vehicle, although stationary, was given for repairs and hence ‘in use’.The insurer argued that since the tanker was stationary in a private garage, it was not in “use” as per the Motor Vehicles Act and the garage was not a “public place”, thus absolving itself of the statutory liability under section 147 of Motor Vehicles Act (MV Act). The section outlines the compulsory requirements and limits of liability for motor vehicle insurance policies.An insurance company had filed an appeal in 2021 against a Motor Accident Claims Tribunal (MACT) order of Aug 2020. MACT had passed an order against the vehicle owner and insurer and directed a payout of over Rs 8 lakh with interest to the kin of the mechanic who died in May 2015 due to a blast while carrying out welding work in a Chembur garage.Justice Jitendra Jain of the HC held that though a “garage may be private property, but because it is accessible to the public it falls within the definition of public space under MV Act.” HC said ‘public’ means a defined group of people, in this case vehicle owners whose entry is not prohibited into a garage.When a third party dies or is injured when a vehicle is in use, the insurer is liable to pay compensation stipulated in section 146 of MV Act.“The phrase ‘use of the motor vehicle’ used in Section 147 cannot be given a restrictive meaning to mean an accident occurring only when the vehicle is moving,” Justice Jain said, adding it would include not just active movement but passive use as well for ‘purposes of its movement.’ HC said repairs of a motor vehicle are “integral aspects of its movement” and hence amount to its “use”.Besides, under the MV Act, insurance covers any person,which would include the worker in the garage who died. The tanker had come in for repairs to the garage. The blast could have been due to residual fuel and by law, it was the duty of the vehicle owner to have informed the garage that it needed to be emptied first, HC observed. The victim’s family had lodged an FIR only against the garage owner.HC ruling delivered on July 28 said the insurer has shown no evidence of negligence of the repairer. It added, “When the owner of a motor vehicle entrusts his vehicle to a repairer to carry out repairs, he is in fact allowing the repairer to use his vehicle” and hence the vehicle is said to be in ‘use’ to attract insurance in case of accident.HC held the tribunal was right in holding the driver and the garage owner responsible and not the victim.

Mumbai: Cyber police are dropping the hammer on the “middlemen” of cyberscams. As part of a nationwide crackdown ordered by Ministry of Home Affairs to get a grip on cybercrime, Mumbai police have registered 10 FIRs (first information reports) against mule bank account holders, or those who rent out their bank accounts to scammers for a quick commission, in less than a fortnight. Police are also actively registering offences against individuals providing mule SIM cards, which are pre-activated mobile phone SIM cards obtained through fraudulent means to facilitate cybercrime.“Fresh offences are being registered against mule bank account holders after verifying that they knowingly granted scammers access to their bank accounts and received a commission for it,” said a senior police officer. He added that the ultimate goal of MHA’s directives is to bring cyber financial crime completely under control by 2028.On Thursday, the Central cyber police, under the supervision of DCP Bajrang Bansode and senior inspector Chimaji Adhav, busted a gang of seven people involved in operating mule accounts and withdrawing money. A few of the gang members were caught red-handed attempting to withdraw Rs 10 lakh each by cheque from two bank accounts in Borivli. Subsequent investigations showed that this single gang operated 27 mule bank accounts scattered across various branches of the same public sector bank at Dadar, Mahim, Borivli, and Mira Road.Explaining the deep-rooted deception in such cases, an officer said, “Typically, a current account is opened in a bank in the name of a firm. The firm is registered and has a valid office address. On physical verification, it may appear legitimate, but it is bogus and its bank account is operated by scammers for receiving illicit funds.”In one instance, police came across a bank account registered in the name of an agricultural firm but used for receiving scammed sums. In another case, investigators found a mule account tucked away with a leading private bank’s Bandra-Kurla Complex branch, where sums totalling Rs 17.67 lakh were withdrawn using cheques.“Registering offences against mule bank account holders and mule SIM card providers will send across a strong message that these activities won’t be tolerated,” said DCP Bansode. He said that 10 FIRs had been registered in the past nine to 10 days alone, and 30 to 35 bank accounts are currently in the process of being frozen.Mule SIM cards are typically registered using stolen or forged personal identities and are crucial tools for facilitating cybercrime, including digital arrest frauds. Police have come across instances where local SIM card dealers or point-of-sale operators have been actively involved in providing mule SIM cards to scammers.According to govt rules, an individual is legally allowed to buy up to nine SIM cards in their name, but only one SIM card can be activated within a period of 24 hours.

