A 38-year-old resident of Baner was found dead at a popular tourist spot in Lonavala. Police said Paresh Suryakant Hatkar, who worked in a reputable nationalised bank in Pune, had gone missing after leaving for work on January 2. Police said Hatkar’s body was recovered by the Shivdurg Rescue Team from a 700-foot-deep gorge at Lonavala’s Lion’s Point. According to the police, Hatkar left his residence at around 9 am on January 2; when he did not return home and remained uncontactable, his wife, Vrushali, 37, lodged a missing complaint with the Chaturstungi police station. A formal missing person note was issued by the police on January 3. On Saturday afternoon, police officer Patil Santosh Margale shared Paresh’s missing complaint and photograph with local coordination and rescue groups. Following this, the police received information that Paresh’s car had been found parked near Lion’s Point since the previous day (Friday), indicating the possibility that he may have fallen into the gorge. The rescue team members further informed the police that they had traced Paresh’s mobile phone to Lion’s Point. Following this development, the Shivdurg Rescue Team, along with the Lonavala Rural Police began a search operation began from the exact spot where the mobile phone was found. Using rope rescue techniques, the team descended deep into the valley. After descending approximately 700 feet, the rescue team located Paresh’s body. The operation began at around 3 pm (Sunday), and the body was located by 4 pm. After pulling the body out, it was handed over to the police for further legal formalities and post-mortem examination. Police said they have initiated further investigation to ascertain the exact circumstances leading to the incident. Rescue team members According to sources, Shruti Shinde, Yogesh Umbare, Sachin Gaikwad, Kunal Kadu, Mahesh Masne, Anand Gavde, Sagar Kumbhar, Yogesh Dalvi, Sagar Dalvi, Atharva Dalvi, Ganesh Mhaskar, Santosh Margale (Police Patil), Suraj Ware, Sunil Gaikwad, Pintu Mankar, and Prabhakar Bhalerao played a crucial role in the operation.
05 January,2026 09:04 AM IST | Pune | Archana DahiwalA man from Mulund was arrested by the police for allegedly assaulting and threatening to kill his wife and two children, including a minor, with a pistol. Police said the accused, Balbir Singh Baldev Singh Lamba, aka Ginny, has over 13 criminal cases registered against him. He was released from jail a day before, on December 25. On December 25, accused Balbir Singh Baldev Singh Lamba comes home after returning from jail and engages in a quarrel with his wife (name withheld). Illustrations/Uday Mohite The incident occurred on December 26 following a quarrel between the accused and his wife. According to the police, the accused and his wife (name withheld) reside in the same building but on different floors, as they do not speak to each other. Speaking to mid-day, the wife described their relationship as “silent divorce”. According to her, Balbir assaulted her and the children, and after she said that she would report the abuse to the police, the accused allegedly stormed out of the room and came back with a pistol in his hand. Accused Balbir Singh Baldev Singh Lamba, aka Ginny, who has over 13 cases registered against him, is arrested by Mulund police on Saturday and taken into custody “He would frequently go to jail, but every time he came home, he assaulted me. We have been married for 25 years, and there has not been a single day when I was not beaten,” said the victim. “I repeatedly asked him for a divorce, but he refused. Each time he returned from jail, he became more aggressive,” she said, adding that she now fears for her life and that of her children. “If he gets bail again, he will kill me, or the children, or both. Who will protect us?” she asked. Accused Balbir Singh Baldev Singh Lamba. PIC/BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT According to API Manoj Patil from Mulund police station, acting on the information, they reached the scene, secured the victims, and arrested the accused on Saturday. A firearm was seized, and the accused was booked under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including criminal intimidation and assault, along with provisions of the Arms Act, confirmed Ajay Joshi, senior police officer.
