Three passengers travelling in an SUV car were crushed to death after a container trailer crashed into multiple cars on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway in Raigad district on Wednesday morning. Police said several others suffered injuries and are undergoing treatment at different hospitals. The accident occurred at 10.55 am on Wednesday near the Adoshi village limits in Khalapur taluka. Police told Mid-day that the container trailer — MH-43 CE-3289 — was being driven by Avadhesh Radheshyam Yadav, 37, a resident of Azamgarh, Uttar Pradesh. The driver ignored road conditions and drove at a dangerous speed, losing control of the heavy vehicle, said police, adding that Yadav has been taken into custody. The uncontrolled trailer first rammed into a Tata Tigor car from behind; it then crashed into a Tata Punch car, and due to the impact, the Maruti Innova overturned on the expressway. The trailer subsequently hit a cement truck, resulting in a major multi-vehicle pile-up. Fatalities Ambadas Damu Petare, 41, resident of Sinhagad Road, Hingane, Pune Shrikant Anant Jadhav, 63, resident of the Girija Shankar Vihar area, PunePramod Shankar Pawar, 27, resident of Hanuman Wadi, Chinchwad Case registered A case has been registered at the Khopoli Police based on a complaint filed by one Swapnil Namdev Bhujbal, 36, a businessman from Pune who sustained injuries along with other passengers. Police said the accused driver has been booked under provisions of the BNS 2023/106(1), 1250 (A, B), and relevant sections of the Motor Vehicles Act 184 for causing death and injuries due to negligent driving. Investigation team The probe is being conducted under the guidance of Sub-Divisional Police Officer Dr Vishal Nehul (Khalapur Division), while Police Inspector Sachin Hire of Khopoli Police Station is supervising the investigation. Police are examining technical evidence and eyewitness accounts to determine the exact sequence of events. Vehicles involved in incident • Container trailer: MH-43 CE-3289• Tata Tigor car: MH-12 WU-1868 • Tata Punch car: MH-14 MF-4185• Innova Hycross: MH-12 VV-7023 • Cement truck: MH-43 CE-9804
18 March,2026 10:38 PM IST | Mumbai | Archana DahiwalOfficers of the Airport Commissionerate, Mumbai Customs Zone–III, have arrested four passengers, including one foreign national, under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, for the alleged possession of hydroponic weed. The seizures were made on Tuesday based on spot checks and Advance Passenger Information System (APIS) profiling. A total of 64.394 kg of suspected hydroponic weed, valued at approximately Rs 64.39 crore in the illicit market, was recovered from the passengers, who had arrived from Bangkok. Further investigation is underway. This latest crackdown adds to a string of similar operations at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA), highlighting the growing challenge of hydroponic weed smuggling from Thailand. Previous cases this month In a related series of cases reported earlier this month (between March 3 and March 10, 2026), Mumbai Customs Zone-III seized more than 12 kg of suspected hydroponic weed and gold worth Rs 59.57 lakh in multiple incidents. Through spot checks, APIS profiling, and specific intelligence inputs, officers detected four cases involving hydroponic weed, recovering 12.031 kg from five passengers arriving from Bangkok. The contraband was estimated at Rs 12.03 crore in the illicit market, leading to arrests under the NDPS Act. Additionally, an intelligence-led operation yielded 499 grams of suspected NDPS substance (valued at Rs 49.9 lakh) from another Bangkok-origin passenger, who was also arrested. In separate gold smuggling detections during the same period, 409 grams of gold worth Rs 59.57 lakh were recovered from three passengers. More recently, between March 11 and 15, customs officers seized 12.688 kg of hydroponic weed worth Rs 12.68 crore concealed in a trolley bag carried by a passenger from Bangkok, along with 716 grams of gold valued at Rs 1.1 crore from two other passengers in separate cases. The weed smuggler was arrested under the NDPS Act. These incidents reflect intensified vigilance by Mumbai Customs at the airport, where hydroponic weed (a high-potency cannabis variety grown soillessly) has emerged as a major concern. Officials have noted Thailand as a primary source, with smuggling attempts rising significantly in recent months. Between April 2025 and January 2026, over 200 cases led to the seizure of more than 1,101 kg of the drug. Customs authorities continue to rely on profiling, intelligence, and routine checks to curb narcotics and contraband inflow. Investigations in all cases are ongoing to trace supply chains and networks.
