Mumbai: Following allegations of donation theft at the Siddhivinayak temple, deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde has ordered a probe into the temple donations and accounts. Shinde has asked additional chief secretary (ACS) Aseem Gupta to conduct an inquiry and submit a report.Shinde’s order comes just days after the Siddhivinayak Temple Trust called for an audit into the increase in the donation amount collected by the temple in the last two years. The temple trust is regulated by the state law and judiciary department headed by chief minister Devendra Fadnavis.“Dy CM Eknath Shinde has ordered a probe and asked ACS Aseem Gupta to conduct the probe and submit a report on the allegations of the donations deficit. The probe is likely to be carried out by a joint committee of law and judiciary and urban development department officials,” an official said.“We examined the donation box collections over the last four years. The collections were Rs 106 crore in 2022–23, Rs 114 crore in 2023–24, Rs 135 crore in 2024–25, and Rs 182 crore in 2025–26. This means that since we took charge, the amount collected in the donation boxes has increased by nearly 35%. One of our trustees wrote to the justice department asking that if the collections in the first three years were at this level, why were they only Rs 106 crore earlier? This should be thoroughly investigated. Dy CM has ordered a probe into the matter,” trust chairman Sada Sarvankar said.BJP functionary Pawan Tripathi is the temple trust’s treasurer. Sarvankar is a former MLA from the Shiv SenaLast week, amid the Ram Mandir donation controversy involving allegations of embezzled cash and valuables from donation boxes, MNS chief Raj Thackeray alleged that donations worth Rs 18 crore were being siphoned off every year at the famous Siddhivinayak temple. The temple is run by a trust with state govt appointees.Thackeray took a dig at PM Narendra Modi, asking why the prime minister had not spoken about the theft in the Ram temple in Ayodhya. At an MNS gathering, he read out a letter reportedly from the temple’s trustees to Dy CM Eknath Shinde requesting a high-level inquiry into the theft from the donation box at the Siddhivinayak temple.Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut backed Thackeray’s claim of the donation theft at Siddhivinayak temple. Raut said such instances had increased since the temple’s reins went into the hands of people close to Shinde.“BJP people are involved in the alleged embezzlement of donations at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. All temples in the country are witnessing theft and they are under the control of the BJP. A serious truth lies in the allegations made by Raj Thackeray. The instances of theft of donations at Siddhivinayak Temple have increased ever since its reins went into the hands of Shinde’s people,” Raut said.

Disha Salian’s father rejects Mumbai Police findings regarding his daughter’s death

MUMBAI: Satish Salian, father of former celebrity manager Disha Salian, rejected the findings of the Mumbai Police‘s Special Investigation Team (SIT), which were found to be consistent with the earlier probe that had ruled out foul play in his daughter’s 2020 death.Salian disputes the police conclusion that his daughter died after allegedly falling from a building.Expressing dissatisfaction with the findings, Salian said he had approached the Bombay high court seeking action and would present evidence to support his allegations.He said he remained hopeful of getting justice and had faith in the judiciary.“I believe that the police are wrong on this issue,” Satish Salian told ANI.He said he had seen his daughter’s body and performed her last rites, claiming that he did not find anything that indicated she had fallen from a building.“The statement is wrong, and we have filed a case against it in court. I saw Disha Salian’s body and performed her last rites. Nothing showed on her body that could prove that she had fallen from a building. I believe the police are wrong on this issue. I have evidence, and when the time comes, I will present the evidence one by one. I have complete faith in the judiciary that I will get justice,” he said.

‘Hopeful court will ensure justice’

Salian also said he was hopeful that Justice Bharati Dangre would support and guide the family in the case.“I am positive and hopeful that Dangre Madam will support us and guide us in our case. She will ensure justice. We have approached the court seeking the registration of an FIR for gang rape,” he said.The Bombay HC had earlier questioned what had prevented police from investigating Salian’s death after her father raised doubts over the circumstances surrounding it, PTI reported.

Lawyer says SIT report was submitted in June

Salian’s lawyer, advocate Nilesh C Ojha, said the SIT report was not submitted recently but in June.He said the family had earlier challenged the findings, which they considered “false and wrong”.“The final hearing date finalised by the court is July 16. Satish Salian submitted the complaint on March 25, 2025, and the affidavit states that the closure report was prepared by the SIT based on the statement taken last year,” Ojha said.He also claimed that the family had submitted evidence before the court and would present videos during the proceedings, ANI reported.Ojha further said the family had sought action against police inspector Shailendra Nagarkar and the government lawyer, adding that the matter would also be heard by the court.

Mumbai Police says SIT findings consistent with earlier probe

Earlier, Mumbai Police told the Bombay high court that the findings of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) were consistent with the conclusions reached by the original investigating officer.In a statement, the police said, “So far, the findings of SIT pertaining to the circumstances that caused deceased Disha Salian’s death are coherent with the findings of the earlier investigation officer of the said case.”Police, however, said the SIT’s investigation was continuing to examine other aspects of the case.The earlier probe had ruled out foul play in the death of the 28-year-old celebrity manager.