05 January,2026 09:01 AM IST | Mumbai | Aishwarya IyerA female striped hyena, which was critically injured in a road accident while pregnant, has been successfully treated and released into the wild after four weeks of intensive care. While her first cub died, her second newborn, delivered through an assisted procedure, is currently under specialised care at the RESQ Charitable Trust (RESQ CT) facility in Pune and will be rehabilitated and released into its natural habitat. President of NGO RESQ CT, Neha Panchamiya, told mid-day that the hyena was safely secured and transported to the Wildlife Transit Treatment Centre (TTC) at Bavdhan, Pune, for emergency care on November 22, 2025. “On admission, the veterinary team initiated stabilisation and conducted a detailed medical examination, during which it was confirmed that a second foetus was still present. Assisted delivery was carried out, and a live but extremely weak cub was delivered,” said Panchamiya. The cub that was saved. PICS/BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT It may be noted that the mother had sustained severe head trauma and was unable to stand, see, or respond appropriately, rendering her incapable of feeding or caring for the cub. Both animals were therefore placed under round-the-clock veterinary and supportive care, housed separately. With sustained medical treatment and rehabilitation, the mother hyena gradually showed neurological and physical improvement, eventually regaining mobility and beginning to use her outdoor enclosure. After four weeks of continuous treatment and rehabilitation, the hyena made a full recovery. Following a final health assessment, she was declared medically fit and, as per instructions from the Maharashtra Forest Department, released back into a suitable habitat on December 26, 2025. “The cub continues to receive intensive neonatal care and close monitoring of growth and development. A structured rehabilitation plan with defined milestones has been put in place. There is established precedence of striped hyena cubs being successfully hand-reared and reintroduced into the wild, and based on this experience, the long-term objective remains successful reintroduction of this cub, subject to meeting all behavioural and physiological benchmarks,” added Panchamiya.
05 January,2026 08:55 AM IST | Mumbai | Ranjeet JadhavDec 2, 2025Driver who lands man in hospital turns out to be ….. a ‘drunk cop’ Dec 3, 2025IMPACT: Constable who rammed ITI student faces action Nov 29, 2025BMC’s litter picking machines have been worsening Mumbai’s air pollution Dec 4, 2025IMPACT: Dust-spewing litter-picker fined Dec 2, 2025Streetlight pole at Juhu Tara Road with exposed wires and tilted poses serious threat to pedestricans Dec 4, 2025IMPACT: Tilting pole straightened and wires fixed Dec 15, 2025Kurla residents raise alarm about polluting RMC plant Dec 25, 2025IMPACT: MPCB pulls up RMC plant causing Kurla pollution Nov 15, 2025Raised metal lid at Bandra junction turns daily hazard for bikers and motorists Dec 30, 2025IMPACT: mid-day helps remove the skid trap in Bandra Dec 1, 2025Mumbai man stranded abroad as birth certificate delay stall rescue Dec 11, 2025IMPACT: mid-day helps bring back Mumbaikar stuck in Qatar
05 January,2026 08:52 AM IST | Mumbai | Team mid-dayA 27-year-old man from Telangana was allegedly confined for three hours and robbed during a New Year’s Eve meet arranged through an LGBTQIA+ dating app in Powai. Police said the incident occurred on December 31 on the pipeline cycle track road behind Amrut Bar. The victim had travelled to Mumbai after connecting with a man on Grindr. Investigators said the complainant was lured to the isolated spot by a man using a fake profile, along with two accomplices. The accused allegedly restrained the victim, prevented him from leaving or making phone calls, and falsely accused him of attempting theft. Under threats and verbal abuse, the victim was allegedly forced to transfer Rs 20,000 via a mobile scanner-based online transaction. Police said the money was credited to an account linked to Parshu Gaikar. The victim was released only after the transfer was completed. Powai police said the victim did not approach them immediately as he was not in a stable mental state. He later filed a complaint on Saturday, after which a case was registered against Gaikar and two other suspected accomplices under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for robbery and wrongful confinement. Preliminary investigation indicates the two unidentified suspects were staying at a nearby hostel. CCTV footage from the area has been collected and is being analysed to identify the accused and establish the sequence of events. “A case has been registered against Parshu Gaikar and two suspected accomplices. Efforts are on to trace and apprehend all those involved,” a police officer said. Police have urged users of online dating platforms to avoid isolated locations and inform friends or family before meeting strangers contacted through such apps.
