Mumbai local trains has caught commuters’ attention after a small change on women’s coaches - Women’s Cricket World Cup winning duo Harmanpreet Kaur and Amanjot Kaur’s photos have appeared on women’s compartments. The usual 'Ladies' sign has been replaced with the photograph of Indian cricketer Harmanpreet Kaur and Amanjot Kaur. The initiative covers 10 Bombardier EMU rakes of Central Railway for a period of three months, with a total contract value of Rs 9.72 lakh. The campaign aims to inspire women commuters and highlight the achievements of Indian women across diverse fields through a socially relevant and impactful visual medium. "This is a part of CR's initiative of non-fare revenue where 10 harbour line trains have been updated with these pictures. The CR will earn a revenue of Rs 9 lakh for three months by putting these pics as a part of campaign by the client (Reliance Industries Limited)," a Central Railway spokesperson confirmed the development. At present, First-Class Ladies Coaches are marked with a standard logo depicting a working woman. Under the terms of the contract, the licensee bears the complete responsibility for conceptualization, design, printing, installation, maintenance and removal of the visuals. Harmanpreet Kaur is the captain of the Indian women’s national cricket team across all formats and leads the Mumbai Indians in the Women’s Premier League (WPL). Renowned for her aggressive batting and leadership skills, she guided India to its first-ever ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup title in November last year. Her unbeaten 171 off 115 balls in the 2017 World Cup semi-final remains one of the most iconic innings in women’s cricket. In a post on X, the Reliance Industries Limited stated the it is an ode to the excellence achieved by women in Indian sports. Mumbai Indians’ ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup winning duo Harmanpreet Kaur and Amanjot Kaur’s photos now ride proudly on Mumbai’s women’s compartments on local trains. The activity is an ode to the excellence achieved by women in Indian sports. pic.twitter.com/67TbiMbeNU — Reliance Industries Limited (@RIL_Updates) January 13, 2026 Tribute to women’s sporting excellence Photos of Harmanpreet Kaur and Amanjot Kaur, both part of Mumbai Indians’ ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup-winning squad, were shared by Reliance Industries Limited on its official X account. The company described the initiative as a tribute to the excellence achieved by women in Indian sport. "Mumbai Indians’ ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup winning duo Harmanpreet Kaur and Amanjot Kaur’s photos now ride proudly on Mumbai’s women’s compartments on local trains. The activity is an ode to the excellence achieved by women in Indian sports," the X post read. In line with the campaign theme, the existing logo has been replaced with visuals featuring the Mumbai Indians Women’s Cricket Team, led by Harmanpreet Kaur. Through her journey of determination, leadership and consistent excellence, she has become a source of inspiration to lakhs of women across the country—not only in sports but in all spheres of life—by breaking barriers and setting new benchmarks. This initiative reflects the strategic vision of Mumbai Division to generate non-fare revenue by integrating commercial opportunities with meaningful social messaging. Leveraging the extensive daily footfall of suburban commuters, the campaign transforms a routine travel space into a platform for promoting women’s achievement, resilience and empowerment, reinforcing Indian Railways commitment to inclusive growth, progressive values and public engagement. Social media reactions Several social media users also reacted to change at Mumbai local trains. The photos of the two cricketers have sparked conversations online, with many netizens praising the move.
15 January,2026 11:54 AM IST | Mumbai | Rajendra B. AklekarA young voter from Parel, who earlier resided in Prabhadevi and has voted in the area in the past, faced difficulties while attempting to cast his vote on Thursday morning due to the absence of a physical identity document. DigiLocker ID not accepted inside polling booth The voter was carrying his mobile phone and work laptop and expected that a digital identity document stored on the government-backed DigiLocker app would be accepted as valid proof for voting. Mobile phone ban leads to denial of entry However, as mobile phones are not permitted inside polling booths and identity documents are required to be shown inside the booth prior to voting, he was denied entry into the polling station. Election officials cite State Election Commission rules The voter was seen engaging in a discussion with election officials outside the polling premises. Responding to his request, officials reportedly told him, “We have to follow the rules issued by the State Election Commission and cannot make exceptions. Digital IDs, even on government applications such as DigiLocker, are not included in the list of valid identity proofs for voting. Mobile phones are not allowed inside the booth, even in airplane mode.” Voter explains assumption about DigiLocker validity Speaking to mid-day, the voter said, “I came early to vote so that I could avoid traffic between Parel and Prabhadevi. I did not check the Election Commission website or the rule book. However, since DigiLocker is accepted for most official purposes such as banking and airport travel, I assumed it would also be valid for voting.” Voter allowed to return with printed ID After repeated requests, the voter was eventually permitted to step out, obtain a printed copy of his identity proof, and return to the polling station to cast his vote.