18 March,2026 08:30 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentA Thane hospital in Maharashtra was caught operating an unauthorised IVF centre, prompting officials to launch inspections of all similar facilities in the city. The crackdown comes in the wake of an illegal human “egg-selling” racket recently busted in the Badlapur area of Maharashtra’s Thane district, reported PTI. The Thane Municipal Corporation’s (TMC) health department initiated action on March 6 by raiding the unlicensed IVF centre at a prominent local hospital, the civic body said in a release. “The centre’s approval has been cancelled and three sonography machines at the facility have been sealed,” it added. Taking serious note of the irregularities, Thane Mayor Sharmila Pimpalolkar convened a high-level meeting on Tuesday, attended by TMC’s Chief Medical Health Officer Dr Prasad Patil and Shiv Sena group leader Pawan Kadam. “The mayor has directed the administration to immediately inspect all IVF and sonography centres within Thane Municipal Corporation limits,” the release said. She further ordered the launch of a “special campaign against illegal sonography centres” to ensure strict compliance with medical safety norms, reported PTI. During the meeting, Dr Patil said, “Poor women were being coerced into producing excess eggs through hormonal injections in exchange for money. These were then extracted and sold for lakhs of rupees to childless couples.” To ensure accountability, the mayor has mandated a rigorous oversight mechanism. “The administration should monitor the investigation regularly and submit a report every week. The action taken by the health department must be continued without interruption,” the release quoted the mayor as saying. Fake doctors under scanner as state plans stricter penalties and oversight panel The state government announced plans to form a committee to monitor bogus doctors and unauthorised nursing homes in Maharashtra. The panel will identify individuals practising medicine sans qualification and clinics operating without permission. The government has also stated it plans to amend the existing law to increase penalties for such violations, including stricter fines and longer jail terms for fake doctors and illegally operating hospitals. The government has decided to form a committee to address this issue. It was noted quite rightly that bogus doctors and illegal clinics currently operate without fear of the law. This is absolutely necessary. For fear of the law, this committee or any initiative to tackle this must demonstrate efficacy in nabbing the sham doctors/clinic operators. There must be absolute efficiency in this, thorough checks, follow-ups, and acting on complaints. Once nabbed, these must be put down on record, so that they are never allowed to set up any kind of practice again. Enablers/partners must also be nabbed as they are equally culpable. One must remember that toying with health can be fatal. Punishments for the same must be commensurate with the crime. This is not simply a ‘fraud’ case; you are playing with the lives of the people. The penalty must take into account the magnitude of this crime. We must also have a blacklist of these cons and bogus medical establishments, so that they cannot retry entering the medical field and start their bogus antics once again. (With PTI inputs)
18 March,2026 03:20 PM IST | Thane | mid-day online correspondentThe Thane Crime Branch in Maharashtra has arrested notorious gangster Ravi Pujari in connection with an extortion case registered in 2017, officials said on Wednesday. He was taken into custody by the Anti-Extortion Cell of the Thane Police. Police said Ravi Pujari, 57, had been living abroad for several years and was involved in criminal activities from overseas. According to the police, a case against Pujari was registered at Kasarvadavali Police Station under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including extortion and criminal conspiracy in 2017. It also includes provisions of the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA), making it a serious organised crime case. Produced in court After his arrest, Ravi Pujari was produced before a special MCOCA court. The court has remanded him to police custody until March 27, 2026 for further investigation, an official said. The investigation is being led by Vinay Ghorpade from the Thane Crime Branch. Officials said that further details about the case and his alleged network are expected to emerge during interrogation. Deported from Senegal A Red Corner Notice had earlier been issued against him. He was detained in Senegal in 2019. He was later brought to India through the legal extradition process and lodged in a Bengaluru jail before being taken into custody by Thane Police. Arrest by Mumbai Police Ravi Pujari was earlier in January arrested by the Mumbai Police in connection with a 2018 extortion case involving Bollywood choreographer Remo D'Souza and his wife Lizelle D'Souza. Although Pujari was in custody since being deported from Senegal around five years ago, he had not previously been arrested in this particular case. According to police sources, Pujari allegedly issued threats to the D’Souzas on the instructions of co-accused Satyendra Tyagi. Between October 2016 and February 2018, he is said to have repeatedly contacted and threatened Remo D’Souza, his wife and their manager. During these calls, Pujari allegedly pressured them to expedite the release of the film Death of Amar and demanded Rs 50 lakh to “settle” the matter. Police had earlier stated that Pujari had later allegedly began threatening D'Souza and his wife and their manager, demanding Rs 50 lakh in extortion money
