Not everything appears smooth between the Shiv Sena (UBT) and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), with fresh strain emerging after the latter extended support to the Shiv Sena faction led by Eknath Shinde in yet another civic body. After backing the Shinde Sena in the Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation, the MNS has now extended similar support in the Nashik Municipal Corporation. The move has upset leaders of the Sena (UBT), who consider Shinde’s faction their principal political rival. A senior leader from the Uddhav Thackeray camp, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Shiv Sena (UBT) and the MNS had contested the civic polls together and had aggressively targeted the BJP and Shinde’s Shiv Sena during the campaign. “If the MNS supports Shinde’s party after the elections, it sends the wrong political message,” the leader said. The MNS had won just one seat in the Nashik Municipal Corporation. On Friday, the party’s lone corporator is said to have extended support to Shinde’s Shiv Sena. Old rivalries, new surprises In 2022, Eknath Shinde engineered a split in the undivided Shiv Sena, directly challenging Uddhav Thackeray. Since then, the two factions have remained bitter rivals. The hostility has been so pronounced that Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut once remarked that for his party, Shinde’s Shiv Sena was no different from the AIMIM. This makes the MNS move particularly striking, coming close on the heels of Raj and Uddhav Thackeray publicly burying their nearly two-decade-old differences in the name of Marathi pride and Maharashtra’s identity. During the civic poll campaign, both cousins shared the stage and jointly attacked the Mahayuti government, especially the BJP and Shinde’s Shiv Sena. Pattern repeats Before Nashik, the MNS had extended support to Shinde’s Shiv Sena in the KDMC, which delivered a hung verdict last month. In the 122-member house, Shinde’s Sena emerged as the largest party with 53 seats, followed by the BJP with 51. With 62 seats required to form the civic government, support from smaller parties became decisive. The five MNS corporators backed Shinde’s Sena. At the time, MNS leaders said the decision was taken at the local level and should not be interpreted as the party’s official statewide policy. Discontent within MNS ranks It is not just the Shiv Sena (UBT) leadership that appears unhappy. Sections within the MNS are also reportedly upset with Uddhav Thackeray’s party, accusing it of not adequately supporting MNS candidates during the civic polls. At a recent MNS meeting, workers allegedly complained to Raj Thackeray that Sena (UBT) did not extend the cooperation they had expected. Raj Thackeray, however, rejected the allegations and asked party workers to introspect instead of blaming allies for the party’s electoral performance. Will MNS get a nominated seat in the BMC? In the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, the Sena (UBT) is likely to secure three nominated corporator seats based on its strength. Political observers say the MNS could seek one of these seats, citing its alliance with Uddhav Thackeray’s party during the civic polls. Whether Sena (UBT) will part with a nominated seat for Raj Thackeray’s party remains an open question.
07 February,2026 08:27 AM IST | Mumbai | Sanjeev ShivadekarA male leopard rescued from a residential area in Bhayandar in December last year and later released into Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) was found dead in the Yeoor forest on Monday evening. Forest officials said the exact cause of death will be known after post-mortem and laboratory reports are received. Critical final reports SGNP Deputy Director Pradip Patil said preliminary findings rule out poaching, as all body parts of the animal were found intact. “The leopard’s whiskers, nails, claws and teeth were all intact. A post-mortem has been conducted, and samples have been sent for further examination. The final reports will determine the exact cause of death,” Patil said. No fault in radio collar Officials clarified that there was no technical malfunction in the radio collar fitted on the leopard. “The collar functioned properly from the time it was fitted until the carcass was recovered. There were some intermittent signal interruptions, which are normal and can occur due to dense forest cover or when the animal rests inside a den,” an official said. Carcass found after alert Acting on an alert on Monday evening, forest department officers and staff, along with a team led by Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) India’s Niket Surve, rushed to the Nagla zone of the Yeoor forest, where the leopard’s carcass was located. A panchnama was conducted at the site, and officials confirmed that the animal’s claws, canines and vital organs were intact. Due to poor natural light, the post-mortem examination could not be conducted on Monday night. Autopsy conducted next day On Tuesday morning, SGNP veterinary officer Dr Nikhil Bangar, along with Dr Prashant Gadhave from Mumbai Veterinary College, conducted the autopsy as per protocol. Tissue samples of the carcass have been sent for medical and technical analysis, and the exact cause of death will be established once reports are received. Rescue and release history The leopard was rescued from a human-dominated landscape in Bhayandar on December 19, 2025, following repeated sightings. It was then kept under observation at SGNP facilities in Borivli under the supervision of senior forest officials and veterinarians. A committee formed to decide the animal’s fate met on December 22, 2025, and resolved to release it into its natural habitat after fitting it with a satellite collar. Following a medical examination and certification of fitness, the leopard was released into a designated area of SGNP on December 25, 2025, at 9.25 pm. Post-release monitoring Post-release monitoring was carried out by the SGNP wildlife rescue team, forest officials from Borivli and Yeoor ranges, and WCS representatives. Between December 25 and 30, satellite collar data showed the leopard moving within the designated Sasunavghar area in Naigaon near Mumbai, remaining well within forest limits. Did you know? The leopard, released in the Nagla area of the Yeoor forest range, was recorded hunting a dog inside a cave area on December 31. The animal continued to remain within the release zone thereafter. On January 5, 2026, its presence was confirmed through pugmarks and faecal matter. Camera trap footage and satellite collar data indicated that the leopard appeared physically healthy during this period.