Disha Salian died in June 2020

Disha Salian was found dead on June 8, 2020, after allegedly falling from the 14th floor of a building in Mumbai’s Malad area.Her death has since been the subject of allegations and questions, with her father seeking a fresh probe into the circumstances surrounding it.The Bombay high court is hearing the matter, including the family’s allegations and their plea seeking registration of an FIR.

The buses are scheduled to be inducted in phases during 2026 and 2027

Mumbai : In a major boost to sustainable urban mobility, the BEST Committee on Tuesday approved the induction of 1,500 air-conditioned electric midi buses under the Government of India’s PM E-Drive Scheme. With this, the number of new bus routes will increase from existing 400 to 525 routes in near future, including revival of some of the lost routes, said a senior BEST official after the meeting. Also, these buses can now manoeuvre through narrow lanes and on hilly stretches of the city where bigger buses cannot ply.BEST general manager Sonia Sethi said that ambitious initiative also marks a significant milestone in BEST’s efforts to modernise city’s public transport network and achieve the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs’ target of 10,000 buses in the city by 2027, equivalent to 0.6 buses per 1,000 population.The buses are scheduled to be inducted in phases during 2026 and 2027, further strengthening BEST’s commitment to providing clean, efficient and accessible public transportation. Around 250 e-buses are likely to be inducted by December end.The proposal for procuring 1,500 electric midi buses was submitted to the Centre and received approval from Deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde on October 30, 2025.Designed specifically for feeder services and last-mile connectivity, the 9-metre electric midi buses feature compact dimensions that enable smoother operations on narrow roads and in densely populated areas. With an ultra-low floor height of 400 mm, the buses offer improved accessibility for Divyang passengers, including wheelchair users. The fleet will play a crucial role in connecting commuters to metro stations, railway stations and key transit hubs across Mumbai.The new buses will be equipped with advanced Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) battery technology, fully air suspension systems and fast direct current charging facilities. Passenger safety and operational efficiency have also been prioritised through the integration of modern telematics, including 360-degree CCTV surveillance, Intelligent Transport Management Systems (ITMS) and a Fire Detection and Suppression System designed to detect and control battery compartment fires.Under the approved allocation, GreenCell Mobility will supply 1,050 EKA electric buses with a seating capacity of 31-plus passengers, while Sai Green will provide 450 Switch EiV9 buses with a seating capacity of 33+1 passengers.The induction will take place in four phases of 225, 375, 450 and 450 buses respectively, with deployment across BEST depots citywide. Once operational, the fleet is expected to improve connectivity, reduce carbon emissions and provide Mumbai commuters with a safer, cleaner and more comfortable travel experience.Ends

MUMBAI: Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) workers staged a protest outside the Congress’ Tilak Bhavan headquarters in Mumbai on Wednesday, dousing an effigy of Maharashtra Congress chief Harshvardhan Sapkal with a dark liquid and raising slogans over his alleged “gungi gudiya” (mute doll) remark against deputy chief minister Sunetra Pawar.Visuals from the protest showed party workers surrounding the effigy, pouring the dark liquid over it and shouting slogans as they demanded an unconditional apology from Sapkal.The demonstration comes amid an escalating political row between the ruling Mahayuti allies and the Congress.The controversy erupted after Sapkal was accused of making the “gungi gudiya” remark targeting Sunetra Pawar. While the NCP condemned the alleged comment and demanded a public apology, Sapkal denied using any abusive language and dismissed the controversy as a “calculated tactic.”Responding to the row, deputy chief minister Sunetra Pawar said, “I will give a reply at the appropriate time.”Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis also criticised the Congress, saying, “Congress has gone to a very low level just for the sake of publicity. No one is looking at them.”NCP MLA Sana Malik accused the Congress of abandoning its own ideology and demanded a clarification from the party’s central leadership.“Our immediate demand is for a clarification from the Indian National Congress in Delhi: Does the central leadership share the same stance as the Maharashtra Congress? We demand an immediate and public apology. Furthermore, if a timely apology is not issued, we will escalate our protests, which have already begun in Maharashtra, to a nationwide level and also explore potential legal action,” she said.Defending himself, Sapkal denied making any offensive remarks.“No abusive language or offensive comments were used. However, you may have noticed recently that the NCP seems invisible; despite being in power, they aren’t receiving due respect from the BJP. So, this move was likely a calculated attempt to demonstrate their existence,” he said.Rejecting demands for an apology, Sapkal added that there was “no scope” for one because there had been no intent to insult and described the controversy as a political tactic.(With agency inputs)

The Bombay High Court ordered social media intermediaries to remove vile and abusive online content.

