Mumbai, Jan 24 (PTI) Following are the top stories

Following are the top stories from the Western Region at 1700 hrs. BOM13 MH-2NDLD CORONAVIRUS Coronavirus: Two under watch in Mumbai; special ward set up Mumbai: Two persons who returned from China have been kept under observation at a Mumbai hospital for possible exposure to the novel coronavirus which has infected a large number of people in the neighbouring country, officials said on Friday.

BOM14 MH-TAPPING-LD DESHMUKH BJP govt in Maha tapped phones of NCP-Cong leaders: Minister Mumbai: Accusing the previous BJP-led government in Maharashtra of tapping phones of senior NCP and Congress leaders during the 2019 Lok Sabha and Assembly polls, state Home Minister Anil Deshmukh on Friday said he has ordered a probe into the matter. BOM11 MH-PHONE TAPPING-FADNAVIS My govt didn't tap phones, but state free to probe: Fadnavis Mumbai: Amid allegations that the previous BJP-led dispensation in Maharashtra tapped the phones of opposition leaders, former chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday said phone-tapping was not the culture of the state and his government had not given any such orders.

BOM10 MH-PAWAR-LD NCP NCP says Pawar's security at Delhi home 'withdrawn', flays BJP Mumbai: The NCP on Friday accused the central government of withdrawing its chief Sharad Pawar's security at his official residence in New Delhi and charged it with playing "vendetta politics". BOM6 MH-LD BANDH Buses stoned during Maharashtra bandh, normal life unaffected Mumbai: Isolated incidents of stone pelting were reported from parts of Maharashtra on Friday during the statewide 'bandh' called by Dalit leader Prakash Ambedkar's party against the CAA and the NRC, but normal life remained largely unaffected.

BOM10 MP-CAA-MUSLIMS-BJP 80 Muslim leaders resign from Madhya Pradesh BJP over CAA Indore: Around 80 Muslim leaders of the BJP in Madhya Pradesh on Friday resigned from the primary membership of the party in protest over the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, calling it a "divisive" measure. BOM7 CG-PENSION-MISA Chhattisgarh govt scraps pension scheme for MISA detainees Raipur: The Congress government in Chhattisgarh has scrapped the pension scheme launched by the earlier BJP administration for those detained under the Maintenance of Internal Security Act (MISA) during the Emergency, drawing criticism from the main opposition party.

BOM1 MH-SENA-DEMOCRACY Sena questions Centre on democracy ranking drop, economic woes Mumbai: The Shiv Sena on Friday said there have been attempts to muzzle dissenting voices and this is one of the reasons for India slipping in the 2019 Democracy Index's global ranking. BES3 MP-TRUCK-ACCIDENT MP: Four farm workers killed in truck accident Khargone: Four persons, including three minors, died and 10 others were injured when a mini truck turned turtle near Bamnala village in Madhya Pradesh's Khargone district on Friday, police said.

LGB2 MH-COURT-FADNAVIS Poll affidavit case: Fadnavis gets exemption from appearance Nagpur: A court in Nagpur on Friday granted exemption from appearance to BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis in connection with a complaint seeking criminal proceedings against him for alleged non-disclosure of criminal cases in his election affidavit..