Ahead of Diwali, the Maharashtra government announced the fourth beneficiary list under the 'Punyashlok Ahilyadevi Holkar Shetkari Karjmukti Yojana 2026', granting debt relief to 4.15 lakh farmers. The cooperation department submitted a ₹4,000 crore proposal to the finance ministry to support this phase, bringing total waived beneficiaries to 15.85 lakh with ₹13,275 crore disbursed to date. The scheme waives outstanding crop loans up to ₹2 lakh disbursed between April 1, 2019, and March 31, 2025. Additionally, the state cabinet approved an advance drought assistance of ₹5,000 each for 1.50 crore distressed farmers with an outlay of ₹7,500 crore. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis directed banks not to adjust this aid against pending loans and ordered police to register FIRs against microfinance firms harassing farmers. Beneficiaries must complete e-KYC and digital authentication at Aaple Sarkar Seva Kendras to receive the benefits. #MaharashtraFarmers #KarjmuktiYojana #ShetkariKarjmafi #DevendraFadnavis

There was a stir as soon as the counting for the Pune Graduates’ constituency began. Representatives of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) candidate Harshada Deshmukh have objected, saying that eight ballot boxes did not have seals. Counting update, 2.55 pm: Sets of ballot papers, bundled in lots of 50, have been brought to 100 tables. Officials have started sorting the ballots into valid and invalid ones. The counting of votes will begin after this. No reply from the Election Commission or the returning officer on the objection is available yet. Stay with us for more updates. #Punetimesmirror #PuneGraduates

Pune’s proposed ₹5,192-crore High Capacity Mass Transit Route (HCMTR) has faced objections from civic group Parisar over its design, environmental impact and focus on private vehicles. The proposed 35.96-km corridor between Bopodi and Vishrantwadi includes six elevated lanes, with four reserved for cars and two for Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), along with 26 stations and 33 connecting roads. Parisar programme director Ranjit Gadgil said the corridor was originally reserved for public transport in Pune’s 1987 Development Plan and retained in the 2017 revised plan. He argued that changing its purpose requires the prescribed legal process, including inviting public objections and suggestions. The group has also sought prior environmental clearance, assessments of air and noise pollution, tree loss and vehicle emissions, an independent road safety audit, and public consultation before approval. PMC city engineer Aniruddha Pawaskar defended the proposal, saying the road would be 24 metres wide, with four lanes restricted to cars. Two- and three-wheelers would not be allowed. He said the changes followed due legal procedures and reflected current traffic needs. #PuneHCMTR #PuneInfrastructure #Parisar #Punetimesmirror

A controversy has erupted at the revered Shri Tulja Bhavani Temple in Tuljapur, Dharashiv, after videos showing Maharashtra Security Force (MSF) personnel roughly pushing devotees went viral on social media. The footage captures on-duty security guards shoving pilgrims waiting for darshan inside the temple’s sanctum (garbhagriha). Devotees and local citizens expressed strong outrage over the heavy-handed crowd control, urging the temple trust and district administration to take strict disciplinary action against the personnel involved. #Tuljapur #TuljaBhavani #Dharashiv #MSF #TempleAdministration

Designed to ensure safe passage for pedestrians, footpaths across the city are increasingly being overrun by errant two-wheeler riders looking to evade traffic snarls. Aggravating the menace, several commuters frequently ride along walkways and drive on the wrong side of arterial roads, directly jeopardising the safety of senior citizens, children, and fellow road users. With footpaths encroached by moving vehicles, pedestrians are regularly forced to step into active carriage lanes, escalating accident risks. Citizens and traffic experts have urged the local police to initiate rigorous crackdowns, install bollards where necessary, and issue strict e-challans against repeated wrong-side and pavement riders. #PuneTraffic #PedestrianSafety #FootpathEncroachment #CivicApathy #TrafficViolations

The Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) reused only 956 million litres of treated sewage out of 8,670 million litres discharged by its 14 sewage treatment plants in 2024–25, recording a reuse rate of just 11.03%, according to its environmental report. The figures raise questions about the civic body’s enforcement of sewage reuse rules, as PCMC has been penalising housing societies for failing to reuse treated wastewater. The corporation disconnected the water supply to 24 societies in May 2026, while another 16 societies were fined ₹10,000 each for allegedly discharging untreated sewage. Reuse rates varied significantly across treatment plants. Chikhali recorded a rate of 31.02%, while Akurdi reused just 4.11% of its treated water. PCMC officials said some treated water was supplied to industrial areas and private companies, while plans are underway to assess plant-wise demand and improve reuse capacity. The low overall reuse rate has renewed questions about the civic body’s own performance in water conservation as it expects residents and housing societies to comply with reuse requirements. #SewageTreatment #WaterConservation #Punetimesmirror

