Mumbai's GSB Seva Mandal Secures Record Rs 474 Crore Insurance for Ganeshotsav 2
Mumbai’s GSB Seva Mandal, one of the city’s most prominent Ganesh mandals, has taken a staggering insurance cover of ₹474.46 crore for its five-day Ganpati celebrations this year, an official confirmed on Friday.
Last year, the insurance cover stood at ₹400.58 crore. The celebrations, held at King’s Circle in Sion, will commence on August 27 with Ganesh Chaturthi and continue for five days.
“The Ganesh idol is adorned with over 69 kg of gold ornaments, more than 336 kg of silver, and other precious offerings from devotees,” said Amit Pai, Chairman of GSB Seva Mandal, in a statement. This year marks the 71st Ganeshotsav celebration of the mandal, which is widely regarded as the richest in the country.
Out of the total cover, ₹67.03 crore is allocated for gold, silver, and other ornaments. Around ₹375 crore covers personal accident insurance for volunteers, priests, cooks, valets, security guards, and footwear stall workers. Additionally, ₹30 crore is reserved for public liability, covering pandals, stadiums, and devotees.
The policy also includes a standard fire and special perils cover for furniture, fixtures, digital assets, and other materials at the venue.
“Beyond the celebrations, GSB Seva Mandal supports education for underprivileged sections of society, ensuring equal opportunities and societal progress,” Pai added.
Vivek Agnihotri is not making films—he is manufacturing venom. The Bengal Files is not art; it is political propaganda, carefully packaged to inflame, distort, and divide. By dragging the name of Gopal Chandra Mukhopadhyay—popularly known as Gopal Patha—into this cesspool, Agnihotri has crossed the line between artistic license and malicious slander.
Gopal Patha was no “butcher.” He was a wrestler, a freedom fighter, and, above all, a protector. In the chaos of 1946, when Calcutta burned under the horrors of Direct Action Day—engineered by the Muslim League and abetted by the then chief minister H.S. Suhrawardy—it was Gopal who mobilized Hindus not for indiscriminate slaughter, but for defense. His orders were crystal clear: women, children, and innocents must not be harmed. He stood as a bulwark against the barbarity unleashed on Hindus—massacres, rapes, kidnappings, and arson—and in doing so prevented Calcutta from collapsing entirely to Suhrawardy’s Pakistan-backed plans.
Yet Agnihotri, intoxicated by his own false bravado, chooses to depict this man as a “Muslim-hating butcher.” A grotesque lie, one his own grandson has condemned as “belittling, dehumanising and demonising.” The family has filed legal action, and rightly so. To smear a man who fought to keep Calcutta from drowning in blood is not only dishonest—it is vile.
And let’s not pretend the timing is innocent. With Bengal elections around the corner, the film slots neatly into a political narrative. Agnihotri plays martyr when his trailer launch is disrupted, whining about “freedom of expression,” all while peddling half-truths and communal venom. Expression is not license to falsify history or profit from hate.
History is brutal, yes—but it is also sacred. Direct Action Day is one of the darkest chapters of Partition: a pre-planned pogrom against Hindus, encouraged by Jinnah’s chilling declaration, “India divided or India burned.” Hindu neighborhoods were torched, men slaughtered, women raped, and young girls paraded as trophies of fanaticism. Suhrawardy gave rioters free rein, and mobs led by criminals like Munna Chaudhary and Meena Punjabi terrorized Calcutta with unspeakable crimes. Police records tell of hacked and naked bodies of Hindu girls hanging in slaughterhouses.
Against this carnage rose Gopal Patha and his Bharat Jatiya Bahini, uniting Hindus across castes and regions, arming themselves with whatever they could find—knives, spears, pistols, acid bombs. Their resistance was targeted: they fought back the very mobs that had butchered innocents, and they never touched Muslim women or children. By August 20, Suhrawardy’s dream of tearing Calcutta into Pakistan’s fold had collapsed.
This is history—ugly, raw, undeniable. And yet, Agnihotri’s so-called film trashes it. Instead of portraying Gopal as the man who saved countless Hindus and defended his city, he twists him into a caricature—a hate-spewing villain—for cheap applause and electoral mileage.
Let’s call it what it is: The Bengal Files is a disgrace. It reduces suffering into a circus, exploits grief for profit, and poisons public discourse. Art is meant to confront, to illuminate, to humanise. This is the opposite: cowardly, manipulative, toxic storytelling that tears apart the very fabric of society.
India does not need more of this garbage. It needs truth, courage, and integrity—values Gopal Patha lived and died for. Agnihotri, on the other hand, has chosen distortion, division, and disgrace. Shame on those who dignify this poison by calling it cinema.
West Bengal Suspends 4 Officials Over Voter Roll Irregularities, FIRs Still Pending 6
The West Bengal government has suspended four officials and launched departmental proceedings over alleged irregularities in revising electoral rolls, but no FIRs have been filed so far, partially meeting the Election Commission’s directives.
