THANE: A 26-year-old man was arrested and banned tobacco products worth over Rs 5 lakh were seized during a raid in the Ulhasnagar area of Thane district, an official said on Saturday. The operation was carried out late Wednesday night at premises near Shahad Gate, based on a complaint filed by officials from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). A police officer said the team recovered a large consignment of contraband from various brands that had been stocked for illegal sale, according to news agency PTI. The arrested accused has been identified as Arbaz Nasir Khan (26). Two other suspects have been named as wanted in the case, and efforts are underway to nab them. The seized tobacco products are estimated to be worth around Rs 5,05,658. An FIR has been registered at the Ulhasnagar police station under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), along with provisions of FDA regulations.

KALYAN: Cracking the whip over water supply lapses, Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) Mayor Harshali Chaudhary warned that officials found negligent in their duties would be “sent home” as she carried out a surprise inspection at the Mohili pump house in Kalyan. The move comes amid rising anger among residents over worsening water scarcity across the KDMC limits, with several areas reporting low pressure or no water supply in recent days. Chaudhary visited the Mohili pump house in the ‘A’ ward without prior notice to assess the ground situation. During the inspection, she expressed strong displeasure over delays in operations and alleged inefficiency among staff. Officials were pulled up for poor planning, which she said had disrupted the water distribution system. Interacting directly with engineers and employees, the mayor sought details on the technical issues affecting supply. However, she observed that administrative delays and negligence, more than technical constraints, were responsible for the situation. Taking a stern stand, Chaudhary warned that dereliction of duty would not be tolerated and hinted at immediate action against erring staff. She directed officials to present a detailed plan for water distribution across wards, identify shortage-hit areas, and ensure better coordination. The mayor also instructed that residents should not be forced to depend on water tankers and asked officials to streamline supply at the earliest. “While citizens are struggling for water, the administration cannot remain passive. The Mohili pump house is the heart of the city’s water supply system. Any delay here is unacceptable. Ensuring water supply is the right of every citizen, and we are committed to delivering it,” she said. The surprise visit has triggered a stir within the civic water supply department, with focus now on whether the administration can restore timely and adequate supply across Kalyan-Dombivli.

ULHASNAGAR: Nearly two months after the Ulhasnagar Municipal Corporation (UMC) elections, the much-awaited selection of committee chairpersons was completed on Wednesday, with all posts being filled unopposed.Nominations were filed for the crucial standing committee chairperson’s post and nine other special committees. With only one nomination received for each post, all candidates were elected unopposed, ensuring a smooth and undisputed selection process.The Shiv Sena, which already holds the Mayor’s post, secured the prestigious standing committee chairmanship along with five out of the nine committees of which they given one to its ally Secular Alliance Party. Its ally BJP bagged four committee chairperson posts.According to political sources, there was initial tussle between Shiv Sena and BJP—both ruling together in the civic body—over the standing committee post. However, it was eventually decided that Shiv Sena would retain the key position. The party later finalised Kalwat Singh Sohota alias Bittu Bhai for the role amid interest from multiple aspirants within its ranks.Apart from Sohota as standing committee chairperson, Deepti Dudhani was nominated for the public works committee, Meena Kaur Ajit Singh Labana for planning and development, Deepa Narayan Punjabi for water supply and sewerage, Savita Torane for health and medical assistance, Sakshi Surve for secondary and pre-primary education, Vipul Mayekar for slum improvement, Preeti Vinod Makhija for sports, social welfare and culture, Meena Deepak Sonde for women and child welfare, and Prerna Ajit Makhijani for the revenue committee.Senior party functionaries of Shiv Sena including District President Gopal Landge, MLA Balaji Kinikar and BJP’s District President Rajesh Vadhrya and Pradeep Ramchandani were present during the filing of nominations. The unopposed selections are expected to bring stability to the functioning of the civic body.

THANE: At least 10 people were killed and three others injured after a passenger vehicle crashed into a ready-mix concrete truck near Titwala on Monday morning.The incident took place near Rayta Bridge when an Eeco vehicle, travelling from Murbad to Kalyan, crashed into the heavy vehicle. According to police, the impact was severe, and several passengers died on the spot. Titwala police, along with local residents, rushed to the scene and pulled out the victims from the mangled vehicle. The injured were taken to a nearby hospital, where many were declared brought dead, while at least three are currently undergoing treatment. Police have launched an investigation to ascertain the exact cause of the accident.

