Maharashtra

Mumbai, May 13 (PTI) The Bombay High Court on Thursday said considering the prevailing COVID-19 situation and the increase in number of deaths, civic authorities should look for modern techniques while disposing of the bodies in crematoriums to reduce pollution.

A division bench of Chief Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice G S Kulkarni was hearing a public interest litigation filed by Pune resident Vikrant Latkar, raising concerns over air pollution in the areas near crematoriums.

Mumbai, May 12 (PTI) The COVID-19 inoculation drive for the 18-44 years age group in Mumbai has been suspended until further orders, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) announced on Wednesday evening.

The announcement followed the Maharashtra government's decision to suspend inoculation for this category and divert the vaccine stock for the above 45 years age group due to paucity of doses.

The BMC earlier in the day also issued revised guidelines allowingwalk-in vaccination in Mumbai for certain categories for three days.

Mumbai, May 12 (PTI) Former Maharashtra minister Naseem Khan on Wednesday demanded that India condemn the actions by Israeli forces against Palestinian citizens.

Khan, a Congress leader, met and submitted a memorandum to Governor B S Koshyari which urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to condemn Israel's actions.

"It is necessary that the Indian government condemn the attack on Palestinian citizens by Israeli forces and express solidarity with Palestine," Khan said.

Mumbai, May 13 (PTI) A special court here has issued a public notice to fugitive diamond merchant Nirav Modi, wanted in India for alleged fraud and money laundering in the PNB scam case, asking why his properties should not be confiscated under the Fugitive Economic Offenders (FEO) Act.

Special Judge V C Barde has also asked Modi to appear before the court on June 11.

The court said if the accused failed to appear, it will proceed with action against him under the FEO Act.

Nagpur, May 11 (PTI) A gang-rape accused lodged in Nagpur's Central Jail escaped from the hospital where he was undergoing treatment for tuberculosis, but was later nabbed, police said on Tuesday.

The undertrial prisoner, Krishna Dongre (27), escaped on late Monday night from the Government Medical College and Hospital (GMC&H), where he was admitted for treatment of tuberculosis, the police said.

Within eight hours of his escape, police nabbed the accused from the Bhavani Nagar area of the city, they said.

Mumbai, May 11 (PTI) Popular television actor Ravi Dubey said he has tested positive for the novel coronavirus and is under home quarantine.

The 37-year-old actor took to Instagram on Monday night to share his diagnosis.

He urged all those who came in contact with him to closely monitor themselves.

Nagpur, May 9 (PTI) A 12-year-old girl was allegedly blindfolded and raped by her 55-year-old neighbour in Kalamna area here in Maharashtra, police said on Sunday.

Angry residents thrashed the accused following the incident and handed him over to the police on Saturday afternoon, an official said.

As per the FIR, the accused Dolchand Chavan, a resident of the Kalmna slum, lured the girl and her friend to his house under the pretext of playing a blindfold game with them, the official said.

Mumbai, May 9 (PTI) Veteran Bollywood actor-politician Hema Malini said her secretary Markand Mehta has died of COVID-19 related complications.

In a heartfelt note, Malini took to social media late Saturday evening to mourn the loss of Mehta, who she said was part of her family.

Mumbai, May 8 (PTI) Actor Kangana Ranaut on Saturday said she has tested positive for the novel coronavirus and is under home quarantine.

The 34-year-old actor, whose Twitter account was permanently suspended for repeated violations of rules earlier this week, shared her diagnosis on Instagram.

"I was feeling tired and weak with slight burning sensation in my eyes for past few days, was hoping to go to Himachal so got my test done yesterday and today the result came I am covid positive.

Mumbai, May 6 (PTI) Actor Abhilasha Patil, who has acted in films like "Chhichhore" and "Good Newwz", has died due to COVID-19 complications, her co-actor said.

Patil was in her 40s.

She was admitted at a hospital soon after she tested positive for the novel coronavirus and died on May 4.

Actor Kushal Koli, who worked with Patil in the show Shree Gurudeva Dutta , said he got to know about her demise through a common friend.