15 January,2026 11:49 AM IST | Mumbai | Eeshanpriya MSMore than 28,000 police personnel were deployed across Mumbai to maintain law and order as voting for the city's civic body polls got underway on Thursday, officials said. Long queues were seen at various polling booths, as the voting commenced at 7.30 am for the 227-ward Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). Police deployment at the polling centres had been done well in advance to ensure a safe and peaceful election process, an official said. More than 25,000 constables, 3,000 officers, including 10 additional commissioners, 33 deputy commissioners and 84 assistant commissioners of police were posted at various polling centres and important places in the city, he said. "I appeal to every Mumbaikar to step out of their homes and exercise their democratic right by voting in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation elections," Mumbai Police Commissioner Deven Bharti said on his X handle on Wednesday night. The police have issued preventive orders, prohibiting the use of mobile phones at polling centres and banning posters, banners, and other election campaign materials of political parties. Anyone who is not a candidate is not allowed to loiter or form an assembly within 100 meters of polling stations, the official said. Strict action will be taken against those violating the election code of conduct, he added. BMC elections 2026: 6.98 pc voter turnout till 9.30 am Meanwhile, an average of 6.98 per cent of voters exercised their franchise in the first two hours of polling for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections on Thursday, officials said. Polling began at 7.30 am amid tight security arrangements across Mumbai and will continue till 5.30 pm. The average voter turnout stood at 6.98 per cent till 9.30 am, a BMC spokesperson said. Data released by the civic body showed wide variations in voter participation across wards. The highest turnout of 11.57 per cent was recorded in ward number 18 in the western suburbs, while the lowest turnout of 1.68 per cent was reported in ward number 162 in the eastern suburbs till 9.30 am. Voting in 29 municipal corporations across Maharashtra began on Thursday morning with spotlight on Mumbai, where the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance is locked in an intense battle with the reunited Thackeray cousins for control of India's largest and richest civic body. Polling for 2,869 seats spread across 893 wards in these municipal corporations began amid tight security at 7.30 am and will conclude at 5.30 pm. A total of 3.48 crore voters are eligible to decide the fate of 15,931 candidates. In the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), whose annual budget is over Rs 74, 400 crore, 1,700 candidates are vying for 227 seats in elections being held after nine years, after a four-year delay. More than 25,000 police personnel have been deployed across Mumbai to oversee elections. Except for Mumbai, the other urban bodies have multi-member wards. Vote count will take place on January 16.
15 January,2026 11:48 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentSeveral voters on the day of the BMC election 2026 faced difficulties at a polling centre in Andheri on Thursday, with complaints of missing names and inadequate arrangements, leading to long delays and inconvenience, especially for senior citizens. Rasbihari B. Lalwani, who had visited the Jamnabai school in Andheri to cast his vote, had been stuck along with his elderly parents at the polling centre for 2 hours, as his and his parents' numbers were not found at the centre. Lalwani, while briefing about the incident, said, “My parents are 75 plus, and no one helped us; they were not provided any seating arrangement. I had to look for something myself. After talking to multiple officers, after about 2 hours of running around, they finally looked for the names manually and found the names.” “Around 60-70 per cent of people around when I was at the centre were facing the same issues,” Lalwani further added. Following the incident, Lalwani was told by the officers at the centre that they had not received much training and were themselves facing issues at the booth. Mumbai records 6.98 per cent voter turnout till 9:30 am Mumbai witnessed a measured start to polling on Thursday as the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections 2026 got underway, with voter turnout recorded at 6.98 per cent till 9.30 am, according to the BMC. Polling began at 7:30 am across the city, with voters gradually arriving at polling booths in various wards. Early turnout was largely driven by senior citizens, morning walkers, and first-time voters, particularly in residential neighbourhoods. Mumbai in focus as statewide civic polls begin Voting in 29 municipal corporations across Maharashtra began on Thursday morning with a spotlight on Mumbai, where the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance is locked in an intense battle with the reunited Thackeray cousins for control of India's largest and richest civic body. Polling details across Maharashtra Polling for 2,869 seats spread across 893 wards in these municipal corporations began amid tight security at 7.30 am and will conclude at 5.30 pm. A total of 3.48 crore voters are eligible to decide the fate of 15,931 candidates.