18 March,2026 02:45 PM IST | Mumbai | Asif RizviThe Thane police in Maharashtra have arrested four individuals, including the 'husband' of a 15-year-old tribal girl, for abduction and sexual assault. The minor, who was snatched from the Bhiwandi area of Thane, was reportedly 'sold' to a man in Beed district, located in the Marathwada region, under the fraudulent pretext of a legal marriage, reported PTI. “The victim was exploited due to her extreme poverty and the absence of her parents. She was allegedly abducted on February 26 by a broker and his associates, who promised her a better life through marriage, only to sell her to an older man in Patoda, Beed,” a Thane rural police official said. Abuse reportedly continued from February 27 to March 10 According to the news agency, the minor was reportedly forced into an illegal marriage on February 27 after being threatened. Between February 27 and March 10, her “husband,” Bhausaheb Tambe, allegedly kept her locked in a farm shed and raped her, according to the FIR. Following a probe, the police apprehended Tambe and three others from Beed and Bhiwandi, Padgha police station inspector Jitendra Thakur said. The accused have been booked under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, the Prevention of Child Marriage Act, and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, a police spokesperson said. Man booked for allegedly flashing at minor in Bhiwandi Police have registered a case against a 28-year-old man for allegedly exposing himself to a minor girl in Maharashtra’s Thane district, officials said on Tuesday. According to PTI, the incident took place on March 14 in a chawl in the Bhiwandi area. According to police, the 13-year-old girl was standing outside her residence when the accused allegedly flashed at her, following which her mother lodged a complaint. Based on the complaint, the Shantinagar Police Station registered a case on Sunday under Section 79 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which pertains to insulting the modesty of a woman, along with relevant provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO). Further investigation is underway, police said. Women Helpline Number 181 The Women Helpline provides round-the-clock assistance and emergency response for women affected by violence. (With PTI inputs)
18 March,2026 02:07 PM IST | Thane | mid-day online correspondentA 71-year-old retired official in Mumbai was allegedly cheated of Rs 1.05 crore after being kept under 'digital arrest' for 10 days, officials said, adding that a probe has been launched in the matter, reported the IANS. The victim, a Dadar resident, was reportedly targeted by fraudsters posing as government officials. According to the Mumbai Police, the victim received a call on March 4 from a person claiming to be an official from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI). The caller alleged that a mobile number had been issued using the victim’s Aadhaar details and was being used for illegal activities, as per the IANS. The call was later transferred to individuals pretending to be officers from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), who threatened him with arrest in a fake money laundering case. ‘Digital Arrest’ and psychological pressure The fraudsters created fear by sending fake documents, including court orders and arrest warrants, through messaging apps. They told the victim that he was under investigation and must not contact anyone. He was asked to stay connected online and send regular updates such as “I am safe” every two hours, the news agency reported. This tactic effectively kept him isolated and under constant psychological pressure. Money transferred in instalments According to the IANS, during this period, the accused gathered details about his bank accounts and savings. Under the pretext of verifying funds, they forced him to transfer money to different accounts. Between March 6 and March 12, the victim transferred Rs 1.05 crore in four transactions. Family noticed the scam The scam came to light on March 15 when the victim’s son checked his mobile phone and noticed suspicious activity. After confirming about the matter, the family decided to reach out to the police and file a complaint, police said. A complaint was immediately lodged via the cyber helpline, officials said. probe underway Police have registered a case against unknown persons, including the holders of the bank accounts used in the fraud. Authorities are now investigating the case and trying to trace the accused involved in the operation, the news agency reported. (with IANS inputs)
18 March,2026 11:06 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentTwo men allegedly smashed their friend’s head with a rock during a drunken altercation after a fried fish the trio had planned to eat with alcohol was gobbled up by a rat. The details emerged during a probe by the Vanrai police, who cracked the case and arrested the accused, Shashipal alias Suresh Kaliya, 44, and Rajesh Ramesh Nath alias Salim Nepali, 30. The former and latter were nabbed from Haryana and Pathanwadi in Malad East, respectively. PSI Indrajit Bhise, along with his detection team, cracked the case under the guidance of DCP Mahesh Chimte and senior inspector Grish Bane of the Vanrai police station. How incident came to light On February 24, the Vanrai police got a call about an unconscious man lying near a garbage dump in Hanuman Tekdi, Goregaon East That night, fish prepared by Azhar couldn’t be eaten as a rat had got to it first. Angry and inebriated, the other two assaulted their friend with a rock After the cops reached the spot, the man was taken to the hospital, but was declared dead before admission The presence of multiple skull fractures raised suspicions, and a murder case was registered on March 10. The victim’s identity has not been disclosed yet, but according to sources, he was called Azhar and collected scrap for a living The day of the murder Morning: The deceased cooked the fish, which was to be consumed with alcohol that night, with his friends On waking up the next day and seeing Azhar lying still, Kaliya panicked and fled to his village in Haryana Afternoon: A dispute broke out among the trio over scrap money, but it was later resolved Night: The trio met in Goregaon East. The accused brought the alcohol, but Azhar failed to produce the fish as a rat ate it. An argument then erupted, and the duo smashed Azhar’s head with a stone multiple times. After the crime >> Nepali returned to his home in Pathanwadi>> Kaliya slept beside the body. On waking up, he panicked and fled to his village in Haryana. Police crack case Nepali was traced and arrested on March 11During his interrogation, Kaliya’s identity was revealed thanks to CCTV footage from a shop where he had once bought beerKaliya was subsequently tracked and arrested from Haryana and was brought to Mumbai Current status >> Both accused are in police custody>> They have been charged with murder>> Further investigation is underway Criminal past Kaliya had been booked and arrested in two murder cases in the Dadar flower market area in 2004 and 2017, and served a jail term for a few years. In 2019, he was again booked and arrested on robbery charges at the Kurar police station.
