The Shiv Sena (UBT) on Wednesday took a dig at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for following an open-door policy, a pattern for the last 11 years of first accusing opposition leaders of corruption, then letting them in after "purifying" them, reported news agency IANS. The Thackeray camp in the party's mouthpiece, 'Saamana', said this open-door policy has emerged as a point of deep contention for party veterans. The editorial referred to former BJP Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar’s outburst expressing significant discontent with the current state of the party, comparing its organisational structure to the village of Shani Shingnapur, known for houses without doors. While the BJP secured the most seats in recent municipal council and nagar panchayat elections across Maharashtra, the party suffered a major setback in Mungantiwar’s home district of Chandrapur, reported IANS. Addressing the BJP’s methodology, Mungantiwar remarked that the BJP has adopted a formula where "anyone can enter at any time and be absorbed into the party". He specifically noted that in Chandrapur, the BJP is the only party that effectively has "no doors". This sentiment extends beyond a single district, reflecting a national trend where the BJP opens its doors to leaders from all political backgrounds, said the editorial. 'Sudhir Mungantiwar’s frustration follows a poor showing in Chandrapur district elections' “The veteran leader's frustration follows a poor showing in the Chandrapur district elections. Of the 11 municipal seats, the BJP won only two. The Congress took seven seats, while one went to an Independent and another to the Shinde faction. Mungantiwar attributed the loss to internal factionalism and a lack of support from party leadership. He claimed that while the Congress empowered its leaders, his own party leaders worked to reduce his strength,” said the editorial. It further added, “Having previously served as the state's Finance Minister, Mungantiwar was replaced by Ajit Pawar, a move he perceives as a slight against his 'loyalty' and 'capability',” said the editorial, reported IANS. According to the editorial, the friction has led to public spats with other BJP members. "Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule remarked that losing is not simply a result of not having a ministerial post, to which Mungantiwar retorted that Bawankule felt the same when his own power was reduced previously. A newcomer at the party even taunted him by asking if he was following the path of former BJP minister Eknath Khadse," it said. "The response to the 'suffocation' felt by loyal party workers due to the influx of imported leaders from other parties, Mungantiwar announced a 'Dialogue Tour' across the state. However, the party leadership, fearing a massive show of support from restless loyalists, intervened immediately. Consequently, Mungantiwar cancelled the tour within a few hours, said the editorial, reported IANS. The Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena claimed that the "Shani Shingnapur" comparison remains a "thorn in the side" for Mungantiwar, and many dedicated activists feel that the party's identity is being compromised by its open-door policy. (With inputs from IANS)
24 December,2025 12:03 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentA Mumbai court has sentenced a 30-year-old scrap dealer to one year rigorous imprisonment for causing the death of four people, including two children, "due to negligence" in a 2013 gas leak-induced fire in a Mumbai suburb, reported news agency PTI. The prosecution had sought the accused Bablu Paswan's conviction under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) for culpable homicide, but the court said there was no evidence of specific intent to cause death. Additional Sessions Judge (Dindoshi Court) Nandkishor More held Paswan guilty of criminal negligence. In its verdict on December 12, the Mumbai court noted that two minor children and as many women lost their lives because of Paswan's negligent act, reported PTI. The court held him guilty of offences under IPC sections 304(A), pertaining to causing death by negligence, 338 (causing grievous hurt by act endangering life) and 285 (negligent conduct with respect to fire or combustible matter), reported PTI. Accused acted negligently The accused acted negligently, even though he was cautioned by the deceased and other residents, the order stated. The judge said that the "parents of minor children have lost their growing child. So also, the family members of two women have missed their company", reported PTI. The Mumbai court then ruled that the one-year prison term "would meet the ends of justice". The incident took place in March 2013, near a chawl in the city's Kandivali area, reported PTI. According to the prosecution, Paswan was emptying a cylinder containing an inflammable gas into an open drainage line in front of his scrap shop. Despite warnings from local residents that the act was hazardous, Paswan continued to do so, the prosecution said, reported PTI. The police said that the situation turned fatal when a person, identified as Abdul Khan, nearby threw a lit cigarette into the drainage, resulting in a fire that swept through the area, reported PTI. Several people had sustained severe burns, while four succumbed to their wounds. Khan, also an accused in the case, was acquitted of all charges due to lack of evidence linking him to the ignition of the fire, reported PTI. After hearing both sides and perusal of evidence on record, the court held that "it was the imperative duty of the accused No. 1(Paswan) to have adopted the course which he had neglected or failed to adopt". "The evidence on record sufficiently proved that Paswan acted negligently and the death and injuries caused to the victims are the direct and proximate result of his negligent act," the court ruled. (With inputs from PTI)
