Latest news with #Thane-based
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Hindustan Times
Court issues arrest warrant against Nirmal Lifestyle director, raps Mumbai police for inaction
Mumbai: A metropolitan magistrate's court in Mulund has issued a non-bailable arrest warrant against Rajeev Jain, director of Nirmal Lifestyle, a real estate company, for repeatedly ignoring court summons in a cheating case. The court has also held the senior inspector of Mulund police responsible for not executing prior warrants and for not submitting any compliance report. Court issues arrest warrant against Nirmal Lifestyle director, raps Mumbai police for inaction The court said that despite being issued a bailable warrant on January 28, the accused had not appeared before the court, and no explanation was submitted by the investigating officer. 'Till date, no report is submitted on record. It appears that the investigating officer has not complied with the order passed by this court,' the magistrate said. The issue stems from a complaint filed by Juliana D'Souza, a senior citizen who booked a flat in a Nirmal Lifestyle project in Kalyan in 2016. According to D'Souza, the project was stalled and 100s of flats were not delivered to their owners. She finally approached the court in 2024 with the help of a Thane-based social activist Melwyn Fernandes. Following her complaint a cheating case was filed against Jain under the Maharashtra Ownership of Flats Act (MOFA), 1963. Her representative, advocate Sunita Banis, filed a petition on May 14, 2024 accusing Jain of 'deliberate non-compliance' and urged the court to issue a non-bailable warrant against him. Banis' application emphasised that D'Souza was vulnerable and had suffered 'grave hardship, including homelessness, as a direct consequence of the accused's unlawful acts'. Banis told the court, 'The accused has repeatedly failed to appear before this Court and seems to have no regard for the law.' She added, 'This is not merely about one flat. It is about the systemic failure to protect senior citizens from being defrauded by powerful developers.' The court noted that the accused was delaying the matter, that no police report had been submitted, and hence issued a show cause notice, asking the senior inspector to explain himself. The matter is now listed for further hearing on August 14.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Time of India
Mumbai cops bust child trafficking case and rescue six-day old baby
Mumbai: The Shivaji Nagar police busted a child trafficking case with the arrest of three women and rescued a six-day-old baby being sold for Rs 5.5 lakh. A Thane-based social activist helped lay a trap that led to the arrest of women who were attempting to sell a six-day-old baby boy for Rs 5.5 lakh. Mayuri Vannam, a 29-year-old resident of Yeor village, Thane West, along with activist Binu Varghese, approached the police station with information about a child being sold in the slum pocket of Shivaji Nagar. According to the police, the information was that a man named Sameer was offering a newborn child for sale. Following this, Vannam contacted Sameer, who confirmed that a woman would soon deliver a baby and that he intended to sell the child for Rs 4 lakh. An initial advance of Rs 10,000 was paid to Sameer. You Can Also Check: Mumbai AQI | Weather in Mumbai | Bank Holidays in Mumbai | Public Holidays in Mumbai On Aug 6, Sameer informed Vannam that the expected female child was unavailable but offered a male infant for Rs 5.5 lakh, insisting the transaction be completed the same day. Recognising the seriousness of the situation, the couple and Varghese approached Shivaji Nagar police. The Shivaji Nagar police set up a team, including women constables, and formulated a decoy operation. Vannam was instructed to maintain communication with Sameer, who then directed her to contact a woman named Nasreen (later identified as Nazima Aslam Sheikh), stating that she would complete the handover of the child. Later that day, at Lotus Junction, two women arrived carrying the infant. One of them identified Vannam through a missed call and handed over the baby, along with a hospital file indicating that the child was born on August 1, at SN Hospital, Shivajinagar. The mother's name was listed as Sumaya Irfan Khan. When the women demanded Rs 5.5 lakh as agreed, Vannam signalled the police team. Officers moved in and detained both women on the spot. Police arrested Nazima Aslam Sheikh alias Nasreen, and Fatima Mehmud Ali Sheikh, both from Rafiknagar, Govandi. "We have also detained one more woman, and her questioning is ongoing. We are looking for Sameer and are also legally examining the role of the parents of the child," said an official. During questioning, Nazima confessed that the infant was handed over to her by Sameer alias Nabeel Sheikh and that Rs 50,000 was already received from the advance payment. The proceeds were to be split between Sameer, the baby's biological parents (Sumaya and Irfan Khan), and Nazima herself. Nazima also revealed she had a prior child trafficking case registered against her at Govandi Police Station. Police seized two mobile phones—a Samsung and another ACR brand—from Nazima's possession. The infant, believed to be just six days old, was taken into protective custody by a woman constable and was later transferred to child welfare authorities. A panchnama was conducted at the scene, and formal charges are being processed. Police are also working to trace Sameer alias Nabeel Sheikh, who is currently absconding. Shivaji Nagar police registered an FIR under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code and Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, for child trafficking, criminal conspiracy, and sale of minors. Police confirmed that further investigations are underway to identify the hospital's role and determine whether the birth records were manipulated. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and s ilver prices in your area.
