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The Hindu
6 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
MVA delegation meets Maharashtra Governor, urges him not to sign Special Public Security Bill
A delegation of Maha Vikas Aghadi met Maharashtra Governor C.P. Radhakrishnan on Friday (July 18, 2025) and requested him to decline permission to the Maharashtra Special Public Security Bill against extremist left wing organisations. The delegation submitted a memorandum printed on the letterhead of Maharashtra Legislative Council chairperson Ambadas Danve, requesting the Governor to send the Bill against to the government for reconsideration. There is anger against the Bill among the people, the memorandum stated. It has been signed by several leaders of Congress, NCP SP and Shiv Sena UBT. Interestingly, some of the signatories are members of the joint committee of the legislature which had cleared the Bill without any dissent note. This comes three days after left wing organisations and civil society members had approached the Maharashtra Governor with a similar request. 'The bill is draconian in nature. The definitions are ambiguous, at best. And there is fear that it will be misused to silence the opposition and peaceful protestors, particularly farmers and students,' Ulka Mahajan, a civil society activist, told The Hindu. The Maharashtra Special Public Security Bill was passed by the lower House on July 10 amid express opposition by the lone Communist Party of India MLA. The next day, on July 11, it was tabled in the Maharashtra Legislative Council where Congress and Shiv Sena UBT opposed the Bill vociferously. The Bill was passed by a voice vote by majority in both the Houses.
Indian Express
16-07-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Over 4,000 women, 1,364 children traced through Operation Shodh between April and May: Fadnavis
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday informed the Maharashtra Legislative Council that under Operation Shodh, 4,960 missing women and 1,364 children were traced between April and May this year. 'Operation Muskan and Operation Shodh have been launched to search for missing children, women and girls in the state. Through this, a large number of missing children, girls and women have been found,' said Fadnavis adding that 106 women and 703 children, for whom no missing complaints were registered, were also found through the programmes. Shiv Sena (UBT) MLC Sunil Shinde raised a starred question in this regard. Leader of Opposition Ambadas Danve, MLCs Chitra Wagh and Pragya Satav also participated in the discussion. Stating that the government has taken strict steps in the wake of the increasing incidents of women and girls going missing in the state, Fadnavis said as per the orders of the Supreme Court, it is now mandatory to register a case immediately if any person goes missing. If small children go missing, a case of kidnapping is registered. 'Out of the total 5,897 missing cases in Nagpur city, 5,210 persons have been traced, which is more than 90 percent… Under 'Operation Muskan', 41,193 boys and girls were traced between July 2015 and December 2024. The Supreme Court has taken note of this and many states have also adopted this scheme. A separate 'Operation Shodh' was implemented for women,' he said. The Chief Minister said orders have been given to set up a 'missing cell' in every police station. 'A woman police officer will be the head of this cell. Some women and girls get caught in the trap of human trafficking. Therefore, the government has initiated concrete measures in this regard,' he said. Fadnavis informed that a one-stop centre 'Bharosa' provides counseling, protection and legal aid to women. 'This centre is used by women who have left their homes due to domestic violence and family disputes. At the school level, awareness is created on sex education, good/bad touch under the 'Police Kaka-Didi' initiative. Now, information about 'missing persons' will also be included in this,' he said.
Time of India
16-07-2025
- Time of India
Drugs worth Rs1.10 crore seized in Nagpur in May, over 200 arrested: CM
Nagpur: Nagpur police seized narcotics valued at over Rs1.10 crore in May and arrested 211 individuals under various provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis told the Maharashtra Legislative Council on Wednesday, emphasising the police's zero-tolerance policy towards the heinous drug trade. According to data presented in the House, police registered 170 cases in May alone. The seized drugs included cannabis (ganja), MD powder and opium, which remained the most trafficked substances in Nagpur city. Fadnavis stated that police investigations revealed these drugs were primarily sourced from Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Odisha, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh and were smuggled into Nagpur via secret routes. Of the total seizures, MD accounted for the largest share with value of the drugs estimated at Rs98.07 lakh. Seized ganja was valued at Rs7.14 lakh while opium was pegged at Rs4.94 lakh. Fadnavis said police also acted against individual drug users, with 134 cases registered against narcotics consumers, classified as 'Sevanaarthi', leading to the arrest of 145 accused on consumption-related charges. The chief minister added that police had mapped key drug hotspots within Nagpur and were focusing enforcement activities in these areas. Intelligence-based raids were carried out regularly, with special efforts to disrupt supply chains before narcotics reached city markets. Fadnavis assured the House that anti-narcotics operations in Nagpur would continue to be intensified to tackle both trafficking and consumption.