15 January,2026 11:28 AM IST | Mumbai | Madhulika Ram KavatturMumbai witnessed a measured start to polling on Thursday as the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections 2026 got underway, with voter turnout recorded at 6.98 per cent till 9.30 am, according to the civic body. A total of 7,36,996 voters cast their ballots within the first two hours of polling, according to data released by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). Mumbai has an electorate of approximately 1.03 crore voters. Suburbs outperform island city in early turnout Overall, the suburbs recorded a significantly higher voter turnout than the island city areas spanning Colaba to Dadar and Matunga–Wadala. Voters in Borivali and Kandivali, in particular, turned out in large numbers during the early hours of polling. Borivali East ward records highest turnout The highest turnout was reported from electoral ward number 18 in Borivali East, part of the R/Central ward, where 11.57 per cent of voters—5,316 individuals—had cast their votes by 9.30 am. This was followed by ward 114 with a turnout of 11 per cent, ward 109 at 10.88 per cent, electoral ward 29 at 10.63 per cent, ward 9 at 10.5 per cent, and ward 11 at 10.14 per cent, all located in the western suburbs. Kurla region among lowest turnout areas In contrast, the Kurla region, corresponding to the L ward, recorded some of the lowest turnout figures. Electoral wards numbered 159 to 164, covering areas of Kurla and Chandivali, reported voter turnout of less than 3 per cent. Malad and Madh see poor voter participation Low turnout was also observed in parts of Malad and Madh, with ward number 50 recording just 1.75 per cent turnout, followed by ward 56 at 2.68 per cent and ward 52 at 3.05 per cent. Colaba records low turnout in South Mumbai South Mumbai’s Colaba area, corresponding to ward 227, also remained among the lowest-performing wards, with a turnout of 2.20 per cent, translating to 1,011 votes cast till 9.30 am. Senior citizens and first-time voters drive early turnout Polling began at 7.30 am across the city, with voters gradually arriving at polling booths in various wards. Early turnout was largely driven by senior citizens, morning walkers, and first-time voters, particularly in residential neighbourhoods. Mumbai in focus as statewide civic polls begin Voting in 29 municipal corporations across Maharashtra began on Thursday morning with spotlight on Mumbai, where the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance is locked in an intense battle with the reunited Thackeray cousins for control of India's largest and richest civic body. Polling details across Maharashtra Polling for 2,869 seats spread across 893 wards in these municipal corporations began amid tight security at 7.30 am and will conclude at 5.30 pm. A total of 3.48 crore voters are eligible to decide the fate of 15,931 candidates. High-stakes BMC election after nine-year gap In the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), whose annual budget is over Rs 74,400 crore, 1,700 candidates are vying for 227 seats in elections being held after nine years, after a four-year delay. More than 25,000 police personnel have been deployed across Mumbai to oversee elections. Vote counting scheduled for January 16 Except for Mumbai, the other urban bodies have multi-member wards. Vote count will take place on January 16. First BMC polls since Shiv Sena split These are the first BMC polls since the 2022 split in the Shiv Sena when Eknath Shinde, now Deputy Chief Minister, broke away with a majority of the party's MLAs and allied with the BJP to become the chief minister. The undivided Shiv Sena held sway over India's richest civic body for 25 years (1997-2022). Thackeray cousins reunite ahead of crucial civic polls In a significant political turn of events ahead of the elections, estranged cousins Uddhav and Raj Thackeray, who head Shiv Sena (UBT) and MNS, respectively, reunited last month after two decades in their bid to consolidate Marathi votes even as rival NCP factions forged a local alliance in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad. Congress seeks to regain ground in Mumbai The Congress, once a formidable political force in Maharashtra, has asserted its presence in Mumbai by stepping out of the shadow of its Maha Vikas Aghadi allies - Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (SP). The grand old party has joined hands with Prakash Ambedkar's Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) and the Rashtriya Samaj Paksh in the state capital. Civic polls after prolonged delay across state Elections to the 29 municipal corporations are being held after a gap of several years, with terms of most of them having ended between 2020 and 2023. Of these, nine fall in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), the most urbanised belt in India.
