Maharashtra

Mumbai, Jul 2 (PTI) Senior Congress leader Balasaheb Thorat is set to become new president of the Maharashtra unit replacing incumbent Ashok Chavan at a time when the party is facing crucial assembly elections, a senior leader revealed Tuesday.

Chavan had submitted his resignation to the party leadership after the Congress recorded its worst ever performance in Maharashtra in the Lok Sabha elections, winning just one seat.

Chavan himself had lost from his home turf, Nanded.

Mumbai, Jul 2 (PTI) Mumbai was Tuesday paralaysed by incessant rain, which left many parts of the financial capital waterlogged and 21 dead in a wall collapse in the city.

Fourteen persons died in rest of Maharashtra in rain- related incidents in the last 24 hours, officials said.

Heavy rains lashing Mumbai since Sunday threw rail, air and road traffic out of gear, with several trains and flights cancelled.

Mumbai, Jul 2 (PTI) As many as 52 flights were cancelled and another 55 diverted to nearby airports due to the inclement weather and skidding of a SpiceJet aircraft at Mumbai airport Monday night, an official said Tuesday.

Efforts are underway to remove the Boeing 737 aircraft from the runway and restore operations as early as possible, the official said.

Mumbai, Jul 1 (PTI) A demand for a separate law to punish those involved in mob lynching was raised Monday in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly.

Raising the issue, Congress MLA Mohammed Arif Naseem Khan cited recent incidents of violence against Dalits and Muslims in Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh over various issues.

"Maharashtra is a progressive state and such incidents shouldn't be allowed to happen here. Hence, a separate law to curb this menace must be enacted," Khan said.

Mumbai, Jul 2 (PTI) Rain fury claimed 27 lives in Maharashtra, including 18 in a wall collapse in Mumbai, while the authorities declared a holiday in the city and adjoining regions, asking people to avoid stepping out of their houses.

Eighteen people were killed and over 50 injured in a wall collapse in the northern suburb of Malad in Mumbai early Tuesday following heavy rains.

Srinagar, Jun 30 (PTI) National Award-winning actor Zaira Wasim on Sunday announced her "disassociation" from the field of acting, saying she was not happy with the line of work as it interfered with her faith and religion.

In a detailed post on her Facebook page, which she later shared across all social media platforms, the Kashmiri-born "Dangal" fame star said she realised "though I may fit here perfectly, I do not belong here".

Mumbai, Jun 28 (PTI) Equity benchmarks nursed losses Friday as investors remained cautious ahead of the crucial US-China trade talks on the sidelines of the G-20 meet.

Domestic trading sentiment was also at a low ebb following tightening of mutual fund norms by regulator Sebi, and the RBI recommending extra vigil regarding non-banking finance companies (NBFCs), traders said.

After a choppy session, the 30-share BSE Sensex settled 191.77 points, or 0.48 per cent, lower at 39,394.64, dragged by index heavyweights RIL, HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank and TCS.

Mumbai, Jun 27; GANASHAKTI:  Opposition MLAs Thursday staged a protest, accusing Maharashtra Revenue Minister Chandrakant Patil of involvement in a "Rs 342 crore scam" pertaining to two land deals in Pune district.

The legislators, including Leader of the Opposition in state Assembly Vijay Wadettivar and NCP leaders Jayant Patil, Ajit Pawar and Jitendra Awhad, shouted slogans against the minister in the legislature premises and sought his resignation.

"A detailed probe must be carried out into the matter," Jayant Patil told reporters.

Palghar (Maha), Jun 27 (PTI) A court at Vasai in Maharashtra's Palghar district has sentenced a man to three years' rigorous imprisonment for molesting a 12-year-old girl.

Subash Tamore, the accused, was found guilty under provisions of the Protection Of Children From Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

Special Judge for POCSO cases A U Kadam also imposed a fine of Rs 5,000 on Tamore in the verdict pronounced on Tuesday.

Mumbai, Jun 27 (PTI) Bollywood actor Aditya Pancholi was Thursday booked by Mumbai police on charges of raping a 36-year-old woman, who is also an actor.

Pancholi claimed he has been implicated in a false case, adding the law will take its course.

Suburban Versova police registered the case against Pancholi under IPC sections 376 (rape), 323 (assault), 328 (causing hurt by means of poison) and 384 (extortion), a senior official said.