05 January,2026 08:40 AM IST | Mumbai | Anish PatilA 31-year-old MBA-educated woman was brutally assaulted by a mob in Malwani on Thursday evening after being mistakenly suspected of being a child kidnapper. The incident occurred in the Malwani Church locality when the woman, a resident of Charkop who works with a private firm, visited the area to meet a close friend and convey New Year greetings. However, she was left confused when her friend’s mobile phone was switched off and the house was found locked, leaving her unsure of the exact address. Suspicion turns violent While asking for directions, the woman inadvertently entered a nearby slum pocket, where her presence immediately aroused suspicion. Within minutes, a rumour spread among locals that she was a “child lifter”, triggering panic and outrage. Before she could explain herself, residents allegedly caught hold of her and began assaulting her. Despite repeatedly pleading with the crowd and urging them to call the police, her cries went unheard as the mob grew larger and more aggressive. ‘Dragged and beaten’ Recounting the ordeal to mid-day, the traumatised woman said she was attacked by both men and women. “I was trying to explain everything. A woman and a man were extremely aggressive. The man called more people, and the woman punched me in the face. When I tried to leave, an auto driver held me tightly and grabbed me in a very indecent manner. They kept beating me. No one was ready to listen. They even snatched my belongings,” she said. She further alleged that the same woman continued to behave aggressively even inside the police station and openly threatened her in front of police personnel. Police version Police sources said the victim, had visited the same friend during Christmas as well. On Thursday, she returned to extend New Year wishes but found both the house locked and the phone unreachable. “While she was looking around, a local woman allegedly misunderstood her presence, abused her, gathered people and punched her in the face. This led to the mob assault. The woman was later rescued by police and sent to the hospital for treatment. Her complaint has been registered,” a police source said. ‘Almost killed my daughter’ After the woman was rescued and hospitalised, her mother expressed anguish over the incident. “How can anyone justify beating a person merely on suspicion? If you suspect something, listen first or call the police. Taking the law into your own hands like this can kill someone. They almost killed my daughter. She has wounds all over her body, and her life was in danger,” she told mid-day, urging strict action against the attackers. The victim also alleged that one of the women involved in the assault was let off before her mother arrived at the police station, despite her critical condition. Cops appeal against rumours Confirming the case, Senior Inspector Shailendra Nagarkar of Malwani police said a cognisable offence has been registered against unknown persons, and investigations are underway. “I strongly appeal to the public not to take the law into their own hands. If there is any suspicion of child abduction, immediately inform the police. Do not believe or spread rumours circulating on social media,” he said.