07 February,2026 08:20 AM IST | Mumbai | Ranjeet JadhavCab and autorickshaw drivers across India are set to observe a nationwide one-day strike today, protesting against illegal bike taxi services and what they describe as unfair fare policies of app-based companies, including Ola, Uber, and Rapido. The strike will involve drivers associated with app-based platforms as well as traditional cab and autorickshaw operators. “The strike will involve drivers associated with app-based platforms as well as traditional cab and autorickshaw operators. Illegal bike taxi services are operating openly across the country despite repeated warnings from transport authorities. Such services have led to fatal accidents in Mumbai, resulting in deaths and permanent disabilities. As bike taxi services are not legally permitted in several states, accident victims are often denied insurance coverage, which unions described as a serious public safety concern,” president of the Maharashtra Kamgar Sabha and the Indian Gig Workers Forum, Dr Keshav Nana Kshirsagar told mid-day. “Also, the Maharashtra transport department has issued multiple written instructions to companies such as Ola, Uber, and Rapido, asking them to follow government-approved rules. However, these companies continue to defy official orders, and no strict action has been taken against them so far,” he added. Speaking about the government’s open autorickshaw permit policy, Kshirsagar explained that it has led to a sharp rise in the number of autorickshaws on the roads, which, in turn, has cut down cab drivers’ income and is leading to traffic congestion. Drivers also raised concerns over the installation of panic button devices, saying they are being financially exploited in the process. While the central government has approved 140 panic button service providers, the state government has reportedly declared nearly 70 per cent of these companies as unauthorised. This has forced drivers to remove previously installed devices and spend around Rs 12,000 to install new ones, adding to their financial stress.
07 February,2026 08:16 AM IST | Mumbai | A CorrespondentA late-night phone call shattered a family’s peace after a 24-year-old man, who had gone to sleep at his home in Ulwe, Navi Mumbai, was found dead several kilometres away on a Kurla road in what police suspect to be a hit-and-run accident. The deceased has been identified as Rishikesh Mangesh Gaikwad, an engineer employed with a firm in Mahape. His uncle and legal guardian, Santosh Gaikwad, 45, said he had been caring for Rishikesh since childhood. “Rishikesh lost his parents at a very young age. His father, my brother Mangesh, was killed in a road accident at the same age as Rishikesh. The similarity is deeply painful for our family,” said Santosh, an advocate by profession. With no clarity on why he stepped out in the middle of the night or how he reached Kurla, the victim’s death has left his family and the police with several unanswered questions. According to the police, the family had dinner together before retiring for the night on Friday. Santosh’s 14-year-old son and Rishikesh went to sleep in the hall, while Santosh retired to the bedroom with his wife. After a while, Santosh received a call from the police, who informed him about the accident and that Rishikesh had been admitted to Bhabha Hospital in Kurla West. “At first we thought it was a prank call because Rishikesh was sleeping in the room next door. But when we peeped in, it was my younger son sleeping alone. That’s when it hit us,” said Santosh. The family rushed to the hospital, where doctors identified the injured man as Rishikesh and declared him dead before admission. During enquiries at the hospital, police recorded statements of two autorickshaw drivers identified as Shane Alam Syed and Farqan Salil Inamdar. In their statement, they said they found Rishikesh lying injured between 1.30 am and 2 am on the Chembur–Santacruz road near CST Bridge in Kurla. The duo told police they first took him to Noor Hospital, where treatment was allegedly refused, following which they shifted him to Bhabha Hospital. “We went to the spot to verify but realised there wasn’t a single CCTV camera in the vicinity. It is a major road connector, yet it remains a dark stretch,” said Santosh. He added that the motorcycle Rishikesh was riding had a severe dent at the rear, while his helmet was completely damaged. “There were no visible external injuries on his body. The post-mortem report mentions internal haemorrhage, indicating a head injury. We suspect his bike was hit from behind, throwing him onto the road,” he said. Santosh further said the motorcycle had been gifted to Rishikesh by him and his wife in 2022 on his birthday. “The vehicle number even matched his birth date,” he added. The family has no clue why Rishikesh left home in the