The action comes a week after Chief Secretary Manoj Pant appeared before the Election Commission (EC) in New Delhi, where he was reportedly given an August 21 deadline to suspend the officers and initiate criminal proceedings.
An official at the state secretariat confirmed that the suspended officials include two Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) and two Assistant Electoral Registration Officers (AEROs) from South 24 Parganas and Purba Midnapore districts.
The suspensions follow allegations of irregularities in the voter rolls of the Baruipur East and Moyna assembly constituencies. EC sources identified the officials as Debottam Dutta Chowdhury (ERO) and Tathagata Mandal (AERO) from Baruipur East, and Biplab Sarkar (ERO) and Sudipta Das (AERO) from Moyna.
They are accused of serious procedural violations, including sharing login credentials and breaching data security protocols during the electoral roll revision process. The commission has termed these lapses a direct threat to the integrity of the electoral system and is closely monitoring the state government’s response.
Satish Golcha Appointed as Delhi’s 26th Police Commissioner, Succeeds SBK Singh 8
Senior IPS officer Satish Golcha officially assumed charge as the 26th Commissioner of Delhi Police on Friday, replacing SBK Singh, who served for just 21 days. Golcha, a 1992-batch officer of the Arunachal Pradesh-Goa-Mizoram and Union Territories (AGMUT) cadre, took over the post at Delhi Police Headquarters.
The Ministry of Home Affairs issued the appointment order on Thursday, a day after Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta was attacked during a public hearing at her Civil Lines office. Officials clarified that the change in leadership was not connected to the incident.
Golcha, who will serve until April 2027, is widely regarded for his no-nonsense approach and earned recognition for his crucial role as Special Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) during the 2020 northeast Delhi riots.
His predecessor, SBK Singh, a 1988-batch officer, reportedly had the shortest tenure as Delhi Police chief, taking charge on August 1 after the retirement of Sanjay Arora.
Supreme Court Stays Order on Stray Dog Relocation, Allows Return After Sterilisation 10
The Supreme Court on Friday stayed its earlier directive to permanently relocate stray dogs to shelters in Delhi-NCR, allowing their return after sterilisation and vaccination. However, dogs infected with rabies or exhibiting aggressive behaviour will not be released back on the streets.
A bench of Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta, and NV Anjaria issued the interim order amid growing debate on stray dog management across India. The Court also introduced several corrective measures to ensure better implementation of the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules.
The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has been directed to designate feeding zones in every municipal ward. Feeding stray dogs outside these areas will invite legal action. The Court also asked MCD to set up a helpline for reporting violations and clarified that obstructing public servants on duty will attract liability.
Animal lovers and NGOs violating these directions will face a fine of ₹25,000. Those wishing to adopt stray dogs must apply to the MCD.
The Court extended the scope of its order nationwide, issuing notices to Animal Husbandry Departments and Secretaries of all States and Union Territories to ensure compliance with ABC Rules. It also directed the Registry to gather details of similar cases pending in High Courts, which will now be transferred to the Supreme Court.
The case originated from an August 11 directive by a different bench that took suo motu cognisance of a news report titled “City hounded by strays and kids pay price,” ordering relocation of stray dogs to shelters with a capacity of 5,000 animals.
Bhiwani Teacher Cremated, Internet Ban Extended Amid CBI Probe Demand 12
The last rites of 19-year-old teacher Manisha, whose death will now be probed by the CBI, were performed in Bhiwani on Thursday, drawing large crowds to her native village Dhani Laxman. Her father Sanjay was inconsolable as the funeral pyre was lit, following days of protests and public outrage.
Manisha had gone missing on August 11 after leaving school to inquire about admission at a nursing college. Her body was discovered in a field on August 13. A third autopsy was conducted at AIIMS, Delhi on Wednesday after her family demanded a CBI probe and a fresh post-mortem, rejecting earlier findings at Bhiwani Civil Hospital and PGIMS Rohtak.
In the wake of her death and the massive protests that followed, the Haryana government on Thursday extended the suspension of mobile internet, bulk SMS (excluding banking and recharge), and dongle services in Bhiwani district for another 24 hours, effective from 11 am. The suspension was earlier enforced in Bhiwani and Charkhi Dadri districts for 48 hours starting Tuesday.
According to the official order, the extension was necessary to prevent any disturbance to peace and public order. Protests had seen residents block roads and stage sit-ins, demanding justice and accusing authorities of mishandling the case.
While police initially claimed the teenager had died by suicide after ingesting poison and cited the emergence of a suicide note, her father dismissed the claim outright, insisting she could never take her own life. Political leaders, including Congress veteran Bhupinder Singh Hooda, accused the BJP-led state government of negligence and alleged attempts to pass off the case as suicide.
