Over 150 Western Railway officials and staffers on Sunday participated in Mumbai Marathon 2025, an official statement said. The statement said, on Sunday, 19th January, 2025, more than 150 participants from Western Railway took part in the Tata Mumbai Marathon 2025. It said that Ashok Kumar Misra, General Manager of Western Railway participated in the 10 km run of this mega sporting event and completed the race successfully. Several senior officers of WR also participated in various categories of the race like Full Marathon, Half Marathon, 10 km, Dream Run etc. According to a press release issued by Chief Public Relations Officer of Western Railway – Vineet Abhishek, WR’s General Manager, Ashok Kumar Misra was an inspiration to the entire WR team and motivated them to give their best. Misra led the WR team from the forefront in 10 km event of the race. He was joined by several other senior WR officials. Manoj Yadava, Director General of RPF - IR; Kuldeep Jain, Senior General Manager (SDGM/WR); Narendar Panwar, Chief Freight Transportation Manager (CFTM/WR); Pankaj Singh, Divisional Railway Manager of Mumbai Central Division; Sachin Sharma, Secretary to GM/WR; Ujjwal Deo, Deputy General Manager (DGM/WR) and Vineet Abhishek, Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO/WR) are to name a few, it said. New champions emerged in the Tata Mumbai Marathon as unheralded Berhane Tesfay of Eritrea clinched the elite men's title while Kenya's Joyce Chepkemoi Tele won the women's crown here on Sunday. Meanwhile, 38-year-old Tesfay won his first international full marathon title at the Tata Mumbai Marathon, clocking a time of 2 hours, 11 minutes, and 44 seconds to complete the 42.195 km distance. The event, a World Athletics Gold Label Road Race, saw thousands of spectators cheering on the runners. Tesfay's compatriot, Merhawi Kesete from Eritrea, took second place with a time of 2:11:50, while Ethiopia's Tesfaye Demeke secured third with 2:11:56. In the elite women’s race, 29-year-old Tele clinched the victory with a time of 2:24:56, finishing ahead of Bahrain’s Shitaye Eshete (2:25:29) and Ethiopia's Medina Deme Armino (2:27:58). Both defending champions, Ethiopia's Lemi Berhanu and Aberash Minsewo, did not make it to the podium this time. Berhanu, who won in 2023, finished sixth with a time of 2:14:54, missing out on a third consecutive title.
19 January,2025 07:37 PM IST | Mumbai | Rajendra B. AklekarTo mark the Indian Coast Guard's (ICG) 49th Raising Day, the ICG is set to begin the ‘Sentinels of the Sea - Sarhad Se Samandar’ motorcycle expedition, an official statement said on Suunday. The event will be flagged off on January 22, 2025, at 1:30 pm from the Attari Border in Amritsar by Inspector General Bhisham Sharma, Commander of Coast Guard Region (West), and Dr. Atul Fulzele, Inspector General of the BSF Punjab Frontier, it said. The motorcycle rally, organised by the Indian Coast Guard’s Regional Headquarters West in partnership with Triumph Motorcycles Ltd., will cover a distance of 2,300 kilometers over 10 days, it said. The route will pass through important border towns and coastal cities such as Sri Ganganagar, Bikaner, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Udaipur, Vadodara, and Daman, and will conclude at the iconic Gateway of India in Mumbai on February 1, 2025, marking Coast Guard Day, the statement further said. The expedition is a tribute to the dedication and bravery of the Indian Coast Guard, which plays a crucial role in protecting India’s maritime borders. It also showcases the Coast Guard's contribution to national security and highlights the country’s maritime heritage, it said. The rally promotes unity, environmental awareness, and camaraderie among India’s defense forces, the statement said. The rally will also support key government initiatives such as the Fit India Movement, Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, and Swachh Bharat Abhiyan. The participants will interact with school students along the route to raise awareness about India’s maritime history and inspire the younger generation. The journey also provides a unique opportunity for the Coast Guard personnel to connect with people in rural and border regions, sharing a sense of pride in the country’s culture, values, and traditions, it stated. Along with raising awareness about India’s maritime heritage, the rally will also highlight the importance of road safety, responsible driving, and teamwork. It celebrates exploration and adventure while promoting sustainable and eco-friendly practices, the officials said. "The Indian Coast Guard remains committed to its mission of safeguarding India’s maritime interests while engaging with the people of India through initiatives like this motorcycle expedition," the statement said.