24 December,2025 11:38 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentVanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) leader Prakash Ambedkar on Tuesday said his party is prepared to contest 200 seats in the 227-member Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) in the January 15 elections, reported news agency PTI. Talking to reporters in Mumbai, the grandson of chief architect of the Constitution, Dr B R Ambedkar, said, "We are prepared for 200 seats in Mumbai and our insistence is on a 50-50 seat-sharing formula (in case of an alliance with Congress)," asserting his party's strength in municipal bodies was evident, reported PTI. The former MP noted it was not possible to give a state-wide deadline on alliances even in Mumbai at this stage as talks often move slowly. Ambedkar pointed out that the Congress and the NCP (SP) were not coming together for the polls, forcing his party to decide whom to align with. He added that no formal seat-sharing talks had yet begun with the Congress in Mumbai, but the VBA remained firm on an equal sharing of seats. Using a light-hearted analogy, Ambedkar compared alliance talks to matchmaking, saying discussions were currently limited to "refreshments", and that the marriage would take place only after the bride was chosen, reported PTI. Meanwhile, the VBA is expected to contest the Akola Municipal Corporation polls on its own, while talks between the Congress and the VBA for alliances in the Nagpur and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar civic elections are said to be at an advanced stage. Following the declaration of results of municipal councils and nagar panchayats across the state, discussions on a possible Congress-VBA alliance for the BMC elections 2026 have also gathered pace, with talks between the two parties held in Mumbai on November 22. VBA sources told PTI that an understanding on a seat-sharing formula could pave the way for sealing the alliance for the civic polls. India's largest civic body BMC, with a budget of more than Rs 74,000 crore for 2025-26, is among 29 municipal corporations in the state going to polls on January 15. Nirupam seeks 90 to 100 seats for Shiv Sena Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Nirupam on Tuesday said his party should get 90-100 seats in the next month's BMC elections 2026, including the wards won by the undivided Shiv Sena in the 2017 civic elections, a demand that came amid alliance talks with the BJP. Addressing a press conference, Nirupam also accused Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray of abandoning the ideals of party founder Bal Thackeray by "joining hands with the Congress and jihadi Muslims". This is not acceptable to Marathi manoos, Nirupam claimed. By all circumstances, Mumbai will have a Mahayuti mayor and "certainly a Mamu or Khan will not be the one", he said. Any attempt to do so will be thwarted, Nirupam further said. "The Maharashtra Vidhan Sabha criteria should be applied to the BMC elections 2026," the former MP said. He said during the Vidhan Sabha polls, seats won by the undivided Shiv Sena were allotted to the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena. (With inputs from PTI)
24 December,2025 11:02 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentMumbai and its suburbs are expected to experience mainly clear skies on Wednesday, with the maximum temperature around 33 degrees Celsius and the minimum around 17 degrees Celsius, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The Sameer app reported the city’s Air Quality Index (AQI) at 89, falling under the satisfactory category, which may cause minor breathing discomfort for sensitive individuals. AQI readings across the city include: Bandra Kurla Complex – 122, Borivali – 86, Byculla – 14, Andheri East – 83, Chembur – 105, Deonar – 116, Ghatkopar – 79, Kandivali West – 84. Local weather stations recorded Colaba's minimum temperature at 21 degrees Celsius, while Santacruz recorded a minimum of 20.3 degrees Celsius, according to IMD Mumbai. Toxic smog, dense fog grips parts of north India; Delhi invokes GRAP-IV A thick layer of toxic smog engulfed parts of the national capital on Wednesday, with visuals emerging from the ITO area amid worsening air quality. The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has invoked all measures under GRAP Stage-IV in Delhi-NCR. The AQI around the ITO area was recorded at 374, categorised as ‘very poor’, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) on