05 January,2026 08:36 AM IST | Mumbai | Samiullah KhanThe Shiv Sena (UBT), Maharashtra Navnirman Sena and the Nationalist Congress Party (SP) on Sunday released a joint manifesto for the upcoming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections at Shiv Sena Bhavan in Dadar West, marking a key moment in their political alliance. The cover of the manifesto features the Thackeray cousins seated on either side of Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray, symbolising political unity. The manifesto outlines a 31-point agenda addressing civic issues such as healthcare, education, affordable housing, clean air, open spaces, traffic congestion, pet care, solid waste management and parking. Among the major promises made to Mumbaikars are subsidised breakfast and lunch at R10, monthly financial assistance of R1500 to women under the Swabhiman Scheme, and self-employment assistance for youth. The alliance has promised that one lakh young people will receive interest-free financial support ranging from R25,000 to R1 lakh. It has also proposed interest-free e-bike loans for dabbawalas and financial assistance for registered women from the Koli community. The parties further announced free electricity up to 100 units for households and a waiver of property tax for homes measuring up to 700 square feet. The manifesto also promises affordable housing for one lakh Mumbaikars within a year and a reduction in BEST bus fares, with a flat slab structure of Rs 5, Rs 10, Rs 15 and Rs 20. MNS chief Raj Thackeray and Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray were present on the dais during the release. Notably, the NCP (SP) did not have a representative on the podium, though Vidya Chavan, the party’s chief spokesperson, attended the event. Addressing the media, the Thackeray cousins said, “This time, the Mayor of Mumbai will be Marathi.” Raj returns to Shiv Sena Bhavan after two decades Speaking at the event, Raj Thackeray, who entered Shiv Sena Bhavan after nearly 20 years, said the repeated references to his return made it seem as though he was coming back home after a long imprisonment. “This is the first time I am seeing the new Shiv Sena Bhavan. All my memories are of the old building, which I recall with fondness. Today, we are releasing the joint manifesto of Shiv Sena (UBT), MNS and NCP (SP),” he said. Uddhav Thackeray said he was happy about Raj Thackeray’s presence at Shiv Sena Bhavan after two decades. “A new wave of inspiration has been created in Maharashtra today. Together, we are presenting a joint manifesto,” he said. Subsidy-intensive promises >> Breakfast and lunch at Rs 10 at Mataji kitchens>> Property tax waiver for homes up to 700 sq ft>> Self-employment assistance of Rs 25,000 to R1 lakh for 25,000 youth >> Free electricity up to 100 units Other promises >> Expansion of BEST fleet with 10,000 electric buses and 200 double-decker e-buses >> 24x7 health control rooms>> Resolution of 200 identified traffic congestion spots>> Toilets every two kilometres on major roads>> Improved air quality through a Mumbai Construction Environment Management Plan
05 January,2026 08:24 AM IST | Mumbai | Eeshanpriya MSJet blue days A group performs a flyboarding act off the coast at Juhu Beach. The watersport involves a jet ski (left) that propels the board (right) above water Museum after dark Visitors at the museum last Friday. PICS COURTESY/CSMVS We are relishing the idea if a sequel to Ben Stiller’s popular children’s comedy, Night At the Museum could be set at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya (CSMVS). That’s because the museum will keep the doors of its ground floor open to visitors after dark on Fridays. “We have decided to keep the museum open till 8 pm every Friday, to welcome people who wish to enjoy the new gallery, Networks of the Past afterhours. Walking into a museum, filled with beautiful and extremely significant historical objects can be a magical encounter; and the experience is doubly rewarding when the building itself is such an elegant precinct to walk into,” revealed Joyoti Roy, assistant director, projects and public relations. When food meets identity PIC COURTESY/AHAD MEMON Tell My Mother I Like Boys (Penguin Random House India) is celebrated chef Suvir Saran’s (below) way of telling it as it should be told. The January release explores themes of food, love, and the desire to belong. Saran’s memoir chronicles his life from India to New York, portraying the kitchen as a space of safety as well as trials. Saran, whose restaurant, Devi became the first Indian restaurant in North America to earn a Michelin star, showcases cooking as a process involving memory, survival, and the making of one’s identity. Hit the road A moment from the 2025 SV Road Walk. PIC COURTESY/WALKING PROJECT Mumbaikars who have been vocal about the state of Mumbai’s roads will have the opportunity to walk the talk soon. Last weekend, city-based group Walking