1. Ajit Pawar Re-Elected NCP’s Legislative Party Leader
Former Maharashtra deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar was Wednesday unanimously re-elected the leader of the NCP’s legislative party at the meeting of the newly-elected MLAs in Mumbai, clearing the path for his elevation as Leader of Opposition in the Assembly.
A resurgent NCP emerged as the largest opposition bloc in the 288-member House after it wrested 54 seats, up from the 41 seats it had won in 2014 election. The Congress, which held the LoP post in the outgoing House, marginally improved its performance by adding two more seats to its kitty (44) from previous 42.
Source: The Indian Express
2. Will Return in 45 Days: Goodwin Owner
While the economic offences wing (EOW) of Thane Police is probing the disappearance of Sunil Kumar and Sudesh Kumar, founders of Goodwin Jewellery Group, Sunil Kumar told Hindustan Times that the Kumar brothers would return to Mumbai in 45 days. More than 1,000 complaints from customers and investors have been filed against the Kumar brothers.
Operations at 13 branches of Goodwin Jewellers in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) were suspended without warning last week, leaving customers and investors in a state of panic about their investments. In addition to selling gold and silver, Goodwin Jewellers also ran investment schemes.
Source: Hindustan Times
3. As Rain Lashes Maharashtra, Crops Over 17 Lakh Hectares Hit
Crops over 17 lakh hectares in Maharashtra have been affected as rains lashed the state during the withdrawal of the monsoon. Soyabean, cotton, maize, sorghum (jowar), cotton and vegetable crops were largely affected, with rice growers in Konkan reporting large-scale destruction of their crops.
The combined effect of Cyclone Kyarr and withdrawal of monsoon has led to renewed rainfall. Maharashtra has till date reported excess rainfall of 112.8 per cent, receiving 1,349.6 mm of rainfall compared to the normal 1,196.5 mm.
Source: The Indian Express
4. Solve Water Crisis or We’ll Intensify Protest: Residents
Around 200 residents from Kharghar on Wednesday marched to the City and Industrial Development Corporation (Cidco) office, protesting against acute water shortage that the node has been facing for the past one week.
Water shortage is a perennial problem in Kharghar but the residents protested because it worsened in some sectors.
The protesters sat on Cidco office premises for more than an hour and left after they got assurance from the officials about solving the water problem.
Source: Hindustan Times
5. After Eight Years in Jail, HC Sets Murder Accused Free
The Bombay High Court has acquitted a man who had spent eight years in prison on charges of setting his wife on fire.
A Division Bench of Justices B.P. Dharmadhikari and Sandeep Shinde was hearing an appeal filed by Sanjay Barde challenging the order awarding him life imprisonment. An additional sessions judge on June 20, 2011, had convicted him under Section 302 (punishment for murder) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
Source: The Hindu
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