File pic for representational purpose only

Mumbai: Courses in engineering and MBA, introduced for working professionals and lateral entry, have failed to take off in the state, three years after their inception.For lateral entry MBA/MMS admissions, over 4,500 candidates showed interest in 2024-25, but eventually only 1,950 students secured admissions. The number dropped further to 1,805 in 2025-26. Demand for courses meant for working professionals has also remained poor. Enrolments for working professionals have not crossed even two- or three-digit figures over the last two years.Colleges said the courses were not well publicised and that many working professionals were unable to produce the mandatory proforma from their workplace for admission. While fewer colleges initially showed interest in offering these programmes, some are deciding to gradually shut them down.Sujata Chincholkar, director of Fr C Rodrigues Institute of Management Studies, said the courses for working professionals have not been adequately publicised. “Industry representatives are not aware of these programmes and, as a result, many are unwilling to provide the employer’s proforma declaring that the candidate is employed with them and that they have no objection to their admission. Against the 30 seats we had, we received enquiries from over 15 candidates, but only one managed to produce the proforma. The govt could publicise the programme better and relax this particular norm. Employers are unlikely to object to a course conducted in the evenings and on weekends,” she said.The college sought permission to discontinue its MBA/MMS programme for working professionals this year. Across the state, despite more than 500 seats being available in this programme, less than 100 students have secured admissions.At VJTI, three of their five programmes started for working professionals are doing well. The seats in the postgraduate programme for structural engineering and undergraduate in civil and electrical are 100% full, said director Sachin Kore, adding that the PG computer science programme has not taken off the way it was expected. The institute is now planning to move to a different model by getting industry professionals, termed ‘professors of practice’, to teach in the programme. The institute offers 30 seats in UG courses for electrical, computers and civil.For lateral entry, colleges have to rely on seats that remain vacant in the second year of the MBA programme. “If only two students fail in the first year, then we can open only those two seats for lateral entry,” said a principal. She, however, added that students opting for the one-year MBA mainly prefer top-tier colleges. While 7,900 seats were available for MBA/MMS lateral entry in 2024-25, the number dropped to 6,169 the following year. The MCA programme for working professionals, meanwhile, did not find any takers over the last two years.Similarly, direct second-year engineering programmes had an intake capacity of over 2,000 seats, but the number of students securing admissions did not cross 400 last year.In numbers—————————————–2024-25——————————–2025-26Courses————————————-Intake—–Admitted——————Intake—-AdmittedDirect Second Year Engg (WP)-——–2,221——-291—————————2,121—–359MBA (WP)————————————385——-33——————————-531——-78ME/MTech (WP)——————————232——–43——————————183—–46MCA (WP)————————————-30———-0———————————-90——-0MBA (LE)————————————-7,900–—1,950——————————6,169-—1,805Total——————————————-10,768——2,317————————–9,094—2,288(WP: Working Professionals, LE: Lateral Entry, Source: State’s CET Cell)