18 March,2026 08:21 AM IST | Mumbai | Samiullah KhanA 42-year-old man was arrested after he pushed his wife towards an approaching local train, resulting in her death, at Mulund station following a domestic dispute, reported IANS. According to police officials, the accused fled the scene immediately after the incident and attempted to evade arrest by travelling across multiple railway routes. He first moved towards Thane, boarded a fast local to CSMT, then travelled to Dadar and later took another local train to Virar. Investigators said the accused subsequently boarded a Gujarat-bound train from Virar railway station in a bid to escape. Acting on technical inputs and route tracking, a Railway Police STF team traced him to Surat, where he was apprehended, reported the news agency. Police said further investigation is underway. Crime took place on March 14 morning During interrogation, the accused, identified as Rajkumar Gupta, an electrician, admitted to frequently quarrelling with his wife, Pushpa Gupta (36), over domestic issues. He confessed that, following one such dispute, he pushed her in front of a local train arriving at Platform No. 1 of Mulund Railway Station on the morning of March 14. According to the deceased’s brother, Kamlesh Kumar Gupta (30), who serves in the Army, the couple had been involved in frequent disputes. He had come to Mumbai to take his sister and her 15-year-old son back to their ancestral village in Uttar Pradesh, reported IANS. On March 14, after another argument, Pushpa approached the police. Later, Kamlesh, Pushpa and her son reached Mulund railway station. However, Kamlesh realised he had left his Army ID card at home. When he and his nephew returned to retrieve it, the accused allegedly locked them inside the house in a fit of rage. Fatal shove on Platform 1 leads to woman’s death The FIR states that Rajkumar then went to Mulund station, where Pushpa was standing on Platform No. 1, and pushed her in front of a moving local train before fleeing. Passengers immediately alerted the station master, and railway officials rushed Pushpa to a nearby government hospital, where she was declared dead on arrival. Meanwhile, Kamlesh managed to escape with the help of neighbours. Police confirmed that the entire incident was captured on CCTV cameras installed at the station. Based on a complaint filed with the Kurla Government Railway Police (GRP), a case has been registered against the accused under Section 103 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Further investigation is underway. (With IANS inputs)
17 March,2026 04:16 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentMaharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday said that the state government has introduced a new mechanism to reconcile immigration records in order to track foreign nationals who overstay their visas or violate visa conditions, reported the PTI. Speaking in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, he stated that the system is being implemented in Mumbai to improve monitoring and enforcement. The Chief Minister revealed that authorities have already taken action against several foreign nationals involved in criminal activities. He said that a total of 69 individuals linked to drug-related offences have been deported, while 122 others have been sent to detention centres. He added that the Central Government has directed the immediate deportation of those committing minor offences in an attempt to extend their stay in India. CM Fadnavis pointed out that many foreign nationals enter India legally using valid passports and visas, particularly short-term medical visas. However, some later discard their documents to avoid detection and continue to stay in the country even after their visas expire. He noted that the absence of a proper system earlier made it difficult to reconcile immigration data, a gap the government now aims to address. Crackdown on illegal businesses The Chief Minister also announced stricter action against cafes and shops involved in illegal activities, including the sale of banned substances and operating beyond permitted hours. He warned that while licences are currently suspended for such violations, new amendments will allow for permanent cancellation in cases of repeated offences. Rising concerns in cafes CM Fadnavis said that illegal activities, which were earlier mostly associated with bars, are now increasingly being reported in cafes as well. This shift has prompted authorities to widen their enforcement efforts across different types of establishments. Major drug bust in Palghar Highlighting recent enforcement action, CM Fadnavis referred to a crackdown in the Vasai-Virar region of Palghar district, where 30 raids were carried out. Authorities seized narcotics worth Rs 11 crore during the operation, marking a significant success in the fight against drug trafficking. Accountability within police force The Chief Minister stressed that action would not be limited to offenders alone but would also extend to police personnel involved in or enabling such activities. He said that senior officers who fail to act or provide protection to criminal networks will also face strict action. According to CM Fadnavis, the government will investigate both forward and backward linkages in criminal networks to ensure comprehensive accountability. (with PTI inputs)