15 January,2026 11:15 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThane recorded a slow start to polling on Thursday as voting began for the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) elections 2026, with voter turnout standing at 8 per cent till 9.30 am, according to civic officials. Polling underway across 29 municipal corporations Polling is underway across 29 municipal corporations in Maharashtra, marking the end of an intense campaign and setting the stage for a decisive political contest in key urban centres including Mumbai, Pune, Nashik, Nagpur, Navi Mumbai, Thane and Pimpri-Chinchwad. Mahayuti alliance contests civic polls together The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Shiv Sena are contesting the civic elections together under the Mahayuti banner, except in Pune, while the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) is contesting independently in most municipal corporations. However, in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad, both factions of the NCP have come together and are contesting on a joint manifesto. Mumbai and Pune emerge as key battlegrounds The main political battle remains centred on Mumbai and Pune. In Mumbai, the BJP-led Mahayuti is facing the united Thackeray camp after Raj Thackeray and Uddhav Thackeray joined hands ahead of the civic polls on the issue of the Marathi Manus. The contest is crucial as it involves control of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), the country’s richest civic body. The last BMC elections were held in 2017. Political realignment ahead of Pune civic polls In Pune, a significant political realignment took place ahead of the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) elections, with both factions of the NCP coming together following the party’s split in 2023. Ajit Pawar reunited with Sharad Pawar to contest against NDA ally BJP in Pune. Meanwhile, the Shiv Sena, led by Eknath Shinde, opted to contest independently after failing to finalise a seat-sharing arrangement with the BJP. Voter strength, candidates and polling centres According to the State Election Commission, a total of 3.48 crore voters are eligible to cast their ballots to decide the fate of 15,908 candidates contesting 2,869 seats across 893 wards in 29 municipal corporations. As many as 39,092 polling centres have been set up across the state. Polling schedule and counting date Polling is being conducted on January 15 from 7.30 am to 5.30 pm, with counting of votes scheduled for Friday, January 16. The State Election Commission announced the election programme for the 29 municipal corporations on December 15, 2025. Accordingly, voting is being held for the municipal corporations of Brihanmumbai, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Navi Mumbai, Vasai-Virar, Kolhapur, Kalyan-Dombivli, Thane, Ulhasnagar, Nashik, Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Solapur, Akola, Amravati, Nagpur, Chandrapur, Latur, Parbhani, Bhiwandi-Nizampur, Malegaon, Panvel, Mira-Bhayandar, Nanded-Waghala, Sangli-Miraj-Kupwad, Jalgaon, Dhule, Ahilyanagar, Ichalkaranji and Jalna. EVM deployment across Maharashtra The Election Commission said adequate Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) have been arranged for the polls, including 43,958 control units and 87,916 ballot units. For the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation alone, 11,349 control units and 22,698 ballot units have been deployed. Multi-member ward system in most civic bodies Except for Brihanmumbai, elections in the remaining 28 municipal corporations are being conducted under the multi-member ward system. In Brihanmumbai, where only one member is elected from each ward, voters cast a single vote. In the other corporations, wards generally have four seats, though some have three or five seats. Accordingly, voters in these areas are required to cast between three and five votes, as per State Election Commission guidelines.
15 January,2026 10:49 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe India Meteorological Department (IMD) on polling day has predicted maximum and minimum temperatures in Mumbai to be around 32 degrees Celsius and 19 degrees Celsius, respectively. According to the Sameer app, the Air Quality Index (AQI) in the city stands at 107, indicating moderate pollution levels. People with lung disorders, asthma, or heart conditions may experience some breathing discomfort. AQI Across Mumbai Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) – 133Borivali East – 118Byculla – 91Andheri East – 118Chembur – 100Colaba – 101Deonar – 125 BMC elections 2026: Voting begins across Mumbai’s 227 wards Voting began across Mumbai’s 227 wards on Thursday, with the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance locked in a high-stakes battle against the reunited Thackeray cousins for control of India’s largest and richest civic body. 1,700 candidates in fray; tight security across city In the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), which has an annual budget exceeding Rs 74,400 crore, around 1,700 candidates are contesting 227 seats. The elections are being held after a nine-year gap, following a four-year delay. More than 25,000 police personnel have been deployed across the city to ensure smooth conduct of the polls. Over 1.03 crore voters eligible to cast ballots A total of 1,03,44,315 citizens are eligible to vote in the BMC elections. This includes 55,16,707 male voters, 48,26,509 female voters, and 1,099 voters in the ‘other’ category. Counting of votes will take place on January 16. Parel voter denied entry as digital ID not accepted A young voter from Parel, who earlier resided in Prabhadevi and has voted in the area in the past, faced difficulties while attempting to cast his vote on Thursday morning due to the absence of a physical identity document. DigiLocker ID not accepted inside polling booth The voter was carrying his mobile phone and work laptop and expected that a digital identity document stored on the government-backed DigiLocker app would be accepted as valid proof for voting. Mobile phone ban leads to denial of entry However, as mobile phones are not permitted inside polling booths and identity documents are required to be shown inside the booth prior to voting, he was denied entry into the polling station. Election officials cite State Election Commission rules The voter was seen engaging in a discussion with election officials outside the polling premises. Responding to his request, officials reportedly told him, “We have to follow the rules issued by the State Election Commission and cannot make exceptions. Digital IDs, even on government applications such as DigiLocker, are not included in the list of valid identity proofs for voting. Mobile phones are not allowed inside the booth, even in airplane mode.”
