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By:

Quaid Najmi

4 January 2025 at 3:26:24 pm

YouTuber challenges FIR, LoC in HC

Mumbai : The Bombay High Court issued notice to the state government on a petition filed by UK-based medico and YouTuber, Dr. Sangram Patil, seeking to quash a Mumbai Police FIR and revoking a Look Out Circular in a criminal case lodged against him, on Thursday.   Justice Ashwin D. Bhobe, who heard the matter with preliminary submissions from both sides, sought a response from the state government and posted the matter for Feb. 4.   Maharashtra Advocate-General Milind Sathe informed the court...

YouTuber challenges FIR, LoC in HC

Mumbai : The Bombay High Court issued notice to the state government on a petition filed by UK-based medico and YouTuber, Dr. Sangram Patil, seeking to quash a Mumbai Police FIR and revoking a Look Out Circular in a criminal case lodged against him, on Thursday.   Justice Ashwin D. Bhobe, who heard the matter with preliminary submissions from both sides, sought a response from the state government and posted the matter for Feb. 4.   Maharashtra Advocate-General Milind Sathe informed the court that the state would file its reply within a week in the matter.   Indian-origin Dr. Patil, hailing from Jalgaon, is facing a criminal case here for posting allegedly objectionable content involving Bharatiya Janata Party leaders on social media.   After his posts on a FB page, ‘Shehar Vikas Aghadi’, a Mumbai BJP media cell functionary lodged a criminal complaint following which the NM Joshi Marg Police registered a FIR (Dec. 18, 2025) and subsequently issued a LoC against Dr. Patil, restricting his travels.   The complainant Nikhil Bhamre filed the complaint in December 2025, contending that Dr. Patil on Dec. 14 posted offensive content intended to spread ‘disinformation and falsehoods’ about the BJP and its leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi.   Among others, the police invoked BNSS Sec. 353(2) that attracts a 3-year jail term for publishing or circulating statements or rumours through electronic media with intent to promote enmity or hatred between communities.   Based on the FIR, Dr. Patil was detained and questioned for 15 hours when he arrived with his wife from London at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (Jan. 10), and again prevented from returning to Manchester, UK on Jan. 19 in view of the ongoing investigations.   On Wednesday (Jan. 21) Dr. Patil recorded his statement before the Mumbai Police and now he has moved the high court. Besides seeking quashing of the FIR and the LoC, he has sought removal of his name from the database imposing restrictions on his international travels.   Through his Senior Advocate Sudeep Pasbola, the medico has sought interim relief in the form of a stay on further probe by Crime Branch-III and coercive action, restraint on filing any charge-sheet during the pendency of the petition and permission to go back to the UK.   Pasbola submitted to the court that Dr. Patil had voluntarily travelled from the UK to India and was unaware of the FIR when he landed here. Sathe argued that Patil had appeared in connection with other posts and was not fully cooperating with the investigators.

MMRDA budget: Rs 40,187 cr for infra

87 per cent of funds allocated for infrastructure development; momentum to metro, coastal routes, and new projects

Mumbai: The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) on Friday presented its budget estimate for the year 2025–26 amounting to Rs 40,187.41 crore. To enhance and deliver world-class urban services and infrastructure to the citizens of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, Rs 35,151.14 crore — approximately 87 per cent of the total expenditure — has been earmarked exclusively for infrastructure projects. These include metro line extensions, construction of new tunnels, coastal routes, regional water source development, and major urban infrastructure works.


Metropolitan Commissioner Dr. Sanjay Mukherjee presented the budget approved by MMRDA Chairman Eknath Shinde. The estimated revenue for FY 2025–26 stands at Rs 36,938.69 crore. This budget is expected to accelerate integrated, balanced, and fast-paced development in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, reduce travel time and distances, and ease traffic congestion.


New Projects Initiated in FY 2025–26

Extension of Metro Line 5: Durgadi (Kalyan) to Ulhasnagar

Metro Line 10: Gaimukh to Shivaji Chowk (Mira Road)

Metro line 13: Shivaji Chowk to Virar

Metro Line 14: Kanjurmarg to Badlapur

Gaimukh to Fountain Hotel Junction Tunnel Road- Part 1

Design and construction of Elevated Road between Fountain Hotel to- Bhayandar

Airoli Tunnel to Katai Naka Road (Part 3) — 6.71 km road stretch

Under Extended Mumbai Urban Infrastructure Project (Extn. MUIP)


Allocation of funds to major projects

Metro line 2B: DN Nagar – Mandale: Rs 2,155.80

Metro line 4: Wadala – Ghatkopar – Mulund – Thane – Kasarvadavali: Rs 3,247.51

Metro line 5: Thane – Bhiwandi – Kalya: Rs 1,579.99

Metro line 6: Swami Samarth Nagar – Kanjurmarg: Rs 1,303.40

Metro line 9: Dahisar to Mira–Bhayandar& Line 7A (Andheri to CSMIA): Rs 1,182.93

Metro Line 12: Kalyan – Taloja: Rs 1,500.00

Implementation of Extended Mumbai Urban Infrastructure Project: Rs 521.47

Four-lane underground tunnel: Thane to Borivali (via SGNP): Rs 2,684.00

Coastal connectivity underground tunnel: Orange Gate,

Eastern Freeway to Marine Drive: Rs 1,813.40

Uttan to Virar Coastal Project: Rs 2,000.00

Regional water source development (Surya, Kalu, Dherji Projects): Rs 1,645.00

Underground tunnel from Gaimukh to Fountain Hotel Junction

on Thane-Ghodbunder Road: Rs1,200.00

Elevated road from Fountain Hotel Junction to Bhayander: Rs 1,000.00

KSC Navi Nagar Project (Karnala–Sai–Chirner – NTDA): Rs 1,000.00


QUOTES

"The Mumbai Metropolitan Region is the backbone of Maharashtra’s economic development. The ongoing infrastructure projects across MMR are accelerating the state’s growth trajectory.”

Devendra Fadnavis, Chief Minister


"Our top priority is the all-round and fast-paced development of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. This budget ensures inclusive progress across all sectors — from new metro corridors to water resource projects. MMRDA’s plans will position Mumbai as a global economic hub. The 2025–26 budget is a visionary and comprehensive document for the multidimensional growth of MMR.”

Eknath Shinde, Deputy Chief Minister


"The budget for 2025–26 is future-ready. Over `35,000 crore has been directly allocated for projects. From metro expansions and underground tunnels to water resource development and economic hubs, these initiatives are vital for MMR’s growth. This is not just a financial document — it is the blueprint for MMR’s future."

Dr. Sanjay Mukherjee, IAS, Metropolitan Commissioner

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