Maharashtra

Mumbai, Jul 29 (PTI) Maharashtra Government on Wednesday extended the lockdown in the state till August 31 in view of rising coronavirus cases, which crossed the four- lakh mark in the day.

A notification issued by Chief Secretary Sanjay Kumar said the decision has been taken as an "emergency step to prevent and contain" the spread of COVID-19.

As part of the Mission Begin Again initiative, malls and market complexes without theatres, food courts and restaurants will be operational between 9 am and 7 pmfrom August 5, the notification said.

Mumbai, Jul 29 (PTI) The ruling Shiv Sena on Wednesday said the BJP seemed to be "confused" as it cannot topple the MVA government, a day after Maharashtra BJP chief Chandrakant Patil's statement on patching up with the estranged ally left leaders in his party red faced.

Patil's statement is said to be contradictory to the "go solo" stand announced by the party president J P Nadda for Maharashtra.

Nagpur, Jul 26 (PTI) A case of illegally occupying a flat and demanding Rs 30 lakh in extortion from a businessman was registered on Sunday against Shiv Sena's suspended Nagpur unit president Mangesh Kadao, police said.

An official said the victim had taken loan from the accused in August 2010 and returned part of it.

Kadao and his accomplices allegedly took possession of the victim's flat located on Central Bazaar Road, and also took his signatures on a blank stamp paper, he said.

Mumbai, Jul 23 (PTI) Megastar Amitabh Bachchan on Thursday dismissed reports that he has tested negative for coronavirus and called the piece of news "an incorrigible lie".

The 77-year-old actor, who along with actor-son Abhishek, was admitted to the isolation ward of Nanavati Hospital here on July 11, was quick to rubbish stories that started swirling on social media.

"This news is incorrect, irresponsible, fake and an incorrigible lie!" wrote Amitabh on Twitter, tagging a video clip from a TV news channel.

Mumbai, July 23 (PTI) A group of BJP workers gheraoed the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport's (BEST) general manager for nearly four hours at his office on Thursday seeking suspension of the increased power tariff in the city.

BJP workers led by city unit chief Mangalprabhat Lodha gheraoed general manager Surendrakumar Bagde at his office at BEST headquarters in south Mumbai, officials said.

BEST sources said that Bagde did not give any assurance, and managed to slip out finally through his private secretary'soffice.

Thane, Jul 22 (PTI) Three men have been arrested in Thane district for allegedly killing their divorcee sister and burning her body two months ago, the police said on Wednesday.

A search is underway for the fourth brother who is also an accused in the case, said Deputy Commissioner of Police S S Burse.

Victim Pratibha Mhatre (29) was living with her brothers at Daighar after she and her husband had divorce. She worked at a beer bar.

Thane,Jul 20(PTI) A 25-year-old priest of a gurdwara in Thane district of Maharashtra has been arrested for allegedly killing his wife after an argument, police said on Monday.

The accused, Bhajan Singh Sardar Singh Jadhav, allegedly attacked his wife Pooja (23) with a fan stand at their house in Bhiwandi on Sunday morning, after she refused to feed milk to their one-year-old daughter, Narpoli police station inspector R A Wani said, adding that neighbours alerted the police about the incident.

The victim died on the spot.

Mumbai, Jul 21 (PTI) Against the backdrop of the recent firing by Nepal Armed Police Force that left an Indian injured, the Shiv Sena on Tuesday called for breaking barrels of Nepalese guns right now or else, it said such incidents will be a permanent headache like is the case of Pakistan.

Mumbai, Jul 20 (PTI) Phone tapping is an "assault" on personal freedom and bringing down a democratically-elected government using money amounts to "treachery" with the Constitution, the Shiv Sena said on Monday referring to the Rajasthan political crisis.

It needs to be decided which one of these is a bigger crime, an editorial in Shiv Sena mouthpiece 'Saamana' said, claiming the Rajasthan telephone tapping episode has "exposed" many.

Mumbai, Jul 17 (PTI) The upcoming Bakri Eid festival should be celebrated in a simple manner due to the COVID-19 outbreak, state Home Minister Anil Deshmukh said on Friday and asked people to follow guidelines issued.

The guidelines were issued after Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, deputy CM Ajit Pawar, Deshmukh and other ministers met earlier this week to discuss issues relating to Baki Eid (Eid-ul-Adha), which falls later this month.