The Central Railway (CR) on Thursday said it will operate a special traffic block on the Up and Down South-East lines on the Kalyan-Ambarnath section during the intervening night of December 2 and 3 for launching of Foot Over Bridge (FOB) girders at Ulhasnagar in Thane district, reported news agency PTI. The block will be operated for two hours - from 1.20 am to 3.20 am, it said. Due to the block, a few trains will be cancelled, while a couple of late night trains will be short-terminated, the CR said in a release. The last local before the block for Karjat from the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) will depart CSMT at 11.30 pm and the last local before the block for CSMT from Khopoli will depart Khopoli at 11.15 pm, it said, adding that the departure time of the first local on Sunday morning was also revised. "All Up and Down services towards South-East will remain cancelled between Kalyan and Ambarnath stations during the block period," the CR release said. Meanwhile, the Western Railway on Thursday said that it will operate over 3 hours night block on the weekend and there will be a no day block over the Western Railway on Sunday. In an official statement, the Western Railway said, to carry out maintenance work of tracks, signaling and overhead equipment, a jumbo Block of 3.30 hours will be operated from 00.00 hrs to 03.30 hrs at Vasai Road Yard including all Goods line during the intervening night of Friday and Saturday, i.e. on 01st/02nd December, 2023. The Western Railway said, "Therefore, there will be a no block in the day time over Western Railway suburban section on Sunday, 03rd December, 2023." 90 passengers of special train complain of food poisoning, treated at Pune station As many as 90 passengers on board a special train between Chennai and Palitana suffered from food poisoning, railway officials said on Wednesday, reported PTI. Doctors attended to all the passengers at Pune railway station in Maharashtra on Tuesday evening and provided them necessary treatment. The train left for its onward journey after 50 minutes, they said, reported PTI. The 'Bharat Gaurav' train was privately booked by a group for a religious function at Palitana in Gujarat, Central Railway's chief public relations officer Dr Shivraj Manaspure said, reported PTI. The group had procured the food privately and it was not supplied by the Railways or the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC), he said, reported PTI. The food consumed by the passengers was prepared in the pantry car, he said. "Around 80 to 90 passengers from a coach complained of food poisoning between Solapur and Pune. They complained of nausea, loose motions and headache," the official said, reported PTI. At Pune station, a team of doctors attended to all the passengers and provided them treatment on board, he said, reported PTI. "The train departed after 50 minutes. The condition of all the passengers was stable," the official said, reported PTI. (With inputs from PTI)
30 November,2023 08:14 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentA court on Thursday acquitted five Shiv Sena workers in a 2005 rioting and unlawful assembly case pertaining to a protest in Mumbai against now Union minister Narayan Rane following his decision to quit the saffron party. A detailed order was not immediately available, but Additional Sessions Judge R N Rokade noted there were discrepancies in the identity of the persons booked by the police and their alleged role in the 18-year-old incident. As per the police, a group of Shiv Sainiks marched towards a meeting organized by supporters of Rane near the office of the party's mouthpiece 'Saamana' in Prabhadevi in central Mumbai. The gathering was to be addressed by former Shiv Sena chief minister of Maharashtra Rane after he quit the regional party founded by Bal Thackeray. A scuffle broke out between members of the rival groups and to bring the situation under control police resorted to lathicharge. The probe agency further said a policeman suffered a knee injury in stone pelting between supporters of Rane and workers of the Uddhav Thackeray-led party. A case under relevant sections of the IPC was registered against a number of Shiv Sena workers for unlawful assembly, rioting, assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty. Seven people were facing trial and the case was abated against two of them following their death. Those acquitted by Additional Sessions Judge R N Rokade were identified as Ashok Kelkar, Laxman Bhosale, Ajit Kadam, Dattaram Shinde and Shashi Phadate. The court, while acquitting the five Sena workers, pointed out that the complainant (police) said they had booked 8 to 0 people from the protest site, but there was no reference to them in the case. There were no arrest memos or 'panchnamas' (documents that record evidences/findings at the scene of an offence) to show who those accused were and how these five persons came into the picture, the court observed. Further, the judge noted there were discrepancies in their identification, their role in the alleged offence and the medical record did not clearly reveal how injury was caused to the policeman. After quitting the Shiv Sena, Rane joined the Congress and became a state minister. He is currently with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and a member of the Rajya Sabha. The Shiv Sena suffered a split in June 2022 when a section of MLAs revolted against the party's leadership. 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.