BEST’s fleet currently comprises 2,829 buses, of which only 249 are owned by the undertaking, with the remaining vehicles operating under the GCC model

Mumbai: The Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) undertaking has invited bids to induct 200 non-air-conditioned MIDI CNG buses under the Gross Cost Contract (GCC), or wet lease, model, to strengthen last-mile connectivity and feeder services to Mumbai Metro corridors despite continued opposition from employee unions and commuter activists.The tender requires an earnest money deposit (EMD) of Rs 29 crore and guarantees 4,500 km of monthly operation per bus over a 10-year contract. Bids will close on August 24, while a pre-bid meeting has been scheduled for Aug 6. Technical and financial bids will be opened on Aug 27 and 28, respectively.The successful bidder must present a prototype bus within 60 days of receiving the Letter of Acceptance (LoA), deliver the first 50 buses within 120 days, another 50 within 150 days and the remaining fleet within 180 days. The prototype will form part of the 200-bus fleet, while the operator must also provide two additional buses free of cost for driver training.Under the GCC model, private operators procure, own, maintain and operate the buses while providing drivers and conductors. BEST retains control over routes, schedules, fares and passenger services and pays operators on a per-kilometre basis.The move comes despite persistent criticism from employee unions and transport activists, who argue that the growing dependence on privately operated buses has affected service quality and contributed to an increase in accidents.BEST’s fleet currently comprises 2,829 buses, of which only 249 are owned by the undertaking, with the remaining vehicles operating under the GCC model. Of the 249 owned buses, 42 are MIDI buses, comprising 36 diesel and six electric vehicles. The undertaking also operates 640 GCC-operated MIDI buses, including around 600 air-conditioned CNG buses and 20 each of air-conditioned and non-air-conditioned electric buses.Officials said at least 315 additional MIDI buses will be required to strengthen feeder connectivity to Mumbai Metro corridors. The smaller buses are considered better suited for feeder services as they can negotiate narrow internal roads, steep gradients and congested neighbourhoods.BEST has earmarked parking spaces for the fleet at Vikhroli, Marol, Malad and Wadala depots, with 50 buses to be stationed at each location. All services will originate and terminate from these depots, eliminating dead kilometres and improving operational efficiency.The successful operator will also be responsible for creating maintenance infrastructure, deploying trained drivers and conductors, complying with statutory and labour regulations, and ensuring the buses remain roadworthy throughout the contract.

The defence submitted that the minor had no criminal antecedents, was a Class 12 commerce student, had no addiction or criminal background, and had a stable family environment

Mumbai: In a detailed order cancelling the bail granted to a 17-year-old driver who killed a 33-year-old Ghatkopar businessman, Dhrumil Patel, in a hit-and-run incident, a special court on Friday stated that because the affluent minor associates with “spoiled, aristocratic children” and performs dangerous vehicle stunts, keeping him in a reform home is beneficial for his rehabilitation as well as in the interest of society at large.“It is a fact of judicial notice that in this year in Maharashtra (Pune and Mumbai), such types of incidents occurred involving opulent children, and in these incidents, innocent people lost their lives. After releasing the CCL within a short period of the incident, it will defeat the ends of justice and would frustrate the confidence as repose for the society,” Judge Mujibodeen S Shaikh said.The judge also noted that the Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) had considered the social investigation report and the NGO report, along with the child’s family background, but had “lost sight” of the photographs uploaded on Instagram that showed him performing dangerous stunts. “On contrary, it reflects from the photographs loaded on the Instagram account of CCL (Child in Conflict with Law) and his friends namely ‘Ryankelafdebaaz’ that CCL is opulent children having company of spoiled aristocrats making stunts on the motorcycle by seating triple seat and seating on the bonnet and roof of the car involved in the accident shows CCL and his friends are not following the traffic rules.”The court said these acts indicated “lack of parental control on their beloved son’s activities”. “Obviously, if he is released on bail, then definitely he will come in the company of spoiled aristocrats and commit any other offence of the same type,” the judge observed.On Friday, the judge directed Juvenile Justice Board at Dongri to secure the child’s presence and pass appropriate orders sending the child to a reformative centre.“No doubt, the Juvenile Act is a beneficial legislation intended for juvenile/child in conflict with law, but also demands that justice should be done not only to the accused, but also to the accuser. The alleged act of CCL itself shakes the conscience of the society. The offence is obviously heinous in nature and if CCL is released on bail, it would defeat the ends of justice,” the judge said.The detailed order was made available on Saturday.On Feb 5, 2026, around 11.15 pm, Dhrumil and his wife, Menal Patel (32), were heading back to Ghatkopar from Parel, where Dhrumil worked, on his scooter when a car from the opposite direction “violently struck them” near Somaiya College, Vidyavihar. Dhrumil sustained grievous head injuries, rib fractures and fractures to his left knee and right wrist, while Menal too broke her right hand and sustained grievous injuries to her right eye and other parts. Dhrumil Patel died during treatment on Feb 15, after which the offence of culpable homicide not amounting to murder was added.On March 6, Suburban Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) granted bail to the teenager, the minor, on a bond of Rs 25,000, despite charges of culpable homicide not amounting to murder.In April this year, claiming that there is deliberate deletion of evidence during pending investigations and attempts to subvert criminal justice by offering Rs 40 lakh as blood money, Meenal, a teacher, moved court to challenge the release of the minor.The prosecution also opposed bail, saying the minor had allegedly driven the car in a rash and negligent manner at high speed. The investigating officer stated that the minor and friends had an Instagram account on which reels of motorcycles and cars were posted, and that after the incident, reels were deleted. The investigating officer also alleged that the minor deleted the Instagram account and that the father was aware that the child was driving the car.The defence opposed the appeal and argued that the Juvenile Justice Act is reformative and rehabilitative, not punitive. The defence submitted that the minor had no criminal antecedents, was a Class 12 commerce student, had no addiction or criminal background, and had a stable family environment. The defence also argued that the gravity of the offence alone cannot be a ground to deny bail to a juvenile.However, in a 24-page order, the judge also referred to the allegation that the Instagram account was deleted after the incident. “The investigation is in progress and the CCL is released on bail. He may tamper the prosecution witnesses and the example of tampering witness is the deletion of Instagram Account which was formed by the CCL along with his friends who are deeply involved in the stunts of four wheeler and two wheeler vehicles,” the court said.The judge also noted that the crash had resulted in the death of an earning member of the family and left the wife with permanent disability.The order further recorded that the family of the child had offered money to the victims, and that a community meeting had taken place. The appellant had alleged that “blood money” was offered for settlement, while the defence disputed the version and claimed that the victim’s side had made a much higher demand.Earlier, Menal had petitioned Bombay High Court to seek cancellation of bail that the sessions court granted on March 4 to the driver’s father. It is pending.