THANE: Three persons were killed in a major fire that broke out in a slum cluster in Maharashtra’s Thane district, triggering multiple LPG cylinder explosions, a civic official said on Saturday. The blaze erupted around 8.30pm on Friday in the Navghar area of Mira Bhayander, at the Indralok slum colony, chief fire officer of Mira Bhayander Municipal Corporation Prakash Borade said. Flames were visible from a distance as the fire rapidly spread through the densely packed cluster of huts made of thatch and cloth, he said. Around 30 to 35 huts were gutted in the incident, while several gas cylinders exploded during the blaze. Fire personnel removed 24 cylinders from the site, some filled and others empty, the official said. Firefighters battled the blaze for nearly an hour before bringing it under control, Borade said. The three victims were charred beyond recognition, and their bodies have been sent to a government hospital for postmortem, he added. The exact cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained.

KALYAN: With the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) drive gaining momentum, Kalyan MP Shrikant Shinde on Thursday held a series of review meetings across three Lok Sabha constituencies in Thane district — Kalyan, Thane and Bhiwandi — to strengthen organisational preparedness and ensure effective implementation of the SIR.Addressing party office-bearers and workers, Shinde stressed the importance of the SIR exercise in ensuring an accurate and inclusive voter list. He directed functionaries to expedite the appointment of Booth Level Agents (BLAs) and instructed that at least two BLAs be appointed in each area. He also emphasised the need for daily review meetings with BLAs to closely monitor progress.Detailed guidance and training were provided to party workers on assisting citizens with voter registration and conducting voter mapping at the grassroots level. Shinde urged workers to take an active role in reaching out to eligible voters and helping them complete the registration process to ensure that no voter is left out.“The focus is on making the voter list transparent, accurate and comprehensive. Every eligible citizen must be included, and it is our responsibility to facilitate that process,” he said.The meetings also reviewed the broader organisational structure in the three constituencies, with instructions to strengthen the network at the booth level. Workers expressed confidence in executing the tasks and assured coordinated efforts on the ground.Speaking to reporters, Shinde said the initiative is being carried out as per the directions of Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. “We have trained our key party functionaries on how to appoint BLAs and carry out voter mapping effectively. Further training sessions will be conducted if needed,” he said.He added that strengthening the organisation at the grassroots level will play a crucial role in ensuring smooth execution of the SIR drive and preparing the party for upcoming electoral challenges in future.

ULHASNAGAR: In a move to upgrade public spaces, the Ulhasnagar Municipal Corporation (UMC) on Thursday kickstarted the beautification of three important gardens in the city. The project was inaugurated by mayor Ashwini Kamlesh Nikam, who said the initiative aims to enhance green cover and provide improved recreational facilities to residents.The gardens identified for the project include Rajiv Gandhi Garden (popularly known as Sapna Garden), Sai Vasan Shah Garden and Prabhat Garden. Civic officials said the gardens will be developed with a range of modern amenities while ensuring environmental sustainability.Speaking at the inauguration, Nikam said the beautification plan includes plantation of new trees to boost greenery and create a healthier environment. “We are focusing on making these gardens more accessible and citizen-friendly. Facilities such as music systems will be introduced so that people can enjoy devotional songs and soothing tunes during their morning and evening walks,” she said.The project will also include the construction of pink toilets for women, along with the development of a botanical garden and installation of gazebos for visitors. In addition, provisions for rainwater harvesting and solar-powered systems will be incorporated as part of the eco-friendly design.Officials said the initiative is expected to significantly improve the overall appeal of the gardens while promoting sustainable practices.Nikam further said that funds to the tune of Rs 6.9 crore have been made available for the project by MP Shrikant Shinde through government allocation. The civic body has now begun the work and aims to complete it in phases.Residents welcomed the move, stating that the upgraded gardens will offer better spaces for recreation and community activities in the city.

BHIWANDI: The Samajwadi Party’s Bhiwandi city unit has issued a show-cause notice to party MLA Rais Sheikh, accusing him of anti-party activities and indiscipline, triggering fresh signs of internal rift within the party.Bhiwandi city president Anas Ansari, in the notice, alleged that Sheikh had violated the party constitution, discipline and official directives on multiple occasions. The notice claims that the MLA made public statements against the party leadership and engaged in activities that undermined party unity.Referring to the recent Bhiwandi Municipal Corporation elections, the party alleged that Sheikh was seen actively campaigning for candidates of the Indian National Congress, which it termed a serious breach of party discipline. It further stated that multiple complaints were received from party workers and office bearers, claiming his conduct created confusion among cadres and adversely affected the party’s political interests in Bhiwandi.The notice warns that such actions could invite strict disciplinary measures, including suspension or expulsion from the party. Sheikh has been given 14 days to submit a written explanation, failing which the party has said it will initiate appropriate action without further communication.Sheikh, however, denied the allegations. “I haven’t received any such show-cause notice. I only saw it on social media and the allegations made in it are baseless,” he told TOI.Party sources indicated that the development comes amid ongoing differences between Sheikh and state party president Abu Asim Azmi. Sources claimed that during the civic polls, Sheikh stayed away from campaigning for Samajwadi Party candidates and was instead seen supporting candidates from Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party, even appearing on their campaign posters.