Wednesday. Similar conditions were observed at India Gate, where Republic Day parade rehearsals continued amid the toxic smog. The AQI around India Gate was 354, also falling in the ‘very poor’ category, according to CPCB data. Meanwhile, the Delhi Cabinet, under the leadership of Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, on Tuesday approved a series of significant measures to strengthen the capital’s fight against pollution and improve environmental governance, according to a press release. Announcing the outcomes, Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said the initiatives would bring “a decisive reduction in sources of air and water pollution, while creating a cleaner, more sustainable urban environment.” The Cabinet approved an allocation of Rs 100 crore for the rejuvenation of water bodies under the Delhi government. Out of approximately 1,000 water bodies in Delhi, 160 fall under the Delhi government’s domain. Sirsa stated, “The rejuvenation of Delhi’s water bodies will play a crucial role in pollution control. The Chief Minister has directed that every possible financial support be extended to complete this work within the year.” Elsewhere in northern India, the weather remained harsh due to dense fog and cold waves. In Haryana’s Ambala, dense fog was reported, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issuing an orange alert. The minimum temperature is forecast at 11 degrees Celsius. In Uttar Pradesh, dense fog engulfed Ayodhya as the cold wave intensified. The IMD has forecast a minimum temperature of 11 degrees Celsius and issued a yellow alert. A dense layer of fog also enveloped Kanpur, where the IMD issued a yellow alert and forecast a minimum temperature of 10 degrees Celsius. Moradabad too woke up to dense fog as a cold wave gripped the city. The IMD has forecast a minimum temperature of 11 degrees Celsius and issued an orange alert. (With ANI inputs)
24 December,2025 10:13 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentNot a single nomination was filed on Tuesday on the first day of the process for the January 15 elections to the 227-seat Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). Though more than 4,100 nomination forms were issued so far, not a single one was submitted to election authorities on the first day of filing papers by candidates, a BMC release said. Bhushan Gagrani holds meeting with representatives of various political parties BMC commissioner and Maharashtra government-appointed administrator Bhushan Gagrani held a meeting with representatives of various political parties at the civic body's headquarters and briefed them on functioning of 23 offices set up across Mumbai to facilitate election-related work. Highest number of nomination forms distributed from the M-West ward office The release said the highest number of nomination forms - 419 - were distributed from the M-West ward office, followed by 347 from the L ward in Mumbai's eastern suburbs. The lowest numbers were recorded in South Mumbai, with 18 and 25 forms distributed in the A and B wards, respectively. The 23 offices will remain operational from 11 am to 5 pm between December 23 and December 30 to accept nomination forms from candidates. However, nomination forms for the BMC elections 2026 will be distributed only till 4 pm on December 30. Nomination papers will neither be distributed nor accepted on December 25 and December 28, said the release. "The scrutiny of nomination papers received from candidates will be conducted on Wednesday, December 31, 2025, from 11 am onwards. After completion of the scrutiny process, the list of validly nominated candidates will be published immediately," the BMC said. The last date for withdrawal of candidature is January 2 between 11 am and 3 pm, while the allocation of symbols and publication of the final list of candidates will take place on January 3. According to the BMC elections 2026 schedule, polling for the municipal corporation will be held on January 15 from 7.30 am to 5.30 pm, while counting of votes will take place the next day. "All stages of scrutiny of nomination papers, verification of validity, withdrawal of candidature and announcement of the final list of candidates will be implemented as per the programme announced by the State Election Commission (SEC). Candidates and political parties must strictly adhere to the prescribed timelines for the nomination process," the release stated. While filing nomination papers, candidates must submit all required documents, affidavits and mandatory fees within the stipulated time, it added. India's largest civic body with a budget of more than Rs 74,000 crore for 2025-26 is among 29 municipal corporations in the state going to polls on January 15. Except the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), other prominent political parties were yet to finalise their candidates for the 227 civic wards. The AAP has released its first list of 21 candidates and also announced names of 40 star campaigners, which included its top leaders like Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia. The undivided Shiv Sena ruled the country's richest civic body for nearly two decades (till 2017) with the BJP as its junior ally.
