Mumbai, Aug 25 (PTI) Following are the top stories from the Western Region at 1700 HRS.

BOM11 MH-MARATHI-GOVT

Marathi drive: Leaders eyeing UP, Bihar polls trying to spoil Mumbai atmosphere: Minister Mumbai: Against the backdrop of the Maharashtra government's Marathi proficiency drive, Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik on Tuesday alleged that some leaders were trying to vitiate the atmosphere in Mumbai and neighbouring Thane, eyeing upcoming elections in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.

BOM14 MH-HC-MCA-LD FDA

HC googly to MCA over kitchen roaches: Did cricketers know they were having 'non-veg tea'? Mumbai: In a lighter vein, the Bombay High Court on Tuesday asked if cricketers knew they were consuming "non-vegetarian tea" while ordering the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) to clean its eateries prior to a fresh inspection by the FDA on Thursday.

BOM4 GJ-SPURIOUS LIQUOR-PROBE

Gujarat hooch tragedy: 13 more arrested; 27 held so far Bhavnagar: Gujarat Police have arrested 13 more persons in connection with the hooch tragedy in Bhavnagar, including a man from Madhya Pradesh who played a major role in the manufacture of the spurious liquor that claimed 13 lives, officials said on Tuesday.

BOM13 GJ-SHOPS-DEMOLITION

3 shops razed in Ahmedabad; civic body denies involvement, police launch probe Ahmedabad: The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) has alleged misuse of its name after three shops were demolished by unidentified persons in the city, prompting police to launch an investigation, officials said on Tuesday.

BOM8 MH-CHURCHES-DECLARATION

Anti-conversion law: Maharashtra churches seek prayer consent forms from worshippers Mumbai: With the anti-conversion law coming into force in Maharashtra, churches across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) have begun asking worshippers to fill a self-declaration form, specifying that they are attending prayers of their own will and not under pressure.

BOM5 MH-RAHUL-BJP

Check tribal hostels in Congress-ruled states first: BJP to Rahul Gandhi Mumbai: The BJP has hit out at Rahul Gandhi after he wrote to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis about concerns over tribal students in Maharashtra, saying he should first examine tribal welfare departments and hostels in Congress-ruled Telangana and Karnataka.

BOM6 MP-BHOJSHALA-BANDH

Bhojshala row: Hindu outfits call for Dhar bandh, accuse administration of defying SC order Dhar (MP): Hindu organisations called for a half-day bandh in Madhya Pradesh's Dhar city on Tuesday, accusing the administration of not strictly enforcing the Supreme Court's order regarding the Bhojshala-Kamal Maula Complex dispute.

BOM7 MH-LOKAYUKTA-SHUKRE

Ex-HC judge Sunil Shukre appointed Maharashtra Lokayukta Mumbai: Justice Sunil Shukre (retired) was appointed as the Lokayukta of Maharashtra on Tuesday.

BOM12 MH-GADKARI

Gadkari pitches for new generation to take responsibility for his trust's social work initiatives Nagpur: A statement by Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, pitching for the new generation to take responsibility for the social work initiatives of his trust, sparked speculation, with some media channels linking it to his possible retirement from public life, a claim denied by his office.

BOM3 MP-CYBER FRAUD-GANG

Interstate cyber fraud racket busted in MP, Rs 80 lakh transactions traced; 4 held Chhatarpur (MP): Police in Madhya Pradesh have busted an interstate gang that allegedly used mule accounts to launder cyber fraud proceeds, tracing Rs 80 lakh in transactions linked to nearly 50 complaints in multiple states, officials said on Tuesday.

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