The Hindu
15-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Maharashtra clears Bill to include drug peddling and narcotics-related offences
The Bill amending the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) to include drug peddling and narcotics-related offences was passed on Monday (July 14, 2025) in the Maharashtra Legislative Council. Yogesh Kadam, Minister of State for Home (Urban), in the Council said, ' The handlers of commercial quantity will be charged under MCOCA. We are bringing drug-related activities under this law as things are getting worst and drugs related crimes are the treated as the organised crime.' He further added that, 'Within 12 days we amended this Bill. On July 2, CM Fadnavis announced that drug peddlers would soon be booked under MCOCA and now have fulfilled that promise.' The drug- related crimes are booked under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substance s (NDPS) Act, 1985. After the amendments, the large-scale drug trafficking as a form of organised crime. Opposition has welcomed this move and raised concerns around the modus operandi of drug peddlers involving minors. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Mr. Sardesai in the Assembly raised concerns over Nigerians' involvement in drug-pedalling and drug cartels in the Bandra East areas, including Naupada, Behrampada, Bharatnagar, and Golibarnagar. Referring to open-drug peddling in these areas, Mr. Sardesai said, 'Despite open drug peddling, criminals are not caught as police do not have access to these areas. Can we give orders to establish the beat chowki?' Mr. Sardesai raised questions around minors used in the drug cartel and the action on the Nigerians and other African nationals settled in Bandra East. State in process to lay SOP to deport foreign nationals associated with drug-related cases Maharashtra government is in the process of forming standard operating procedures (SOPs) to deport Nigerians and other foreign nationals involved in drug-related cases, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said on Monday in the State Assembly. 'The work is underway to draft an SOP for deporting Nigerian and other foreign offenders, whose modus operandi is to commit petty crime to extend their stay in the country,' said Mr. Fadnavis, while replying to Bandra East legislator Varun Sardesai. Mr. Fadnavis pointed out the Centre is working on SOP, wherein to dismiss the small crime cases on Nigerians involved in drug-pedalling and deport them. Mr. Fadnavis mentioned to study whether it is possible to reduce the age bracket for punishing the accused by two years in case of minors, similar to laws related to rape. 'We are also considering whether to hold individuals accountable connected to the minors and charge that person,' Mr. Fadnavis added.
News18
15-07-2025
- News18
Maharashtra Taking Strict Measures Against Illegal Beef Trade: Govt
Last Updated: The recent seizure of 54,000 kg of suspected buffalo meat from two containers intercepted near Pune on March 24, was highlighted via a calling attention motion Replying to a calling attention motion raised in the Maharashtra Legislative Council, the state government assured the House that they are implementing strict measures to curb the illegal smuggling, transport, and export of beef and cattle meat. Minister of State for Home (Rural) Pankaj Bhoyar was responding to a notice tabled under Rule 107 by members Shrikant Bharatiya and others. They highlighted the recent seizure of 54,000 kg of suspected buffalo meat from two containers intercepted near Pune on March 24. The containers, originating from Hyderabad's Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust, were bound for export through Mumbai's port facilities without valid documents. Bhoyar informed the House that upon receiving intelligence, the Lonikand Rural Police Station executed the seizure and charged the accused under multiple sections of the Maharashtra Animal Preservation Act, 1976 (amended 1995) and the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act. The seized samples were sent for scientific examination to the Forensic Science Laboratory, Pune, where tests confirmed that the cargo contained boneless buffalo meat prepared for export. The minister stated that the involved company and handlers attempted to evade mandatory quarantine and export clearances. He added that the company had falsified documents to pass off the shipment as 'Indian halal frozen boneless buffalo offals" for export, violating multiple state and central laws. Highlighting the seriousness of the issue, Minister Bhoyar revealed that from January to June 2025 alone, 1,248 cases related to illegal cattle slaughter and unauthorized transport have been registered across Maharashtra, resulting in the seizure of over 1,708 tonnes of illegal meat. He stressed that the government has directed the animal husbandry department, police, and regional transport authorities to intensify inspections, cancel transport permits of repeat offenders, and strictly enforce provisions under the Maharashtra Animal Preservation Act and the Transport of Animals Rules. The minister reassured the legislative council that the administration will not tolerate illegal activities that violate livestock protection laws and that robust legal and administrative measures will continue to prevent unauthorized cattle transport, slaughter, and smuggling for export. view comments First Published: July 15, 2025, 06:30 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
