Latest news with #Lodha
Indian Express
3 hours ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Rape case against Jalgaon native Praful Lodha
The Pimpri Chinchwad police in Pune have registered a case of rape against 62-year-old Praful Lodha, a native of Jalgaon district, who is at the eye of a political controversy in Maharashtra over 'honeytrap' allegations. The case was registered based on the complaint of a 36-year-old who has alleged that Lodha — who is currently in custody of Mumbai police — raped her at a hotel in Pune by promising to give her husband a job. A First Information Report (FIR) in the case was registered on July 17 at Bavdhan police station under Pimpri Chinchwad jurisdiction against Lodha, who is a native of Jamner town in Jalgaon district of Maharashtra. The details of the case were shared by the police with the media on Tuesday. Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut made allegations on Monday that a honeytrap operation was used to bring down the Maha Vikas Aghadi government in 2022 and accused the BJP of orchestrating blackmail conspiracy involving videos of sitting MLAs and MPs. Raut alleged that Lodha was the mastermind of the 'honeytrap operation'. Mumbai police had earlier arrested Lodha this month in connection with two cases registered against him on charges of sexual assault on two 16-year-old girls and a woman on the false promise of giving them jobs. 'A case of rape has been registered against Prafull Lodha at Bavdhan police station on July 17. Investigation has been launched. The accused is currently in the custody of MIDC police station under Mumbai police. Offences against him have been registered at Sakinaka and MIDC police station in Mumbai.' said Senior Inspector Anil Vibhute, in-charge of the Bavdhan police station.' 'The woman complainant has alleged that she was raped by the accused who promised a job to her husband. The incident took place on May 27, as per the complaint. We have immediately registered an offence after the complainant approached us.' Senior Inspector Vibhute added. The woman has said in her FIR that Lodha called her to a hotel in Pune on the night of May 27 promising a job for her husband and forcefully had physical relations with her. He threatened her that she will lose her job if she refused to have relations with him. 'A procedure has been initiated to get custody of the accused from Mumbai police under a transfer warrant,' said Senior Inspector Vibhute. Police have booked Lodha under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita sections 64 (rape) and 351 (Criminal intimidation).
News18
19 hours ago
- Business
- News18
Maharashtra Signs 3 Pacts With Finland To Boost Youth Startups, Research, Training
Last Updated: Maharashtra minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha announced agreements with Finland and three partners to boost innovation, providing global exposure, training, and opportunities In a significant move toward transforming Maharashtra into a global hub for innovation and entrepreneurship, the state's skill development, employment and innovation minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha announced a series of crucial pacts with Finland and three other international partners. Signed on Monday in Mumbai, these agreements are expected to provide Maharashtra's young entrepreneurs with global exposure and opportunities. The Maharashtra State Innovation Society (MSInS), operating under the skill development department, inked the pacts with the Government of Finland, Global Access to Talent from India (GATI), Magic Billion, and Charcos Enterprises. These aim to create better avenues for placements, research, investments, and high-end training for the state's youth. Dr Eva Nilsson, ambassador of Finland to India, attended the signing ceremony along with senior officials including additional chief secretary Manisha Verma, MSInS Additional CEO Aman Mittal, vice chancellor of Ratan Tata Skill University Apoorva Palkar, and director of the Directorate of Vocational Education and Training Madhavi Sardesai. Lodha highlighted Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision to make India a developed nation by 2047, stressing on Maharashtra's leading role. 'These agreements reflect the power of public-private partnerships (PPP) in skilling and innovation. This is not just paperwork — it's a doorway for Maharashtra's youth to gain global knowledge, skills, and the confidence to build world-class startups," Lodha said. Under the agreements, both countries will work together to create more opportunities for startups, establish advanced training centres in Maharashtra using Finnish expertise, and jointly host startup summits, job fairs, and research exchange programmes. Special emphasis will be placed on technology transfer and industrial research, ensuring that startups can expand globally. Nilsson commended Maharashtra's proactive approach and expressed confidence in the partnership. 'This collaboration will create new opportunities for startups and enable stronger knowledge exchange," the ambassador said. Verma said this is a significant milestone in Maharashtra's 'Vision 2047'. 'Our startups will now have a chance to make a mark globally and inspire other entrepreneurs to dream big," the official said. Before the agreements were signed, a special workshop on 'Viksit Maharashtra Vision 2047' was conducted to outline how such global partnerships will help transform the state's economic landscape over the next two decades. view comments First Published: July 22, 2025, 03:27 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Time of India