Pune City Police constable Nitin Shinde has been arrested in Telangana after police allegedly found 12 kg of ganja in his bag. Shinde was posted in the Vishrambaug Traffic Division and had reportedly been serving there for around one-and-a-half years. According to police, Shinde was travelling from Odisha to another state when Warangal district police received information about a person carrying a large quantity of ganja. Officers reportedly searched his bag at a bus stop and recovered the contraband. He was subsequently detained, and his employment with Pune City Police came to light during questioning. A case has been registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act at Nekonda Police Station in Warangal district. Pune Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar suspended Shinde after learning about the incident. Proceedings for his possible dismissal from service are reportedly being considered. Police are investigating the case. Shinde had reportedly taken medical leave at the time of the incident. #PunePolice #GanjaSeizure #TelanganaPolice #PuneNews #Punetimesmirror

Drama unfolded at the Balewadi Sports Complex in Pune during the ongoing vote-counting process for the Legislative Council elections, as a strongly worded note was discovered inside a teachers' constituency ballot box. The handwritten note read, "Nobody can buy us. Implement the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) applicable prior to 2004, or face the consequences." The discovery came amid high-voltage political drama at the counting centre, where Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) leaders and workers engaged in a heated argument with election officials after raising serious objections over eight ballot boxes reportedly lacking official seals. #Balewadi #PuneNews #OldPensionScheme #OPS #MaharashtraPolitics

BJP candidate Kaustubh Gawde expressed confidence in winning the Pune Teachers’ constituency MLC election as vote counting continued. He said the initial stage of sorting and tallying ballot papers had been completed smoothly, with the next stage involving the separation of valid and invalid votes expected to begin soon. Gawde said voter turnout had crossed 85%, higher than in previous elections, and acknowledged that objections were being raised amid the counting process. However, he said he was not aware of the objections concerning ballot box seals in the Graduate constituency and maintained that the Teachers’ constituency counting was proceeding without major issues. He added that election officials should decide on any formal objections and expressed confidence that the counting process would be completed properly. #KaustubhGawde #MLCElections #Punetimesmirror

The Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Pune has withdrawn Fractured Communities: Adivasi Histories and the Politics of Power, based on former JNU scholar Umar Khalid’s doctoral thesis, after its acquisition triggered criticism on social media. The book was displayed among the library’s new additions on Saturday, prompting questions about its relevance to a science-focused institute and the use of public funds. In a statement, IISER Pune said library purchases are recommended by institute members and reviewed by a committee, with more than 50 books across disciplines added every month. The institute said the book was withdrawn as a precaution to avoid “any misunderstanding or unrest.” Madabhushi Madan Gopal, a member of the institute’s Board of Governors, said the matter had been addressed and action initiated against those responsible for what he described as “mischief.” Historian Ramachandra Guha, who wrote the book’s foreword, criticised the decision, arguing that academic institutions should uphold intellectual openness and academic freedom despite social media criticism. The book explores Adivasi histories and issues including displacement, land, identity and political power. #IISERPune #UmarKhalid #AcademicFreedom #Punetimesmirror

Sugar prices in Pune have risen by ₹5 per kg in just 10 days, reaching ₹59 per kg at retail stores ahead of Diwali. According to Ishwar Nahar, president of the Pune Sugar Merchants Association, wholesale prices have increased from ₹52 to ₹54 per kg, while retail rates have climbed from ₹54 to ₹59. Traders attribute the rise to higher prices charged by sugar mills, increased production costs and stronger festive demand. Mills are currently selling sugar at around ₹50 per kg, compared with ₹39 during the same period last year. Despite the price hike, Maharashtra has more than nine lakh tonnes of sugar available, which is considered sufficient to meet festive demand. With crushing operations underway, the current increase appears to be driven mainly by higher market prices rather than an immediate shortage. #SugarPrices #PriceHike #Punetimesmirror

Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) MP Supriya Sule addressed media questions in Pune regarding Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge’s controversial remarks directed at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as well as environmental concerns in Raigad. When asked about Kharge's controversial remark, Sule exercised caution, stating that she had not read the full statement in the morning newspapers and would review the remarks in their entirety before offering a comment. Addressing the ongoing backlash over extensive tree felling in Karjat, Raigad, she backed demands for large-scale compensatory plantation and asserted that Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis must speak up and provide an official clarification on the matter.