KDMC has decided not to accept the resignations of the two doctors

Dombivli: The two doctors of Shastri Nagar Municipal Hospital in Dombivli, who were allegedly assaulted by Shiv Sena corporator Ramesh Mhatre and his three associates on July 6, have refused to resume duty despite the Bombay High Court urging the Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) not to accept their resignations and instead provide them a supportive environment to return to work.Dr Shrusti Baviskar and Dr Vaibhav Salunkhe, who were working at the civic hospital on a contractual basis through a private agency, were assaulted when they informed a patient’s family that the newborn had to be shifted because the neonatal intensive care unit was full.On Thursday, the HC directed police to file the chargesheet in the doctors’ assault case within 10 days and ordered the appointment of a special public prosecutor (SPP) to conduct the trial, observing that the SPP should not be changed. The HC also directed that the case be tried in a fast-track court. As part of the interim conditions, the HC ordered Mhatre to remain outside Maharashtra until the chargesheet is filed and restrained him from contacting his supporters or any prosecution witnesses.Following the HC’s observations, KDMC decided not to accept the resignations of the two doctors.Dr Sadiya Pinjari, chief medical officer of Shastri Nagar Municipal Hospital, told TOI that the resignations had been submitted through the private agency that had appointed them. “In view of the HC’s directions, we have not accepted their resignation letters. Both doctors have rendered good service and we still need them. We have requested them to rejoin duty,” she said.However, both doctors have declined to return.Speaking to TOI, Dr Baviskar said, “I cannot work with the KDMC anymore. I have already resigned and do not wish to speak further on this issue.” Her mother said the family was satisfied with the relief granted by the HC, but they remained deeply affected by the incident. “Even after a month, we do not allow our daughter to go out alone. She still lives with the trauma of the attack and will not be able to work at the KDMC hospital again,” she said.Family members had earlier told TOI that both doctors were severely traumatised after the assault, with Dr Baviskar often waking up frightened from nightmares. The incident had sparked statewide protests by doctors and intensified concerns over the safety of healthcare professionals at government and civic hospitals.

Police said they have frozen between Rs 50 crore and Rs 60 crore parked across nearly 150 mule bank accounts.

Mumbai: The city crime branch has busted a major international cyber fraud and money laundering syndicate, arresting 12 members who were allegedly operating from a villa in Calangute, Goa. Investigators suspect the syndicate laundered more than Rs 500 crore of cyber fraud proceeds to handlers based in Dubai using mule bank accounts and SIM cards.Following the arrests, police said they have frozen between Rs 50 crore and Rs 60 crore parked across nearly 150 mule bank accounts. Investigators are also trying to ascertain why the syndicate chose Goa as its operational base for the alleged cyber fraud network.During the investigation of a cyber fraud case registered at Pydhonie police station, police found a gang involved in opening mule bank accounts in Mumbai and supplying them to operators in Goa for use in cyber fraud and illegal online gaming activities.“The syndicate paid large sums to the owners of mule accounts and collected their bank welcome kits, including SIM cards linked to the accounts. These SIM cards were used to receive OTPs, enabling the accused to operate the accounts and transfer the money to their handlers in Dubai,” said Dilip Tejankar, senior police inspector of Crime Branch Unit II.According to the police, the accused used online platforms known as “100 Panel” and “Rudra” to process requests for the withdrawal and transfer of funds generated through cyber fraud and illegal online gaming.Acting on intelligence inputs, the Mumbai Crime Branch raided the villa in Calangute and arrested all 12 accused. During the search, police seized 15 laptops, 128 ATM cards, 85 mobile phones, 76 SIM cards, 22 cheque books, 77 bank passbooks, six routers, and three keyboards.“We have just arrested the gang and are now trying to establish their links with the Dubai-based operators. Preliminary inquiries reveal that most of the arrested accused are from Gujarat. They were paid a monthly salary of Rs 35,000 along with commission. Their primary role was to immediately launder the cyber fraud proceeds from mule accounts and transfer the funds to handlers in Dubai,” said DCP Raj Tilak Roshan.He added that the entire operation was controlled by handlers based in Dubai.A preliminary analysis of the seized bank accounts has revealed links to at least 83 cyber fraud cases registered across the country through the National Cyber Crime Helpline ‘1930’. Investigators are now examining the digital devices and banking records to identify additional beneficiaries, accomplices, and the international financial network behind the operation.