Project concluded a planning meeting leading up to the SV Road Walk 2026 on January 11, which will see members of the group cover the full extent of SV Road from Borivli to Bandra. “We look at important markers like walkway height, footpath width, accessibility, signboard placements, hawking, an intersection design,” said Vedant Mhatre, programme manager. Just how bad could one of the city’s most vital arterial roads be, one might wonder. “According to mandated guidelines, the footpath along SV Road must be at least five metres wide. Our observations show that in many spots, the width is as narrow as two metres,” Mhatre revealed to us. Mumbai’s perennial roadworks might play spoilsport, but the group is determined to match its previous record of 30 walkers this year. To join the walk, log on to @walkingprojectindia on Instagram. Savitribai Phule’s imprint in Vasai Students receive notebooks and stationery as part of the initiative in Vasai. PIC COURTESY/NANHE HAATH foundation, Wikimedia Commons Savitribai Phule’s birth anniversary on January 3 ushered in a timely change for three Zilla Parishad Schools in Vasai. Under NGO Nanhe Haath Foundation, children from the Saloli, Churnai and Vasai Gaon received stationery packages and a promise of quality education to kickstart 2026. Founder Sanjay Vaishnav, who has been heading the Siksha Sanjeevan initiative shared with this diarist, “We observed how the only incentive for many students who attended these Zilla Parishad schools was the daily mid-day meal, and not education. Lack of teaching tools and instructors were major obstacles in the way.” To that end, seven volunteers — most of them collegians from Vasai — have pledged to visit the schools regularly, and conduct classes for the underserved students. The group hopes the students will be in starkly better conditions this time next year, on the track to pursue higher education. We’ll have our eyes on this crucial initiative. Cooking for old times’ sake Residents of the assisted living facility in Andheri whip up a meal. PIC COURTESY/@SAHABHAAV There were compliments galore for the chefs at a senior citizens’ funfair at Amboli Naka on Sunday. Members of senior care organisation Happy2Age and assisted living facility Sahabhaav joined hands to dish out lip-smacking bites all evening at an Andheri venue. “Our resident seniors have developed quite the knack for cooking over the course of our regular workshops. It was time they introduced the city to it,” said Sugandhi Baliga, co-founder of Happy2Age. “My mother is 83, but she was determined to put up a stall offering South Indian fare,” she added. The fun and games left the members with many memorable memories, this diarist learned. “The interactions, encouragement and validation go a long way,” the co-founder shared.
05 January,2026 08:20 AM IST | Mumbai | Team mid-dayA promise of financial help from Saudi Arabia cost a 24-year-old Tardeo plumber Rs 1.41 lakh after he was allegedly duped via Instagram, police said. Tardeo police said the victim was contacted by an account named “Afsar vloger”, claiming to be based in Saudi Arabia and offering financial assistance. Over time, the conversation moved to WhatsApp, where the accused called him and asked for bank details, claiming funds were being transferred. The accused later alleged the transfer was stuck and demanded small payments to release the money. When the plumber expressed his inability to pay further amounts, he was threatened with misuse of his bank details, false criminal cases, and jail, forcing him to continue paying out of fear. Between December 24 and 26, the victim made 12 UPI transactions ranging from Rs 10 to Rs 35,000, totalling Rs 1.41 lakh. Despite repeated payments, no funds were received, and fresh demands continued. Realising he had been cheated, the plumber informed his family and filed a complaint. A case has been registered under the IT Act and relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Police are tracing the accused through the Instagram account and the mobile numbers used. Police advisory >> No genuine benefactor asks for processing fees>> Never share bank details with unknown online contacts>> Stop payments if threats begin>> Report cyber fraud immediately at 1930>> Approach the nearest police station without delay