30 November,2023 08:04 PM IST | Mumbai | PTIThe Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) activists on Thursday blackened the English signboards of a few shops in Nashik city of Maharashtra, reported the PTI. They alleged that the business establishments had not displayed their names in the Marathi (Devanagari) script in bold letters, as per the PTI. A group of MNS workers, including women members, targeted shops with English signboards in the College Road area and asked their owners to have signboards in Marathi in two days. They also blackened some of the English signboards. The Supreme Court earlier gave shops and other commercial establishments in the state a two-month deadline (which ended on November 25) to install Marathi signboards. Meanwhile, The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is taking action against shops and establishments not displaying signboards in Marathi (Devanagari) script. During a visit to 3,269 shops, BMC found 176 without compliant signboards, violating the Maharashtra Shops and Establishments Act, 2018, amended in 2022. Non-compliant shops face a penalty of R2,000 per staffer, up to a maximum of Rs 1,00,000. In A ward, BMC visited 300 shops in Colaba and Fort, finding three shops without compliant signboards. Sanjay Sonar, senior inspector of Shop and Establishment, A ward, said, "We've notified these shops and will verify their licenses, imposing fines if needed. Non-payment could lead to court action. We have fined Nike retailer, Puma showroom and Inshaallah Mashaallah perfume and textile shop." Viren Shah, president of The Federation of Retail Traders Welfare Association, said that most shops comply but very few shops do not have the signboards as they need to change the full board. N Ward (Ghatkopar) tops the non-compliance list with 18 out of 89 shops not meeting regulations. S Ward (Bhandup, Vikhroli, Powai) has 14 out of 142 non-compliant shops, and H West (Bandra, Khar West) has 12 out of 142. The BMC plans to continue inspections. According to Rule 35 and Section 36C of the Act, establishment nameplates must be in bold Marathi Devanagari script. The Supreme Court set a two-month deadline, ending November 25, 2023, to change the signboards. BMC initiated verifications from Tuesday due to holidays. (with PTI inputs)
30 November,2023 07:31 PM IST | Nashik | mid-day online correspondentThe Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) faction leader Praful Patel on Thursday said that it was a misconception that the two rival factions of the party would soon come together, reported the PTI. Speaking at a news conference at the Nationalist Congress Party's two-day conclave in Karjat, Maharashtra, working president of the Ajit Pawar-led NCP also claimed that the majority of public representatives, functionaries and workers of the party supported Ajit Pawar's decision to join hands with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led National Democratic Alliance, as per the PTI. "There should be no confusion because some people in the (Sharad Pawar-led) NCP mislead people into believing that we are again coming together. I want to state it very specifically that we are working in the NCP under Ajit Pawar's leadership for Maharashtra's benefit," Praful Patel said, according to the PTI. On the meetings between Ajit Pawar and his uncle Sharad Pawar, he said they do not meet often. The Pawar family had come together earlier this month for their annual Diwali get-together (where Ajit and Sharad Pawar were present), Praful Patel said. Ajit Pawar joined the Shiv Sena-BJP government in Maharashtra in July this year, splitting the party founded by his uncle. As to the dispute between the two factions for the party name and symbol which is before the Election Commission of India, Patel said the Ajit group has furnished necessary evidence and will present its case whenever given an opportunity. On NCP leader and Maharashtra minister Chhagan Bhujbal receiving flak for stating that Marathas should not get quota out of the existing OBC reservation, Praful Patel said that Chhagan Bhujbal has never opposed the demand of reservation for the Marathas. Earlier this week, Maharashtra Cabinet minister and OBC leader Chhagan Bhujbal on Tuesday said that he was not against any community, but asserted a social group has to fight to protect its rights, reported the PTI. The comments had come in the backdrop of the ongoing agitation by the Marathas for reservation in government jobs and education, as per the PTI. Chhagan Bhujbal, who has strongly opposed the demand to include the Marathas in the other backward classes (OBC) category for quota benefits, said a new social system is taking shape in Maharashtra which is different from the order envisaged by prominent social reformers. (with PTI inputs)
