MUMBAI: Mumbai Deputy Mayor and Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena corporator Sanjay Ghadi has written to the Municipal Commissioner, seeking the allotment of a vacant civic bungalow within the Veermata Jijabai Bhosale Udyan premises in Byculla, citing the long commute from his residence in Dahisar and the need to attend official meetings on time.In a letter addressed to the Commissioner, Ghadi said his daily commute between Dahisar (East) and the BMC headquarters at Fort takes a considerable amount of time and is frequently delayed due to traffic congestion. He said the commute causes “mental and physical distress” and affects his ability to reach the civic headquarters on time for administrative meetings, seminars, public interactions and other official programmes.

The Deputy Mayor also pointed out that the ongoing monsoon is likely to make commuting even more difficult.Ghadi has requested that the bungalow vacated by former Additional Municipal Commissioner (City) Ashwini Joshi following her transfer be allotted to him as his official residence. He said the accommodation, located within the Veermata Jijabai Bhosale Udyan campus in Byculla, is close to the BMC headquarters and would enable him to discharge his official responsibilities more efficiently.In the letter, Ghadi said staying near the headquarters would help him attend civic meetings and administrative programmes on time while ensuring quicker service delivery to citizens.

Rajya Sabha MP Milind Deora proposed public shaming for offenders in Mumbai.

MUMBAI: Rajya Sabha MP Milind Deora on Monday suggested that the BMC consider naming, shaming and fining habitual public urinators, spitters, litterers and blacklisted contractors, while simultaneously ensuring the city has clean, safe and accessible public toilets.In a post on X, Deora referred to an initiative by the Tinsukia Municipality in Assam, which displays images of people caught urinating in public on LED screens. He posted a video of it on his social media handle too. “Tinsukia Municipality in Assam is displaying images of people caught urinating in public on LED screens. Should @mybmc also consider naming, shaming & fining habitual public urinators, spitters, litterers & blacklisted contractors? At the same time, clean, safe & accessible public toilets must be available across #Mumbai,” he wrote.The post drew a flurry of reactions, including several tongue-in-cheek responses. “We will fall short of LED screens,” one user remarked. Another commented, “This is the only way to stop people. But the government also needs to build enough toilets so that people can easily find and access them.”

MUMBAI: Maharashtra minister Nitesh Rane questioned Bollywood actor Aamir Khan’s third marriage, asking whether it should be viewed as an example of “love jihad“.The BJP MLA also urged members of the Hindu community to think carefully before supporting such celebrities.“When celebrities take such decisions in their personal lives, Hindu society should think about it. It is my opinion. Who is the brand ambassador of love jihad? Is Aamir Khan not becoming one? Those Hindu youths who watch his movies should have considerate views before making such actors big,” Rane told PTI in Shirdi in Ahilyanagar district.Rane said discussions on whether Khan’s third marriage should be viewed through the lens of “love jihad” were gradually gaining momentum.“Hindu society should ponder over whether to watch such people’s movies or not,” he said, adding that those who regard such personalities as celebrities should reassess their views.Actor Aamir Khan married wellness and beauty professional Gauri Spratt in an intimate ceremony at his Pali Hill residence in Mumbai’s Bandra on July 5. The marriage is Khan’s third.Khan was previously married to Reena Dutta from 1986 to 2002 and to filmmaker Kiran Rao from 2005 to 2021.The film superstar is yet to react on Rane’s comments. (With agency inputs)

Thane: A one-month-old premature baby weighing just 1.196 kg underwent a surgical procedure to remove its “natal teeth” at the civic-run Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Hospital in Thane city, officials said on Sunday.The surgery was performed on July 10, eliminating severe health risks to the infant, said a statement released by the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC).“Although surgeries of this nature were performed at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Hospital in the past, this particular procedure stands out as it was successfully executed on a baby with the lowest recorded birth weight at our facility,” it said, quoting Dean Dr Swapnali Kadam.The baby was born prematurely and was found to have teeth present at birth, a medical phenomenon known as “natal teeth”. According to medical experts, this condition occurs in only about one in every 2,000 to 3,500 live births, with nearly 85% of cases involving the lower central incisors.The hospital, located in the Kalwa area of the city, decided to intervene surgically as the natal teeth were extremely loose, posing multiple hazards, the statement said.It explained that the teeth threatened to obstruct breastfeeding, carried a high risk of being dislodged and swallowed into the respiratory tract (aspiration), and could cause severe tongue ulceration, medically known as “Riga-Fede” ulcer.The procedure was carried out under the coordination of honorary paediatric dentist Dr Shreya Bapat, alongside Dr Pallavi Khale (Professor and Head of the Dental Department), Dr Dhairyasheel Edke, and Dr Divya Mokashi, it added.