15 January,2026 10:20 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) and the National Stock Exchange (NSE) on January 15 will be closed for trading, as Mumbai and other parts of Maharashtra will be voting in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections and several other civic body polls across the state. In view of the Maharashtra civic polls on Thursday, trading in the equity, derivatives, commodity, and electronic gold receipts segments will remain suspended for the day. As per the circular issued by the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) and the National Stock Exchange (NSE). In a circular issued on Monday, January 12, the National Stock Exchange said it has “Notified Thursday, January 15, 2026, as a trading holiday in the capital market segment on account of the Municipal Corporation Election in Maharashtra.” Earlier, the exchange had also stated that January 15 would be observed as a settlement holiday, while trading would remain open. Along with NSE, the Bombay Stock Exchange also announced that trading will remain closed on January 15 due to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation Election. Typically, stock exchanges observe around 15 trading holidays in a year, apart from regular weekly closures on Saturdays and Sundays. On January 10, the Maharashtra Government declared a public holiday on January 15 in Mumbai for the BMC Election 2026. The holiday on January 15 applies to government and semi-government offices, corporations, boards, public sector undertakings, banks, and Central Government offices falling within the BMC’s jurisdiction. The commodity market operated on a limited schedule Trading in commodities will remain closed during the first half of the day and is scheduled to resume after 5 PM, allowing market participants to trade in the evening session. Also, the initial public offering (IPO) market witnessed strong investor interest. The IPO of Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL) saw bumper demand, with the issue being oversubscribed by 98.51 times. The strong response highlights robust participation across investor categories for the Coal India subsidiary. Sensex and Nifty extend losses for the second consecutive session Earlier on Wednesday, the Sensex and Nifty 50 extended losses for the second consecutive session. At close, the Sensex dropped 245 points, or 0.29 per cent, to end at 83,382.71, while the Nifty 50 fell 67 points, or 0.26 per cent, to settle at 25,665.60. Most sectoral indices ended lower; however, the Nifty Metal (2.70 per cent) and PSU Bank (2.13 per cent) posted solid gains.
15 January,2026 09:48 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentA major home loan fraud involving a loss of Rs 2.72 crore to a private bank has surfaced in Mumbai, in which multiple housing loans were allegedly obtained using forged employment records, fake salary credits, and falsified documents, police said. The loan amounts ranged from R27.84 lakh to R71.65 lakh, linked to flats in Thane and Dombivli, which have since been taken into possession, said police. According to the complaint filed with the Ghatkopar’s Pantnagar police, between January 13, 2020, and November 29, 2022, home loans worth R2,72,14,726 were sanctioned in the names four people identified as Bayaja Pandurang Bagadi, Dipak Tanaji Pawar, Rekha Vijay Jadhav (since deceased), and Aman Chandranath Sharma. The loans were approved on the basis of documents falsely showing them as salaried staff of private firms. Repayments were never made, said the complainant, Joseph David Nadar, a senior official with the bank (name withheld). He added, “The internal verification later revealed that the borrowers never worked at the companies mentioned in their applications and were either untraceable or had vacated their stated addresses. The accused created forged appointment letters, salary slips, and bank statements to falsely show stable income and secure home loans. The amounts credited as salary were immediately transferred to other accounts to create a false financial trail,” Nadar further stated in his statement to the police. Based on the complaint filed, police have named one Sandeep Shivram Yadav as the prime accused. A real estate firm — Versatile Valley — has also been named for allegedly routing funds to create the appearance of legitimate property transactions. A senior police official said, “We will begin the investigation now. All the accused will be sent legal notice to appear for recording their statement.”