24 December,2025 10:11 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentA fire that broke out at multiple godowns in a commercial building in Mumbra, Thane, on Tuesday evening was completely extinguished by late night, civic officials said, adding that no injuries were reported. According to the Disaster Management Cell of the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC), the fire was reported at around 6.06 pm at the Mech Company Compound near Mumbra Fire Station. The blaze affected two godowns located on the first and second floors of B Wing, a ground-plus-two-storey structure. Fire brigade teams, along with personnel from the Disaster Management Cell, Thane Disaster Response Force, Mumbra police, Torrent Power Company, and the civic encroachment department, rushed to the spot to control the fire. Firefighters deployed three fire engines, a jumbo tanker, two water tankers and a rescue vehicle, while additional private water tankers were arranged through the water supply department. Officials said the fire caused damage to Shop Nos. 96/97/98, housing an Asian Paints brush manufacturing unit and godown owned by Aman Murtija Hashmi and rented by Vasant Gaud, and Shop Nos. 98/99/100, a cardboard godown of Famous Packaging Company owned by Wasim Khan. The fire was brought under control and fully extinguished by around 11 pm, officials confirmed, adding that the situation is now stable and cooling operations have been completed. Tree falls on cars in Maharashtra's Thane; authorities clear road in two hours A large tree fell on three parked vehicles along Pokhran Road No. 02 near Cosmos Horizon Society in Shastri Nagar early on Tuesday, causing minor damage to the vehicles. The incident occurred around 09.50 AM near Bethany Hospital. No injuries were reported. Officers from the Vartak Nagar Police Station, along with Disaster Management Cell staff, Fire Department personnel, and Tree Authority workers, worked together to clear the fallen tree from the road. Vehicle details affected: Mahindra Bolero Pickup Maruti Suzuki Ertiga Maruti Suzuki Swift All vehicles sustained minor damage from the tree fall, but thankfully, there were no casualties. The road was cleared and reopened for traffic after approximately two hours of effort. Authorities have emphasised their preparedness to handle such incidents and ensure swift resolution, minimising disruptions to local traffic.
24 December,2025 09:47 AM IST | Thane | mid-day online correspondentA fireman sustained minor injuries while battling a fire at a textile factory in Maharashtra’s Thane district on Wednesday morning, officials said, reported news agency PTI. According to Fire Officer Mahesh Patil, the fire broke out at around 5.45 am at an industrial unit in Khoni village, Bhiwandi. Firefighting operations were launched immediately, and the blaze was brought under control by around 8.30 am, an official from the Bhiwandi Nizampur City Municipal Corporation said. During the operation to douse the fire, an LPG (liquified petroleum gas) cylinder exploded, causing minor injuries to a fireman. The firefighter is being treated at a local hospital, he said, reported PTI. Cooling efforts are underway, the official said, adding the cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained. Thane fire update: Blaze at Mumbra godowns doused after five hours, no injuries reported In another similar incident, a fire that broke out at multiple godowns in a commercial building in Mumbra, Thane, on Tuesday evening was completely extinguished by late night, with civic officials confirming that no injuries were reported. According to the Disaster Management Cell of the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC), the fire was reported at around 6.06 pm at the Mech Company Compound near Mumbra Fire Station. The blaze affected two godowns located on the first and second floors of B Wing, a ground-plus-two-storey structure. Fire brigade teams, along with personnel from the Disaster Management Cell, Thane Disaster Response Force, Mumbra police, Torrent Power Company, and the civic encroachment department, rushed to the spot to control the fire. Firefighters deployed three fire engines, a jumbo tanker, two water tankers and a rescue vehicle, while additional private water tankers were arranged through the water supply department. Officials said the fire caused damage to Shop Nos. 96/97/98, housing an Asian Paints brush manufacturing unit and godown owned by Aman Murtija Hashmi and rented by Vasant Gaud, and Shop Nos. 98/99/100, a cardboard godown of Famous Packaging Company owned by Wasim Khan. The fire was brought under control and fully extinguished by around 11 pm, officials confirmed, adding that the situation is now stable and cooling operations have been completed.