The Valiv police have arrested seven persons in the case

Vasai: A Rs 50 lakh bank transaction proved to be the breakthrough that helped the police unravel the conspiracy behind the attempted murder of GSM Foils managing director Mohansingh Parmar (46), who survived a shooting in Vasai on July 24. Investigators have now revealed that the murder plot had been meticulously planned nearly three months before the incident by the company’s director and chartered accountant, Sagar Bhanushali (33).The Valiv police have arrested seven persons, including Bhanushali, who is alleged to be the mastermind behind the conspiracy. According to investigators, none of the accused had any prior criminal record, a factor that initially made the probe particularly challenging.Police said Bhanushali had borrowed Rs 32 crore from Parmar after convincing him to liquidate his shareholdings, promising to return the money within six months. However, instead of repaying the amount, Bhanushali allegedly conspired to eliminate Parmar to avoid the liability. Police said Bhanushali suffered massive financial losses in the US stock market following the US-Iran conflict, and persuaded Parmar to purchase his stake in the company for nearly Rs 32 crore.According to police, Bhanushali, a chartered accountant by profession, joined GSM Foils in 2020 as the company’s CA. He later married one of the firm’s employees, earned Parmar’s trust and eventually became a director in the company.Since Parmar had no known enemies and had never reported receiving threats, investigators initially struggled to establish a motive or identify suspects. Despite questioning company directors and employees, the investigation yielded no substantial leads.The breakthrough came when police discovered a Rs 50 lakh bank transfer made by Parmar from his account into Bhanushali’s account. Investigators said Bhanushali had ensured that most of the Rs 32 crore was routed through other channels to avoid leaving a financial trail but this transaction raised suspicion and shifted the focus of the investigation on him.During sustained interrogation, Bhanushali allegedly confessed to orchestrating the conspiracy, assistant police inspector Sopan Patil said.Senior police inspector Dilip Ghuge said Bhanushali began planning Parmar’s murder nearly three months before the attack. He allegedly recruited his Goregaon-based friend Vijay Kumar Vishwakarma, who had also lent him Rs 3 crore. Police said Bhanushali promised to repay the money and persuaded Vishwakarma to help execute the plan.Vishwakarma then allegedly identified individuals with no criminal antecedents to avoid attracting police attention. He recruited two of his office employees and three others from Uttar Pradesh. The group was allegedly promised Rs 30 lakh to Rs 40 lakh for carrying out the murder, with Rs 5 lakh paid in advance.Investigators said Bhanushali maintained contact only with Vishwakarma and deliberately avoided conventional phone calls. Instead, he communicated through WhatsApp calls and Instagram to minimise the chances of surveillance.The execution phase began around two weeks before the attack. On July 24, the alleged shooter, Sujit Pandey, opened fire on Parmar with a country-made pistol. However, the attempt failed, and Parmar survived with injuries.In an apparent bid to deflect suspicion, Bhanushali remained at the company premises during the shooting and personally drove the injured Parmar to hospital. Police said he also regularly contacted investigators to enquire about the progress of the probe in an attempt to portray himself as concerned and distance himself from the crime.All seven accused were produced before a Vasai court, which remanded them to police custody till Aug 7.