30 November,2023 07:00 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe Western Railway on Thursday said that it will operate over 3 hours night block on the weekend and there will be a no day block over the Western Railway on Sunday. In an official statement, the Western Railway said, to carry out maintenance work of tracks, signaling and overhead equipment, a jumbo Block of 3.30 hours will be operated from 00.00 hrs to 03.30 hrs at Vasai Road Yard including all Goods line during the intervening night of Friday and Saturday, i.e. on 01st/02nd December, 2023. The Western Railway said, "Therefore, there will be a no block in the day time over Western Railway suburban section on Sunday, 03rd December, 2023." Central Railway GM retires Naresh Lalwani, the General Manager of Central Railway, will superannuate on November 30, 2023, marking the culmination of an exemplary 38-year career in Indian Railways, the officials said. Having assumed office on January 25, 2023, Lalwani, the Indian Railway Engineering Service officer has been instrumental in steering Central Railway to remarkable achievements. During his tenure Central Railway achieved Rs.10103.72 crore from passenger & freight earnings during the period April to October 2023, showcasing 16.67 % increase compared to the Rs. 8659.77 crores during same period in 2022. Central Railway has sustained its leadership position in ticket checking among all Zonal Railways, with 27.32 Lakh cases of Ticketless, Irregular Travel, Unbooked Luggage passengers and realised fine of Rs. 176.17 Crores for the financial year 2023-24 from April to October 2023. The Central Railway loaded record 49.03 million tons during the period April to October 2023, showcasing an 11.50% increase compared to the same period in 2022. Central Railway completed construction of 147.77 km new lines/ doubling project in this financial year. Total Central Railway section running with 130 kmph is now- 1206.73 km such as Igatpuri- Nashik- Bhusawal – Akola – Wardha- Badnera – Nagpur, Wardha – Ballarashah and Pune - Daund route. In a commendable stride toward sustainability, Central Railway has embraced clean and renewable energy, augmenting its energy needs with 8.119 MWp of solar energy. This shift aligns with Indian Railways' mission to achieve Net Zero Carbon Emission by 2030. The commitment to environmental stewardship is further demonstrated by Central Railway's 100% electrification of all Broad Gauge routes, covering 3825 route kilometers. This achievement translates to an annual reduction of 5.204 tons of carbon footprints and a substantial cost savings of Rs. 1670 crores. Under Lalwani's leadership, Central Railway has undertaken various customer-centric initiatives, introducing new services like CSMT-Solapur Vande Bharat Express, CSMT-Sainagar Shirdi Vande Bharat Express, CSMT-Madgaon Vande Bharat Express and Nagpur – Indore Vande Bharat Express. Additionally, the introduction of 'Vistadome' coaches to Neral –Matheran Narrow gauge Toy train this year offering passengers panoramic views, exemplifies the commitment to enhancing travel experiences.
30 November,2023 06:48 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentA special court in Mumbai has directed the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to return the passports of former Maharashtra home minister Anil Deshmukh's two sons, who are accused in a money laundering case, reported news agency PTI. The court, however, said that the duo - Hrishikesh and Salil Deshmukh - must not leave the country without its permission, reported PTI. While allowing their pleas on Wednesday, special court judge R N Rokade, hearing cases pertaining to the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), noted that the court has to consider the antecedents of the accused, the nature of offence, necessity for his presence at the trial and other such relevant factors, reported PTI. "At the same time, the court has to strike a balance between the personal liberty of the accused guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution and the interest of the society as well as rights of the prosecution," it added, reported PTI. The Deshmukh brothers were arraigned as accused in the chargesheet filed by the ED. The probe agency, however, never arrested the duo, reported PTI. In November 2022, they were granted bail by the special court and one of the conditions was to submit their passports to the probe agency, reported PTI. Advocate Inderpal Singh, while seeking modification in the bail conditions of Hrishikesh, submitted that the latter is engaged in business management and needs to attend workshops and training sessions, where he can gain practical skills and strategies for optimising business operations, reported PTI. He will also attend the conference organised by a science society in Japan. The applicant has to attend the International Conference on Logics in Artificial Intelligence to learn the cutting edge developments in the field, the lawyer submitted, reported PTI. For Salil, the advocate argued that the applicant is a young dynamic leader of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and is a member of Zilla Parishad since 2020, reported PTI. He has to attend party meetings for the upcoming elections to promote its agenda amongst the youth across Maharashtra to strengthen the party