The protests were called off late Wednesday after the government accepted the demand for a CBI probe and a post-mortem at AIIMS.
Supreme Court Declines Urgent Hearing on Plea Against MCD Stray Dog Notification 14
The Supreme Court on Thursday declined to urgently list a plea challenging the Municipal Corporation of Delhi’s notification on picking up stray dogs. The bench of Justices J K Maheshwari and Vijay Bishnoi turned down the request for an early hearing after a lawyer mentioned the matter.
The application argued that MCD issued the notification despite the apex court having reserved its order earlier. On August 14, while reserving its order on an interim prayer seeking a stay, the court had remarked that the stray dog crisis in Delhi-NCR was largely due to the “inaction” of local authorities.
A three-judge bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta, and N V Anjaria had reserved its decision in the matter. Earlier, on August 11, another bench of Justices J B Pardiwala and R Mahadevan directed Delhi-NCR authorities to start picking up stray dogs “at the earliest” and relocate them to shelters.
The court had also ordered the immediate creation of dog shelters and directed authorities to report progress within eight weeks. It further stated that once picked up, the dogs must remain in shelters and not be released on streets, colonies, or public spaces.
The apex court had passed these directions while hearing a suo motu case initiated on July 28 following a rise in rabies cases, particularly among children, due to stray dog bites in the national capital.
INDIA Bloc's B Sudershan Reddy Files Nomination for Vice President Election 16
Opposition nominee B Sudershan Reddy on Thursday formally filed his nomination for the upcoming vice-presidential election in the presence of senior Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi, and Rahul Gandhi. Reddy, a former Supreme Court judge, submitted four sets of nomination papers before the Rajya Sabha Secretary General, who also serves as the returning officer for the election.
Prominent opposition leaders including NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar, SP leader Ramgopal Yadav, DMK’s Tiruchi Siva, TMC’s Satabdi Roy, Shiv Sena (UBT)’s Sanjay Raut, and CPI(M)’s John Brittas were also present during the filing. As many as 160 MPs signed as proposers and seconders for Reddy’s candidature.
The electoral college for the vice-presidential election consists of 781 members from the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, including nominated members of the Upper House. The majority mark required is 391 votes.
The ruling NDA has nominated C P Radhakrishnan, who is expected to have an edge with the support of at least 422 members. Non-INDIA bloc parties, including the YSRCP, have already pledged support to the NDA nominee.
Maharashtra Govt Sanctions Rs 17.97 Crore to Boost Solapur–Mumbai, Solapur–Pune Air Routes 18
The Maharashtra government has approved an allocation of ₹17.97 crore this year to promote air travel on the Solapur–Mumbai and Solapur–Pune routes. The funding will be provided as Viability Gap Funding (VGF), with the state bearing the entire cost until Solapur airport is brought under the central government’s Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS).
According to the government resolution issued on Monday, the scheme aims to strengthen regional connectivity and encourage passenger movement from Solapur. The central government had included Solapur airport, along with eight others in Maharashtra, under the RCS in 2016. However, while airports at Nanded, Jalgaon, Kolhapur, and Sindhudurg are already operational under the scheme, Solapur’s inclusion is still pending.
The state cabinet’s decision ensures that the operator, Ghodawat Enterprises Pvt Ltd (Star Air), will receive ₹3,240 per seat as VGF. This 100% state-funded subsidy will remain in force until the airport comes under the central RCS coverage, after which the standard cost-sharing model will apply.
Mumbai on Red Alert: Govt Offices Shut, Work-from-Home Appeal for Pvt Firms Amid Heavy Rains 20
Mumbai came to a near standstill on Tuesday as the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) announced the closure of all government and semi-government offices, excluding essential services, following a red alert warning by the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The civic body also appealed to private firms to allow employees to work from home and avoid unnecessary travel.
According to officials, the city recorded heavy rainfall in the past 24 hours—186.43 mm in the island city, 208.78 mm in the eastern suburbs, and 238.19 mm in the western suburbs. The IMD has predicted “very heavy to extremely heavy” rainfall in Mumbai and its suburbs through Tuesday, with gusty winds reaching 45–55 kmph.
Commuters faced waterlogging in low-lying areas such as Dadar, Matunga, Parel and Sion, with similar reports from Hindmata, Andheri Subway, the Eastern Express Highway, Mumbai-Gujarat Highway and the Eastern Freeway. Despite complaints, railway officials maintained that water levels remained below the tracks, although services on the Central and Harbour lines were delayed. Western Railway also reported minor delays due to poor visibility.
To add to the chaos, a technical snag in the signalling system between Ambivali and Shahad early in the morning disrupted suburban services, causing further delays for passengers. With high tide expected at 8.53 pm, authorities have urged citizens to remain cautious and avoid venturing out unless necessary.