Pune City Police have issued strict guidelines for the sale and use of firecrackers ahead of Diwali, warning that violations may lead to criminal action. Bursting firecrackers on public roads, streets, lanes, footpaths and within 10 metres of roads is prohibited. Firecrackers are also banned within 100 metres of designated silence zones around hospitals, educational institutions and courts. Under noise pollution regulations, sound-emitting crackers are prohibited between 10 PM and 6 AM. Residents may use light- and colour-producing crackers during these hours, subject to applicable rules. Certain firecrackers, including ‘atom bombs’, are also prohibited. Police have urged citizens to buy crackers only from authorised vendors, follow safety guidelines and report violations by calling emergency helpline 112. #DiwaliGuidelines #FirecrackerRules #Punetimesmirror

The counting process for the Pune Graduate and Teachers’ constituency MLC elections is underway, with officials preparing ballot bundles of 50 votes each at the counting centre. After bundling, ballots will be separated into valid and invalid votes. Officials will determine the winning quota once the valid vote bundles are prepared. No postal ballots have been recorded in either constituency. The actual counting of valid votes is scheduled to begin after 4 PM. #MLCElections #VoteCounting #Punetimesmirror

Planning a train journey? Here’s an important update! Indian Railways has reduced the advance reservation period from 120 days to 60 days. But what does this change mean for passengers? Will it help reduce unnecessary cancellations, and how should you plan your next trip? Watch this explainer with to understand the new booking rule, its purpose, and what passengers need to know. #IndianRailways #TrainTicketBooking #RailwayUpdate

Congress and Maha Vikas Aghadi candidate Jayant Asgaonkar alleged that rules at the vote counting centre were changed at the last minute, with paper and pens prohibited. He claimed that election officials were also under government pressure. Asgaonkar said he had filed a complaint regarding teachers’ voting. #JayantAsgaonkar #MaharashtraElection #Punetimesmirror

Barely days after a citizen lost his life falling into an open drainage trench in Yerawada, severe civic negligence has come to the fore at Pune's busy Gangadham Chowk in Maharshinagar. Drainage excavation work has been underway at the intersection for three days without basic safety measures, including barricades, warning boards, or night-time illumination. Situated between civic wards 20 and 21, the junction witnesses high daily footfall of pedestrians, schoolchildren, and motorists who face grave accident risks due to the unlit open pit. Taking note of citizen outrage, Standing Committee Chairman Shrinath Bhimale stated that compliance will be reviewed and the matter escalated to the PMC Commissioner to penalise the responsible contractor and officials. #GangadhamChowk #PuneCivicIssues #PMC #PuneNews #CivicNegligence

Two pension-related cyber fraud cases in Pune have cost an 83-year-old retired businessman and a 59-year-old former principal a combined ₹20.92 lakh. In the first case, the retired businessman from Dhayari allegedly lost ₹10.43 lakh after fraudsters hacked his mobile phone and posed as a service provider offering to update his life certificate through a Facebook advertisement. The accused allegedly gained access to his phone and banking details before transferring money through RTGS and UPI transactions. In the second case, a retired principal from Baner allegedly lost ₹10.49 lakh after clicking a link shared by a fraudster claiming to help with National Pension Scheme benefits. The accused allegedly obtained her debit card details and PIN and transferred money from her bank accounts. Pune Police have registered cases and are investigating the transactions and the accused's identities. Police have urged pensioners to avoid unverified links, never share banking credentials or OTPs, and verify pension-related instructions through official channels. #CyberFraud #Punetimesmirror

Pune has gained a direct air link to Bhubaneswar, with IndiGo launching daily flight services under its winter schedule. The new route is expected to improve connectivity between Maharashtra and Odisha, benefiting business travellers, students, tourists and professionals. Pune Airport now connects directly to 35 destinations, with airlines operating 216 daily slots as part of the Winter Schedule 2026–27. Officials have also highlighted the need to restore the Pune–Belagavi flight service to strengthen regional connectivity. #IndiGo #AviationNews #Punetimesmirror

The Bombay High Court on Tuesday, October 27, quashed the FIR against a 20-year-old Pune engineering student arrested in May 2025 for reposting an Instagram post critical of the Indian government’s handling of tensions with Pakistan following Operation Sindoor. Justice Milind Jadhav allowed her plea, observing, “Noting the fact that the petitioner is a young engineering student, I have allowed her plea.” The student, from Sinhgad Academy of Engineering, had challenged both the FIR and her rustication from the institute over her social media activity. According to her petition, she reposted content from the Instagram account ‘Reformistan’ on May 7, 2025. The post criticised the government’s role in escalating tensions with Pakistan. She reportedly deleted it within two hours and later issued a public apology after receiving death threats. The incident triggered protests at the institute. Kondhwa Police subsequently arrested her, while the college rusticated her, claiming her posts had brought disrepute to the institution and raised concerns over alleged anti-national sentiments. The case had earlier drawn criticism from a Bombay High Court bench comprising Justices Gauri Godse and Somasekhar Sundaresan, which directed Pune Police to release her immediately and asked the college to allow her to appear for pending examinations. The latest order quashing the FIR provides relief to the student in the criminal proceedings related to the Instagram repost. #BombayHighCourt #OperationSindoor #Punetimesmirror