organisation. Therefore, he may be permitted to retain his passport till the final hearing and disposal of the trial, Singh submitted, reported PTI. The central probe agency opposed their pleas, saying the case pending against them was very serious in nature and there was every likelihood of the applicants fleeing the country, reported PTI. The court, however, said that merely being prosecuted under the provisions of the PMLA is not sufficient to deny the duo their passports, reported PTI. "Apprehension of the prosecution can be addressed by imposing stringent conditions on the applicant. Having regard to the entire gamut of the circumstances, I am of the considered view that this is a fit case to grant permission to return the passport," the court added, reported PTI. The ED began its probe against Anil Deshmukh, his family members and his former associates after the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) filed an FIR against him over allegations of extortion made by former Mumbai police commissioner Param Bir Singh, reported PTI. The ED claimed that Anil Deshmukh had misused his official position and collected Rs 4.70 crore from various bars and restaurants in Mumbai, reported PTI. The money was channelled to a Nagpur-based educational trust controlled by the Deshmukh family, according to the ED, reported PTI. (With inputs from PTI)
30 November,2023 05:55 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentMumbai Police said they have registered a case against four unknown people for vandalising the car of former Mumbai Mayor and Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Datta Dalvi, reported news agency ANI. Datta Dalvi was arrested on Wednesday morning for allegedly using objectionable language against Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, reported ANI. "A case has been registered against four unknown people for vandalising former Mayor and Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Datta Dalvi's car. Further Investigation is underway," Mumbai's Vikhroli Police said on Thursday, reported ANI. Bhandup Police station officials said on Wednesday that Dalvi has been arrested for allegedly using objectionable language against the Maharashtra Chief Minister, reported ANI. They said a meeting was organized by the Uddhav Thackeray faction near Bhandup Police station on Sunday where Dalvi allegedly used objectionable language against Shinde, reported ANI. Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut had slammed the Eknath Shinde-led NDA government in Maharashtra after Dalvi's arrest, reported ANI. Asked whether the arrest of Datta Dalvi was a reaction to Uddhav Thackeray's reported "Nalayak" remark against the Chief Minister, Raut said, "If he (Uddhav Thackeray) called him (Eknath Shinde) "nalayak," what wrong did he say?" "Is there censorship in this country? Is there a dictatorship or an emergency?...It is not an unparliamentary word..." "Calling him (Eknath Shinde) ''Hinduhrdayamrat" is an insult to Veer Savarkar and Balasaheb Thackeray. For this insult, an FIR should be registered against him (Shinde)...Datta Dalvi objected to the remark..." he added. He also mentioned that State Agriculture Minister Abdul Sattar "abused" NCP MP Supriya Sule, Narayan Rane and "his Nepali son." "No action was taken against them but against our leader," Raut added. Raut further alleged, "No matter how many atrocities you commit against us, you all will go to jail in 2024." The action was taken following a case registered against Datta Dalvi at the Bhandup Police Station under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), reported ANI. "A case against Dalvi was registered under 153A(1)(a), 153B(1)(b), 153A(1)(C), 294, 504 and 505 of the IPC," the police officials said, reported ANI. According to Bhandup Police, a meeting was organized by the Uddhav Thackeray faction near Bhandup Police station on Sunday where Dalvi allegedly used objectionable language against Shinde, reported ANI. "After that, a case was registered against Dalvi by the people of the Shinde faction," Bhandup Police said, reported ANI. (With inputs from ANI)
30 November,2023 04:20 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentAction was taken against 311 persons for violation of various provisions of the Indian Railway Act in the district during a single evening, an official release said on Thursday, reported news agency PTI. The special drive was conducted by the Railway Protection Force on Wednesday during evening peak hours, reported PTI. As many as 197 persons were detained for unauthorised entry in reserved compartments, 99 person were detained for trespassing inside railway premises and 13 persons were detained for hawking and begging, reported PTI. The culprits were prosecuted before the Kalyan railway magistrate through video conference and a total fine of Rs 46,950 was recovered, reported PTI. In another incident, as many as 90 passengers on board a special train between Chennai and Palitana suffered from food poisoning, railway officials said on Wednesday, reported PTI. Doctors