19 January,2025 07:06 PM IST | Mumbai | Diwakar SharmaAs part of the "Project Udaan" by the Gadchiroli Police, young athletes from the district participated in the Mumbai Marathon 2025 held on Sunday, the officials said. According to an official statement by the Gadchiroli Police, the initiative has given the youth from Naxal-affected Gadchiroli, a district in Maharashtra known for its sensitive and remote areas, the opportunity to compete in a prestigious marathon event. The police have been actively promoting sports and physical activities among the youth, encouraging them to participate in various sports like Kabaddi, Volleyball, and Marathon. The main goal is to provide them with a platform to showcase their talents and gain recognition at state, national, and international levels, it said. Through the Project Udaan, led by Superintendent of Police (SP) Gadchiroli, Neelotpal, and under the guidance of Additional Superintendent of Police (Administration) M. Ramesh, as many as 25 young athletes from Gadchiroli, along with police officers, were selected to participate in the marathon. They trained intensively over a period of two months at the Police Headquarters, with the guidance of expert trainers. The training involved a rigorous physical regimen including long-distance running, strength exercises, and other physical activities designed to enhance endurance, the statement said. The selected participants were chosen after a thorough selection process, which included trials from youth living in remote areas. The participants competed in various categories of the Tata Mumbai Marathon 2025, including the full marathon (42 km), half marathon (21 km), and 10 km race, it said. Among the participants, notable performers include M. Ramesh, Additional SP (Administration), and several police officers such as Vishwambar Karale, Ishwar Surwase, and many young athletes like Avinash Kando, Umash Muttami, and Mukesh Rapnaji, who participated in the 21 km category. Others like Amol Pote, Rohan Bhurse, Priyanka Oksha, and Sakhshi Polozwar also made notable performances in the 10 km and 21 km categories, the police said. The participation of Gadchiroli's youth in the Tata Mumbai Marathon was a significant achievement, and it was made possible by the dedicated efforts of police officers and trainers, including Yatish Deshmukh (Additional SP, Operations), Shrenik Lodha (Additional SP, Aheri), and other police personnel involved in the selection, training, and logistics, it said.
19 January,2025 06:21 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (MSBSHSE) has found itself embroiled in controversy over the inclusion of a caste category field on this year’s examination hall tickets. Parents, teachers, and students strongly criticised the move, arguing it could lead to unnecessary caste-based discrimination and undermine students' dignity. In response to the backlash, the board has now announced the withdrawal of the caste column late Saturday evening, expressing regret and respect for public sentiment. The issue arose when hall tickets for the upcoming Secondary and Higher Secondary School Certificate examinations included students' caste categories, such as OBC, ST, and SC. This sparked widespread criticism from opposition parties, education experts, and teachers, who questioned the rationale behind the decision. Critics argued that the practice could lead to discrimination and overshadowed the board’s routine preparations for the crucial exams. The Class 10 (SSC) exams are scheduled to run from February 21 to March 17, 2025, while the Class 12 (HSC) exams will take place from February 11 to March 11, 2025. Despite these imminent examinations, the controversy has dominated public discourse, prompting calls for immediate clarification from the education board. Education board’s clarification Amid the backlash, Sharad Gosavi, Chairman of MSBSHSE, issued a statement addressing the concerns. Gosavi emphasized that the hall tickets did not specify a student’s caste but only their caste category or group. “This was done purely for the convenience of students and not to inconvenience them,” he stated. According to Gosavi, errors in students’ details, such as name, parents’ names, caste, or caste category, recorded in the school or junior college’s general register often create difficulties later. He explained that the inclusion of the caste category on hall tickets was intended to provide students and schools an opportunity to identify and rectify such errors before they become significant obstacles. “Many students approach us with complaints about incorrect caste or category information, which leads to hurdles in future education or while availing scholarships. By including the caste category on hall tickets, students and schools could identify and correct discrepancies in time,” Gosavi elaborated. Ensuring scholarship access The board also justified the move as a step to simplify the process of accessing government scholarships provided by departments like the Tribal Welfare Department and the Social Justice Department. “Accurate recording of caste information in the school’s general register helps students claim these scholarships without unnecessary delays. Mentioning the caste category on hall tickets ensures any discrepancies are resolved promptly,” Gosavi said. Withdrawal of the caste column Following widespread criticism, the state board has decided to withdraw the caste category field from hall tickets. In an official circular, the board clarified, “The caste category section on the hall tickets is being cancelled, and it should be noted that the other information regarding the examination of the students will remain unchanged.” The board further announced that newly prepared hall tickets would be made available for download from January 23, 2025. "The controversy has highlighted the need for greater sensitivity and clarity in decisions impacting students, particularly in a state as diverse as Maharashtra. While the board’s intentions may have been rooted in administrative convenience and support for students, the episode underscores the importance of engaging with stakeholders and understanding public sentiment before implementing such measures," said Kalpana Karia, former principal of a state board school.
