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Hindustan Times
a day ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Fake ex-minister, aides dupe bizman of ₹6 crore
MUMBAI: Five persons attempted to pull off an audacious fraud, posing as senior government officials and even a former minister, to defraud a businessman of ₹6 crore. They pretended to offer the businessman a government contract to supply 12,000 ICU beds to government hospitals – but a faked Government Resolution (GR) gave the game away. Fake ex-minister, aides dupe bizman of ₹ 6 crore Two of the accused posed as officers on special duty (OSDs) of ministers, while one claimed to be a former minister. They took ₹6 crore upfront to secure the fictitious contract. The complainant is Taufail Khan, 45, proprietor of a Vidyavihar-based company called Novel Designer Display System Private Limited, which manufactures wooden and metal furniture. One of the suspects, Nitin Gupta, had worked for Khan as a consultant and promised to introduce him to senior government officials to bag a massive contract. Gupta fixed a meeting between Khan and three persons in an expensive hotel in Bandra in March. They were Gupta's partners in crime. One, he claimed, was a former minister, and the other two were OSDs to the state health minister, and food and drugs minister. They were carrying what looked like Maharashtra government identity cards, said the Bandra police. The accused offered Khan a contract to manufacture 12,000 ICU beds, and said their technical teams would visit his manufacturing facilities to verify their production capacity. During the meeting, the accused also discussed advance payments and commissions, as well as sums that senior government officers would need to get the process started. After a few days, Khan was invited to another meeting, where he was introduced to a fifth suspect, who he was told was an IAS officer. Khan walked right into the trap. He prepared a sample bed, which the accused 'inspected', and they agreed to give him an order for 12,000 beds for ₹100 crore, reads the First Information Report (FIR). The accused then started pressuring Khan to pay ₹6 crore in cash, which they needed to distribute to various government officers. Khan borrowed from friends and relatives, and paid the money in instalments. The accused then faked a GR, mentioning the contract. When Khan checked the government portal, he found no GR issued in his firm's name. That's when he approached the police. 'The five accused are Nitin Gupta, Ramesh Bansode, Balaji Pawar, Uddhav Bhamre and Kaustubh Bhamre. None of them is an OSD, a minister or a former minister. Our investigation is ongoing,' said an officer with the Bandra police.
Mint
4 days ago
- Politics
- Mint
Maharashtra issues new social media guidelines: Govt employees can't criticise policies of the state
Maharashtra government on Monday issued a new set of guidelines for its employees to use social media platforms, warning that employees violating these norms will face action. The new policy bars the state government employees from criticising the existing or past policies of government in state and other dispensations on social media platform. The guidelines also warned that employees violating the new norms will face action under the Maharashtra Civil Service Conduct Rules 1979. 'The employees will have to maintain separate accounts for personal and official uses. They are not supposed to use apps that are either banned by the state government or by the Centre,' said the Government Resolution (GR). — State government employees are supposed to use social media very responsibly. — Sate government employees should not download objectionable, discriminatory, defamatory content or posts that evoke hatred. — Personal account should not have anything other than the employee's photograph. — No confidential dossiers, official documents can be partly or fully uploaded, forwarded or shared without prior permission or authorisation, reported PTI. — Before retirement or transfer, the employees are supposed to hand over the official social media account to their successor. — State government, local bodies, contract staffers — Public sector undertakings of the state government According to the GR, employees should not post anything which shows: 1) Designation or images of the government logo 3) Official properties like office buildings The state govt employees can't use any app banned by the state government or the Centre.
The Print
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Print
Maharashtra govt employees can't criticise policies of govt, as per new state social media norms
Employees violating these norms will face action under the Maharashtra Civil Service Conduct Rules 1979, the GR said. A Government Resolution (GR) also stated that the employees will have to maintain separate accounts for personal and official uses. They are not supposed to use apps that are either banned by the state government or by the Centre. Mumbai, Jul 28 (PTI) Employees of the Maharashtra government cannot criticise the existing or past policies of the state government or any other dispensation in the country, according to the new social media guidelines issued on Monday. The state government employees are supposed to use social media very responsibly. Officers can post about the good work done by them, but care should be taken if it is not self-praise, it said. The rules apply to employees and officers of the state government, those with local bodies, contract staffers, and public sector undertakings of the state government. The GR further stated that state government employees should not download objectionable, discriminatory, defamatory content or posts that evoke hatred. It also states that the personal account should not have anything other than the employee's photograph. The GR asked employees not to post anything on social media, which shows a designation or images of the government logo, uniform, or official properties like office buildings or vehicles. They should not use any app banned by the state government or the Centre, it said. Employees can use messaging apps like WhatsApp, Telegram, and others for the coordination of official work. Only officials authorised by the government can use official media for publicising government schemes, projects, and public participation with the approval of the competent authority. No confidential dossiers, official documents can be partly or fully uploaded, forwarded or shared without prior permission or authorisation, the GR said. The employees are also supposed to hand over the official social media account to their successor official before retirement or transfer. PTI PR NSK This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Maharashtra Housing Policy 2025 formally approved: 5 things you should know