night, that too without informing anyone. CCTV footage from the building (in Ulwe) shows him leaving on his bike at around 1 am. Santosh, meanwhile, added, “The last call was made between 1.34 and 1.36 am by him to his aunt. We got to know this the next day when she contacted us saying she missed two calls from Rishikesh. We are guessing he called his aunt to seek help after the accident.” Vikas Mhamunkar, senior police inspector, Kurla police station, told mid-day that there is no CCTV coverage on the bridge where the accident occurred. “The accident took place in the middle of the stretch, and the timing was such that there were barely any eyewitnesses,” he said. “However, a team has been assigned to investigate the case. We are checking CCTV footage from adjoining roads and examining vehicles that passed through the area around the time of the accident to ascertain what happened and identify those responsible.” Police said they have registered a case against an unidentified driver under sections of the Motor Vehicles Act and Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for rash driving and causing death by negligence.
07 February,2026 08:11 AM IST | Mumbai | Aishwarya IyerA viral video showing a leopard hunting a stray dog outside a residential society in Mulund triggered concern among residents, following which teams from the forest department and wildlife experts visited the locality as part of a primary response, an official said on Friday. Leopard sightings and incidents of the big cats preying on stray or community animals are not uncommon in areas located along the periphery of Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) and Aarey forests, Resqink Association for Wildlife Welfare (RAWW) founder-president Pawan Sharma said. Close to SGNP “The location of the incident is a stone’s throw away from SGNP. There are regular sightings of leopards and other wild animals in this area. People should not panic but remain informed and vigilant about their presence. They must follow basic dos and don’ts to avoid negative interactions,” he added. Teams from RAWW, along with forest department officials, are monitoring the situation and ensuring necessary intervention wherever required, Sharma informed. “Residents have been advised to report any wildlife sightings, incidents or distress situations to the forest department’s 24x7 helpline number 1926,” he said.
07 February,2026 08:07 AM IST | Mumbai | AgenciesMumbai’s air contained lower levels of PM2.5 in January this year compared to the same period in 2025, 2024, and 2023, according to a study by Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA). This January, Mumbai’s monthly average of PM2.5 was 48 µg/m³, ranking 187th on the list of most polluted cities in terms of PM2.5 concentrations in its air, according to CREA, which studied 248 cities across the country for their PM2.5 concentrations. Manoj Kumar, analyst from CREA, said, “For this study, we have only considered PM2.5 levels as this is a harmful pollutant. We are not taking AQI levels.” In January 2026, Mumbai had 28 ‘green days’ where PM2.5 concentrations were between 31µg/m³ and 60 µg/m³, and one green day where PM2.5 concentrations were between 0 and 30. Mumbai reported two days where PM2.5 concentrations were between 61 and 90 µg/m³. A dense layer of smog reduces visibility at Marine Drive in South Mumbai on February 5. PIC/ASHISH RAJE In January last year, Mumbai reported 15 days where PM2.5 concentrations in the city’s air were in the ‘moderate’ category, between 61 and 90 µg/m³. The remaining 16 days had PM2.5 concentration in the green category (satisfactory), between 31 and 60 µg/m³. In January 2024, Mumbai reported seven days where PM2.5 concentrations were in the ‘moderate’ category, while they were otherwise in the ‘satisfactory’ category, with one day in the ‘good’ category. In contrast, in January 2023, there were 16 days when PM2.5 concentrations were in the ‘poor’ category (orange) — between 91 and 120 µg/m³ — and one day when PM2.5 concentrations were in the ‘severe’ category (red) — between 121 and 250 µg/m³. Mumbai reported an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 118 on Friday, and PM10 was the worst pollutant, according to data from CPCB. What is PM2.5? PM2.5 is considered the worst pollutant in the air. These are tiny particles that human beings can inhale. They settle deep in the lungs and can cause respiratory illnesses. They can enter the bloodstream, causing long-term heart problems. When the CPCB calculates AQI, PM2.5 is one of the pollutants that may be taken into consideration. According to National Ambient Air Quality Standards, PM2.5 levels up to 60 µg/m³ are acceptable, but according to the World Health Organisation, acceptable levels of PM2.5 are at an annual average of 5 µg/m³ and a 24-hour average of 15 µg/m3.
