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Minal Sancheti

2 May 2026 at 12:26:53 pm

‘Transparent, smarter, faster, and corruption-free’

Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde dreams of Mumbai’s transformation with innovative ideas and team work Pic: Bhushan Koyande On May 22, Ritu Tawde completed 100 days as Mumbai’s Mayor. She is the only second Mayor of the City of Dreams from the BJP. In an exclusive conversation with Minal Sancheti, Tawde outlines her plans for Mumbai in the coming days. Excerts… What were some of the challenges you faced in these 100 days? With the support of PM Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, I...

‘Transparent, smarter, faster, and corruption-free’

Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde dreams of Mumbai’s transformation with innovative ideas and team work Pic: Bhushan Koyande On May 22, Ritu Tawde completed 100 days as Mumbai’s Mayor. She is the only second Mayor of the City of Dreams from the BJP. In an exclusive conversation with Minal Sancheti, Tawde outlines her plans for Mumbai in the coming days. Excerts… What were some of the challenges you faced in these 100 days? With the support of PM Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, I got the position of Mayor of Mumbai. For four years, there were no corporators. People have expectations that the civic issues will be solved. Earlier, there was an administrator mindset and methodology of working without a corporator. This mindset needed to be changed. In addition to that, speeding up infrastructure work and projects was a big task. Civic issues due to pre-monsoon work, like drainage repair, cement concretisation of roads, and AQI, are the prime issues to be addressed. Can you tell us about your plans to make Mumbai develop in terms of environment as well as infrastructure? BMC is already implementing a cement concrete road project to ensure that the city is free from potholes. There are different infrastructure projects which are being undertaken by various authorities, including flyovers, metros, railover bridges, and redevelopment projects, etc. After the year 2014, Mumbai has seen rapid development projects such as the coastal road, Atal Setu, and Metro 3. These projects have really transformed Mumbai into a global city. BMC has also undertaken various infrastructure projects. Some of them have already been completed. As far as the environment is concerned, BMC has taken several measures. BMC has issued and is ensuring the strict implementation of pollution control guidelines. These guidelines apply to government construction sites and projects as well. BMC has developed urban forests at more than 60 places, and we are trying to create greener spaces at open plots, locations, and under flyovers, wherever possible. BMC also ensures the strict implementation of a ban on single-use plastics. We have approved the work on the Gargai Dam. The dam is being built to fulfil the future water needs of the city. It was long pending, and we also reduced the cost of building the dam. What changes are you planning in the city's administration? When contested elections were held by the BJP, we requested citizens to send suggestions so that we could achieve a good outcome and chalk out the plan. Based on that, we created a manifesto, and after winning the election, I, as a mayor and member of the Mahayuti alliance, have declared a 100-day programme. What are your priorities? Water, cleanliness, health, education, etc. My colleagues and I have decided to work on the ground because there is so much pre-monsoon work being carried out. This includes desilting rivers and nallas, road works, road repairing, trimming of trees, cleaning of side drains, and many others. Also, I visited some of the project sites, like the redevelopment of Siddharth Hospital and Rajawadi Hospital, to ensure speedy, proper work. The site visit always helps to take a stock of the situation and understand the ground realities. We see many demolitions being carried out. What do you plan to do with the spaces? The land, which is owned by the government, BMC, or any other authority, is always invaluable. These lands are important for developing the projects and extending the capacity of existing projects and infrastructure. Thus, if any encroachment or illegal construction is found, then it has to be demolished. Someone living on government land cannot claim ownership of the land. Before demolition, every authority ensures adherence to the procedure to vacate the space, which also includes verification of proof of residence and eligibility for rehabilitation. Those who are eligible get rehabilitation. What changes are you planning in the city's administration? We have started with the aim to transform the administration by making it citizen-friendly, faster, and smarter. By doing this, we want to meet the global standards. Mumbai, being the country’s financial capital, needs robust administration. We need 100 per cent digitalisation by incorporating AI at various levels and corruption-free governance. This is what we are aiming for. Being a local self-government, BMC is bound to provide basic civic services and amenities to the citizens of Mumbai. As I mentioned earlier, we have given sanction to the Gargai Dam project, which will boost water supply once completed. We have also launched the Mumbai Clean League 2026 to improve public sanitation and cleanliness at public and tourist places. This league will run for a year, and it will also invite public participation. We are also focusing on the improvement of the public health system. We are focused on the timely completion of hospital infrastructure projects, the development of the Hospital Information Management System, as well as the availability of medicines and other facilities. We have developed a dashboard where everyone can see the availability of beds at BMC hospitals. As far as education is concerned, we have initiated procurement of 27 articles from the GeM Portal, which are to be given free of cost to the students. This GeM procurement is happening for the first time in the history of BMC. The procurement will be placed on the GEM portal, ensuring a transparent and corruption-free process. This will also save crores of rupees. Do you think Mumbai's Mayor should have more executive powers? In what terms? Yes. Mumbai is the capital of Maharashtra and the financial capital of Bharat. BMC is the richest and biggest corporation in the world. Mayors and councillors are the representatives of citizens in general. To meet the expectations of the people, executive power and rights may be accorded. This would help to perform more efficiently. How do you look at the women's governance in the BMC? I am thankful to the CM Devendra Fadnavis. His visionary leadership and trust in women's power are something that the state has never seen before. In BMC, apart from the mayor, out of 27 different committees, 17 have been given to women, including BEST, Improvement, and Education Committee. The post of Municipal Commissioner has been given to a woman in the form of Mrs. Ashwini Bhide. It is for the first time that a lady has been appointed as a Municipal Commissioner in the history of 155 years of BMC. There are a total of 138 lady councillors in the house. There are many key administrative positions in which women are working. From the labourers to security, the disaster management, and administrative office work, in every possible position, women are showing they are efficient. In short, whether it is a deliberative wing or an administrative wing, women have already proved their mettle. However, society still needs to change its mindset and accept that women should be given more positions, rights, and dignity because women's empowerment ultimately results in the strengthening of society and the nation. What is something that you will do that the earlier Mayors did not do? Every mayor works in their own way, depending on the political party and the needs of the hour. Overall, the work depends on all the circumstances. So the work of a particular mayor cannot be compared to that of others. As the mayor of the BJP after 44 years in BMC, I feel that not only Mumbai or Maharashtra, but the entire nation is looking at the performance of the Mayor of Mumbai closely. I am aware of the expectation of the Mumbaikars since after four years Mumbai has got its Mayor. In the term, I will try my best. I will work for making Mumbai transparent, smarter, faster, and corruption-free governance. This will remain our core objective during the tenure. What is your dream project that you aim to complete? I wish to build a themed-based entrance at the check naka of Dahisar, Airoli, Mulund, and Vashi. We will make lounges, washrooms, restrooms, self-help group stalls, special rooms for women, a parking facility, a garden, and a green belt. We will ensure that the facility remains environmentally friendly. The work has already started at Dahisar.