17 March,2026 01:44 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentPolice have registered a case against a 28-year-old man for allegedly exposing himself to a minor girl in Maharashtra’s Thane district, officials said on Tuesday. According to PTI, the incident took place on March 14 in a chawl in the Bhiwandi area. According to police, the 13-year-old girl was standing outside her residence when the accused allegedly flashed at her, following which her mother lodged a complaint. Based on the complaint, the Shantinagar Police Station registered a case on Sunday under Section 79 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which pertains to insulting the modesty of a woman, along with relevant provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO). Further investigation is underway, police said. Mumbai school staffer held in alleged sexual misconduct case involving minor Earlier last month, a school staffer was arrested in connection with an alleged case of sexual misconduct involving a five-year-old girl near an educational institution in Malad West. According to the police, the incident allegedly took place near a school on SV Road. The accused, a 30-year-old peon, was taken into custody by the Malad Police’s detection team from his residence last month. The child’s mother, in her complaint, alleged that the accused threatened her daughter and made inappropriate physical contact. She further claimed that despite informing the school administration about the incident, no action was taken at the time, prompting her to approach the police. Watchman held for attempted sexual assault on 9-year-old in Tardeo In an another incident, a 60-year-old watchman in Tardeo was arrested for the alleged sexual assault of a nine-year-old boy within a residential complex. The incident occurred on Sunday and came to light after the child informed his family. According to the police, the boy was playing in the building compound when the watchman approached him near an isolated meter room. The accused allegedly restrained the child, forcefully pulled and bit his cheeks, and then led him into the meter room. Once inside, the accused reportedly shut the door and touched the minor inappropriately. The child’s parents immediately took him to JJ Hospital for a medical examination before filing a formal complaint. Tardeo police successfully traced and arrested the accused on Sunday night. While preliminary checks show no prior criminal record, the incident has sparked outrage. Safety of youth in city These recurring cases highlight a disturbing trend in assaults against minors in Mumbai, raising urgent concerns regarding the safety and protection of the city's youth. (With PTI inputs)
17 March,2026 12:47 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentSt Xavier's College in Mumbai received a bomb threat on Tuesday, officials said, adding that the probe revealed it to be a hoax. According to the Mumbai Police, no suspicious objects were found during the search, and the threat is being treated as a hoax. Authorities have initiated appropriate action and begun an investigation, with further details awaited, reported ANI. The incident follows a series of similar threats reported across the city earlier this week. On Wednesday, threat emails were sent to multiple locations, including the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), Vidhan Bhawan and the Bombay High Court. Bomb search operation Police teams, including the Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad (BDDS), were deployed at the sites. Authorities said adequate security measures have been put in place, and necessary legal action is being taken at the respective police stations, reported the news agency. Earlier, on March 8, a hospital in Mumbai also received a bomb threat email warning of an “LED blast”, triggering panic among patients and staff. The BDDS later conducted a thorough inspection of the premises. Mumbai bomb threat: Search operation launched at Vidhan Bhavan after threat email In a similar incident last week, the Mumbai Police launched a search operation at the Vidhan Bhavan premises after the state legislature received a bomb threat through its official website. According to official sources, the threat message was received before the start of the day’s proceedings during the ongoing state Budget session. Following the alert, security agencies tightened access to the complex and temporarily restricted entry to facilitate a thorough search operation. Police teams, along with BDDS personnel, scanned the entire परिसर as a precautionary measure. Four locations mentioned in threat email State Legislative Council Chairman Ram Shinde said the threatening email was received at 6:57 am. The message claimed that four locations were targets — Mumbai Metro, a court, Vidhan Bhavan and the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE). The Vidhan Bhavan complex witnesses heavy footfall during legislative sessions, with MLAs, MLCs, ministers and staff attending proceedings daily. Search operations Officials said the operation was launched to ensure safety at the legislature complex, considered a highly sensitive location during the session. Further details were awaited as authorities continued to examine the premises. (With ANI inputs)
17 March,2026 12:47 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
