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By:

Quaid Najmi

4 January 2025 at 3:26:24 pm

Bhujbal’s chopper lands in Pune parking lot

Mumbai : In what is suspected to be a breach of aviation protocols, a chartered helicopter ferrying Food & Civil Supplies Minister Chhagan Bhujbal from Mumbai to Pune skipped a designated helipad and landed in a vehicle parking lot almost a km away.   The shocker happened in Purandar taluka, where Bhujbal was slated to attend a function marking the 200 th  birth anniversary of the social reformer Mahatma Jyotirao Phule in his home village Khanwadi.   As crowds of bewildered people watched...

Bhujbal’s chopper lands in Pune parking lot

Mumbai : In what is suspected to be a breach of aviation protocols, a chartered helicopter ferrying Food & Civil Supplies Minister Chhagan Bhujbal from Mumbai to Pune skipped a designated helipad and landed in a vehicle parking lot almost a km away.   The shocker happened in Purandar taluka, where Bhujbal was slated to attend a function marking the 200 th  birth anniversary of the social reformer Mahatma Jyotirao Phule in his home village Khanwadi.   As crowds of bewildered people watched from around the sprawling parking lot, the helicopter appeared to drop speed in its flight, flew over some overhead high-tension electric cables, and descended gingerly into the parking lot - raising a thick dust-storm in which it disappeared for seconds - before touching the ground.   Moments later, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) senior leader Bhujbal and others stepped out of the chopper, looked around in the unfamiliar territory before several vehicles and police teams rushed there. Minutes before there was chaos and confusion with some locals shouting warnings at the ‘wrong landing’.   Eyewitnesses said that the chopper’s powerful rotors created a thick dust storm and sparked alarm among the people in the vicinity, and many scrambled to the spot to check what exactly was going on in the parking lot.   Later, the Pune Police said that a designated helipad was available for the chopper landing but were at a loss to explain how the pilot missed it and veered off quite a distance away in the vehicle parking space. Subsequently, they asked the pilot to fly it to the correct landing spot.   Shaken and angry local NCP leaders questioned how a pilot flying a VIP on an official trip could mistake a parking lot for a helipad when the weather and visibility was clear. They demanded to know whether the helipad was improperly marked or it was a question of communication or sheer negligence.   The Pune Police indicated that they would report the matter to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) which may take action against the errant pilot and the helicopter company.   “There was no accident. We all emerged safely. The helicopter pilot landed wrongly in a parking lot because the helipad was not visible. All of us are fine and there is nothing to worry,” said Bhujbal, before he was whisked off by his security team.   “There are many faults in numerous airplanes and helicopters, including maintenance issues and other problems. That's why I keep saying consistently that VIPs must exercise caution while flying. Fortunately, an accident was averted today, but that doesn't mean the authorities should be negligent. We expect the government to take urgent precautions.” Rohit R. Pawar, MLA, NCP (SP)

Raj avoids taking Aaditya’s name, targets Uddhav instead

Updated: Nov 15, 2024

Raj Thackeray

Mumbai: Maharashtra Navnirnam Sena President Raj Thackeray always criticised all parties including his cousin Uddhav Thackeray based on the ideology of political parties, but in a public meeting in Worli on Thursday he did not utter nephew and opposite candidae Aaditya’s name in his 40-minute speech.

“Raj did not take Aaditya’s name even once but targeted his cousin Uddhav twice in his speech. The message is clear – the cousins have decided not to target each other’s children,” said a Shiv Sena (UBT) worker.


Interestingly, Uddhav also has decided not to campaign in Mahim from where Raj’s son Amit is in the fray.

Raj had many reasons to hold public meeting in Worli. The governments have not done anything for Worli-Koliwada and in future also it’s not clear whether some developments will be done. Raj sees this is an opportunity to canvass for the MNS candidate Sandeep Deshpande, his trusted lieutenant.

“The MNS has conducted a detailed survey to understand the problems of Worli-Koliwada. If the MNS chief doesn’t come in front and show solidarity support for his candidate then how people will have faith in them due to which public meeting had to be taken,” said an MNS worker.


Meanwhile, Amit Thackeray told the reporters that he was not expecting any support from Shiv Sena (UBT). “We don’t expect anyone to return favours,” he said, referring to a MNS’s support to Aaditya when the latter first contested the assembly election in 2019. MNS did not field any candidate opposite him at that time.


This election is difficult for both of the Thackerays. There is a talk that they have some kind of tacit understanding between them regarding Amit and Aaditya. Mahim and Worli both constituencies are having a triple contest. Shiv Sena (UBT) has nominated Mahesh Sawant against Amit. Shiv Sena has fielded sitting MLA Sada Saravankar there. Aaditya is challenged by Sandeep Deshpande and Milind Deora of Shiv Sena.

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