21 hours ago
- Time of India
Social worker allegedly linked to neta booked for sexual assault
Mumbai: A 63-year-old social worker from Chakala, allegedly closely associated with a BJP leader, was arrested in Mumbai on July 17 for allegedly sexually assaulting a 19-year-old girl who was enticed with a job offer. The MIDC police arrested Prafull Lodha after a zero FIR was filed on July 14, with the Sakinaka police station, which later transferred the case for further investigation. Lodha will be produced before the Andheri court after completing his police custody on Tuesday. A police officer said Lodha was previously booked under Pocso Act on July 3, and was arrested on July 5 based on a similar complaint received from a 16-year-old girl. Police have registered a case against Lodha under BNS sections 69 (sexual intercourse by employing deceitful means) and 351(2) (criminal intimidation). — V Narayan
India Today
a day ago
- Politics
- India Today
BJP worker plotted honeytrap targeting Maharashtra minister, claims Opposition
The honeytrap scam has once again rocked Maharashtra's political circles, with NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) leader Eknath Khadse accusing Maharashtra Cabinet Minister Girish Mahajan and Chief Minister's Office official Rameshwar Naik of being entangled in a scandal allegedly masterminded by BJP worker Prafulla accusations come amid a surge of honeytrap cases emerging across Maharashtra, fuelling public and political intrigue. Over the past week, the Congress has repeatedly raised the issue, claiming that at least 72 politicians and top officials in the state have allegedly been Lodha, currently facing a rape case filed in Andheri, was once a trusted aide of Mahajan. Khadse revealed that Lodha, originally a Congress member, switched over to the BJP in a ceremony overseen by then-Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, with Naik in attendance. However, their relationship soured when Lodha filed a complaint against Mahajan and Naik last year, suggesting a major a provocative video, Lodha claimed that a single move on his part could spark a nationwide uproar. He cryptically mentioned possessing incriminating video evidence and referred to someone as 'mother' and 'sister-in-law,' while stressing that he did not wish to harm has called for a transparent probe, asserting that the local police lack the impartiality to handle the case. He demanded a Special Investigation Team (SIT) and a high-level inquiry to uncover the truth behind the explosive fuel to the controversy, Uddhav Sena MP Sanjay Raut intensified the claims by sharing a photo of Lodha with Mahajan. Raut alleged that four ministers and several officials were implicated in honeytrap cases, including four young MPs who reportedly parted ways when the Shiv Sena split out of fear of has called for a CBI investigation and accused Chief Minister Fadnavis of misleading the Legislative Assembly by claiming no honeytrap cases exist in the the recent monsoon session of the Assembly, Fadnavis clarified that no official complaints regarding honeytraps had been received, except for one case in Nashik involving a Deputy Collector-level officer—which was later withdrawn. He acknowledged that the names of current and former ministers had surfaced, creating an atmosphere of suspicion in the the controversy also involves a hotel owner, reportedly a local Congress president, prompting calls for Congress MLA Nana Patole to present concrete evidence. In response, Patole accused Fadnavis of misleading the public.'In the honeytrap case, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis gave a misleading speech. He admitted a case surfaced in Nashik, but since the complaint was withdrawn, the government will not pursue the truth. We fear some critical documents may have been leaked," he said in Marathi.- Ends
The Print
a day ago
- The Print
Man held for sexually abusing two teens; raping woman in Mumbai
Lodha, who was arrested in the Chakala area on July 5, is a close aide of a BJP leader, it was stated. Two cases have been registered against the accused, Praful Lodha, at the Sakinaka and MIDC police stations, the official said. Mumbai, Jul 21 (PTI) Mumbai police have arrested a 62-year-old man for allegedly sexually abusing two 16-year-old girls and raping a woman on the pretext of giving them jobs, an official said on Monday. According to the police, the accused allegedly sexually abused a 16-year-old girl and her friend on the pretext of getting them a job. He held the girls captive in his house in Chakala, where he tortured and took objectionable pictures of them. Lodha also allegedly raped a woman in Andheri using the same ruse, the official said, adding that both offences took place this month. Following his arrest, the police searched Lodha's properties in Jalgaon, Jamner, and Pahur and seized a laptop, pen drive and some electronic items, he said. The accused has been booked under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The MIDC police took Lodha's custody recently after he was remanded into judicial custody in the POCSO case registered against him at Saki Naka police station, the official added. PTI ZA ARU This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