Mumbai: A dispute over the use of Marathi during a ticket inspection on an air-conditioned suburban train near Andheri railway station on Saturday sparked protests and renewed debate over linguistic rights in Maharashtra.According to railway sources and videos circulating on social media, the incident began when a passenger allegedly insisted on communicating in Marathi with a ticket checker (TC). The TC was reportedly unable to speak the language fluently, leading to an argument. Another railway employee, who could converse in Marathi, later intervened, but the exchange escalated.The passenger was subsequently taken to the Railway Protection Force (RPF) office at Andheri station.A railway official said, “The matter is being investigated.”The incident drew criticism from the Marathi Ekikaran Samiti, which fights for the right to justice of Marathi people. Its members rushed to Andheri RPF and demanded action against railway employees and questioned whether demanding service in Marathi could be treated as interference in official duties. Seeking an apology from railways, it tweeted: “We will not tolerate the railway’s anti-Marathi policy… passenger was detained illegally for 2 hours for demanding Marathi...” Railway officials declined to comment.The incident reignited discussions on the use of Marathi in public services across the state.

Mumbai: Central Railway has decided to permanently close a gate near the Kalwa Car Shed after repeated incidents of passengers attempting to board empty local train rakes from an unauthorised location, posing a serious risk to life and safety.Railway officials observed that between 8 am and 8:30 am, commuters routinely trespass through the main entry gate near the shed and try to board an empty rake halted at a signal outside the yard. Authorities warned that the practice is extremely dangerous, as passengers could suffer serious injuries or fatalities if the train begins moving after receiving a signal.To curb the risk, Central Railway will permanently close the gate in coordination with other departments. Officials are also examining the possibility of eliminating the halt of empty rakes at the signal, subject to operational and safety considerations.The Railway Protection Force has been deployed at the site to prevent trespassing and ensure commuter safety. Central Railway stressed that boarding or alighting from trains in car sheds, yards, signal locations or any non-passenger area is a punishable offence under the Railways Act. Strict legal action will be initiated against offenders.The railway administration has appealed to passengers to board and deboard trains only from designated station platforms and cooperate with safety regulations. “Passenger safety is of paramount importance,” officials said, urging commuters to avoid unauthorised boarding practices.Passengers requiring assistance can contact the Railway Helpline on 139 or approach the nearest on-duty railway staff.

Mumbai: A 25-year-old woman was injured after the slab of a dilapidated chawl collapsed beneath her while she was drying clothes in Mankhurd on Saturday evening. The incident took place around 6.34 pm at Shree Saraswati Chawl in Ambedkar Nagar, PMGP Colony.According to civic officials, the woman entered the first floor of an unoccupied, dilapidated ground-plus-one structure to dry clothes when the slab suddenly gave way, causing her to fall to the ground floor.Ward staff rushed to the spot and shifted the injured woman, identified as Sunita Yadav (25), to Shatabdi Hospital. She was later referred to Sion Hospital for further treatment.On Sunday evening, hospital authorities informed the BMC that Yadav took Discharge Against Medical Advice (DAMA) and left Sion Hospital on Sunday morning.The exact cause of the slab collapse is yet to be ascertained. Civic officials said the structure was vacant and in a dilapidated condition.

Police found that the accused allegedly impersonated a doctor, created fake identity documents, opened accounts in various banks and, in collusion with other arrested associates, embezzled some amount through CSR funds over the last three years

Mumbai: A 50-year-old man was arrested on Sunday for allegedly posing as a doctor for the last 28 years in Juhu, running medical camps, treating patients, and developing contacts in Bollywood.The impersonation came to notice after Mumbai Crime Branch busted a racket involved in various fraudulent activities and the suspect, Dr Dharmendra Kumar, was called for questioning by DCP (crime) Raj Tilak Roushan. They found that Kumar had allegedly impersonated a doctor, created fake identity documents, opened accounts in various banks and, in collusion with other arrested associates, embezzled some amount through CSR funds over the last three years.Kumar’s arrest was carried out based on information received from an earlier arrested accused, Mohammad Gaus Ibrahim Khatib (52) alias Dr Raj Khatib who was arrested in a cheating case. A Gujarat businessman had lodged a complaint alleging that Khatib, who posed as a DCP in Mumbai Police, a Jaipur businessman and an ‘IPS officer’ cheated him of Rs 16 lakh by promising to recover money owed to him by a builder.Roushan said multiple FIRs were registered against the racket. “In pursuance of the received information, upon finding names of people and companies from Maharashtra and other states …it has been revealed…that the scope of this crime extends to more than one state. It has also been revealed that an embezzlement of approximately Rs 10 crore has occurred over the last three years,” he said.Roushan said they have seized an identity card, PAN card, visiting cards, and certificates issued by various organisations in the name of Dr Dharmendra Kumar among other items. “Kumar had also visited Khatib’s medical camps which were attended by Bollywood celebrities,” said an officer.Police said the operation was carried out by joint commissioner of police (crime) Anil Kumbhare, additional commissioner of police (crime) Krishna Kant Upadhyay, Roushan and staff.