The Maharashtra government has recently formalised the Maharashtra Housing Policy 2025, titled My House, My Right, with a vision to ensure affordable and adequate housing for all citizens. The Maharashtra government has recently formalised the Maharashtra Housing Policy 2025, titled My House, My Right, with a vision to ensure affordable and adequate housing for all citizens. (Picture for representational purposes only)(Pixabay) The policy outlines key goals, such as redeveloping old buildings, rehabilitating slum dwellers, and revitalising stalled real estate and slum redevelopment projects through public-private partnerships. A significant initiative under the policy is the creation of a dedicated land bank for residential use by 2026, aimed at streamlining housing development across the state. In a notable move to promote senior living housing, the government has introduced a game-changing incentive, a dramatic reduction in stamp duty to a flat rate of just ₹1,000. This is expected to make retirement housing more accessible and attract greater private sector participation in the segment. The Maharashtra government's cabinet approved the new Maharashtra Housing Policy 2025 in May 2025; however, on July 23, the Maharashtra Housing Department issued a Government Resolution (GR) on the policy, which is considered to be one step further towards its implementation in the state. Here are five things to know about the Maharashtra Housing Policy 2025. 1) Investment of ₹ 70,000 crore expected under the Maharashtra Housing Policy 2025 The government expects an investment of ₹70,000 crore during the policy's implementation. Its target is to generate an affordable housing stock of 35 lakh units by 2030. Under the new policy, the government aims to create a land bank for residential use by 2026. This initiative will be implemented in coordination with the Revenue Department, Forest Department, Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation, Water Resources Department, and the Industries Department, among others. 2) Revival of stalled projects The Maharashtra government's 2025 housing policy includes targeted measures to revive stalled real estate and slum redevelopment projects, particularly using a cluster redevelopment model for greater efficiency and scale. Also Read: Maharashtra approves new housing policy after nearly two decades: 5 key highlights 3) Stamp duty relaxations for senior living housing The Maharashtra government's newly finalised Housing Policy 2025 introduces a game-changing incentive for senior living housing: stamp duty has been dramatically reduced to a flat ₹1,000, replacing the previous slab of 5–7% of property value depending on location. The move aims to make retirement homes more affordable and accelerate development in this underserved segment. Also Read: Maharashtra Housing Policy 2025 offers major benefits for senior living buyers; Stamp duty reduced to flat ₹1,000 4) Push for self-redevelopment of old buildings The Maharashtra government has strongly pushed self-redevelopment in its newly approved housing policy. To support the initiative, the state has allocated ₹2,000 crore and proposed the formation of a dedicated cell to assist cooperative housing societies. This cell will provide end-to-end support, including guidance on planning, funding, developer selection, and project execution, empowering societies to undertake redevelopment independently. According to data from CREDAI-MCHI, the apex body of real estate developers, over 25,000 buildings across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) are eligible for redevelopment, with an estimated project value of more than ₹30,000 crore. 5) Affordable housing survey As part of its Maharashtra Housing Policy 2025, the Maharashtra government has proposed a housing demand survey across all districts to assess the current requirements. The government noted that post-COVID-19, housing needs and consumption patterns have changed drastically, making it essential to update the policy framework. Also Read: Maharashtra Housing Policy 2025: Statewide survey proposed to assess housing demand in post-COVID-19 era According to the policy, a detailed housing need survey and analysis will be carried out across all state districts and is targeted for completion by 2026. This will enable a district-wise understanding of housing demand.
Hindustan Times
6 days ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
State relaxes eligibility criteria for admission to 4 agri universities
Pune: In a key policy shift aimed at making professional agriculture education more inclusive, the state government has relaxed the eligibility criteria for undergraduate admissions to agriculture and allied degree programmes across the state's four agricultural universities. The decision was formally announced through a Government Resolution (GR) issued on July 24. In a key policy shift aimed at making professional agriculture education more inclusive, the state government has relaxed the eligibility criteria for undergraduate admissions to agriculture and allied degree programmes. (Representive photo) According to the revised guidelines, the minimum qualifying marks for candidates from the open category, who have completed their Class 12 in the science stream, have been lowered from the earlier requirement of 50 percent to 45 percent. For candidates from reserved categories, including SC, ST, VJ, NT, OBC, EWS, persons with disabilities, orphans, and others, the eligibility is not less than 40%. The revision in criteria will be applicable to a range of undergraduate degree programmes in agriculture and allied disciplines. These include traditional courses in agriculture, horticulture and forestry, as well as emerging fields like agricultural engineering, food technology, community science, biotechnology, and agricultural business management. These programmes are offered through the four agricultural universities in Maharashtra. In addition to the change in minimum marks, the government has also introduced a new provision that provides a 10-point weightage in the admission process for candidates who have passed Class 12 in science with vocational or agriculture-related subjects under the 10+2 pattern from recognised higher secondary schools. The same benefit will also be extended to students from the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), who have studied agriculture as a subject specifically under subject code 808 during their Class 12 curriculum. The admission process for these courses, being conducted through a centralised admission system overseen by the Maharashtra CET Cell, began on July 4 and the last date to submit online applications has now been extended to July 27. Eligible and interested candidates must submit their forms through the official website:
