1. Maharashtra Minister Chandrakant Patil Accused Of Irregularities In Land Deals
Days after Prakash Mehta was dropped from the Devendra Fadnavis Cabinet following corruption charges, the Opposition on Wednesday levelled allegations of wrongdoing in land deals against Maharashtra Revenue Minister Chandrakant Patil.
The Opposition accused Patil of “misusing” his position to “extend undue favours to land developers at the expense of state’s exchequer” in two Pune-related matters. Seeking a high-level probe, the Opposition demanded that Patil step down till the inquiry is concluded.
Source: The Indian Express
2. CAG To Audit Bridges Built By BMC In Last 5 Years: Maharashtra Government
Following demands from Opposition parties, the government on Wednesday announced that it would carry out a complete audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) into the bridges built by the BMC in the last five years. The audit will also look into the funds spent on bridge maintenance, their structural audits and the process followed for such audits during this period.
Source: The Indian Express
3. Disproportionate Assets: CBI Books CGST Official, Wife From South Mumbai
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has booked a superintendent from the Central Goods and Services Tax (CGST) office in south Mumbai and his wife in a disproportionate assets (DA) case. Sharadchandra Swaminathan was found to have Rs. 87.52 lakh in addition to his known source of income, said CBI.
CBI’s investigation revealed that from April 1, 2003, to January 8, 2018, Swaminathan and his wife acquired and accumulated assets in the form of immovable properties, cars, bank balances, and other investments worth around Rs. 1.18 crore, against the likely savings of Rs. 30.66 lakh.
Source: Hindustan Times
4. Four Held For Running Cricket Betting Racket In Mumbai Hotel
With the arrest of four persons, including a Byculla police sub-inspector, the police claimed to have busted a cricket betting racket at a guesthouse in Dadar, Mumbai.
On Tuesday night, a team led by senior Inspector Bharat Bhoite, attached with the Matunga police, raided Ramee Guestline hotel in Dadar East.
Source: The Indian Express
5. ‘Coastal Road Is A Threat To 8 Coral Species’
Eight species of corals are under threat from the proposed coastal road project, says a study compiled by SagarShakti, the marine research division of environment group, Vanashakti. The coastal road aims to cut short travel time between south Mumbai and western suburbs by 70%.
SagarShakti compiled the report from another report by Marine Life of Mumbai — which documented 130 observations of corals along the city shoreline, made between 2014 and 2019 — published on a website, iNaturalist. Corals are marine invertebrates that attach themselves to rocky intertidal regions or the ocean floor, and are carnivorous animals. As schedule 1 species, corals are protected under the Wildlife Protection Act (WPA).
Source: Hindustan Times
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