15 January,2026 09:32 AM IST | Mumbai | Aishwarya IyerKalamboli police have registered a case against four Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidates contesting the Panvel Municipal Corporation elections for allegedly violating the Model Code of Conduct by holding a public programme and distributing sarees as inducements to voters. According to police, the incident occurred on January 12 between 5 pm and 9 pm on New Bus Depot Road in the Rohipoli area of Sector 16, Kalamboli. The event, titled ‘Khel Paithanicha’, was allegedly organised while election norms were in force, with Paithani sarees offered to women through a lucky draw to influence voting. Senior Inspector Rajendra Kote, Kalamboli police, said, “Such activities amount to an attempt to influence voters and are in direct violation of the Model Code of Conduct.” Based on a complaint filed by Vinay Balkrishna Shipai, assistant election officer for wards 7, 8, 9, and 10 of Kalamboli, a non-cognisable offence has been registered under Section 173 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The accused have been identified as BJP’s authorised candidates from ward No. 7 — Amar Arun Patil, Pramila Ravindra Patil, Manali Amar Thakur, and Rajendra Sharma, all residents of the Kalamboli-Panvel region. Police said the programme was projected as a cultural activity, but involved material inducements, which are prohibited under election rules. Kote added that no arrests have been made and no materials have been seized so far. “Senior officers from the Kharghar division and Kalamboli police station visited the venue, documented the incident, and registered the case. Further legal action will be taken after seeking necessary court permissions, as required under BNS provisions,” he said.
15 January,2026 09:30 AM IST | Mumbai | Amarjeet SinghWith campaigning for the Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) elections reaching its peak, instances of illegal inducements to influence voters have come to light, prompting authorities to step up security and enforcement across the city. From the distribution of silver anklets to women voters to the stockpiling of illicit liquor and cash, officials say such practices threaten the integrity of the civic polls. In response, Pune Police have placed the city on high alert and deployed nearly 12,500 personnel to ensure the elections are conducted in a free, fair, and fearless manner. To maintain law and order, the Pune Police Commissionerate has implemented a detailed security plan, dividing the city into 143 sectors while identifying over 100 sensitive and hypersensitive locations. These areas will remain under close watch by the Crime Branch, supported by a large deployment of cops, including 14 deputy commissioners of police, 30 assistant commissioners, 166 police inspectors and four companies of the State Reserve Police Force. Technical surveillance has also been intensified, with static and mobile video surveillance teams operating round-the-clock. Liquor, cash seized Police officials said that since the election announcement, authorities have seized illegal liquor valued at Rs 1.23 crore, narcotic substances worth Rs 26 lakh and cash amounting to Rs 67 lakh. Additionally, over 3200 licensed weapons have been deposited, while preventive action has been taken against more than 3400 individuals with a criminal background. In some parts of Pune, incidents involving the alleged distribution of silver anklets to women voters have come to light, while police have seized over Rs 2 lakh in cash linked to such cases. The administration has appealed to voters not to fall prey to rumours or inducements and to cooperate with law enforcement agencies. Security enhanced for PCMC polls The Pimpri-Chinchwad Police Commissionerate has also intensified security and preventive measures to ensure peaceful polling. Since the Model Code of Conduct came into force, police have carried out extensive action against illegal activities, including seizures of unlawful weapons, illicit liquor and narcotic substances. A strong police deployment, including senior officers, riot control units and special teams, has been put in place, with route marches and area domination exercises underway to maintain law and order during the election process. On January 9, Pune Excise’s ‘G’ Division seized 112.32 bulk litres of foreign liquor illegally transported from Daman near Pavaneshwar Temple in Pimpri, along with a four-wheeler used in the offence. The total value of the seized material was estimated at Rs 7.20 lakh. The action was carried out under the guidance of Excise Superintendent Atul Kanade, and a case has been registered against unknown persons based on a complaint filed by an excise constable. Authorities have asserted that stringent action against illegal liquor, cash distribution and any attempts to disturb law and order will continue till the completion of polling. Citizens have been urged to report any suspicious activity to the concerned agencies to ensure that the civic elections are held in a peaceful, transparent and democratic environment.
15 January,2026 09:25 AM IST | Pune | Archana DahiwalADVERTISEMENT