Arrested accused Surendra’s wife Priti

Deceased victim Sunil Vishwakarma and his injured wife Anju

Arrested accused Suraj Vishwakarma

Arrested accused Surendra Vishwakarma

Arrested accused Surendra’s wife Priti

Deceased victim Sunil Vishwakarma and his injured wife Anju

Arrested accused Suraj Vishwakarma

Arrested accused Surendra Vishwakarma

Arrested accused Surendra’s wife Priti

Mumbai: A long-standing dispute between the brothers over household issues took a tragic turn early Thursday when a quarrel over loud music allegedly escalated into a brutal knife attack that left a 40-year-old man and his 14-year-old son dead and three others, including the man’s wife, younger son and a neighbour, injured at Rahul Nagar in Vikhroli West.In an attempt to bring the violence under control, their neighbours reportedly switched off the electricity supply to plunge the house into darkness before entering and separating the accused from the victims.The incident occurred under the jurisdiction of Parksite police station in Vikhroli West. The deceased have been identified as Sunil Vishwakarma and his teen son Shlok. Both sustained grievous knife injuries and were declared dead during treatment at Rajawadi Hospital. Sunil’s wife, Anju (35), and their younger son, Vivaan (15), suffered multiple stab injuries and are currently undergoing treatment at a private hospital. A neighbour, Mahadev Magar, who attempted to intervene, also sustained knife injuries to his right hand.Police have arrested Sunil’s brothers, Suraj Vishwakarma (33) and Surendra (36), along with Surendra’s wife, Priti Vishwakarma (35), on charges of murder and attempt to murder. According to the police, all three brothers lived together in a small house with a mezzanine floor at Rahul Nagar, while their eldest brother resides in Nalasopara. The eldest brother, Anil Vishwakarma, had moved out a few years ago due to the space crunch.Sunil, who was an RTO agent earlier, had begun driving an aggregator taxi, while his two brothers did odd jobs. “The three brothers often fought over petty things such as payment of electricity and water bills and various other issues,’’ said an official.According to the police, the immediate trigger for the murder was an argument over loud music being played shortly after midnight. Police said one of Sunil’s two sons was playing music which Suraj objected to, saying it was well past midnight. Although there had been simmering tensions between the brothers for some time, investigators say the dispute over the music might have become the immediate cause of the confrontation.What began as a verbal argument soon escalated into a violent physical assault. According to eyewitnesses, Surendra and Suraj allegedly attacked Sunil, who had just returned home from work, overpowering him inside the house. While Surendra allegedly restrained Sunil, Suraj picked up a kitchen knife and repeatedly stabbed him in the neck and chest.“Sunil’s wife and son immediately rushed to rescue him, but the two brothers started assaulting them as well,” an eyewitness told the police.The violence allegedly intensified when Shlok tried to protect his father. According to eyewitnesses, Suraj stabbed the 14-year-old twice in the neck, causing him to collapse. Anju Vishwakarma was also allegedly stabbed twice while trying to shield her husband and Shlok, while Vivaan suffered injuries during the assault.The attack continued for several minutes despite desperate cries for help. Residents of the locality rushed towards the house on hearing the commotion, but were allegedly prevented from entering.According to eyewitnesses, Surendra’s wife, Priti, had bolted the door from outside and stood guard, preventing neighbours from intervening.Neighbour Mahadev Magar, who eventually forced his way inside, alleged that Priti threatened him with a false rape case if he entered the house.“She warned me that if I went inside, she would file a rape complaint against me. But the screams continued, so I pushed past her and entered the house to stop the assault. During the struggle I was stabbed twice on my right hand, and the knife pierced through my hand,” Magar told TOI.Residents also claimed the assault continued for a considerable time before they managed to intervene. According to locals, several people recorded videos of the incident on their mobile phones.The injured were immediately rushed to Rajawadi Hospital, where doctors declared Sunil and Shlok dead. Anju, Vivaan and Mahadev Magar were provided medical treatment, with Anju and Vivaan later shifted to a private hospital.Police have secured the crime scene, and a forensic team examined the house and collected evidence. Mobile phone videos recorded by local residents are also expected to form part of the investigation.A case of murder and attempt to murder has been registered against Suraj Vishwakarma, Surendra Vishwakarma and Priti Vishwakarma. Police are examining the exact sequence of events, the role played by each accused, and whether the assault was premeditated or an impulsive act arising from the family dispute.