Maharashtra

Thane, Mar 3 (PTI) A 25-year-old forest guard has been arrested for allegedly raping a tribal woman at a village in Maharashtra's Thane district, police said on Wednesday.

The police on Monday nabbed Rakesh Patil, a forest guard posted at the forest check post in Washind, an official from Washind police station said.

According to the police, the incident took place on February 27, when the accused accosted the victim, forcibly entered her home when her family was away and raped her.

Kolkata, Mar 4 (PTI) After the Rashtriya Janata Dal and Samajwadi Party (SP), the Shiv Sena on Thursday extended its support to TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee, and said it would not contest assembly elections in Bengal.

Hailing Banerjee as the "real Bengal tigress", the party, which had earlier said that it would join the electoral battle in the state, vowed to "stand in solidarity" with the TMC camp.

Mumbai, Feb 25 (PTI) A vehicle with gelatin sticks, an explosive material, and an apparently fake number plate was found parked near industrialist Mukesh Ambani's house in south Mumbai on Thursday evening, police said.

The registration number on the vehicle's number plate was the same as that of an SUV in Ambani's security detail, a police official said.

Gadchiroli, Feb 24 (PTI) A Naxal camp was destroyed and an attempt to trigger a blast was foiled by police in eastern Maharashtra's Gadchiroli district, an official release said on Wednesday.

On a tip-off, a police team conducted a combing operation in the Kokoti jungle on Tuesday morning and came across a Naxal camp, the release said.

Pune, Feb 21 (PTI) The body of a 22-year-old man was found hanging at his residence in Wagholi area of Pune on Sunday, police said.

The deceased was identified as Samir Gaikwad and a case of accidental death was registered by Lonikand police.

Mumbai, Feb 22 (PTI) The Bombay High Court on Monday granted interim bail for six months on medical grounds to ailing poet and activist Varavara Rao, an accused in the Elgar Parishad-Maoist links case.

A bench of Justices S S Shinde and Manish Pitale took into account the advanced age of Rao (82), his "precarious" health condition, quality of medical aid provided to him in prison, and medical facilities available at the Taloja prison in neighbouring Navi Mumbai, while holding that his case was "fit and genuine for grant of relief".

Mumbai, Feb 19 (PTI) Sarod maestro Ustad Amjad Ali Khan is coming out with his new album "Navras".

The album will be launched with two live virtual concerts, scheduled to be held on February 20 and 27.

Mumbai, Feb 17 (PTI) Against the backdrop of COVID-19 and need for safe travel, the Maharashtra Cabinet on Wednesday approved a new 'caravan tourism' policy that seeks to provide incentives to tour operators and at the same time boost employment opportunities in the pandemic-battered sector.

The policy, aimed at addressing safety concerns of travel enthusiasts, was cleared at the weekly cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray.

Pune, Feb 18 (PTI) Members belonging to various organisations and political parties on Thursday held a 'rail roko' agitation at the Pune railway station to register their protest against the Centre's three farm laws, officials said.

The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), an umbrella body of farmer unions, which has been spearheading the protest at Delhi borders, had announced this nationwide rail blockade to press for its demand to repeal the legislations.

Mumbai, Feb 16 (PTI) Environmental activist Shantanu Muluk, a suspect in a case registered by Delhi Police in connection with the toolkit shared by climate activist Greta Thunberg about the ongoing farmers' protest, on Tuesday got temporary anticipatory bail from the Bombay High Court.

The high court on Wednesday will pass its order on another suspect, advocate Nikita Jacob's similar plea.