07 February,2026 08:04 AM IST | Mumbai | Eeshanpriya MSThe Navi Mumbai Police had an overall detection rate of 80 per cent in 2025, solving 6276 out of the 7835 cases that were registered in its jurisdiction, commissioner Milind Bharambe said on Friday. Addressing a press conference to disseminate crime statistics, he also said the force had huge success in tackling the drug menace as well as crimes against women. Navi Mumbai Police managed to detect 739 out of 748 cases registered in the category of “crimes against women”, resulting in an overall rate of 99 per cent, he pointed out. Furthermore, the Dial 112 emergency response system handled 20,459 calls related to women and 3332 calls related to children throughout 2025, Bharambe said. “The detection rate of 80 per cent in 2025 was better than the 77 per cent we achieved in 2024. The rate was 99 per cent for body offences, with 783 of the 794 registered cases being detected. The rate was 57 per cent for property offences, with the force solving 1,321 of the 2,331 cases registered. This is an improvement of 5 per cent from 2024,” Bharambe said. The detection rate of economic offences increased from 51 per cent in 2024 to 66 per cent in 2025, while 1374 of the 1375 enforcement cases were detected, he added. “The total value of property stolen in 2025 amounted to Rs 48.99 crore. In detected cases involving Rs 34.15 crore worth of stolen goods, the police successfully recovered Rs 18.30 crore, representing a 54 per cent recovery rate in those specific cases. Additionally, 2,550 mobile phones were returned to complainants using the CEIR portal,” he said. The force also seized contraband worth Rs 63 crore in 88 cases, leading to the arrest of 1,156 individuals, including seven foreign nationals, the commissioner said. “A significant achievement included dismantling an international racket smuggling ‘hydro ganja’ from Thailand, which led to 25 arrests and seizures valued at R2.85 crore. Additionally, the force successfully extradited and arrested key international kingpins from Malaysia,” he said.
07 February,2026 07:59 AM IST | Mumbai | AgenciesMirror image The waters of Gorai Creek create a rippling, canvas-like reflection of a group of fishermen rowing their boat back to the jetty in Borivli Opening act thrills Taktook during a musical showcase; (right) Tinariwen performs at a concert. Pics courtesy/@_sohilbelim, @tinariwen For a band still finding its footing, opening for a global name can feel less like a gig and more like a main character moment. Yesterday (February 6), Mumbai-based band Taktook took the stage in 1AQ, Delhi ahead of Grammy-winning Tuareg music band Tinariwen as part of their 2026 India tour. The tour is part of the first edition of the India Jazz Project. Formed in October 2022, Taktook draws from Middle Eastern and African musical traditions, folding funk, Afro-beat, and jazz into a sound that is still evolving. Guitarist, musician, and founder of the band, Pankaj Tak told this diarist yesterday, “The opportunity feels surreal, and even though preparations are in full swing, I admit it has not yet fully sunk in.” The opening act balanced reverence and self-expression, with a few Tinariwen covers alongside original tracks like Wah Wah, Hermanos, and Vishal, from Taktook’s debut album, Mother Tongue, which will be released by the end of this year. Navi Mumbai’s hidden green gem The garden in the hospital premises. Pic courtesy/Earthen Routes Take a walk through the campus of Kharghar’s Tata ACTREC Hospital, and you’ll be in for a surprise at the sight of a flourishing permaculture garden. “The hospital uses it to grow fresh, pesticide-free food for their own cancer patients, especially as a large number of them hail from low-income, farming backgrounds and need to meet the nutritional needs of their ailing family members,” we were informed by Manasvini Tyagi, founder of Earthen Routes, the platform spearheading the endeavour. “The main method used is multi-cropping: You’ll find vegetables, herbs, and creepers, amongst others.” She added that volunteers, from students to working professionals, routinely help out with sowing, harvesting, and maintenance, among other tasks. We hope other organisations take a cue and go green. Bandra’s tipples in Hong Kong Lyres Spritzer, one of the cocktails on the menu. Pics courtesy/Sixteen33 Loyal patrons of Pali Hill’s Sixteen33 eatery and cocktail bar will be pleased to learn that the outlet will soon take over Quinary, a celebrated cocktail bar in Hong Kong, on February 12. While patrons in Hong Kong would certainly be able to savour a medley of flavours, from pineapple to lime, the one-night event is more exciting for Ethan Campbell (top), head mixologist, and Peingamla Varah (Anna), mixologist, both of whom will travel to Hong Kong for this collaboration. Campbell shared his thoughts, “[Quinary] is a space that has always pushed