Mumbai Mayor to be a Woman from General Category; Opposition Criticizes OBC Exclusion
The Maharashtra government has announced the results of the reservation lottery for mayoral posts in 29 municipal corporations that went to polls last week. According to the draw, the mayor of Mumbai, India's richest civic body under the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), will be a woman from the general category. This decision has ignited significant controversy, with the opposition Shiv Sena (UBT) questioning the exclusion of Mumbai from the Other Backward Classes (OBC) reservation list.
Opposition Raises Concerns Over Reservation Process
The Shiv Sena (UBT) has strongly objected to the omission of OBC reservations in Mumbai, arguing that it undermines social justice principles. Additionally, the Congress party has expressed concerns over the reservation draw for Parbhani, highlighting potential irregularities in the allocation process. These objections come amid broader debates on equitable representation in local governance across Maharashtra.
Gangster Ravi Pujari Arrested in Extortion Case
In a separate development, the Anti-Extortion Cell (AEC) of the Mumbai crime branch arrested notorious gangster Ravi Pujari on Thursday. Pujari is implicated in an extortion case where he allegedly made multiple threatening calls to Bollywood choreographer Remo D'Souza and his wife. Following his arrest, Pujari was produced in court and remanded to police custody until January 27. Notably, Pujari was extradited from Senegal in West Africa in 2020, nearly 25 years after fleeing the country, and has been incarcerated since for various criminal cases.
School Van Driver Arrested for Alleged Molestation
Further adding to the day's events, a 37-year-old school van driver was arrested on Thursday for allegedly molesting a four-year-old girl. Senior Inspector Kishor Shinde confirmed the arrest, stating that the accused has been charged under relevant sections, including the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The driver is scheduled to be produced in court on Friday for further investigation.