19 January,2025 05:59 PM IST | Mumbai | Dipti SinghEmbattled Maharashtra minister Dhananjay Munde on Sunday fell back on the Mahabharata to claim he cannot be cornered like Abhimanyu as he was ace archer Arjun, reported news agency PTI. Munde is under attack from the opposition as well the ruling Mahayuti leaders in connection with the December 9 abduction and murder of Beed sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh. The police registered a murder case and an extortion case linked to the killing. Munde's close aide Walmik Karad has been arrested in the extortion case, following which many leaders have demanded his sacking from the Devendra Fadnavis government. Incidentally, Munde, NCP MLA from Parli, was not included in the list of guardian ministers announced by the state government on Saturday night, with his home district Beed being given to his party chief and deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar. Speaking at the NCP conclave in Shirdi in Ahilyanagar, Munde slammed some leaders for deliberately targeting him in the sarpanch murder-extortion case, reported PTI. He was saddened that these leaders included those from the ruling alliance, Munde said. The Mahayuti comprises the BJP, Shiv Sena and NCP. "No matter what, it will be of no use to corner me like Abhimanyu. Because I am not Abhimanyu, I am Arjun. Some leaders from the party (NCP) too are providing false information to Ajitdada, who is standing by me in these difficult times," Munde asserted, reported PTI. In the Mahabharata, Abhimanyu was killed after his opponents managed to create a "chakravyuh", an elaborate battle formation comprising of multiple circles. Speaking at the conclave, Munde said the killing of Deshmukh was extremely unfortunate and asserted he had been demanding since then that the culprits be hanged, reported PTI. "Crime has no caste or religion but a community is being deliberately targeted due to this incident," Munde claimed, reported PTI. The killing, which has hit national headlines and has triggered protests across Maharashtra, has also seen a caste angle added to it since most of the accused are from the Vanjari community, to which Munde also belongs, while Deshmukh was a Maratha. The two communities have been at loggerheads, especially in Maharashtra's Marathwada region, over quota demands in the past few months. Munde thanked Pawar for his support and said the latter was being labelled a villain for this. Munde said he had undertaken several campaigns against the then BJP-Shiv Sena government (of Devendra Fadnavis) between 2014 and 2019. "Ahead of the oath-taking in November 2019, I had asked Ajitdada to not join as deputy chief minister. He went ahead but I bore the punishment," Munde claimed, reported PTI. In November 2019, in a surprise move, Pawar joined hands with Fadnavis to form government, which last for just 80 hours. Pawar went back to the NCP, which teamed up with the Congress and (undivided) Shiv Sena to form the MVA dispensation under Uddhav Thackeray. During the 2024 Lok Sabha poll campaign, Munde said he was told not to go to Baramati to campaign for NCP candidate Sunetra Pawar as it would be a headache for Ajit Pawar. Sunetra Pawar, the deputy CM's wife, lost to NCP (SP) leader and sitting MP Supriya Sule by a considerable margin in the general elections. "I still went ahead to campaign (in Baramati). I campaigned for the party candidate in Thane and this is the reason why Thane leaders are coming to Beed to target me," he said in an apparent reference to NCP (SP) leader Jitendra Awhad, reported PTI. Munde claimed the social atmosphere in Beed had turned sensitive because of media trial as well as him being trolled on social media since the December 9 murder of sarpanch Deshmukh. (With inputs from PTI)
19 January,2025 03:03 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe bustling city of Mumbai is set to experience a splash of colour as the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) organizes its annual horticultural exhibition, known as the Flower Festival. The event will take place at the Veermata Jijabai Bhosale Botanical Garden and Zoo in Byculla from January 31 to February 2, 2025. Now in its 28th year, the Flower Festival promises to offer a serene escape from the city's fast-paced life. Under the guidance of BMC Commissioner and Administrator Bhushan Gagrani, and Additional Municipal Corporation Commissioner (Eastern Suburbs) Dr. Amit Saini, the festival will showcase approximately 5,000 plants, including various species of flowers, fruit trees, and medicinal plants. Deputy Commissioner (Parks) Chanda Jadhav and Parks Superintendent Jitendra Pardeshi are overseeing the arrangements. Previous editions of the festival have attracted notable visitors such as ambassadors from Japan, Malaysia, Canada, and Mauritius, as well as distinguished figures like Additional Chief Justice Manjusha Deshpande, actors Ranjit and Pawan Malhotra, and senior cricketer Dilip Vengsarkar. In addition to the floral displays, the festival will feature stalls selling gardening supplies and fertilizers, catering to both citizens and environmental enthusiasts. The BMC is inviting all Mumbaikars to enjoy this three-day floral extravaganza, which aims to provide a peaceful retreat amidst nature’s beauty.