the boundaries of what a cocktail experience can be. To represent India on such a global stage is incredibly special. This takeover is about bringing our local energy and stories into a global conversation. It’s more than what’s in the glass; it’s about sharing where we come from and connecting through craft.” Stories from India’s heartland Performers enact a scene from the play. Pic courtesy/Datta Patil The team of the play, Ithech Taka Tambu, directed by Sachin Shinde performed at the ongoing Kala Ghoda Arts Festival on February 3. “The play questions the concept of development and morality,” shared playwright Datta Patil. Incidentally, the play was born when Patil read the news report about a thief returning stolen goods to the late poet Narayan Surve’s family in 2024. “The next time we’re in town, we will let you know,” the Nashik-based Patil shared. We look forward to that. Of maladies and medical journeys Physican, oncologist, and Pulitzer Prize–winning author Siddhartha Mukherjee (right) revisits cancer’s long, tangled history in an updated edition of his book, The Emperor of All Maladies (HarperCollins) that is now available to readers. The book, first published over a decade ago, returns at a moment when cancer research is moving rapidly, shaped by genetic science, targeted therapies, and evolving ideas of treatment and care. Mukherjee, in this book, traces how medicine’s understanding of the disease has grown through centuries of trial, error, and discovery. Reflecting on cancer’s earliest recorded description, Mukherjee notes in the book, “It was in the time of Hippocrates, around 400 BC, that a word for cancer first appeared in the medical literature: karkinos, from the Greek word for ‘crab’.” In a way, this expanded edition not only charts the evolving fight against cancer but also highlights the innovations shaping its future.
07 February,2026 07:47 AM IST | Mumbai | Team mid-dayMumbai commuters using the Coastal Road and the Bandra-Worli Sea Link may soon get quicker emergency and medical assistance if Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis clears a proposal to set up a helipad near the city’s two key transport corridors. Mumbai Suburban Guardian Minister and BJP leader Ashish Shelar has urged the chief minister to approve the helipad, citing the recent Pune-Mumbai Expressway gas tanker mishap that left commuters stranded for nearly 36 hours and exposed gaps in emergency response systems. In a letter to the CM on Friday, Shelar said handling accidents, fires, or natural disasters on the sea link and Coastal Road poses unique challenges, especially since portions of the Coastal Road run underground and alongside the sea. “These conditions can delay the movement of rescue teams and the shifting of injured persons to hospitals. A helipad located close to this critical infrastructure will significantly improve response time,” Shelar wrote, stressing the need for swift decision-making. He added that space for the helipad is already available at Bandra Reclamation and urged the state government to take an immediate call on the proposal. Pune-Mumbai tragedy The demand follows a major traffic snarl on the Pune-Mumbai Expressway earlier this week, after a tanker carrying highly inflammable propylene gas overturned near the Adoshi tunnel in Raigad, triggering a gas leak. The incident led to traffic coming to a standstill for hours, with congestion stretching nearly 18 km. Traffic had to be diverted from both the expressway and the old Mumbai-Pune highway, and it took nearly 28 hours to fully bring the situation under control. The prolonged disruption has raised concerns over Maharashtra’s disaster management preparedness, particularly for emergencies on high-speed corridors and major infrastructure projects. Taking a cue from the incident, Shelar said a helipad near the Coastal Road and Sea Link would enable faster airlifting of the injured and allow emergency agencies to reach accident sites without being hampered by traffic congestion. According to him, the facility would be a major boost for disaster response teams, including the police, fire brigade, NDRF and medical services. Earlier proposal at Worli jetty Earlier this year, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde had asked the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to explore setting up a helipad at the Worli jetty along the Coastal Road. The civic body is considering converting the existing jetty, constructed during the Coastal Road project, into a helicopter landing facility. Located about 120 metres into the Arabian Sea near Worli Dairy, the jetty was earlier used for construction activity and later for coastal police surveillance. A preliminary feasibility study has indicated that the jetty can support medium-sized helicopters for medical emergencies, disaster relief, marine surveillance and even tourism-related operations.