Hindustan Times
5 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
PIL against BJP MLA for provocative speeches against Christians
MUMBAI: A public interest litigation (PIL) has been filed before the Bombay High Court, seeking action against BJP MLA Gopichand Padalkar for allegedly delivering provocative speeches against the Christian community. Gopichand Padalkar (HT Archives) (HT PHOTO) The petition, filed by Thane-based activist, Melwyn Fernandes, states that on June 17, during a public rally at Kupwad, Sangli, Padalkar made inflammatory and communally charged statements, linking the death by suicide of a woman from Jalna on June 6, to alleged 'forced religious conversions' by Christian clergies. According to the petition, these allegations constitute an abuse of public office, and are a 'malicious attempt to vilify the Christian community, foment communal disharmony, and usurp the role of investigative authorities, thereby undermining the rule of law'. The plea informed the court that a video of the MLA's speech is in the public domain on online platforms such as YouTube, social media networks and news broadcasts, where Padalkar is allegedly found saying that there were rewards for beating Christians who conduct religious conversions and for killing priests. Padalkar, from the Jat assembly constituency in Sangli district, allegedly proceeded to make communally divisive remarks, thereby stoking hatred and mistrust against the religious minority. The petition claimed that the sitting MLA mocked the foundational tenets of the Christian faith by ridiculing sacred religious beliefs. Providing a transcript of Padalkar's speech, the petition stated that he had allegedly said, 'If Jesus can really perform miracles, let him remove me from my post – then I will listen to you. But he doesn't do anything. So why all these protests?' The petitioner contended that despite widespread public outrage and peaceful protests by over 5,000 Christians and other concerned across Maharashtra, including Mumbai (at Azad Maidan), the authorities failed to initiate suo moto criminal action against Padalkar and his supporters. 'This inaction reflects institutional apathy, fosters political impunity, and erodes public trust in constitutional, governance and the rule of law,' the petition said. 'The statements have the dangerous potential to radicalise economically and socially vulnerable individuals, incite mob violence, and disrupt communal harmony and particularly against the Christian minorities,' it added. It requested the court to direct the state to register a First Information Report (FIR) against Padalkar under Sections 153A (promoting enmity between groups), 196 (promoting enmity based on religion, etc), 351 (criminal intimidation), 74 (assault against women) 352 (intentional breach of peace) and other relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, for 'provocative speeches that pose a grave threat to communal harmony, public order, and the secular ethos enshrined in the Constitution of India'.
Time of India
21-07-2025
- Time of India
Thane: 5 history-sheeters held for brutal assault on Bhandup hotelier linked to MP; builder named prime accused
THANE: Five history-sheeters, some with serious criminal records, were arrested by Shri Nagar police in connection with the brutal assault on a 41-year-old hotelier from Bhandup, who is a relative of MP. The incident unfolded inside an office at Wagle Estate, Thane, on Wednesday. A city-based developer, Bhushan Bhanushali, was named as the prime accused, said a police officer. According to police, the arrest was made in the case where the hotelier, along with some builders and the office owner, was engaged in a business discussion around 3:15 p.m. when a mob of 20–21 men barged in. 'They began punching and kicking the hotelier and others, and ransacked the place using cups, paperweights, flower pots, and other objects,' a police official stated. The victim suffered multiple injuries, including a severe blow to his private parts. An FIR was registered late on July 16 under several stringent provisions of the newly enacted Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Among the accused is prominent Thane-based builder Bhushan Bhanushali, who was named the prime accused in the case. Bhanushali, however, denied involvement, claiming, 'My name is being unnecessarily dragged into this. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Your Finger Shape Says a Lot About Your Personality, Read Now Tips and Tricks Undo I was trying to resolve the matter.' Police believe the altercation began with a minor argument involving Bhanushali's son, which then escalated. Shri Nagar police have recovered CCTV footage from the office and surrounding areas and are recording witness statements to reconstruct the sequence of events. The FIR lists charges including unlawful assembly, rioting, house trespass, criminal intimidation, mischief, and voluntarily causing hurt.
Time of India
09-07-2025
- General
- Time of India
Thane soc revokes 14L fine on member for walking his dogs
Navi Mumbai: A Thane-based housing society at Ghodbunder Road has revoked a steep penalty of over Rs 14 lakh imposed on a resident for "walking dogs in common areas" and for other dog-related issues. This decision has come as a relief for the animal activist, Subhajit Bhattacharya, who runs an NGO 'Shades Of Kindness' and takes care of 20 rescued dogs. TOI had reported about this issue as Bhattacharya was regularly fined a specific amount by Hawaiian Village CHS every time he took his rescued dogs out for a walk. He termed these fines as unfair and unjustified. Animal rights group Pure Animal Lovers (PAL) Foundation also supported Bhattacharya by sending a legal notice to the society over this issue. "It is a good development that Hawaiian Village housing society, which comprises around 100 independent houses or bungalows, has formally decided to cancel the heavy fines of nearly Rs 14 lakh slapped on its member, Bhattacharya. I also contacted the society office-bearers and explained to them that it is illegal to charge any fine on a resident if they are simply walking their dogs. A legal notice was also sent," said Roshan Pathak of PAL. You Can Also Check: Mumbai AQI | Weather in Mumbai | Bank Holidays in Mumbai | Public Holidays in Mumbai Pathak added, "This cancellation of unfair fines has raised hopes among other feeders facing similar harassment from their societies..."