attended to all the passengers at Pune railway station in Maharashtra on Tuesday evening and provided them necessary treatment. The train left for its onward journey after 50 minutes, they said, reported PTI. The 'Bharat Gaurav' train was privately booked by a group for a religious function at Palitana in Gujarat, Central Railway's chief public relations officer Dr Shivraj Manaspure said, reported PTI. The group had procured the food privately and it was not supplied by the Railways or the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC), he said, reported PTI. The food consumed by the passengers was prepared in the pantry car, he said, reported PTI. "Around 80 to 90 passengers from a coach complained of food poisoning between Solapur and Pune. They complained of nausea, loose motions and headache," the official said, reported PTI. At Pune station, a team of doctors attended to all the passengers and provided them treatment on board, he said, reported PTI. "The train departed after 50 minutes. The condition of all the passengers was stable," the official said, reported PTI. Meanwhile, the National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL), which is building the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train corridor, has said that 100 kilometres of viaducts and 230 kilometres of pier work had been completed for the ambitious project, reported PTI. The milestone of construction of 100 km of viaducts has been achieved through launching of 40-metre long 'full span box girders' and 'segmental girders', the NHSRCL said on Thursday, reported PTI. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw uploaded a video on X to give information about the feat, reported PTI. According to the NHSRCL, the viaducts include bridges over six Gujarat rivers, namely Par and Auranga in Valsad district, as well as Purna, Mindhola, Ambika and Venganiya in Navsari district, reported PTI. "The first girder of the project was launched on November 25, 2021, while the first kilometre of viaduct was ready in six months on June 30, 2022. It achieved construction of 50 kilometres of viaduct on April 22, 2023 and, thereafter, in six months 100 kilometres of viaduct were completed," the NHSRCL said, reported PTI. (With inputs from PTI)
30 November,2023 03:55 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentNaresh Lalwani, the General Manager of Central Railway, will superannuate on November 30, 2023, marking the culmination of an exemplary 38-year career in Indian Railways, an official said. Having assumed office on January 25, 2023, Lalwani, the Indian Railway Engineering Service officer has been instrumental in steering Central Railway to remarkable achievements. During his tenure Central Railway achieved Rs.10103.72 crore from passenger & freight earnings during the period April to October 2023, showcasing 16.67 % increase compared to the Rs. 8659.77 crores during same period in 2022. Central Railway has sustained its leadership position in ticket checking among all Zonal Railways, with 27.32 Lakh cases of Ticketless, Irregular Travel, Unbooked Luggage passengers and realised fine of Rs. 176.17 Crores for the financial year 2023-24 from April to October 2023. The Central Railway loaded record 49.03 million tons during the period April to October 2023, showcasing an 11.50% increase compared to the same period in 2022. Central Railway completed construction of 147.77 km new lines/ doubling project in this financial year. Total Central Railway section running with 130 kmph is now- 1206.73 km such as Igatpuri- Nashik- Bhusawal – Akola – Wardha- Badnera – Nagpur, Wardha – Ballarashah and Pune - Daund route. In a commendable stride toward sustainability, Central Railway has embraced clean and renewable energy, augmenting its energy needs with 8.119 MWp of solar energy. This shift aligns with Indian Railways' mission to achieve Net Zero Carbon Emission by 2030. The commitment to environmental stewardship is further demonstrated by Central Railway's 100% electrification of all Broad Gauge routes, covering 3825 route kilometers. This achievement translates to an annual reduction of 5.204 tons of carbon footprints and a substantial cost savings of Rs. 1670 crores. Under Lalwani's leadership, Central Railway has undertaken various customer-centric initiatives, introducing new services like CSMT-Solapur Vande Bharat Express, CSMT-Sainagar Shirdi Vande Bharat Express, CSMT-Madgaon Vande Bharat Express and Nagpur – Indore Vande Bharat Express. Additionally, the introduction of 'Vistadome' coaches to Neral –Matheran Narrow gauge Toy train this year offering passengers panoramic views, exemplifies the commitment to enhancing travel experiences. In line with the "Zero Scrap Mission," Central Railway has not only achieved a scrap-free environment across its locations/divisions but has also generated revenue of Rs. 223.85 crores through the sale of scrap during the current financial year. As Naresh Lalwani bids farewell, Central Railway expresses gratitude for his visionary leadership and unwavering commitment to excellence.
