Nagpur, June 4

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) seized ready-to-serve fruit drink Enerzal, nutraceuticals and other suspected food products worth over Rs 58 lakh during raids conducted in Maharashtra’s Nagpur district on the directions of FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe, officials said on Thursday.

According to the FDA, a total stock worth Rs 58,42,396 was seized during inspections carried out by teams of assistant commissioners and food safety officers following inputs received by the department’s intelligence wing.
The seized material included 36,366 litres of ready-to-serve fruit drink Enerzal worth Rs 55,67,779, nutraceutical products comprising 536 strips and 22 plastic jars valued at Rs 1,42,890, and 161 kg of prohibited food items worth Rs 1,31,727.

Officials said samples of suspected food products were collected for laboratory analysis.
Preliminary inspection found alleged labelling irregularities in Enerzal products, leading authorities to classify them as “misbranded”.

In all, 1,79,627 bottles and packets of various flavours of Enerzal, nutraceuticals and prohibited food products were seized during the operation.

The FDA said further action under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, would be initiated after laboratory reports are received.

Authorities also appealed to citizens to report suspected substandard food products to the FDA office or its toll-free helpline, adding that similar drives would continue in Nagpur district to ensure food safety.

000

Nagpur

The Maharashtra government has announced a new policy aimed at promoting the use of manufactured sand (M-sand) as an alternative to natural river sand in construction projects. The move seeks to ensure a sustainable sand supply while curbing illegal mining and reducing environmental degradation. 

Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule has directed all district collectors to implement the policy with immediate effect. 

Under the new framework, district collectors have been empowered to grant approvals for up to 100 M-sand production units in each district, an increase from the previous limit of 50 units. 

According to the policy guidelines, details of government and private land suitable for establishing M-sand units will be published on the ‘Mahakhanij’ portal for auction. Registered entrepreneurs will be allowed to set up M-sand manufacturing facilities on these sites. 

The government has also issued strict compliance measures, stating that licenses of units found violating prescribed conditions will be permanently revoked. 

The initiative is expected to promote responsible mining practices and support the state’s infrastructure growth. 
Minister Bawankule said that with a clear Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) now in place, the implementation process will be faster and more transparent. 

The state aims to make M-sand a mainstream construction material, reducing dependence on natural river sand and minimising environmental impact.

000

Nagpur

Former MLA Bachchu Kadu today launched a sharp attack on the Maharashtra government, accusing it of attempting to “trap” thousands of protesting farmers by calling them for a meeting and then arresting their leader. The cultivators have begun a tractor march toward Nagpur, demanding immediate loan waivers and higher support prices.

Kadu insisted that the administration had ignored repeated requests for talks earlier, but called a meeting only after the protest began. He declared that his group would not attend any further meetings, insisting on an immediate decision on farm loan waivers.

He stated, “What is the point of talks now? The government should take a decision directly. If we leave the protesters mid-way and go for a meeting only to be arrested later, it will be an injustice.”

The march, involving hundreds of tractors and bullock carts, has reached Butibori on the outskirts of Nagpur, causing heavy traffic congestion and heightened security in surrounding areas.

Security has been beefed up at the Chief Minister’s official residence at Ramgiri, his residence in Dharampeth, and the RSS headquarters in view of the agitation. Authorities said they are maintaining full vigilance to prevent any untoward incidents.

The farmers’ ultimatum to the government expired at 5 pm today. Protesters are now advancing toward the city, supported by large quantities of food and supplies arriving from districts such as Solapur, Nashik, and Latur.
Participants alleged that the state and central governments have failed to deliver on promises made to farmers, citing falling cotton prices, unremunerative soybean rates, and losses due to import-export policies.

000

Nagpur, 25 Oct 2025

The Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (MSBSHSE) has announced a hike in examination fees for students appearing in the Secondary School Certificate (SSC – Std X) and Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC – Std XII) examinations for the academic year 2025–26.

This marks the third fee increase in recent years, sparking concern among parents and students across the state.
According to official sources, the Class 10 (SSC) exam fee has been increased by ₹100, bringing the total fee to Rs 420. Students appearing for Class 12 (HSC) exams will now pay Rs 470, an increase of Rs 170.

The board stated that the decision was taken after evaluating its financial position and the need to maintain examination quality and infrastructure. An official noted that the hike was "unavoidable, given the surge in input costs and the reduction in revenue sources."

In Nagpur district alone, approximately 60,000 to 70,000 students appear for the SSC exams and around 40,000 to 45,000 students for the HSC exams annually.

While the board maintains that the rise is modest, education activists and parent associations have voiced concern over the growing financial burden on families, particularly those from rural and economically weaker backgrounds. The board is expected to release a detailed circular specifying category-wise fees and deadlines shortly.

000

Nagpur, Correspondent

Senior BJP minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule has strongly denied allegations made by Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut that the BJP was tapping phone calls of its workers and opponents.

“We haven’t tapped anyone’s phone. Ahead of the upcoming elections, we have set up a war room to monitor WhatsApp groups created at the booth level for better coordination among our party workers. What’s illegal about that?” Bawankule asked while addressing the media.

At a recent meeting of BJP workers in Bhandara, Bawankule had warned that any worker found engaging in dishonest behavior would face consequences. Raut later alleged that this amounted to surveillance and illegal phone tapping.

Clarifying his remarks, Bawankule explained that the party’s booth-level WhatsApp groups are meant for coordination, addressing grievances, and gathering feedback from workers. “Messages received on these groups are analyzed so that we can resolve issues promptly. If any disgruntled worker tries to post negative messages damaging the party’s image, we take note and act accordingly,” he said.