19 January,2025 02:25 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentA man who was detained in Chhattisgarh's Durg railway station in connection with the January 16 Saif Ali Khan attack case was released on Sunday, a police official said, reported news agency PTI. Mumbai police, earlier in the day, informed that it had arrested a 30-year-old man from Thane near the metropolis in the case. "The man detained from the Mumbai LTT-Kolkata Shalimar Jnaneshwari Express at Durg station on Saturday afternoon was just a suspect and he has been released after inquiry. He was kept at the RPF post at Durg station through the night and released this morning," the police official said, reported PTI. "We can detain anyone for inquiry. We had been insisting he was just a suspect. There has been no mistake on our part. We had told the media that we would share authentic details but some went ahead and declared him an accused," Mumbai police sub-inspector Pradeep Fude told reporters at Durg railway station, reported PTI. Incidentally, RPF officials had on Saturday said the man was detained after his photo was sent to them by Mumbai police. A Mumbai police team led by Funde had arrived here last night to question the detained man. Mumbai police on Sunday said it had arrested alleged attacker Mohammad Shariful Islam Shehzad, a Bangladeshi national who had illegally entered India and changed his name to Bijoy Das, reported PTI. As per preliminary probe, he had entered the Bollywood star's home, in Satguru Sharan building in Bandra, in the early hours of January 16 with the intention of theft, police said in the metropolis. Khan (54) was stabbed multiple times in the attack, after which he underwent a five-hour surgery in nearby Lilavati Hospital. Man held in Saif Ali Khan attack case produced in Mumbai court for police remand A 30-year-old man held in the January 16 Saif Ali Khan attack case was on Sunday produced in a Mumbai court by police to seek his remand, an official said. He was produced in the holiday court in Bandra at 1:30 pm to seek his police remand, the official said. (With inputs from PTI)
19 January,2025 02:16 PM IST | Durg | mid-day online correspondentLed by a private bank’s fraud awareness initiative, the ‘Vigil Aunty’ contingent, nearly 1,500 bank employees participated in this year’s Tata Mumbai Marathon. Wearing t-shirts emblazoned with the slogan “Get Set Educate,” the employees highlighted the bank’s commitment to improving access to educational resources. A costumed contingent of 15 Vigil Aunty influencers also joined the private bank employees at the marathon to raise awareness about fraud prevention and cybercrime, enhancing visibility for the cause of safe banking. This marks the largest contingent ever fielded by a corporate at the Tata Mumbai Marathon. The employees ran in support of the NGO Light of Life Trust, an organization dedicated to providing educational opportunities for students at risk of dropping out from rural schools in Maharashtra. This initiative will benefit nearly 9,250 students across 37 government-recognized and aided rural secondary schools in eight districts of Maharashtra. The bank's commitment includes a budget of Rs 2.78 crore to enhance educational infrastructure by establishing Science and Math Laboratories, setting up Smart Digital Classrooms, providing book libraries, refurbishing classrooms, and ensuring access to clean drinking water and functional toilets. “We are delighted to have 1,500 colleagues volunteer to run for a cause at the Tata Mumbai Marathon. This is the largest employee contingent we have fielded for the marathon to date,” said Kaizad M. Bharucha, Deputy Managing Director of the bank. “Promotion of education is one of the five pillars of our CSR program, Parivartan, and through the NGO Light of Life Trust, we aim to do our part to improve access to education and help ensure that all students have the resources they need to succeed,” he added. About Vigil aunty: The award-winning Vigil Aunty initiative, launched in 2022, introduced an influencer who urged people nationwide to adopt safe banking habits. The campaign has been instrumental in promoting secure banking awareness and educating the public on various digital fraud techniques employed by fraudsters. Since its launch, the initiative has garnered a substantial fan base of over two million across social media platforms, covering over 60 modus operandi to educate customers on preventive measures against various types of fraud.