24 December,2025 09:43 AM IST | Thane | mid-day online correspondentShiv Sena leader Sanjay Nirupam on Tuesday said his party should get 90-100 seats in the BMC elections 2026, including the wards won by the undivided Shiv Sena in the 2017 civic elections, a demand that came amid alliance talks with the BJP. Addressing a press conference, Nirupam also accused Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray of abandoning the ideals of party founder Bal Thackeray by "joining hands with the Congress and jihadi Muslims". This is not acceptable to Marathi manoos, Nirupam claimed. By all circumstances, Mumbai will have a Mahayuti mayor and "certainly a Mamu or Khan will not be the one", he said. Any attempt to do so will be thwarted, Nirupam further said. "The Maharashtra Vidhan Sabha criteria should be applied to the BMC elections 2026," the former MP said. He said during the Vidhan Sabha polls, seats won by the undivided Shiv Sena were allotted to the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena. "We expect that the same formula should be applied in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation polls," Nirupam said. Of the 84 former corporators of the undivided Shiv Sena, some 60-65 have joined the Shinde-led Sena and were assured election tickets, he said, adding that former corporators from other parties like the Congress have also joined the Sena. "With 90-100 seats (to Shiv Sena), the BJP and Shiv Sena can give a good fight," he added. Talks between Shiv Sena-BJP are underway to firm up an alliance between the two parties for the BMC elections 2026. Mahayuti wave to extend to municipal corporations, says Sanjay Nirupam Nirupam said the Mahayuti’s strong performance in the recent municipal council and nagar panchayat elections indicates that a similar wave will be seen in the forthcoming municipal corporation polls. Addressing a press conference in Mumbai, Nirupam said that although the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Shiv Sena and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) contested the local body elections independently, voters delivered a clear mandate in favour of all three Mahayuti partners. “A Mahayuti tsunami was visible in these elections, and the same momentum will carry forward into the municipal corporation polls,” he said. Citing figures, Nirupam said the BJP topped the results with a 63 per cent strike rate, followed by Shiv Sena with 55 per cent and the NCP with 44 per cent. He added that the outcome reflected public approval of the Mahayuti government’s performance, with beneficiaries of schemes targeting women, farmers, youth and senior citizens backing the alliance. “We are confident that Mahayuti-backed mayors will be elected in the maximum number of municipal corporations,” he said. Nirupam also launched a sharp attack on the Shiv Sena (UBT) faction, claiming voters in the Konkan region had decisively rejected it for “abandoning Hindutva”. He said the UBT faction was wiped out in Palghar, Thane, Raigad, Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg districts, and failed to secure a single municipal council president’s post in Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg and Raigad. Overall, UBT recorded a strike rate of just 18.5 per cent and finished fifth in the municipal council results, while Shiv Sena won 53 council presidents compared to UBT’s nine, he said. There are a total of 227 seats in the BMC. Elections to 29 civic bodies in Maharashtra will take place on January 15.
24 December,2025 09:40 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentA gaur rescued with severe injuries in Kolhapur in 2023 has been successfully released back into the wild this month after nearly two years of intensive treatment and rehabilitation — an uncommon success in wildlife recovery. The animal was released into the Sahyadri Tiger Reserve (STR) after being fitted with a radio collar to enable the Forest Department to monitor its movement, habitat use, and post-release behaviour. The gaur was rescued in September 2023 from Malkapur in Kolhapur district by the Rapid Response Team (RRT) of the Kolhapur forest department. Then, a very young fawn with an infant coat was found with its front left leg trapped in a drainage opening, resulting in a complex limb fracture. The animal was shifted to the Wildlife Treatment and Transit Centre (TTC) in Pune, where the fractured limb was stabilised immediately. It later underwent two orthopaedic surgeries. Given the complexity of the injury and nerve compression, the veterinary team sought guidance from noted neurosurgeon Dr Rajesh Paranis. Treatment was carried out by a team led by Dr Chetan Vanjari at RESQ CT. Forest officials said amputation was ruled out as it would result in permanent captivity, particularly given the steep and undulating terrain that gaurs naturally inhabit and navigate using all four limbs. During rehabilitation, the animal was housed in a large outdoor enclosure, introduced to native fodder and put through a structured physiotherapy programme to restore strength and mobility. Expert Speak Neha Panchamiya, founder and president of RESQ Charitable Trust, said, “For megaherbivores like the gaur, full use of all limbs is vital for survival in steep terrain. Despite severe fractures, our priority was to save the limb rather than amputate, preserving his future in the wild.” Tushar Chavan, IFS, Field Director, Sahyadri Tiger Reserve said, "A gaur and a sambar deer have been fitted with radio collars and released back into the wild at the Sahyadri Tiger Reserve as part of a scientific monitoring initiative by the Forest Department. The radio-collaring will allow officials and researchers to closely track their movements and daily activity patterns, helping generate crucial data on habitat use, home range, movement corridors and behavioural responses in a forested landscape. This information will aid in understanding how these key herbivore species utilise different habitats across seasons, their interaction with the ecosystem, and potential overlaps with human-dominated areas. The findings are expected to strengthen long-term conservation planning, improve habitat management, and support informed decision-making for wildlife protection in the Sahyadri landscape."
