Gun in hand, Maharashtra minister joins search team to kill leopard
In a video being played on Marathi news channels, the minister, with a revolver in hand, is seen participating in a search operation for a leopard at Chalisgaon of Jalgaon district
By Faisal Malik | Hindustan Times, Mumbai
UPDATED ON NOV 28, 2017 11:40 AM IST
Senior BJP leader and medical education minister Girish Mahajan is again in the news for wrong reasons.
In a video being played on Marathi news channels, the minister, with a revolver in hand, is seen participating in a search operation for a leopard at Chalisgaon of Jalgaon district of north Maharashtra.
Mahajan said the man-eater leopard was sighted 400ft away from his convoy, after which he decided to go after him.
The incident took place on Monday. Mahajan joined a team of forest and police personnel who were permitted to shoot the animal at sight for killing people. “The leopard has killed five people in the district in the past one-and-a-half months. On Monday, I visited the families of the people killed by the leopard. On my way, the forest officials sighted the leopard and so we decided to chase it down. Being a legislator and guardian minister of the district, I wanted to participate in the operation, instead of sitting safely in my car,” Mahajan told HT.
The leopard, however, managed to stay out of sight of the search team.
Mahajan, a five-time BJP MLA, is considered to be a close aide of chief minister Devendra Fadnavis. He is also the guardian minister of Jalgaon, his home district.
The senior minister is no stranger to controversies. Earlier, he got flak for attending a function meant for children with hearing and speech disabilities, with revolver tucked to his waist. He also reportedly attended the wedding of a relative of underworld don Dawood Ibrahim earlier this year.
Recently, he came under fire from women activists and opposition parties for advising a sugar factory to name liquor brands after women for higher sales.
Maha cops force girls to strip, govt orders probe
By HT Correspondent, Hindustan Times, Mumbai
UPDATED ON MAR 04, 2021 02:29 AM IST
- According to media reports, some girls from Ashadeep hostel in Jalgaon complained that people from outside and policemen were allowed to enter the facility on the pretext of a probe and some girls were forced to strip and dance.
Maharashtra ATS arrests major drug supplier from Himachal Pradesh
By Manish K Pathak, Mumbai
PUBLISHED ON MAR 04, 2021 01:22 AM IST
The Maharashtra Anti-terrorism squad (ATS), in a covert operation on Saturday, arrested a hotelier from Kullu district in Himachal Pradesh for allegedly supplying charas to Mumbai, Pune, and other parts of the state for several years.
Delete scene, withdraw movie from viewing platforms: Bombay HC to Telugu filmmakers
By KAY Dodhiya, Mumbai
PUBLISHED ON MAR 04, 2021 01:20 AM IST
The directions were issued after the actor approached the HC seeking damages for defamation from the filmmakers for using her photograph without her permission and in a derogatory manner.
Centre’s role now important in Maratha quota matter: Ashok Chavan
By HT Correspondent, Mumbai
PUBLISHED ON MAR 04, 2021 01:20 AM IST
The regular hearing for Maratha reservation issue is scheduled to commence from March 8. Chavan heads the state cabinet sub-committee on Maratha quota
Mumbai group set to make mattresses for homeless using discarded plastic
By Neha LM Tripathi, Mumbai
PUBLISHED ON MAR 04, 2021 01:17 AM IST
As a demo, the group of six women — called Food Army —involved around 1,000 volunteers to make a 6ftx3ft mattress using discarded plastic bags
Harassment at Jalgaon hostel: 4-member panel to conduct probe
By HT Correspondent, Mumbai
PUBLISHED ON MAR 04, 2021 01:16 AM IST
The Maharashtra government has constituted a four-member committee to probe an incident in Jalgaon, wherein policemen allegedly made girls from a government hostel strip and dance.
BJP mounts pressure to send Sanjay Rathod’s resignation to Governor
PUBLISHED ON MAR 04, 2021 01:12 AM IST
Forest minister Sanjay Rathod, whose name surfaced in the suicide case of a 22-year old woman, had submitted his resignation to chief minister Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday.
Only chanting slogans doesn’t make one a patriot: CM Uddhav Thackeray
By Faisal Malik, Mumbai
UPDATED ON MAR 04, 2021 01:16 AM IST
Taunts PM Modi over renaming Motera stadium, handling of farmers’ protest; Fadnavis says CM doesn’t know difference between rally and session.
Bombay HC asks authorities to reply to PIL against removal of cash lanes at toll plazas
By KAY Dodhiya, Mumbai
PUBLISHED ON MAR 04, 2021 12:59 AM IST
The Bombay high court (HC) on Wednesday directed the Union Road Transport Ministry and National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) to respond to a public interest litigation (PIL) which has challenged a February 15 circular by the authorities wherein toll plazas were authorised to collect double toll fees as fine from vehicles not having FASTag. The responses are to be filed before the next hearing on March 10.
Maharashtra announces probe into Devendra Fadnavis’s plantation drive
By HT Correspondent, Mumbai
PUBLISHED ON MAR 04, 2021 12:57 AM IST
The Maharashtra government announced a probe by a panel of members of the legislature into tree plantation drive, the pet project of previous Devendra Fadnavis government, after a few members alleged the drive was scam-driven.
Mumbai: Madrassa teacher gets 5-year jail term for molesting minor girls
By Charul Shah, Mumbai
PUBLISHED ON MAR 04, 2021 12:54 AM IST
A special court under Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act on Tuesday sentenced a 29-year-old Madrassa teacher to five years of imprisonment for molesting two minor girls in 2016.
Mumbai: Salesman arrested for theft of antiques worth ₹70 lakh
By HT Correspondent, Mumbai
PUBLISHED ON MAR 04, 2021 12:52 AM IST
Oshiwara police on Monday arrested a 40-year-old salesman for allegedly breaking into an antique showroom in Andheri (West) and robbing antiques worth ₹70 lakh. Police officers recovered antiques worth ₹60 lakh from the accused.
Mumbai: Shakti Mills gang rape convict arrested in assault case
By Manish K Pathak, Mumbai
PUBLISHED ON MAR 04, 2021 12:50 AM IST
Mumbai Police’s crime branch arrested two people, including 25-year-old Akash Jadhav — a Shakti Mills gang rape convict, for allegedly stabbing a Bandra resident on February 28.
Mangrove cover in Maharashtra up by 16%, finds survey
By Prayag Arora-Desai, Mumbai
PUBLISHED ON MAR 04, 2021 12:39 AM IST
From a total cover of 304.39 square kilometres (sq km) in 2005, Maharashtra’s coastline now has a mangrove cover of 353.18 sq kms, indicating an additional 48.79 sq kms of mangroves, according to a survey conducted by the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST) at the behest of the Maharashtra forest department.
Mumbai: Garage owner stabs man over parking space, arrested
By Manish K Pathak, Mumbai
PUBLISHED ON MAR 04, 2021 12:39 AM IST
Wadala TT police have arrested a garage owner for allegedly stabbing a 32-year-old man during an argument over parking a four-wheeler, near his garage in Pratiksha Nagar, Sion on Tuesday afternoon