19 January,2025 01:41 PM IST | Mumbai | Vinod Kumar MenonMaharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the Svamitva Scheme after property cards were distributed to beneficiaries via video conferencing. Shinde called the initiative "historic" and transformative for rural India, reported news agency ANI. Speaking to the media, Shinde said, "Today's decision is historic, and I thank PM Narendra Modi for it. Over the last 10 years, he has introduced several schemes for the poor and women, and the Svamitva Scheme is among the most significant," reported ANI. Shinde highlighted the scheme's potential to uplift rural communities by enabling economic opportunities, reported ANI. "This process will run continuously, and everyone will benefit from it. Because of this scheme, people can avail loans, and start businesses, and such initiatives will bring prosperity to people and villages," he stated on Saturday, reported ANI. Yesterday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi distributed over 65 lakh property cards under the 'SVAMITVA Scheme' to property owners in more than 50,000 villages in more than 230 districts across 10 States and two Union territories through videoconferencing, reported ANI. Addressing the occasion, he remarked that today was a historic day for the villages and the rural areas of India and greeted all the beneficiaries and the citizens on the occasion. The Prime Minister remarked that five years ago, the SVAMITVA scheme was launched to ensure that the people residing in rural areas receive their property cards. He remarked that different states refer to property ownership certificates by various names, such as Gharoni, Adhikar Abhilekh, Property Card, Malmatta Patrak, and Awaasiya Bhumi Patta. "Over 1.5 crore people have been issued SVAMITVA cards in the past 5 years", said PM Modi, reported ANI. In today's program, he added that more than 65 lakh families had received these cards. Prime Minister also remarked that under the Swamitva Yojana, around 2.25 crore people in villages have received legal documents for their homes now. He extended his heartfelt congratulations and best wishes to all the beneficiaries. (With inputs from ANI)
19 January,2025 12:58 PM IST | Thane | mid-day online correspondentNCP leader and Food and Civil Supplies minister Dhananjay Munde did not find a place in the list of guardian ministers released by the Maharashtra government. Ministers in Maharashtra are given responsibility for one or more districts. The announcement was awaited after the formation of the new BJP-NCP-Shiv Sena government last month. The state has 36 districts. As per the list released on Saturday, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who also handles the Home department, would be the guardian minister of the Naxal-affected Gadchiroli district, while Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar has been allotted Beed district in addition to Pune, Pawar's home district. Dhananjay Munde, MLA from Parali in Beed, was the guardian minister of this central Maharashtra district in the previous government. But recently, he came under fire from both Opposition as well as local BJP MLAs over the brutal murder of sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh in the district. Walmik Karad, Munde's associate, has been arrested in connection with the case. Ajit Pawar, who heads the NCP, had refused to ask Munde to resign over the controversy. Munde, in a post on X, congratulated Ajit Pawar. He had requested Pawar to become Beed's guardian minister given the "changed political and social situation" in the district, he said. With Pawar's appointment, development of Beed will get a boost, as in Pune, he added. Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde, another deputy CM, would be the guardian minister of Mumbai city and Thane district, which is his stronghold. Besides Munde, cabinet ministers Dadaji Bhuse, Datta Bharne, Bharat Gogawale and Ministers of State Indranil Naik and Yogesh Kadam were also not allotted any district. State BJP chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule was named guardian minister of Nagpur and Amravati. Ashish Shelar was named guardian minister of Mumbai Suburbs, while Mangal Prabhat Lodha would be co-guardian minister of the district. Both Shelar and Lodha are BJP leaders from Mumbai. Aditi Tatkare of NCP would be the guardian minister of Raigad, the post eyed by Bharat Gogawale of the Shiv Sena, who hails from the same coastal district. Gogawale