SIT exposes dark underworld of lust, greed

Godman sexually exploited vulnerable women with ‘divine power and death’ threat

Mumbai: The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the sprawling criminal empire of self-styled godman Ashok Kharat held its first press conference on Tuesday signalling a decisive turn in a case that has sent shockwaves across Maharashtra.


Speaking from the center of the investigation, SIT Chief and IPS officer Tejaswi Satpute broke the silence to detail a harrowing pattern of sexual exploitation, massive financial fraud, and the calculated manipulation of faith.


The investigation has now officially expanded to encompass twelve separate criminal cases across the Nashik and Ahilyanagar districts, with the SIT directly managing nine of the most severe charges. This specialized unit, comprised of twenty-four handpicked officers including two Deputy Superintendents and a battery of inspectors, is working against a strict timeline to dismantle what Satpute described as a deeply entrenched “ecosystem” of exploitation.


The sheer scale of the allegations against Kharat, 67, is unprecedented. Of the nine cases currently under SIT jurisdiction, eight involve grave charges of sexual assault against women who sought spiritual guidance but were met with systematic abuse. The remaining cases involve a complex web of cheating, violations of the Anti-Superstition Act, and illegal money lending practices under the 2014 Act.


Theatrical Exploitation

Investigators revealed that the accused would drugged victims with sedative-laced “holy water” or use hypnosis before carrying out assaults, often recording the acts to ensure the victims’ silence through blackmail. Central to Kharat’s modus operandi was the theatrical exploitation of human fear and religious devotion.


During the briefing, Satpute explained how the accused utilised sleight of hand in the deliberate darkness of the temple premises to simulate supernatural occurrences. He used props such as plastic snakes, tiger skins, and enchanted stones to convince followers of his divine powers. By instilling a paralyzing fear of impending family deaths or social ruin, he coerced victims into surrendering both their bodies and their life savings. The SIT has already interviewed over thirty witnesses whose testimonies paint a portrait of a man who viewed the spiritual vulnerability of others as a lucrative business model.


Bank Accounts

Preliminary findings have uncovered a staggering network of over one hundred and thirty bank accounts linked to Kharat and his associates, through which transactions exceeding sixty-three crore rupees were funnelled. Many of these accounts were allegedly opened in the names of unsuspecting individuals or family members of high-profile associates to mask the origin of the funds.


Predatory Loan

Reports suggest that much of this real estate was acquired through predatory loan agreements and the fraudulent seizure of ancestral lands from local farmers.


The investigation is also pivoting toward the influential network that allowed Kharat to operate with impunity for years. Satpute addressed growing public and political speculation regarding Kharat’s ties to high-ranking officials and politicians, whose photographs with the accused have circulated widely on social media. She clarified that the SIT is meticulously following every lead provided by complainants and witnesses to determine if these figures played a role in facilitating his crimes or shielding him from legal consequences.


The “ecosystem” that sustained this fraudulent godman is being treated as a secondary but vital layer of the criminal inquiry, with Satpute asserting that no one found to be a co-conspirator will be spared from legal action.


The SIT aims to submit a comprehensive charge sheet within the next 40 days, as they continue to seek extended custody of Kharat to uncover the full extent of his dark legacy.


Hundreds of web links removed
Tejaswi Satpute also urged citizens to delete any sensitive videos of the victims from their mobile devices and warned media outlets against speculative “media trials” that could jeopardise a fair verdict. The SIT has already removed 4,650 web links for revealing identity of the victims and shut down 451 social media handles for repeatedly updating the videos of victims. Also, two cases too have been filed for revealing the identity of the victims wherein six persons have already been arrested, Satpute said.

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