MUMBAI: Observing that some of the content was “vile’’ “abusive’’ and “certainly defamatory’’, Bombay high court on Wednesday granted urgent interim relief to Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari and directed Social Media intermediaries to remove posts including videos that linked him to the ethanol-blended fuel (EBP) controversy.Gadkari had sought judicial intervention against Meta Platforms, X Corp, Google LLC, and others to delete online content he alleged was “false, fabricated, and defamatory”, AI-generated deepfake videos and other manipulated digital content linking him incorrectly to EBP programme.Justice Arif Doctor sitting singly who heard the matter and passed the order, said the online platforms ought to have or prepare a framework to take down such content without necessitating a court intervention each time.The posts went beyond acceptable political criticism or satire, said his suit and transgressed on his personal rights, his public persona, his personality rights with “profane and abusive’’ content, Gadkari’s suit contended. He sought ₹11 crore in damages from John Doe (the unnamed and unidentified persons or entities) that posted content he submitted was “malicious, false…’’Gadkari’s counsel Sandeep Ladda submitted that the ‘defamatory and deepfake contents’ ought to be taken down, as they were harming the Minister’s reputation and goodwill, as well his personality rights and public standing.“I can only say that the same is absolutely vile and abusive,’’ Justice Doctor said on seeing the content Ladda cited. The HC Judge added, “Such material should have no place on a public platform, which is accessible to everyone, including young.’’The HC asked the counsel for Meta and others, if the intermediaries had any measures in place for taking down defamatory content. Justice Doctor directed the platforms to give the “basic customer information’’ of content creators and granted liberty to Gadkari to add them as parties to the suit.There is a rising pushback against the blended fuel programme introduced to curb crude oil imports. Motorists and critics said it corrodes fuel tanks in older or non-compliant cars.Gadkari’s suit said the Centre had way back in 2003 introduced Ethanol Blending Programme (EBP) as a national policy initiative to blend ethanol with petrol in a phased manner. Gadkari has been serving as the Minister of Road Transport since 2014.The implementation and progress details of EBP policy are handled by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, his suit added. In 2025-26 the Centre achieved 20%blending of ethanol with petrol or E20 as it is called. His suit claims though he has no role in the programme, some content circulated online in July falsely associates him with the EBP and E20 initiative.His suit stressed that he has “no role or nexus whatsoever with EBP or the E20 initiative which is administered exclusively by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas’’ and the content online “falls out of the ambit of legitimate political criticism or satire.”Gadkari’s suit says it is not intended to prevent public discussion or criticism of his public duty actions or government policies. It said he “does not seek to stifle or restrain fair criticism, dissent, debate or bona fide expression of opinion concerning his public life, governmental policies or official functions.”The HC granted Gadkari the liberty to convey to the online platforms any future abusive content and to approach the court in case of any “grey area’’.The HC will hear the matter next after 4 weeks.

Bombay high court ordered Meta and X Corp to remove defamatory content

MUMBAI: The Bombay high court on Wednesday directed social media giants Meta and X Corp to immediately take down all content, including Artificial Intelligence (AI)-generated material, allegedly defamatory towards Union minister Nitin Gadkari regarding the government’s ethanol-blended petrol policy.Sandeep S Ladda, the advocate representing Nitin Gadkari, said the court took a serious view of the use of digital platforms to circulate deepfakes and misleading information, news agency ANI reported.“A hearing took place regarding the lawsuit filed by Union minister; lawyers representing Meta, which operates Facebook and Instagram, and X Corp (formerly Twitter) appeared before the court. We explained to the court the nature of the defamatory content related to the E20 ethanol blending policy and why such claims were defamatory,” he said.“The court prima facie agreed that the content was defamatory and questioned Meta and the other platforms about the absence of an effective mechanism to address such issues,” Ladda added.The legal team representing the minister pointed out that the existing regulatory environment allows the “casual” misuse of social media to damage reputations without adequate safeguards.“We pointed out that social media platforms are being misused almost casually to damage reputations, while there is no adequate system in place to prevent such misuse. Recognising that the E20-related content appeared prima facie to be deepfake and defamatory, the court directed the platforms to provide details of the individuals who uploaded the content and ordered the immediate removal of such material,” the advocate added.Lawyers for Meta, which operates Facebook and Instagram, and X Corp, formerly Twitter, appeared before the court during the proceedings.The court expressed concern over the lack of internal checks to prevent the spread of such deepfake-driven misinformation, ANI reported.The court also directed the platforms to provide details of the individuals who uploaded the disparaging material and ordered the removal of any similar content posted even after the suit was filed.“The court, while hearing a lawsuit filed by the minister, also directed the platforms to provide details of the individuals who uploaded the disparaging material and ordered the removal of any similar content posted even after the filing of the suit,” Ladda added.The development comes after Union minister Nitin Gadkari approached the Bombay high court on July 27 against social media posts linking him and his family to alleged E20-related business gains.According to Gadkari’s lawsuit filed in the Bombay high court, the disputed content on social media includes posts, deepfake pictures and videos, among others, allegedly linking him and his family to profits from the E20 ethanol blending programme.The lawsuit also emphasises that the ethanol blending policy is being administered by the Petroleum Ministry, ANI reported.The Bombay high court allowed Gadkari to file a civil suit against Meta and other social media platforms, as well as unidentified entities allegedly being used to spread misinformation against Gadkari and his family.The development comes amid growing public scrutiny over ethanol-blended fuel, particularly E20 petrol, following claims on social media that the higher ethanol blend had caused performance issues and damage in some vehicles.(With agency inputs)