had said in the past that he was keen to be the guardian minister of Raigad. Shiv Sena's Shambhuraj Desai was named the guardian minister of Satara. BJP's Shivendra Sinh Bhosale, who is from Satara, has been made guardian minister of Latur. Jaykumar Gore of BJP, also from Satara, has been made guardian minister of Solapur. NCP's Makrand Patil is the guardian minister of Buldhana. Pankaja Munde of the BJP -- Dhananjay Munde's cousin -- has been made the guardian minister of Jalna district. Chandrakant Patil was made the guardian minister of Sangli, while another BJP leader, Girish Mahajan, was given the responsibility of Nashik. The Sena's Gulabrao Patil has been allotted Jalgaon. Ashish Jaiswal of the Shiv Sena would be the co-guardian minister of Gadchiroli along with CM Fadnavis. Kolhapur will have Prakash Abitkar as the guardian minister and Madhuri Misal as the co-guardian minister. The other guardian ministers: Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil (Ahilyanagar), Hassan Mushrif (Washim), Ganesh Naik (Palghar), Sanjay Rathod (Yavatmal), Uday Samant (Ratnagiri), Jaykumar Raval (Dhule), Atul Save (Nanded), Ashok Uike (Chandrapur), Manikrao Kokate (Nandurbar), Narhari Zirwal (Hingoli), Sanjay Savkare (Bhandara), Sanjay Shirsat (Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar), Pratap Sarnaik (Dharashiv), Nitesh Rane (Sindhudurg), Akash Fundkar (Akola), Babasaheb Patil (Gondia), Pankaj Bhoir (Wardha) and Meghana Bordikar (Parbhani).
19 January,2025 12:52 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentA case has been registered against a brick kiln owner for allegedly beating up a couple working for him in Maharashtra's Thane district, police said on Sunday, reported news agency PTI. Based on a complaint lodged by the couple, the police have registered a case under sections 118(1) (voluntarily causing hurt or grievous hurt by dangerous weapons or means), 127(2) (Wrongful confinement) and other relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita, Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, and Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1976, an official said, reported PTI. The couple, in their 40s, worked with the alleged accused, Dinesh Maghe, a resident of Bhiwandi, since June 2024, reported PTI. The official said that on Friday, the victims sought the accused's permission to visit their daughter, but he refused. However, they later managed to escape and were travelling to their village when he intercepted them and dragged them back to the kiln, where he allegedly beat them up. No arrests have been made in the case, and a probe is underway, he said. Man's decomposed body found inside closed factory in Thane district Police in Maharashtra's Thane district have launched a probe after the body of a man, aged 40-50, was found inside a closed factory, an official said on Saturday, reported PTI. The discovery was made on Friday when a person brought a customer who wanted to start a school from the factory premises in the Bhiwandi area, he said. When the person and the visitor stepped inside, they found the decomposed body of a man on the floor, the official said, reported PTI. After being alerted, police arrived at the spot and sent the body for post-mortem. A probe is underway, said the official from the Nizampura police station. Godown owner booked for illegal storage of hazardous chemicals in Thane district A case has been registered against a godown owner for allegedly storing hazardous chemicals worth Rs 1.35 crore on the premises without necessary permits in Maharashtra's Thane district, police said on Saturday, reported PTI. The Thane police's crime branch has sealed 14 godowns at Dapoda in Bhiwandi following a raid on Friday afternoon, an official said. He said the police team found chemicals of various brands, worth Rs 1.35 crore, stored improperly in all 14 godowns, violating safety norms and legal requirements, reported PTI. Assistant police inspector Sriraj Mali said the godown owner did not have the necessary permit to store the hazardous materials, and the premises have been sealed to prevent further misuse, reported PTI. He said a case has been registered against the godown owner under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita, Environmental Protection Act, the Manufacture, Storage, and Import of Hazardous Chemicals Rules, and the Petrochemical Act. (With inputs from PTI)
19 January,2025 12:29 PM IST | Thane | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
