Maharashtra

Mumbai, Jul 9 (PTI) Veteran actor Jagdeep, whose paan-stained grin and mischievous eyes as Soorma Bhopali in Sholay made him popular across generations, died on Wednesday at his residence. He was 81.

The actor had not been keeping well, producer Mehmood Ali, a family friend, told PTI.

"He passed away at 8.30 pm at his residence in Bandra. He was not keeping well because of age related issues," Ali said.

Jagdeep will be laid to rest at a cemetery in south Mumbai around 11.30 am on Thursday, he added.

Mumbai, Jul 8 (PTI) Cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar on Wednesday inaugurated a Plasma Therapy Unit for treating COVID-19 patients at the Seven Hills Hospital in suburban Andheri and urged those who have recovered from the deadly infection to help save lives by donating blood plasma.

The unit is an initiative of initiative of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). It will offer convalescent plasma therapy to COVID-19 patients using donated blood plasma from those who have recovered.

Mumbai, Jul 6 (PTI) The Shiv Sena on Monday said the Kanpur encounter in which eight policemen were killed has exposed the encounter specialist Uttar Pradesh government and raised questions over claims of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath about ending goondaism in the state.

Noting Uttar Pradesh is often called as 'Uttam Pradesh', an editorial in Shiv Sena mouthpiece 'Saamana' said the 'Uttam Pradesh' now stands soaked in the blood of policemen, which is a shock for the country.

Nagpur, Jul 5 (PTI) A 24-year-old man has been arrested for allegedly raping a four-year-old girl at Chacher village in Nagpur district of Maharashtra, police said on Sunday.

The accused Durgesh Shende is a neighbour of the victim, an official said.

Shende works in a company in Hyderabad, but is currently staying at his home in the village due to the lockdown, he said, adding that the accused is an alcoholic.

Mumbai, Jul 3 (PTI) After falling in the previous week, the country's foreign exchange reserves rose USD 1.27 billion to USD 506.84 billion in the week ended June 26, according to the latest data from the RBI.

Gadchiroli, Jul 4 (PTI) A naxal who was gunned down by the police in Maharashtra's Gadchiroli district has been identified as a commander of a unit, who had Rs 8 lakh reward on his head, an official said on Saturday.

The personnel from C-60, a specialised combat unit of the district police, were on an operation in a jungle under Hedri police help centre in Mauza Yeldami on Friday when an exchange of fire took place with Maoist ultras.

The body of a naxal was recovered from the forest after the encounter, the official said.

Thane, Jul 2(PTI) A woman MLA has tested positive for coronavirus in Thane district of Maharashtra, becoming the fourth legislator from the area to contract the disease, a senior civic official said on Thursday.

The MLA tested positive for COVID-19 on Wednesday, he said.

Her husband tested positive for the infection on Thursday and both of them have been home quarantined, the official said.

She has become the fourth legislator to test positive for COVID-19 in Thane district. Earlier, two MLAs and an MLC had contracted the disease.

Mumbai, Jun 30 (PTI) The Bombay High Court on Tuesday suspended two FIRs lodged against Republic TV Editor-in-Chief Arnab Goswami for his alleged provocative and inflammatory comments on the Palghar mob lynching and gathering of migrant workers outside Bandra railway station amid lockdown.

In an interim order, a division bench of Justices Ujjal Bhuyan and Riyaz Chagla noted that prima facie, no offence was disclosed against Goswami and he had not intended to cause public disharmony or incite violence.

Mumbai, Jun 29 (PTI) Maharashtra government on Monday said the lockdown in the state is being extended till July 31.

The current lockdown was to end on June 30. Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray had on Sunday ruled out lifting the lockdown from that date.

An order issued by Chief Secretary Ajoy Mehta on Monday said wearing face covers or masks, maintaining social distancing, restricted gatherings, and other measures shall continue to prevail.

The state government has also advised that work from home should be followed as far as possible.

Mumbai, Jun 26 (PTI) Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray said on Friday that Ganesh mandals should not install idols with a height of more than four feet in the coming Ganesh festival.

Thackeray had earlier appealed Ganesh mandals -- groups which celebrate the festival in public -- to keep the celebrations low-key this year in view of the coronavirus pandemic.

Ganesh festival is set to begin from August 22.

Tall Ganesh idols are especially popular in Mumbai.