30 November,2023 03:09 PM IST | Mumbai | Rajendra B. AklekarTata Technologies, an arm of Tata Motors, has stormed into the stock market with an astonishing 140 per cent premium over its issue price of Rs 500. The company, known for its cutting-edge engineering and digital services, witnessed a jaw-dropping debut on the Bombay Stock Exchange (B)SE, listing at Rs 1,199.95 and skyrocketing to Rs 1,400, marking an astounding 180 per cent surge. It signifies Tata Group's return to the (Tata Technologies) IPO arena after nearly two decades, making Tata Technologies the first from the conglomerate to take this bold step since Tata Consultancy Services did so in 2004. The Rs 3,042.5 crore IPO, which was subscribed 69.43 times, has sent shockwaves through the market, and investors are now scrambling to understand the secrets behind this unparalleled success. As the company's market valuation reaches a whopping Rs 52,939.74 crore during morning trade, the question on everyone's mind is: What makes Tata Technologies IPO the talk of the town, and should you be part of this financial frenzy? Don't miss out on the inside scoop—dive into the thrilling world of Tata Tech's unprecedented stock market debut now! Indian stocks marginally lower, eyes now on Assembly exit polls Meanwhile, Indian stock indices opened largely unchanged on Thursday, to later trade marginally in the red. The relative weakness was likely because investors resorted to profit booking after a bumper Wednesday session, and ahead of Assembly exit polls of five states later this evening. Benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty were 0.2-0.3 per cent lower at the time of filing this report. Also read: Crime news: Gay partner stabs 21-yr-old BBA student to death in Maharashtra's Pune On Wednesday, Sensex and Nifty closed 727 points and 207 points with over 1 per cent higher each. Nifty Bank, Nifty Auto, Nifty Financial Services, Nifty IT, Nifty PSU Bank, and Nifty Private Bank were some of the top movers. The exit polls due on Thursday evening are likely to give indications of the Assembly election outcomes and its impact on the crucial General election in 2024. The exit polls and the actual poll results will be closely monitored by investors. Over the past month, the Indian stock indices have risen about 4-5 per cent on a cumulative basis. On the domestic front, investors now also await the second-quarter GDP data, due on Thursday and the S&P Global Manufacturing PMI later on Friday. India's GDP growth for the June quarter came at 7.8 per cent. "Global cues are supportive with positive news from the mother market US where growth is strong and inflation is trending down. India's Q2 GDP numbers expected today will be better than expected. If these good macros are supported by today's exit poll results coming in tune with market expectations, a rally to record highs can happen soon," said VK Vijayakumar, Chief Investment Strategist at Geojit Financial Services. (With inputs from agencies)
30 November,2023 11:10 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe Kasturba Marg police have arrested a 21-year-old man for allegedly tampering with ATMs in order to steal cash. The accused, Himanshu Rakesh Tiwari, would glue the money dispensing slot shut, preventing users from withdrawing cash and would grab the notes once the person left. The arrest was made less than an hour after Tiwari tampered with an SBI ATM on MG Road in Borivali East on Monday. Shafiq Salim Shaikh, 34, the owner of a tour and travel business, had attempted to withdraw cash from the ATM at 12.29 am. Upon realising that the machine had been tampered with as money was not being dispensed despite the machine indicating otherwise, Shaikh immediately alerted the bank via its helpline. The Kasturba Marg police were contacted by the bank officials, who promptly arrived at the scene. Himanshu Rakesh Tiwari, the accused; (right) A screengrab of footage of the alleged thief at work The cops requested CCTV footage of the ATM centre between 6 pm on Sunday and 12.30 am on Monday. After reviewing the footage, the authorities identified the accused. Following his trail with the help of traffic CCTV camera footage, it was discovered that Tiwari had visited a travel agency in Borivli East after the theft. He was attempting to book a ticket to Gujarat when the police apprehended him. “Upon searching Tiwari’s belongings, we found Rs 5,000, the amount that Shaikh had attempted to withdraw, along with a box full of Fevikwik glue.Tiwari would apply glue to the dispensation slot. When his victims would leave, thinking the machine was not working, he would access the slot and retrieve the cash using a blade or cutter,” said a police officer from the Kasturba Marg police station. Under the guidance of DCP Smita Patil and Senior Inspector Anil Avhad, API Om Totawar and his team nabbed Tiwari, who was held under Sections 379 and 34 of the Indian Penal Code. Also read: Hostel watchman allegedly rapes hearing and speech impaired minor girl in Madhya Pradesh's Damoh district: Police “We suspect that Tiwari is part of a large gang that employs the same modus operandi not only in Mumbai but also in other places and states including Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh where the accused hails from. He had committed more than four such offences in the past,” the officer added. Another officer said, “We are questioning Tiwari to determine the extent of their operations and how many more ATM centres have been targeted in Mumbai and neighbouring areas.”
30 November,2023 05:31 AM IST | Mumbai | Samiullah KhanADVERTISEMENT