07 February,2026 07:45 AM IST | Mumbai | Sanjeev ShivadekarA private ambulance abandoned a deceased patient’s body midway while taking it from a hospital in the Palghar district to his home, forcing the family members to carry it in a makeshift cloth stretcher, officials said on Friday. Shailesh Magan Wagadada was admitted to Vedanta Medical College Hospital on February 3 and died on the same evening, said officials. According to the officials, an ambulance carrying the body of Wagadada from the hospital stopped midday after reaching Chambharshet on Tilonda Road after the driver allegedly refused to go further, citing the condition of the non-tarred road leading to Ambepada, Wagadada’s hamlet. Contrary to the ambulance driver’s reported claim, the 1.8 km road to the hamlet where the deceased lived is motorable, the Palghar Zilla Parishad stated in a release. The relatives accompanying the body then placed it in a ‘jholi’ (a makeshift cloth stretcher) and trekked the remaining distance to their home. The driver may have been misled by someone claiming the vehicle could not enter the village, said Ravindra Shinde, additional CEO, Palghar Zilla Parishad. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
07 February,2026 07:27 AM IST | Mumbai | AgenciesA youth suffering from mental health issues left his home in Nallasopara on January 23. As a responsible newspaper, mid-day has removed all identification markers of the mental health patient and his family in accordance with the Mental Healthcare Act of 2017. The youth’s family initially believed he would return in a couple of days, as he had wandered off earlier as well. “We thought he would come back like before, but this time he didn’t,” said his father. When the youth failed to return for four days and could not be located at any familiar places, the family filed a missing person complaint at Nallasopara police station on January 27. Passer-by spots youth On Thursday morning at around 9:15 am, Shampee Chanda, a resident of Worli, noticed a young man sitting on a footpath who appeared disoriented. “I had just dropped my son off at school and was returning home when I saw him sitting alone, looking confused,” she said. “I immediately called 100 and informed the police. Worli police arrived and took him to the station.” The parents of the young man who went missing after leaving their residence in Nallasopara on January 23; As a responsible newspaper, mid-day has removed all identification markers of the mental health patient and his family in accordance with the Mental Healthcare Act of 2017 Chanda said police later told her the youth was able to recall his father’s phone number. “That was a good sign. I even called his father myself to confirm the number, and it was correct,” she added. Police version Assistant Police Inspector Vinod Vasawe of Worli police told mid-day that the boy’s father requested police to bring him to the Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Nallasopara, where he works as a priest. Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Nallasopara, where police claim the missing youth was dropped off before he disappeared again. Pics/By Special Arrangement “We contacted his father, who asked us to drop him off at the temple. We reached there around 11 am and informed him,” Vasawe said. “When he did not arrive for about half an hour, we called again. He then told us to leave the boy there and said the family would pick him up. Since the boy is an adult, we acted as per the father’s instructions.” Father disputes police claim However, the youth’s father has disputed this version. “Yes, we asked them to bring him to the temple because we are elderly and could not travel to Worli,” he said. “I went to the temple around 3 pm, but my son was not there. No one informed us that they had reached. Why would I not come to take my own son?” Following the second disappearance, Worli police launched a fresh search in their jurisdiction, while Nallasopara police have also resumed efforts to trace the youth. What the law says in missing cases If a missing person is below 18 and is found, the police must hand over the child to their parents or legal guardians.If the child has special needs, the handover must be done only to parents or guardians.If the missing person is an adult, the police must inform the family, but the individual is legally free to decide where to go.
07 February,2026 07:25 AM IST | Mumbai | Ritika GondhalekarADVERTISEMENT