“This election is about the development of villages, not rebellion. Any worker indulging in anti-party activity won’t be welcomed back easily,” he added.

Taking a jibe at Raut, Bawankule said, “Will Sanjay Raut now decide what I should say to my own party workers? He should focus on stopping defections in his own party instead of interfering in ours. And if he believes my statement is illegal, he should go to the police instead of making noise in the media.”

Mumbai, Correspondent

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has handed over the allotment letter for around 223 acres of land in MIHAN SEZ, Nagpur, to Solar Defence and Aerospace Limited for the production of defence and aerospace equipment.

The company is set to invest ₹12,080 crore in the defence sector, including ₹680 crore for setting up a Defence and Aerospace Manufacturing Centre within the MIHAN Economic Zone. The project is expected to generate around 400 direct and 1,000 indirect employment opportunities.

CM Fadnavis expressed satisfaction that the new expansion by Solar Defence and Aerospace will give Nagpur a distinct identity as one of India’s leading defence and aerospace manufacturing hubs. He said the initiative will further strengthen Maharashtra’s contribution to ‘Make in India’, ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’, and the state’s overall industrial development.

The event was attended by Solar Defence and Aerospace Limited Chairman Satyanarayan Nuwal, along with Manish Nuwal, Raghav Nuwal, and senior government officials.

000

Nagpur, Oct 4 : Prominent city hotelier Javed Akhtar (57), proprietor of Gulshan Plaza at Sitabuldi, and his wife Nadira lost their lives in a road accident near Grosseto in Tuscany, Italy. Their three children Arzoo, Zezel and Shifa sustained critical injuries. 

The family, who had embarked on a Europe tour covering France and Italy since September 22, met with the fatal accident while travelling in a nine-seater tourist mini-bus along with other Asian passengers. 

The incident occurred around 9 am on Thursday on the Aurelia state highway when a stationary van being pushed aside was struck by a truck, which in turn rammed into the mini-bus. The impact claimed the lives of Javed, Nadira, and the bus driver on the spot, leaving the vehicle mangled. 

Arzoo (25) is reported to be in a critical condition with severe head trauma at Le Scotte Hospital in Siena. Shifa (21) and Zezel (15) are under medical care in hospitals at Florence and Grosseto, according to Italian media. 
“The Embassy conveys its deepest condolences for the tragic demise of two Indian nationals from Nagpur in the accident near Grosseto,” the Indian Embassy in Italy said in a message on X. 

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has taken prompt steps to assist the bereaved family, liaising with the Indian Embassy in Rome to expedite the repatriation of the mortal remains and ensure medical support for the injured children.

000

Mumbai / Nagpur

Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) President Harshavardhan Sapkal has said that the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) aligning itself with the ideals of Mahatma Gandhi is a clear ideological defeat for the organization. He criticized the RSS for previously blaming Gandhi for the partition of India, despite the well-known fact that the two-nation theory was proposed by others. "Even after years of maligning him, the RSS now seeks ideological refuge in Gandhi—this is their moral and ideological failure," Sapkal stated.

Sapkal was speaking during the second day of the Constitution Satyagraha Padyatra (Constitutional Satyagraha Foot March), which resumed at 6:30 AM from Nagpur’s Deekshabhoomi. The march halted for rest at Sawangi in the afternoon and reached Khadki for the night halt.

Key participants included Tushar Gandhi (great-grandson of Mahatma Gandhi), Tribal Congress president and former minister Vasant Purke, senior Congress leader Rajendra Mulak, party spokesperson Atul Londhe, vice president Suresh Bhoyar, general secretary Sandesh Singalkar, and several other Congress leaders and workers.

Further criticizing the BJP, Sapkal said, “The BJP rose to power on a foundation of lies, but the spirit of Mahatma Gandhi still sits on their shoulders, weighing them down.” He urged the RSS, as it approaches its centenary, to formally adopt the Indian Constitution and Gandhian values. "They have yet to respond to this appeal, showing their ideological instability,” he said.

Sapkal also accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of politicizing India’s recent Asia Cup cricket victory over Pakistan. “Whether it’s air, water, or sports Modi finds a way to bring in divisive politics. His posts on X (formerly Twitter) make this very clear,” Sapkal said. He added that while the nation is proud of the Indian cricket team’s strong performance, the Prime Minister fails to uphold the dignity and stature the country deserves on the global stage.

000

Nagpur | Correspondent

All languages spoken in India are national languages, and providing education in the mother tongue is most beneficial for students, stated Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) publicity chief Sunil Ambekar. Emphasizing the organization’s long-standing stance on the issue, Ambekar subtly criticized the Maharashtra government's recent decision to mandate Hindi education from Class 1.

The state government had issued an order under the three-language formula making Hindi compulsory for students from the first grade. However, the move was met with widespread opposition from educationists, teachers, parents, and intellectuals, in addition to political parties. Faced with mounting pressure, the government was eventually forced to withdraw the decision.

Interestingly, the controversy also brought Shiv Sena (Thackeray faction) chief Uddhav Thackeray and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray together on the same platform after nearly 19 years.

Against this backdrop, the RSS, the ideological parent of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has taken a stance contrary to the state government. During the Akhil Bharatiya Prant Pracharak meeting, discussions were held on several national issues, including efforts to restore peace in Manipur, national security in border areas, and the language policy.

Speaking on behalf of the RSS, Ambekar reiterated that the organization favors prioritizing regional and local languages in the education system, underscoring their commitment to preserving linguistic diversity in India.

000