The election office in Thane has registered an offence of violation of poll conduct against the Shiv Sena's Thane district chief Anand Dighe and chairman of the organising committee of the tenth Thane Mayor Varsha Marathon, Shiv Sena leader Satish Pradhan. District collector and election officer Mukesh Khullar said organisers of the marathon had put up saffron flags and banners identifying the Sena. He also said the election office had asked Thane Municipal Corporation to file a complaint in connection with the defacing rules, as some of the banners were not defaced and revealed the political party's affiliation.

Cop held for taking bribe

The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has arrested assistant sub-inspector of Bhoiwada police station, Bhaudas Pawar, for accepting a bribe of Rs 300 from a citizen. Complainant Peregrine Gomes and his wife Lisa had applied for a passport. To get the clearing certificate required from the local police station, theyapproached the accused, who demanded Rs 500 for the same. The amount was later reduced to Rs 300. But the two lodged a complaint with ACB, whose sleuths laid a trap and held Pawar while accepting the bribe. Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate A A Kidwai released him on a personal bond of Rs 3,000.

Kalantri new MPCC treasurer

Vijay Kalantri, industrialist and president of All India Association of Industries, has been appointed the treasurer of the Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee. Congress president Sonia Gandhi appointed Kalantri, who is also associated with various trade and cultural bodies, MPCC general secretary Kripashankar Singh said in a statement today.

4 Gawli men arrested

Police today arrested four members of the Arun Gawli gang who were on their way to loot a hotel in Saat Rasta, Central Mumbai. Police have recovered two imported pistols, three live cartridges and a 14-inch chopper from them.