From Bieber fever to Metro ride to airport: Top 5 Mumbai stories

Here are out top five stories from Mumbai.

While the Mumbai police is yet to find any evidence that Shifu Sunkriti cult leader Sunil Kulkarni exploited women, the Bombay high court rapped the BMC for allowing the construction of a high-rise on a plot reserved for a court building. Meanwhile, with Canadian singer Justin Bieber’s concert just a day away, fans awaited his arrival at the Mumbai airport for over 24 hours. There’s good news for frequent fliers: you can now take the Metro to the airport and avoid those dreaded traffic jams altogether. In other good news, twins Ridhi and Siddhi, who were once conjoined, celebrated their fourth birthday today.

According to the current plan, Metro-3 commuters can enter the terminals only after coming out of the underground station on to the ground level. (HT)

Here are today’s top five picks:

1. Mumbai’s metro will take you to the airport too, like in Delhi

The Metro-3 line from Colaba to the SEEPZ at Andheri via Bandra will have exits that will deposit commuters directly inside the Mumbai International Airport and the Mumbai Central train terminus once work is completed by 2021. Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis directed the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation (MMRC) to ensure this was done while on visit to inspect construction of the 33.5-km corridor last week. “The CM wants to let Metro passengers enter the terminal directly,” said Subodh Kumar Gupta, director (projects), MMRC.

2. Twins Riddhi and Siddhi, who were once conjoined, celebrate 4th birthday in Mumbai hospital

Twins Riddhi and Siddhi, who were once conjoined and underwent a separation surgery at Mumbai’s BJ Wadia Hospital in June 2014, celebrated their fourth birthday in the hospital today. Born in April 2013, the girls were joined at the abdomen in a manner that they formed a ‘plus’ sign.

3. Believe it or not: Fans wait for Justin Bieber for more than 24 hours at Mumbai airport

With Canadian popstar Justin Bieber set to arrive in Mumbai any minute, excited fans, or Beliebers as they are called, are coming up with different ways to give their favourite singer a warm welcome. The singer will perform at DY Patil stadium in Mumbai on May 10.

Justin Bieber’s fans are excited about the concert. (HT)

4. How can you allow high-rise on plot reserved for court building in Mumbai, HC asks BMC

Expressing displeasure over the fact that the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) changed the reservation of a plot meant for a court building at Kannamvar Nagar in Vikhroli for a multi-purpose community centre, the Bombay high court has directed Maharashtra government to resolve the mess within a month.

5. Shifu Sunkriti case: No proof that sex and drugs cult leader Sunil Kulkarni exploited women

The Mumbai police team are yet to find any evidence against Sunil Kulkarni – the leader of an alleged sex and drugs cult Shifu Sunkriti – to prove that he exploited young girls. The leader was arrested after parents of two sisters from Malad, in their early 20s, filed a petition in the Bombay high court claiming Kulkarni had “entrapped” their daughters.