Drone seen near Uddhav's Mumbai home; MMRDA says it was used for POD taxi project survey
Mumbai (PTI): A drone was spotted near former Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray's residence in Mumbai on Sunday, prompting the Shiv Sena (UBT) to allege possible "surveillance" in a high security zone under a "police-state action".
The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), however, clarified that the UAV was used for a POD taxi project survey with police's permission.
In a post on X, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Anil Parab demanded investigation by the police to identify the drone operator and the motive behind the aerial "filming". He also wondered if there was any "terrorist background" behind it.
"A drone was spotted hovering over 'Matoshree'. This raises serious concerns about a potential security breach in a high-security zone," the legislator claimed.
'Matoshree', located in Mumbai's Bandra area, is a heavily guarded residence of the Thackerays.
Parab said that flying a drone or filming with it in such a sensitive, high-security area without prior permission is a grave matter.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone 8) Manish Kalwaniya, however, said the drone was part of a survey being conducted with the permission of the MMRDA in the nearby Bandra-Kurla Complex area.
"Please avoid misinformation," the DCP added to quell the speculation surrounding the sighting.
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray alleged the drone was peeping into our window, which shows the country was turning into a "surveillance state".
In a post on X, he claimed the drone was seen hovering at window level until they began recording it, after which it flew away erratically.
"The drone surveillance of our house today is a shameful incident, yet doesn't shock us, with the kind of surveillance state that we live in," the Sena (UBT) leader said.
He further questioned why the residents were not informed that the drone was part of a survey of the BKC with police permission.
The MMRDA, meanwhile, said the drone was used for a POD taxi project survey with prior permission of the police.
The drone exercise was conducted to aid a visual study of the approved alignment for the Personal Rapid Transit (POD) taxi project along Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC), it said.
The authority had secured all necessary approvals from the police department on behalf of the concessionaire, and the survey, carried out over the past two days, was monitored by police personnel and officials concerned, it said.
Aaditya, however, sought to draw a comparison with the Election Commission's restrictions on releasing footage from voting booths to protect voter privacy.
"The drone operator was peeping into our window, and later the MMRDA says it was for the whole of BKC (Bandra-Kurla Complex). No other government agency globally would be able to justify such police-state actions under the name of 'survey," he added.
MMRDA maintained that all necessary permissions were obtained on behalf of the concessionaire from the Police Department, and every instruction issued by them was strictly adhered to.
The certified drone operator, whose background verification has already been submitted, adhered to all instructions issued by the authorities. The operation remained fully restricted to the permitted route without any deviation, the agency stated.
"The operation remained fully compliant and restricted to the approved alignment, with no breach or deviation at any stage," the MMRDA added.
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Businessman lured by FB friend, attacked for extortion in K'taka; 4 held
Madikeri (Karnataka) (PTI): Four people were arrested for allegedly assaulting, illegally confining and attempting to extort money from a 39-year-old businessman who was lured through a honeytrap set up on social media, police said on Monday.
The accused have been identified as Rachana, Malati, Darshan and Ravi.
Police said efforts are underway to nab the remaining suspects involved in the incident, which occurred on December 12 in Madikeri, the district headquarters of Kodagu.
According to the complaint, the victim, a resident of Maddur taluk in Mandya district, was befriended by a woman identified as Rachana through Facebook, who later sought financial assistance and received Rs 5,000 from him via PhonePe on November 28.
When he asked her to return the money, the woman allegedly asked him to travel to Mysuru or Kushalnagar, promising to meet him.
The police said the woman later called the victim to Madikeri on December 12 and took him to a house near the market area, where they spent some time and consumed alcohol in the evening.
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Later that night, citing an emergency, the woman left the house. After her departure, three men allegedly broke into the house and attacked the victim, assaulting him with a stick and the handle of a sword, causing injuries to his face, mouth, chest and leg, the FIR stated.
The complainant alleged that he was forcibly confined, stripped and a nude video of him was recorded. The accused also allegedly threatened him with a toy gun, demanding Rs 50 lakh and warning that the video would be uploaded on social media if the money was not paid.
Police said the victim was held captive and somehow managed to escape in the early hours of December 13. However, after he escaped, the accused allegedly attempted to kidnap him in an autorickshaw, an incident that was captured on CCTV cameras.
Based on his complaint at the Madikeri Town police station, a case was registered under Sections 310(2) (dacoity), 127(2) (wrongful confinement), 118(1) (voluntarily causing hurt or grievous hurt by dangerous weapons or means) and 3(5) (common intention) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, a senior police officer said.
“Four accused, including two women, have been arrested. Efforts are on to nab two more absconding accused. Further investigation is on,” he added.