05 January,2026 08:00 AM IST | Mumbai | Aishwarya IyerFamilies affected by the proposed memorial to folk writer and social activist Anna Bhau Sathe at Chirag Nagar in Ghatkopar West have vowed not to budge from their homes and not cast their vote in the upcoming civic election until their demands are met, alleging that the Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) officials had threatened them on December 17 in a bid to displace them. Residents, who alleged that the SRA officials had been visiting the area since June 2023 in connection with the memorial, organised a protest on January 2, 2026, with the slogan, ‘no home, no votes’. A bust of Anna Bhau Sathe at the late writer and social activist’s home Anil Sathe, grandson of the writer and activist, told mid-day, “Initially, we were very cooperative when the authorities proposed to make Anna Bhau’s home a tourist site. When they said they would redevelop our houses, we agreed, but later we learnt that for the memorial to be built, we would lose all our homes and would not see our area again. Though we have approached the high court, none of the authorities are helping us. In such a case, just as it is our right to vote, we are opting not to vote, to stand our ground.” The backstory Wajid Momi, a local activist and third-year law student, claims that the land in question is under litigation due to a dispute between two claimed owners. He said, “When the land is under litigation and belongs to no one, how are we being asked to vacate it? As many as four generations of families have lived here. This address is our identity, and we are being forced to leave it just because someone claims it is a slum.” ‘Living in satisfaction’ Refuting the slum tag, residents said that their homes only seemed a little old from the outside but possessed every necessity and had no structural damage of any kind. Ahmed Patel, a resident of over 50 years, said, “In all our time living here, we have not had a single fire or waterlogging incident, but on the SRA documents, it is written that the area is unsafe. When such blatant lies are being said, how can we ever trust the authorities enough to vote for them?” Chirag Nagar in Ghatkopar West, which residents insist is not a slum. PICS/ASHISH RAJE Agreeing with Patel, Lara Thorat, another resident, said, “We are being told that it is all for our own good, as if we don’t know what is good for us. If we are so insistent on being here, why do they refuse to understand that we are actually happy here?” As many as 920 families in the whole of Chirag Nagar have said that they would be abstaining from voting until the authorities address their demands. mid-day contacted officials from the SRA and Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation for a comment, but did not receive a reply by press time.
05 January,2026 07:44 AM IST | Mumbai | Madhulika Ram KavatturStudents of Versova-based Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Technology have designed and built a fully electric, Formula-style race car entirely from scratch. The single-seater car, which is automatic and designed exclusively for track racing, has a top speed of around 72 kmph, with further optimisation expected during testing. Aayush Palande, a student The student team will represent the institute at Formula Bharat 2026, India’s premier annual engineering design competition in which university students design, build and race their own Formula-style cars, with a focus on innovation, teamwork, performance in combustion and electric categories, cost-effectiveness and sustainable design. The race car designed and manufactured by RGIT students. Pics/By Special Arrangement A total of 21 students from mechanical, electrical and electronics engineering streams worked on the project, spending nearly a year on design, manufacturing, fabrication, testing and cost planning. Speaking to mid-day, student Aayush Palande said the project was the result of sustained teamwork and perseverance. “Our car is finally ready after a year of hard work. This was a complete team effort. We designed and manufactured a fully electric race car meant only for racing tracks. Representing RGIT at Formula Bharat 2026 at the national level is a proud moment for all of us,” he said. Key features of the car Students of Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Technology with their fully electric race car built entirely from scratch for Formula Bharat 2026. Pics/By Special Arrangement The car, named TR11, has been manufactured entirely in-house, starting from the chassis to the electrical systems and bodywork. It is powered by an Agni 119 R motor and runs on a 117.7 VDC battery capable of delivering up to 350 amps. The vehicle is not air-conditioned and has been built purely for performance on the track. Team members and roles Team leadershipBhoomi Prashidh Narayan Gupta, Team managerKalyani Subhash Anumalla, Team captain Core leadsAayush Jitesh Palande, Acceleration leadAditya Ganesh Sarode, Powertrain leadVedant Pandurang Patil, Suspension leadSoham Ramesh Chandiwade, Drivetrain leadAnish Ashok Masane, Brakes leadPranit Prakash Shetty, Low voltage lead Team membersSujal Kavita Prafulla Vairalkar, StaticsDhruv Jayant Gade, High voltageKrushna Nandkishor Sonawane, High holtageAaradhya Pravin Chavan, Low voltageOm Ramesh Sonavane, DrivetrainYash Nilesh Golesar, ManufacturingAarya Yogesh Awasare, AccelerationAnjaneya A Walawalkar, SteeringSneha Raju Khedkar, PowertrainAnkita Shailesh MoreDevki Sanjay SurveRohan Gadge, Operations
05 January,2026 07:31 AM IST | Mumbai | Shirish VaktaniaADVERTISEMENT