24 December,2025 09:04 AM IST | Mumbai | Ranjeet JadhavMassive fire broke out at a warehouse in a commercial building in Mumbra area of Thane district in Maharashtra on Tuesday evening, officials said, adding that the firefighting operations were underway. According to the Regional Disaster Management Cell (RDMC) of the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC), the blaze was reported at around 6:06 pm, at the Megh Company compound in Mumbra area of Thane. The fire engulfed the B Wing of the ground plus two-floor building, affecting a warehouse storing jute goods on the first and second floors. "The Regional Disaster Management Cell's Control Room received the alert from the Mumbra Fire Brigade. Officials, including disaster management officers and staff, rushed to the site with one utility vehicle, three fire trucks, two water tankers, and one rescue vehicle," said an official. Personnel from the Mumbra Fire Station, police staff from Mumbra Police Station, employees of Torrent Power, and the Mumbra ward anti-encroachment department were also present to assist in controlling the situation. So far no injuries have been reported in the incident, officials said. Precautionary measures have been taken to prevent the fire from spreading, they said. Tree falls on cars in Thane Meanwhile, in an another incident on Tuesday, several vehicles were damaged after a large tree fell at the Pokhran Road No. 02 near Cosmos Horizon Society in Shastri Nagar, causing damage to the vehicles. The incident occurred around 09.50 am near Bethany Hospital. As many as three parked vehicles were damaged in the incident. However no injuries were reported in the incident, officials said. They said that officials from the Vartak Nagar Police Station, along with Disaster Management Cell staff, Fire Department personnel, and Tree Authority workers, worked together to clear the fallen tree from the road. Three vehicles including a Mahindra Bolero Pickup, Maruti Suzuki Ertiga and a Maruti Suzuki Swift were damaged in the incident. All vehicles sustained minor damage from the tree fall, but thankfully, there were no casualties. The road was cleared and reopened for traffic after approximately two hours of effort. The officials said that their preparedness to handle such incidents and ensure swift resolution, minimising disruptions to local traffic.
24 December,2025 08:59 AM IST | Thane | mid-day online correspondentAn illegal online betting case registered at Mumbai’s NM Joshi Marg police station has emerged as a crucial link in a wider Enforcement Directorate (ED) probe into an alleged pan-India syndicate involved in ‘dabba trading’ — an illegal method of trading outside of official stock exchanges — and online betting operations spanning multiple cities, including Mumbai, the agency said. A prosecution complaint was filed on December 22 before a Special PMLA Court in Indore against the syndicate. The agency said its investigation, initiated on the basis of an FIR registered by the Indore Police, revealed an interconnection with an earlier FIR registered at NM Joshi Marg police station in Mumbai. The Mumbai case pertains to an illegal online betting racket, registered under Sections 419, 420, 465, 468, and 471 of the Indian Penal Code, provisions of the Maharashtra Gambling Prohibition Act, and Sections 66(C) and 66(D) of the Information Technology Act. The Mumbai Police have already filed a charge sheet in the said case. A building where ED conducted raids. PICS/BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT The ED said the Mumbai FIR proved significant in uncovering a larger, technologically manipulated ecosystem involving rigged trading platforms, unlawful betting websites, and a cross-border money laundering mechanism. According to the agency, clients were allegedly lured by being shown simulated trades and fabricated profits on platforms that had no links with recognised stock exchanges. The agency further stated that its probe revealed the use of manipulated MT5 servers (infrastructure that brokers use to manage client accounts, process trades, connect to liquidity, and provide market data for Forex, stocks, and other assets) to generate false trading outcomes, while parallel betting platforms allegedly operated clandestinely using anonymous user accounts, encrypted communication channels and cash-based settlements. The proceeds generated from these activities were allegedly layered through mule bank accounts and routed through offshore entities, including those based in Dubai. According to the ED, proceeds of crime amounting to '404.46 crore have been identified so far. The agency has provisionally attached assets worth '34.26 crore, comprising immovable properties, cash, precious metals, luxury watches, jewellery, and cryptocurrency holdings. Searches conducted during the investigation also led to the seizure of substantial cash, silver bars and gold. ED officials said the case underscores how illegal online betting operations can evolve into complex financial crimes involving fake trading platforms and international money laundering. Investigations are underway to identify additional beneficiaries and expand the money trail, the agency said. ED advisory to public >> Verify trading or investment platform is registered with SEBI; unregulated dabba trading applications do not provide legal protections and often lead to financial loss >> Remain cautious of platforms operating on privately controlled or unverified MT5 servers; such systems are usually designed to manipulate outcomes >> Avoid illegal betting websites as these expose users to legal consequences, misuse of personal, and financial data >> Never allow personal bank accounts to be used by others; mule accounts are frequently utilised for laundering proceeds of crime and the account holder becomes liable under PMLA. >> Any suspicious platform offering unrealistic returns, operating exclusively through encrypted messaging applications or soliciting deposits through unknown or unofficial channels should be reported to the nearest law enforcement or cybercrime authority
24 December,2025 08:14 AM IST | Mumbai | Anish PatilADVERTISEMENT
